IPPO : The Ultimate Counter

The long-awaited day had finally arrived. The finals of the regional tournament would pit two monsters of the ring against each other: Ryuu Kaidou, the undefeated prodigy, against Tetsuya Shiba, the reigning regional champion.

The arena was packed, excitement at its peak. Ryuu entered the arena to the cheers of the crowd, his calm and confident gaze sweeping the room. Behind him, Kamogawa, Takamura, and Ippo silently accompanied him.

Spectator 1: "Look at him... It seems like he doesn't feel any pressure."

Spectator 2: "That's the mark of a true champion."

A few moments later, Tetsuya Shiba appeared. Unlike Ryuu, he briefly greeted the crowd before climbing into the ring, his gaze fixed on his opponent.

Spectator 3: "Shiba looks focused. He's ready to defend his title."

Spectator 4: "This fight is going to be legendary!"

----

In Ryuu's locker room, the atmosphere was filled with adrenaline. The members of Team Kamogawa surrounded the young prodigy, each expressing their support in their own way.

Takamura (patting Ryuu on the shoulder): "Listen, kid. Don't do anything stupid. Take him seriously from the start, but don't forget to put on a show for us, okay?"

Ippo (timidly): "Ryuu, watch out for his counters. Shiba is a tactician. But I know you can beat him."

Kamogawa, who had been silent until now, finally stepped forward.

Kamogawa (serious): "Ryuu, this fight will be the ultimate test. You have the talent, the strength, and the discipline. But today, it's not just a physical fight. It's mental. In this ring, the biggest enemy is yourself. Don't let arrogance or frustration get the better of you. Stay focused, use your intelligence, and show everyone why you're meant to be the best."

Ryuu nodded slowly, a slight smile on his lips.

Ryuu: "Get ready to wear a new belt, old man, it won't be long."

----

Across the arena, in Shiba's locker room, the atmosphere was tense. Shiba sat on a bench, looking at his bandages thoughtfully. His coach adjusted his mouthguard before speaking.

Shiba's coach: "You know what you have to do, Tetsuya. Stick to your strategy. Ryuu is strong, but he is human. If you stay calm and exploit his mistakes, you can beat him."

Shiba nodded, but his mind seemed elsewhere. At that moment, the locker room door opened slowly, and a young girl entered timidly.

Shiba's little sister (with a hesitant smile):

"Tetsuya…" Shiba looked up and his expression softened.

Shiba: "Yumi? What are you doing here?"

Yumi: "I wanted to see you before the fight. I know how much it means to you. No matter the result, I'm proud of you, Show them why you're our champion."

She held out a small amulet.

Yumi: "It's for good luck."

Shiba took the amulet and squeezed it in his hand.

Shiba (smiling slightly): "Thank you, Yumi. I'll do my best."

----

The lights in the arena suddenly went out, plunging the room into darkness. A spectacular lighting then illuminated the ring, while the announcer enthusiastically announced the boxers' entrance.

Speaker: "Ladies and gentlemen, here is the grand finale of the regional tournament! In the red corner, the undefeated prodigy, the formidable challenger... Ryuu Kaidou!"

The crowd erupted in cheers as Ryuu entered, his face impassive. The spectators shouted his name, impressed by his confident aura.

Spectator 1: "Look at his calm! He looks like a true champion."

Spectator 2: "This guy is a machine."

Speaker: "And in the blue corner, the reigning champion, the relentless tactician... Tetsuya Shiba!"

Shiba entered as well, briefly greeting the crowd, his gaze fixed on the ring.

Spectator 3: "Shiba looks focused. He's not going to give up."

Spectator 4: "This fight is going to be incredible!"

The two boxers entered the ring, facing each other in the center. The referee gave the final instructions.

Referee: "I want a clean fight. Follow my orders at all times. Touch gloves."

Ryuu and Shiba clashed gloves, a silent but tense exchange.

----

The gong rang, signaling the start of the battle. Ryuu immediately advanced, using quick jabs to test Shiba's guard. Shiba remained on the defensive, using his footwork to avoid the blows and analyze Ryuu's movements.

Shiba (thinking): "He's fast, but his punches are calculated. I have to find an opening."

Ryuu increased the pressure, launching a series of hooks and uppercuts. Shiba blocked most of the punches, but a straight right slammed into his guard, making him back away.

Spectator 1: "Ryuu's taking the initiative! He's not giving him any respite."

As he backed away from the blow, Shiba changed his pace and surprised Ryuu with a precise counter, a hook to the liver that made the prodigy wince.

Spectator 2: "Shiba hit him!"

Ryuu backed away slightly, a glint of respect in his eyes.

Ryuu: "Not bad. Show me what else you got."

The fight intensified. Ryuu used his speed and power to dominate the exchanges, while Shiba relied on his tactics and precise counters to fight back. Every blow, every defense kept the crowd on their toes.

----

In the 3rd round, Ryuu began to reveal his true potential. His punches became faster and more powerful, putting Shiba in trouble.

Shiba (thinking): "He's even stronger than I thought... But I can't give up."

In a final burst, Shiba attempted a bold combination, but Ryuu dodged with impressive precision.

The fight escalated in intensity, Ryuu's exchanges becoming more and more ferocious. Shiba used his tactics to exploit Ryuu's openings, while the latter gradually adapted, increasing the pressure.

Kamogawa (thinking from the corner): "Shiba is better than expected. But Ryuu hasn't shown all he has yet."

Shiba attempted a quick combination to destabilize Ryuu, but the latter blocked the last blow and countered with a devastating left hook. Shiba faltered, but remained standing and countered with a "perfect one, two".

Spectator 3: "How did he resist that?!"

Spectator 4: "That's why he's a champion. He has extraordinary endurance."

In Shiba's corner, his trainer whispered: "Stay calm, Shiba. He's trying to force you to take risks."

But shiba heard his sister's voice in the stands and changed his strategy, becoming more aggressive. He wanted to win for her, he had to do it again... He surprised Ryuu with an unpredictable combination, hitting him in the face. A slight cut appeared on Ryuu's cheekbone, causing a murmur of astonishment from the crowd.

Aoki (shocked): "Ryuu is injured! This is the first time we've seen him bleed."

Ippo (scared): "Ryuu-San...."

Ryuu touched the cut with his fingertips, then smiled exaggeratedly.

Ryuu: "Finally..."

He slightly relaxed his guard and began to advance with a frightening aura.

Takamura (Smiling): "The beast has finally come out, show us who you really are Ryuu"

His blows became faster, more precise, forcing Shiba to back away.

Shiba (thinking): "What is he doing? His power has increased again... wasn't he already at full speed? "

Ryuu with incredible speed and deadly precision continued.

"BAM, BIM, BOOM"

Three blows hit Shiba in the temple, liver, and chin in an instant. He followed up with a left straight. Shiba ducked instinctively but the blow was a feint, a powerful and lightning uppercut hit Shiba who fell backwards with a power that frightened the spectators.

Referee: "One... Two... Three..."

Shiba tried to get up, but his legs refused to respond but he forced himself by thinking about his sister and finally got up...

Shiba (thoughts): "Yumi I... I'm sorry..."

He staggered forward...

"Forgive your big brother..."

"This time I won't be able to keep my promise..."

He started to fall...

" Ryuu Kaidou your power... is immeasurable"

Shiba fell back to the ground motionless.

The referee raised his hands:

"KO!"

The bell rang, marking Ryuu's victory.

Ryuu looking at Shiba:

Ryuu: "You are a true champion. Thank you for this fight."

but his gaze seemed lost.

----

As the crowd's cheers echoed through the arena, Ryuu stood in the center of the ring, arms raised in victory, staring at Shiba who was still on the ground, supported by his team. At first glance, he displayed the usual calm of a champion, but in his mind, a silent storm raged.

Ryuu (thoughts): "Once again... That moment when I think I'm finally going to be pushed to my limits... And yet, it collapses before I can even show my full potential."

He replayed the key moments of the fight. Shiba's strategy, his precise counters, his ingenious dodges. For a brief moment, Ryuu felt a thrill, a hope that this time, he would finally find an opponent who could stand up to him.

Ryuu (thoughts): "He had it all. The technique, the intelligence, even the will. But... it wasn't enough. "

Ryuu's gaze wandered into the crowd chanting his name. The fevered faces, the cries of admiration. But to him, it all seemed blurry, distant, devoid of substance.

Ryuu (thoughts): "All these people... They see me as an invincible force. But they know nothing. They don't see the solitude behind every victory. The higher I go, the further I get away from them."

His mind drifted back to his old world early days in boxing. The fierce fights, the opponents who put up fierce resistance. Those moments when his heart could feel like it was pounding, when every blow he threw carried a vital stake.

Ryuu (thoughts): "Where did those days go? Have I gotten too strong, or am I deluding myself into thinking there's still someone out there, somewhere, who can challenge me?"

He looked at Shiba, who was trying to smile despite the pain.

Ryuu (thoughts): "He gave it his all… I respect that. But what's the point, if in the end, the difference is so overwhelming?"

A flash of sadness crossed his eyes. His hand, still raised by the referee, seemed heavier than ever.

Takamura's words in the locker room came back to him.

Takamura: "It's the loneliness of the summit, kid. But be patient, one day, someone will make you step out of your comfort zone."

Ryuu closed his eyes for a moment.

Ryuu (thoughts): "Maybe… But how long will I have to wait? How many fights like this before this loneliness devours the light within me?"

----

In a private box, far from the hubbub of ordinary spectators, a man stood tall with his arms crossed. It was Sesuke Kurogami, the national number 1, nicknamed "The Undefeated Monster".

Since the beginning of his career, he had never known defeat and had defended his title of national champion four times, crushing all those who dared to enter the ring against him.

His impassive face observed the last moments of Ryuu's fight. When the referee had announced the end of the match and Shiba had collapsed, he had not moved an inch.

Kurogami (thoughts): "That was fast. Too fast. This Ryuu Kaidou... He is not an ordinary boxer."

He mentally analyzed each of Ryuu's movements, his surgical precision, the power behind his blows, and above all, this imperturbable calm that transpired in each of his gestures.

Kurogami (thoughts): "Not a single mistake. Not a single hesitation. He hasn't even shown his full potential."

A brief smile appeared on his face, but it wasn't a smile of satisfaction. It was a predatory smile, that of a man who had just found a new prey worthy of his attention.

Kurogami (thoughts): "That kid… He's got something. But is it enough to stand in front of me? We'll see."

----

[ Back to the locker room ]

Ryuu had just removed his bandages, his gaze distant, lost in thought. Takamura, still alert, seemed to have noticed something in the stands during the fight.

Takamura: "Hey, Ryuu. Do you know who was here tonight?"

Ryuu, intrigued, looked up at Takamura.

Ryuu: " Someone important? "

Takamura (with a smirk): "Not just important. The national number 1 himself. Sesuke Kurogami."

At the mention of this name, the team members present in the room all turned their heads, their expressions betraying their surprise.

Ippo: "Kurogami? The Undefeated Monster? He was here?"

Takamura nodded, crossing his arms with a satisfied look.

Takamura: "Yeah. He watched your entire fight, kid. From start to finish."

Ryuu, silent for a moment, narrowed his eyes slightly, as if to gauge the importance of this information.

Ryuu (calmly): "And what did he think?"

Takamura burst out laughing, patting Ryuu on the shoulder.

Takamura: "Who knows? He never lets anything show, but I can tell you one thing... It seems like monsters recognize monsters."

Ryuu gave a faint smile, but deep down, he felt a spark of excitement.

Ryuu (thoughts): "Kurogami... If our paths cross... maybe he... maybe it's him..."

----

End of Épisode 19