Chapter 756: A Powerhouse

Max was still standing and fighting, but he wasn’t sure how much longer that would remain the case.

Taking a single hit from the scarred man with long hair had nearly been enough to break both of his arms. If a strike that powerful landed somewhere more vulnerable, Max doubted he would be able to continue.

Perhaps if he were fighting Hugo alone, Max would have found a way to win. He had come through impossible situations before, adapting to his opponent until he discovered an opening.

This fight was different.

There were too many enemies attacking him at once, and each of the four strongest fighters had a different skill set. Max couldn’t concentrate on finding a weakness in one of them without leaving himself open to the others.

The moment Max regained his footing, Dipter leapt into the air and launched a kick towards him.

Max raised one forearm and knocked Dipter’s leg aside. His own foot was already lifting from the ground, ready to kick Dipter in the chest and send him flying backwards.

Before he could complete the counterattack, Max noticed Popper and Dud preparing to move.

If he struck Dipter, the other two would attack during the opening.

Max abandoned the kick and moved to the side instead. He slipped away from Dipter and entered the crowd of ordinary men who had originally surrounded him.

I’ll have to use everyone attacking me to my advantage, Max thought. If I keep moving through them, the others won’t have a clear path to reach me.

The ordinary fighters were supposed to help overwhelm him, but their numbers also created an obstacle for Dipter and the others. If Max continued moving between them, he could force the four stronger fighters to hold back or risk striking their own allies.

"Really, Max?" Dud called out. "I can’t say it’s a bad move, but all you’re doing is buying time."

Dud didn’t rush after him. Instead, he watched Max weave between the other men.

"How are you planning to win this fight?" Dud continued. "We’ll catch you eventually. You know that, don’t you?"

Max ignored the taunt and concentrated on studying the way the four fighters worked together.

He was beginning to understand their roles.

Dipter was the fastest of the group. His smooth movements and relentless kicking style allowed him to close the distance quickly and pressure Max without giving him time to think.

Popper and Dud appeared to be the most technically skilled. They could recognise openings and position themselves where Max would be forced to deal with them.

Hugo was the powerhouse.

His role was to deliver the finishing blow once the others trapped Max or forced him to block.

Together, they were trying to create a situation where Hugo’s attack was guaranteed to land.

Max had already experienced what a single one of those punches could do. He had no intention of allowing another to reach him.

As Max expected, Dipter was the first to rush into the crowd after him.

Perhaps it wasn’t only because Dipter was the fastest. There was anger behind his movements as well. He had failed to defeat Max on his own, and their earlier exchange had made it clear that Max was still superior to him.

Dipter was desperate to prove otherwise.

Max grabbed one of the nearby men and hurled him forward.

The man crashed into Dipter before he could reach Max, forcing him to stop and deal with the body thrown into his path.

All right. Maybe I’m approaching this the wrong way.

Max looked towards Dud.

If I need to take one of them out first, then I’ll start with you.

Dud was the one who appeared to be directing the others and reading Max’s movements. Removing him might disrupt their teamwork and make the remaining opponents easier to handle.

Max prepared to move, but then he noticed the expression on Dud’s face.

Dud was smiling.

Max caught sight of Hugo approaching from the side, his large fist pulled back and ready to strike. Dud’s smile had given the attack away.

Max ducked.

Hugo’s fist passed directly over his head.

Every instinct in Max’s body warned him not to counter. Even if Hugo had missed, attacking him would leave Max exposed to Dud or Popper.

Rather than taking the risk, Max pulled away and disappeared back into the crowd.

The ordinary fighters continued attempting to strike him. However, the difference between their abilities and Max’s was too great. Avoiding their attacks was easy as long as he remained focused.

Max shifted from one person to the next, using their bodies as shields. Each time Dipter, Dud, Popper or Hugo tried to approach, another member of their own group stood between them and their target.

"This is great," Dud said. "I don’t even have to lift a finger myself."

Max continued moving, but Dud’s eyes followed him through the crowd.

"You know, Max, you’re a thinker," Dud continued. "The problem is that you’re thinking far too much about this, and every conclusion you’ve reached is wrong."

Dud stepped forward slowly.

"You’re quite arrogant for someone so young. Maybe after everything you’ve accomplished at your age, you’ve started to believe you’re some kind of god."

Max glanced towards him while avoiding another punch from one of the surrounding men.

"But I’m telling you now, even if the two of us fought one-on-one, you wouldn’t stand a chance of winning," Dud said. "Remember, I’ve already seen what you’re capable of from our last fight. You, on the other hand, have no idea what I can do—or what any of us can do."

His words appeared to act as a signal.

Hugo reached towards one of the men standing beside him and lifted him off the ground with a single hand. The man was one of their own, but Hugo showed no concern for that.

He hurled him through the air like a toy.

The body flew directly towards Max, knocking others aside as it crossed the distance between them.

Max narrowly dodged by dropping into a roll. The man passed over him and crashed into the crowd.

Max rose back to his feet and stared at the situation in disbelief.

"This is starting to feel like some kind of boss fight in a game," Max said. "Seriously, what am I even supposed to do here?"

Popper attacked before Max could find an answer.

He threw a kick towards Max, forcing him to raise both hands and block it. At almost the same moment, Dipter attacked from the opposite side.

Max moved one arm across and stopped Dipter’s kick as well.

He was now blocking attacks from both directions.

It wasn’t only Dipter who was skilled. Popper was also well trained, and the eye patch didn’t seem to interfere with his ability to fight. Their kicks continued coming from either side, giving Max no chance to lower his guard or counter.

Max couldn’t relax for even a second.

While blocking the attacks, he noticed movement beyond them.

Hugo was charging towards him like a rhino.

He didn’t care whose feet he stepped on or who he knocked out of his path. Men were sent stumbling aside as Hugo forced his way through the crowd, building more momentum with every step.

Max understood the plan immediately.

Dipter and Popper were keeping both of his arms occupied. They didn’t need to defeat him themselves. They only needed to hold him in place until Hugo arrived.

As Hugo closed the remaining distance, Dipter and Popper suddenly moved out of the way.

A massive fist shot directly towards Max’s face.

Max had no time to avoid it.

Before the punch could connect, a hand reached out and caught Hugo’s fist in a powerful grip.

"I’m sorry for getting you involved in this mess," a familiar voice said. "This one is someone I’m meant to deal with."

Max stared at the person standing beside him.

"H-Hercules?" Max replied, stunned.