Hawkeye versus Second Blade!
Hearing this, Deputy Commander Su's smiling face froze instantly.
On the other side, Sean Chen's expression lit up.
"Hawkeye is about to take the stage!"
When Lena Xu heard the name 'Hawkeye,' her eyes lit up and she quickly looked down at the ring.
"Hawkeye used to be Flying Eagle Company's top ace. Now that Tiger Fang has joined, he's their second-best, but he's still won the Single-Soldier Showdown several times running. His strength is no joke." Major General Gavin Yue started introducing Hawkeye to Ethan Xu, hoping to ease the awkwardness from earlier.
"I've heard of him. He's got real potential," Ethan Xu nodded with a smile.
This time, he turned to Deputy Commander Su and asked, "Your Fifth Blade won beautifully just now. Do you think your Second Blade has any chance against Flying Eagle's Hawkeye?"
"Well..." Deputy Commander Su was instantly at a loss for words.
Within Knife-Edge Company, the only one who ever lasted a bit longer against Hawkeye was First Blade, Xu Fei. The rest, including Second Blade, were simply no match for him.
The main reason is that Hawkeye is basically half a martial artist—a gap in strength that's impossible to cross.
"It's fine, Deputy Commander Su. Just say it straight. Or do you really think your Second Blade, after just seven days of training, is ready to go toe-to-toe with my Hawkeye?" Sean Chen sneered.
Deputy Commander Su said nothing, and everyone turned their attention to the ring.
On the ring.
Hawkeye stood tall and sharp, his looks both handsome and rugged. As soon as he stepped up, the female soldiers in the stands erupted into cheers and applause, clearly favoring him.
On the other side, Second Blade stepped onto the ring—broad-shouldered and barrel-chested, towering and muscular like a movie villain's top enforcer. Just standing there, he radiated an intimidating presence.
But facing Second Blade, Hawkeye's expression didn't change at all. He showed no fear—pure expert swagger.
"Grant, who do you think will win this time?" Lena Xu turned to Grant Yuan, her eyes shining.
She thought Hawkeye looked cool no matter how she saw him, while Second Blade seemed like the classic henchman from an action movie.
Grant Yuan pondered for a moment, thinking it over for quite a while before finally saying, "Hawkeye will win."
Lena Xu clearly perked up at Grant Yuan's answer. She glanced at Evan Lin and called out, "Hey, what do you think?"
Deputy Commander Su also looked at Evan with hopeful eyes. If Second Blade could beat Hawkeye, that would mean Knife-Edge Company had at least two people stronger than Hawkeye, and their reputation would skyrocket.
Compared to Grant Yuan, Deputy Commander Su actually trusted Evan Lin even more.
"Master Lin, what do you think?"
Deputy Commander Su asked in a low voice.
"It's fifty-fifty."
Evan Lin spoke up, his tone calm and cool.
Even though Second Blade has pill support, his bones are tougher thanks to Evan's healing, and he's trained in the Nine-Star Burst Fist, at the end of the day, he's still not a real martial artist.
Hawkeye's strength is undeniable. From that angle, it's tough for Second Blade to win. If he had more time to train, Hawkeye wouldn't stand a chance.
"Fifty-fifty?"
Sean Chen snorted when he heard this. "Then I really want to see how your Second Blade is supposed to make it fifty-fifty against my Hawkeye!"
His voice was full of disdain. In the past, Hawkeye would finish off Second Blade in just three punches and two kicks; Sean had complete faith in him.
Grant Yuan also frowned slightly.
Everyone turned their attention back to the ring.
On the ring, Hawkeye took a light step and then charged at Second Blade with unstoppable momentum.
He moved fast, and his punches were solid and precise.
The massive Second Blade roared, standing his ground like a giant, refusing to dodge. He threw a punch straight at Hawkeye.
The repeated, deafening collisions echoed through the arena, but Second Blade was forced to retreat again and again by Hawkeye's punches. Even with his powerful muscles and unstoppable energy, Hawkeye's relentless attacks left him battered—he couldn't even find a chance to use the Nine-Star Burst Fist.
The difference in skill was obvious.
"And this is supposed to be fifty-fifty with Hawkeye? You're dreaming!" Sean Chen laughed loudly.
"Hawkeye really deserves to be a multi-time Single-Soldier Showdown champion," someone sighed.
"With that kind of offense, there are probably only a handful of people in the whole military district who could withstand it. Second Blade can hold his head high, even in defeat." Others nodded in agreement.
Major General Gavin Yue smiled. "After the match, let's have Hawkeye come up here for a bit."
Ethan Xu nodded slightly as well.
Lena Xu looked even more delighted.
Only Deputy Commander Su's face looked especially grim.
Grant Yuan glanced at Evan Lin, noticing that the young man was still perfectly calm, watching the ring with a face that betrayed no emotion.
As Grant Yuan wondered where this boy had come from, the usually quiet youth suddenly spoke.
"It's over."
His voice was level, but the moment he spoke, everyone's attention snapped back to the ring.
Grant Yuan felt a strange unease. He looked down at the ring, puzzled by what he saw.
In the arena, Hawkeye was in complete control. With his relentless attacks, Second Blade was forced back, only a step away from being knocked out of bounds.
At that moment, Hawkeye suddenly leapt into the air, his whole body like an unstoppable blade, swinging a kick straight at Second Blade.
The power behind that kick was shocking. You could almost hear the wind howling.
"It really is over," Grant Yuan thought, frowning.
But in the next second, his eyes widened in shock.
Lena Xu, who had been watching with excitement, suddenly blanched and couldn't help but cry out, "Is he crazy?"
On the ring, the best way for Second Blade to handle Hawkeye's fierce kick would have been to block with his arms. Even if he got knocked out, at least he wouldn't be seriously hurt.
But to everyone's shock, Second Blade lowered both arms, completely abandoning defense and opening his arms wide as if to embrace the kick.
That was pure desperation—a gamble with his life! He was going to take the kick head-on!
"That's going too far," Ethan Xu frowned, clearly displeased.
Evan Lin sighed inwardly, looking at Second Blade with new respect.
"He really has the guts to seek life at the edge of death."