From Bullets To Billions Chapter 632: The Sixty-Second Gamble

Ramon positioned himself atop the arena's raised platform, his breathing catching briefly while a flash of real shock appeared on his face. He grappled with the brutal kick just landed by Max, a blow packing much more force than he'd expected. Though he'd managed to lift his exoskeleton's fortified arm fast enough to intercept it, the sheer, brutal strength reverberated across the top-tier metal skeleton. The vibration surged past the servos straight into his flesh, making his natural arm feel numb and leaden.

He glanced at his robotic arm, pondering without the exoskeleton's safeguard, just how badly that lone kick might have wrecked him. It could have even smashed his arm bone in one go.

Even more troubling for Ramon was what unfolded during the brief daze from those reflections. In that instant of shock, Max unleashed a ferocious assault on Darius. He hammered blow after devastating blow, an unending storm of punches that had the Black Hounds' boss gasping for air. Max kept going until a final, bone-shattering strike floored Darius. Now with Darius sprawled out unmoving, it seemed he wouldn't rise to assist anytime soon.

"I’ve been a fool this entire time, haven’t I?" Ramon declared, his words booming through the vast arena space. He covered his face with a hand, a crooked grin forming slowly underneath. "I should have known after all the trouble you’ve given me that you were never just going to be an easy opponent for me to face, even if it came down to pure combat. Yet here we are. There’s something clearly different about you, Max."

Max skipped any spoken comeback. Instead, he clenched his fists tight, muscles bunching like coiled wires, and surged ahead.

"I know there is," Max stated, gaze fixed on the researcher. "It’s because I’ve already risen to the top once, and this time I’m rising to it again to tear it all down with my own two hands. I have to do things differently this time."

Ramon let out a mocking snort at the statement. At first glance, Max seemed no older than a fresh high school grad. Ramon puzzled over how such a youth could grasp the brutal realities of the Underworld. Yet those eyes told the story—icy and resolute. To Ramon, that stare alone explained why this guy kept blocking his path relentlessly.

"Things don’t always go to plan. You should know that," Ramon shot back, his suit's torso panel whirring to life. "You’ve disrupted mine, so I guess it’s time for me to disrupt yours."

Max rushed forward once more, blurring across the gap in a flash. He leaped skyward, launching a fist that Ramon parried with a resounding metallic crash. Max pressed on with punch after punch, each fueled by his fresh power surge, yet Ramon deflected them all with ease. The exoskeleton vented steam on every shift, soaking up the impacts. Suddenly, Ramon countered with his own kick.

It swept in broad and low, slicing the air above Max’s head as he dropped into a crouch. Spotting the chance, Max swung his flat sole toward him, aiming to unbalance the researcher with the momentum. But it felt like striking an immovable pillar. Ramon stayed rooted. Bolstered by the exoskeleton's leg braces, he might as well have been bolted down.

His hands darted out with startling quickness, stopping a flurry of frantic strikes from Max. Then, Ramon raised his leg and slammed a mighty kick into Max’s gut, hurling him skidding over the floor for long moments while the wind exploded from his chest.

"I’m getting the hang of this exoskeleton," Ramon boasted, assurance swelling as he pushed the armor's boundaries. "I’m learning how to use all the other parts in combination with each other, as well as the benefits it provides. You should have aimed to take me out first."

Max groaned, gripping his abdomen while enduring the pounding ache. He lunged again, unleashing a rapid volley of punches, prioritizing velocity over force this round. None of those opening jabs were meant to connect; they served purely as feints.

Spotting his target opening, Max whipped his leg sideways, targeting Ramon's ribcage with a crushing slam. He realized breaching the armored torso was impossible, but the suit left gaps, particularly the fragile spots near the sides.

Yet Ramon anticipated it perfectly. He thrust his fist low, smashing into Max’s shin. Searing torment exploded up Max’s leg, yanking him away in retreat.

Not even certain if the bone had cracked, but prior to touching down for inspection, a downward haymaker descended. It crashed into Max’s face, the steel glove rattling his cranium. His head snapped backward from the jolt, and as he fought for balance, a powerful chest kick followed. The impact flipped him rolling over the stage, spinning to a halt close to the brink.

Three colossal blows had connected in quick sequence, draining Max’s vitality with each.

’Damn it... even with the boost I have, I’m struggling here,’ Max mused, sight blurring. ’I don’t think he’s lying when he says he’s getting used to using the exoskeleton’s power. It really seems like he’s gotten a lot tougher.’

Max’s leg throbbed mercilessly, his frame howling in torment, leaving him clueless on handling the mess. The toll of facing two foes at once pressed down, until a shout pierced from across the arena.

"MAX!" a voice bellowed, slicing past the hall's clamor.

Peering past the pain fog, Max spotted his reliable comrade positioned there. Aron clutched the twin batons, tips crackling with electric arcs.

"ONE minute!" Aron yelled, his call reverberating everywhere. "I can give you one minute to figure out how to beat this guy, but that’s all I have!"

’One minute,’ Max echoed inwardly, nails scraping the platform as he hauled himself upright.