At the moment of Barrage (Patreon)

”Thud, thud!”

The thick, heavy impacts crashed into my face one after another.
My already dizzy vision shook even more, and I stumbled backward,
unable to keep steady on my feet.

Damn. That one-two punch really got to me.

It didn't hurt. My face, already swollen red and puffy, had gone past pain and was beginning to tingle with numbness.
When I wiped my swollen face, thick red blood smeared onto my glove together with the oil and sweat from my skin.
The fluorescent lights gleamed off the slick surface and slipped through the narrow gaps between my swollen eyelids.

("...I will lose.")

Round four. Since the opening bell, we had been clashing head-on in a battle of sheer stubborn pride.
I had thought we were evenly matched, but... In each round, just one or two punches.
Just one or two more clean hits landing to me.
That tiny advantage had gradually turned into a huge difference in damage.

As I shook my head unsteadily, my opponent—the younger fighter—realized the end was near.

"Senpai... for the last one, let me borrow your face."

I saw she raised her gloves and grabed it even harder.
It was the beginning of a fierce, relentless finishing rush to my body.

By the time that barrage was over, would I still be standing in the ring on my own two feet

("And to think, until recently, you were just a beginner...")

A shiver ran down my spine.

....This was exciting!!.
It had been a long time since boxing had felt this fun.

"Don't hold back. ...
Come at me with everything you've got."