An Understated Dominance - Chapter 234

After a bit of struggle, Otto slowly woke up. He had fallen face-first and lost his front teeth, which made him look even more disheveled. “What happened?” he asked, shaking his head in confusion.

He remembered feeling powerful just a moment before, enjoying his skills, but then weakness hit him, and he found himself on the floor.

“Otto, you were knocked out by that guy just now!” Julie said, her expression a mix of surprise and concern. She had thought Otto would easily defend her, but instead, he was knocked out in an instant.

“Knocked out?” Otto was surprised. He touched his aching face, a wave of anger surfacing. “No way! I must have slipped and lost my balance. That kid could never hurt me otherwise!”

His declaration drew nods from the crowd around him.

“That’s right! With Otto’s strength, he could have taken that guy down easily. It was just a moment of carelessness that let the guy sneak in an attack!” someone shouted.

“Exactly! Otto must have been too slow to dodge!” another voice chimed in.

Everyone knew about Otto’s strength and skills. After more than ten years in professional kickboxing and winning several championships, his abilities were well recognized. If he hadn’t underestimated his opponent, he wouldn’t have been taken down so quickly.

“Oh, just admit you lost and move on. There’s no point in making excuses. With your average martial arts skills, you wouldn’t stand a chance against Dustin even if he only used one hand,” Ruth said, rolling her eyes at him.

She had never seen anyone so unwilling to accept defeat.

Otto felt frustrated as he put on a brave face, even after being clearly defeated by his opponent.

“Hey! Don’t talk to me like that!” he shot back, glaring. “Everyone makes mistakes. Even the strongest horses stumble. You think that little brat is impressive? You think he’s better than me? Fine! Let him fight me again—fair and square. I really want to see what he can do.”

Julie and the others quickly joined in. “What he said! If you have the guts, let Rhys fight Otto in the battle ring and see who’s the real man!”

They all believed that Dustin had only won by luck. When it came to strength and skill, Otto was still the best.

“What? Are you too scared to face me like a man?” Otto taunted.

As Dustin stayed silent, Otto’s confidence grew. “I knew it! That brat is all talk and no action. He’ll never stand up to me!”

“He only attacks when someone’s back is turned. He’s too much of a coward to fight head-on. Typical of people like him,” Otto continued.

The room filled with disdain. The surprise they initially felt was replaced by contempt. To them, Dustin’s silence was a clear sign of his guilt.

“Look! The Harmons are here!” someone suddenly shouted.

Everyone turned to see Natasha and her group entering from the left. The King of Kicks, Mr. Wangley, Stephan, Jessica, and Quentin were with her too.

“No way! I didn’t think they’d bring Mr. Chapman along today. Now that they did…

“Wow, they must really want to win!” Otto exclaimed, his eyes widening in surprise as he spotted Stephan in the crowd.

“Who’s Mr. Chapman? Is he a good fighter?” Julie asked cautiously.

“He’s much more than that,” Otto replied. “Mr. Chapman is the best of the best. He’s one of The Hundred Immortals, and it’s hard to find anyone in Swinton who can match his skills!”

“The best among The Hundred Immortals? No wonder he stands out! The way he carries himself is truly impressive.” A group of disciples watched Stephan intently, their eyes shining with respect.

Anyone who made it into The Hundred Immortals deserved every bit of admiration they received.

“Otto, do you know Mr. Chapman?” Julie asked, intrigued. It was definitely an honor to know such a famous martial arts master in Swinton.

“Do I know him? I don’t just know him—I had the chance to learn some tricks from him, and I’m still benefiting from those lessons today!” Otto’s pride was evident in his voice.

“Of course you did! Learning from Mr. Chapman is an amazing achievement. I’m jealous!” Julie said.

“No wonder you fight so well, Otto. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!” someone added.

All the compliments made Otto feel quite proud.

While they were still chatting, Stephan suddenly approached them.

“Otto! Here comes Mr. Chapman! He seems to be walking toward you!” Julie exclaimed with excitement.

“Quick! Get ready to welcome Mr. Chapman properly!”

Otto’s face lit up. He quickly adjusted his clothes and joined the others in greeting Stephan.

“Mr. Chap-” he started, eager to impress.

But unexpectedly, Stephan barely glanced at him. Instead, he sidestepped Otto and continued on his way.

With a curious and surprised look, the amazed group watched as the famous master approached Dustin. He lifted his arms in a gesture of respect and said solemnly, “Greetings, Mr. Rhys—”