It didn't take too long for the whole thing be organized at a local school gym, god know how they managed to do that, but considering that the school was on Russian territory it wasn't so surprising that the principal agreed to let the big boss use the space for free, i.e. keep his balls exactly where they are. Word got spread fast, soon enough not only the Lagoon crew was there but also Shenhua, Eda and a strange gothic girl were also there, obviously that such honorable guests would be sharing space with Balalaika at the improvised VIP area.
"Eda, tell-me again, what the fuck are you doing here?", says Revy not happy at all with the presence of the less than holy nun and also the Taiwanese hit woman, "you too shinglich don't you have a dick to suck somewhere else?".
"shut up bitch!", Shenhua says, not happy that she had to share space with Revy, "I here to see a fight, not win one".
"yes Revy, cool down, besides, this is a good chance to see wat Romeo is made of", Eda chimes in is her usual tone.
"Eda do me a favor and keep that STD spreader you call pussy far away from Rock", Revy said, in a tone that indicated that she was about to start a fight, "you too shinglish".
"fuck you Twinkie", answer Shenhua checking her lipstick, "or perhaps you want Rock-man to do it for you".
While the three of them were almost fighting Balalaika and Dutch were simply talking, his predicaments to the fight.
"what's your bet boss?", Says Dutch watching while a bunch of excited Russians where taking their seats while himself sipped on a can of beer, "and who's gonna fight Rock?".
"I am sure he will pass Petrov and Andre with relatively ease, but is Boris who's worrying me", Balalaika was starting to regret her decision, but she couldn't go back on her word, "none of them will take it easy, but the Sargent can get a little carried away".
"if Rock is half what Revy said he is when she saw him fighting on those tapes, so your worries should be regarding your man", Benny chimes in, "besides, I am betting the same as you, Ms. Balalaika".
Soon enough the riot that was that gym comes to a halt when in the middle of an improvised octagonal ring made with ropes and chair one of the soldiers scream as loud as he can.
"is everybody ready?!", the crowd explodes with cheer enthusiasm as the fighter walk inside the 'ring'.
"on the left, the Japonski, measuring 1,73 in height and weighing 173 kg… RRRRRock", the MC exclaims while the crowd goes in a mixture of crazy animation and confusion, "on the right, him, the man with the iron chin, measuring 1,83 in height and weighing 102 kg… Petrrrrrov".
The crowd once again goes crazy while the fighters take their places and wave to them, meanwhile the 'referee' explain the rules, no shoes, no shirts, no ties, no eye pokes and no ear bites, after both of them complies to the rules they go to their respective corners and take to prepare for the brawl and while doing so the crowd goes dead silent, for a second Petrov tough they must be impressed by his physic, in reality, well, he was right about they being impressed by someone's physic… but wasn't his and as soon as he turns around he sees Rock naked torso and realizes just how much fucked he was, the guy looked like he was carved out form a block of stone, each muscle in his body looked as firm and hard as well… rock and riddled with battle scars, some looked like made by claws , others by teeth's and mostly important some of them were made by blades, this was especially impressive considering his small frame compared to himself.
Obviously such view didn't go unnoticed by the non-blood related ladies of the crowd and in synchrony the four of them spit whatever they were drinking.
"sweet baby Jesus! what was good just got better!", exclaimed Eda cleaning her mouth at the same time which she was almost drooling, "Romeo is cut like a diamond!".
"u-hum!", was all that came out of Shenhua's mouth while now she was with her eyes wide open, she indeed felt that time that Rock was way better built that he looked, she just couldn't imagine it was that good.
Revy was about to say something, but noticed that the mysterious goth girl was actually drooling at Rock.
"hey, who's that thirsty spooky-chick?", she getting the attention of the other two women.
"that Sawyer", Says Shenhua snapping out of that.
"like the cleaner?", Eda asks, confused, just like Revy, sure she knew the name, every thug worthy half his salt knew the name, but only a handful knew the face.
"not like the cleaner, she is the cleaner, Sawyer 'the cleaner'".
Once again those three, alongside with a bunch of people around them reacted explosively with the revelation, although the girl itself didn't even cared about that, she was too busy whistling with her fingers inside her mouth at the sight of two, very well built and shirtless men ready to kick the shit out of each other.
"are YOU ready!?", said the referee pointing to Rock.
"Yes", the Japanese calmly answered.
"are YOU ready!?", he says pointing to Petrov.
"DA!", screamed the Russian with passion.
The referee then took three steps back, placing his hand between the two man, one last look at them and the signal to begin is given and the starts.
Petrov advances with speed against a seemingly immobile Rock, swinging a left hook with all his strength, but this is not enough, actually it wasn't even close to be enough to catch Rock off guard and with one swift and fluid movement Rock doges the punch and hits Petrov in the chest making him come to a sudden stop, next thing the Russian knew was that Rock took a grab of his left wrist and had put him to the ground restricting him by said wrist and with a single blow to the chin Petrov is out cold on the floor, the first round ended in less than five and a half seconds.
Suddenly, silence and then a choir of voices, a mix of cheering tones and angry cries, probably coming from the ones who made a bet on Petrov who now lays cold on the concrete flood and was being dragged by two of his comrades who were trying to wake him up while Andre took his place inside the ring, now well aware that the youngest recruit wasn't to be taken lightly he soon toke his stance and so did Rock, since he won his first fight using systema, now he would use sambo.
"now, on the right corner, measuring 1.92 in height and weighting 105 kg, Andrrrrre!"
Once again the referee takes his position and do the check, this time none of them answer verbally, they just nod as soon and as the signal is given the two of them circle around the ring, analyzing each other for a feel seconds, before Andre throws the first punch, to his unfortunately surprise Rock doges it, by getting down and dashing to reduce the reach disadvantage and to the shock from both Andre and the crowd he was fast as the wind and as soon as he is in effective range Rock gives a powerful kick that hits Andre's liver like a tank, that wasn't enough to make him pass out, but was enough to make an opening, right what Rock needed.
He then retook his higher stance and proceeded to execute a brutal, beautiful and fast sequence of six punched, three with his left and three with his right, all directed to Andre's face and head, Andre didn't know but Rock was holding himself pretty tightly, he didn't want to kill his comrades, but what Andre did know was that Rock hit like a fucking tank, he was already knocked out by the second Right punch and like his predecessor he felt down to the floor, knocked out cold and bleeding from his now broken nose, this match lasted a little much longer, but still, ten and a half seconds was impressive.
The wailing of her men and the guests managed to make Balalaika smirk, he was impressed and proud that Rock kept his martial training during the years she was far away, but the smirk came to a quick end when she remembered that his beloved nephew still needed to trespass his last opponent and this would be a lot of things except easy.
"shit!, I knew Romeo was good, but that must be a joke", said Eda cursing the heavens, she certainly had put a bet on Andre.
"now that I think about it I got off pretty easily that day", Revy touched her temple with the tip of her fingers as she just remembered the punch she got the day Rock got kidnapped but soon she opens a smile upon noticing the sower expression on Shenhua and Eda's face, "looks like someone lost a good chunk of cash".
"shut up Twinkie!", Shenhua was in the worst mood possible, she had really lost a good chunk of money on a bet, but soon that rage disappears when she sees the expression on Sawyer face, "what so funny?".
"he is my type", the goth speaks with the help of her electro larynx since her throat was cut, the electrical voice really added to her creepiness, "compact, strong, gentle and caring. My type".
"wait, do you know Rock?", Revy was confused, how that creep-chick knew her partner?
"yes, he helped me two weeks ago during a cleaning for Hotel Moscow, when a group of thugs tried to attack us he kept me safe after my chainsaw broke and after the fight he was really concerned about me, he even got me to the hospital after I twisted my ankle, after that we have been talking a lot with each other, fun fact, we have the same taste for cringe horror movies".
The look on the rest of the women was one of a mix of "what the fuck?" and "how the fuck?", sure Rock had an incredible talent to make friends with the kinds of the city, shit, even Bao who hated everybody looked to have a soft spot for the Japanese, but still, it was creepy as hell how much he was able to get along with someone as scary as Sawyer, but then again, when your aunt is THE scariest person in the city you learn a thing or two about getting along around scary people.
Soon enough the main event was ready to happen, the Sargent took his place inside the ring and was ready to engage in a good brawl and Rock had to admit, the guy was a fucking bear, just like himself he was ripped as fuck and covered in battle scars, although most of them were originated from bullets.
"and now, for the main event, he stands tall and proud at the left corner, measuring unbelievable 2.10 in height and weighting astonishing 150 kg of pure muscle and soviet might, him, the man, the myth, the legend, the one who all of us envy and fear, the all mighty Siberian bear, BORRRRRIS!"
The crowd goes crazy, stomping their feet on the ground and howling like wolfs, even Balalaika was shaken, proud of both Rock and Boris and for the first time this whole show started, Rock seemed to be anxious, not with fear, maybe a little, but with expectation, even Boris seemed to be giddy with the hype of a good fight.
The two man were facing each other on the center of the ring at mere inches apart from each other, both smiling like kids in a candy store, the air around them was booming with the cheering of the crowd, even the captain looked excited, obviously the bets were being placed and most of them were against Rock and within good reason, the Sargent was towering over him and the pure pressure of his figure was making Rock's stomach squirm, but Rock wouldn't be seen chickening out and running away with his tail between his legs and after a fell seconds the referee gives the signal to start both of them take their stances, Boris had assumed a more orthodox stance, he clearly was seasoned fighter and a true master on what he knew, meanwhile Rock assumed the normal standing stance of the Okinawan karate, ready to take the first punch.
What he didn't expect was the speed and force that said punch came, he almost hadn't time to respond, but his training still deeply ingrained in his muscle making him as fast and affectively possible divert the punch, grab Boris's right forearm, pull him closer and hit him three times in the ribs before the Sargent freed himself from his vise like grip by hitting him wince in the head with his left.
Now they were on fire, the taste of blood in their tongues and the smell of sweat in their noses only made the adrenaline in their vein pump even harder than before and the result of such chemical reactions was something that could only be described as dance of violence and brutality, both of them were covered in blood and bruises after apparently endless ten minutes where no quarter was given, their faces swollen and big smiles on their kips, the crowd had long fallen into silence, all of them sitting at the edge of their assents and breathing heavily with the anticipation while the song of flesh and bone colliding and breaking filled the air. None of them wanted to give up, none of them was giving a single inch and both of them were fighting like their lives were on the line, at this sight Balalaika was feeling the pressure and was about to order that the fight stopped, bur them both Boris and Rock hit each other with a mighty punch that make both of them fall into the ground and into the puddle of sweat and blood created by the fight, the gym was so silent that a you could hear a pin drop while both of them were passed out in an apparently draw, but them by what looked like be the cheer force of his stubbornness and a clear demonstration that he have guts and that he also must have balls made of steel, Rock gets up, exhausted, covered in bruises and blood, but victorious while the crowd explodes he them demonstrate is force and respect for his comrades by helping Boris to get up and taking him to the dressing room.
A fell minutes later after the end of the tournament Revy had ran to the dress room where Rock and Boris where, she was worries sick about her partner, the dude got one hell of a beating down there, sure seeing Rock showing his badassery was one hell of turn on for her, but still the guy looked he was about to collapse at any given moment, but when she got there she could hear him laughing with the Sargent, a painful laugh but still laughing, just like a little child who just had the best day of his life.
"damn! I don't remember the last time a I had so much fun in a brawl", says Rock while putting his nose back in place.
"me too boy", said Boris holding his sides in pain, "shit, you messed up my ribs pretty good".
"looks like someone had fun", Balalaika speaks coming by the same way Revy had come while smoking a cigar, "Rock, I am impressed and proud of you".
"me too boy, for someone so small you pack one hell of a punch", exclaimed Boris patting Rock's shoulder.
"unfortunately, due to your injuries I believe it will be impossible for you to participate the tournament", she said with true regret in her voice, Balalaika was really impressed with the tenacity and strength of her nephew, but she wouldn't risk his life putting him in fight to the death while he sustained so much damage, "don't worry, you will get well paid for your efforts and I had to admit, that was one hell of a fight".
Revy than comes in, she was expecting Rock to kick up a fuss, argue, plead and even beg, but what came out of his mouth made her jaw drop.
"don't worry aunt, I will be good as new in a fell second".
"Rock, I know you want to prove your value, but as your captain and as your aunt I can't put you in fight while you are so badly injured, it would be suicide from your part and irresponsibility from mine, take it, get your pay and take some time off!", she was getting annoyed, unfortunately stubbornness was a family trait, one of the fell she really hated, "and don't even try to give some bullshitical explanation of why you should fight!".
"alright, just let-me show you something, after that if you would still insist in me not fighting so I will not protest".
As soon as he said that Shenhua and Sawyer had joined Revy in her quest to the dress room and they got there just in time to see rock seemingly collapse, but then something strange happened from his body a strange kind of blackish red smoke had started to get expelled trough his nose while white vapor was being expelled by his skin, Balalaika, Boris, Revy, Shenhua and Sawyer were all confused and in shock and the shock only got worse when after less than twenty seconds all his wounds and bruises were all healed without leaving any scars.
"good as new", he says lumping out of the bench and making stretches, while everybody else was with his mouths hanging open and with 'what the fuck?!' expressions, "alight, explanations".
"yes, explanations! How you know the heavenly healing technique?!", Shenhua screamed from the door.
"my sensei taught me, was part of the final stages my training", Rock answered while looking at the confused looks of the other, "the heavenly healing technic is a healing technic created by the great sages of ancient china, is almost a lost knowledge now, but still is impressive, this technic involves qigong, which is chi manipulation, pharmaceutical, herbology and acupuncture it's said that the great masters of yore were able to resurrect the dead using the heavenly healing, but I am stuck in the stage of curing cancer and re-growing lost limbs, so suffice to say, I never had to spent a single dime on doctors for the last four years".
Now the already confused crowd became even more lost.
"right, let-me demonstrate", he said kicking a bucked on the direction of Boris and getting behind him after taking a hold of his left wrist and placing his finger's tips at the top of the Russian spine, "all right Sargent, close your eyes and relax, you will fell a little heat, but don't fight back, also depending on what I found you may need to throw up so do it on the bucket".
After a fell second of calming the Russian, Rock started the proceeding and the same thing that happened to him happened to Boris and in less than a seconds he was good as new and at the same time he felt his stomach bursting with a terrible tasting and viscous mucus like substance, inevitably he puked on the bucket.
"the fuck is that?!", screamed Revy while the putrid smell filled the room.
"that, Revy, is his lung and prostate cancer, is healed now, so he gained a fell more decades in his lifespan…if he survives this criminal life".
"I next!", Screamed Shenhua running to bench and sitting with his back facing Rock, "come on dumbass!".
"fine! But if you gonna use my services next time you will had to pay", he answers her making the same thing he did with the Sargent, first exanimating.
He gets close to the woman's and whispers something in Cantonese that makes her blush, certainly that was too personal for him to speak loudly, the Taiwanese hit woman gave him the green light to treat what he said at the same time she made a face that clearly meant that someone is gonna die in a very painful and slow way and after she was cured it was her time to puke on the bucket, Rock then extended his hand to his aunt asking her to sit down and let him treat her.
Balalaika sat on the bench and before Rock started she said in Russian and in a very serious tone, "left that alone".
He nodded in agreement, he knew what she was talking about, his aunt always wanted kids, but never would be able to have them herself due to past injuries, but now she also couldn't have them because they would be in constant danger and put her in constant danger so she told her nephew, the closest thing of a son she have to keep what makes her unable to conceive intact. And so he did after a whole five minutes he had finished and now it was her time to puke and she puked a lot.
"the fuck is all that?", said Sawyer scared at the scene.
"lung and breast cancer, liver damage, kidney stones, one clogged artery, ulcer and gastritis, while I was healing I took the chance to clean and reinforce her respiratory, circulatory and digestive systems, her kidneys, heart, liver, nerves, brain, muscles and bones I also fixed some blood vessels inside her skull that could cause a stroke in the near future".
"damn, that is amazing!", said Boris after recovering from the puke session, "I feel like I am at least 20 years younger".
"I feel the same", says Shenhua making stretches, "you should open a business, sure you would make big money".
"thanks but…", Rock doesn't even get to finish the phrase before falling to his knees, his vision blurred and his body heavier than normal, "shit! Revy can you give a lift? I don't feel good to drive".
"what happened?!", Revy screams while she, Sawyer and Boris run to help him stand back.
"it's the drawback, the heavenly heal uses the chi of the user as energy, I just used more chi than I tough".
"are you ok boy?!", said the Sargent, really concerned.
"yes, I am fine…I am just exhausted", Rock explained getting back on his feet, "I just need to rest a little".
Revy then tosses his shirt and helps him putting it, after that both them, Shenhua and Sawyer leave the dress room, sometime latter does Balalaika and Boris.
"something wrong captain?", says Boris inside the black sedan while seeing Balalaika looking through the window with a confused look.
"I am just surprised", she says while holding a non-lit cigar in her hand, "it's hard to believe that Rock learned such thing, but then again is hard to doubt when you can feel the results".
She was shocked and above that in disbelief, sure Rock told that about this, but then again she though he was drunk, or joking or both, Rock really didn't have secrets with her, maybe except the secrets that aren't only his.
"what do you think Sargent? Should I allow him to fight?", she says lighting the cigar and taking a deep drag, letting the smoke fill her lungs before blowing it out.
"the boy has guts and iron fists, not a single movement was sloppy or poorly executed, if he wasn't holding back not only me but also Petrov and Andre would have died, I can't think in anyone better to be our fighter than him".
She put a lot of tough in it, she weighted the pros and cons of such decision and at the end of the car ride Balalaika decided to keep her word.
Meanwhile at the other side of town Revy was finishing her explanation of what in the fucking hell happened at the dress room, causing the obvious disbelief of her coworkers.