Isekai in Hajime no Ippo with Gaolang’s Template

The atmosphere in the gym was electric as Alex and Sendou stepped into the ring, their movements deliberate and focused. Alex casually slipped on his gloves, the confident smirk on his face unshaken. Across from him, Sendou mirrored the action, his own grin equal parts eager and cocky.

"Put on some headgear," Alex instructed calmly, gesturing toward the protective equipment nearby.

"I don't need it," Sendou replied, waving off the suggestion with a dismissive hand.

Alex's expression didn't waver. He met Sendou's gaze directly, his tone firm. "You will need it. Trust me."

For a moment, Sendou studied Alex, his sharp eyes scanning the champion's face. Then, with a reluctant shrug, he grabbed the headgear and strapped it on.

The two fighters met in the center of the ring, their gloves raised. With a quick tap of gloves, Alex said, "Don't hold back your punches."

"Are you sure?" Sendou asked, his voice low but tinged with excitement.

Alex's eyes locked onto Sendou's, unwavering. "I'm a champion for a reason."

Sendou's grin faded into a serious nod. "Alright," he said, his energy building.

The bell rang.

Alex assumed his Hitman stance, his left arm dangling low and his body angled slightly sideways to minimize his target. Sendou, adopting a high guard, wasted no time. He charged forward with explosive energy, throwing a left hook aimed at Alex's head.

Alex stepped back smoothly, the hook whistling past his face. Sendou immediately followed up with a powerful right straight. Alex pivoted on his lead foot, stepping outside Sendou's right and twisting his body so the punch barely grazed his shoulder.

"Damn!" Sendou muttered as he reset his position, stepping back to reassess.

Alex remained calm, his sharp eyes reading Sendou's movements with laser-like precision.

Determined, Sendou charged again. This time, he unleashed a left jab followed by a straight punch to the body. With a subtle shift, he stepped his right foot forward, seamlessly switching his stance mid-combination, and fired a left straight.

Alex continued to move backward, his movements fluid and unbothered. As Sendou transitioned, Alex saw his opening. He fired a right cross, his punch slicing through the air and landing squarely on Sendou's headgear.

The impact forced Sendou to backpedal, shaking his head to clear the cobwebs.

"C'mon!" Alex called out, his voice steady but teasing. "You can do better than that. Show me that Smash thing—the secret move you're so proud of."

Sendou's eyes lit up with excitement. His grin returned as he nodded energetically. "Don't worry," he said, his voice tinged with rising adrenaline. "I'm just getting started!"

Sendou charged again, throwing a left hook toward Alex's head. Alex leaned back, the punch narrowly missing its mark. But Sendou wasn't done. He stepped forward with his left foot, bending his body backward in an almost unnatural arch.

Alex's sharp eyes caught the shift. Sendou's body bent so far back it seemed impossible for him to maintain balance. From this low angle, Sendou's right arm cocked back like a spring, and in one fluid motion, he unleashed a ferocious right uppercut.

"This is called Smash!" Sendou shouted mid-motion, his voice filled with both pride and ferocity.

Alex, unfazed, reacted instantly. As the uppercut roared toward him, Alex dipped his head toward the punch, moving it just slightly to the right to narrowly avoid the blow. In the same instant, Alex fired an overhand right with surgical precision.

CRACK!

The punch landed cleanly on Sendou's chin, the force sending him sprawling onto the canvas. He hit the mat on his back, his arms splayed out to the sides like someone falling into bed after an exhausting day.

The gym fell silent for a moment, the only sound being Sendou's heavy breathing as he blinked up at the ceiling.

Alex stepped forward, extending a gloved hand. With a calm yet confident voice, he said, "Don't worry. I pulled back my punch."

Sendou stared up at him in shock, his hand trembling slightly as he reached out and let Alex help him to his feet.

"That… was pulled back?" Sendou thought, his mind racing as he tried to process what had just happened. "If he went all out… would I still be conscious? No… I'd probably be out cold."

Sendou's breathing steadied as he looked at Alex, a newfound respect shining in his eyes. He wasn't just facing a champion—he was facing a monster.

Alex gave him a small smirk and patted him on the shoulder. "You've got potential, but you'll need more than Smash to take me down."

Sendou let out a nervous laugh, shaking his head. "Man… what the hell are you?"

Alex didn't answer, instead turning toward the corner of the ring. The sparring session was over, but the impression Alex left on Sendou would linger far longer.

Sendo adjusted his headgear after the sparring match, his breathing heavy but controlled. His eyes, wide with awe and lingering disbelief, remained fixed on Alex.

"I've watched your fight with Iga," Sendo said, his voice breaking the silence in the gym. He scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "You really made it look easy… Sorry, I didn't take you quite seriously at first."

Alex tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. He removed his gloves, tossing them aside, and casually leaned against the ropes. "No worries," he said with a shrug. Then, with a smirk tugging at his lips, he added, "Iga's a bum anyway."

Sendo froze, his jaw dropping. "Iga cleared the lightweight division!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief. "He's not just anyone!"

Alex glanced at him, his smirk growing into a mischievous grin. "Yeah, and all of them were bums too," he said, a mix of sarcasm and confidence in his tone. Then, as if emphasizing his point, he let out a hearty laugh. "Hahaha!"

For a moment, Sendo just stared at Alex, caught between astonishment and admiration. There was something about Alex's attitude—it was brash, almost arrogant, but it was backed by undeniable skill.

Sendo's amazement turned into eagerness as he suddenly bowed deeply. "Can you give me some advice?" he asked, his voice filled with sincerity and determination.

Alex straightened up, looking at Sendo with a raised eyebrow. Sendo slowly lifted his head, and an awkward silence settled between them. The sound of the gym equipment in the background seemed to stretch the moment.

Finally, Alex crossed his arms and, with a faint smirk, said, "I'll give you some advice after you finish fighting Ippo."

Sendo's eyes widened, and he straightened up with an energetic nod. "Thank you!" he said earnestly, his voice filled with gratitude.

Alex watched him for a moment, his smirk softening into a subtle smile. As Sendo walked off, his steps seemed lighter, his resolve stronger. Alex muttered to himself, "This guy... might actually be something."

To be continued…