Ch.2083 seconds
by fnovelpia
[Kim Donghu’s expression when the referee urgently stops the match.jpg]
(Photo)
-Huh? He took three punches in the Olympics though?
-This guy is confused about what stage he’s on
-I strongly felt I needed to control my power
-If that last uppercut had connected, it could’ve been really bad
[Kim Donghu’s boxing style confirmed by this match (analysis)]
-What’s insane about him is that he doesn’t generate power by hitting accurately
-He hits accurately with powerful fists and it’s just crazy
-It’s hilarious when haters say his stamina is a weakness lol
-From the start, who needs stamina against him when no one except full dopers lasts beyond round 1?
ㄴI agree
ㄴThe fact is opponents are genuinely gasping for breath in round 1
ㄴThe pressure Kim Donghu applies directly affects their stamina
ㄴMakes them unable to pace themselves, must be exhausting
ㄴI carefully think he might be a flawless athlete
ㄴAgree
ㄴHe’s completely conquered the amateur level, though pro might be different
ㄴLol what? No one has ever risen to pro level with this kind of record
[The semifinal opponent is going to have a serious headache]
-Need something to analyze but it ended too quickly
ㄴThat ended too quickly;; (X)
ㄴI could end that quickly too against him (O)
ㄴBut his condition seems absolutely peak this time
ㄴIt’s not just his face glowing, his whole body seems to be radiating light;
Just as the community posts described.
Yerzhan, the Kazakh boxer who would face Kim Donghu
in the semifinals, felt a quiet tension.
“Now there’s an insurmountable wall in amateur heavyweight boxing.”
“That doesn’t mean we’re running away though.”
“Right, we have to win, or… move to professional heavyweight and call him out.”
Kim Donghu.
The monster rookie who suddenly emerged at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
About 4 minutes.
That’s how long it took him to sit on the heavyweight throne.
“Usually these Asian Games are split between Uzbekistan and us.”
“It’s fine, I don’t care about silver or bronze anymore anyway.”
Yerzhan nodded bitterly at his coach’s words.
Since amateur boxing doesn’t hold 3rd/4th place matches,
losing in the semifinals automatically confirms a bronze medal.
“Avoid Kim Donghu and get silver, face him and get bronze. Everyone knows that.”
This isn’t an excuse.
Such articles were consistently published.
Some even said that a bronze medal earned fighting Kim Donghu was more legitimate.
“No, that’s not it.”
“Huh?”
“The medal doesn’t matter, this is just a proving ground.”
To confirm whether I can stay in heavyweight.
And whether I’m ready to go professional.
With those words, Yerzhan prepared his best.
And so August 29th, the Asian Games boxing heavyweight semifinal, arrived.
Ding!
The bell signaling the start of the round rang.
‘Hmmph, here I go!’
Immediately, Yerzhan shifted gears.
If he couldn’t last long anyway, he’d change strategies.
‘I’ll push with full contact from the start.’
Keeping distance wouldn’t create variables.
But in close quarters, there might be a chance for something unexpected.
Believing this, Yerzhan stuck close to Kim Donghu.
Swoosh.
As he closed in, he slightly extended his head to bait a jab.
He planned to build his fight around this and…
Whack!
As if responding, Kim Donghu’s fist flew.
‘Got it!’
Whatever his intention was,
the moment Yerzhan saw the punch coming, he turned his head.
Simultaneously, he swung his back hand to land an invisible counter, but…
BOOM!
“Kuk!”
Midway, Kim Donghu’s fist curved and struck his chin directly.
When hit, retreat no matter the situation.
This was the promise between Yerzhan and his coach.
‘I need to avoid, whatever follow-up comes!’
Backing away was the priority.
But he couldn’t.
The moment he allowed a clean hit, Kim Donghu’s back hand was already coming.
‘Shoulder roll? Guard?’
The time to decide was short.
Too many things to judge at once.
In this confusion, his response came from the training he’d built up over years.
Thud!
As if saying he’d give up his chin but not victory,
Yerzhan instinctively curled his body and blocked the liver shot with his arm.
Or more accurately…
‘It feels like being hammered down.’
It would be correct to say he sacrificed his arm.
That blow placed a major restriction on his right arm.
Then he’d finish with his remaining left arm.
Next round? Impossible, of course.
‘Properly, I need to hit his chin properly!’
With that single thought, as he straightened from his curled position…
BOOM!
As if waiting for this, Kim Donghu’s fist smashed into his abdomen.
The abdomen, the most hardened part of a boxer’s body.
“Ugh…!”
That abdomen, which had become an airbag absorbing impacts through many fights, broke.
His internal organs twisted, and the shock spread throughout his body.
His brain, already shaken from the earlier clean hit, took damage again.
“Keurk…!”
Thud.
His body collapsed.
Round 1, 1 minute 2 seconds.
The time it took to end what felt like an eternity.
++++++
Just after the Asian Games heavyweight semifinal match ended.
“…Aaah!”
Thud.
<Tarzan> producer Berillard Ice fell to his knees in the stands watching the scene.
How powerful and wild this sight was.
Truly <Tarzan> himself.
It was now hard to imagine Tarzan as anyone else.
‘Yes, there’s been too much noise about diversity lately, but this is real diversity.’
Actively employing the diverse actors everyone had been calling for.
Adding Kim Donghu to that would be nothing short of perfect.
“If only the musical part works out…!”
He was already looking forward to that day.
Thud.
“Ooh… such strength worthy of a muse! Truly refined wildness!”
“Ah… how can he be so beautiful.”
“This is Louis Vuitton, Louis Vuitton incarnate!”
Someone next to him fell to their knees in the exact same way.
A trio dressed head to toe in luxury brands.
Whoever they were, they seemed quite dramatic.
‘Acting so close to Kim Donghu when they’re not even related.’
I have an extremely deep relationship with him though.
While Berillard Ice felt an inexplicable sense of superiority…
『The gold medal’s owner already decided? One step away from the birth of Asia’s king』
『A rapid generational shift? Kim Donghu, heir to the King of Boxing』
『Consistent retirement recommendations! “Quit if you don’t want to get hurt”』
『Random Netflix surge? Kim Donghu’s short film <Cutting the Knot> hits #1 overseas!』
Reporters were quickly sending out articles.
Due to the boxing schedule, the final match would be on September 1st.
With about two days of rest, they were working to maintain public interest.
And in this situation, Kim Donghu was…
“…I really can’t do this anymore, it hurts.”
“Huh? What does?”
“Pretending not to know is a bad habit.”
Plop.
He took a sudden piece of clothing to the face.
The fluttering fabric gently settled, covering his face.
“I never dreamed you’d be such a beast.”
At Yerim’s words, Kim Donghu shrugged.
“Isn’t this normal?”
“…This is so different from what my friends talk about, how is this normal?”
Laughing in disbelief, Yerim slipped under the blanket.
Her face showed obvious exhaustion.
There was a strange vitality in her expression, but physically she looked completely drained.
“We’re really like a weekend couple. Meeting rarely and then passionately clinging to each other…”
“It’s because we’re both busy, that’s all.”
“After today, when will we meet again?”
At this sudden question, Kim Donghu thought for a moment.
At the same time, he studied Yerim’s face.
Black bob hair and a face that strangely reminded him of a cat.
She looked sharp, but gave the impression of Puss in Boots.
“Next time we meet will probably be in Paris, right?”
“Paris?”
“Yeah, because we both still want to work.”
“Right, that’s true.”
They were just 22 years old.
An age with too many things they wanted to do.
That’s why this was the best they could do for now.
As they both somewhat accepted this,
Just as Kim Donghu was about to leave the room to train again…
“I’m going to get married and have a child before I’m thirty.”
That statement stopped Kim Donghu in his tracks.
“Huh?”
“That’s my life plan, you’ll cooperate, right?”
Then Yerim pointed her finger at Kim Donghu’s lower body,
before naturally poking herself with the same finger.
“I don’t start anything unless I’m ready to take responsibility.”
“That’s reassuring, so reassuring it’s almost annoying.”
“Then I’ll come back with a gold medal, manager.”
With those words, Kim Donghu left to train,
and Shin Yerim watched his retreating figure with satisfaction.
“I don’t start anything unless I’m ready to take responsibility.”
No matter how many times she repeated it, it seemed like such a Kim Donghu thing to say.
++++++
September 1st.
The day before the closing ceremony of the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games.
With many finals scheduled for that day,
broadcasters carefully planned their coverage times.
“Kim Donghu’s match will end quickly, so definitely broadcast it.”
“Understood!”
“Other matches take about an hour! But not Kim Donghu’s!”
“Donghu finishes in 5 minutes! And all 5 minutes are highlights! We absolutely can’t miss it!”
“Yes sir!”
They decided to focus on broadcasting Kim Donghu.
Though other finals were happening too,
they took advantage of boxing’s quick finish times.
<“Ah, now! The player introductions have just finished and the match is about to begin.”>
<“The finals definitely have a different atmosphere and cheering. So many people are here supporting!”>
<“Professional boxers are also present. I can see Drake Gym! Where Kim Donghu trained.”>
<“And as I’m speaking! The match begins!”>
Ding!
And so the boxing final began.
While everyone took Kim Donghu’s victory for granted…
Boom!
As soon as the bell rang, Kim Donghu moved first.
But there was one difference – his speed was incomparable to what he’d shown before.
<“Ah! He’s fast! Incredibly fast!”>
<“He’s already penetrated?! In the blink of an eye!!!”>
The commentators and caster immediately got excited.
Even as his opponent Murodov tried to react and move…
Like a cavalry charging with a lance…
KWAGAGAGAK!
Kim Donghu’s fist pierced through Murodov’s guard and struck his solar plexus.
BOOM!
A sound like a cannon firing.
<“A direct hit out of nowhere!”>
<“Wh-what! His feet! Murodov’s feet have left the ground!”>
In an instant, Murodov’s body rose into the air.
KWADANG.
He flew from the center of the ring all the way to the edge.
And immediately the countdown began.
“1! 2! 3!”
It all happened just 3 seconds after the match started.
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