Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

With a devastating strike like a raging dragon breaching the sea, Joe obliterated the spot where Andrew had just been standing. The ring's foundation exploded, leaving a gaping hole beneath the floorboards.

However, Andrew vanished in a blur. He dodged again and again, his speed suddenly soaring.

"Mr. Driscoll, what's the matter? Didn't you take your protein shake today?" Andrew taunted, his voice light and teasing.

Joe's face darkened as he gave chase relentlessly.

Their fight had already reached a level where even the spectators could barely track their movements, and every exchange was a blur of speed and power.

Waves of violent energy rippled across the ring, so intense that even those watching below felt their breath catch from the sheer pressure.

Gary's mouth hung open in disbelief. "Is this what peak martial arts looks like? This is unreal! Mr. Driscoll's insane. He's like one of those legendary fighters you only see in old-school movies! But Andrew is holding his ground too! He hasn't gone down at all!"

Liliana snapped, glaring at him. "Shut up, Gary! Joe is the strongest, and Andrew is about to get pummeled into the floor!"noveldrama

Andrew spun back around, palms clashing directly with Joe's in a brutal impact. Both fighters were knocked back a step, but they instantly lunged forward again like two bloodthirsty gladiators.

Joe's footwork shifted subtly. He threw a right feint, but his center of gravity suddenly swung left, delivering a vicious, surprise strike aimed straight at Andrew's ribs.

Caught off guard, Andrew's shirt ripped at the side as blood streaked across his left torso. That was the ruthlessness of the external energy shield. Even without full contact, the sheer force could still cut like a blade.

Lauren let out a sharp gasp, heart pounding with panic.

Shiloh finally dropped her casual attitude, her expression turning serious. "Relax. Don't underestimate Andrew. He still hasn't gone all-out yet."

Meanwhile, Liliana, Gary, and the other lapdogs were all cheering and celebrating like a home team scoring big.

High in the stands, Walter's lips curled in satisfaction. This was exactly the kind of dominance expected from the Driscoll family's prized prodigy.

Yet, Joe's face only grew darker, his expression colder. This was not the outcome he wanted.

With his strength and pride, Andrew should have already collapsed. But instead, the man still had enough energy to evade and counter.

It was a direct insult to Joe's confidence.

"Enough. Stay still!" Joe growled low, suddenly erupting into a storm of strikes.

A rapid barrage of blows closed in around Andrew, sealing off every escape route. Then came a leaping pounce.

Joe descended from above with both fists aimed square at Andrew's head, the crushing force behind it enough to shatter concrete.

However, Andrew's face remained eerily calm. Even with death bearing down, his expression was as serene as still water. Inside his body, a second seal continued to suppress his power.

Nonetheless, this fight was exactly what he needed to not only defeat Joe but also use Joe's attacks as a hammer to crack through that second seal.

So, he did not need to go full throttle just yet.

With one step back, Andrew tilted his head, letting Joe's crushing palm slam into his chest instead.

A splash of blood burst from his mouth, but his face did not even register pain, only a strange flicker of satisfaction.

That blow had done it-it had loosened the seal even further.

Grabbing Joe's wrist with one hand, Andrew yanked it down.

Joe sneered, the scorn on his face quick but sharp. "You're already injured, and

you still want to wrestle? How delusional can you be?"

He raised his other hand like a cleaver, slicing it toward Andrew's neck with lethal intent.

Andrew simply smiled.

A loud bang sounded as he struck Joe's wrist with a brutal counter of his own, a move called Blooming Iron Tree. It was a straight-up pain bomb to the nerves.

Joe did not flinch, proving to have an iron will.

Ignoring the searing pain, he kept driving his hand toward Andrew's throat.

Andrew snorted coldly and did not even dodge. He let Joe's hand grab his neck, but in the same motion, he clamped his own fingers around Joe's throat as well.

And just like that, both men gripped each other by the most vulnerable spot, neither backing down, locked in a savage deadlock.

First, they exchanged explosive kicks beneath their feet, advancing and retreating dozens of times. Then, they applied force with their wrists, each trying to crush the other's throat.

However, whenever this happened both would simultaneously twist their bodies, forcibly dragging the other person to constantly change positions to dispel the force.