Chapter 288: The showdown
The atmosphere on the entire set turned solemn, causing Justin's heart to constrict sharply. His gaze moved back and forth between Renly and Vin. The rapid thumping of his heart left him gasping for breath. An ominous premonition lingered, almost pushing the words "cancel this shoot" to his lips, where they quivered.
"Justin, I've already given instructions," the voice of the martial arts instructor interrupted Justin's thoughts. Justin nodded toward the instructor, looking dazed. He swallowed hard, observing Renly and Vin earnestly. Yet, neither of them paid him any attention. They were fixed on the ground or the ceiling, engrossed in their preparations.
"Be careful, please be careful, don't go overboard. If needed, we can use a stunt double for this scene." Justin knew he was speaking nonsense.
They had discussed this earlier. Renly insisted on facing Vin himself. Moreover, this scene contained many close-ups and specific shots, where the effect of using a stunt double would surely be diminished. However, Justin couldn't help reiterating this point. After finishing, he nodded as if he were trying to bolster himself. "Alright then, let's begin shooting! May the shoot go smoothly!"
The usually bustling and noisy set was now eerily silent. The pervading pressure left everyone unsure of what to say. They unconsciously gazed at the two figures in the center of the area. On one hand, they anticipated the spectacular clash between the two, which would be both heart-stirring and suspenseful. On the other hand, they feared that the sparks would ignite a powder keg, losing control of the situation.
Renly stood by the shattered window, putting on his gloves. It wasn't for show; it was to prevent the broken glass from cutting his palms. His methodical and focused actions seemed to be the most meticulous task in the world. This formed a sharp contrast with Vin, who was coiled, serious, and tense, exuding an invisible tension that tightened the air's flow.
The script assistant held the clapperboard, standing in front of the camera lens. He couldn't help clenching and unclenching his teeth, his throat horribly parched. "Scene... Uh, scene seventy-one, third act, no, second act, first take. Action!" Forcing himself to finish the announcement, he slammed the clapperboard down and immediately fled the scene.
His sole thought right now was: escape.
Renly stood still, not rushing into action immediately. He slightly tucked his chin and focused his gaze, his eyes sharp, directed towards the depths of the building. The lighting inside the room wasn't bright; it was even dim. Vin seemed like a lion lurking in the corner, ready to pounce. His eyes betrayed the excitement and anticipation before a hunt. His sharp claws were already unsheathed. The dilapidated room exuded an abandoned sense of danger.
Suddenly, Renly stripped off his body armor disdainfully, finding it too obstructive. He tossed it aside, then placed both hands on the window filled with broken glass. Using the window as leverage, he leapt over the wall nimbly and entered the room. Taking advantage of his momentum, he charged forward.
However, with just one step, Vin surged forward with all his might, crashing into Renly. Renly felt like he collided with a bullet train. Every cell in his body expanded outwards, only to retract immediately. The momentary agony and torment made him grit his teeth, almost biting his tongue.
"Bang!"
Renly collided fiercely with the iron box, much like a broken ragdoll. Logically, this iron box should have been specially crafted, producing a metallic sound upon impact. The actual material used should have been lighter and softer. However, Renly's head met the iron plate with a solid thud. The immense force made his entire forehead start to reverberate, and countless stars burst into his vision in an instant.
Dammit, the props team had tampered with it again.
However, Renly had no time to ponder this because, in the next moment, Vin forcefully flung him aside. The pull of gravity dragged him, in a disheveled state, and he went flying. Coupled with dizziness, his center of gravity slipped away almost completely. There was barely any room to catch his breath before he sustained a heavy blow.
In the next second, Vin's heavy fist struck, aiming accurately at his chin. He could even distinctly feel the clash of teeth and bones. Hard and soft merged into chaos in that instant. The tide-like pain engulfed him instantly. Oxygen had yet to reach his lungs when the searing sensation of suffocation threatened to burst his chest.
"Clang!"
Renly crashed heavily into a nearby mirror. Instantly, all the glass shattered into countless pieces. Some shards even found their way into his eyes. His field of vision turned into a kaleidoscope, vibrant and dazzling. Fortunately, this glass wasn't authentic; it was a specially crafted prop. Otherwise, what Renly would be feeling now wouldn't be stinging, but rather, bloodshed.
His head felt heavy, his legs weak, his eyes ablaze, and his balance precarious. Every muscle in his body screamed in agony. Worse still, his internal organs seemed to be burning, as if they could rupture within him at any moment.
While you're vulnerable, I'll take your life.
Vin had no intentions of going easy. He seized Renly's throat in a grip, pushing forcefully. Utilizing Renly's own body weight, he slammed Renly's head harshly against the nearby iron door. As Renly staggered back, Vin followed up by thrusting the iron door forward—clang! Clang! Two consecutive impacts, resounding and solid, with no compromise. Even the iron door had dented from the force, one could hardly fathom the pain Renly's head was enduring.
Amid this fierce onslaught, Renly had no room to catch his breath. His teeth felt as if they might shatter, yet his balance still eluded him. In desperation, he disregarded these issues, gathering the last of his upper body strength. Lifting his arms, he attempted to block Vin's incoming punch akin to a descending tiger, then he pushed forward using his body's weight. However, due to his unsteady footing, his strength was inadequate.
Vin resisted with sheer determination, clasping Renly's arms between his hands. He lunged his head forward, landing a solid blow to Renly's forehead for the fourth time. Following through, he attempted to charge like a wild bull. Originally, Vin aimed to smash Renly against the wall, but the aged and dilapidated wall gave way easily. The impact shattered it like brittle wood, causing both Vin and Renly to lose their footing and tumble to the ground together.
Vin realized the urgency of the situation. He quickly scrambled to secure the advantageous position, subduing Renly beneath his knee. Raising his right fist, he swung it down forcefully, targeting Renlys head—once, and then again.
Renly felt as if the entire world had become a swirling maelstrom. The potent impact had gradually dulled into a mere vibration, resonating within him like standing at the core of the earth, sensing the might of seismic tremors. Vin showed no signs of relenting; his fists continued to rain down with increasing force, each blow resembling a shooting star. Renly's stomach churned violently, and the urge to retch revealed a new level of vulnerability.
An alarm sounded in his mind, as if his life still teetered on the edge, perpetually at risk of being extinguished right there.
Death? This was the second chance at life he had fought so hard to secure. He wouldn't surrender easily, certainly not to someone like Vin Diesel, a musclehead action star whose courage often outweighed his prudence.
He shut his eyes tightly, shutting out all external distractions. In a critical instant, he shifted his head a few centimeters to the side. Then he heard a rush of air whooshing past his ears, followed by a resonating crack as Vin's fist struck the wooden board beneath him. The wood shattered, leaving a hole in its wake. Even though it was a specially crafted prop board, the impact was still astonishing.
Renly could feel wood splinters grazing his cheeks. He lifted his knee, thrusting it upwards with the force of a dagger, penetrating Vin's spinal column. The spine—one of the human body's most vital and vulnerable areas—was struck by a sharp pain that rippled out like ripples on water. As a result, Vin surged forward, his ungainly stance unable to prevent his body from losing control amid a jumble of steel bars and cement blocks, leading to friction and collisions.
Finally, Renly felt the air around him. Cold oxygen flooded his lungs, fresh and effervescent. He had no time for further contemplation. He immediately stood up, gradually regaining his footing. This sensation, though accompanied by persistent dizziness, had been absent for so long that it filled his body with renewed strength.
In the same span, Vin also managed to rise, albeit a half-beat slower than Renly, his balance still askew.
Renly assessed the distance between them—taking one step, then another—advancing solidly with three determined strides. Capitalizing on the terrain's advantage, he launched himself into the air, and his feet connected precisely with Vin's back. The combined weight, sprint's inertia, and gravitational pull catapulted Vin's body without reservation onto Renly's, amidst...
Vin was sent hurtling, crashing through the thin wooden wall, and tumbling amidst a cascade of wood chips and stone fragments. The intense pain that erupted from his back was nearly overwhelming, and agonized moans escaped through clenched teeth. Nevertheless, Vin knew he couldn't let his guard down. Even through the agony, he struggled to his feet, using both his hands and feet, utterly unconcerned about his appearance. Unfortunately, he had still missed the opportunity.
Renly's knee was already poised and ready. With precision and ruthlessness, he lifted it, targeting Vin's chin. The upward force of the collision flipped Vin over, his center of gravity disoriented, causing the world to spin. But Renly didn't let up. Taking a swift step forward, he firmly clenched his right fist and applied unyielding pressure to Vin's head, the tremendous impact crushing onto Vin's browbone. Blood burst forth, blossoming beneath the dim and hazy light.
One punch, then another, followed by a third—an astonishingly potent combination of successive strikes. Renly raised his left foot, channeling all the strength in his body into a powerful kick to Vin's chest. Vin resembled an inflatable doll by the market entrance, his arms flailing as he was propelled backward. He ultimately collided with the corner of a wall, his body going limp, as if consciousness had been completely lost.
However, it wasn't over yet.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone