Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 288: The Showdown

The atmosphere on set was somewhat solemn, making Justin's heart clench tightly. His gaze kept darting between Renly and Vin, and the rapid heartbeat made him feel breathless. A sense of foreboding lingered, refusing to dissipate. He opened his mouth, almost ready to say "Cancel this shoot," the words dancing on the tip of his tongue.

"Justin, I've finished my instructions." The martial arts director's voice interrupted Justin's thoughts. He nodded blankly, swallowing hard, and carefully observed both Renly and Vin. But neither of them paid him any attention, instead focusing intently on the ground or the ceiling, completely absorbed in their preparation.

"Be careful, please be careful. Don't overdo it. If it really doesn't work, we can use a stunt double for this scene." Justin knew he was talking nonsense.

They had discussed it before, and Renly insisted on performing the scene himself. Besides, this scene had many close-ups, and a stunt double would inevitably diminish the effect. But Justin couldn't help repeating his caution. After he finished, he nodded as if to give himself a boost, "Alright then, let's start shooting! Hope it goes smoothly!"

The usually noisy set was now silent. The mounting pressure left everyone unsure of what to say, just subconsciously watching the two people in the center of the set. On one hand, they eagerly anticipated the intense showdown between the two, thrilling and gripping. On the other hand, they feared that the sparks might ignite a powder keg, causing the situation to spiral out of control.

Renly stood by the shattered window, putting on gloves—not for show, but to ensure the broken glass wouldn't cut his palms. His slow, meticulous movements were like those of someone performing the most delicate task in the world, in stark contrast to Vin's tense, ready-to-strike posture. The invisible tension made the air feel tight.

The clapperboard assistant stood by the camera, teeth chattering uncontrollably, throat dry as a bone. "Scene... uh, Scene 71, third take, no, second take, first attempt. Action!" Forcing the words out quickly, he clapped the board and fled the scene in haste.

His only thought now was to run for his life.

Renly remained still, not rushing into action. He slightly tucked his chin, his gaze focused and sharp, looking towards the depths of the room. The light in the room was dim, almost gloomy. Vin, like a lion lurking in the corner waiting to strike, had eyes gleaming with the excitement and eagerness of a predator. His sharp claws were already out, and the dilapidated room exuded a sense of dangerous decay.

Suddenly, Renly tore off his bulletproof vest, finding it cumbersome, and tossed it aside. He then braced himself against the window filled with broken glass and, with a swift motion, leaped over the wall, landing lightly in the room, continuing forward with momentum.

But as soon as he took a step, Vin charged at him with full force. Renly felt like he'd collided with a bullet train, his whole body exploding outward, then contracting again. The instant pain and torment made him clench his teeth, nearly biting his tongue.

"Bang!"

Renly crashed hard against a metal crate, like a broken ragdoll. Supposedly, the crate was specially made, designed to sound like metal upon impact while being lighter and softer in reality. But Renly's head slammed firmly against the metal, the powerful impact sending shockwaves through his skull, instantly filling his vision with stars.

Damn it, the prop team had tampered with it again.

But there was no time for Renly to think because Vin quickly flung him away. Gravity dragged him down, leaving him sprawling helplessly as dizziness overwhelmed him. Barely able to regain his balance, he was immediately met with another brutal blow.

The next second, Vin's heavy fist struck his jaw, hitting with such precision that Renly could clearly feel the clash of teeth and bone. The collision of hard and soft was utterly chaotic, and the tidal wave of pain engulfed him. Before he could even take a breath, the burning sensation of suffocation made his chest feel like it was about to explode.

"Crash!"

Renly was thrown against a nearby mirror, shattering it into countless pieces, some of which fell into his eyes, making his vision feel like it had entered a kaleidoscope, dazzling and painful. Fortunately, the glass wasn't real; otherwise, Renly would be dealing with more than just stinging pain—he'd be bleeding profusely.

Disoriented, his eyes stinging, and his balance lost, every muscle in his body screamed in agony. Worse still, his organs felt like they were burning, threatening to explode inside him at any moment.

Taking advantage of the situation, Vin showed no mercy. He grabbed Renly by the neck, pushed him forcefully, and slammed his head into the nearby iron door. As Renly staggered back, Vin smashed the door into him again, twice, without holding back. Even the iron door dented, making it hard to imagine the pain Renly's head was enduring.

In the midst of the onslaught, Renly had no chance to catch his breath. His teeth were on the verge of shattering, but he still couldn't regain his footing. Desperate, he gathered all the strength he had left in his upper body, raised his arms to block Vin's fierce downward punch, and tried to push forward with his body weight. But with his feet still unsteady, he couldn't muster enough power.

Vin held firm, then trapped Renly's arms between his own, ramming his head forward to strike Renly's forehead—dealing the fourth consecutive blow to Renly's head. Then, with a bull-like charge, Vin aimed to slam Renly into the wall. But the old wall, weakened over time, crumbled under the force, causing both of them to lose their footing and tumble to the ground.

Vin knew the situation was urgent. He scrambled to gain the upper hand, pinning Renly beneath his knee. He raised his right fist and swung down, aiming for Renly's head, over and over.

Renly felt the world spinning. The powerful impacts gradually numbed him, leaving only the sensation of constant vibration, like standing at the epicenter of an earthquake. Vin didn't relent, his punches accelerating and intensifying, like meteors crashing down. Renly's stomach churned, the urge to vomit overwhelming him with unprecedented weakness.

Warning signals blared in his mind. His life seemed to hang by a thread, as if he might actually die here.

Die? This was the second life he had fought so hard to gain; he wouldn't surrender so easily, certainly not to someone like Vin Diesel—a muscle-bound action star with more brawn than brains!

Shutting his eyes tightly, Renly blocked out all external distractions. At the last possible moment, he shifted his head slightly, just a few centimeters. He heard the wind from Vin's punch whoosh past his ear, followed by a loud crack as Vin's fist smashed through the wooden board beneath Renly, leaving a gaping hole—even though the board was specially made, it was still a powerful display.

Renly could feel the sting of wood chips against his cheek. He raised his knee sharply, driving the pointed force into Vin's spine. The spine, one of the body's most vital and vulnerable parts, sent sharp pain rippling through Vin, causing him to lurch forward. His hands and feet flailed in a desperate attempt to regain control, but he couldn't stop his body's momentum as he tumbled into a pile of steel and concrete debris.

Air. Renly finally felt air, cold oxygen rushing into his lungs, fresh and invigorating. He didn't have time to think; he quickly stood up, finally finding his balance again—a feeling he'd sorely missed, filling his body with renewed strength, though his head was still spinning.

In that brief moment, Vin had also gotten back on his feet, but he was a step slower, his balance still off.

Renly glanced at the distance between them. One step, then another, he took three solid strides forward, using the momentum to leap into the air. His feet struck Vin's back with precision, the combined force of his weight, the forward sprint, and gravity's pull landing squarely on Vin.

Vin was sent flying, crashing through the thin wooden wall, landing amidst a mess of wood chips and rubble. The intense pain radiated from his back like an explosion, almost overwhelming him. A pained groan escaped through his clenched teeth. But Vin knew he couldn't afford to let his guard down. Despite the agony, he scrambled to his feet, using both hands and feet, utterly unconcerned with his appearance. But it was too late.

Renly's knee had been waiting, aiming precisely at Vin's jaw. The upward force sent Vin reeling, his balance completely thrown off, the world spinning around him. But Renly didn't stop. He took a quick step forward, and with a firm right fist, he delivered another blow to Vin's head. The brutal impact landed squarely on Vin's brow, causing blood to spurt out, blossoming in the dim, flickering light.

One punch, then another, and a third, a series of fierce, unstoppable strikes. Renly then lifted his left foot and drove it into Vin's chest with all his might. Vin was thrown back like a deflating balloon, his arms flailing as he crashed into a corner. His body slumped down, seemingly unconscious.

But it still wasn't over.