Jake turned his fury toward Thomas, his fists shaking. "Hey, you! You caught us off guard the first time! You want a real fight? Then let's go, right here, right now!"Thomas let out a mocking, booming laugh. "Look at the little puppy barking! It’s adorable."Jake ignored the insult, looking at Sophia with desperate loyalty. "Our code in this gym is that we would rather die by the fist than cower in fear! We aren't giving up!""Brave speech. I must commend you," Jackal said, tapping the ash from his cigar onto the gym floor. "Too bad it’s just pure foolishness. Intelligence over ego, boy. Thomas, take all of them out. Let's get this bloodbath over with so I can sign the papers.""What did we ever do to you?" Sophia snapped, stepping in front of her fallen fighters. "This is my life’s work! It was my father’s life’s work! Why do you always find a way to crush people who just want to be left alone?""Strength," Jackal blurted out, his eyes turning wild. "That is what I tried to teach th

"No way..." Jake gasped, his voice cracking with disbelief. "That was my best shot! I hit him with everything!"He looked down at his own trembling hands. It felt like he had punched a mountain.Behind him, Leo and Rian looked absolutely terrified. The confidence they had walked in with had vanished, replaced by a cold, suffocating dread."My turn," Thomas rumbled.A cruel smirk spread across the giant's face. Without wasting a single second, he swung his massive fist.The motion was a blur, faster than a man that size should ever be able to move. The blow connected squarely with the right side of Jake’s jaw.The sound was sickening, like a bat hitting a leather bag. Jake didn't even have time to blink before he was launched into the air.Several of his teeth flew out of his mouth, bouncing off the floor. But Thomas wasn't done. While Jake was still mid-air, the giant stepped in close.With both of his massive fists joined together like a sledgehammer, Thomas slammed a downward blow i

He playfully wrapped his arm around Thomas’s massive waist, patting his side. "Easy, big guy! How many times have I told you to restrain yourself? You’re going to break my toys before the game is over.""Never," Thomas laughed, his voice like grinding stones."But seriously," Jackal chuckled, looking down at the mangled fighters. "If you beat them into a coma, how are they supposed to pack their bags and get the hell out of my gym?"They both let out a dark, cruel laugh that echoed through the hollow space. Jackal then turned to Sophia, a fake, mocking pout on his lips. "Oh, Sophia... I’m so sorry about Thomas. He’s such a brute force, a real animal. I truly didn't mean for things to get this messy." He watched with sadistic amusement as Leo and Rian writhed in pain on the floor."You piece of shit!" Sophia hissed, her eyes blazing with a hatred so deep it burned.Jackal’s face instantly shifted. The mock sympathy vanished, replaced by a cold, sharp gaze. "Ouch. After how nice I’ve be

Lance ignored the insults. He turned his head slightly to look at Sophia. "You helped me when I had no one. You were one of the few people who were kind to me when the world was cruel. I am not going to stand by and watch you get beaten, not when I can do something about it.""You don't understand," Sophia sobbed, her hands shaking. "HE WILL KILL YOU.""Trust me, Sophia," Lance said. It was the most certain he had sounded in years.Leo sneered, struggling to breathe. "Trust you? You’re the weakest person in this district! Everyone knows that! What are you going to do, throw a tantrum? You’re making this gym a national disgrace. You'll be dead before he even touches you!""That's pure suicide, not courage!" Jake added, his face pale with grief."Please, Lance, stop," Sophia begged, tears streaming down her face. "Don't get yourself killed because of me. They can take the gym, they can take everything, please... stop."Lance looked back at her one last time, a small, ghost of a smile to

"He is no champion to me," Lance said, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "You and your men need to crawl the hell out of here now. Come back when you have grown a spine."Jackal looked at him, his face twisting with fury. "You just signed your death warrant, beggar."Lance sneered at him, stepping over Thomas’s limp body. "Stop running your mouth. Your man lost by your own rules. You have lost. Get out of here. And one more thing..." Lance pointed a finger at the army badge pinned to Jackal’s jacket. "I’m taking that. You do not deserve it. The army should not be associated with your kind. Drop the badge and get the hell out of here.""Yeah, man!" Leo added, finding his courage. "You were defeated by an 'unwell' man, and you still think you're a king? Pfft.""SHUT UP!!" Jackal commanded, his roar echoing off the walls. He turned his burning gaze back to Lance. "You think just one win puts you among the top dogs in my town? No one humiliates me and walks out in one piece. It has