Jaden opened his eyes slowly. His body felt heavy, and his head ached. The bright light above him made him shut his eyes back. He was lying on a hospital bed, hooked up to a drip. Punisher sat beside him, looking tired but relieved. Damon stood by the door, arms crossed, his face calm but his eyes full of worry.“Hey, kid,” Punisher said softly. “You scared the hell out of us.”Jaden blinked a few times. His throat was dry, his voice weak. “What happened?”Punisher leaned forward. “That’s what I was going to ask you. Do you remember anything? The punches, the attack — all of it?”Jaden frowned and nodded slowly. “Yeah… I was having a dream. A bad one. It felt real. I couldn’t control myself.”Punisher sighed. “A dream doesn’t make you throw punches like that, kid. You almost broke Damon’s ribs.”Damon gave a small smile. “It’s fine. I’ve had worse.” But his tone said he didn’t believe it was fine at all. He had seen the look in Jaden’s eyes that day he best up his best fighter. Puni

Jaden got back home feeling drained. His mind was heavy, his heart even heavier. Everything that had happened with Stella kept replaying in his head like a bad dream. He shut the door behind him and walked slowly to the couch. His hands trembled as he pressed them against his chest. He dropped down on the couch, feeling the pain in his muscles and the weight in his chest. “Just breathe,” he muttered to himself. “You’re in the real world. You’re home.” He shut his eyes and tried to rest, but sleep wouldn’t come. His body felt weak, his head pounding lightly. Every time he closed his eyes, flashes from the other world came again — the chains, the dust, the smell of burning fire. It felt so real that he had to open his eyes to make sure he wasn’t trapped there again. He sat up, rubbing his face. “What’s happening to me?” he whispered under his breath.* Meanwhile, somewhere across town, Xavier sat in his office. He wasn’t ready to give up on Jaden. Xavier had planned two matches be

The air in the gym was tense as Jaden and Lola faced each other inside the ring. Everyone had gone silent, waiting to see what would happen. The soft sound of gloves tightening and shoes brushing against the mat filled the room.Damon raised his hand. “Alright,” he said loudly. “Keep it clean. No full power punches. Just a friendly spar.”Lola gave a small nod and got into her stance, her eyes locked on Jaden. Jaden did the same, his breathing slow and steady. He had fought many kinds of opponents before, but there was something different about Lola. Her stance wasn’t the usual MMA form — it had a strange blend of speed, balance, and grace.“Ready?” Damon called out.Both nodded.“Fight!”Lola moved first, her steps light as she threw a fast jab toward Jaden’s shoulder. Jaden dodged it easily and countered with a low kick aimed at her side. She twisted her waist quickly, blocking his kick with her leg and stepping back with perfect timing.The crowd murmured. No one expected her to be

The crowd in the stadium was still roaring long after the fight ended. The chants for Zack filled the air, but soon, people started shouting another name.Jaden. Everyone knew he was the man behind Zack’s win. Cameras focused on him as he helped Zack leave the ring. The commentators were talking loudly about how Jaden’s coaching and calm advice helped Zack defeat the five-time champion.Xavier sat far back in the VIP section, watching quietly with a tight jaw. He didn’t clap. His hands were clenched around his drink, and his eyes stayed on Jaden.“That guy…” Xavier muttered under his breath. “If I had a fighter like him under me, I’d rule the league.”His assistant beside him said carefully, “Sir, Jaden doesn’t fight for anyone. He’s Punisher’s man.”Xavier smirked coldly. “Then maybe I’ll take someone from Punisher’s gym. If I can’t get the lion, I’ll take the cubs.”He leaned back in his seat, eyes narrowing. “Every fighter that man trains is top-notch. Maybe it’s time I make an of

Sims couldn't stop staring at Jaden as he threw his punches at the bags. The loud sound of the bag drew everyone's attention towards him. Sims laughed noticing his vibes. " I would love him to fight my best fighter here." Punisher looked at him and smiled. " Game on." The air inside Sims’ gym was heavy with heat and noise. Fighters were still buzzing from the morning session, their eyes darting toward Jaden, who stood quietly near the center mat, wrapping his hands with steady focus. Sweat glistened on his arms, but his breathing was calm — too calm for someone about to face one of Europe’s best grapplers.Vinicius “The Python” Moreira — a mountain of muscle and confidence — stood at the far end of the mat, cracking his neck and rolling his shoulders. His tattoos gleamed under the gym lights, his expression one of smug amusement. “So, this is the famous Jaden everyone’s talking about?” Vinicius said in a thick accent, his voice echoing through the room. “The guy who made Wolf