The atmosphere in the arena was electrifying as the crowd roared with excitement. All eyes were fixed on the fighters in the ring, waiting for the brutal battle to commence. A large cutout of a fighter was held up high, with the words "The Bonebreaker" written across it in bold letters.
The announcer's voice boomed through the speakers, his words echoing throughout the arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the main event of the evening! In this corner, we have the undefeated champion of the year, the one and only Bonebreaker!" The crowd erupted into cheers as the Bonebreaker entered the ring. His muscular frame towered over his opponent, and his fierce look showed that he was ready for battle. The veins on his biceps bulged, his adrenaline pumping through his body.
The announcer continued, "And in the opposite corner, we have an unnamed fighter, who is about to face the greatest challenge of his life. This will surely be a brutal and exciting fight!"
The Bonebreaker looked at his opponent, giving him a mischievous smile. "You're in for a world of hurt, kid," he said with a hint of arrogance.
The unnamed fighter stood his ground, trying to stay focused despite the intimidating presence of his opponent. The Bonebreaker circled him like a predator, looking for any weaknesses he could exploit.
The tension in the arena was palpable, as the crowd waited with bated breath for the first strike to be made. The unnamed fighter knew he had to be careful and stay on the defensive, as one mistake could cost him the fight.
As the two fighters stared each other down, the referee signaled for the fight to begin. The Bonebreaker let out a primal roar and charged at his opponent, fists flying. The crowd erupted into a frenzy, as the sound of flesh hitting flesh filled the air. The fight had begun, and only one would emerge victorious.
In the dimly lit VIP room, Miki's father, Sang-Hyun, stood with his arms crossed, eyes fixed on the fighters in the ring below. His sharp gaze followed their movements, analyzing their every punch and dodge.
As The Bonebreaker delivered a devastating blow to his opponent, Sang-Hyun's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Impressive," he murmured
"but I must say... it's quite unfair for The Bonebreaker's opponent."
Standing behind him, a woman with fiery red hair and a business suit nodded in agreement.
"Sang-Hyun sir, I understand your concerns, but we had limited options. The crowd demands to see Bonebreaker fight, and we couldn't find a suitable opponent--"
But before she could finish her sentence, Sang-Hyun turned his piercing gaze toward her.
"Is that so?" he said in a low, menacing voice. "Excuses, excuses... I don't need any of your excuses."
The woman flinched at his words, her eyes darting nervously around the room. Sang-Hyun's reputation was well-known in the underground fighting scene, and she knew better than to cross him.
Silence hung heavily in the air for a few moments before Sang-Hyun spoke again, his voice calm but filled with an underlying threat. "Make sure that The Bonebreaker's next opponent is... worthy," he said, emphasizing the last word.
The woman nodded quickly, her eyes downcast. "Yes, sir. I'll see to it personally."
Satisfied with her answer, Sang-Hyun turned back to the ring, his attention fully focused on the brutal fight unfolding before him.
Sang-Hyun's eyes narrowed as he watched the fight, analyzing each punch and move the fighters made. The crowd's cheers were deafening, drowning out any other sounds in the arena. He turned his gaze to the woman behind him
"Before you leave, find me a fighter with potential. The Bonebreaker needs a real challenge, not these weaklings." He pointed to the ring, where The Bonebreaker was pummeling his opponent mercilessly.
The woman nodded and turned to leave, but Sang-Hyun's voice stopped her in her tracks. "And one more thing. Find a man named Akito. He saved my daughter, and I want to see what he's capable of. There's something off about him that interests me."
The woman hesitated, unsure of why Sang-Hyun was interested in a mere civilian. "Understood, sir," she said before quickly walking away, her heels clicking on the polished floor.
Sang-Hyun's attention returned to the fight, his mind already working on how to make The Bonebreaker even more unbeatable. But the thought of Akito lingered in the back of his mind, a puzzle he was determined to solve.
Akito's muscles bulged as he lifted his body toward the ledge of his balcony. His arms trembled with exertion, sweat pouring down his forehead.
His eyes were focused on the count, his mind determined to push himself to his limits. "One... two... three..." he counted under his breath, his breaths coming out in short bursts. The wind was blowing through his hair, and the sound of cars honking and people chattering below him was distant.
As he reached the tenth repetition, his fingers started to slip. His grip was weakening, and his body felt heavy. He knew that he had to push himself harder, that he had to make it to the end. With all his strength, he pulled himself up one more time.
"Fifteen!" he shouted in triumph as he reached the top of the pull-up. His muscles were burning, and his heart was racing. He carefully lowered himself down to the ground, taking a moment to catch his breath.
As he stood up, he heard the sound of the door opening behind him. Emi had returned from her trip to the grocery store. She smiled as she saw him, her eyes admiring his toned physique.
"Hey, how was the shopping?" Akito asked, feeling his heartbeat slowly return to its normal pace.
"It was fine," Emi replied, as she started to unpack the groceries. "I got some snacks and some ingredients for dinner tonight. Do you want to help me cook?"
"Sure thing," Akito replied, his mind still focused on his intense workout. He knew that he had to keep pushing himself if he wanted to succeed in the world of fighting.
After they finished putting away the groceries, a loud knocking on the door disrupted the peaceful atmosphere of the apartment. Akito and Emi exchanged glances, both looking equally startled.
"Hello, Akito Yamamura? Are you there?" A woman's voice echoed through the door, making Akito's heart race.
Emi looked at him with a skeptical stare, trying to read his expressions. Akito's forehead glistened with sweat as he tried to compose himself.
"It's not what you think it is, I don't know who that is," Akito whispered to Emi, hoping that she would believe him
With shaky hands, he approached the door, his eyes darting to the peephole. It was the woman that Sang-Hyun had sent to recruit him.
He hesitated before slowly unlocking the door and pulling it open.
"What?" Akito's voice trembled with uncertainty, unsure of what this woman wanted from him.
The woman at the door looked at Akito with a stern expression. "I've been sent by Sang-Hyun to offer you a job," she said.
Akito's eyes widened in surprise. "Sang-Hyun? What kind of job?--" his question was cut off by her action.
she handed him a card. "This is my business card. If you're interested, come to this address tomorrow for an interview."
Akito took the card and looked at it. The name on the card read "Yoo Mi-Young," and the address was in a fancy part of town. He had never heard of the company before, but the thought of a job was tempting.
he looked at the business card and watched the woman leave.
Akito stood there for a moment, pondering on the strange encounter. He couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered within him. How did this woman know he was unemployed? It was not like he broadcasted it to the world.
He looked down at the business card in his hand, the name "Sang-Hyun" is enough to make him wonder who this man was and what he wanted with him.
Akito shook his head, trying to rid himself of these thoughts. He placed the business card in his pocket and headed back to the living room where Emi was waiting for him.
"Who was it?" Emi asked as Akito sat down next to her on the couch.
"It was just some woman, probably a job recruiter or something," he replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
Emi raised an eyebrow, sensing that something was off about the encounter.
But she decided not to push the matter any further, knowing that Akito would tell her when he was ready.
Akito leaned back on the couch, still feeling a bit unsettled. He couldn't help but wonder what was in store for him in the future.