---
"Experience is the best teacher," explained Lin to Daniel, his tone firm. "You've learned many things, but you don't have any experience."
Daniel wiped the sweat from his brow, looking up at Lin with a mix of apprehension and curiosity. He had been training under Lin's strict guidance for weeks now, pushing his body and mind to new limits. But despite all the progress he'd made, Daniel knew there was still a gap between theory and reality. He had learned countless techniques, perfected his form, and built up his strength—but he had yet to test any of it in a real fight.
"What do you mean?" Daniel asked, though he suspected he already knew the answer.
Lin crossed his arms, looking at Daniel with a serious expression. "You know how to fight, but you don't know how to win. You've never faced an opponent who's truly trying to hurt you, who won't hold back or pull their punches. You need to experience that if you're going to survive."
Daniel felt a chill run down his spine. He had seen the violence that could erupt in a real fight, the brutality that could leave someone broken and bleeding on the ground. The idea of facing that himself, without the controlled environment of a dojo or a training session, was terrifying.
But Lin was right. All the training in the world wouldn't mean anything if he couldn't apply it when it mattered most.
"So, what do we do?" Daniel asked, trying to keep the tremor out of his voice.
"We find you a fight," Lin said simply.
---
A few nights later, Lin took Daniel to a part of the city he had never been to before. It was a rough neighborhood, the kind of place where you kept your head down and your eyes open. The streets were narrow and dimly lit, the air thick with tension. Lin led Daniel through a maze of alleyways until they arrived at an unmarked door at the end of a dead-end street.
Lin knocked three times, and after a brief pause, the door creaked open to reveal a burly man with a scar running down his cheek. He looked them up and down before stepping aside to let them in.
Daniel hesitated for a moment before following Lin inside. The door closed behind them with a heavy thud, sealing them in. They descended a narrow staircase, the sounds of the city fading as they went deeper underground.
At the bottom of the stairs, they emerged into a large, dimly lit room. The air was thick with the smell of sweat and the sound of bodies colliding. Daniel's eyes widened as he took in the scene before him. It was an underground fighting arena, a place where the rules were few and the stakes were high. The walls were lined with people, all shouting and cheering as two fighters brawled in a makeshift ring in the center of the room.
"This is where you'll gain your experience," Lin said, his voice barely audible over the noise. "These fights are real. There's no padding, no referee to stop things if they get out of hand. You'll need to rely on everything you've learned to survive here."
Daniel swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. The idea of fighting in a place like this was both terrifying and exhilarating. He knew this was the kind of test he needed, but he wasn't sure if he was ready.
"You'll fight tonight," Lin continued. "No backing out. This is the best way for you to see what you're really made of."
Daniel nodded, trying to suppress the rising tide of fear in his chest. He knew Lin was right, and there was no turning back now.
They waited for what felt like hours, watching as fighter after fighter took their turn in the ring. Some fights were quick and brutal, ending in a matter of seconds. Others dragged on, with both fighters giving everything they had until one finally fell. The crowd roared with each victory and booed each defeat, the energy in the room electric.
Finally, it was Daniel's turn. Lin nudged him forward, and he climbed into the ring, his legs feeling like jelly. His opponent was already waiting for him—a tall, muscular man with a cruel smile on his face. The man looked like he had been through a hundred fights and was eager for one more.
The crowd quieted down as the two fighters squared off, the tension in the room thick. Daniel could feel the eyes of everyone on him, waiting to see if he would rise to the occasion or crumble under the pressure.
"Remember your training," Lin called out from the sidelines. "Stay calm, stay focused, and don't hesitate."
Daniel took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. The bell rang, and the fight was on.
His opponent wasted no time, charging at Daniel with a flurry of punches. Daniel barely had time to react, instinctively raising his arms to block the onslaught. He stumbled backward, trying to create some distance, but the man was relentless.
"Don't back down!" Lin shouted. "Use what you've learned!"
Daniel gritted his teeth, forcing himself to focus. He remembered Lin's training—how to evade, how to counter, how to stay on his feet. He started to see the openings in his opponent's attacks, the moments where he could strike back.
When the man threw another punch, Daniel ducked under it and countered with a quick jab to the ribs. The man grunted, momentarily stunned, and Daniel followed up with a kick to the side. It wasn't enough to take him down, but it gave Daniel a small surge of confidence.
His opponent recovered quickly, launching another series of attacks. This time, Daniel was more prepared. He dodged and weaved, blocking and countering when he could. The fight became a dance, with both men trading blows and testing each other's limits.
But Daniel was still inexperienced. He could feel himself getting tired, his movements slowing down as the fight dragged on. His opponent, on the other hand, seemed to be getting stronger, pressing the attack with renewed vigor.
In a moment of desperation, Daniel remembered something Lin had taught him. He shifted his stance, drawing on the principles of Aikido to redirect his opponent's momentum. When the man lunged at him, Daniel sidestepped and used the man's own force to throw him off balance.
The move worked. The man stumbled, his guard dropping for just a second. Daniel seized the opportunity, delivering a powerful roundhouse kick to the side of his opponent's head. The man went down, dazed and unable to get back up.
The arena fell silent, everyone staring at the ring in surprise. Daniel stood there, panting and covered in sweat, hardly believing what had just happened.
Lin stepped forward, a rare smile on his face. "Good job," he said, his voice filled with approval. "You did exactly what you needed to do."
Daniel nodded, too exhausted to speak. He climbed out of the ring, his body aching but his spirit soaring. For the first time, he felt like all the training, all the pain, had been worth it.
"You're starting to get it," Lin continued as they left the arena. "But this is just the beginning. Now that you've tasted what a real fight is like, you'll understand why we train so hard."
Daniel knew Lin was right. The fight had been a wake-up call—a brutal reminder of what he was up against in the real world. But it had also shown him that he was capable of more than he had ever imagined. He was stronger, faster, and more resilient than the boy who had been beaten up in an alley just a few months ago.
---
The next few days were intense. Lin pushed Daniel even harder in their training, focusing on building his strength and endurance. They spent hours running drills, lifting weights, and sparring. Lin's training was brutal, but Daniel could feel himself getting stronger, his body adapting to the relentless pace.
One evening, as they were finishing up a session, they ran into someone familiar—Logan, the thug who had beaten up Daniel before Lin had stepped in. Logan sneered as he spotted them, clearly looking for trouble.
"Well, well, if it isn't the fat kid and his babysitter," Logan taunted, cracking his knuckles. "You think you're tough now? Let's see if you can handle a real fight."
Lin stepped back, allowing Daniel to take the lead. "This is your fight, Daniel. Show him what you've learned."
Daniel nodded, his eyes narrowing as he faced Logan. He wasn't the same helpless victim Logan had beaten up before. He was stronger now, and he was ready to prove it.
Logan charged at Daniel, his movements aggressive and unrefined. But Daniel wasn't intimidated. He sidestepped Logan's first attack, using his momentum against him just as Lin had taught him. Logan stumbled, clearly surprised by Daniel's agility.
"You've gotten faster," Logan growled, shaking off his surprise. "But I've learned some new tricks too."
Logan shifted his stance, adopting a more calculated approach. Daniel recognized it as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a style focused on grappling and submissions. Logan lunged at Daniel, trying to close the distance and take him to the ground.
But Daniel was ready. He remembered Lin's lessons in Aikido and Kyokushin Karate, focusing on maintaining his balance and using his opponent's force against them. When Logan tried to grab him, Daniel countered with a well-timed throw, sending Logan crashing to the ground.
Logan scrambled to his feet, furious. He rushed at Daniel again, but Daniel was in control now. He dodged Logan's attacks with ease, landing precise strikes to his body. Each blow sapped Logan's strength, wearing him down until he was struggling to stay on his feet.
Finally, Daniel saw an opening. Logan was breathing heavily, his movements sluggish and desperate. Daniel took a deep breath, focusing all his energy on ending the fight. He feinted to the left, drawing Logan in, and then unleashed a powerful roundhouse kick to Logan's midsection.
The impact was brutal. Logan doubled over, gasping for air, his face contorted in pain. But Daniel didn't stop there. He stepped in, delivering a swift knee strike to Logan's chest, sending him crashing to the ground.
Logan lay there, groaning in pain, unable to get back up. The fight was over, and everyone around them knew it. Daniel stood over him, his chest heaving with exertion, but his mind clear. He had done it—he had faced his fear, stood up to his past, and come out on top.
Lin walked over, his expression unreadable. He looked down at Logan for a moment before turning to Daniel. "You did well," he said, his voice steady. "But remember, this was just another test. There will be more challenges ahead, and they won't all be as easy as this."
Daniel nodded, understanding the weight of Lin's words. He had won this battle, but the war was far from over. He knew there would be more fights, more obstacles to overcome, but for the first time, he felt ready.
As they left Logan behind, still writhing on the ground, Daniel couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. He had come a long way from the boy who had been beaten and humiliated. Now, he was stronger, more confident, and ready to face whatever came next.
But deep down, Daniel knew he had only scratched the surface of his potential. With Lin's guidance, he was determined to keep pushing himself, to keep growing stronger, until he could truly stand on his own. The road ahead was long and dangerous, but Daniel was no longer afraid. He had found his strength, and with it, a new sense of purpose.
As they walked away from the fight, Lin glanced at Daniel, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You've come a long way, Daniel. But remember, there's always more to learn."
Daniel returned the smile, feeling a newfound sense of determination. "I know, Lin. And I'm ready for whatever comes next."
Together, they walked into the night, leaving the past behind them and looking forward to the battles that lay ahead.
---
**Chapter end**