The receipt Jared held trembled slightly as he stared at the name printed above his own: **#575 – CrocoDriller**. The paper, crumpled at the edges from Jared's frustration, was now a source of focus. His red eyes scanned the villain's name again and again, and the faint smell of sewer grime seemed to linger in the air just from reading it.
"CrocoDriller, huh?" Jared muttered to himself, his tone edged with curiosity and irritation.
Kaia looked over from the gym's reception desk, where she was stretching after her workout. She had noticed the intense expression on Jared's face, one she'd grown accustomed to since his rise in determination.
"Something bothering you?" she asked, wiping the sweat from her brow with a towel.
"Yeah," Jared replied, holding up the receipt. "This guy… CrocoDriller. He's just one rank above me. I need to take him down."
Kaia raised an eyebrow. "I've heard of him. Some sewer-dwelling maniac idiot with a crocodile complex—or maybe he's actually part croc. Hard to say. Either way, it's not gonna be a clean fight if you're planning to challenge him."
Jared smirked, his eyes gleaming. "Clean fights don't get you to #1."
Jared stood at the edge of the city's largest sewer grate, the putrid stench of waste assaulting his senses. The moonlight above offered faint illumination, but the tunnels below were cloaked in darkness.
Kaia had refused to join him this time. "I'm all for supporting you," she'd said earlier, pinching her nose in mock disgust, "but I draw the fucking line at swimming in literal SHIT!."
Her words echoed in his mind as Jared pried the grate open and descended into the murky abyss. The air grew thicker with each step, a mixture of dampness, rot, and decay clawing at his throat.
The sound of dripping water and the occasional skitter of unseen creatures accompanied him as he navigated the labyrinth of tunnels. Every now and then, he paused to examine claw marks on the walls—deep gouges that suggested he was heading in the right direction.
Finally, Jared reached a massive chamber where the sewer water pooled into a dark, swirling whirlpool. The room was lit by faint green lights embedded in the walls, their glow reflecting off the slick, wet surfaces.
A low growl echoed through the chamber, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps splashing through the water. Jared tensed, his fists clenching.
From the shadows emerged **CrocoDriller**, a towering figure with scaly, leathery skin that glistened in the dim light. His massive jaws were filled with razor-sharp teeth, and his muscular arms ended in claws that looked capable of tearing through steel. A giant drill was mounted on his right arm, its surface caked with rust and grime.
"Well, well," CrocoDriller growled, his voice deep and guttural. "What do we have here? Another little morsel wandering into my territory?"
"I'm not here to play games," Jared replied, his voice steady. "You're #575. I'm #576. That means I'm taking your spot."
CrocoDriller let out a booming laugh that echoed through the chamber. "You think you can take me down? Kid, you don't know who you're messing with."
CrocoDriller lunged forward with surprising speed, his massive drill whirring to life. Jared dodged to the side, the drill narrowly missing him and slamming into the wall behind him. Sparks flew as the drill ground against the stone, sending chunks of debris flying.
Jared retaliated with a flurry of punches, his speed creating afterimages that surrounded CrocoDriller. The crocodile-like villain roared in frustration, swiping at the afterimages with his claws.
"You're fast," CrocoDriller admitted, "but let's see how you handle this!"
He slammed his fist into the ground, sending a shockwave through the chamber. The floor beneath Jared cracked and buckled, causing him to lose his footing. CrocoDriller seized the opportunity, swinging his drill toward Jared's chest.
At the last second, Jared twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the drill. He countered with a powerful kick to CrocoDriller's side, the impact sending the hulking villain stumbling backward into the whirlpool.
CrocoDriller emerged from the water with a roar, his body dripping with sludge. He swung his drill wildly, forcing Jared to dodge and weave to avoid being struck.
"You're tough," Jared said, his breathing steady despite the intensity of the fight. "But all that brute strength won't save you."
CrocoDriller snarled. "Keep talking, kid. I'll grind you into paste!"
The two clashed again, their movements a blur of speed and power. Jared's punches and kicks landed with precision, but CrocoDriller's sheer size and resilience made it difficult to bring him down.
At one point, CrocoDriller caught Jared's arm mid-punch and lifted him off the ground, slamming him into the wall with enough force to leave a crater. Jared coughed, the impact knocking the wind out of him, but he quickly recovered, delivering a swift kick to CrocoDriller's jaw.
The villain staggered back, his drill sputtering as it short-circuited from the sewer water.
Jared saw his opportunity and charged forward, his red eyes glowing with intensity. He unleashed a flurry of punches, each one faster and more powerful than the last. The air around him crackled with energy as he drove CrocoDriller back toward the whirlpool.
CrocoDriller roared in defiance, swinging his claws wildly, but Jared was relentless. With a final, devastating uppercut, Jared sent CrocoDriller flying into the whirlpool.
The villain's massive form disappeared beneath the swirling water, his roar fading into silence. Jared stood at the edge of the pool, his chest heaving as he watched the water settle.
As the chamber fell silent, Jared leaned against the sewage wall, wiping sweat and shit from his face. The fight had been brutal, but he had emerged victorious.
He pulled out the crumpled receipt from his pocket and looked at it again. CrocoDriller's name no longer felt like a taunt. it was a stepping stone, one of many on his path to the top.
"#575," Jared muttered to himself, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "One step closer."
As he made his way back through the tunnels, the dim light of the exit came into view. Kaia was waiting for him at the entrance, her nose wrinkling as he approached.
"Ugh, you smell worse than the fucking gym on a bad day." she teased harshly, handing him a bottle of water, while backing away silently.
Jared chuckled, taking the bottle and gulping it down. "Worth it." he replied. "I took him down."
Kaia raised an eyebrow. "CrocoDriller? Impressive. Guess you're #575 now."
"Should be. I'll just go back to the villain Co, and check up at Miss vang's counter." Jared said, his red eyes glinting with determination. "I will be aiming for #1!"
Kaia smiled, shaking her head. "Let's get you cleaned up first, Grimblin." She said as she closes her mouth from vomiting.
The two walked off into the night, Jared's resolve burning brighter than ever.