Jack walked into the arena, his heart pounding in his chest. His body was bruised and battered from the previous rounds, but his mind was sharper than ever. He had fought through pain, through fear, through countless obstacles to get this far. And now, standing at the edge of the ring, he felt that same fire burning in his chest.
This fight, however, felt different. He could feel it in the air, thick with tension. He knew something was wrong, but he couldn't quite place it. The announcer's voice echoed over the loudspeakers, calling for the fighters to enter.
"Jack Hayes!" the announcer boomed, and the crowd roared as Jack stepped into the ring.
But as he looked across, his stomach sank.
There, standing in front of him, was Liam.
Jack's former student. The young man who had once looked up to him, the fighter who had trained under his guidance. The last person Jack wanted to face in a fight like this.
