Ruby ran to him as he stepped out of the ring, her face glowing with excitement. "Jack, you did it! You're in the finals!"
Jack smiled, wiping sweat from his brow. "It's not over yet. Now comes the hard part."
---
Meanwhile, across the city...
Darius Novak sat in his quiet training gym, the buzz of the television barely audible over the sound of his gloves hitting the heavy bag. His trainer, an older man with a sharp eye, stood nearby.
"Darius," the trainer called out, "you've seen his fights. Jack's no joke. This is going to be your toughest challenge yet."
Darius smirked, throwing a final jab before pulling off his gloves. "He's good. But he's not ready for me."
"You're underestimating him," the trainer warned. "You've never faced someone like Jack before."
"I know," Darius admitted, grabbing a towel. "That's what makes it exciting."
---
Back at the hotel…
