Adrian staggered to his feet, his chest heaving as he brushed the dust and debris from his shoulders. His lips curled into a snarl, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His glare locked onto Travis, who stood calm and composed, hands loosely at his sides, as though the fight had been nothing more than a warm-up.


    "You think this is funny?" Adrian growled, his voice shaking with fury. "You’ve been toying with me this whole time, haven’t you?! You arrogant bastard!"


    Travis tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Figured it out, huh?” His tone was cool, almost dismissive.


    Adrian clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking audibly. The mana around him surged, his body radiating a fiery energy that made the air hum with intensity. “I’ll show you who you’re messing with!” he roared, dashing forward with blinding speed.


    Carlos’s voice boomed through the arena. “Oh, Adrian’s furious now! He’s charging back in with everything he’s got! Can he turn this around?!”


    Adrian’s fists flew in a relentless barrage, each punch aimed to land a decisive blow.


    Thwack-thud-thwack!


    The sounds of his strikes echoed, but none connected. Travis moved effortlessly, sidestepping and weaving through the assault like a phantom, his expression unchanging.


    “Is that all you’ve got?” Travis asked, his voice carrying over Adrian’s ragged breaths.


    Enraged, Adrian pivoted and launched a powerful spinning kick toward Travis’s head, his leg slicing through the air like a blade.


    But Travis was already gone.


    In an instant, Travis reappeared behind Adrian, his leg already in motion. The kick came fast, precise, and brutal, slamming into the side of Adrian’s face with devastating force.


    BOOM!


    The impact sent Adrian hurtling through the air like a ragdoll, his body spinning uncontrollably before crashing into the arena wall with a thunderous crack. The stone crumbled beneath him, dust and debris exploding outward as the wall gave way.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    Carlos’s voice was nearly drowned out by the crowd’s collective gasp. “Unreal! Travis just took Adrian out with a single strike! That kick—oh, you could feel it in your soul, folks! Adrian’s down again, and this time, it’s looking like he’s not getting back up!”


    Travis lowered his leg, exhaling calmly as he watched Adrian slump to the ground, motionless. He turned away, already walking toward the center of the arena, his hands slipping casually into his pockets.


    “Maybe next time, don’t waste my time,” he said, his voice low but cutting.


    The crowd erupted into cheers and gasps, the sheer dominance of Travis’s performance leaving everyone in awe.


    The fight was over, and it had never been a contest. Travis turned from the arena, his footsteps steady as he headed toward the tunnel. The roaring crowd behind him grew muffled with every step, replaced by the quiet hum of his own thoughts. He passed through the dimly lit corridors, the stone walls cold and unwelcoming. Finally, he reached the small training room where he’d prepared before the match.


    Sinking onto the splintered wooden bench, Travis let out a long, measured breath. Sweat still clung to his skin, but his body felt steady, almost unnaturally calm.


    ‘For someone who doesn’t know a thing about fighting, I think I held my own.’ A small, amused smirk tugged at his lips as he leaned back, rolling his shoulders to work out the tension. ‘Maybe I should learn a new skill. But then again, that might just be overkill.’


    He stood, stretching briefly before making his way toward the narrow hallway leading to his cell. His thoughts were interrupted when Svelte appeared seemingly out of nowhere, his presence quiet but commanding.


    Travis barely blinked at the man’s sudden appearance. Somehow, he’d known Svelte would be waiting for him.


    “Well done, Travis,” Svelte said, his tone smooth and vaguely condescending. “I’m impressed. That performance cleared a third of your debt. As a reward, we’ll be upgrading your quarters. Please, follow me.”


    Svelte turned, not waiting for a response.


    As they walked through the labyrinthine tunnels, Travis kept a cautious eye on the man. There was something about Svelte that set him on edge, an intangible aura that made his instincts hum. It wasn’t fear—no, it was something deeper. An unshakable awareness that Svelte was someone to be wary of.


    Still, he shrugged the feeling off. It wasn’t like he had a choice in the matter.


    After a few minutes, they arrived at a small but clean room. Svelte gestured toward the door with a flourish. “Here it is. I trust you’ll find it a marked improvement over your previous accommodations.”


    Travis stepped inside, glancing around. The room was simple—a single bed pushed against the far wall, a modest table with a chair, and a small storage chest at the foot of the bed. The stone walls were still rough and unpainted, but it felt like a palace compared to the cramped, filthy cell he’d been living in.


    Svelte watched him for a moment before adding, “I hope you enjoy your rest, Travis. Tomorrow’s challenge will be… a bit stronger than the average gladiator.”


    Without another word, Svelte turned and disappeared down the hallway, his footsteps fading into the distance.


    Travis closed the door, locking out the lingering unease Svelte left behind. He turned his attention to the table and noticed a book resting on its surface. His brow furrowed briefly before recognition set in—it was the same book Xavier had given him.


    He picked it up, thumbing through the worn pages. The techniques were illustrated with precision, each movement broken down into steps that made even the most advanced maneuvers seem almost achievable.


    ‘Won’t hurt to read up on a few techniques,’ he thought, sinking onto the bed as he began flipping through the pages. ‘Not that I’ll need them just yet.’


    The room was silent save for the faint rustle of pages turning, but for the first time in what felt like weeks, Travis allowed himself a moment of peace.


    At the board room, Svelte appeared inside and sat down with all the members.


    " That was a certainly great fight, it was never even close. I think your new warrior will be great for the coliseum Svelte " A man said.


    " Why thank you. Now let''s talk about tomorrow fight and his next challenge. His name is Damian Kane or more know as Skull Breaker. What''s are your predictions for tomorrow''s fight?"


    TO BE CONTINUED