The underground arena was louder than before.
The moment the loudspeaker echoed
"Match Six Corvin versus Miles."
something inside him tightened.
Miles and corvin stepped into the arena.
When they stopped in front of each other, the noise of the crowd faded into the background.
Miles looked at him.
Then smiled.
"Took you long enough."
Corvin let out a small breath.
"You knew about this place, didn't you"
A short silence passed between them.
Miles didn't answer right away.
Instead, he looked around the arena.
At the crowd.
Then back at him.
Corvin clenched his fists slightly.
"You knew about the lower floors, didn't you!"
Miles sighed.
"Yeah."
Corvin's expression hardened.
"And you didn't tell me?"
Miles scratched the back of his head.
"I knew about it but I didn't want to tell you."
Corvin took a step closer.
His voice dropped.
"Why didn't you want to tell me?"
Miles looked serious
"because i never thought you would make it this far"
Corvin suddenly realised
"So you were planning to go down there alone!
Are you stupid!"
Miles looked angry
" I'm much stronger than you think"
Corvin suddenly looked serious again
"Then let me win so I'll go there"
Miles thought he was kidding but he looked at corvin and he was serious
"I'll give you the win if you can prove to me that you're capable of winning."
"That way i can see if you are worthy of being in the mafia"
A small smirk appeared on Corvin's face.
"That will be easy."
The loudspeakers cut in.
"Match Six… begin!"
They moved at the same time.
Miles attacked first.
A fast punch toward Corvin's face
Corvin blocked it cleanly.
But Miles didn't stop.
A second punch followed immediately.
Then a kick toward his left side.
Corvin slid back slightly.
He's not holding back
Good.
Corvin stepped forward.
His fist shot toward Miles' ribs.
Miles absorbed the hit
But his eyes sharpened.
"Not bad."
They circled each other.
The crowd roared above them.
But down here
Everything felt focused.
Controlled.
Miles rushed again.
Faster this time.
His punch came like a blur.
Corvin leaned aside
Barely dodging it.
Miles followed with a knee.
Corvin blocked
But the force pushed him back.
CRACK.
Pain ran through his arms.
Miles didn't chase.
He watched.
"That's not enough," he said.
Corvin wiped blood from his lip.
"Yeah. I know."
He stepped forward again.
This time
He changed.
His stance lowered.
His breathing slowed.
Miles noticed immediately.
"Oh?"
Corvin moved.
Fast.
Faster than before.
He slipped inside Miles' range.
Punch
Elbow
Kick
Miles blocked but stepped back.
For the first time
Miles was pushed.
His eyes widened slightly.
"There it is."
Corvin didn't stop.
He pressed forward.
Another punch.
Then a feint
Miles reacted
And Corvin struck from the other side.
CRACK!
A clean hit to the jaw.
Miles staggered one step back.
The crowd roared louder.
Miles smiled.
But this time
It was different.
"Good."
He raised his fists again.
"Now show me everything."
He rushed forward.
This time
No hesitation.
No testing.
His punch slammed into Corvin.
BOOM.
Corvin was pushed back.
Miles followed.
Punch.
Kick.
Elbow.
Each strike heavier than before.
Corvin blocked two
But the third hit his shoulder.
Corvin struggled.
Miles serious now.
Good.
Corvin steadied himself.
Then stepped forward.
They clashed again.
Fist against fist.
Corvin pushed through the pain.
He stepped inside.
Closed the distance.
Miles tried to react
Too late.
Corvin's fist slammed into his ribs.
Miles exhaled sharply.
Corvin followed immediately.
Another punch.
Then a kick to the leg.
Miles lost balance
Just for a second.
That second
Was everything.
Corvin moved.
Faster.
Sharper.
More precise.
Punch to the chest.
CRACK.
Elbow to the jaw.
Miles staggered back again.
Now
He was the one on the defensive.
Both stopped.
Breathing heavily.
Miles looked at him.
Really looked this time.
"You've changed."
Corvin smirked slightly.
"Yeah."
Miles nodded slowly.
"…I see it now."
A pause.
Then he raised his fists one last time.
"…Show me the rest."
Corvin nodded.
They rushed at each other.
Miles threw everything into one punch.
Corvin stepped inside.
Twisted his body
And
His fist slammed into Miles' jaw.
Miles froze.
For a split second
He smiled.
"That's enough."
Then he fell.
"ONE…"
Corvin stood still.
Breathing heavily.
"TWO…"
Miles didn't move.
"THREE…"
The crowd screamed.
"FOUR…"
Miles remained on the ground.
"FIVE!"
"Corvin wins Match Six!"
The arena exploded with noise.
But Corvin didn't react.
He walked forward.
Stopped beside Miles.
Miles opened one eye slightly.
"Guess you proved it."
Corvin smirked faintly.
"Told you it'd be easy."
Miles chuckled weakly.
"You know i hold back, right?."
They both laughed
Then
"Go win the next one."
Corvin nodded.
"I will."
Miles closed his eyes knowing he never hold back and that corvin surpassed him.
Corvin turned
Ready for what came next.
Then the speakers said.
"Match 7 Corvin vs ludovico"
The underground arena hadn't calmed down.
Not after Match Six.
Not after Corvin's victory.
The crowd was still roaring, still hungry, still demanding more violence.
Corvin stood at the edge of the arena again.
His body ached.
His knuckles were bruised.
But his mind
Sharp.
Focused.
He glanced to the side.
Miles was gone.
Carried away after the fight.
But Corvin knew better.
He's not out.
Not really.
Not Miles.
The loudspeakers crackled again.
The noise slowly died down.
Then
"Match Seven"
A pause.
Long.
Heavy.
"Corvin versus Ludovico."
The reaction from the crowd was instant.
Cheers.
Shouts.
Excitement.
But corvin, was in fear.
Corvin exhaled slowly.
So this is it
Across the arena
A figure stepped into the light.
Ludovico.
Same calm posture.
Same empty expression.
Like nothing mattered.
Like no one mattered.
His eyes landed on Corvin.
No reaction.
No recognition.
Just
Cold.
They walked toward each other.
Corvin stopped a few meters away.
Ludovico didn't slow down.
He kept walking
Until he was just one step away.
Too close.
Corvin didn't move.
"You're strong," Corvin said while trembling.
No response.
"But I'm not losing here." Corvin began to not tremble. He stood his ground with determination.
Ludovico tilted his head slightly.
Then
"You already did."
Corvin was confused.
"What?"
The loudspeaker cut in.
"BEGIN!"
⸻
Corvin moved first.
He had to.
He rushed forward
Fist aimed straight at Ludovico's face.
But.
Ludovico moved.
Barely.
A small shift.
Corvin's punch missed.
And then
It happened.
Too fast.
Too clean.
CRACK.
Ludovico's hand struck Corvin's chest.
Not hard.
Not flashy.
But precise.
Corvin froze.
His body stopped responding.
His breath
Gone.
His vision
Blurred.
What… was that…?
Then
CRACK.
A second strike.
To the neck.
Corvin's world went silent.
His legs gave out.
He hit the ground.
The arena fell silent for corvin, even though the crowd was cheering.
The referee stared.
Frozen.
Then
"ONE…"
Corvin tried to move.
His fingers twitched.
Nothing else.
"TWO"
His body felt heavy.
Like it wasn't his anymore.
"THREE"
The crowd started shouting.
"What was that?!"
"It's over already?!"
"FOUR"
Corvin's vision faded.
But just before everything went dark
He saw it.
Ludovico.
Looking down at him.
Not with pride.
Not with anger.
But with something else.
Recognition.
"Stay down," Ludovico said quietly.
"FIVE!"
"Ludovico wins!"
⸻
The crowd exploded.
Some in shock.
Some in excitement.
But Corvin didn't hear any of it.
Darkness swallowed him.
Voices.
Faint.
Distant.
"…He's out."
"Take him."
"Next tournament!"
Then
Silence.
Corvin's eyes opened slowly.
Pain hit immediately.
Sharp.
Everywhere.
He was lying on a cold surface.
Dim light flickered above him.
"…Took you long enough."
Corvin blinked.
Turned his head slightly.
Miles was sitting nearby.
Alive.
Awake.
Smirking.
"You aren't suppose to be here," Corvin muttered.
Miles shrugged.
"So are you."
Corvin let out a weak breath.
"That guy Ludovico…"
Miles nodded.
"Yeah."
"He's not normal."
"Nope."
A short silence passed.
Then
Corvin pushed himself up slowly.
"Good."
Miles raised an eyebrow.
"Good?"
Corvin looked at him.
"…This makes things easier."
⸻
Miles leaned forward slightly.
"…You serious?"
Corvin nodded.
"They think I lost."
"…You did lose."
"Yeah," Corvin said.
"But now they don't care about me."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"…Which means we can steal the money."
Miles stared at him for a second.
Then
He started laughing quietly.
"You're crazy."
Corvin smirked.
"You're coming with me."
Miles stood up.
"Obviously."
⸻
The Lower Levels:
They moved through the shadows.
The underground was different from the arena.
Narrow hallways.
Cold walls.
Guards at certain points.
But not everywhere.
Most of them were focused on the fights above.
The deeper they went
The quieter it became.
Miles walked beside him.
"…You sure about this?"
Corvin nodded.
"Lorenzo's here."
Miles frowned.
"How do you know?"
Corvin's eyes narrowed.
"…Because this was the floor we were forced to compete in the tournament, by lorenzo"
A pause.
"And I'm sure the money is in the same room."
⸻
They turned a corner.
Two guards stood ahead.
Talking.
Not paying attention.
Miles cracked his knuckles quietly.
"…Quick?"
Corvin nodded.
"…Quick."
They moved at the same time.
Silent.
Precise.
Corvin stepped behind the first guard
Grabbed him
And slammed him into the wall.
Boom.
Unconscious.
Miles struck the second
CRACK.
The guard dropped instantly.
Silence again.
Miles smirked.
"That was to easy"
Corvin didn't smile.
"Stay focused."
⸻
The hallway opened into a larger area.
Dim lights.
Heavy doors.
One of them
Different.
Stronger.
Locked.
Miles looked at it.
"That's not a storage room."
Corvin stepped closer.
"No."
He touched the door.
Cold metal.
"That's where the money is."
Miles let out a low whistle.
"Jackpot."
⸻
Before they could move
A voice echoed behind them.
"I was wondering when you'd try something."
They froze.
Slowly turned.
Lorenzo stood there.
Arms crossed.
Smiling.
But his eyes
Cold.
Dangerous.
"You really thought I wouldn't notice?"
Corvin stepped forward slightly.
"I was hoping you wouldn't."
Lorenzo chuckled.
"You're bold."
Miles stepped beside Corvin.
"Or stupid."
Lorenzo's smile widened.
"Let's find out."
Behind him
Shadows moved.
More men.
More fighters.
Closing in.
⸻
Corvin clenched his fists.
Miles stepped into position.
Outnumbered.
Deep underground.
No way back.
Lorenzo tilted his head.
"Last chance."
Corvin smirked.
"Not interested."
Lorenzo sighed.
"Then break them."
The shadows rushed forward.
And Corvin
Stepped into the darkness.