“Dante, be careful. Pablo is a state champion—he has a record of 14 wins with 2 draws. And only 1 loss—and his family is the Carlota family. They have produced a few champions and own a lot of gyms, including this one. They also have ties to criminal organizations, I’ve heard. You don’t have to do this.” Emmy said, her voice full of worry.

  Dante finished putting on his protective gear and gave her a glance that made her shiver. His eyes froze her in place - no longer ocean blue but something darker, deeper, like the midnight waters where predators hunt. He spoke slowly, each came out with a shivering cold. “Don't forget my family, Emmy.”

  He turned around to face Pablo. Emmy exhaled, watching him. She had never seen Dante like that—angry, but something else as well, almost inhuman. Yet she felt relieved; the whole ordeal had truly made her forget.

  Dante was a Mercier, a name few would be dumb enough to threaten. Now she was just worried about the match. She knew Dante was good, but how good was he really?

  Dante put his arms up, his gloves held near his temples with his elbow tucked in, protecting his body. He kept his chin down while keeping his head still, his eyes staring straight at Pablo. His stance was solid showing a certain level of competence, enough to show a trained understanding that was at the very least above a complete amateur.

  “Oh, kid knows a little after all. Alright then, let’s see what you got—ring it.”

  Pablo taunted as the bell rang. His feet began to shift, like a dancer on stage—tap, tap, tap. He bounced from side to side, his arms down as he pointed his head forward, taunting Dante as if telling him, ‘here I am, come hit me’. A cocky smirk played across his face, the expression of a man who was playing around with someone inferior to them.

  Pablo got closer and closer, nearly in arm’s reach.

  Interesting. He looks open, but even though he is taunting me and, quite frankly, looking down on me. He is leaving himself an out.

  Dante’s eyes glanced at his opponent’s feet and hips.

  His foot is angled in a way that shows he can pivot back easily. While he’s showboating, he’s maintaining his positioning, not giving up his mobility. His weight is too centered on the back leg, though. His back knee’s a bit more bent than the front, so he’s ready to shift or step back if he needs to.

  Dante’s focus shifted slightly lower, to Pablo’s hips.

  Then there is his hips. If he tries to stop here and ground himself, he’ll have problems with those hips. They’re still in a position that favors movement — if he plants, the shift in balance could throw him off. He’s still ready to bail.

  Alright, you want me to take your bait.

  …

  I’ll do just that.

  The 5kg isn’t really a 5kg Pablo. But if you don’t pay attention, you’ll think it is.

  Dante threw a jab, but Pablo easily avoided it.

  “Come on, you can do better, right?”

  Dante stepped in, firing a cross, then followed with a wide hook.

  Pablo effortlessly dodged the cross and punished the overextended hook with a clean counter—a sharp straight through the middle, hitting Dante square in the jaw.

  Dante’s head snapped back, and his body rocked with it.

  Dante stumbled two steps back immediately upon impact. His arms coming back up into a shaky guard, legs wobbling unsteadily.

  I have to admit that was a fast hit. It could have ended this fight.

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  Pablo looked at Emmy and Emma, then at the people watching, and then he raised his arms up high while laughing. He then began his attack.

  He threw a sharp hook into Dante’s ribs. The impact echoed with a dull thud as Dante’s arms stayed tight to his sides, absorbing the blow with a grunt.

  He is holding back. He isn’t putting his momentum into it. He is trying to make me suffer

  “If you tell Emmy to sleep with me, and that other friend of yours I’ll stop.” Pablo sneered.

  Another hook came in, this time, Pablo’s aim was higher, connecting with Dante’s bicep, just above the elbow. Dante was carried with the attack, moving to the side unbalanced. He stared at Pablo and winced from the hit. His guard wavered, just slightly, as if the strength that was keeping it raised was slipping away.

  Pablo noticed. He threw another hook, this time to Dante’s other side.

  “Come on, I’m sure she would listen to you—after all, the girl took a hit for you. How about this? I’ll even throw in some cash. No more pain and you get paid, great deal don’t you think?”

  He pivoted, then snapped a punch straight into Dante’s forearms—a harsh, cracking shot that pushed him back half a step.

  Dante adjusted, his body now seemed slow and sluggish. His breathing was louder now, yet his deep blue eyes continued watching.

  Pablo stared at Dante like a chew toy as he chuckled at the lowering guard. Pablo leaned in, slamming a fist into Dante’s shoulder.

  Dante, as he did with every punch, took some steps back.

  “Fine, I’ll just treat you like my bag, didn’t get to finish up before.” Pablo threw hooks left, right, left, right. Each time, sending Dante’s body in the other direction.

  Now, Pablo’s breathing became a little heavier. His chest rising faster than it had before.

  “This isn’t a bad workout,” he muttered, rolling his shoulders. “You can take a beating, I’ll give you that.”

  “Guess it’s time to end this.”

  “I,” Dante began speaking in a hushed tone.

  “What’s that—want to beg me to stop? Or do you want to take the deal?” Pablo asked as he took a step closer, ready to finish Dante off.

  “I agree it’s over—you’re much better than I thought.” Dante responded, his breathing heavy and wheezing.

  “Haha, well then—deal or no deal? My offer still stands,” Pablo, now brimming with confidence, moved his head. He wanted to see Dante’s expression as he gave up his friend.

  “You should know, 5 kilograms aren’t always 5 kilograms.” Dante said, his voice was steady now. His feet planted.

  1 second

  That’s right, he was pretty good. If that had hit me, I wouldn’t have been able to hold back anymore.

  “Wha—” Pablo asked, his eyes wide as he noticed something alarming. Dante’s arms were practically fine, some red here and there but not even close to what it should have been. But this revelation came too late.

  2 seconds

  And that’s what would have ended the fight.

  As the thoughts formed in Dante’s mind, his rear foot twisted in, power spiraling up through his core and into a tight, explosive hook.

  Crack.

  The punch caught Pablo just beneath the cheekbone. His eyes went wide, his jaw slack, legs already gone before his brain could register the impact. The sound echoed through the suddenly silent gym as Pablo's body fell backwards, his consciousness separated from him the moment Dante's glove connected. Some of the onlookers gasped, others took involuntary steps back, but all were clearly shocked at the development.

  He noticed it too late.

  3 seconds

  The fight was over.

  It’s unfortunate, but you looked down on me too much. You ended up blinding yourself, you would have been troublesome otherwise, I suppose.

  “Let’s go,” Dante said, tossing the gloves and other gear on the floor. He walked to the wide-eyed girls and pulled them into his arms as he dragged them away.

  “I didn’t know he was that good,” Emmy muttered.

  “Me neither,” Emma said.

  “Hey, you can’t go!” The coach attending to Pablo yelled out, taking out some smelling salts to wake Pablo up.

  “This is the heir to the Carlota family—don’t you know the consequences? This is his gym. Not only will you all be banned, but your life will be over,” the coach said menacingly.

  “Oh?” Dante turned, now the coach swallowing his words as he looked into his blue eyes.

  “Is that the young master Carlota’s thoughts as well?” A dangerous grin creeping onto Dante’s face.

  “I-I y-ou d-d-d-don’t kn... who... Y-y... re... me-s-ing wit,” Pablo said, his head still yet to fully recover. “You’re... d-e-ad... Car-ot family... ruins you...”

  “Very well. Then I, a young master of the Mercier family, shall destroy yours.” The moment Dante said his family name, the room grew quiet. All eyes staring at Dante in awe.

  “One way or another, this gym will belong to me. As punishment for annoying me today or...” Dante’s grin now became akin to a shark in the eyes of those around him.

  “As the spoils of war.” With the words hanging in the air, Dante left. The room stayed quiet, so silent was it that the last sound heard was the closing doors of the elevator.