The Path Of A True King.

The underground ring was alive with energy, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

The fight against Ray had electrified the crowd, but now their excitement only grew as the next challenger stepped forward.

Tyler "Steel Fist" Owen.

A mountain of muscle with short-cropped black hair and eyes that burned with intensity.

He was bigger than Ray, broader, and his nickname wasn't just for show.

His fists were like sledgehammers, and his reputation was built on sheer power.

Tyler rolled his shoulders, his knuckles cracking loudly as he locked eyes with Elijah.

"You're good," he admitted, his voice deep and confident. "But let's see how you handle someone who actually knows how to use breathing techniques."

Elijah exhaled, unfazed. He had fought strong opponents before.

He was confident in his physical stats.

He had no need to use his breathing techniques—his natural breathing was more than enough.

The announcer didn't waste time. "Our second match begins now! FIGHT!"

Tyler moved first, closing the distance in an instant.

No hesitation.

No probing strikes.

He led with a monstrous right straight, a punch that looked like it could break bones on impact.

Elijah barely managed to weave to the side, feeling the wind rush past his cheek as Tyler's fist cracked the air.

A punch like that could shatter ribs.

No room for mistakes.

Elijah retaliated with a counter, a sharp jab aimed at Tyler's jaw.

It connected, but Tyler barely flinched. Instead, he grinned.

"You're fast, but that ain't enough!"

Before Elijah could reset his stance, Tyler twisted his body, sending a brutal left hook toward his ribs.

Elijah reacted on instinct, bringing his arms down to block, but the moment Tyler's fist connected, a shockwave of pain shot through his entire body.

Elijah gritted his teeth.

It felt like getting hit by a truck.

Tyler wasn't done.

He pressed forward, throwing a rapid combination of punches, each one heavier than the last.

Elijah dodged some, blocked others, but even the glancing blows rattled his bones.

He's stronger than Ray.

Way stronger.

Elijah attempted to create space, ducking under a wild swing and rolling to the side, but Tyler was relentless.

The moment Elijah's feet touched the ground, Tyler was already there, launching a devastating knee toward his gut.

Elijah had no time to dodge.

The knee connected, knocking the air from his lungs.

He stumbled back, coughing, but Tyler gave him no time to recover.

He stepped in again, this time driving an elbow straight toward Elijah's temple.

Elijah barely raised his arm in time to block, but the impact sent him skidding across the mat.

His vision blurred for a moment.

Damn.

He hits like a beast.

The crowd roared as Tyler stalked forward. "You're tough, I'll give you that. But you're not using your full strength."

Elijah wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth and steadied his breathing. "I don't need to use my breathing technique to put you down."

Tyler smirked. "Then you'll lose."

He took a deep breath, his chest expanding, and suddenly his muscles tensed, veins bulging as his body seemed to harden.

Elijah's eyes narrowed.

Breathing technique.

Even if it was just the basic form, it enhanced Tyler's already monstrous strength.

Tyler charged in again, and this time he was even faster.

His foot slammed into the ground, launching him forward like a bullet.

Elijah barely managed to raise his guard before a brutal right hook crashed into his arms.

CRACK!

Elijah felt the force tremble through his bones as he was sent flying backward, slamming into the ropes. His arms screamed in pain.

The crowd went wild. "Tyler's a monster!"

Elijah steadied himself, shaking off the numbing sensation in his forearms.

He had fought tough battles before, but this was pushing him to his limits.

No. I won't lose here.

He exhaled slowly, resetting his stance.

He wanted to use his breathing technique, but he was saving it for when he fought the other here top dog from his school to become the top dog.

Tyler rushed in again, throwing a straight punch aimed at Elijah's chest.

But this time, Elijah didn't just dodge.

He stepped in.

Tyler's eyes widened slightly, but it was too late.

Elijah slammed his knee into Tyler's thigh, throwing off his momentum.

Then, twisting his body, he delivered a brutal elbow strike to Tyler's jaw.

CRACK!

Tyler stumbled, his head snapping to the side.

Elijah didn't stop.

He pressed forward, throwing a rapid combination of punches—one to the ribs, another to the chin, then a powerful uppercut aimed at his gut.

Each strike landed clean, but Tyler gritted his teeth, enduring the hits.

He let out a roar, swinging wildly.

Elijah barely ducked in time, the punch missing by inches but still sending a gust of wind past his face.

"That all you got?!" Tyler shouted, grinning even as blood dripped from his mouth.

Elijah smirked. "Not even close."

He lunged forward, planting his foot as he twisted his entire body into a devastating right hook.

Tyler saw it coming, but Elijah had already anticipated his reaction.

The moment Tyler raised his guard to block, Elijah shifted mid-strike, spinning into a crushing roundhouse kick that slammed into the side of Tyler's ribs.

A loud THWACK echoed through the arena as Tyler's body twisted from the impact.

His feet lifted off the ground for a split second before he crashed onto the mat, rolling onto his hands and knees.

The crowd erupted in chaos.

Elijah exhaled, his chest rising and falling heavily.

His body ached, his arms felt like lead, but he wasn't done yet.

Tyler coughed, pushing himself up slowly.

His body trembled, but his eyes still burned with determination. "Not bad," he muttered. "But I ain't going down that easy."

He took another deep breath, his body tensing once more.

Elijah's body ached, his muscles screaming with every movement, but he refused to back down.

Tyler "Steel Fist" Owen stood before him, his breathing controlled, his fists raised, ready to finish what they started.

Tyler lunged forward, throwing a devastating right hook aimed at Elijah's temple.

Elijah barely managed to raise his left arm in time, absorbing the impact but feeling the sting of Tyler's enhanced strength.

His bones rattled, his vision blurred for a second, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to falter.

Summoning every ounce of his willpower, Elijah countered with a sharp jab to Tyler's ribs, then twisted his body into a brutal roundhouse kick aimed at Tyler's side.

The force sent Tyler stumbling back, but the seasoned fighter quickly steadied himself, his eyes burning with determination.

Breathing heavily, Tyler smirked.

He surged forward, unleashing a flurry of punches, each faster and heavier than before.

Elijah dodged and blocked as best as he could, but Tyler's using his breathing technique gave him an edge, allowing him to last longer and hit harder.

Blow after blow connected—Elijah's ribs, shoulder, even his jaw. Blood dripped from his mouth, and his legs threatened to give out.

But then he remembered why he was here.

Why he was fighting. His mother. Amy. Kai. The gang he wanted to build. The power he needed to protect them.

Elijah roared, digging deep into his reserves.

He adjusted his stance and His body reacted instantly, his muscles tightening, his senses sharpening.

Tyler's fist came in fast, but this time Elijah saw it clearer than before.

He shifted slightly, allowing the punch to graze past his cheek.

Then, with explosive force, he stepped in and drove his knee straight into Tyler's abdomen.

Tyler choked, staggering as the wind was knocked out of him.

Elijah didn't let up.

A devastating uppercut snapped Tyler's head back, and before he could recover, Elijah pivoted and delivered a spinning kick to the side of his head.

Tyler's body twisted mid-air before crashing onto the mat with a heavy thud.

Silence filled the underground ring.

The crowd held their breath, watching as Tyler struggled to get up.

He pushed himself onto his elbows, his body trembling, but as he tried to rise, his strength gave out.

He collapsed.

The announcer rushed forward. "Tyler Owen is unable to continue! Elijah wins!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, disbelief, and admiration. Elijah stood there, chest heaving, his body bruised and battered, but victorious.

Kai smirked from the sidelines. "Took you long enough."

Elijah exhaled, wiping the blood from his lips, and turned to face the next opponent.