The Path Of A True King.

The underground ring was alive, but this time, the crowd wasn't expecting much.

Elijah had already proven himself in his last fights, and Jason "The Executioner" Reed wasn't exactly a top-tier opponent.

He was strong, sure—but against Elijah?

This wasn't going to last long.

Jason stood across from Elijah, cracking his knuckles.

He was a bald, well-built fighter with a reputation for finishing matches quickly.

"You should've stopped after your last win, kid. Now you're just asking for trouble."

Elijah sighed, rolling his neck. "You guys talk too much."

The announcer raised his mic. "BEGIN!"

Jason rushed in, aiming to overwhelm Elijah with speed.

His right fist shot forward, sharp and calculated.

Elijah didn't move.

At the last second, he simply tilted his head, letting Jason's fist graze past his cheek.

Jason's eyes widened. Too fast.

Elijah's counter was instant.

A sharp punch to the gut.

Jason staggered.

Elijah followed up with a brutal elbow to the chin.

Jason's head snapped back, and before he could react, Elijah spun—

CRACK!

A roundhouse kick landed clean against Jason's temple.

His body twisted mid-air before slamming into the ground.

Silence.

The fight was over before it even started.

The announcer took a second to process what just happened before finally raising his mic. "JASON REED IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE! ELIJAH WINS!"

The crowd erupted, but Elijah barely reacted.

He exhaled and, unfazed.

Kai smirked as he leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold.

"Man, this is getting embarrassing for you, Ray," he said with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"First, Elijah takes out one of your guys, now he's tearing through everyone else like they're nothing."

Ray, the top dog of Malivia, narrowed his eyes, the tension in the air thickening.

Unlike the previous Ray Elijah had fought, this one was on a completely different level.

His reputation as a skilled and ruthless fighter preceded him.

"Tch. You think he's all that just because he beat a few nobodies?" Ray sneered, trying to downplay Elijah's rise.

Kai shrugged, not a care in the world. "Just saying, he's making it look easy. Hell, he even held back against your guy."

His tone was light, but the underlying implication made it clear:

Elijah had more in him than anyone expected.

Ray's eyebrow twitched in irritation. "You trying to piss me off?"

Kai grinned, unfazed. "Maybe."

Ray's eyes flared with growing anger as he stepped forward, his presence suddenly more imposing.

"Say that again. See what happens." His voice was low, almost a growl, but Kai didn't flinch.

Before the situation could escalate further, Jack, the top dog from Lucas's school, finally spoke up, his voice calm but firm. "Don't."

Ray whipped around to face him, the anger still boiling in his chest.

"What? You on his side now?" His words were sharp, accusing, but Jack stood unshaken.

Jack met his gaze without blinking. "If you fight Kai now, you'll lose."

Ray scoffed, clearly not impressed. "Oh, really?"

He couldn't hide the doubt in his voice, but Jack's unflinching demeanor made him pause.

"Yeah," Jack said, not breaking eye contact.

The air between them thickened, a palpable tension settling in.

Ray clenched his fists at his sides, muscles taut with the urge to lash out.

But even in his fury, he knew Jack wasn't the type to bluff.

If Jack was making a statement like that, it meant something.

The silence stretched out, uncomfortable for everyone involved.

Ray took a deep breath, his fingers flexing as though weighing his options.

With a frustrated click of his tongue, he turned away.

"Tch. Whatever." He walked off, his irritation evident, but he didn't make any further move to confront Kai.

Not today.

Kai chuckled under his breath, the sound lighthearted but carrying a sense of triumph. "Man, he's fun to mess with."

Jack glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "You're confident in Elijah."

Kai's grin widened, revealing a flash of teeth. "Damn right I am. Actually..." He leaned in slightly, his voice taking on a playful yet challenging tone. "Let's make another bet."

Jack raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "What kind of bet?"

Kai's eyes gleamed with mischief. "If Elijah wins all four matches and also his match with Ray, you join us. No backing out."

Jack's brow furrowed as he considered the proposition. "And if he loses?"

Kai shrugged, completely nonchalant. "Then I'll pay you all $6,000 we are gonna make from these fights."

Jack stared at him for a long moment, contemplating the terms.

He weighed the risk of betting on Elijah, a fighter with potential yet still unproven, against the undeniable fact that Elijah had already shown incredible strength.

Finally, he extended his hand, sealing the deal. "Deal."

Kai shook his hand with a satisfied smirk, the confidence radiating off him.

"Better start thinking about what you'll do in the gang. 'Cause Elijah's taking this whole thing."

The words weren't just a promise; they were a declaration of faith in Elijah's power.

Jack didn't respond immediately.

His eyes stayed locked on the ring where Elijah was standing in.

He could sense it now—this was no longer just another fight.

'This was getting interesting.' Jack thought.

The underground ring was filled with a buzz of excitement.

Elijah had made it to the final round, his past victories leaving no doubt in anyone's mind about his abilities.

His reputation had spread like wildfire, and now all eyes were on him as he prepared to face Marcus "The Thunder" Hill.

Marcus was built like a mountain, towering over Elijah with thick muscles and a stance that screamed power.

His name wasn't just for show—his strikes were as destructive as a thunderstorm, and he had earned his title through sheer force and speed.

As he stepped into the ring, he cracked his neck and glared at Elijah. "I've seen your fights. You're fast, but you won't last against me."

Elijah stood calmly, his arms relaxed at his sides. "We'll see."

The announcer's voice boomed through the arena.

"This is the final match! The last fight of the tournament! FIGHT!"

Marcus didn't waste time.

He lunged forward, moving faster than Elijah expected, his fists aimed for the chest with crushing power.

Elijah managed to dodge the first blow, stepping to the side as Marcus's fist slammed into the ground with a thud that shook the entire ring.

"You're too slow," Elijah muttered, his voice barely audible over the roar of the crowd.

Marcus growled, his expression turning vicious.

He threw another right hook, followed by a powerful left jab aimed at Elijah's ribs.

But Elijah had already anticipated the attack.

He weaved to the left, dodging the jab, and without hesitation, he struck.

A sharp punch slammed into Marcus's abdomen, and Marcus's breath left him in an explosive gasp.

Before he could recover, Elijah spun, delivering a brutal roundhouse kick to the side of Marcus's head.

CRACK!

Marcus's body twisted from the impact, his legs buckling beneath him as he fell to the ground with a heavy crash.

The crowd held their breath, watching him struggle to rise.

Elijah stood over him, unfazed, breathing steadily.

"Not bad," Marcus muttered, struggling to lift his head. But there was something in his eyes—fear.

He knew he wasn't going to win.

"You should've stayed down," Elijah replied.

Marcus growled, forcing himself to his feet.

He charged again, faster this time, fists flying with the intent to end the fight.

His attacks were wild, fueled by desperation, but Elijah was calm, reading each move like an open book.

He ducked under a wild punch, stepped inside Marcus's guard, and drove his knee into Marcus's ribs.

THUD!

Marcus's breath was knocked out of him, and he staggered back, his face contorting in pain.

Elijah pressed the advantage. A quick jab to Marcus's jaw, followed by an elbow to the temple.

CRACK!

Marcus's knees buckled, and with a final spin, Elijah delivered a crushing roundhouse kick to Marcus's chest.

Marcus's body flew backward, crashing into the mat.

The force of the kick left him breathless, his arms and legs twitching weakly as he tried to push himself up.

But it was too late.

The announcer didn't even wait this time. "MARCUS HILL IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE! ELIJAH WINS!"

The crowd erupted into cheers as Elijah stood over his fallen opponent, barely breaking a sweat.

Leaving the ring, Elijah went to rest as he waited for all the other matches to finish before he fought Ray, the top dog at their school