THE BELL…RANG!
The sound ripped through the arena.
Tucker moved first.
He stepped off the corner pad and immediately lowered his stance, keeping his fists close to his chest.
Across the ring, the hefty Long-Brow CH2 remained completely still.
For several seconds, neither attacked.
The crowd began to grow impatient.
"FIGHT!"
"GET HIM!"
"CH2!"
Tucker ignored them. His eyes stayed locked onto CH2.
Sixteen million, the number kept repeating in his head.
Sixteen million was how much the world would pay for this man's head.
Tucker slowly shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
CH2's eyes followed.
Left…right…left.
Still nothing.
Tucker narrowed his eyes. He's waiting for me, he thought.
He suddenly lunged.
His right fist filled with Strength Presence almost instantly, his right fist glowing with a faint red aura. Then he shot toward CH2's face.
CH2 didn't flinch.
At the last possible moment, he leaned backward.
Tucker's fist passed inches from his nose. Before Tucker could retract his arm, CH2's fist slammed into his stomach.
Tucker's entire body folded, "GH—!"
The force lifted him slightly off the ground before sending him stumbling backward.
The crowd erupted.
"THAT'S IT!"
"END HIM!"
Tucker caught himself against the ropes.
His hand instinctively pressed against his stomach.
That hurt, he thought.
Not devastating, but enough. CH2 stood exactly where he had been. No change in expression.
Tucker stared at him, then smiled faintly. "…Okay."
CH2 tilted his head. Tucker straightened, "So that's how strong you are."
The crowd laughed.
CH2 finally spoke. "You wanted to find, brat?"
Tucker wiped his mouth. "Yeah." He lowered his stance again, "Now I know."
CH2 stepped forward.
Tucker's eyes sharpened. CH2 threw a straight punch.
Tucker slipped to the side.
Another, He ducked. A third came immediately afterward. Tucker blocked it with both forearms.
The impact forced him backward. Heavy.
He barely had time to think before CH2 grabbed his wrist, his grip tightened with Strength Presence so tight it made Tucker's wrist white.
Tucker's eyes widened.
CH2 pulled. Tucker was dragged toward him, a knee came upward.
Tucker twisted his body.
The knee scraped his side instead of striking his ribs.
Tucker immediately hooked his foot behind CH2's ankle. He pulled.
CH2's balance shifted, not enough to knock him down. But it was enough.
Tucker used the opening.
He drove his shoulder into CH2's chest. CH2 took two steps backward.
The crowd reacted.
"OOHHHH!"
Tucker quickly backed away.
He wasn't celebrating. He was thinking.
He doesn't move unless he has to, he thought. Tucker watched CH2's feet. And he doesn't waste energy, he thought.
CH2 raised his fists again.
Tucker smiled. "…You're really patient."
CH2 said nothing.
Tucker bounced lightly on his feet. "That's gonna get annoying."
He rushed again.
This time he didn't attack. He stepped left, then right.
Then suddenly stopped. CH2's eyes moved with him.
Tucker noticed.
There, he thought.
He stepped left again.
CH2's shoulders shifted. Tucker immediately attacked the opposite side.
His fist connected with CH2's ribs.
Not hard enough to stagger him, but it landed. The crowd went quiet for half a second.
Tucker backed away.
CH2 looked down at the spot Tucker had struck.
Then back at him.
For the first time…his expression changed.
Barely.
One eyebrow lifted.
Tucker grinned. "Got you."
CH2 stepped forward.
Faster.
Tucker's smile disappeared.
Oh.
CH2's fist came toward his face. Tucker ducked.
The punch passed overhead. He attempted to counter—CH2's other hand was already there.
Tucker barely blocked it. His arms jolted from the impact.
CH2 followed with another, And another.
Tucker kept moving.
Block. Step. Duck. Move.
The blows weren't landing cleanly, but each one forced him farther backward.
The crowd began screaming again.
"CH2!"
"DON'T LET HIM RUN!"
"BREAK HIM!"
Tucker's feet touched the ropes. Cornered.
CH2 stepped closer. Tucker's eyes darted around.
Left side, right side. There was no escape. Unless…
CH2 raised his fist.
Tucker suddenly dropped. He slid underneath CH2's arm and rolled across the ring.
The crowd erupted.
Tucker sprang back onto his feet behind him.
CH2 turned.
Tucker was already moving. He kicked the back of CH2's knee.
CH2's leg buckled slightly.
Tucker immediately shoved him between the shoulder blades.
CH2 stumbled forward.
Tucker didn't chase. He backed away, breathing heavily.
His mind raced. He's stronger, way stronger, Tucker flexed his fingers. But he's predictable, he thought.
Across the ring, CH2 slowly turned around.
Tucker could see it now. The pattern.
CH2 didn't attack randomly.
Every movement had a purpose. Every strike forced Tucker somewhere.
He wasn't just trying to hit him, he was trying to control where he stood.
Tucker's eyes widened slightly. He's been doing that this whole time.
CH2 started walking toward him again.
Tucker lowered his stance.
This time…he didn't wait, he charged.
CH2 raised his fist. Tucker ducked underneath it.
Instead of punching, he grabbed CH2's arm and twisted.
CH2 immediately resisted. The muscles in his arm tightened.
Tucker's eyes widened.
Too strong, he thought. CH2 ripped his arm free.
Tucker stumbled. CH2 swung, Tucker leaned backward. The fist passed inches from his face.
Tucker stepped back into position.
Both men stopped.
The arena fell strangely quiet. They stared at each other.
Tucker was breathing harder now. CH2 looked almost untouched.
But Tucker smiled. Because he had learned something.
CH2 was stronger, faster than he had expected.
More experienced than he had hoped. But he wasn't unbeatable.
Tucker raised his fists. "…Again."
CH2's eyes narrowed.
And this time…he smiled.
Tucker bounced lightly on the balls of his feet.
Left. Right. Left. Then, he exploded forward.
CH2 didn't move.
Tucker charged directly toward him. At the last second, Tucker's body suddenly shifted.
Strength Presence surged through his legs.
He planted one foot against the canvas and burst past CH2, sprinting toward the ropes behind him.
CH2's head snapped around.
His eyes widened.
"What—?"
Tucker reached the ropes. His back slammed into them.
The ropes stretched beneath his weight.
Then, they launched him forward.
Tucker twisted his body in midair, turning himself around so that his back faced the ropes.
His eyes locked onto CH2.
Now, he thought.
He came flying back. CH2 immediately regained his composure.
His entire body stiffened, he planted both feet.
Tucker crashed into him like a missile. The impact drove CH2 backward. His shoes scraped violently across the canvas.
The crowd roared as the two men skidded across the ring.
CH2's back nearly collided with the ropes.
Nearly.
He stopped himself just before impact. His eyes lowered toward Tucker. A low growl escaped his throat.
Then his hands wrapped around Tucker.
Tucker's expression changed. "…Wait."
CH2 lifted him. The crowd suddenly went silent.
For one brief moment, Tucker hung completely helpless in the air.
Then, CH2 drove him into the canvas. The impact echoed through the entire arena.
Tucker's back struck first. The air was violently forced from his lungs. "GH—!"
His body bounced off the canvas.
Then dropped. He rolled across the ring before finally coming to a stop.
Silence.
Nobody moved.
Tucker lay still. The crowd waited.
CH2 stared down at him.
Then slowly…Tucker's fingers moved.
He planted one hand against the canvas.
His arm trembled. He tried to push himself up. His body screamed at him to stay down. His lungs burned, his back felt like it had been hit by a truck.
But he pushed anyway.
One knee. Then the other. His legs shook violently.
Tucker stood.
The arena exploded.
"YEAHHHH!"
"GET UP!"
"HE'S STILL STANDING!"
The noise became deafening.
Tucker barely heard any of it. His vision blurred, he forced one eye open.
CH2 stared at him.
The older fighter looked genuinely surprised.
"So…" CH2 slowly raised his fists. "…you got up."
Tucker forced a smile.
He wiped a thin line of blood from the corner of his mouth. "You need…" He struggled to breathe, "…more than that."
The crowd erupted again.
But Tucker's knees nearly buckled. He caught himself.
Don't fall, he thought.
He couldn't.
Not yet.
CH2 watched him carefully.
Then Tucker moved.
Again.
He charged. CH2 raised his fists.
But Tucker wasn't coming straight at him.
At the last second, Tucker veered toward the ropes behind CH2.
CH2's eyes widened. "Again?"
Tucker slammed his back into the ropes.
He launched himself forward.
CH2 turned it was too late. Tucker crashed into his back.
CH2 stumbled forward.
Tucker immediately wrapped both arms around his upper body. The momentum carried them toward the opposite side of the ring.
The crowd screamed.
Tucker's eyes narrowed.
Don't let go, he thought.
The ropes approached. CH2 planted his feet. He was about to stop himself.
Tucker saw it.
His right hand tightened around CH2's head. Strength Presence surged through his arm. His muscles strained. His teeth clenched.
"GO DOWN!" Tucker pulled with everything he had.
The combined force sent CH2 crashing downward.
His head struck the canvas. A spray of blood scattered across the mat.
The arena erupted.
"OOOOOOOOHHHHHH!"
Tucker rolled away and immediately grabbed his side.
His chest heaved. His vision swam.
But he looked up.
CH2 was still on the ground.
The sixteen-million-dollar fighter wasn't standing.
Tucker stared at him.
The crowd was going insane.
And somewhere in the middle of all that noise…Tucker realized something.
He can be hurt.
OUTSIDE OF SURVIVOR TUNNEL…
The crowd erupted.
The sound was so violent that the walls seemed to vibrate around Shirley and TR241.
Somewhere near them, a glass cup could be seen through a tiny gap between the bodies packed around the tunnel.
It shook.
Once, twice. Then, the glass shattered against the floor.
TR241 flinched. "What happened?!"
She tried to push herself between two prisoners, desperately searching for a glimpse of the ring. "Hey! What happened?!"
Shirley rose onto the tips of his toes, hopping slightly as he tried to see over the crowd.
He could barely make out the ring through the sea of bodies.
All he could see were flashes.
A fist. A body. The ropes shaking. Then another explosion of cheers.
"Tucker better be okay…" His hands tightened.
TR241 glanced at him. "…You really care about him."
Shirley didn't answer.
His eyes remained fixed on the ring. Another enormous roar erupted.
Then, someone behind them spoke. "…Wait."
Shirley glanced over his shoulder. A prisoner was staring at TR241. His face slowly changed.
His eyes widened. "…I know you."
TR241 blinked. "Me?"
The prisoner stepped closer. "You were in the second fight."
Several nearby prisoners turned.
"What?"
"Who?"
"That girl?"
The prisoner pointed at TR241.
"She fought WH350."
A few heads immediately snapped toward her.
Recognition spread through the crowd like fire.
"…No way."
"That's her?"
"The dagger girl?"
"The one who killed him?"
TR241's expression slowly changed.
She looked around at the surrounding prisoners. "…Oh."
Shirley frowned. "Wasn't that what she was supposed to do?"
A prisoner laughed. "Supposed to?"
He pointed toward TR241. "She killed that man in that ring less than an hour ago!"
Another prisoner shoved through the crowd.
"I saw it!"
"She slit his throat!"
"She didn't even hesitate!"
TR241's eyes narrowed. "He was trying to kill me."
The prisoner scoffed. "That doesn't matter!"
Another voice shouted from somewhere behind him. "Of course it matters!"
A different prisoner pushed forward.
"He would've crushed her if she hadn't!"
"She still killed him!"
"He chose to fight!"
"She butchered him!"
TR241's expression hardened. "I didn't butcher anybody."
The crowd grew louder.
Some people were defending her. Others were shouting against her.
Shirley stepped closer to TR241. "Everybody calm down."
Nobody listened.
One prisoner pointed directly at her. "You enjoyed it!"
TR241's eyes widened. "What?"
"I saw your face after the fight." His voice became accusatory, "You were smiling."
TR241 stared at him. For a moment, she didn't answer.
Then her voice became quieter. "I was alive."
The prisoner scoffed. "That's your excuse?"
"No." TR241's eyes hardened.
Someone laughed. "Listen to her!"
Another prisoner shoved him. "Shut the hell up."
The man shoved him back. "What did you say?"
Shirley's eyes widened. "…Oh no."
TR241 looked between them. "Shirley…I see it."
The first prisoner shoved the other again, harder this time. "Say it again."
The other man smiled. "Gladly."
He punched him. The entire crowd erupted.
Someone screamed.
Another prisoner immediately jumped onto the man who threw the punch.
A guard joined, then a fourth.
Within seconds, the argument had become a brawl.
"HEY!" Shirley backed away. "TR241, move!"
Too late.
A prisoner stumbled directly into Shirley. Shirley caught himself against the wall. "Watch it!"
The prisoner spun around. "What the hell did you say?"
"I said watch it!" Shirley said.
The man's face twisted, he swung.
Shirley ducked.
The fist smashed into the wall behind him. "Okay…" Shirley slowly raised his fists. "…Never fought with fists before."
Another prisoner charged from the side.
TR241 caught him. She twisted his wrist and sent him stumbling into two others. "Get away from him!"
Someone grabbed TR241 from behind, she reacted instantly. Her elbow slammed backward.
The prisoner released her.
Shirley stepped toward her. "You good?"
TR241 nodded. "I'm fine."
A bottle flew past their heads. Both looked toward the crowd. People were pushing, punching, shoving, screaming.
The narrow space outside the Survivor Tunnel had become complete chaos.
Shirley cracked his knuckles. TR241 slowly reached toward her daggers.
She stopped. "…Actually…" She smiled. "…Maybe I am going to enjoy this."
Shirley looked at her. "…Please dont kill anybody."
"No promises." She responded.
Another prisoner shoved his way toward them.
Then another. Then another.
The two stood back-to-back.
Surrounded.
Shirley lowered his stance.
TR241 slowly drew both daggers.
The noise of the arena disappeared beneath the sound of fists, screams, and crashing tables.
A prisoner stepped forward.
Shirley stared at him. TR241 stared at him.
He raised his fists, Shirley raised his own.
TR241 tightened her grip around the daggers.
And then—
THE ARENA FLOOR…
EBS could barely contain herself.
She pointed toward the ring, jumping slightly as Tucker and CH2 continued exchanging blows.
"GO, TUCKER!" Her voice disappeared beneath the deafening roar of the arena.
She grinned. For the first time since entering Fight Night, she looked genuinely excited.
Then, Michonne grabbed her by the arm. "Forget the fight!"
EBS stumbled. "What?!"
Michonne pointed toward the opposite side of the arena. "Look!"
EBS followed her finger.
Through the sea of prisoners, something was happening near the Survivor Tunnel.
People were shoving each other. Tables were being knocked over.
A crowd had formed around something they couldn't see.
Then someone went flying over the heads of several prisoners.
EBS's smile disappeared. "…Oh."
Michonne grabbed Tongue's wrist with her other hand. "We have a bigger problem."
She pulled both of them through the crowd. "Do I seriously have to babysit you two?!"
EBS hurried after her. "But Tucker—"
"Shirley's in the middle of that!" Michonne pointed toward the chaos. "We're his only reinforcements!"
EBS immediately nodded. "Right!"
She started moving faster. Tongue, however, stopped.
Michonne kept walking.
Then realized she was no longer holding anything.
She slowly looked behind herself. Tongue was sitting on the floor. "…No."
Tongue looked up at her. "No."
Michonne's eye twitched. "Get up."
Tongue shook her head. "I don't wanna."
Michonne stared at her. "…Tongue."
"I don't wanna." Tongue said.
"You're coming with us." Michonne said.
"No." Tongue crossed her arms. "I wanna stay here."
Michonne's patience began evaporating. "There is literally a fight happening over there."
Tongue pointed toward the ring. "And there's a fight here!"
"That's not what I meant." Michonne said.
Tongue suddenly dropped onto her back. "COME ON!" She kicked her feet against the floor. "Let's have fun!"
Michonne stared down at her.
EBS stopped beside them. "…Is she seriously throwing a tantrum?"
"Yes. I hate drunks." Michonne said.
Tongue began pounding her fists against the ground. "I DON'T WANNA GO!"
Several nearby prisoners glanced over. Michonne closed her eyes.
Took a breath, another. Then slowly opened them. "…Fine."
Tongue stopped.
Michonne crouched down. "You don't want to walk?"
Tongue shook her head. "No."
"You don't want to listen?" Michonne asked.
"No." Tongue responded.
Michonne sighed. "Then we're doing this the easy way."
She grabbed Tongue around the waist.
Tongue's eyes widened. "Wait—"
Michonne lifted her off the floor.
"HEY!"
She swung Tongue onto her back.
Tongue landed across her shoulders. "PUT ME DOWN!"
Michonne stood. "No."
"I CAN WALK!" Tongue protested.
"You've spent the last thirty seconds proving you can't." Michonne said.
EBS stared at the two of them. "…You're actually carrying her?"
Michonne adjusted Tongue's legs around her waist.
"If she wants to act like a child…" She started walking. "…then I'll treat her like one."
EBS blinked. "…How do you know how to do that?"
Michonne's expression briefly changed. Something distant passed through her eyes. "…Experience."
EBS tilted her head. "Experience with what?"
Michonne didn't answer.
Instead, she looked toward the growing chaos. "Nothing."
She tightened her grip around Tongue's legs. "Let's go."
Tongue rested her chin against Michonne's shoulder.
"…Can I get down now?"
"No."
"…What if I promise to behave?"
"No."
"…What if I promise not to bite anybody?"
Michonne paused.
"…Why would that even need to be said?"
Tongue smiled.
"Just asking."
EBS couldn't help but laugh. "She's unbelievable."
Michonne sighed.
Another massive roar erupted from the arena.
The floor trembled beneath their feet. EBS immediately looked toward the ring.
Tucker was still fighting.
Then she looked toward the opposite side. Shirley was somewhere inside that growing brawl.
Her expression hardened. "Come on."
The three disappeared deeper into the crowd. Behind them, the arena continued to erupt.
One fight raged in the ring. Another was beginning outside the Survivor Tunnel.
THE RING…
For several seconds…no one moved.
CH2 lay motionless against the canvas. The crowd had gone strangely quiet.
Blood slowly dripped from his brow onto the ring beneath him.
Tucker remained on his knees several feet away.
His chest rose and fell rapidly. His arms trembled. Every muscle in his body screamed at him to stay down.
But he forced himself upright.
One hand grabbed the ropes. He pulled himself to his feet. The crowd began to murmur.
Tucker wiped the blood from his mouth.
He looked toward CH2. "…Stay down."
Nothing.
Tucker swallowed.
Still nothing.
Then, a hand moved.
The arena went silent. CH2's fingers curled against the canvas.
Tucker's expression changed "No…"
CH2 slowly pushed himself onto one knee.
The crowd erupted.
"GET UP!"
"CH2!"
"LONG-BROW!"
"GET UP!"
Tucker stared.
His breathing stopped for a moment.
CH2 placed one hand against the canvas.
Then the other.
Slowly…painfully…he stood.
The entire arena shook.
CH2's head hung low.
Blood ran down the side of his face. His shoulders rose and fell with each breath.
Tucker couldn't move.
He had hit him. Harder than he thought he could.
And CH2 was still standing.
CH2 slowly raised his head.
His eyes met Tucker's.
For the first time that night…there was something different in them.
It wasn't anger. Not fear. Respect.
A faint smile appeared across his face. "…You're still standing too."
Tucker's fists tightened. His legs trembled beneath him. "Yeah…"
He forced himself into his stance. "…The job isn't done."
The crowd exploded.
CH2 rolled his shoulders. His neck cracked. Then he stepped forward.
Every step seemed heavier than the last.
Tucker didn't retreat. He watched him carefully.
Studying his feet. His shoulders. His breathing. Every movement.
His battle instincts screamed at him.
He's hurt, but he's not finished.
CH2 stopped.
The two stared at one another from opposite sides of the ring.
The referee glanced between them.
Even the announcer had gone silent.
For once…nobody in the arena had anything to say.
Then CH2 raised his fists.
Tucker did the same.
The crowd slowly began chanting.
"CH2…"
"CH2…"
"CH2…"
Tucker's eyes narrowed. CH2 leaned forward.
Tucker shifted his footing.
Neither moved.
One second.
Two.
Three.
Then, CH2 suddenly stepped forward. Tucker's eyes widened.
The bell didn't ring.
Only the sound of thousands of prisoners realizing the same thing at once.
The fight wasn't over.
CH2 smiled.
Tucker clenched his fists.
And then, they charged each other.
But no one who attended Fight Night on that day…could have ever anticipated how much worse things would get.