Ghost in the Underground

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Chapter 19: The Wolf vs. The Ghost

The underground fight scene thrived on chaos. No rules, no commissions, just fighters and violence.

Tonight's venue?

An abandoned warehouse on the edge of the city. The kind of place where deals went bad, and people disappeared. The crowd packed in, shoulder to shoulder, surrounding the makeshift ring—just ropes tied to metal poles.

Everyone came to see The Wolf devour his prey.

Or see if The Ghost could survive.

Sammy walked in with Carlos and Rick, keeping his head down. The moment he stepped into the warehouse, eyes locked onto him.

Judging. Measuring.

He heard whispers.

"That's the kid who put Leon down."

"The new guy? He's gonna get mauled."

"Marcus is on another level."

Sammy didn't care. He kept his hands wrapped tight, his hoodie over his head, his mind focused.

Carlos leaned in. "Stay sharp. Marcus isn't Leon. He won't play around."

Sammy nodded. He knew.

Then the crowd shifted. A ripple of tension.

Marcus Kane entered.

No shirt. No robe. Just fight shorts, taped fists, and a grin that showed he already knew he was winning.

The crowd parted for him. They respected him. Or feared him.

He locked eyes with Sammy from across the warehouse.

And smirked.

"Let's see what you got, kid."

The fighters stepped into the ring. The energy changed. The playful trash talk in the crowd died down.

This wasn't an exhibition.

This wasn't for show.

This was survival.

A man stepped forward to ref. "No rounds. No time limit. Knockout or submission."

He glanced at both fighters. "You ready?"

Marcus rolled his neck. "Yeah."

Sammy exhaled slow. "Yeah."

The fight began.

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Round One

Marcus moved immediately. No hesitation.

A step forward. A jab. A cross.

Fast. Too fast.

Sammy barely slipped the first punch, the second clipping his shoulder.

Boom!

Marcus threw a hook to the body. It landed.

Hard.

Sammy grunted, stepping back. Marcus was already on him.

Pressure. Constant. Suffocating.

The Wolf didn't give space.

Sammy circled left. Marcus followed. Cutting off the ring. Trapping him.

A right hand. A left hook.

Sammy blocked the first but ate the second.

His vision blurred for a second.

The crowd roared. Marcus smelled blood.

Another flurry.

Sammy ducked. Clinched.

Marcus shoved him off. "Come on, kid. You scared?"

Sammy reset. Calm. Focused.

Marcus grinned. "You're too slow."

Then he lunged forward.

And Sammy countered.

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Round Two

Sammy ducked the right hand.

Stepped inside.

Boom!

A short, brutal uppercut to Marcus's ribs.

The Wolf grunted. First time he felt something real.

Sammy saw the reaction.

Good.

He pivoted left. Jab to the body. Right cross.

Marcus blocked, but he wasn't laughing anymore.

Now it was a fight.

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Marcus adjusted. No more reckless swings.

Now he cut the distance smart. Short hooks. Clinch work.

And Sammy?

He adapted.

Dirty boxing. Frame. Elbows inside. Shoulder bumps.

He made Marcus uncomfortable.

Marcus snarled. "Alright, kid. Let's see you take this."

Then he threw a bomb.

A right hook meant to end it.

Sammy rolled under.

And fired back.

CRACK!

A counter left hook landed flush.

Marcus staggered.

The crowd gasped.

And for the first time… The Wolf looked human.

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Marcus wiped blood from his lip.

Now he was serious.

He charged.

Sammy braced.

Marcus threw a flurry. Hooks, uppercuts, body shots.

Sammy slipped. Blocked. Absorbed what he could.

Then found his moment.

Marcus threw a wild right hand.

Sammy weaved.

Planted his feet.

And threw the perfect counter.

A brutal right cross.

Straight to the chin.

CRACK!

Marcus's legs gave out.

He crashed to the mat.

The crowd fell silent.

The Wolf was down.

Sammy stood over him. Breathing hard. Hands shaking.

The ref stepped in. Checked Marcus.

Then raised Sammy's hand.

Winner: The Ghost.

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Sammy walked out of the ring. Carlos met him, nodding.

"You proved something tonight."

Rick laughed. "Bro… Do you realize what you just did?"

Sammy exhaled. "Yeah."

He looked around the warehouse.

And saw new eyes on him.

Some impressed.

Some hungry.

The underground knew his name now.

And that meant his fights were only gonna get harder.

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End of Chapter 19

Next up: Chapter 20 – The Price of Victory

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