IMPERIUM:Earth’s Champion

The Arena – Shifting Battlefield

Orion's lungs burned.

Bakari's fist had nearly caved in his ribs, and if Orion hadn't twisted reality at the last second, it would have been worse.

But he was still standing.

And Bakari was still coming for him.

The Nigerian fighter moved with terrifying purpose, his every step radiating pure, unshaken confidence. He knew Orion wasn't stronger. He knew Orion wasn't faster.

And he was testing the limits of Orion's power.

That last hit hadn't just been an attack. It had been an experiment.

To see how much Orion could bend the world before it broke.

Orion wiped the blood from his mouth, shaking off the sting in his ribs.

Fine. If Bakari wanted to test him—

Then Orion would show him what he was really capable of.

The Counterattack

Bakari lunged.

Faster this time. No wasted movement. No openings.

Orion shifted reality just enough to move aside, but he felt the strain in his bones.

This wasn't like before. The constant corrections, the manipulations, they were stacking up. He was tiring.

And Bakari knew it.

Orion pivoted, throwing a kick to create space—Bakari blocked it effortlessly.

The Nigerian closed the distance instantly, driving forward like a wrecking ball.

Orion stepped—twisted reality again—

And suddenly, Bakari's foot landed half an inch too far forward.

It was barely anything. A shift so subtle it might have been a mistake.

But in a fight this fast, a mistake was everything.

Bakari's balance faltered.

And Orion struck.

He drove an elbow into his ribs—aiming exactly where he had landed his last hit. Bakari grunted, stepping back, his stance momentarily broken.

Orion pressed forward.

He wasn't going to overpower him. But he could break him down.

A punch to the side. A knee to the stomach. A feint to the left, a strike from the right.

Small hits. Precise.

Chipping away at Bakari's control.

Orion wasn't fighting fair.

He was fighting to win.

Brooklyn, New York – Graves Apartment

Sophia Graves had barely breathed for the last five minutes.

The fight was being broadcast worldwide.

She had seen Orion take that brutal punch—had felt the helplessness of watching her son get knocked across the battlefield.

But now—

Now, he was fighting back.

Not with strength. Not with speed.

With his mind.

Sophia clutched her hands together, whispering under her breath.

"Come on, Orion. Stay smart. Stay safe."

Brooklyn – Caleb's Apartment

"YES!"

Caleb shot up from the couch, fist pumping the air. "DID YOU SEE THAT?!"

Ava let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "He's playing it smart."

Jace nodded, arms crossed. "Yeah, but how long can he keep it up?"

The fight was far from over.

And everyone watching knew it.

Lagos, Nigeria – Okoye Family Residence

The Okoye household was dead silent.

Bakari's family watched, unblinking.

His youngest brother, Kofi, clenched his fists. "He'll win. He's just waiting for his moment."

Their mother exhaled, watching as Bakari adjusted his stance.

Their champion had been caught off guard.

But he wasn't done.

Not even close.

United Nations – Emergency Viewing Room

The world's leaders sat in tense silence.

Every battle mattered. Every fight dictated the future.

And the first victor would set the tone for everything to come.

The U.S. military observers weren't saying it, but they were watching Orion closely.

Because if he lost—

They needed to be prepared.

Orion kept moving.

He could feel Bakari adapting, adjusting, learning.

He wasn't just strong. He was smart.

Orion had disrupted his balance, but Bakari wasn't falling for the same trick twice.

The Nigerian champion reset his stance.

And then—

He took a deep breath.

And moved faster than before.

Orion barely had time to react before a punch grazed his cheek.

He twisted reality too late.

Bakari wasn't just recovering.

He was accelerating.

Orion cursed under his breath.

This fight was about to get a hell of a lot harder.

Bakari didn't hesitate. He charged again, and Orion felt his reality-bending grip slipping.

Every change he made, every adjustment—it was taking more and more out of him.

His lungs burned. His limbs felt heavy.

And Bakari wasn't slowing down.

The Nigerian threw a punch—Orion barely dodged.

Another hit—Orion couldn't erase it in time.

Impact.

Pain flared through his shoulder.

Orion gritted his teeth.

Stay up. Stay up.

Bakari struck again—Orion twisted space just enough to make the hit graze instead of connect.

But he could feel it.

His limit.

If he tried something bigger, if he erased too much—

He would collapse.

He exhaled sharply.

Then I just won't let it get to that point.

Bakari charged.

Orion smiled.

And he made his move.

To Be Continued…