The underground tournament wasn't just a fight; it was a battlefield where the strongest reigned and the weak were crushed. It was a stage where grudges were settled, reputations were built, and debts were paid in blood.
The invitation in Ochieng's hands wasn't an ordinary one. It was a challenge. An open declaration of war. And behind it all was Shen Tao.
The name alone sent ripples through the underworld.
Shen Tao wasn't just a businessman. He was a man who thrived in chaos, manipulating fights from behind the scenes, ensuring that every battle served his interests. And now, he wanted Ochieng to step onto his stage.
But why?
Ochieng knew there was more to this than a simple challenge. There was a trap waiting for him.
And yet, he didn't hesitate.
He picked up his phone and made a call.
"Prepare the car. We're going."
---
As Ochieng's car drove through the city streets, neon lights flickered across the windshield. The night was alive—couples laughing outside luxury restaurants, businessmen drowning themselves in expensive liquor, street performers gathering crowds on sidewalks.
But beneath this glittering illusion was another world.
A world where blood was spilled in secret arenas. A world where men like Ochieng were hunted, tested, and broken.
He glanced out the window, deep in thought.
Shen Tao…
Their history was complicated.
Once, they had fought on the same side. But greed and ambition had turned them into enemies. Ochieng had walked away from that world, but Shen Tao?
Shen Tao built his empire on the ashes of those he destroyed.
And now, he wanted to add Ochieng to that list.
Not happening.
Ochieng leaned back, exhaling slowly. This time, he would end it.
---
The underground tournament wasn't held in some abandoned warehouse or hidden basement. No.
It was an empire beneath the city itself.
As Ochieng's car pulled up to an exclusive nightclub, he didn't even need an invitation. The guards already knew who he was.
One of them, a massive man with a scar running down his cheek, nodded in recognition. "We've been expecting you, Mr. Ochieng."
Ochieng smirked but said nothing.
He followed them through a VIP entrance, past flashing lights and thumping music, through a maze of corridors until they reached a hidden elevator.
It descended deep below the city.
And when the doors opened—
Ochieng stepped into another world.
A coliseum.
Golden chandeliers, velvet curtains, and an arena bathed in blood.
Hundreds of spectators—some billionaires, some criminals, all hungry for violence—gathered around the circular cage where fighters were already engaged in brutal combat.
The scent of sweat, blood, and expensive cigars filled the air.
A familiar voice greeted him.
"Took you long enough."
Ochieng turned.
Shen Tao stood on the VIP balcony, smirking.
His sharp suit, slicked-back hair, and confident stance made him look like a king surveying his kingdom. And tonight, Ochieng was the uninvited guest.
Shen Tao raised a glass of wine. "I was worried you wouldn't come. That would've been disappointing."
Ochieng smiled, but his eyes were cold. "I don't like wasting time."
Shen Tao chuckled. "Then let's not waste any."
He snapped his fingers.
A spotlight shone on the arena.
"Tonight's special match," the announcer boomed, "a battle of skill, strength, and survival! Our undefeated champion… against the man who dares to challenge him!"
The crowd roared.
Ochieng stepped forward, shrugging off his jacket.
The fight was on.
---
His opponent stepped into the cage—a giant of a man, muscles rippling, scars covering his body.
A former mercenary. A four-time underground champion.
The kind of man who killed for fun.
The announcer barely finished speaking before the fighter charged at Ochieng.
A punch aimed to break bones.
Ochieng dodged by an inch, spinning on his heel and countering with a lightning-fast strike to the ribs.
The mercenary staggered—but barely.
He grinned.
"Finally," he growled. "A real fight."
Ochieng didn't reply. He didn't need to.
The battle had just begun.
And in the shadows, Shen Tao watched with amusement.
He already knew how this would end.
At least, he thought he did.
But tonight, the unexpected was about to happen.
---