The Womb Warrior

Even before entering the world, Atlas wasn't like other babies. While most slumbered peacefully, he thrashed in the womb, his tiny limbs locked in an invisible grapple. Nurses joked he was practicing for the wrestling ring, a remark that would prove eerily prescient.

Atlas's childhood was a whirlwind of challenges. His father, a down-on-his-luck boxer, battled addiction, leaving Atlas and his mother, Maya, to navigate a life of uncertainty. School offered no solace. Atlas's size and intensity, fueled by a deep-seated need to prove himself, made him a target for bullies.

One day, seeking refuge from the schoolyard torment, Atlas stumbled upon a dusty gym tucked away on a forgotten street corner. Inside, Gruff, a grizzled ex-wrestler, ran a training haven for misfits. Gruff saw the raw talent and simmering fire in Atlas's eyes. He knew this boy, with his chaotic energy, belonged on the mat.