As the days went by, each sunrise made the end of the competition seem more real.
The Irish national mixed martial arts team stayed focused and trained hard to get ready for their fights.
Even though the gym was buzzing with energy, there was something missing that everyone could see.
Collin NcGyver still hadn't shown his face.
As the staff's worries grew, they whispered to each other in corners and behind closed doors.
Collin was very good at what he did, but his absence was not only disrespectful, it was also a liability.
Things were already bad, it didn't matter if he showed up to fight or not.
His absence made people question how professional and united the team was.
Despite the carefully curated training clips shared online, fans began to notice the glaring lack of Collin's presence.
The national media team had done their best to keep things ambiguous, ensuring no one could definitively say Collin wasn't training.