Chapter 520: The Climb Begins

In a gym tucked away in Moscow's outskirts, the sounds of leather gloves cracking against pads echoed through the concrete walls.

Heavy bags swung. Trainers barked instructions in short, clipped Russian. Fighters moved with sharp rhythm, this was not a place for hobbyists.

This gym had grown a reputation. Not just as a place for building fighters, but for producing killers.

Among them was Ivan.

Tall. Broad. Young, but not raw. He was polished, especially on the ground. A student of judo since he was old enough to walk, his grappling was lethal.

But he knew the game was evolving.

And he didn't want to just survive in it.

He wanted to dominate.

He drilled takedowns first, again and again. Fast entries, explosive finishes. Then sprawls. Then get-ups. Wrestling transitions from the cage.

But when that was done, he didn't leave the mat.

He changed gloves. Reset.

Then moved to striking.