Fight

As Ethan stood at the registration booth in front of Reg, the burly man asked, "Name?" ready to jot down whatever he heard in his tattered notebook. Ethan's heart raced, his mind swirling with thoughts of what lay ahead. Despite his efforts to prepare, the reality of stepping into the ring was starting to sink in, and fear crept in like a shadow.

"Ethan," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Reg looked up, raising an eyebrow as he noticed the shift in the kid's demeanor. "You sure about this?"

Ethan nodded, but doubt gnawed at him from within. He could already envision the fight—the punches, the pain, the uncertainty. What if he wasn't as tough as he thought? What if he failed?

As he stood there, lost in his thoughts, a figure in the background caught sight of him. The man appeared taken aback; of all the people he could have imagined, he never thought he would see Ethan in a place like this.

Reg finished jotting down Ethan's name and handed him a slip of paper. "You're up next. Get ready."

Ethan took the slip, his hands trembling slightly as he glanced around. The figure in the shadows shook his head, still in disbelief, trying to process the sight of Ethan in this gritty environment. He wondered what Ethan was doing here and resolved to speak with him later.

With a deep breath, Ethan stepped toward the ring, the noise of the crowd fading into the background. He focused on the task ahead, striving to push aside the fear that still threatened to overwhelm him. This was it. He was about to face the fight that would decide his fate, and he had to find a way to push past this and keep moving forward, no matter what.

Ethan stepped into the ring, his heart pounding as he faced his opponent, a menacing figure that exuded an air of intimidation. The moment he locked eyes with his opponent, a wave of cold feet washed over him. All the bravado he had built up until this point faded away as swiftly as the wind, leaving him feeling exposed and vulnerable.

The opponent stood shirtless, revealing a chiseled physique marked by scars that told stories of past battles. His dark, piercing eyes scanned Ethan with skepticism, as if judging the kid who dared to challenge him. The smirk on his lips conveyed both amusement and pity, making it clear he couldn't fathom why he was about to face someone who seemed so inexperienced.

Kai, watching from the sidelines, noticed Ethan's sudden shift in demeanor. He shook his head, realizing he might have been too hasty in throwing the kid into a fight like this. Leaning closer, he called out to Ethan, understanding the turmoil swirling in his mind. "Take deep breaths, kid. Just five deep breaths to calm yourself, and focus on avoiding his punches for now."

Ethan nodded, knowing there was no turning back now. He took a shaky breath, trying to steady himself as he moved forward to his position in the ring. The crowd's energy buzzed around him, eager for the spectacle, but all he could focus on was the daunting figure before him. With each breath, he reminded himself of the stakes, the reasons he was here, and the determination that still flickered within him, even in the face of overwhelming doubt.