Chapter 11 – Breaking the Chains

Ethan stood in the middle of The Cage, his body still buzzing with adrenaline. The scent of sweat, blood, and old leather filled the underground gym, but he barely noticed it. His mind was focused on one thing—power.

He had just defeated Kane, one of the tougher fighters here, using a mix of boxing and street brawling. But it wasn't enough.

His ability to copy skills was a game-changer, but he had learned something tonight—skill alone wasn't everything.

Kane had raw power, endurance, and pain tolerance that Ethan lacked. And in a real fight, those things mattered just as much as technique.

He clenched his fists. It was time to push himself further.

Scarface, the man who had let Ethan into The Cage, walked up with a cigarette in his mouth, lighting it casually. He studied Ethan for a moment, then exhaled smoke with a grin.

"You're a quick learner," he said. "But you ain't ready for the real monsters yet."

Ethan met his gaze. "Then make me ready."

Scarface chuckled. "Cocky. I like that. But you don't just need better skills, kid. You need a better body."

Ethan frowned. "What do you mean?"

Scarface motioned toward Kane, who was sitting against the wall, still holding his ribs. "That guy? He's been fighting on the streets since he was thirteen. He's been punched, kicked, stabbed—you think you're at his level just 'cause you copied some moves?"

Ethan's jaw tightened. He knew Scarface was right. His body wasn't keeping up with his skills.

Scarface smirked. "You wanna get stronger? Then get ready to suffer."

Ethan's hellish training began the next morning.

Scarface wasn't a traditional coach like Logan. He didn't care about technique. His training was designed to do one thing—break limits.

Day 1 – Strength and Endurance.

Ethan was thrown into grueling workouts. Tire flips, weighted sprints, and brutal push-up circuits until his arms felt like jelly. Every time he slowed down, Scarface kicked him back into motion.

By the end of the session, he was lying on the cold concrete, barely able to move.

Scarface crouched beside him, amused. "That's just the warm-up, kid."

Ethan groaned.

Day 3 – Pain Tolerance.

Scarface introduced a new drill—body conditioning.

Ethan had to stand still while Kane and a few others took turns hitting him. Not full-force, but enough to make his ribs ache and his skin bruise.

"Your body needs to learn how to take hits," Scarface said. "No point in having skills if one punch sends you to the hospital."

By the end of the night, Ethan felt like a human punching bag.

But the next morning, despite the pain, he showed up again.

Day 5 – Combat Drills.

Scarface finally let Ethan spar again, but this time, it wasn't just boxing. He threw Ethan against kickboxers, wrestlers, and even a Muay Thai fighter.

He lost. A lot.

But every loss was a lesson.

And every lesson made him stronger.

A week later, Ethan stood shirtless in front of the mirror in the locker room.

His bruises had healed faster than expected. His muscles were leaner, harder. His body was already adapting to the insane training.

And the System had taken notice.

[PHYSICAL CONDITION IMPROVED. STRENGTH +5%. ENDURANCE +8%. RECOVERY RATE ENHANCED.]

Ethan's heart pounded.

The System wasn't just copying skills—it was helping his body evolve.

If he kept pushing himself, he wouldn't just be skilled.

He'd become a monster.

And he needed to—because something told him that The Cage was just the beginning.

End of Chapter 11