Chapter 65: Chapter 65: The Calm Before the Storm
The night before his next fight, Cole found himself alone in the gym, the rhythmic sound of his punches hitting the heavy bag the only noise in the otherwise empty space. He had trained all day, pushing his body to the limit, but now, as the night stretched on, the weight of everything was starting to catch up to him.
The threats from the underground, the pressure of the tournament, the fear of putting his friends in danger—it all swirled in his mind, refusing to let him rest.
He stopped punching the bag and leaned against it, closing his eyes for a moment. His muscles ached, his knuckles throbbed, and his mind was exhausted. But he couldn't stop. Not now.
The sound of footsteps broke the silence, and Cole turned to see Lina walking into the gym. She had a calm, determined expression on her face, and she walked over to him without saying a word.
"You should be resting," she said softly, leaning against the bag next to him.
Cole shrugged, not meeting her eyes. "I can't rest. Not yet."
Lina was quiet for a moment, then reached out and placed a hand on his arm. "You don't have to carry all of this by yourself, you know."
Cole looked at her, his chest tight. "I'm not trying to. I just… I don't know how to stop."
Lina smiled softly, her eyes filled with understanding. "You're allowed to take a break, Cole. You're allowed to breathe. We'll handle whatever comes next, I promise."
For the first time in what felt like days, Cole allowed himself to relax, even if just for a moment. He nodded, letting out a long breath.
"Thanks, Lina."
"Anytime," she said, squeezing his arm gently. "Now come on, let's get you out of here. You've got a fight to win tomorrow."
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Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone