Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Strength in Numbers
As the days passed, Cole and his crew worked tirelessly to prepare for what was coming. The underground had been quiet, but they all knew it was the calm before the storm. The Reaper was out there, somewhere, and Cole could feel the tension in the air growing heavier with each passing day. It wasn't a question of if the underground would strike again—it was a question of when.
But Cole wasn't sitting around waiting for them to make their move. He was building something bigger, something stronger. The fighters they had recruited were starting to come together as a unit. Some had been hesitant at first, unsure if they could really stand up to the underground's power. But after the rescue of Zack, more and more fighters began to believe in what Cole and his crew were doing.
They weren't just a group of rebels anymore. They were becoming a movement.
In a small, dimly lit gym on the edge of the city, Cole stood in the center of the ring, watching as fighters trained around him. The rhythmic sound of punches hitting bags and the grunts of effort filled the space. These fighters—people who had once been trapped in the underground's web—were now fighting for something bigger than themselves.
"Keep your guard up!" Marco barked from across the room as he sparred with one of the newer recruits. "Don't drop your hands, or you're going to get knocked out."
The young fighter nodded, sweat dripping down his face as he adjusted his stance. Marco was tough, but he was also a good teacher. He had taken on the role of helping train the newer fighters, and his no-nonsense attitude had earned him respect.
Cole leaned against the ropes, his eyes scanning the room. He felt a sense of pride seeing how far they had come. These fighters had once been scattered, alone, and afraid of the underground. Now, they were a team, united by a common goal.
Lina approached the ring, her hands wrapped and ready for a sparring session. She smiled up at Cole, her expression full of warmth. "You're looking like a proud parent over there."
Cole smirked, shaking his head. "Just glad to see people starting to believe in this."
"They believe in you," Lina said, stepping into the ring. "You're the one who brought us all together."
Cole glanced down at her, feeling a strange mixture of pride and discomfort. He had never been one for the spotlight, but he couldn't deny that things had changed. People were looking to him for leadership, for guidance. It was a responsibility he hadn't asked for, but one he couldn't turn away from.
"I'm just trying to keep us all alive," Cole said, stepping into a fighting stance. "Let's see if you've still got it, Lina."
Lina grinned, raising her fists. "You know I do."
The two of them sparred for the next few minutes, the sound of their punches echoing through the gym. Lina was fast, her movements sharp and precise, but Cole had always been good at reading her. They had trained together for years, and their familiarity with each other's style made the sparring session feel more like a dance than a fight.
"You're getting slow," Lina teased, dodging one of his punches and landing a light jab to his ribs.
"Or maybe you're just getting faster," Cole replied with a smirk, countering with a quick hook that she narrowly avoided.
After a few more exchanges, they stepped back, both of them breathing heavily but smiling.
"Not bad," Cole said, wiping the sweat from his brow. "But I'm still better."
Lina rolled her eyes. "Keep telling yourself that."
As they exited the ring, Ty and Zack approached, both of them grinning like they had a secret.
"What's with the looks?" Cole asked, raising an eyebrow.
"We've been talking to some people," Zack said, leaning against the ropes. "Turns out, a few more fighters are interested in joining us."
Ty nodded, his excitement barely contained. "And not just any fighters. We're talking some serious talent—people who've been in the underground's system for years but are ready to break free."
Cole's interest was piqued. "Who are we talking about?"
"One of them is a guy named Jaxon," Ty said. "He's been fighting in the underground's higher-tier matches for a while now. Tough as nails, but he's sick of being controlled. Says he's ready to make a stand."
"And there's a woman named Rina," Zack added. "She's known for her grappling skills—one of the best in the underground. She's been blacklisted for refusing to throw a fight, but she's been looking for a way back in on her own terms."
Cole nodded thoughtfully. This was exactly what they needed. More fighters with experience, more people who understood the stakes. If they could recruit fighters like Jaxon and Rina, their chances of taking on the underground and surviving would increase dramatically.
"Let's set up a meeting with them," Cole said, his voice steady. "If they're serious about this, we can bring them in."
Zack and Ty nodded, both of them eager to get started. As they walked away to make the arrangements, Lina leaned in close to Cole.
"You really think we can pull this off?" she asked, her voice quiet.
Cole didn't answer right away. He looked around the gym, at the fighters who were training with everything they had. People who had been beaten down by the system but were now rising up, ready to fight back.
"We have to," he finally said. "There's no other option."
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