As Cole's success in the tournament grew, so did the threats from the underground. The message he received had been a stark reminder that his past wasn't something he could leave behind easily. He had seen these kinds of people before—people who would stop at nothing to maintain their control over the streets, the slums, and everything in between. They saw Cole's rise as a threat, a challenge to their power, and they wouldn't let him slip away without a fight.
But as much as the tension gnawed at him, Cole pushed forward. He couldn't afford to stop now, not when he was so close to something bigger. He had fought his way through too much to be intimidated by shadowy threats and faceless enemies.
It wasn't just about him anymore. Ty, Zack, Lina—they all believed in him, and they were counting on him to succeed. They had been with him through everything, and now, as the stakes grew higher, Cole felt a deep responsibility to see this through for all of them. He wasn't going to let these people—whoever they were—tear down what he had built.
Still, he couldn't deny the weight of the threats hanging over him. Every night, as he lay in bed, the thought of being pulled back into the underground world gnawed at him. He knew the men who controlled that world were dangerous, and if they were watching him, it meant they had plans. And plans in their world usually meant violence.
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