Finally, there was only The Ghost. He was fresh, having waited for his moment. He pulled a concealed blade—a violation of the Red Circle rules. The crowd gasped, but the referee, paid off by the house, looked away.

As Viktor walked out of the ring, bruised and bloodied, the promoter approached him with a stack of bills.

The crowd went silent as the five challengers entered. They weren't just street thugs; they were a coordinated unit—specialists. There was the Boxer, the Grappler, two heavy-hitting brothers, and a man they called "The Ghost" for his speed. The bell chimed once.