CHAPTER NINE
The air in the gym was thick with anticipation.
The second round of the tournament had begun. Malik was facing off against someone completely different from Ricky. This wasn't a high-flyer or a brawler. No, this was someone who made wrestling an art of pressure and control.
His opponent: James "The Clinch" Carmichael.
A senior who'd been known for his precision in submission holds. His body was a canvas of tattoos showcasing each submission he'd perfected over the years — an ankle lock, a figure-four, the triangle choke. The dude lived in the ground game, and it was clear from the start that Malik would be in for a different kind of fight.
Malik knew this wouldn't be a match of raw strength. This wouldn't be about powerbombs or suplexes. This would be a test of willpower.
DING DING DING.
Round One: The Clinch and Escape
James wasted no time.
He dove straight into the clinch, locking Malik in a tight waistlock that nearly bent his back in ways it was never meant to go.
Malik grunted, his body taut as a bowstring.
"Not today, old man," James sneered, trying to twist Malik into a submission.
But Malik wasn't going down easy.
With a roll of his shoulders and a quick burst of energy, he managed to break free from the clinch.
James immediately transitioned to a leg lock — a swift ankle pick that left Malik barely enough time to react.
Lock. Twist. Hold.
The crowd gasped. Malik's face contorted in pain, but his fists clenched tighter. He wasn't tapping out. Not now. Not in front of all these people.
He fought through it. Reached for the ropes.
One inch at a time.
But instead of panicking, Malik did something he'd never done before. He relaxed into the hold.
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
And slowly, he managed to turn his body, using the leg lock against James.
With a surge of strength, he yanked his foot out of James's grasp and rolled back onto his feet.
The crowd roared. Malik's eyes were burning with newfound focus.
Round Two: Countering the Expert
James didn't give Malik any time to recover.
He was back on Malik's back in a second, attempting to lock him into a rear-naked choke.
Malik knew he couldn't afford to be put into a submission again. He had to think quickly.
Think. Adapt. Evolve.
With James securing the choke, Malik used his free hand to press against the mat and shifted his body. In one fluid motion, he dropped down, using his legs to sweep James off his back and roll him into an impromptu powerbomb position.
POP!
Malik threw James into the turnbuckle with a thundering slam. The impact rattled the entire ring. Malik took a deep breath — this wasn't just about strength anymore; it was about brains. He had to out-think James, who had a dozen counters for every move Malik made.
James staggered out of the corner, and Malik was already on him with rapid strikes — a backhand slap to the face, a shoulder check to his ribs, then a quick leg sweep. But when James fell, he wasn't out. No. He immediately transitioned into a leg lock again.
Malik's leg was trapped, and this time…
Malik was ready.
He had learned. He adapted.
With a burst of energy, he rolled out of the submission hold. Not just by power, but by using the momentum of the roll to twist his body free, reversing the hold into a quick pin attempt.
1…
2…
Kick-out!
The crowd was on the edge of their seats.
The Turning Point: Kicking Out, Over and Over
The next few minutes felt like an eternity.
James had Malik in the ropes again, throwing every submission he knew at Malik, bending his body in ways it was never meant to go. And for a moment, it seemed like Malik was outmatched.
James slapped on the armbar.
Malik grunted in pain.
He tried to fight it, but the pressure was immense.
He was THIS CLOSE to tapping out.
And then—
Malik remembered the SYSTEM.
He remembered that every challenge, every obstacle, was another chance to level up, to evolve. With sheer force of will, he twisted his body out of the armbar and powered his way out of the submission. The crowd gasped in amazement. How was Malik doing this?
James wasn't used to having his moves countered, but Malik was quickly proving he could take the best James had and still keep fighting.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of near-falls, submissions, and escapes, Malik saw an opening.
The Grand Finale: Outside and Inside the Ring
With a final roll of the dice, Malik caught James in a bear hug. He lifted him high into the air like it was a feather and then… SLAM!
Malik powerbombed James outside the ring, sending him crashing into the floor with a bone-rattling impact.
The crowd was on their feet, cheering, shouting, stunned.
Malik, not wasting a second, slid back into the ring, waiting for James to slowly crawl to his feet.
Everything was happening in slow motion.
The crowd's energy was palpable.
James staggered up, and Malik was already on him —
Skyfall Judgment.
He delivered his finisher a second time, slamming James into the mat so hard it shook the ring.
The referee counted:
1… 2… 3!
DING DING DING.
System Ping: Victory!
📢 MATCH WON!
+200 XP
+50 Bonus XP (Crowd's Reaction: A Class Performance!)
🎯 SKYFALL JUDGMENT – MASTERED
🧠 Fanbase Boost: +50 Followers
⚡ Tournament Mission Completed: +300 XP
+10 Charisma
🎯 Micro-Mission Completed: 'Counter the Master' – +5 Intimidation
Locker Room Reaction
Back in the locker room, Malik couldn't hide his grin. His chest was heaving with exhaustion, but it was the kind of exhaustion that tasted like victory.
Caleb slapped him on the back.
"Man, you were unstoppable in there!"
Vanessa raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed.
"You really made him tap out… without even tapping. That was beautiful."
Malik wiped sweat off his brow, his face serious.
"Wasn't just about strength. I had to adapt… that's how you win these things."
Coach gave him a knowing nod.
"Keep doing that, kid. You'll go far."
Malik's journey wasn't just about fighting anymore.
It was about adapting, evolving, and mastering every challenge in his path.
The Tribal Chief was rising.
And nothing — nothing — would stop him now.
[End of Chapter 9]