CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The gym was shaking.
Stomping feet. Screaming fans.
Chants rose like battle cries:
"THIS IS AWESOME!"
"FIGHT FOREVER!"
"LET'S GO MALIK!"
Malik "M.K. Jr." Smith stood toe-to-toe with Ryder — the same Ryder who had tormented him in a past life, a ghost of his weakest days.
Not anymore.
Now?
Malik was the problem.
Ryder came in ruthless — technical, brutal, confident. He slammed Malik with four finishers and two signature moves, including his patented Snapdragon Driver and Torment Lock 7.
Malik kicked out of everything.
Every single one.
His body screamed. His lungs burned.
But his will? Unshakable.
The System flared in his vision:
🔥 PASSIVE TRIGGERED: HYPE ENGINE
Crowd energy replenishing stamina...
Each chant was fuel.
Each cheer — a second wind.
Ryder charged for a final finisher —
But Malik dodged, scooped him up in mid-air, and Powerbombed him through the ropes like thunder made flesh.
The crowd exploded.
Ryder staggered to his feet outside the ring.
Malik followed. Grabbed him. Lifted.
"You ran my name through the dirt before."
"Now watch me bury yours."
SKYFALL JUDGMENT — THROUGH THE ANNOUNCE TABLE.
BOOOOOM.
The table shattered like glass in a hurricane.
Silence.
Then—
"HOLY S—!"
"HOLY S—!"
"HOLY S—!"
No time wasted.
Malik rolled Ryder's broken frame into the ring, climbed in behind him — limping, aching, but moving like he was possessed by destiny.
He hoisted Ryder once more.
SKYFALL JUDGMENT.
Second time.
The whole ring bounced.
1… 2… 3.
DING DING DING.
WINNER: MALIK "M.K. JR." SMITH
🏆 Eastwood High Wrestling Tournament Champion
The roof nearly came off.
Malik didn't smile. Not yet.
He fell to one knee in the center of the ring, the championship belt in hand, sweat pouring down his brow, as the gym lit up with cheers, camera flashes, and disbelief.
Even Ryder — breathless, broken — sat up in the corner.
And gave him a sign saying he will be back.
Anger and Jealousy.
SYSTEM PING — FINAL MISSION COMPLETE
🎯 "Claim the Crown" — COMPLETED
• +300 XP
• +10 Charisma
• 🆕 Passive Unlocked: Hype Engine
• 🧬 Gimmick Evolution Path: Tribal Chief — Tier 2 Unlocked
🎖 BONUS OBJECTIVE COMPLETE: "Win in Spectacular Fashion"
• Crowd Chanted: "This is Awesome!"
• +100 Bonus XP
• +5 to All Stats
• 🏅 Fan Tier Upgraded: Hometown Hero → Local Icon
SYSTEM LEVEL UP
📈 LEVEL 8 → LEVEL 9
🟡 XP: 440 / 1000
✨ +5 Stat Points (Standard)
✨ +5 Stat Points (Bonus)
✨ +10 Charisma
✨ +5 to All Stats (Bonus Objective)
📊 UPDATED STAT SHEET – LEVEL 9
• Strength: 27
• Agility: 21
• Endurance: 24
• Charisma: 63
• Technique: 22
🔸 Unspent Stat Points: 40
📣 Fame Tier: Local Icon
🗣 Crowd Chants Added: "ACKNOWLEDGE HIM!"
📷 Viral Clips Detected: +5K Followers Overnight
🏆 New Social Status: Eastwood's Prodigy
AFTER THE BELL
There were no fireworks. No glitter bombs.
But Malik didn't need them.
He had a belt slung over his shoulder, a gym full of screaming fans, and the weight of everything he'd endured finally off his back.
He didn't just win a tournament.
He rewrote his story.
A bullied kid reborn as a champion.
A dreamer reborn as a force of nature.
He looked out at the crowd, and for a brief moment — he saw it all.
His family beaming.
Uncle Tony jumping up and down like a man half his age.
Vanessa Cruz near the back… smiling.
Malik turned to the hardcam.
Raised the belt.
And mouthed just two words:
"Acknowledge me."
[End of Chapter 13]