That night, the wind blew cold. Nature's voice echoed through the empty streets, and the stars glittered softly across the sky like diamonds spread on black silk. Alex spoke slowly—so slow that even the wind could cut his voice in half.
"So… I've been thinking about it," he said.
Zayn glanced at him, confused. "Thinking about what? And why do you look like you just saw a ghost doing taxes?"
Alex swallowed. His voice turned soft, almost trembling. "I think… I won't go back with you."
Zayn froze. For a moment, he didn't even know how to reply. His heart dropped, but he forced himself to stay calm.
"Okay," he finally said. "I think you're ready. Honestly, I don't mind. It's natural for the Hunter family. Everyone wants to explore the world. Everyone wants to feel more, learn more. I was just like you before—eager, hungry, wanting to know everything and get every experience."
Alex stared at him, shocked. He never expected Zayn to just… accept it. "Are you really okay?"
Zayn nodded with a humble smile. "Yeah, it's okay. Now I've got these two brats in the back to live with. And you—well, you're eighteen now. It's time to go learn, experience university, get knowledge… all that big boy stuff."
Alex felt warmth bloom in his chest. He never had a father, so having someone believe in him like this felt unreal.
"But," Alex added, smiling, "I'll go after I finish my problem here."
Zayn lifted an eyebrow. "What problem?"
Alex raised his voice confidently. "The problem with Diaz and his son Sean."
Zayn sighed dramatically. "Well, I hope you finish it fast. I need time to cry before you go, give you some money, then go back home, live with the brats, find a new love, maybe two… and meet my old army friends before I get old again."
Alex burst out laughing. "Now I know you have a whole life planned after I come and go."
That night, Zayn and Alex talked about everything—life, dreams, stupid stories, hopes, and fears.
"So," Zayn said, leaning back, "do you want to hear a story before you get busy winning that championship?"
Alex hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah. Tell me."
Zayn grinned. "Alright. This story goes back to King Arthur's era. His name was John Hunter—one of our ancestors. He was a warrior of the English Empire. In 1575, he received the title 'Sir' and became a general. He stayed a general for decades. People kept asking how he lived so long—even King Arthur died before him."
Zayn continued, his voice dramatic like a movie narrator.
"In Queen Elizabeth's era, he grew older. Everyone thought he'd retire, but nope—he stayed as a general and later became Queen Elizabeth's protector. In 1879 he stepped down, and in 1900 he died… poisoned by someone. But the man had ten sons and ten daughters with four wives. A legend. England made all of it top secret. No one has ever found the full records."
Alex clapped. "Wow. But who were his children?"
Zayn shrugged. "No idea. Anyone who married a Hunter—even women—took the Hunter name. So everyone ended up with short names in front and Hunter at the back. Nobody knows who's who."
Alex thought for a moment… then dropped the craziest idea ever.
"So… I think after all this, I want to go to Japan. Join the Yakuza. Then the mafia. Work for a year. Betray them. Become rich, educated, get married, have a son… and a lot more."
Zayn stared at him, shocked, then replied with a deadly serious face.
"You…"
Then he smiled. "You have high hopes. Full epic adventure. I hope you don't die early."
Two days later, after long traveling, they arrived home—in Italy. Specifically, Rome.
Encinto and Jogo finally woke up, stretching like confused zombies.
"So… where are we now?" Jogo asked.
Alex and Zayn laughed.
"We're in Rome," Alex said. "I'm fighting in one week. You two can relax—Rome has everything."
Alex got out of the car.
"So you guys go home first. I'll head to the gym for some training. Meet you at the tournament."
He waved and walked away confidently.
Zayn drove off with Encinto and Jogo, heading home.
Alex found a gym nearby and started training. Everything went smoothly—shadowboxing, heavy bag, footwork drills—until he left the gym that night.
On the way to his hotel, he saw two gangs fighting in an alley. He stopped.
Then—
BAM!
A punch came flying straight at him.
Alex didn't fall. He didn't even flinch.
He blocked it smoothly, moved like a beast in silence.
Three guys attacked at once—but Alex dodged every punch, slipping like young Mike Tyson.
No opening. No mercy. No room for them to breathe.
One by one—
BAM!
THUD!
CRACK!
They all hit the ground.
After the fight ended, Alex noticed a girl sobbing in the corner of the hallway. Her body covered in bruises and cuts.
He approached slowly.
He took off his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders.
She looked up weakly.
"Who… who are you?"
Alex replied, calm but gentle.
"It doesn't matter who I am. I'm here to help you."
Alex dragged the three defeated guys and the girl to the police station.
The officer asked,
"What happened to this girl?"
Alex shrugged. "I don't know. I fought those guys and rescued her. Anything else you want to know, ask her. Bye."
He waved and walked away in the coolest cinematic style ever.
That night, he reached his hotel and finally took a long, peaceful rest.
The next day, Alex woke up like usual.
Morning run.
Gym.
Boxing.
Swimming.
Stretching.
A full day of training like a machine that refuses to break.
By sunset, he finally slowed down, sitting on a bench by the riverside, watching the orange sky melt into the water.
Just when he thought he could rest, someone sat beside him.
He looked.
It was Lynx.
Of all people, of all moments… she appeared.
"So," Lynx said, breaking the silence, "I heard you've got some problems to solve."
She smiled softly. "And I wish you good luck for your tournament."
Alex leaned back on the bench, arms stretched, eyes half closed at the sky.
"Yeah. And thanks for your support. But…" he turned his head, staring directly into her eyes, "I don't think you came here just to wish me good luck."
Lynx froze slightly.
How does he know? Seriously, is he reading my mind? Okay Lynx, just breathe. Be smooth. Be classy.
She straightened her posture.
"Yeah… I came here to say something."
Then she asked, her curiosity burning holes through the air:
"I heard you had… quite a lot of girls at your old place?"
Alex blinked.
How does she know? Did Zayn tell her? Or Encinto? Or Jogo when he was half-asleep? Ugh…
He decided to be honest.
"Yeah… I had some."
His heart thumped fast, waiting for her reaction.
Lynx's eyebrow twitched.
This guy… more than me? How dare he?
"So one of them is Liana, right?" she asked.
"Yes. And also Hanah," Alex replied.
Please don't get mad… please don't burn Rome…
Lynx looked at him seriously.
"So… is our relationship just friends?"
Alex's heart cracked a bit. He felt guilty, nervous, and confused all at once.
"Actually… no. Because I have feelings for you."
Lynx shot up to her feet, shocked.
"Really? Are you serious? You actually like me?"
Alex nodded. "Yeah, but…"
"But you have other girls?" she finished for him.
Alex lowered his head. "Yeah. I have… other girls."
He slowly stood up.
"I'm sorry."
Lynx looked at him—not angry, just thoughtful.
"It's okay. I understand. But… we can still do something about this."
That night, the two of them walked back to Alex's room.
What happened in that room was… loud.
Very loud.
Let's just say the hotel walls probably suffered the most damage.
THE NEXT MORNING
Alex woke up to the sound of someone calling his phone.
His head was foggy. He stood up, grabbed the phone, and answered.
"Hello?"
A mysterious voice replied, smooth and chilling:
"Hey Alex. Long time no see. How are you?"
Alex frowned.
"Who is this? How do you know me?"
The voice laughed softly.
"You don't recognize my voice? Ouch. That hurts. But whatever… I just wanted to wish you good luck fighting Sean. Because he's going to defeat you."
Alex's eyes widened. "Wait—who—"
Beep. Beep.
The call ended.
Alex stared at his phone.
Who is he? What's his motive? Why now?
The questions flooded his mind, refusing to leave.
Alex went to shower and got ready for training.
Just when he thought he could sneak out quietly, Lynx suddenly woke up.
"Good morning," she said, stretching cutely.
Alex froze.
Oh no… did she hear the phone call from earlier? Please no. Please no.
"Hi," Alex replied, trying to act normal. "I wanna go out. You should pack your things because your flight is in 30 minutes."
Lynx's eyes went wide.
"What?! Why didn't you wake me earlier!?"
She leaped out of bed and rushed toward the bathroom—almost slipping on the carpet.
Alex held up his hand.
"Hey, you can go now. I'll lock the door and give the key to the counter. You can ask them when you arrive home."
Lynx sighed in relief.
"Okay… bye!"
She ran out like a speeding bullet.
Alex finally exhaled deeply.
Thank God…
He went down to the lobby—but then he stopped.
Sean.
Miguel.
Both of them were there at the reception desk, checking in.
Alex's heartbeat slowed.
They're checking into this hotel? Seriously? Out of all places? What's gonna happen now?
He didn't give them a chance to notice him. He quietly slipped out of the hotel and headed for the gym.
Training.
Running.
Sweat.
Focus.
Same routine, trying to ignore the storm building around him.
THAT NIGHT
When Alex returned to the hotel, he grabbed his key from the counter and went upstairs.
But as he approached his room, he noticed two guys standing in front of his door.
They stared at him.
Then they smiled.
Then—before Alex could react—they rushed at him.
Alex immediately raised his guard, ready to knock both of them out.
But instead… they hugged him.
"BROOOO!" one of them yelled.
Alex blinked.
"…huh?"
The first guy laughed. "Don't you remember me? It's me, Mark!"
The second one laughed too. "And me, John! We're your friends! What, did we change THAT much?"
Alex stared, brain loading… buffering… trying to process.
He squinted.
"Wait… are you really Mark and John?"
Both of them nodded proudly. "Yeah! Why? Do we look different?"
Alex shook his head slowly.
"Different? Bro… you two look like completely new humans. Did you… work out?"
Mark flexed. "Yeah, but not like you. We joined boxing at Xander Gym."
Alex's eyes widened.
"Xander Gym?"
John nodded. "Yeah. And Coach Ray said good luck for your tournament."
Alex's smile warmed. "Oohh… so why are you guys here? In Rome?"
Mark replied, "We just wanted to meet you. And tomorrow is your tournament—we want to cheer for you. And don't ask about Hannah and Liana. They can't come, they're focusing on college."
Alex laughed.
"So… you two don't go to college?"
John puffed his chest proudly. "We do. We already finished our master's degree. That's why we're free now."
Mark patted John's shoulder. "Okay bro, we should go now."
Alex waved. "Bye! See you next time!"
They walked away laughing like idiots from a comedy show.
LATER THAT NIGHT
Alex lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
His mind wouldn't rest.
The tournament.
Sean.
The mysterious phone call.
His promise to take revenge.
And the strange new feelings he had—for Lynx, for his life, for his future.
He realized something important:
He wasn't the same as before.
He wasn't that cold, silent, revenge-driven boy anymore.
He wasn't the "cold-blooded Alex" who didn't feel anything.
Now?
He had emotions.
He had people he cared about.
He had dreams.
And that scared him more than any fight.
Alex woke up to the sound of his phone buzzing non-stop.
Morning sunlight slipped through the curtains, burning his eyes as he sat up, groaning.
He reached for the phone on the table.
Dozens of messages. Missed calls.
Zayn's name appeared again and again.
Alex rubbed his face.
"Bro… so many messages. Do they really worry about me?"
He shook his head.
"Don't think too much. If you think too much, you lose."
He dragged himself into the bathroom.
A long, warm shower washed away the stress.
When he stepped out, only a towel wrapped around his waist, someone knocked on the door.
Alex frowned.
"Who the hell is that this early?"
He opened the door—
Mark and John stood there like two excited puppies.
John waved. "Hi, good morning!"
Mark scanned Alex from head to toe. "Wow… someone's ready to fight with that body."
He pointed at Alex's shredded torso.
John burst out laughing. "Bro, he looks like he's made of steel now."
Alex couldn't help smiling. "Relax lah. Wait here, I'll change."
He walked back inside, threw on a hoodie, shorts, and compression tights.
When he stepped out again, he locked the door behind him.
"Okay," Alex said, "let's go."
The three walked down the quiet streets toward the Gladiator Arena, the morning air cool and sharp.
The closer they got, the louder the crowd sounded, even from afar.
Alex stopped at the entrance.
"So… this is where we break the ice," he murmured, staring at the massive structure.
Mark grinned and raised his fist. "Yeah. We'll support you from the spectator seats. Good luck, bro."
Alex bumped his fist with Mark's.
John watched the moment with a dramatic gasp.
"Hello?? Why am I invisible?! I also want fist bump!"
Alex and Mark burst into laughter, bumping fists with John to satisfy him.