chapter 1: The boy who always wins

The crowd roared as the final bell rang.Inside the boxing ring stood Ethan Carter, breathing heavily, his fists still clenched. Sweat ran down his face as the referee raised his hand."Winner… Ethan Carter!"The audience exploded with cheers. Cameras flashed everywhere, and people shouted his name again and again.But Ethan didn't smile.Across the ring, his opponent lay on the floor, barely moving. The medical team rushed in quickly, checking his condition before helping him onto a stretcher.Everyone around the arena celebrated the victory.Everyone except Ethan.He stepped out of the ring quietly, ignoring the reporters calling his name."Ethan! Another amazing win!""How do you feel about your undefeated record?""Do you think anyone can beat you?"Ethan kept walking.Outside the stadium, the night air felt calm compared to the loud crowd inside. He sat down on a bench near the entrance and wrapped tape around his bruised hands.Winning should have felt good.But it never did.Because every time he won…someone got hurt.Just as he was about to leave, he noticed someone standing near the gate.A girl.She held a small notebook and looked like she had been watching the match. Her long brown hair moved slightly in the wind as she studied Ethan with curious eyes.This was Lily Thompson.She wasn't cheering like the others.She was simply observing him.Lily walked closer."That was an intense match," she said calmly.Ethan glanced at her and picked up his bag."You shouldn't watch fights like that," he replied.Lily raised an eyebrow."Why not?"Ethan looked toward the ambulance that was driving away from the stadium."Because people always get hurt."Lily followed his gaze for a moment, then looked back at him."That's part of the sport," she said.Ethan shook his head slowly."No," he said quietly."It's more than that."For a moment, Lily noticed something strange in his expression.It wasn't pride.It was guilt."You don't look happy about winning," she said.Ethan let out a small laugh, but there was no joy in it."I win every match," he said."Sounds like a good thing."Ethan looked directly at her."That's the problem."Lily frowned slightly."What do you mean?"Ethan hesitated, then spoke softly."Everyone who fights me ends up seriously hurt."The wind blew across the empty parking lot.Lily studied him carefully."You think you're cursed or something?" she asked.Ethan didn't answer.He simply slung his bag over his shoulder."Stay away from me," he said quietly.Then he began walking away.Lily watched him disappear into the darkness of the street.Instead of feeling scared…she felt curious.Something about Ethan Carter didn't make sense.A champion who hated winning.A fighter who looked guilty after every match.Lily smiled slightly and opened her notebook."Interesting," she murmured.Because Lily Thompson had a habit of uncovering secrets.And Ethan Carter might be the biggest mystery she had ever found.