octagon, feeling invincible.
That was when he saw Arthur. The janitor was slowly pushing his mop across the
outer mats, his back turned to the spectacle. The juxtaposition of the celebrated
champion and the invisible cleaner struck Julian as hilarious. He needed another ego
boost, a new target for his amusement.
"Hey, mop boy!" Julian barked, his voice carrying over the din of the gym. Arthur
didn't respond, continuing his rhythmic, side-to-side sweeping motion. "I'm talking to
you, old man!" Julian snapped, closing the distance and purposely stepping onto the
freshly cleaned section with his sweaty, taped feet.
Arthur stopped. He leaned on his mop and finally looked up. His eyes were calm,
devoid of the fear or deference Julian expected. "Can I help you, sir?" Arthur asked, his
voice a low, gravelly rumble.
"I'm bored," Julian declared, spreading his arms wide. "Nobody here can give me a
decent sweat. How about you, old man? Want to step into the cage? I'll even tie one hand
behind my back. Let's see if you can clean up the floor as well as you mop it."
Chapter 4: The Unveiling
Laughter erupted from Julian's entourage. A few other gym members chuckled
nervously, sensing the cruelty but unwilling to intervene. Arthur just looked at Julian, the