“You have nothing I owe you.”

The man smiled.

“That’s not what I think.”

Daniel moved between them.

“You will not threaten anyone in my dojo.”

The man laughed.

“I’m not threatening anyone.”

He looked at Maya.

“Not yet.”

Then he left.

The room stayed silent.

Maya closed her eyes.

Ethan approached.

“Who was that?”

She opened them.

“His name is Adrian Voss.”

Daniel looked at Ethan.

“He runs a private fight circuit.”

Ethan understood.

Illegal competitions.

Money.

Underground matches.

People getting hurt for entertainment.

Maya said quietly,

“That is where my brother was supposed to fight the night he died.”

Ethan stared.

“What?”

“He was seventeen. He needed money.”

Maya’s voice trembled for the first time.

“I found out later the fight was fixed.”

Daniel spoke.

“Adrian was involved.”

Maya nodded.

“He was there.”

Ethan looked toward the door.

“What does he want?”

Maya’s answer was simple.

“Revenge.”

The next week, Adrian’s people began appearing around the city.

Not directly.

Never enough to be obvious.

But enough.

A car outside the dojo.

A stranger at the coffee shop.

A message sent to one of the students.

Then another.

Daniel called a meeting.

“We close early.”

Ethan frowned.

“For how long?”

“Until this is resolved.”

Maya shook her head.

“No.”

Daniel looked at her.

“This is not your burden alone.”

“I know.”

“We can involve the police.”

“I already did.”

“And?”

“They said there wasn’t enough evidence.”

Ethan clenched his jaw.

“So we do nothing?”

Maya looked at him.

“No.”

“What then?”

“We go to him.”

Daniel immediately said,

“No.”

Maya turned.

“He won’t stop.”

“I know.”

“He needs me.”

Daniel looked away.

Ethan understood.

“You’re planning to fight him.”

Maya did not answer.

“That’s not training,” Ethan said.

“No.”

“That’s revenge.”

Maya looked at him.

“I know.”

Ethan stepped closer.

“You told me power is knowing when not to use what you have.”

“Yes.”

“And now?”

“Now I’m trying to decide whether I still believe it.”

Chapter Twelve — The Offer

Adrian sent the invitation himself.

A black envelope.

Inside was a single sheet.

MIDNIGHT. MERCURY WAREHOUSE.
ONE FIGHT.
NO POLICE.
NO CROWD.
COME ALONE.

Maya read it twice.

Then folded it.

Daniel took the paper.

“No.”

“I’m going.”

“No.”

“I have to.”

“No.”

She looked at him.

“You said once that fear tells you when something matters.”

“I also said courage without judgment is stupidity.”

Maya smiled sadly.

“You said a lot of things.”

“So did you.”

Ethan entered.

“What happened?”

Daniel handed him the letter.

Ethan read it.

“I’m coming.”

Maya shook her head.

“No.”

“I’m not asking.”

“Yes, you are.”

“I’m coming.”

“You don’t know what this is.”

“I know enough.”

“No. You know martial arts. This is different.”

“Then teach me.”

Maya stared at him.

“Ethan…”

“I’m not coming because I want to fight.”

“Then why?”

He answered honestly.

“Because I’m not letting you walk into a place like that alone.”

Maya looked at Daniel.

Daniel sighed.

He knew.

“Then I’m coming too.”

Maya shook her head.

“No.”

“You don’t get to make that decision.”

For the first time in days, Maya laughed.

A small laugh.

But real.

“All right.”

Chapter Thirteen — Mercury Warehouse

The warehouse stood near the river.

Abandoned.

Massive.

Dark.

At midnight, the three entered through a side door.

No crowd.

No music.

No cheering.

Just empty concrete and rows of rusted machinery.

Adrian stood in the center.

He was not alone.

Six men surrounded him.

Maya stopped.

“You said one fight.”

“I lied.”

Ethan stepped forward.

Maya caught his arm.

“Wait.”

Adrian smiled.

“You always were predictable.”

Maya looked at the men.

“They don’t need to be here.”

Adrian shrugged.

“Insurance.”

Daniel stared at him.

“You are still the same coward.”

Adrian’s face darkened.

“Be careful, Daniel.”

Maya spoke.

“Why me?”

Adrian walked toward her.

“Because you humiliated me once.”

Maya frowned.

“When?”

“Years ago.”

He smiled.

“You came into my tournament pretending to be a spectator.”

Maya remembered.

“You remember.”

“I remember everything.”

“What happened?”

“You defeated six fighters.”

“And?”

“You made me look weak.”

“You were weak.”

Adrian laughed.

“You have no idea what this is about.”

“I think I do.”

“Then say it.”

“You wanted control.”

Adrian smiled.

“Exactly.”

He turned toward Ethan.

“And now I want to see whether your new friend can protect you.”

Ethan stepped forward.

“I don’t need to protect her.”

Adrian raised a hand.

The men moved.

Daniel took position.

Maya whispered,

“Stay behind me.”

Ethan shook his head.

“No.”

She looked at him.

“I’m not the man who first met you.”

Maya smiled.

“I know.”

Chapter Fourteen — Six Against Three

The first man charged Ethan.

Ethan moved left.

A punch missed.

He caught the wrist.

Elbow.

Shoulder.

The man fell.

A second came.

Ethan blocked.

Knee.

The attacker doubled over.

Ethan stepped away.

Daniel was already fighting.

Even at sixty-one, the old master moved with frightening efficiency.

He did not waste energy.

Every movement was small.

Every strike precise.

Maya faced two men.

One tall.

One heavy.

The tall man swung.

Maya ducked.

The heavy one grabbed.

She turned.

Used his own momentum.

He crashed into the first.

They fell together.

Adrian watched.

“Pathetic.”

More men entered.

Ethan breathed heavily.

“This is getting old.”

Maya smiled.

“You wanted experience.”

“This is enough experience.”

Daniel shouted,

“Behind you!”

Ethan turned.

A metal pipe swung toward his head.

Maya crossed the distance in an instant.

She blocked the pipe with her forearm.

The impact made Ethan wince.

“Maya!”

She seized the attacker.