Chapter 9

20 years earlier.

"Thunder you're up next!" His manager Aran shouts as Max sips on his water. He lightly jumps from side to side, gearing himself up for the next fight. The temperature inside the underground bar is at least 95 degrees and Max is already breaking a sweat over his body.

"Only 5 nights left in Thailand now! Do you think we could make another 20K before we leave?" The manager asks.

"Of course, I'm now ranked number one here." He carefully observes the crowds placing their bets.

"Your biggest threat here is the Barbarian aka Z Kusano. He's just made another kill in the fighting pit!" Aran observes the blood on the ground as the crowds go crazy.

"That bastard knows how to fight dirty. When am I gonna face him?" Max asks, feeling determined.

"This Saturday, in two nights time. First get past tonight".

"Who's the worthy opponent then?" The wrestler queries as he places on his fighting gloves.

"His name is Hawk. The kids got balls, he just came out of Iraq 6 months ago. Still though, it should be another easy fight…. It's time".

"He's American?" Max asks.

"Yeah…"

"Never heard of the guy!" He shrugs.

The large high energy crowd continues to place their bets and cheer on as Max enters the main part of the bar, focussed and ready to fight. On the other side of the fighting pit his opponent appears. The young man is athletic and muscular, tanned with very short blond hair. Must be another MMA fighter.

Max, who is heavier and bulkier in build steps into the blood stained ring, folding his arms expecting a quick fight.

As soon as the bell sounds, the two men ready their fists as they circle around the ring fixated on who will throw the first punch.

Becoming impatient, Max throws forward the first jab as Axel dodges it to the side. He swings forward another hit but whilst there is power in Max's fist, his opponent has the speed and agility to avoid any impact. Time to try another strategy, Max thinks to himself this time using speed rather than strength. He instantly projects himself forward at incredible speed whilst extending out his shoulder then he crashes into Axel's chest.

The crowds cheer with excitement, familiar with one of his signature moves. But the celebration is short-lived when Axel kicks up off the ground. He runs forward and delivers a powerful uppercut that causes Max to stumble backwards then fall to his knees. He has had his fair shares of upper cuts before but this one burns like hell. He kneels, holding onto his bleeding chest as Axel attempts a reverse kick to his face. Max instantly grabs him by the leg, slamming his elbow painfully into Axel's shin as he falls to the ground.

Max continues his assault, rising to his feet as he lifts Axel in the air then aggressively slams his body down into the floor using the most impressive wrestling suplex.

"Just accept it soldier, the fight is over now! Stay on the ground and I'l spare your life this time" Max spits.

Axel callously smirks back, wiping the blood away from his lip using the bandage around his wrist before kicking up off the ground.

Unexpectedly he runs forward, grappling the wrestler before slamming his face into the ground with his own suplex.

"Big mistake!" Max glares up at him with hate as he slowly rises to his feet. Suddenly he aggressively spins around with his fists held forward, catching his opponent in the ribs. Axel stumbles back slightly disoriented as he struggles to regain focus. Max then uses the young fighter's moment of weakness to his full advantage. He drives his bulky arm around Axel's neck, cutting off the blood supply to his head.

"You give up yet Hawk?" He snarls, strangling his opponent.

Suddenly Axel uses the strength in his neck to aggressively tilt his head back, hitting Max and breaking his nose using the back of his skill. He instantly flips the heavy wrestler over his shoulder, painfully slamming Max's back into the ground.

Axel then presses the sole of his foot into Max's neck, trapping his breathing as he stares down at him coldly. The heavyweight wrestler struggles to break free.

"I never give up." Axel smirks as Max attempts to free himself. But it's no use and his opponent has him exactly where he wants him.

"If you tap out, I'll be the one sparing your life tonight Thunder…. Live or die?"

After an anxious wait, Max finally taps out. He kneels down on the floor in shame having been beaten in this fighting pit for the first time by an underdog. The crowd celebrate screaming 'Hawk' and throwing cash as Axel is escorted out of the ring. Never has Max felt so humiliated in front of hundreds of people as his title is taken away and given to some guy who has only been here for 5 minutes.

The next afternoon Max and his manager are sitting outside the same bar eating their pad thai and drowning their sorrows.

"You shouldn't have underestimated the other American! Now we have no money left and we can't get out of here!" Aran angrily remarks.

"Do you ever shut up?" Max shouts whilst downing another shot of whiskey, trying to forget the pain in his broken shoulder and nose but worse, the pain of losing his title.

"20 dollars and I could make that shoulder pain disappear". A young female escort approaches the fighter.

"Maybe later sweetheart" Max dismisses her and her colleagues lurking in the distance.

"Is this a fucking joke!" He angrily rises to his feet, noticing last night's opponent stepping out of the bar and casually walking towards them.

"What do you want Stone!?" Max throws and smashes his shot glass into the ground next to Axel's shoe.

"I'm not here to fight…" he holds up his hands.

"Then what the fuck do you want?"

"I'm sorry about your title, you fought good last night. I'm actually here because I could use your help. Friday I'm facing Kusano and I know you've been studying him for a while now. My manager is Steffan Visser, the leader of the syndicate. To be honest, I don't intend on sticking around this place and I wanna leave and return to Wood Oak as soon as I can…"

"You're from Wood Oak?" Max perks up surprised.

"Yeah"

"So am I!" He extends his hand to shake Axel's. "Take a seat kid, I'll fill you in on Kusano on one condition."

"Name it!" Axel replies.

"When you defeat him, you split your winnings with us. I think you got a good chance of beating him".

"Alright, you got a deal. I'm sure my manager won't notice the excess cash".

"Good…"

The pair spend the next three hours analysing and discussing Kusano's fighting style amongst other things. It's clear they both miss home and know some of the same people back there. During the next night following Max's advice, Axel won the fight within 30 seconds. He knocked out the Barbarian cold with one of his signature uppercuts towards the fighter's head. After that fight, he remained on top of South Asia's underground fighting scene for almost another 3 years.

During the year that Max was present in Axel's fighting career, the two of them remained close friends where they would frequently spar together, support each other's fights and party all over the islands celebrating their victories. Over time the two of them got stronger as fighters after all of the training they dedicated time to together. Eventually, Max returned to Wood Oak City first but he and Axel vowed to stay in contact as friends even though they had started off as enemies. And the rest is history…

Present day.

"I need your signature right here" Ms Y directs, distracting Max away from his thoughts on the other side of her desk.

"If you're having second thoughts, it's no rush to sign. Your first fight with us won't take place now until another month so it's no big deal." She says to him.

"There's a lot of money here at stake and besides, I don't want Ricci stealing my cuts anymore. As long as you and your brother handle the administrative work and organise the fights, I can take care of my own training" Max replies.

"What about your friends?" She raises her eyebrows.

"I fight alone in the ring and in life." His response is direct and clear.

"Welcome to our team then!" Ms Y grins as Max places down the pen then hands over their signed contract.