LOOKISM - OVERPOWERD [DROPPED]

ch 8 : helping fatty (4/4)

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"Experience is the best teacher," explained Lin to Daniel, his tone firm. "You've learned many things, but you don't have any experience."

Daniel wiped the sweat from his brow, looking up at Lin with a mix of apprehension and curiosity. He had been training under Lin's strict guidance for weeks now, pushing his body and mind to new limits. But despite all the progress he'd made, Daniel knew there was still a gap between theory and reality. He had learned countless techniques, perfected his form, and built up his strength—but he had yet to test any of it in a real fight.

"What do you mean?" Daniel asked, though he suspected he already knew the answer.

Lin crossed his arms, looking at Daniel with a serious expression. "You know how to fight, but you don't know how to win. You've never faced an opponent who's truly trying to hurt you, who won't hold back or pull their punches. You need to experience that if you're going to survive."

Daniel felt a chill run down his spine. He had seen the violence that could erupt in a real fight, the brutality that could leave someone broken and bleeding on the ground. The idea of facing that himself, without the controlled environment of a dojo or a training session, was terrifying.

But Lin was right. All the training in the world wouldn't mean anything if he couldn't apply it when it mattered most.

"So, what do we do?" Daniel asked, trying to keep the tremor out of his voice.

"We find you a fight," Lin said simply.

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A few nights later, Lin took Daniel to a part of the city he had never been to before. It was a rough neighborhood, the kind of place where you kept your head down and your eyes open. The streets were narrow and dimly lit, the air thick with tension. Lin led Daniel through a maze of alleyways until they arrived at an unmarked door at the end of a dead-end street.

Lin knocked three times, and after a brief pause, the door creaked open to reveal a burly man with a scar running down his cheek. He looked them up and down before stepping aside to let them in.

Daniel hesitated for a moment before following Lin inside. The door closed behind them with a heavy thud, sealing them in. They descended a narrow staircase, the sounds of the city fading as they went deeper underground.

At the bottom of the stairs, they emerged into a large, dimly lit room. The air was thick with the smell of sweat and the sound of bodies colliding. Daniel's eyes widened as he took in the scene before him. It was an underground fighting arena, a place where the rules were few and the stakes were high. The walls were lined with people, all shouting and cheering as two fighters brawled in a makeshift ring in the center of the room.

"This is where you'll gain your experience," Lin said, his voice barely audible over the noise. "These fights are real. There's no padding, no referee to stop things if they get out of hand. You'll need to rely on everything you've learned to survive here."

Daniel swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. The idea of fighting in a place like this was both terrifying and exhilarating. He knew this was the kind of test he needed, but he wasn't sure if he was ready.

"You'll fight tonight," Lin continued. "No backing out. This is the best way for you to see what you're really made of."

Daniel nodded, trying to suppress the rising tide of fear in his chest. He knew Lin was right, and there was no turning back now.

They waited for what felt like hours, watching as fighter after fighter took their turn in the ring. Some fights were quick and brutal, ending in a matter of seconds. Others dragged on, with both fighters giving everything they had until one finally fell. The crowd roared with each victory and booed each defeat, the energy in the room electric.