The Fighter Returns
Jaden stood outside the MMA gym, staring at the large sign above the glass door.
It read “OctaFight Training Center.”
The same place he used to train before everything changed.
He touched the scar on his arm — except, there was no scar anymore. His skin was clean. Still, when he closed his eyes, he could feel the pain from the battles in the other world.
The sound of swords. The smell of blood. Kael’s voice.
He shook his head. “It was just a dream,” he whispered to himself. “Just a dream.”
But it didn’t feel like one.
When he opened the door, the smell of sweat and rubber mats filled the air. Fighters were training inside, punching bags and sparring. Some stopped when they saw him.
“Yo, Jaden! You’re alive!” one of them shouted.
Another guy laughed. “Man, we t
