Forged in Blood

The harsh screech of metal on metal jolted Li Wei from his fitful slumber. His cellmate, Fang, was already on his feet, body tense and ready. In the dim light, Li Wei saw grim determination etched on the older man's face.

"Rise and shine, maggots!" a gruff voice bellowed. "It's showtime!"

Li Wei scrambled up, heart pounding. This was it. Fang's fight. The moment he'd been dreading.

Fang turned to Li Wei, eyes hard but not unkind. "Remember what I taught you, kid. Watch. Learn. And pray you're not next."

They were marched through a maze of corridors, the sounds of distant cheering growing louder. Finally, they emerged into a vast circular chamber. The Pit.

Li Wei's eyes widened. Tiered seating surrounded the central fighting area, packed with a raucous crowd. The air reeked of sweat, blood, and anticipation.

Fang was led to one side of the arena, while Li Wei was shoved into a small, caged area. "Enjoy the show, rat," a guard sneered.

A hush fell as a booming voice echoed. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to tonight's main event!"

"In the red corner, our reigning champion, the Crimson Fist... FANG!"

The crowd roared as Fang stepped into the light. Li Wei was shocked by the transformation. Gone was the weary cellmate. In his place stood a warrior, muscles rippling, eyes blazing.

"And in the blue corner, the challenger... the Viper, SHEN!"

From the opposite side emerged a man who seemed more snake than human. Tall and lithe, with corded muscles and serpentine grace, Shen's eyes glittered with malice.

"Fighters, to the center!"

A gong sounded, and the fight exploded into life.

Shen struck first, his fist a blur. Fang barely dodged, the punch grazing his cheek. Blood sprayed, drawing a cheer from the crowd.

Fang retaliated with a roundhouse kick, but Shen bent backwards impossibly, the kick whistling over his head. In the same motion, he swept Fang's other leg.

The crowd went wild as Shen pounced, raining down vicious elbow strikes. Fang's arms came up to block, each impact leaving visible bruises.

Li Wei gripped the bars of his cage. "Get up, Fang!" he shouted, voice lost in the roar.

As if hearing, Fang suddenly bucked, throwing Shen off balance. In a flash, Fang was up, blood streaming from a cut above his eye.

The fighters circled, both breathing heavily. Then, Fang charged. Shen prepared to sidestep, but at the last moment, Fang dropped low, tackling his opponent.

They went down in a tangle of limbs, rolling across the blood-stained floor. Fang ended on top, fists a blur as he pummeled Shen's face. Blood and teeth flew with each impact.

But the Viper lived up to his name. With a twist, he wrapped his legs around Fang's neck, squeezing. Fang's eyes bulged as he struggled for air, strikes weakening.

Li Wei watched in horror as Fang's face turned purple. "No," he whispered. "No, please..."

With a final surge, Fang broke free. He stumbled back, gasping for air, but Shen was already up.

The two men faced each other, battered and bloody. For a moment, time stood still.

Then, moving in unison, they charged.

Their fists connected simultaneously, a thunderous impact echoing through the arena. For a heartbeat, they stood frozen, fists buried in each other's faces.

Fang collapsed first, legs giving out. But as he fell, Shen's hand shot out, grabbing Fang's head in an iron grip.

With a sickening crack that Li Wei felt in his soul, Shen twisted. Fang's body went limp, eyes staring sightlessly at the ceiling.

The crowd erupted, but for Li Wei, the world went silent. He sank to his knees, tears streaming. "Fang," No... FANG!"

His anguish turned to rage as he watched Shen parade around. "You bastard!" Li Wei screamed, shaking the bars. "I'll kill you! I swear I'll kill you!"

A shadow fell over him. Li Wei looked up to see a man standing before his cage.

The man's face was a roadmap of scars, eyes cold and calculating. The Underground Master.

"Such fire," the Master said, voice a silky purr. "Such anger. Do you want revenge, little rat?"

Li Wei's anger faltered, fear creeping in. "I... I..."

The Master's lips curled in a cruel smile. "Pathetic. Fang was weak, and weakness is death in The Pit.

But you..." His eyes seemed to pierce Li Wei's soul. "You could be strong. You could avenge him."

The Master leaned closer, his voice dropping to a hypnotic whisper. "I see the darkness in you, Li Wei. The hunger. The desperation. It's beautiful.

Embrace it. Let it fuel you. In this world, mercy is a luxury for the dead. You must be ruthless, a monster to survive in this society."

He gestured to the blood-soaked arena. "This is the crucible where true power is forged. Fang was probably your mentor, a friend.

And look how easily he was broken. But you... you could be unbreakable. You could rise above all this, become a force that even I would have to reckon with."

The Master's eyes glittered with dark promise. "I can teach you things Fang never dreamed of.

Techniques that blur the line between man and demon. But the choice is yours.

Cling to your weakness, your morality, and die like Fang. Or embrace the darkness and rule this underworld."

Li Wei's mind reeled. Part of him wanted to shrink away, to beg for mercy. But another part, growing stronger with each passing second, thirsted for vengeance, for power.

The Master placed his hand on a scanner next to the cage. With a soft beep, the door swung open. "Choose, little rat. Death or glory. Victim or victor."

As Li Wei stepped out on shaky legs, he felt something awaken within him. A desire for revenge that consumed all else.

Embrace the darkness Li Wei said to himself

Standing in the blood-soaked arena with Fang's lifeless body nearby, Li Wei made his choice. His eyes, once filled with fear, now blazed with cold determination.

The Master's smile widened, revealing teeth filed to points.

The journey begins, Welcome Li Wei, to the true game.