Reborn (chapter 1)

Chapter 1

In a dimly lit underground fighting ring, the air was thick with a mix of excitement, smoke, cheep cologne, whisky and sweat, as the raucous crowd filled every corner of the makeshift arena. The walls were plastered with graffiti, and the floor was old and scuffed, evidence of countless fights that had taken place before. The place reeked of cheap alcohol and the faint smell of cigarettes, creating an atmosphere that heightened the tension.

In the centre of the ring stood the tall, somewhat bloated man with shaved black hair, known only as "The Bruiser." He flexed his muscles, basking in the cheers of the rowdy audience. On the opposite side of the ring lay Kai Fox, a young man who had been knocked out moments ago. His malnourished frame and bruised face showed the harsh life he had endured in Gotham's underground fighting ring, he has a chocolate skin, his short but silky smooth hair, you could mistake him for a model, if you force fead him like a turkey for the next years to come.

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As the referee counted down, the crowd held their breath. "4... 3... 2..." But to everyone's surprise, Kai sprang back to life, like a man possessed. The speed at which he rose stunned the spectators, eliciting a mix of cheers and boos. Disoriented and confused, Kai tried to make sense of his surroundings, oblivious to the dangerous situation he was in.

"Hey, hey, listen to me; are you good to go?" the concerned referee asked, but Kai's confused nod was all he needed to signal the resumption of the match. The referee rang his whistle, and the fight resumed with an aggressive onslaught from The Bruiser.

Kai's mind was still foggy, but his instincts kicked in, barely avoiding The Bruiser's punches. Questions echoed in his mind, "Where am I? Why the hell am I here?" But they remained unanswered as he focused on surviving each blow. Despite his lack of fighting skill, there was an underlying determination in Kai. The experience of a lifetime flashed before his eyes, moments from a past he didn't even know were his own, "right, goldie was supposed to reincarnate me in a different universe".

"Stay down, motherfucker!" The Bruiser taunted between punches, but Kai refused to give in. Deep inside, a fire began to burn, and his surroundings blurred as adrenaline pumped through his veins.

Time seemed to slow down as Kai endured the blows, a red floating button appeared in front of him with the  [ 0 : 0 ] symbol "the dilation button" kai's attention was momentarily taken, resulting in him getting hit, which was a well placed uppercut, resulting in him getting knocked out cold.

-scene change-

In a secluded section of the underground area, where a makeshift hospital area was set up with curtained-off beds. Among them lay Kai, now patched up and bandaged, his face still swollen. As he regained consciousness, his eyes opened, revealing his striking light brown eyes, almost like a gateway to a stormy sea of emotions.

In a moment of confusion, memories from the life of the original Kai Fox flooded into his mind again, unveiling a life of struggle and hardship. He was an orphan trapped in Gotham's unforgiving slums, trying desperately to break free from a cycle of violence and despair, even though he had a rich father, he refused to acknowledgement him due to what happened to his mother. The new Kai was now a soul reborn into this body, inheriting memories and experiences that were not his own.

Gazing at the floating button with the symbol [ 0 : 0 ], Kai realised the power he held. With each activation of the time dilution button, he could potentially transcend human limitations, even potentially becoming godlike. But this newfound power came with its challenges, and he knew he had to be cautious in its use.

In the bustling underground, the scene was alive with movement and sound. The clamour of the crowd, the clinking of bottles, and the thud of punches reverberated through the air. Amid the chaos, a stray cat prowled around the outskirts of the fighting ring, a fearless observer of the brutal spectacle.

-scene change-

In the dimly lit office located deep within the underground area of Gotham, the fat man sat behind a cluttered desk, counting a stack of cash. The room was small and cramped, with walls adorned with posters of previous underground fights and faded photographs of notorious fighters who had made their mark in the grimy world of illegal combat.

In the centre of the room stood Kai, his face still swollen from the brutal beating he had endured in the fighting ring earlier. The hooded figure had become a familiar sight to the fat man, who was intrigued by Kai's tenacity and ability to withstand the punishment that would break most fighters.

"You sure took a lot of beating today," the fat man remarked,with no hint of concerned  lacing his voice as he observed Kai. "I thought you bit the bullet when the bruiser dropped you. you sure you're okay?"

Kai remained silent, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of the life he had inherited. Memories of the original Kai Fox's hardships and struggles flashed before him, as if they were his own. He was navigating uncharted waters, trying to make sense of a life that was not truly his own.

The fat man finished counting the money and pushed it toward Kai. "Alright, here is what he agreed upon," he said. Kai picked up the money, his fingers tracing over the bills as he counted the amount: "567 dollars. Is that an amount worth dying for?" he asked, almost rhetorically.

As Kai contemplated the money, he couldn't help but wonder about the choices and motivations of the original Kai Fox. What had led him to become an underground fighter? Was this path truly worth pursuing? "But then again, becoming the best fighter in all of existence would require a lot, even with the help of a time dilution button" he though to himself as he sighted

Determined to forge his own path, Kai left the office, his mind racing with thoughts about what it meant to be the best fighter. He found himself on the streets of Gotham, the city's dark and gritty atmosphere surrounding him. People hurried by, each with their own story to tell, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of exhaust fumes and distant hints of street food vendors.