12.

The crowd erupted into chants of Sett's name as he strode confidently out of the arena. The sound echoed through the streets and could be heard from blocks away. Sett couldn't help but grin at the adoration of the fans.

Sett sat down heavily, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. His muscles were trembling from the exertion of the intense battle, and his face was bruised and bloodied. He could feel the adrenaline still coursing through his veins, and he breathed a deep sigh of relief and exhilaration. The crowd's roar echoed in his ears, and he felt a sense of pride.

As Sett sat there, still catching his breath, a medic approached him to check his health. Sett nodded, allowing the doctor to tend to his wounds. As he was being examined, the fight manager came to him, holding out an envelope of cash.

"Great job out there, rookie," the manager said with a grin. "You brought in the crowd tonight. And the money, too."

Sett took the envelope and counted the cash inside, nodding in satisfaction. Despite the injuries he sustained in the fight, he knew it was worth it for the payoff. He thanked his manager and the medic before standing up and making his way out of the arena, still hearing the chants of his neck name from the crowd.

"Hey, kid," called him the manager; Sett looked behind at the man. "When you will need some cash come to me. I will find you some good opponents to fight" Sett smiled and nodded, leaving the room.

As he started to leave, Sett turned to see a man standing behind him. He was tall, with a muscular build and a stern expression on his face.

"What do you want?" Sett asked, eyeing the man warily.

"The name's Stone. I am the one who runs this place," he said in a deep, gravelly voice.

Sett looked at him warily, unsure what to make of this man. "I have an offer for you," The Stone said, his voice low and gravelly.

"You give quite the show out there; it was your first match. Color me impressed. The crowd loved it," Sett listened intently, his eyes widening as "The Stone" spoke.

"I've been keeping an eye on you, Sett. You're a fighter. And I don't mean just in the ring. You've got something in you that I like, and I have never been wrong before. With my help, you will become strong."

Sett was taken aback as The Stone introduced himself, realizing he was in the presence of a robust and influential figure. He couldn't believe he had been given this opportunity and felt a sense of excitement and trepidation at what was to come.

The Stone could sense Sett's surprise, and a small smile crept onto his lips. He knew he had the young fighter's attention and used it to his advantage.

"I'm going to offer you something that you won't be able to refuse. I'm going to train you, Sett. And not just any training. I'm going to train you to be the best fighter out there. I will promote you in the arena and make you a champ in no time. And in return, you will do some side jobs for me. Jobs that will pay very well."

Sett's eyes widened at the mention of money. He knew he needed it if he was going to support himself and his mother.

"What kind of jobs?" he asked, trying to keep the eagerness out of his voice.

"Let's just say that they're not exactly legal," Stone said with a smirk. "But you'll be well compensated for your efforts."

Sett thought about it for a moment. He didn't like the idea of doing illegal things, but he needed the money. And the training could make him a better fighter, which he always wanted. Sett listened to The Stone's offer with a pensive expression. The promise of training and a hefty sum of money was tempting, but the thought of getting involved in illegal activities made him uneasy. Sett felt torn between his desire for financial stability and his morals. He knew that engaging in unlawful activities could lead him down a dangerous path, but he also couldn't stand the thought of his mother continuing to take on small jobs to make ends meet. The Stone's offer was tempting, but Sett needed time to think it over.

"The offer is tempting," Sett said, stroking his chin. "But I need some time to think about it."

The Stone nodded. "Take all the time you need, but remember that this offer won't be on the table forever."

Sett watched as The Stone walked away, deep in thought. He needed to weigh the risks and benefits before making a decision.

As he left, Sett's mind raced with thoughts of what decision to take and where it would guide him. He couldn't stop thinking about his mother and how hard she had worked to provide for them. On the one hand, he could continue fighting in the arena by himself, building his reputation and earning good money. On the other hand, The Stone's offer could open up new doors for him, but at what cost?

As he walked out of the arena, Sett couldn't shake off the feeling that his life was about to take a drastic turn.