1 The End of the World

Li Xiao Tian stared into the mirror with a smile. What reflected back was a handsome man with chiseled muscles and a dashing smile. His brown eyes seemed to glint with an indomitable intelligence and cunning.

Today was the day of Li Xiao Tian's debut match into the MMA world. He had trained long and hard and had acquired the skills to prove it. 'Finally', Li Xiao Tian thought as he turned away from the mirror. 'I can conquer the world.'

A big goofy grin spread across Li Xiao Tian's ruggedly handsome face as he opened the door to exit his small apartment into the back alley that led to the Main Street.

Li Xiao Tian had grown up without a mother. His father had taught him everything, even his passion for MMA. He respected his father deeply and as a result had taken after him quite well, they had gotten along like twins almost.

However, upon Li Xiao Tian's 16th birthday, his father had died in a car crash. Li Xiao Tian had been devastated and had contemplated ending his life. At that moment, his fathers voice had come into his head.

"So you like MMA?" His father had said as he watched a small Li Xiao Tian run around shadow boxing, his adorable fists flailing as he tried hard to imitate the stance of the men on the TV. "I'll support you then."

Since that day, his father had taught Li Xiao Tian everything he knew and even worked extra hours so as to pay for MMA lessons, all so Li Xiao Tian could continue that silly childhood dream.

Li Xiao Tian had thus decided not to give up and doubled his effort, managing to earn the right to debut at just 17.

Just as Li Xiao Tian was about to leave the alley, he suddenly felt a blade poke through his stomach. A sharp and excruciating pain went took hold of his abdomen as he suddenly felt the familiar feeling of a rain of fists coming down on him.

'No!', Li Xiao Tian thought, 'It can't end like this!'

Eyes glinting madly, Li Xiao Tian threw out a flurry of punches as his adrenaline numbed his pain. Knocking out all his opponents, Li Xiao Tian began to limp towards the exit of the dark alley only for the pain to slowly come back, gnawing at him until - finally, Li Xiao Tian could not help but watch his vision turn to black.

"Sorry, Dad"