The roar of the crowd was deafening as I stepped into the ring, adrenaline buzzing through my veins. Chris and Evan flanked me, their hands on my shoulders, guiding me through the noise. I tried to focus, but my thoughts kept drifting to Scarlet. She was out there somewhere in the crowd, and I couldn't help but wonder if she was nervous for me.
"Try not to get knocked out, lover boy," Chris smirked, tightening my gloves.
Evan chuckled. "Yeah, wouldn't want Scarlet rushing in to save you."
I shot them both a glare, but couldn't help the hint of a smile tugging at my lips. "Focus, guys. I've got this."
As the bell rang, my opponent stepped forward—a burly guy with a mean look in his eyes. We circled each other, fists up, sizing one another up. The first hit came quick—a jab to my side that made me wince. I retaliated with a swift uppercut, connecting with his jaw. The crowd cheered.
I fell into rhythm, blocking and landing punches, each blow making my knuckles throb. The match felt like a blur of noise and movement. My opponent managed a clean hit to my face, and I tasted blood. Ignoring the sting, I threw a hook to his ribs, sending him stumbling.
A few more punches exchanged, and finally, the referee called it. My opponent was down, and I was still standing. Victory, but at a cost. I swayed, barely catching myself as Chris and Evan rushed in.
"Dude, that was intense!" Chris shouted, helping me sit on the corner stool.
"You look like you went through a car crash," Evan joked, but his eyes were filled with concern.
Before I could catch my breath, I spotted Scarlet pushing through the crowd. Her face was pale, eyes wide. As she reached me, she wrapped her arms around me without hesitation, holding me tightly.
"Max, are you okay?" she whispered, her voice shaky.
"Just a few bruises," I managed to say, forcing a smile. Her warmth felt soothing, and I relaxed for a moment, leaning into her embrace.
Then everything around me started to blur. The room tilted, and I could barely hear Scarlet calling my name. My vision faded to black, and the last thing I felt was her grip tightening on me as I slipped into unconsciousness.