THE UNBROKEN ROAD

Daniel's body had started to adapt. The first few days at the gym had left him battered, his muscles screaming in protest, but something had changed. The soreness was still there, but it was different now—it wasn't weakness anymore. It was growth.

He wrapped his hands with more confidence than before, his fingers moving smoothly over the fabric. Harris stood nearby, watching as Daniel prepared for another session.

"Getting the hang of it," Harris said.

Daniel nodded. "Yeah. Feels almost natural now."

Harris smirked. "That's the point. Now, let's see if you're ready to actually fight."

Daniel frowned. "What do you mean? Haven't I been fighting already?"

Harris chuckled. "No. You've been training. There's a difference." He pointed toward the ring. "Tonight, you're stepping in for real."

Daniel's stomach tightened. He had been working on his defense, his footwork, and his punches. But stepping into an actual fight? That was different.

"Who am I fighting?" Daniel asked.

Harris turned toward the gym entrance.

The door swung open, and Jason stepped inside, rolling his shoulders. His gaze met Daniel's, and a slow smirk spread across his face.

Daniel exhaled. "Of course."

The First Real Fight

Daniel climbed into the ring, his heart pounding. Harris stood outside the ropes, arms crossed.

"This isn't a street fight," Harris said. "No wild swings, no flailing. Keep your hands up. Stay on your feet. And don't let your emotions get the better of you."

Jason bounced on his toes, shaking out his arms. "You ready, old man?"

Daniel rolled his shoulders. "We'll see."

Harris raised a hand. "Three rounds. No knockouts. Just skill." He glanced at Daniel. "You don't win this by swinging harder. You win it by fighting smarter."

Daniel nodded.

Harris dropped his hand.

Jason moved first. He was fast—faster than Daniel remembered. A jab flew toward Daniel's face, and he barely dodged it in time.

Daniel countered with a quick punch of his own, but Jason slipped to the side, effortlessly avoiding it.

"Too slow," Jason taunted.

Daniel gritted his teeth. He couldn't let frustration take over.

Jason struck again—a hook to the ribs. Daniel managed to block it, but the force sent him stumbling back.

"Breathe," Harris called out. "Control your space."

Daniel adjusted his stance, keeping his hands up. He started watching Jason's movements instead of just reacting.

Jason threw another jab. This time, Daniel dodged and countered—his fist catching Jason's shoulder.

Not a clean hit, but something.

Jason's smirk faded. "Alright, now we're fighting."

He came at Daniel again, this time throwing a combination of punches. Daniel blocked the first two, but the third slipped through, catching him in the stomach.

He gasped but didn't go down.

He wouldn't go down.

He pushed forward, dodging the next punch and landing a clean jab to Jason's jaw. The impact sent a shock through Daniel's arm, but he barely registered it.

He was in the fight now.

The Turning Point

The rounds blurred together. Jason was stronger, but Daniel was learning to read him—to predict where he would move, how he would strike.

He ducked a right hook, slipped to the side, and landed a body shot that made Jason grunt.

Harris grinned from outside the ring. "That's it, Mercer."

Jason swung again, but this time, Daniel didn't just avoid it—he punished the miss. His fist connected with Jason's ribs, sending him back a step.

For the first time, Jason looked surprised.

Daniel felt it then—something deeper than adrenaline. It wasn't just about throwing punches. It was about control. About refusing to let someone else dictate the fight.

By the time Harris called the end of the third round, both men were breathing hard, sweat dripping from their brows.

Jason wiped his face with his glove and let out a short laugh. "Not bad, old man."

Daniel, still catching his breath, smirked. "Not bad yourself, kid."

Harris stepped into the ring. "That's enough for tonight." He looked at Daniel. "You felt it, didn't you?"

Daniel met his gaze and nodded.

"The fire," Harris said. "It's back."

Daniel exhaled. His body ached, his knuckles were sore, but for the first time in a long time, he felt like himself again.

No.

He felt stronger.