Chapter 189: The Strongest Doesn’t Always Win Max had always known a day like this would come. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮 One of these days, the business he’d been building on the side, dealing with the rejected crops, was bound to clash with what he was trying to create through the Billion Bloodline. He just hadn’t expected it to happen so soon... and definitely not right now, in the middle of everything. "You need me? Right now?" Max asked, the phone pressed tight against his ear. The arena still had a string of fights lined up, and no one could predict how long they would last. Joe, who had been standing nearby, glanced over with concern. "Is something up?" he asked, narrowing his eyes as he read Max’s expression. ’What happens if I leave now, in the middle of the event?’ Max thought. ’Can they win without me? Jay’s probably the strongest fighter we have, but he’d be forced to fight twice. Rick might’ve been embarrassed by his match earlier, but he wasn’t injured and he isn’t tired either. ’Still... what would it look like if I just disappeared now? What would the other schools think? That I chickened out? That I knew I was going to lose and bailed before it could happen? ’And my allies... Seaton and Konsoon, they’d never forgive me. Not after everything Mayson went through. They’d never forgive me if I just up and left now. ’If I walk out of here in the middle of this fight, there’s a good chance everything I’ve been building, the Billion Bloodline, the name, the trust, could crumble right here and now.’ Max took a breath. He had made his decision. Slowly, he brought the phone back to his ear. "I’m sorry," he said, his voice steady. "But I won’t be able to make it today." There was a pause. Then the voice on the other end replied sharply, "Are you rejecting us?" "This isn’t a question. This is an order. If you’re disobeying a direct order for something else, then there will be consequences." Max knew every gang, every group, had their own way of handling defiance. Some were more extreme than others. This reaction wasn’t unexpected. He just had to deal with the fallout when the time came. "I’ll make it up to you," Max said. And without waiting to hear another word, he ended the call. ’I’ve got a feeling that’s going to come back to bite me later,’ Max thought, lowering the phone. ’But honestly, if I left now... that would bite even worse.’ His eyes shifted toward the center of the cage, where the energy was thick with tension. Two girls now stood face to face, the tension so sharp it could slice through bone. Students pressed against the chain-link fence like moths to a flame, their faces squished against the cold metal. Dozens of phones were already out, their screens glowing, recording every second. Bazma stepped into the center first. She cracked her knuckles one at a time, slow and deliberate. Strength clung to her like a second skin, muscular arms, solid legs, and long nails that looked like they could carve through steel. Her dark ponytail swung behind her like a whip as she rolled her shoulders, each movement a warning. Aki stood across from her, struggling to keep her breath steady. She wasn’t built for this. She had never been in a real fight before, definitely not in front of a crowd like this. "Too late to run," Bazma sneered, stepping forward with a wolf-like grin. Aki didn’t answer. She wasn’t here to talk. She wasn’t even here to prove something, at least, not to them. Maybe it was pride. Maybe it was the weight of people’s expectations. Or maybe it was that flicker of something deeper, something raw that burned behind her eyes. She crouched slightly, her legs tense like coiled springs. Then, almost unconsciously, her eyes darted to Max. Bazma struck first. With the explosive energy of someone who had fought dozens of battles before, she charged forward, throwing a right hook straight at Aki’s head. Aki moved. Barely. She ducked just in time, the wind from Bazma’s punch kissing her cheek. The crowd roared. "Damn!" someone shouted. Aki stumbled sideways, nearly losing her footing. Her heart was hammering out of rhythm, panic rising, until something inside clicked. She turned on her heel and lashed out with a kick aimed at Bazma’s shin. It was clumsy, weak, but it landed. Bazma didn’t budge. "You think that’s enough?" she spat. In one swift motion, she grabbed Aki by the collar and yanked her forward. "Let me show you what enough feels like." With practiced force, she twisted and slammed Aki to the concrete. The impact rattled Aki’s bones. Her back lit up in agony, the pain shooting like fireworks through her spine. She blinked, her vision spinning. Bazma stood over her, casting a long shadow, her smirk widening. "This is done." From the sidelines, Joe leaned in toward Max. "Hey... you didn’t tell Aki she’d get 10k every time she got back up, did you?" Max didn’t take his eyes off the fight. "No," he replied calmly. "Not every match is one we have to win." He paused, watching as Aki’s hand twitched against the floor, still moving. "That last hit looked rough," Max added under his breath. "She doesn’t have to win this fight..." The involvement of Seaton Academy had always been part of the bigger picture. Their participation wasn’t just about school pride, it was about spreading the name of the Billion Bloodline, stamping it across every corner of the city. This match? It was just another thread weaving the brand together. And yet, as Max stood there, watching the fight unfold, part of him hoped Aki would stay down. Stay safe. Staying down wouldn’t be defeat, it would be strategy. But Aki’s breath hitched. No. That wasn’t who she was. With a strangled cry, she kicked out, wild and desperate. Her foot slammed directly into Bazma’s knee. Bazma stumbled back, grunting in surprise. Aki didn’t hesitate. She rolled to the side, scrambled back onto her feet, blood dripping from her chin. "Try me again," she spat, and as she did, the blood in her mouth sprayed forward, right into Bazma’s face. The sting enraged her. Bazma lunged forward with a fury, eyes blazing, claws out and muscles primed to crush. But Aki wasn’t looking to win with punches and kicks. As Bazma charged, Aki ducked low and reached out, grabbing the loose hem of Bazma’s shirt. She yanked it sharply, throwing Bazma off balance. Then, with everything she had, she slammed her shoulder into Bazma’s chest. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t some heroic slow-motion moment. But Bazma hit the ground. The cage erupted. Screams rang out from the Seaton girls, cheering wildly as they banged the fence in rhythm. Bazma growled, trying to sit up in rage, but Aki had already made her next move. She straddled Bazma, grabbed a fistful of her shirt with one hand, and with every ounce of her weight, she slammed her knee down, straight onto Bazma’s neck. Bazma gasped as her airway compressed. "I don’t need to be a fighter to beat you," Aki hissed through gritted teeth. "I just need a reason." Bazma thrashed beneath her like a wild animal, but the suddenness, the weight, and the stubborn force of Aki’s will pinned her down. Her strength meant nothing now. Her power was meaningless against grit. Her vision blurred. Her limbs weakened. Her breath thinned, And then she reacted the only way she could. She dug her sharp nails deep into the side of Aki’s leg. "AHHH!" Aki screamed, pain ripping through her thigh. But even through the agony, she didn’t let go. Her knee pressed harder against Bazma’s neck. Seconds passed. Seconds that felt like hours. Finally, tap, tap. Bazma hit the side of Aki’s leg. She had tapped out. It was over. Aki rose slowly, panting, face smeared with blood and sweat, her knuckles raw and throbbing. She looked down at herself, then up at the stunned crowd. "I did it... I did it!" she gasped, raising her arms in the air. The crowd responded with a thunderous wave of cheers. But Aki wasn’t looking at them, her eyes were locked on Max. With uneven steps, she began making her way toward him. Then, from the crowd, a voice pierced the noise. "Hey, redhead!" one of the Seaton girls yelled out. "You better say something when she gets over there! She didn’t have to win that fight, but she did it for you!" Max blinked. "For me?" he muttered under his breath. "What does that even mean...?" But before he could dwell on it any longer, a sharp vibration buzzed against his leg. His phone. Again. He pulled it out, and this time the screen showed a single name flashing. Wolf. Max answered, bringing the phone to his ear. "What the heck is going on?" Wolf said, his voice tense and direct.