CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
📅 June 15th, 2005
Morning – The Grind Continues
Malik was already sweating by 7:30 a.m.
He stood shirtless in the dawn light behind the hotel gym, doing resistance drills with a weighted vest strapped to his chest. He wasn't training for the crowd anymore. He was training for the throne.
🎯 SYSTEM ALERT — MORNING WORKOUT COMPLETE
🏋️ XP GAINED: +400
📊 LEVEL 13 — XP: 2140 / 6000
📲 STATUS SCAN – SYNCING…
📊 LEVEL 13 – STAT SHEET
• Strength: 35
• Agility: 27
• Endurance: 30
• Charisma: 68
• Technique: 29
• Intelligence: 20
• Money Maker: 18
🟩 Unused Stat Points: 0
🧬 Traits Active:
• 🧠 Tactical Genius I
• 💵 Business Mindset I
• ⚡ Hype Engine
• 💼 Side Hustler
• 👑 Champion's Aura (New!) – +5% crowd control and sponsorship interest when holding a title.
Evening – Live BWF Broadcast
The crowd inside the sold-out Civic Center in Des Moines, Iowa was electric. A tribal drum beat echoed across the PA system.
"IT'S HIM! THE CHAMP!"
Malik emerged from the smoke with the BWF Championship gleaming on his shoulder. His eyes scanned the audience—cold, confident, conquering.
He pointed toward the ceiling.
The audience followed.
Then—
"DES MOINES…"
"ACKNOWLEDGE ME!!"
The response was thunderous.
He raised the mic again as the arena settled.
"This… is the Island of Relevancy. I built it. Brick Bronson? Crushed. Jetstream Jace? Shattered. And the line still stretches around the building… of people who wanna get humbled."
He lowered the mic slowly.
"So the question is… who's next? Who's man enough to kneel… before the Tribal Chief?"
⏳ The lights dimmed.
🎵 [MUSIC HIT!] 🎵
A hard rock guitar riff shook the arena. The tron lit up with red sparks and one name—
"JAY 'IRONFIST' DURAN"
"NO WAY!!"
The former BWF Champion. The man Bronson had beaten to claim the belt. A brutal striker and fan favorite with nothing to lose… and everything to prove.
Jay walked out slowly, mic in hand, steel in his jaw.
"You beat the man who beat me. You're good, Malik. But I was champ for a reason."
"And now… I'm taking back MY throne."
The crowd roared.
Malik grinned.
"Then step into the court, old king. Let's see if your crown still fits."
[End of Chapter 32 – "Next to Kneel"]