Youri leaned heavily on Leo's shoulder as they made their way back toward the locker room, the tunnel behind them still echoing with the crowd's roar. Shouts, cheers, and angry curses blended together into a chaotic chorus. Youri's victory had ignited the arena—an upset so violent and unexpected that it left half the crowd stunned and the other half furious. Many had wagered fortunes on Boris, certain the monster would crush the rematch just as he had the first time. Instead, their money vanished in a single, brutal outcome.
High above the tunnel entrance, Zeus stood watching. His expression was unreadable at first, but as the noise swelled and the realization settled in, a rare smile tugged at his lips. Without a word, he turned and disappeared back into the shadows of the tunnel, the crowd none the wiser.
Inside the locker room, Leo gently lowered Youri onto a wooden bench. The moment he sat, the adrenaline that had carried him through the fight began to fade, draining from his body like water through a cracked vessel. Pain crept in slowly but relentlessly—his ribs throbbed, his knuckles burned, and every breath reminded him how close he had come to the edge.
"Easy," Leo said, keeping a steadying hand on his shoulder. "You're safe now."
Youri nodded faintly, jaw clenched as he rode out the wave of discomfort.
A moment later, Boris entered the room. The massive fighter moved more slowly than usual, his earlier ferocity dulled by exhaustion and bruises. He sat down on the bench opposite Youri, silent and composed. After a brief pause, Boris lifted his head and gave Youri a single nod—an acknowledgment, heavy with respect.
Youri returned the gesture. No words were needed.
The door swung open again as Mia stepped inside. One look at her face made it clear she wasn't in the best mood. She walked straight past Leo and Youri and stopped in front of Boris, snapping open her medical case.
"Sit still," she ordered.
She shone a small flashlight into Boris's eyes, checked his pupils, then moved on to inspect the cuts and swelling along his face and ribs. After a few moments, she stepped back and exhaled.
"You're fine," she said. "Nothing serious. Rest, hydrate, and don't do anything stupid tonight." Then, with a sharp glance, she added, "And next time I decide to bet, I'm definitely not betting on you."
Leo let out a laugh. "You're just mad because you lost your bet."
Then he blinked, realization hitting him. "Wait… don't tell me. You didn't bet on Youri either?"
Mia ignored him and turned her attention to Youri. She repeated the same routine—flashlight to the eyes, careful pressure along his ribs, a quick check of his breathing. Youri winced but stayed still.
When she finished, she closed her case and finally looked back at Leo. "Of course I didn't bet on him," she said flatly. "Don't you remember what happened last time?"
Youri tilted his head slightly, curiosity breaking through the pain. "How much did you lose?"
Mia sighed and snapped the clasps on her case shut. "Five thousand."
Leo nearly shouted. "Five thousand zells?!"
Mia shot him a glare. "Relax. It's not like it was my last money." Her expression softened just a little. "I thought if I won, I might be able to help Zeus a bit more. Guess luck wasn't on my side tonight."
Before anyone could respond, the locker room door burst open. Toney stormed in, eyes wide, voice raised.
"Where is he?!"
Everyone turned to him at once.
Leo frowned. "Who?"
"Zeus!" Toney said, scanning the room again as if he might be hiding behind a locker.
"He's not here," Leo replied, confused. "Why? What happened?"
Toney swallowed hard, then let out a breath. "He just won the jackpot. Three million zells."
The room went silent.
Toney continued, disbelief still clear in his voice. "He was the only one who placed ten thousand on Kronos."
Shock rippled through the room. Zeus—quiet, distant, calculating Zeus—had placed his faith in Youri when no one else had. And it had paid off in a way no one could have imagined.
Toney walked over and dropped onto the bench beside Youri. He pulled a thick stack of cash from his pocket and pressed it into Youri's hands.
"This is part of your cut," he said. "You just pulled off the upset of the year, kid."
Youri stared at the money for a moment, then slowly pushed himself to his feet, ignoring the protest from his body. A tired but genuine smile spread across his face.
"Thanks, Toney," he said. "I'm gonna splurge this all over the casino."
"Absolutely not," Mia cut in immediately. "First of all, you're coming with me to the hospital. You're in no condition to go wild tonight."
Youri looked at Leo for support. Leo simply raised his hands, palms out. "Don't look at me. I value my life."
Youri exhaled and chuckled softly. "Alright. The casino can wait."
Not long after, Leo drove Youri and Mia to the hospital. The city lights blurred past the windows as the adrenaline finally gave way to exhaustion. Once inside, Mia checked him in and arranged for a private room—just for the night.
As Youri lay back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, one thought echoed clearly through his mind:
He had beaten the monster.And nothing was going to be the same anymore.
The hospital room was quiet in a way that felt almost unreal after the chaos of the underground arena. The hum of fluorescent lights replaced the roar of the crowd, and the sharp scent of disinfectant washed over everything. Youri lay back on the bed as Mia adjusted the sheets and connected a monitor to his finger. His body finally had time to register what had happened, and now it protested loudly—every muscle aching, every breath sending a dull stab through his ribs.
Leo lingered near the door, arms crossed, watching with a mix of relief and concern. "You sure he'll be okay?" he asked, his voice lower than usual.
Mia glanced at the monitor, then at Youri's bruised face. "He'll live," she said. "That's the good news. The bad news is that his body keeps pretending it's indestructible." She shot Youri a look over her glasses. "And sooner or later, it's going to remind him that it isn't."
Youri chuckled weakly. "You sound like my conscience."
"That's because you don't listen to it," she replied, checking his ribs with careful hands. He winced, teeth clenching.
"Yeah," Leo added, smirking faintly. "You scared the hell out of all of us tonight."
Youri stared up at the ceiling for a moment, the white tiles blurring together. "I didn't think," he admitted quietly. "I just… knew I couldn't lose again."
Mia paused, then softened her tone. "You didn't just win," she said. "You changed the odds. People don't forget that." She finished her examination and stepped back. "You'll stay here overnight. No arguments."
Leo sighed. "Guess that's my cue." He walked over and gave Youri a light tap on the shoulder. "Rest up, Kronos. The city's gonna want a piece of you now."
After Leo left, the room fell silent again. Mia pulled up a chair and sat beside the bed, scribbling notes on her clipboard. For a while, neither of them spoke.
"Zeus believed in you," she said eventually, not looking up.
Youri turned his head slightly. "I didn't know."
"He didn't want you to," Mia replied. "That's just how he is." She hesitated, then added, "That money… it might change things for him. For his daughter."
Youri closed his eyes, letting that sink in. The image of Zeus's quiet smile replayed in his mind. "I'm glad," he said. "Really."
Mia nodded. "Get some sleep. You've earned it."
The next morning, sunlight filtered through the blinds, painting thin golden lines across the room. Youri stirred, groaning softly as his body reminded him of every hit he'd taken. When he opened his eyes, he found Zeus standing near the window, arms crossed, looking out over the city.
"You're hard to kill," Zeus said without turning.
Youri smirked. "So I've been told."
Zeus turned then, his expression serious but calm. He stepped closer and placed a thick envelope on the bedside table. "That's yours," he said. "Part of what I won. I don't need it."
Youri frowned. "I can't take that."
"You already did," Zeus replied evenly. "By winning."
For a moment, neither moved. Then Zeus extended his hand. Youri reached out, gripping it firmly despite the pain. There was no need for words.
"Take care of yourself," Zeus said, heading for the door. "This city eats people alive."
After he left, Mia entered with a small smile. "Looks like you're becoming popular."
Youri exhaled slowly, staring at the envelope. Popular. Dangerous. Profitable. All words that felt heavier than they should.
Later that day, Leo returned to pick him up. As they walked out of the hospital, Youri paused, looking out at the Vegas skyline. Neon signs blinked even in daylight, promising fortune and ruin in equal measure.
"What now?" Leo asked.
Youri slipped the envelope into his jacket and smiled faintly. "Now?" he said. "Now we see how far this road goes."