Paris, 2027.
In a forgotten corner of Paris—where the Government could no longer reach—there existed an underground fight circuit. Long ago, when the world was still beautiful and normal, fights like these were broadcast on television. Now, however, the world was no longer the same.
At the center of the octagon, Arthur vs. Fiziouv. Fighters in the under-70 kg division.
At least three thousand people watched. Arthur was only nineteen years old, a true prodigy. Fiziouv, on the other hand, was a feared veteran: he had won nineteen fights by knockout. Rumors said he had faced a Beast—and survived—even though he was only human.
The league announcer called their names. The fighters stared each other down in the center of the octagon. A smile appeared on the veteran's face as he mocked:
— I'm gonna crush that pretty little face of yours, you spoiled piece of shit.
Arthur smiled back.
— You don't know me, friend. Today, you die here—by my hands.
The referee stepped in:
— Follow my orders. Touch gloves if you want, and step back!
Neither of them touched gloves. They simply stepped away. The referee signaled the start of the fight.
The veteran rushed forward at high speed, throwing violent combinations of punches. Arthur dodged with mastery and countered, landing precise strikes to his opponent's face.
The crowd went wild.
Arthur landed a clean jab, followed by a powerful kick to Fiziouv's thigh. The veteran felt the pain but tried to respond. Arthur dodged effortlessly—and laughed at the situation his opponent was in.
The young fighter danced inside the octagon, delivering extremely technical strikes, never giving his opponent a moment to breathe. Punches, kicks, constant movement. The veteran looked like a child trying to reach his father. The difference in skill was overwhelming.
Then—a thunderous noise echoed.
An announcement rang through the arena:
— The Unified Government Police are here! Run!
Chaos erupted.
Arthur and Fiziouv jumped out of the ring and fled. The police opened fire. Most of them were Rank C Ascended—humans who had fought against the invaders of planet Earth and, in the process, gained special abilities.
Many people were arrested, but the fighters managed to escape.
However, Arthur and Fiziouv ended up facing each other again in a nearby alley. Soaked by the light rain that had begun to fall, Fiziouv smiled and said:
— I told you this would end you.
Arthur smiled back.
— And I told you—you'd die today.
There, in a completely ruined Paris—where humans lived in miserable conditions, monsters roamed the streets, and only blessed individuals had the dignity to dress well and eat real food—Arthur and Fiziouv resumed their fight.
For them, the prize money meant everything.
Punches and kicks flew again, now without rules and without spectators. The rain grew heavier. Arthur attacked. Fiziouv responded with heavy kicks, making the young man feel the pain.
The battle was frantic.
Neither of them was willing to give up.
They fought with their souls. They fought for the future. They fought just to be able to eat and dress with dignity.
Arthur landed a clean punch. His opponent fell to the ground. Then the young fighter delivered a brutal knee strike to the veteran's forehead, leaving him stunned.
Without mercy, Arthur unleashed a savage flurry of punches. Fiziouv could no longer respond. He was finished.
His dreams.
His future.
Everything slipped through his fingers.
With the final blow, Arthur delivered another devastating knee, knocking Fiziouv unconscious in the alley.
Arthur ran.
Moments later, the police arrived. Fiziouv's body was retrieved by officers of the Government, who also began hunting the nineteen-year-old fighter.
As he ran, Arthur's thoughts were a mess. His body ached, but he didn't stop. The Government was corrupt. Its leader—a Rank S Ascended—was cruel, bloodthirsty, and ruthless. He controlled all of Europe.
And there was nowhere left to run.
The entire world had fallen to the plagues that emerged with the opening of the portals. Cities were wiped off the map. Only Europe and the United States remained.
The United States was unreachable. Rank S Ascended had erected a massive barrier around the country, preventing monsters from entering. They said every portal that appeared there was quickly sealed by those powerful warriors. At least, that's what the legends claimed. No one truly knew what happened on the other side.
Arthur kept running—until he was trapped in a dead-end alley.
In front of him, a beautiful, shimmering blue portal opened.
Behind him, the Government police closed in.
Die at the hands of the portal's creatures…
or die at the hands of corrupt men?
— Fuck it. Let the gods decide.
Arthur leapt into the portal.