But Ryland doesn't have that immunity, and so he fights.

He's going up against a chick named Lady Luck. There's not much known about her, Ryland doesn't really bother with studying his less important opponents, but she was a red uniform.

After emerging from the paint job, the two stood in front of each other, almost naked. I remembered the thrill of the paint getting on the floor, the feeling of hands desperately trying to get one last chance to stroke my body, the sounds of vulgarity. It was enticing and addicting... and not even the best part.

Ryland, Rio, hell even Punisher... none of them understood the pure ecstacy I found in fighting. They may be good at it, but there's something fulfilling in standing in front of that crowd completely exposed and raw. The sound in your ears ringing louder and louder as more blood smeared your knuckles and ran between your fingers.

"...AND WE HAVE ROCKY GOING IN FOR THE FIRST HIT AND OOOOOH, NO CONTACT!"

I snapped out of my thoughts when I realized the match had begun. I didn't need to look down to know what kind of state my lower half was in.

As Ryland missed his shot, Luck brought a leg up and connected it to the side of his face. A professional fighter with years of training, at least judging by that stance. A taekwondo fighter who fought with her legs versus a boxer who used his arms.

My father had been some sort of fighter at one point. State level, I believe. You don't really get to go to nationals after you kill your wife and lock up your son in the basement. Before life went to shit, I would watch him train, and during my imprisonment he would sometimes teach me things.

"The thing about taekwondo users," he would say, "is that they have a very long reach. Strong legs that can get to you. But this also means balance is crucial. If you can knock your opponent to the ground, your pretty solid. It's not difficult what to do from there, whether its a choke, grapple, whatever."

As Ryland went flying, Luck brought her leg down behind her. She had to reset. It only really took her a second before she was up and at him again, but it was a very small opening.

Ryland dodged and weaved, getting around her leg as fast as he could. Luck would make contact, but it was often awkward and didn't hurt as much. Compared to the two of us, Ryland was faster, but with Luck? We were both outclassed. The only issue was that brief second where she put her foor behind her.

Waiting, waiting... touch. Her foot touched the floor and Ryland charged. He swung at her face, strong arms ripping right through her defenses. A hand grabbed for her bra-strap and pulled her forward, only to get hit again in the face. One leg went in between her thighs. Hot as fuck, but it also served another purpose. She couldn't move her legs.

"But I mean... any fighter would be ready for you to try and trip them. It doesn't always work. Instead, you sometimes just need to get up and personal and bam! bam! bam! Just keep going at it right in the face!" Dad followed that up by getting all close to the punching bag and slamming his fists again and again into it.

At this point they were too close for Ryland to knock her out with a hit, but too much and she would pass out on her own.

"AND DOWN GOES LADY LUCK! I GOTTA SAY, I WAS EXPECTING THAT BRA TO RIP IN TWO! HAHAHA, WAY TO BE A BAD SPORT ROCKY! BUT AT LEAST YOU MADE IT UP WITH THAT FINALE! WHOO-WEE! I WAS SO READY FOR YOU TO LOSE MATE!"

The crowds for Ryland's fight were so much larger than mine, but that was to be expected. I needed some more time before I could start pulling in amounts to rival Ghost.

But this fight was a good awakening. I wasn't weak, but I still wasn't on the level of these guys. I needed to go back to basics and train more.