Crack! The sound echoed through the arena as Marco's punch landed squarely, Riko's jaw giving way under the impact.
Riko crumpled to the mat, his body collapsing in slow motion. In the crowd, a young girl by a small table gasped, her eyes wide with shock. She clutched the edge of the table, her breath hitching.
The man handling the betting table smirked, his fingers sliding over the single silver coin she had placed. "Heh, unlucky. Your father's defeated today, Luce," he said, pocketing the coin without a shred of sympathy.
Luce's gaze remained fixed on the ring, tears welling up in her eyes. Her small hands balled into fists as she tried to suppress her emotions.
In the ring, Riko lay sprawled, his mind swirling with regret as he caught sight of his daughter's face through blurred vision. I'm sorry, Luce Lachapelle… I've failed you again. We won't eat for a while… His thoughts trailed off as his body hit the mat with a resounding Thud!
