From the roof of Yi's "home" rainwater flowed through a pipe into a huge tank. Yi turns the faucet on the tank and fill a bucket with water, then he scooped its fill and splashed it on his himself as sweat and dirt washed away from his body. Curtains made of plastic bags covered his surroundings.

'

The faucet squeaked shut. Yi snatched a torn towel hanging on a nail and wiped his body.

Soon, he pushed the curtains away, stepping out with his mother sitting on her cardboard chewing on bread.

"Ma!" he said with his arms open, and twirl around.

Bread slipped off his mother's hands, covering her mouth. "After nine years… I finally get to see you in proper clothing. I could now rest in peace…"

"What are you talking about, ma? Anyway, I'm going to work hard today. Wish me good luck!"

"Okay, always do your best."

"I will. See ya!"

Yi stuffed his encyclopedia in his cloth bag and then left the building while scouting for sun. "Hmm, looks like it's not 6 am yet. I'll take it slow today."

He unfolds a thin book from his pocket and read through its contents.

'

"Ah, so that's how I use the Encyclopedia. Alright! Time to turn it-"

His body went stone cold. He's a distance away from the rusted buildings.

Yi shoved his manual back in and kept moving at a quicker pace.

The residents, one by one were staring at Yi's red shirt and gray jeans. His body shivered until he stepped on the sidewalk.

"Phew... Now..." Yi pulled out his encyclopedia and lift a page, revealing a screen with directional and circular buttons.

"Woah..."

'

On his trip to work, he waved at the pharmacy staffs and proceeds to read while videos appearing above the line of text.

'

"Now this is useful. Since I lacked fat and muscle mass, I should focus on leverage for now. Let's hope I won't be fighting anyone soon in this condition. I could potentially hurt myself."

"Hmm?" Yi stopped as he encountered a shining black ferrari park in front of their restaurant. He went past it and face a card at the center of the restaurant's door then it opened for him.

He stepped in and tried to breathe back the soul he lost from his shock.

"No way... BANE BRIMSTONE!"

Bane sat in front of his boss at a table. He resembles mountains, tall, solid bulking muscles and skin dark as the soil. There's a woman besides him, she had more balanced muscle mass than Bane.

"Man, what a lucky day," Arnold said beside Yi.

"Yi?"

Yi was petrified with his mouth agape.

"Yi? Oi! Earth to Yi!" Arnold waved at his face.

"Huh? What?"

"You spaced out for quite a while there. Ya cool?"

"Is... this real?"

"Damn real alright." Arnold slapped Yi's back.

"Why is he here?"

"I heard he came to buy this restaurant for his new gym. Which's bad news if ya ask me."

"Hmm? Why?"

"We might lose our job."

"...What! I HAVE TO FIND A NEW JOB?" Yi grabbed his head.

"Welp, on the bright side, we could apply to work for da gym."

"Am I even qualified!"

"You might have a chance if ya show your Bone Rush move." Arnold gave a thumbs-up.

"Not helping, Arnold!"

"Well, I tried." Arnold shrugged.

All the staffs were murmuring until Bane started to speak. "So how is it, Mr. Yokubari."

"This is merely enough to make up for my business," said the boss.

"Alright then, five hundred and fifty thousand."

A sly smirk appeared on the grumpy old man's face as he writes his signature on a tablet. "Pleasure doing business with you."

Bane nodded and swiped a gold card on a hand-sized machine beside the table and the machine's sides flashed green. "The money has been transferred to your bank account."

Both stood from the table and shook hands. The old man then clapped as everyone turned their attention to him.

"Alright, everyone, pack your stuff. The restaurant's closed. I will reach out to you when a new one is opened."

Arnold tapped Yi's shoulder and said, "This is it, bro. Let's go and ask to work for him!"

"Oh... no way, not in this condition. I'll just wait for boss to contact me. " Yi said and turned toward the door.

Arnold twisted Yi back toward him and made eye contact. "Listen here, Yi, your dream is now right in front of you. If you don't take this opportunity, you'll never get it again! So, what are you gonna do?"

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"I..."

An image of Yi training with Bane and sparred with the gym members played on his mind then it switched to him fighting against Bane in an arena with thousands of spectators cheering for him, including his mother within the crowds. After their battle, Yi hugged his idol and lift the golden belt onto the world.

Cheers chanting his full name as it echoes surround the stadium.

'Yi Da Fung! Yi Da Fung! Yi Da Fung!'

"Yi? Hello... You there?" Arnold waved at Yi's face.

"Huh?" Yi said.

"So?" Arnold said.

"Let's go!" Yi raised his fist.

Arnold grinned and said, "I'll take the lead then."

Both stood at the entrance as Bane and his lady headed their way.

Bane raised an eyebrow and said, "Do you need something?"

"Ah, yes, Sir Brimstone. My friend and I was wondering if your gym have vacancy for two more people? We're extremely experienced employees."

The duo was scanned with immense aura.

"Seem like a strong person I may hire you but-"

Bane winced at Yi as if he sniffed a pile of junk.

"I don't hire beggars."

Yi frowned with his mouth opened.

"Oh, haha! Don't misunderstand. My friend is an honorable man. He never begs and we have worked together for as long as I could remember." Arnold patted Yi.

"I see. Well, sorry, the deal's closed. I won't hire you two."

"What? Why?" Arnold said.

"That "friend" of yours is an eyesore. It will badly affect my business if he works in my gym. Not even worth to be a janitor."

"You can't be serious!" Arnold said.

"I'm dead serious, kid. If you have nothing else to say I'll be leaving now."

Bane pushed them aside and Yi fell sitting on the floor.

"Yi!"

Arnold ran to fetch him, as they get up, Yi shouted. "The hell is going on here!"

Bane halted.

"Weren't you once lived in the slums like me before you become champion?"

Veins popped out of Bane's temples as he turned at Yi with bloodshot eyes.

"What is he talking about, Babe?" his woman said.

"Don't listen to him, he's affected by drugs."

"Oi! Don't you dare insult my friend!" Arnold said.

Yi said, "I admire you, Bane... You were already my idol since the day you began your fighting career. But now... You're just a spoiled piece of shit who forgets where he was born!"

Bane charged at Yi with a loaded fist. Arnold intercepted and blocked but was thrown away with a swing from Bane's arm.

"Ack!" Arnold crashed at a table.

"Hmm!" The large monster launched his fist.

"Yi!" Arnold called.

Yi dodged aside and threw a punch going for Bane's tonsil. Bane's eyes widen as it came.

A bone cracked.

"AH!!!"

Yi rolled on the floor, clenching his hand.

"YI!!!" Arnold ran next to his friend and grabbed the hand.

"His knuckles broke! Call an ambulance!"

"Let's go," Bane said.

As the couple was about to exit, Yi yelled.

"BANE!!!"

"I swear, with my family's honor that one day I will take away your champion title. A shit like you doesn't deserve it!"

The beast kept walking, unfazed by the echoes of pain

"What happened? How did he broke his hand?" his lady asked as they sat in their car.

Bane recalled the fight. He tilted his head and Yi's fist stabbed his chin.

"He was just unlucky," Bane said, rubbing his chin then started the car.

"But I have the feeling we'll see him again."

'Yi... I'll remember you.' his car flew and raced through the streets with explosive speed.

'

"Alright! You're all patched up! Lucky for you, there's no permanent damage that we couldn't recover in time. All you need now is a lot of rest and maintain a healthy diet to speed up recovery." said the doctor.

The two men thanked their doctor and walked out of the hospital and then one of them said, "I'll walk you home today, Yi."

"Thanks..."

"...Sorry 'bout happened today, man..." Arnold said.

"It's not your fault. Thanks to what happened today, I no longer have to idolize that piece of shit."

"So what are ya gonna do now?" Arnold said.

"Obviously, finding a new job... I wonder if there's a nearby gym that's going to accept me as a cleaner."

"Since you've fought with Bane, they'll definitely take you in. They might even take you as their member!"

"I guess I could try that," Yi said.

"Speaking of that, how did you dodge that punch? Was the encyclopedia that useful?"

"Yeah, it helped a lot. But what's impressive about my dodge? An overhead is a predictable punch."

"Are you serious? Bane's punch was super fast and strong. Even if you could predict it, You need insane reaction time and speed to dodge that."

"It was?"

Arnold then wrapped his hand around Yi and said, "My friend, I think you have hidden talent!"

"I do?"

"Hell yeah! You're definitely gonna be a champion. I can feel it!"

Yi gazed at his hand and fold it tight. 'I will become champion! Just you wait, Bane.'

"Oh, what about you, Arnold. What's your plan?"

"Hmm? Hmm... Any job with decent pay and a fair day off will do. Because you already know, my dream is to become an FPS E-Sport champion!" Arnold aim his hand as if it was a pistol.

"Yeah, I'm glad we have similar dream."

"Hey, that's why we're best bros, right?" Arnold said.

With a smile, Yi nodded and thought, 'Yeah, the bestest friend I could have.'

'

"Wow... It's been a while since I visited this place." Arnold scoped the rusted buildings.

"I can walk by myself now, Arnold. Thanks for coming with me this far."

"Nah, I'll leave once I visited your mother."

"You really don't have to- Oi!" Yi said.

Arnold continued walking as he said, "C'mon, man I don't have all day."

Yi sighed and walked beside his friend.

Every step they took brings the feeling of death, attracting a set of bloody eyes each time.

"Brr! Why are these guys are staring at us?"

"I told you not to come with me..."

Residents stares the duo like a group of thirsty hyenas, ready to pounce at any moment.

"Well, I do admit that I looked irresistible." The blondy caresses his hair with a sharp grin.

"I admire how you can still joke in a situation like this," Yi said.

Arnold just grinned as they continue.

'

"Ma, I'm home. I brought Arnold with me today."

The bright guy slid in with a dab and said, "Hello, Mrs. Yi's mom! I have come to give you a warm visit! ...Hmm?"

"Ma?"

Yi's mother was lying on a her cardboard with her back against them.

His heart jumped and he dashed next to her, turning the body around to see blood running down her cheek. "Ma! What happened to you? Wake up!"

"Oh, shit!" Arnold pulled out his phone and hit the dialer with the speaker on.

"911 what is your emergency?"

"Uh, hello! Someone is laying unconscious with blood coming out of her mouth."

"How long has she been unconscious?"

"Not sure, around a few hours maybe?"

"Is she still breathing?"

"She is, but it's weak." Yi said.

"Alright, make sure she's in recovery position."

Yi moved his mother's hands and legs in a resting position and said, "Done."

"Now, can you tell us your location?"

"Um... Abandoned city, Sector One," said Arnold.

The phone went silent.

Arnold attempted to break the silence. "Hello? Anyone there? Hello..."

The dispatcher then came back after a while. "I'm very sorry. We will have to request you to bring the patient out of Sector Two, Rusted City. The ambulance are unable to reach your location as because it's marked as danger zone."

"...I understand."

"I'm very sorry. Our ambulance will fetch you up outside."

Arnold hung up the phone and walked toward the poor family. "Ya heard them, let's get her outta here!"

Yi nodded.

Just when Arnold was about to lift Yi's mother, a man stepped in from the entrance.

He had bits of his flesh exposed, clear-greenish fungus gathered around the flesh as flies rested on his body. Veins blue as ink popped out from his limbs to his temples. Brown teeth that seems like they're about to fall off and bloodshot eyes.

"Want do you want?" Yi said.

The mysterious man grinned and said, "Money..."