Chapter 28 · Steel Claw's First Hit

Chen's feet hit the ring floor and Steel Claw was already moving.

No bell. No ref stepping between them. The underground king closed the distance in two strides, and Chen barely got his arms up before a fist like a wrecking ball slammed into his guard.

The impact sent him skidding back. His heels caught the edge of the ring. The crowd noise was a wall of sound, but all Chen could hear was his own heartbeat slamming against his ribs.

"You feel it, don't you?" Steel Claw's voice cut through the noise. He wasn't even breathing hard. "The metal in your blood. Singing."

Chen's blackened arm throbbed. The iron scales that had grown over his forearm after the last fight burned hot under his skin. He could feel it wanting to spread. Wanting to eat more of him.

"I don't feel shit." Chen spat blood onto the canvas. His tongue was already split from biting down when that first punch landed. "And I'm not your fucking vessel."

Steel Claw smiled. Half his face was metal now, a lattice of silver-black alloy that looked like it had grown through his cheekbone and jaw.