CHAPTER 758: CHAPTER 758: BREWING TENSIONS

With Ivan’s team riding high off their first win, confidence quickly turned into momentum.

The vibe had shifted. The fighters who had once been quiet were now loud, loose, throwing shade across the mats and hallways.

To them, the tides had turned. One win meant more would follow. And they planned to stack those wins until Damon’s team drowned in losses.

Payback season, as one of them joked.

But the energy wasn’t playful anymore.

Tension stirred in every shared space, between passing glances at breakfast, subtle shoulder bumps in the hallway, and the barely disguised jabs during warm-ups.

Some comments were loud enough to draw eyes. Others were whispered just close enough to sting.

Nobody wanted to look like they were backing down.

Everyone had something to prove now.

And nobody wanted to be the next one put to sleep on camera.

Team Ivan was growing bolder, and louder.

Their tension after the early losses had flipped into a smug sort of confidence. They walked around the house like they owned it now. The atmosphere shifted, and Team Cross noticed.

What pissed them off more wasn’t just the win, it was the way Ivan’s fighters kept running their mouths.

Especially about Damon.

They never said it to his face, but around the house, they talked like they had figured him out. Overrated. Lucky. Overhyped. It was constant. And while most of the team played along, Max had noticed who started it.

Chase.

He remembered hearing Chase talking shit about Damon, it sounded bitter and hateful, and before he only talked around his teammates.

But that was before his win.

Now he was the loudest.

Every time he walked past someone from Team Cross, there was a smug look, a backhanded comment, something under his breath. The other fighters followed his lead, trash-talking Damon like it was normal.

Max didn’t like it.

He respected Damon. Everyone knew what Damon had achieved, how young he was, how smart he coached. And Max hated seeing that kind of work get dismissed by guys who hadn’t earned anything yet.

Luckily, no one had told Damon.

If the coaches lived in the house instead of the hotel?

Max was pretty sure Chase would’ve already been slapped unconscious. Multiple times.

Max stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him.

The others looked up. Some were seated, others lounging, but they all paused when they saw the look on his face.

Kenji was tying his laces. Ronny was lying on the couch. Ayo leaned against the window with his arms crossed. Theo, Elias, and José were watching fight tape on a tablet.

Max didn’t waste time.

"We need to talk," he said.

A few of them glanced around.

"What about?" Ronny asked, sitting up a little.

Max didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to.

"I’m tired of the way they’re talking about Damon," he said. "The disrespect’s been nonstop since Chase won, and none of us are doing shit about it."

Kenji set his shoe down. "You talking about all that trash in the kitchen earlier?"

"They’ve been doing it everywhere," Max said. "Living room, hallway, even by the cage during warmups. I’m not saying we fight over it, but we can’t just sit around while they talk about our coach like he’s a joke."

Ayo nodded. "They wouldn’t do that if Damon was sleeping in the house with us."

"They’re lucky he’s not," Elias muttered.

"I get talking shit before a fight," Max went on, "but this isn’t strategy. This is hate. Chase started it, and now the rest of them think it’s cool. Like beating one of us gives them permission to spit on the name of the guy who built this team."

José looked at Max carefully. "So what do you want us to do?"

"Nothing stupid," Max said. "But we start standing up for him. Every time we hear that shit, we shut it down. If we let it slide, it makes it seem like we agree with them. We don’t."

Theo nodded. "I didn’t come here to make friends with people who don’t respect us."

Kenji sat forward. "And I’m not letting anyone talk down on the man who trained me."

Ayo looked around. "Then it’s settled. From now on, anyone talks about Damon like that, they get checked."

Elias leaned back. "And if they want to start something, we’ll finish it."

Max gave a nod. The message was clear now.

They didn’t have to brawl. They didn’t have to get petty.

But they sure as hell weren’t going to be quiet anymore.

Not while Damon Cross was their coach.

It wasn’t like they worshipped Damon like some untouchable legend. But they weren’t going to let the other team walk all over them either. Respect had to be earned, and defended.

The group broke up slowly, each guy heading out with his own thoughts. Some went to train. Others to cool off.

Theo stayed behind, seated at the edge of the bench.

Ayo noticed and paused at the door.

"You good?" he asked.

Theo didn’t look up right away. He ran a hand over his face and let out a deep breath.

"Not that I agree with the other team," Theo said. "But they’re not completely wrong either."

Ayo stepped back inside. "What do you mean?"

Theo looked up at him.

"Damon’s a beast. I’m not saying he isn’t. Double champ, elite skills, sure. But... in that last fight, Kaito was doing okay. Then Damon told him to switch things up, change rhythm, force pressure. And after that, Chase ran through him."

Ayo crossed his arms but didn’t interrupt.

"I’m not blaming Damon," Theo added. "But he’s young, man. Still figuring out how to coach, how to corner. He’s learning same as us. All I’m saying is, just ’cause he’s Damon Cross doesn’t mean he’s right all the time."

Ayo didn’t respond immediately. His jaw tensed slightly, but he kept his cool.

After a pause, he said, "Maybe. But I’d rather lose following a coach who gives a shit than win with one who doesn’t."

Theo nodded, not arguing. Just thinking.

Neither said anything after that. The silence hung in the room for a moment.

Then Ayo turned and walked out, leaving Theo alone with his thoughts.