Connor Blake liked being watched.
That was the first thing people learned about him.
The second was that he was good.
Very good.
He was twenty-three years old, athletic, fast, and technically polished. His passing was aggressive. His pressure was excellent. His favorite position was top half guard, where he could make larger opponents feel as though the entire weight of the room had settled on their chest.
He also believed confidence was part of combat.
Elias disagreed.
"Confidence is useful," Elias had once told him.
"Arrogance is expensive."
Connor had laughed at the time.
He didn't think the distinction mattered.
Now he stood across from the stranger.
"What's your name?"
"Daniel."
"Daniel what?"
"Daniel Mercer."
Connor nodded.
"I'm Connor."
"I know."
Connor raised an eyebrow.
"You've seen me fight?"
Daniel shook his head.
"I've heard people talking."
That answer irritated him.
The round began.
Connor moved first.
He circled left, lowered his stance, and reached for Daniel's wrist.
Daniel pulled away.
Connor attacked again.
This time he caught the wrist and stepped in.
Daniel's reaction was immediate.
He didn't pull.
He didn't resist.
He simply changed his angle.
Connor's grip slipped.
The purple belt blinked.
He attacked again.
Daniel moved.
Again.
And again.
There was nothing flashy about it.
That was what made it strange.
Daniel didn't seem fast.
He simply seemed to already be where Connor wanted to go.
Connor tried a collar tie.
Daniel stepped away.
Connor shot for a single leg.
Daniel sprawled.
Not violently.
Precisely.
Connor recovered.
The spectators weren't paying much attention yet.
Then Connor attempted a double-leg.
Daniel turned his hips.
Connor stumbled.
He caught himself with one hand.
Daniel didn't take the opportunity to attack.
He waited.
Connor stood.
His smile had disappeared.
"You've trained before."
Daniel nodded.
"A little."
"Where?"
"Different places."
Connor charged.
This time he succeeded in getting the takedown.
He drove Daniel backward and landed in side control.
Several people nearby glanced over.
Connor immediately settled his weight.
Daniel remained calm.
Connor began working for an arm triangle.
He tightened his shoulder against Daniel's neck.
Daniel's breathing remained steady.
Connor increased the pressure.
Nothing.
He adjusted.
Daniel moved his hips.
Connor followed.
Daniel moved again.
Connor followed again.
Then Daniel suddenly turned onto his side.
Connor's base shifted.
Daniel's hand slipped underneath.
Connor realized what was happening half a second too late.
Daniel caught the arm.
Kimura.
Connor rolled.
Daniel followed.
Connor rolled again.
Daniel released.
The entire sequence had taken perhaps four seconds.
Connor landed on his knees.
Daniel was already standing.
Silence surrounded them.
Connor stared at him.
"What was that?"
Daniel shrugged.
"Timing."
Someone laughed nervously.
Connor stood.
"Again."
Daniel nodded.
They reset.
This time Connor attacked with greater urgency.
He shot low.
Daniel sprawled.
Connor switched to a single.
Daniel whizzered.
Connor drove forward.
Daniel pivoted.
Connor's shoulder passed too far forward.
Daniel caught the neck.
Guillotine.
Connor dropped.
He fought the hands.
Daniel adjusted.
Connor's face reddened.
"Tap," someone shouted.
Connor refused.
Daniel loosened the pressure immediately.
Connor escaped.
He rolled away and stood.
The room was quieter now.
Several people had stopped training.
Elias watched from the edge of the mat.
He hadn't moved.
Connor wiped his mouth.
"You're a black belt."
Daniel shook his head.
"No."
"You fight like one."
"I don't have a belt."
Connor stared at him.
Daniel walked to the wall.
He took a drink of water.
Then he looked toward the blue bag.
For the first time, Connor noticed that Daniel had never looked nervous.
Not once.
Not when Connor shot.
Not when he was taken down.
Not when the guillotine came close.
There had been no fear.
Only calculation.
Elias finally approached.
"Daniel."
Daniel looked at him.
"Yes?"
"How long has it been?"
Daniel hesitated.
"Twenty years."
Elias's eyes narrowed.
"Twenty?"
Daniel nodded.
"I stopped counting."
Elias glanced toward the blue bag.
"Is that yours?"
Daniel looked at it.
"Yes."
"Why bring it here?"
Daniel smiled faintly.
"Because I knew I'd need it."
Elias studied him.
"Need it for what?"
Daniel didn't answer.
Across the room, Connor was staring at the bag.
And suddenly, he wanted to know what was inside.
The Challenge
By 8:00 p.m., everyone knew about Daniel Mercer.
That was how gyms worked.
Information traveled faster than sweat.
Someone told someone else that the new guy had nearly submitted Connor.
Someone else claimed Daniel had been a professional fighter.
Another person said he was probably military.
A fourth person insisted he'd seen Daniel compete somewhere years ago.
Most of it was speculation.
Connor hated speculation.
He wanted facts.
And he wanted them immediately.
He found Daniel near the water fountain.
"Where did you train?"
Daniel looked at him.
"Here and there."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the one I have."
Connor laughed.
"You know what your problem is?"
Daniel waited.
"You walk in here with that mysterious act."
"I don't have an act."
"Everybody has an act."
Daniel took another drink.
Connor leaned closer.
"You beat me because I underestimated you."
Daniel nodded.
"Probably."
Connor's jaw tightened.
That was not the answer he wanted.
"So let's fix that."
Daniel looked at him.
Connor pointed toward the mat.
"Five minutes."
Daniel didn't respond.
"Five minutes," Connor repeated. "Full intensity."