Post by Teo Blaze on Feb 25, 2024 13:48:27 GMT -5
“What does it cost?”
That was the thought that had been on his mind since he woke up that morning. The schedule- hell it had practically become a routine at this point- was the same. Wake up before he could see the sun, grab a bottle of water, and find a nice city block. And then? Run until his legs, his body was on fire. Run until drawing breath became an effort, a chore, until his body would not let him take another step.
Then back into the room for a shower and a shave before breakfast.
The run was important to him, a part of the ritual that was most crucial, not only for what it did for his body, but for his mind.
Before the sun rose, before the day began, with only the soles of his worn sneakers against the pavement, in that moment there was a true clarity. A silence. No distraction, no frustration, no anger.
Just the run.
And yet…
On this morning, on this day, there was something different. A nagging, whining thought in the back of his head. No matter how hard he ran, that thought kept pushing its way to the front of his mind.
“What. Does. It. Cost?”
The rhythmic pounding of his steps became a backing track to that looping question, each word a beat in a symphonic cacophony in his mind. Each step punctuated with a word in that phrase, until he could not ignore them anymore!
The World Championship.
The Prize. The goal. The Brass Ring. The very object which had eluded him from the moment he walked into the company. Sure, he had challenged before, but always as part of a larger group. An underdog. A token representative of his brand.
But this? This was the first time it had felt so real. So close. Within his grasp.
And the question had never felt so real.
As Teo's feet pounded against the pavement, each step seemed to echo the persistent question swirling in his mind like a relentless storm. The World Championship, the ultimate prize in the world of professional wrestling, loomed tantalizingly close yet impossibly distant. It wasn't just about the glory, the accolades, or the recognition anymore. No, it was about the cost.
"What does it cost?" The words reverberated with a weight that seemed to grow heavier with each stride. It wasn't merely a question of physical endurance or skill. It was a question of sacrifice, of determination, of what he was willing to give up to claim his rightful place at the top.
The early morning breeze whispered through the streets, carrying with it a sense of urgency that mirrored the turmoil raging within Teo's mind. He pushed himself harder, his muscles burning with exertion, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he sought to outrun the relentless interrogator in his head.
The sun began to peek over the horizon, casting long shadows that danced with each step. Yet, amidst the beauty of the dawn, Teo found himself consumed by the darkness of his own thoughts. What would it cost to achieve his dreams? What sacrifices would he have to make? And, perhaps more importantly, what would he be willing to lose in the process?
The question struck him like a bolt of lightning, and he practically stopped dead in his tracks.
“What does it cost..?”
Wait...No, that’s not the question- not really...What Teo was really asking was...
“What have you paid already? And is it enough?”
Teo had lost so much. The show he helped build, the Titles he made into a household name, his body, his youth, his time. And yet there was always more. What more could he give?
Would he sacrifice his friendships? His fans? His popularity?
Was it worth it?
Was it worth becoming like them? Like they always said he would? If it came down to it, would he get booed out of the building if it meant he had that belt around his shoulder?
His opponents seemed to think so. One of them was slowly collapsing from self doubt, getting caught up within her own obsessions- barely acknowledging any opponent without a belt around their shoulder. The other? He had tried to turn a series of lucky breaks into a narrative of greatness.
But they both had one thing in common, something that made them different from Teo.
Compromise. To win the World Title through luck, through chicanery, through happenstance? It was good enough. Who cares how you did it so long as you got your name in the history books?
But compromise had weakened them- made them paranoid, frightened. Obsessed. Weakened. Compromised.
That was not enough for Teo. It would never be. He didn’t want the Championship just for the checkmark in his biography. He wanted to show that it could be done without the cost. Without the sacrifice. He wanted to rewrite the narrative that had etched itself into every champion’s mind from the moment the first bell rang.
As the sunbeam crossed the red lenses that covered his eyes, a change came across his expression. The thought danced in his mind, but each second that passed made it clear that something was boiling up within.
And then, after a moment, he resumed his run, a dead sprint, even harder than before.
The scene has now shifted rather dramatically. Teo Blaze stands atop a weather-beaten rooftop, the concrete beneath his feet cracked and worn from years of neglect. Around him, the skeletal remains of abandoned buildings reach towards the sky, their broken windows gaping like empty eye sockets.
The air is thick with the scent of decay and urban pollution, a tangible reminder of the city's forgotten corners. Overhead, the first light of dawn casts long shadows across the rooftop, painting the scene in shades of muted gray and gold. The distant hum of traffic echoes faintly in the background, a reminder of the world beyond this desolate outpost.
Despite the bleak surroundings, there is a sense of quiet defiance in Teo's stance, his gaze fixed on the horizon with unwavering determination.
“You know, sometimes I think…I think that to reach these heights, you have to be a little broken inside. To climb the top of the mountain, to hoist that World Championship over your shoulder? It takes a kind of primal, burning hunger.
It has been said over and over again, time and time again. To be the World Champion, to be the man or woman, you cannot cling to your honor, to your morals. The reason why Gerard Angelo is World Champion and not Teo Blaze is because Gerard Angelo was willing to be the snake. To be Faust selling his soul for the power. That Gerard Angelo will always be better than Teo Blaze because at the end of the day, Teo cares what people think about him- Gerard only gives a damn about himself.
Teo wants to be World Champion, but he needs to be loved.
And every opponent, every knife-twisting sonuvabitch that I have stepped in the ring with? They have tried to use that against me. They hear me speak of honor, of dignity, of righteousness! And they smell weakness.
Because they know in their heart that the only way path to the top is on the backs of those you betray.
Tatiana Jolee knows this path all too well- you can hear it in her voice. Her confidence, her drive, her determination has been whittled away in loss after loss, the idea of holding that belt in her hands again becoming more and more of a distant memory after she let it slip through her fingers.
And I have seen it.
The doubts that plague her mind have become a constant comfort- she invents voices of doubt, grapples with insecurities like demons- every time that management helped Jill Park walk away with her title, every time that she stumbled, the fact that even after she finally broke through the glass ceiling the belt was snatched away from her just as quickly.
She’s compromised.”
Teo adjusts his glasses, walking to the edge of the building. He leans out over the city street, looking as the first movements of the day are beginning. Cars driving to early shifts and workers making deliveries.
“Does she have to be like Downfall? Like Gerard? Like Jill Park?
Or is she more like them already than she’d care to admit?
Tatiana, I swear to all that is holy you just keep doing the minimum and expecting the world to fall into your lap. The ego on you is, just absolutely stunning! The night after Clash, 24 hours after we had put our bodies in the line in that cell, I was in that ring with a microphone in my hand. I put my intentions on the line and I said that I wanted to fight Gerard Angelo.
You weren’t even in the building- Brady Bolt walks out and says that you’re getting the same shot I am. You weren’t even there! The management handed you a contender match that you didn’t even ask for, and you have the balls to say that management doesn’t want you at Payback?
You’re so obsessed with your own image, with this constant underdog narrative that you can’t just keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect the same result!
I listened to your words carefully, Tatiana. I heard the doubts that lingered beneath the surface of your bravado. The fear of failure, the uncertainty of whether you still have what it takes to reclaim your former glory. And while I may have once admired your resilience, your unwavering determination to defy the odds, I can't help but wonder if you've lost sight of what truly matters.
You talk about earning your legacy, about fighting to prove your worthiness as a champion. But where is that fire, that hunger that once burned within you? Have you become content to simply coast on past achievements, to rely on others to pave the way to your success?
I refuse to believe that you're incapable of greatness, Tatiana. I've seen glimpses of the fighter you once were, the warrior who refused to back down from any challenge. But until you cast aside your doubts, until you embrace the true depth of your potential, you will continue to fall short of your aspirations time and time again. To let contenders work past you time and time again!
The doubts that plague your mind have become a constant comfort - you invent voices of doubt, grapple with insecurities like demons. You're compromised, Tatiana. You've allowed yourself to become comfortable. Winning that title made something click in your mind that your spot is safe, that your legacy is secure. And as long as people like Brady Bolt are willing to hand you contender's matches, you are always one win away from that World Championship.
But that's not how it works in my world. In my world, you have to fight tooth and nail for every opportunity, every chance at glory. And if you're not willing to put in the work, if you're not willing to sacrifice everything for your dreams, then you don't deserve to hold that championship belt!
You've become too complacent, too reliant on the idea that you can coast by on past successes. But let me tell you something, Tatiana: the road to greatness is paved with adversity, with challenges that test your very limits. And until you're willing to confront those challenges head-on, until you're willing to face your fears and doubts with unwavering determination, Gold Belt be damned, because you will never truly be a champion.”
Teo exhales sharply, his mind turning, knowing that Tatiana is far from the only competitor in the match, but the sharpness in his voice carries an edge.
“Gerard. Here we are again. I challenged you twice before, and you have walked away both times, snatching the victory by pinning someone else. Now you have the All-In Briefcase and the World Championship while Teo Blaze has nothing. No titles. No accolades. Not even a show to return to.
You’ve finally won it all.”
Though the words may seem complimentary on the surface, there is a bitter coldness to them in Teo’s voice, a biting sound only barely detectable.
“What was it you said on Clash? ‘Teo and TJ are losers, no matter how much they try to deny it.’
Heh…what’s that smell? Could it be the telltale scent of frustration? Desperation?
I have never once denied your victories Gerard. We both know that if there’s one quality you possess, one fundamental talent, it is that goddamned luck of yours. The ability to be in the right place at the right time and the quickness to capitalize.
You’re a viper, striking with a venomous bite and then slinking away before anyone has even realized what happened. Bending rules, lying in wait to strike from the shadows, and hiding yourself from anything resembling a fair fight.
And absolutely certain that it proves something when that luck kicks in at the right moment.
It’s why you said I would turn on my best friend if I lost in the cell. It’s why you tried to use the word ‘loser’ to brand me, to perhaps disqualify me from challenging you for that belt. Turn the crowd against me.
But here’s the thing.
We both know that I came within inches of winning both those matches. We both know that I can beat you- but ever since your hand was raised, Gerry, you started something that you cannot stop. You lit a fire in Teo Blaze.
You took the flame that I had, the desire to etch my name in history, to watch everything that you have worked so hard to desperately cling to turn to ashes in your mouth, and you stoked it. You threw gasoline onto that flame!
And now that fire is burning brighter than ever before. You may have the World Championship belt around your waist, Gerard, but mark my words, it's only a matter of time before that belt belongs to me.
You see, while you've been busy basking in the glory of your ill-gotten victories, I've been sharpening my skills, honing my craft, and preparing for the day when I finally get my shot at redemption.
You think you're untouchable, that you're invincible with that belt around your waist, but let me remind you of something, Gerard: every king has his reign, and every reign must come to an end. And mark my words, Gerard Angelo, your reign as World Champion will be no exception.
You may have the All-In Briefcase, you may have luck on your side, but luck always runs out. Sooner or later, you're going to have to face me in that ring, one-on-one, with nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. And when that day comes, Gerard, I will show the world what a true champion looks like.
You can try to bend the rules, you can try to take shortcuts, but in the end, the only thing that matters is what happens between those ropes. And when the dust settles and the smoke clears, there will be only one man left standing: Teo Blaze, the rightful World Champion.
So enjoy your time in the spotlight while you can, Gerard, because it's only a matter of time before your reign, before your would-be legacy comes crashing down around you!”
Teo’s voice is a roar now, echoing through the city streets below, drawing the eyes of the passerby, but he is speaking deep from within himself, practically shouting into the sky.
“And Gerry, let's talk about your legacy. You may have the World Championship belt around your waist now, but what will people remember when they look back on your reign? Will they see a champion who fought tooth and nail for every victory, who faced his opponents head-on and emerged victorious through sheer skill and determination? Or will they see a coward who hid away? Who took cheap shots and cut corners to hold onto his title by any means necessary? Who used his briefcase as an insurance policy?
You may call yourself a champion, Gerard, but in my eyes, a true champion is measured not by the gold around his waist, but by the size of his heart and the strength of his character! Gerard your heart is as black as night, and your character is as weak as they come! You’re as authentic as a three dollar bill, and worth less than the paper it’s printed on!
But me? I'm different. I may not have the World Championship belt yet, but I have something that you will never have: integrity. I have earned every opportunity that has come my way, and I have fought tooth and nail for every victory that I have achieved. And when I finally get my shot at that World Championship, when I’m standing in the ring with two pretenders to greatness?
When I see Tatiana Jolee, the compromised underdog whose ego has replaced any semblance of honor she once laid claim to, and Gerard Angelo, a cheap imitation of a champion with more luck than talent who never even bothered with honor in the first place?
I will prove once and for all that true greatness cannot be bought, it cannot be stolen, it can only be earned through hard work, dedication, and sacrifice.
So enjoy your underdog delusions, Tatiana, and enjoy your Hollywood ending while you can, Gerard, because soon enough, the whole world will see you for what you truly are: a fraud, a coward, and a paper champion.”
Teo’s words draw the attention of the onlookers below, who point up at him. He considers continuing He smiles down at the onlookers, offering a wave before turning, letting the sun rise behind him.
That was the thought that had been on his mind since he woke up that morning. The schedule- hell it had practically become a routine at this point- was the same. Wake up before he could see the sun, grab a bottle of water, and find a nice city block. And then? Run until his legs, his body was on fire. Run until drawing breath became an effort, a chore, until his body would not let him take another step.
Then back into the room for a shower and a shave before breakfast.
The run was important to him, a part of the ritual that was most crucial, not only for what it did for his body, but for his mind.
Before the sun rose, before the day began, with only the soles of his worn sneakers against the pavement, in that moment there was a true clarity. A silence. No distraction, no frustration, no anger.
Just the run.
And yet…
On this morning, on this day, there was something different. A nagging, whining thought in the back of his head. No matter how hard he ran, that thought kept pushing its way to the front of his mind.
“What. Does. It. Cost?”
The rhythmic pounding of his steps became a backing track to that looping question, each word a beat in a symphonic cacophony in his mind. Each step punctuated with a word in that phrase, until he could not ignore them anymore!
The World Championship.
The Prize. The goal. The Brass Ring. The very object which had eluded him from the moment he walked into the company. Sure, he had challenged before, but always as part of a larger group. An underdog. A token representative of his brand.
But this? This was the first time it had felt so real. So close. Within his grasp.
And the question had never felt so real.
As Teo's feet pounded against the pavement, each step seemed to echo the persistent question swirling in his mind like a relentless storm. The World Championship, the ultimate prize in the world of professional wrestling, loomed tantalizingly close yet impossibly distant. It wasn't just about the glory, the accolades, or the recognition anymore. No, it was about the cost.
"What does it cost?" The words reverberated with a weight that seemed to grow heavier with each stride. It wasn't merely a question of physical endurance or skill. It was a question of sacrifice, of determination, of what he was willing to give up to claim his rightful place at the top.
The early morning breeze whispered through the streets, carrying with it a sense of urgency that mirrored the turmoil raging within Teo's mind. He pushed himself harder, his muscles burning with exertion, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he sought to outrun the relentless interrogator in his head.
The sun began to peek over the horizon, casting long shadows that danced with each step. Yet, amidst the beauty of the dawn, Teo found himself consumed by the darkness of his own thoughts. What would it cost to achieve his dreams? What sacrifices would he have to make? And, perhaps more importantly, what would he be willing to lose in the process?
The question struck him like a bolt of lightning, and he practically stopped dead in his tracks.
“What does it cost..?”
Wait...No, that’s not the question- not really...What Teo was really asking was...
“What have you paid already? And is it enough?”
Teo had lost so much. The show he helped build, the Titles he made into a household name, his body, his youth, his time. And yet there was always more. What more could he give?
Would he sacrifice his friendships? His fans? His popularity?
Was it worth it?
Was it worth becoming like them? Like they always said he would? If it came down to it, would he get booed out of the building if it meant he had that belt around his shoulder?
His opponents seemed to think so. One of them was slowly collapsing from self doubt, getting caught up within her own obsessions- barely acknowledging any opponent without a belt around their shoulder. The other? He had tried to turn a series of lucky breaks into a narrative of greatness.
But they both had one thing in common, something that made them different from Teo.
Compromise. To win the World Title through luck, through chicanery, through happenstance? It was good enough. Who cares how you did it so long as you got your name in the history books?
But compromise had weakened them- made them paranoid, frightened. Obsessed. Weakened. Compromised.
That was not enough for Teo. It would never be. He didn’t want the Championship just for the checkmark in his biography. He wanted to show that it could be done without the cost. Without the sacrifice. He wanted to rewrite the narrative that had etched itself into every champion’s mind from the moment the first bell rang.
As the sunbeam crossed the red lenses that covered his eyes, a change came across his expression. The thought danced in his mind, but each second that passed made it clear that something was boiling up within.
And then, after a moment, he resumed his run, a dead sprint, even harder than before.
===
The scene has now shifted rather dramatically. Teo Blaze stands atop a weather-beaten rooftop, the concrete beneath his feet cracked and worn from years of neglect. Around him, the skeletal remains of abandoned buildings reach towards the sky, their broken windows gaping like empty eye sockets.
The air is thick with the scent of decay and urban pollution, a tangible reminder of the city's forgotten corners. Overhead, the first light of dawn casts long shadows across the rooftop, painting the scene in shades of muted gray and gold. The distant hum of traffic echoes faintly in the background, a reminder of the world beyond this desolate outpost.
Despite the bleak surroundings, there is a sense of quiet defiance in Teo's stance, his gaze fixed on the horizon with unwavering determination.
“You know, sometimes I think…I think that to reach these heights, you have to be a little broken inside. To climb the top of the mountain, to hoist that World Championship over your shoulder? It takes a kind of primal, burning hunger.
It has been said over and over again, time and time again. To be the World Champion, to be the man or woman, you cannot cling to your honor, to your morals. The reason why Gerard Angelo is World Champion and not Teo Blaze is because Gerard Angelo was willing to be the snake. To be Faust selling his soul for the power. That Gerard Angelo will always be better than Teo Blaze because at the end of the day, Teo cares what people think about him- Gerard only gives a damn about himself.
Teo wants to be World Champion, but he needs to be loved.
And every opponent, every knife-twisting sonuvabitch that I have stepped in the ring with? They have tried to use that against me. They hear me speak of honor, of dignity, of righteousness! And they smell weakness.
Because they know in their heart that the only way path to the top is on the backs of those you betray.
Tatiana Jolee knows this path all too well- you can hear it in her voice. Her confidence, her drive, her determination has been whittled away in loss after loss, the idea of holding that belt in her hands again becoming more and more of a distant memory after she let it slip through her fingers.
And I have seen it.
The doubts that plague her mind have become a constant comfort- she invents voices of doubt, grapples with insecurities like demons- every time that management helped Jill Park walk away with her title, every time that she stumbled, the fact that even after she finally broke through the glass ceiling the belt was snatched away from her just as quickly.
She’s compromised.”
Teo adjusts his glasses, walking to the edge of the building. He leans out over the city street, looking as the first movements of the day are beginning. Cars driving to early shifts and workers making deliveries.
“Does she have to be like Downfall? Like Gerard? Like Jill Park?
Or is she more like them already than she’d care to admit?
Tatiana, I swear to all that is holy you just keep doing the minimum and expecting the world to fall into your lap. The ego on you is, just absolutely stunning! The night after Clash, 24 hours after we had put our bodies in the line in that cell, I was in that ring with a microphone in my hand. I put my intentions on the line and I said that I wanted to fight Gerard Angelo.
You weren’t even in the building- Brady Bolt walks out and says that you’re getting the same shot I am. You weren’t even there! The management handed you a contender match that you didn’t even ask for, and you have the balls to say that management doesn’t want you at Payback?
You’re so obsessed with your own image, with this constant underdog narrative that you can’t just keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect the same result!
I listened to your words carefully, Tatiana. I heard the doubts that lingered beneath the surface of your bravado. The fear of failure, the uncertainty of whether you still have what it takes to reclaim your former glory. And while I may have once admired your resilience, your unwavering determination to defy the odds, I can't help but wonder if you've lost sight of what truly matters.
You talk about earning your legacy, about fighting to prove your worthiness as a champion. But where is that fire, that hunger that once burned within you? Have you become content to simply coast on past achievements, to rely on others to pave the way to your success?
I refuse to believe that you're incapable of greatness, Tatiana. I've seen glimpses of the fighter you once were, the warrior who refused to back down from any challenge. But until you cast aside your doubts, until you embrace the true depth of your potential, you will continue to fall short of your aspirations time and time again. To let contenders work past you time and time again!
The doubts that plague your mind have become a constant comfort - you invent voices of doubt, grapple with insecurities like demons. You're compromised, Tatiana. You've allowed yourself to become comfortable. Winning that title made something click in your mind that your spot is safe, that your legacy is secure. And as long as people like Brady Bolt are willing to hand you contender's matches, you are always one win away from that World Championship.
But that's not how it works in my world. In my world, you have to fight tooth and nail for every opportunity, every chance at glory. And if you're not willing to put in the work, if you're not willing to sacrifice everything for your dreams, then you don't deserve to hold that championship belt!
You've become too complacent, too reliant on the idea that you can coast by on past successes. But let me tell you something, Tatiana: the road to greatness is paved with adversity, with challenges that test your very limits. And until you're willing to confront those challenges head-on, until you're willing to face your fears and doubts with unwavering determination, Gold Belt be damned, because you will never truly be a champion.”
Teo exhales sharply, his mind turning, knowing that Tatiana is far from the only competitor in the match, but the sharpness in his voice carries an edge.
“Gerard. Here we are again. I challenged you twice before, and you have walked away both times, snatching the victory by pinning someone else. Now you have the All-In Briefcase and the World Championship while Teo Blaze has nothing. No titles. No accolades. Not even a show to return to.
You’ve finally won it all.”
Though the words may seem complimentary on the surface, there is a bitter coldness to them in Teo’s voice, a biting sound only barely detectable.
“What was it you said on Clash? ‘Teo and TJ are losers, no matter how much they try to deny it.’
Heh…what’s that smell? Could it be the telltale scent of frustration? Desperation?
I have never once denied your victories Gerard. We both know that if there’s one quality you possess, one fundamental talent, it is that goddamned luck of yours. The ability to be in the right place at the right time and the quickness to capitalize.
You’re a viper, striking with a venomous bite and then slinking away before anyone has even realized what happened. Bending rules, lying in wait to strike from the shadows, and hiding yourself from anything resembling a fair fight.
And absolutely certain that it proves something when that luck kicks in at the right moment.
It’s why you said I would turn on my best friend if I lost in the cell. It’s why you tried to use the word ‘loser’ to brand me, to perhaps disqualify me from challenging you for that belt. Turn the crowd against me.
But here’s the thing.
We both know that I came within inches of winning both those matches. We both know that I can beat you- but ever since your hand was raised, Gerry, you started something that you cannot stop. You lit a fire in Teo Blaze.
You took the flame that I had, the desire to etch my name in history, to watch everything that you have worked so hard to desperately cling to turn to ashes in your mouth, and you stoked it. You threw gasoline onto that flame!
And now that fire is burning brighter than ever before. You may have the World Championship belt around your waist, Gerard, but mark my words, it's only a matter of time before that belt belongs to me.
You see, while you've been busy basking in the glory of your ill-gotten victories, I've been sharpening my skills, honing my craft, and preparing for the day when I finally get my shot at redemption.
You think you're untouchable, that you're invincible with that belt around your waist, but let me remind you of something, Gerard: every king has his reign, and every reign must come to an end. And mark my words, Gerard Angelo, your reign as World Champion will be no exception.
You may have the All-In Briefcase, you may have luck on your side, but luck always runs out. Sooner or later, you're going to have to face me in that ring, one-on-one, with nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. And when that day comes, Gerard, I will show the world what a true champion looks like.
You can try to bend the rules, you can try to take shortcuts, but in the end, the only thing that matters is what happens between those ropes. And when the dust settles and the smoke clears, there will be only one man left standing: Teo Blaze, the rightful World Champion.
So enjoy your time in the spotlight while you can, Gerard, because it's only a matter of time before your reign, before your would-be legacy comes crashing down around you!”
Teo’s voice is a roar now, echoing through the city streets below, drawing the eyes of the passerby, but he is speaking deep from within himself, practically shouting into the sky.
“And Gerry, let's talk about your legacy. You may have the World Championship belt around your waist now, but what will people remember when they look back on your reign? Will they see a champion who fought tooth and nail for every victory, who faced his opponents head-on and emerged victorious through sheer skill and determination? Or will they see a coward who hid away? Who took cheap shots and cut corners to hold onto his title by any means necessary? Who used his briefcase as an insurance policy?
You may call yourself a champion, Gerard, but in my eyes, a true champion is measured not by the gold around his waist, but by the size of his heart and the strength of his character! Gerard your heart is as black as night, and your character is as weak as they come! You’re as authentic as a three dollar bill, and worth less than the paper it’s printed on!
But me? I'm different. I may not have the World Championship belt yet, but I have something that you will never have: integrity. I have earned every opportunity that has come my way, and I have fought tooth and nail for every victory that I have achieved. And when I finally get my shot at that World Championship, when I’m standing in the ring with two pretenders to greatness?
When I see Tatiana Jolee, the compromised underdog whose ego has replaced any semblance of honor she once laid claim to, and Gerard Angelo, a cheap imitation of a champion with more luck than talent who never even bothered with honor in the first place?
I will prove once and for all that true greatness cannot be bought, it cannot be stolen, it can only be earned through hard work, dedication, and sacrifice.
So enjoy your underdog delusions, Tatiana, and enjoy your Hollywood ending while you can, Gerard, because soon enough, the whole world will see you for what you truly are: a fraud, a coward, and a paper champion.”
Teo’s words draw the attention of the onlookers below, who point up at him. He considers continuing He smiles down at the onlookers, offering a wave before turning, letting the sun rise behind him.