The moment he stepped backstage, Terry felt his body almost give out. The adrenaline was fading, leaving behind nothing but pain and exhaustion. He grabbed at his ankle, the throbbing ache making it hard to walk. He needed rest—badly.

  But as he limped down the hallway, he caught sight of a few of the other wrestlers, their eyes wide as they watched him pass. Some looked impressed, others looked wary, but none of them looked like they doubted him anymore. Legion had made his mark, and now, everyone knew what he was capable of.

  A few crew members parted as he approached, some nodding to him. He didn’t acknowledge them. He didn’t need their approval, didn’t need their recognition. Legion was beyond that. He wasn’t here to make friends—he was here to make an impact.

  Finally, he reached the locker room and pushed the door open, collapsing onto the bench inside. He leaned back, letting out a long breath, his head resting against the wall. His whole body hurt, every muscle screaming, but there was a satisfaction there, a sense of achievement that overshadowed the pain.

  Terry closed his eyes, letting himself relax for just a moment. The darkness he had felt in the ring—the power that had surged through him—it was still there, lingering, waiting. It scared him, the way it seemed to consume him, to make him something else. But at the same time, it had given him the strength he needed, had pushed him through when Terry Starr would have given up.

  He opened his eyes, staring at his reflection in the cracked mirror across the room. His face was smudged, the paint running, but beneath it, he could still see Legion. The twisted smile, the fierce determination—it was all still there.

  There was a knock at the door, and Terry looked up, his eyes narrowing. The door opened, and the man with the headset—the one who had let him interrupt Valor's match earlier—stepped inside, his eyes wide.

  The man hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering over Legion's battered form before speaking. "Hey, uh, Legion," he said, his voice unsure. "Management... they saw what you did out there tonight. They’re... intrigued by your challenge."

  Terry stayed silent, his eyes locked on the man, waiting for him to continue. The man swallowed, visibly nervous. "They've decided to approve it. Two weeks, you and Valor—inside a steel cage. No holds barred. The main event of our big show for the year. Rise or Leaf. They want to see if you can back up what you said."

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  Terry's lips curled into a twisted smile, his eyes narrowing as he took in the news. The main event. A steel cage match against Valor at Rise or Leaf. Didn't matter if it was just the biggest show locally it was a step inthe right direction. This was everything he had wanted—everything he had pushed for. A chance to not only prove himself but to do it on the biggest stage possible, with everyone watching.

  "Good," he said, his voice low, almost a growl. He could see the unease in the man's eyes, the way he shifted from foot to foot. Terry relished it. Legion had that effect on people—fear and uncertainty. It meant they knew what he was capable of.

  The man nodded, taking a step back as if to give himself some distance. "Yeah, well, just... be ready. This is going to be big."

  Legion stood up from the bench, his body still aching, but he forced himself to straighten, standing tall. He looked at the man, his eyes cold and unblinking. "I'm always ready."

  The man gave a quick nod and turned, leaving the room without another word, the door clicking shut behind him. Terry listened as the sound of his footsteps faded down the hallway, the silence settling in once again.

  Two weeks. He had two weeks to prepare, to get ready for the biggest match of his new life. This wasn’t just another fight—this was his moment to cement his place in this world, to make sure that everyone knew who Legion was and what he stood for.

  He slowly lowered himself back onto the bench, his body protesting, but the adrenaline still coursing through his veins, keeping him upright. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He could feel it—that darkness, that power. It had driven him through the match, had pushed him to win, and now, it would carry him through the next two weeks, preparing him for the battle ahead.

  Rise or Leaf—the biggest event of the year. It was fitting. He would rise, or he would fall, but one thing was certain: he wasn’t backing down. Not now. Not ever.

  He had already made his mark, already shown that he was more than just another wrestler on the card. But this was about more than just making a mark. This was about taking the spotlight, about stepping out of the shadows and becoming something more—something that couldn’t be ignored

  Valor had his chance. He had his cheers, his adoring fans, his perfect hero image. But Legion would strip it all away. He would take away the cheers, the hope, the belief that a hero could always save the day. In the cage, there would be no running, no escape—only them, and the truth of what they both were.

  Legion reached down, grabbing the towel and wiping at his face, watching as the paint came off, revealing Terry Starr underneath. But he knew that in that cage, in front of the world, it wouldn’t be Terry standing there—it would be Legion.

  And Legion would rise.