The Black Hood

Here, in this place, where the sound of silence was louder than the sound of fists,

I thought it was just an ordinary club.

I didn’t know I had stepped into hell—with no return.

I was sitting far away from the fights when I heard two men talking.

It seemed that one of them was new… just like me.

Man 1: Who is that masked fighter?

Man 2: Never get close to him. He can break every bone in your body without even trying.

They call him The Black Hood.

I returned to my thoughts.

One day, I’ll have to face him.

He will break my bones—without a doubt.

He always targets his opponent’s nose.

He rarely speaks.

Some fighters say he’s mute.

I shook the thought away.

I shouldn’t be thinking about him.

I should be thinking about my own disaster.

This club…

It’s owned by a criminal organization.

Only one person leaves after each tournament.

The winner earns freedom.

The tournaments are held every six months.

Yet more than ten people die during the fights.

It seems my time is coming.

A huge man sat beside me and said:

What are you thinking about, man?

Instead of overthinking, go train.

Maybe you’ll be the next one to leave… and win your freedom.

The matches are getting close.

I had nothing to say.

So I stayed silent.

Before leaving, he added:

The Black Hood always skips the tournaments where freedom is the prize,

as if he doesn’t care.

If you want my advice—

if you want to become stronger, imitate his habits.

He’s the strongest here. You know that.

He left.

I returned to my thoughts again.

Eight hours of training every day.

What kind of idiot trains that much…?

I went home.

I found my mother collapsed on the floor, crying, holding her phone.

What happened?

She said, her voice shattered:

Your brother was killed.

I was frozen in shock.

Why? How?

Later, I discovered the truth.

I was the reason he died.

Anyone who enters this club has their name sent to the leaders.

They kill one of your relatives to ignite the fire in your heart.

A challenge with no escape.

What have I done to myself?

What nightmare have I fallen into?

Days pass.

I train only two hours a day.

I know I’ll be in trouble when my name reaches the leaders.

Every month, a list of trainees is reviewed—

their training hours… and other things I don’t even know.

But I no longer care.

Mom… I’m back—

I see her lying on the floor.

Heart pills in her hand.

I scream in horror and call the hospital.

I go with them.

I wait outside the room, hoping she’ll be okay.

Then the news comes.

Doctor: I’m sorry. We lost the patient.

Why?

Why did she kill herself?

Why?!

I start screaming like a madman,

slamming my head against the wall again and again.

Blood everywhere.

Doctors try to calm me down.

And then… everything turns to darkness.

And this…

is where my story begins.

The moment I decided to take revenge.