The Arrival of Sangre High
After Bryan's victory, we felt a sense of relief wash over our group. However, we couldn’t afford to rest yet. We knew that the leader of Sangre High, Hiroshi, would not back down so easily. Hiroshi was a well-known Aikido practitioner, a martial art focused on using an opponent's strength against them. His style was unique calm yet dangerous.
We stood at the edge of the ring, watching as Hiroshi prepared for his match. I glanced at Jayden, who appeared even more determined than ever. He knew that Hiroshi would be the toughest opponent we would face. For now, he chose to observe and study Hiroshi’s style. Jayden was set to face the leader of Sangre High in this match.
“Jayden, make sure you don’t fall for his traps. Hiroshi loves to counter-attack,” Ashe advised while adjusting his protective gear.
“Yeah,” Jayden replied, intently watching Hiroshi, seemingly measuring each movement of his opponent.
When the match began, we immediately noticed Hiroshi’s differences compared to our previous opponents. Instead of rushing in, Hiroshi remained calm in the center of the ring, almost inviting Jayden to attack. This was the Aikido strategy waiting for the opponent to make the first move.
“Ready... Fight!” shouted the referee.
Jayden was quick; he knew he shouldn’t show aggression right away. He cautiously approached, testing the distance. He used feints to gauge Hiroshi’s reaction. But Hiroshi didn’t fall for it. With each of Jayden’s movements, it seemed Hiroshi was just waiting, ready for a sudden counter-attack.
Jayden unleashed a quick jab, “Whap!” Hiroshi deftly avoided it and quickly reached for Jayden's arm, attempting to throw him. However, Jayden was familiar with this tactic; he quickly pulled back his hand before Hiroshi could complete the hold.
“Nice! You’re fast,” Bryan whispered, clearly impressed with Jayden’s reaction.
But Hiroshi wasn’t done yet. Jayden spun around and delivered a swift sidekick, but Hiroshi anticipated this too. Instead of blocking the kick, he grabbed Jayden’s leg and attempted to throw him with a swift hip throw. “Wham!” I felt the impact of Jayden hitting the mat.
“Jayden!” Ashe yelled from the sidelines. Jayden quickly got back up, but we could tell he felt the fall. This was Hiroshi’s advantage; he didn’t need many movements to throw you off balance. Hiroshi calmly walked closer again, seemingly unfazed despite Jayden’s attempts to attack.
Jayden knew he had to change his strategy. He couldn’t rely solely on speed; he needed to control the fight. He took a deep breath and repositioned himself. This time, he didn’t rush. He unleashed a series of heavy straight punches. “Bham! Bham!” Hiroshi dodged swiftly, but unlike before, Jayden became more aggressive in his movements. 
Jayden quickly followed his punches with a low kick. “Whap!” I felt it connect with Hiroshi's thigh. Hiroshi staggered slightly, and that was Jayden’s opening.
In a flash, Jayden utilized the footwork of Jeet Kune Do to gain the position. He moved in quickly and unleashed a series of hooks. “Bham! Bham!” Each hit landed on Hiroshi's face, but he still wouldn’t go down.
When Hiroshi retaliated, he executed a quick wrist lock, but it was short-lived as Jayden swiftly dodged. I knew this was where the real fight would begin. They were both fast and clever, but I knew Jayden was in good condition. He applied what he learned from his fight with Hanma, and with each of Hiroshi’s movements, it seemed Jayden was reading his opponent’s next plan.
Finally, when Hiroshi launched an attack with his hand, Jayden seized the opportunity to change the position. Using his speed, he pushed Hiroshi down with a sudden takedown that caught his opponent off guard. Hiroshi crashed to the floor.
This was the final moment. Before Hiroshi could get back up, Jayden unleashed a powerful downward punch. “Bham!” It struck Hiroshi in the chest, and I watched as he fell completely.
At that moment, the referee called the end of the match.
“Jayden wins!” Bryan shouted, almost unable to believe what he had seen. I knew Jayden was surprised by his accomplishment too, but when I saw his smile, I knew he understood he had earned this victory.
“You were awesome, Jayden,” Ashe said, patting him on the back as we gathered to celebrate his success.
Yet behind our smiles, we knew the tournament wasn’t over. Stronger opponents lay ahead, and the real challenge was only just beginning.