The Outbreak of Battle
After Jayden's intense fight with Hiroshi, the tension in the air was palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife. We knew that the upcoming opponents were incredibly strong, especially the remaining fighters from Sangre High. The next match was not going to be easy or straightforward. A new face from Sangre High stepped into the arena: Shinji, a Judo practitioner with a reputation as a ruthless and skilled fighter.
As Ashe prepared for her turn in the ring, I could see determination shining in her eyes. Her opponent was certainly not to be underestimated, but I also knew she had complete faith in her Taekwondo abilities and training. This was her moment to shine, and I was sure she would give it her all.
“Just be quick, Ashe. Don’t let him catch you off guard. You can do this,” Bryan said as he adjusted Ashe’s gloves, trying to bolster her confidence.
“I’ve got this,” Ashe replied with conviction, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her nerves and the gravity of the situation. I watched Shinji’s movements closely. He was unlike any of the previous opponents we had faced. He was quiet and composed, but every motion he made was calculated and cautious, suggesting that he was not someone who would make careless mistakes.
“Ready… Fight!” shouted the referee, his voice echoing through the arena.
Ashe sprang into action without hesitation, launching a quick sidekick to gauge Shinji’s defense. “Whap!” It struck Shinji's arm with a crisp sound, but he remained unfazed and composed. Instead, with a swift motion that demonstrated his training, Shinji attempted to grab Ashe's leg, showing his intent to control the fight.
But Ashe was ready for this; she had prepared for every eventuality. She pivoted quickly to evade his grasp and immediately changed the direction of her attack. Using her remarkable speed, she unleashed a flurry of kicks. “Thud! Thud!” Each hit landed solidly on Shinji’s body, yet he remained calm, seemingly waiting for the right moment to counter her aggressive strategy.
“Faster, Ashe! Don’t give him a chance to recover!” I yelled from the sidelines, feeling the collective anxiety of everyone watching. It was hard to sit still, knowing how much was at stake.
In a split second, Shinji charged forward with surprising speed. With a quick hand movement, he managed to grab Ashe’s arm before she could react. “Wham!” In just a heartbeat, he had positioned himself perfectly for a swift throw. Ashe was sent flying through the air, crashing hard onto the mat, the impact sending shockwaves through the crowd.
We all froze in disbelief, hardly able to comprehend the speed of the events unfolding before our eyes. But Ashe was not one to back down easily. Before Shinji could execute a follow-up move to capitalize on his advantage, she quickly got back on her feet, shaking off the daze, and retreated to regain her distance.
“Are you okay?” Jayden asked from the side, concern etched on his face as he watched Ashe carefully.
“I’m fine! I’m not giving up!” Ashe shouted defiantly, her anger now evident after experiencing Shinji’s aggressive assault. She was fired up and ready to prove herself.
Ashe re-entered Shinji’s range, but this time, she was more cautious and aware of his tactics. She combined her kicks with precise footwork to avoid being controlled by him. With a powerful roundhouse kick, she struck, “Bham!” It connected with the side of Shinji's head, knocking him off balance for a moment.
Seizing the moment of vulnerability, Ashe surged forward with renewed energy, delivering a rapid series of strikes, “Bham! Bham! Thud!” Each blow landed on Shinji's body with precision. She knew she needed to be aggressive to prevent him from recovering and regaining his composure.
However, Shinji was still unyielding. Despite Ashe’s relentless assault, he suddenly stepped forward and attempted to grapple her once again, showcasing his grappling expertise. But this time, Ashe reacted quickly. Utilizing her flexibility and agility, she evaded his grip with grace and delivered a solid kick to Shinji's side. “Thud!” The impact was significant, echoing in the arena.
At this point, I noticed that each of Shinji's movements was becoming heavier, his earlier confidence fading as fatigue set in. He seemed to be gradually exhausting himself, which gave me hope for Ashe. But Ashe didn’t relent. Drawing on everything she had learned from the fight and her training, she avoided every grapple attempt and maintained her distance, favoring her Taekwondo style, which thrived on speed and agility.
In a final effort, Ashe prepared to unleash her finishing move. A high kick flew toward Shinji with incredible precision, “Wham!” It connected solidly with his chin, and before he could recover from the impact, Ashe capped the match with a powerful roundhouse kick. “Bham!” It struck the side of Shinji's head with a loud thud, sending him crashing to the ground in a heap.
The referee rushed in, calling the fight to a close. “Ashe wins!” the referee declared, and I watched as Ashe collapsed on the mat, breathing heavily but smiling through the exhaustion of the battle. She had proven her mettle.
“You were amazing, Ashe!” Bryan cheered, sprinting over to celebrate her victory with open arms. Joy radiated from Ashe's face, but I could see the toll the fight had taken on her, the fatigue settling in.
“Just one more… Jayden is the only one left,” I thought to myself as I looked over at Jayden, who was preparing himself for the fight to come. He knew he was next to face Sangre High’s toughest opponent, and there was no one else but him standing between our team and victory.
But despite everything that had happened, one thing was clear: this battle was far from over. The anticipation of what was to come hung heavily in the air, and we all felt it the excitement, the fear, and the determination to fight on.