--- [Shin’s perspective]

Everything is going according to plan.

Jack lost and Lucas won.

Just as I expected.

After I win my match, we will be two for one, and we’ll only need one more win.

There is no doubt in my mind that we’ll get it.

“Good job, Lucas! But did you really need to go that far? He could have died…” – Alex

“Thanks. He wasn’t going to stop any other way. It had to be physically impossible for him to continue.” – Lucas

“I see… The way he was standing up, even after it shouldn’t have been possible for him to, was very impressive. He certainly has a strong mind. Ultimately, you were the stronger one though…” – Alex

It really was…

That guy would be a very scary opponent if he only was a little stronger…

Determination like that isn’t something you see every day.

“That was a great match, but it’s time to begin the next one. The fighter from team Leon, is Fei. Her opponent will be the leader of team Shin, none other than Shin himself.” – Leanne

Leader…

She’s making it sound like I’m somehow greater than the rest of my team just because my name was randomly chosen…

Fei is the first one to jump into the arena.

She’s covered in blood and is carrying a metal bat.

“Hurry up pretty boy, I don’t have all day!” – Fei

Alex puts his hand on my shoulder.

“Good luck. Try not to get too hurt.” – Alex

“Heh, don’t you worry. I got this.” – Shin

I jump into the arena.

“Alright then, let the third match begin!” – Leanne

Fei wastes no time and rushes straight towards me.

She swings her bat right towards my head, but I duck under it.

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As I duck under, I move in and go for a tackle.

She tries to kick me, but I dodge it and my tackle lands.

She falls to the ground, and it clearly hurt her back.

I quickly get on top of her and pin her arms down.

She’s wriggling back and forth, trying to get me off, but it doesn’t work.

I move my head back, then quickly slam it down towards her.

Just before my headbutt connects, she somehow managed to knee me in the balls.

That paralyzes me for just a moment; but a moment was all it took to push me off of her.

“Ghhhhhhhhh…!!” – Shin

“Hahaha! It never fails to amuse me when I take advantage of that dumb weakness men have.” – Fei

She picks up her bat and tries to hit me with it while I’m still on the ground, but I resist the pain and get back up in time; just before she hits me.

“It won’t work twice.” – Shin

“Sure…” – Fei

We’re back to square one.

None of us has gotten any serious hits off on each other yet.

She’s not bad, not bad at all.

She’s about as fast as I am, and she thinks quickly too.

This might be a more interesting fight than I had imagined.

Although I guess that’s to be expected from the finalists.

This time, I’m the one approaching her.

The bat gives her more range than me, so to counter that I make sure to get as close as possible.

I go for a punch to her stomach, but she swings at me at the same time.

“GUEH!” – Shin and Fei

Both of our attacks connected.

She is knocked back a few meters from the impact of my punch.

Her bat hit me right in the shoulder.

I think it’s dislocated…

I pop it back into place, but it still hurts.

I think it still works though, and that’s all that matters.

“Is that all you got? Do you even know BDM?!” – Fei

She’s taunting me, trying to get me angry.

That might work on someone like Leon, but not me.

“If it doesn’t hurt, then you won’t mind me doing it again, right?” – Shin

“Try your best, loser!” – Fei

As she says that, she starts running.

She’s running with her bat pointing towards me like a lance.

She’s not expecting an attack like that to hit, right?

Just like I thought, before her attack could connect, I easily stepped out of the way.

I take the opportunity and throw an attack at her.

She quickly drops her bat.

Just before I hit her, she manages to grab my arm.

She jumps towards me and wraps herself around my arm.

So this was her plan…

“GHHHHA!” – Shin

She starts pulling on it with all her might.

She’s gonna rip it off!

“I’m not gonna let you do that!” – Shin

I start throwing punch after punch.

Her head is well protected so I can’t get any good hits on it.

The best spot to hit her is in her side.

She’s taking the hits surprisingly well.

It’s clearly hurting her, but she’s not letting go!

“Oh yes you will, dumbass!” – Fei

She screams as loud as she can and pulls with all her might.

These punches aren’t enough, I need to use a charged attack.

I stop punching for a moment and charge up a punch.

I let it go and I feel her ribs shattering.

But just as my punch connects and her ribs shatters, she manages to rip my arm off…

Since she was wrapped around it, she falls to the ground.

She gets back up and backs off.

“GUAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! FUUUUUUUUUUUCK!” – Shin

HOLY SHIT!

IT HURTS SO MUCH!

FUCK!

MY ARM!!

I’m bleeding heavily, I need to finish this quickly.

“Oh my god… Shin! Just surrender and let the healers fix you up! It’s not worth it!” – Alex

“Shut up! … Ah!! … I told you, I got this!” – Shin

“…” – Alex

I need to end this…

Now!

I look over at Fei, and she’s clearly hurt too.

With her rips shattered like that, her movements will be heavily restricted.

Even with just one arm, I’m the one who would win if we were to clash now.

Meaning this is a battle of attrition now.

Will I pass out from blood loss, or will I catch her?

Whichever one happens first will decide the winner.