AND FIGHT!" Yelled the kenpo referee as Willis held his fighting stance, ready to defend against his opponent as he approached. He was Willis's equal, in size, strength and experience. The only difference between the two was his age. Willis was 21 and his opponent, Brian, was 19. Brian swung in a cross-cut punch, aiming for Willis' jaw. Willis pivoted, bringing his hands up to grab his opponent's arm, throwing him to the ground as he held the grapple in place, his pulled back, Willis could feel Brian's shoulder starting to give as vegan pulling from it's socket. Brian rolled, attempting to get out of the hold, Willis, in turn, stepped over him and kicked him in the chest, to score a point. Point one.

He let go of his opponent and waited as Brian regained his footing, a scorn now on his face, angered by the blow he had just received. Willis took the initiative and moved in, leaping, he delivered a solid punch to Brian's nose, he heard the pop and felt the cartilage break under his first. Point two.

Brian, his nose now broken and pouring blood mixed with tears, attempted to counter the jab with a sweeping kick to Willis' ribs, which he caught by tucking in his arm, locking the leg in place. He quickly stepped back, throwing his opponent off balance, causing him to fall on to his knee as Willis lunged forward and put his full weight into a single punch to the forehead, knocking his opponent to the floor, dazed.

After a moment, Brian Lucas, coughing and spitting blood, turned his head to the side and got on all fours. He brought his hand up, slapping the ground, ending the match, and granting Willis the victory he had fought hard to obtain. 3 strikes, 3 points and the fight was over.

The crowd, which had been absolutely silent since the semi-finals, erupted into a chaotic roar of cheers and chants. Willis reached down to help Brian up off the floor. Once Brian was back on his feet Willis stood there, not to bask in his own glory, but to share the spot light with his rival. He turned toward Brian, bowed and shook his hand. "You fought hard today!" He yelled over the crowd. "Keep it up and keep training. Maybe we'll fight each other agian next year!" Brian simply nodded in agreement sucking in through his nose to try and keep from bleeding everywhere.

Willis turned away as his Dad stepped forward to congratulate his son and star pupil. Followed by his Mom and brother. Willis was guided out of the musty smelling HighSchool gymnasium to change out of his Gi and back in to his regular clothes. He caught glimpses of himself in the mirror as he was changing. His body was in very good shape and, amazingly, no bruises. He couldn't beleive he had gone through the entire tournament without getting hit once. "I'm either incredibly lucky, or just that good." He said to himself as he continued getting dressed. Willis was a pretty average looking man. He wasn't bad looking, he had blue-green eyes with sandy blonde hair, a decent physique and stood at 5′ 8″ tall. He had a host of hobbies, but martial arts was always something he gravitated to. It kept him centered, focused, confident that if he couldn't de-escalate a fight, he could sure as hell end it.

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After putting his Gi in the wash bag, showering and getting changed into his normal clothes, a sleeveless shirt, cargo shorts and tennis shoes. He grabbed his gear and walked out... just as Brian was walking in, his nose packed with gauze. He was followed by his sensei, who must have been berating him every step of the way. "Hey." Willis said to get his attention. "Don't listen to this asshole." He said, nodding to Brian's sensei. "You fought very honorably in every match. So remember, no matter what, if you fight with honor, you will always win." Willis walked out ignoring Brian's sensei as he continued to call after Willis, trying to egg him on in to brawl, throwing insults and jeers down the hall leading back to the auditorium.

As Willis and his family were leaving and heading toward his Dad's white mini-van, Willis' Mom was talking about the trophy, how they were going to have to wait and have his name inscribed, "And I even managed to get a photographer to come and get pictures of you with the trophy! Oh!" She Exclaimed, throwing her head back in delight. "2023 has been such a good year!"

He was happy he had won, but he was also happy that everyone in his family had supported him. They loaded up in the van and his Dad started the drive to an Italian Restaurant where Willis, being 21 was going to be able to enjoy his first alcoholic beverage. Due to preparing for the tournament he was advised not to drink as it could increase the risk of becoming dehydrated.

They were on the interstate and just got on to an overpass, when an 18 wheeler came up along side them and began slowly merging in to their lane. Brian's Dad laid on his horn, yelling at the truck driver to get back in his own lane.

When it became obvious the driver neither seen their van, nor heard the horn as it blared ceaselessly. His Dad sped the van up, pushing the accelerator to the floor board. Hoping to overtake the semi before it smashed into them as they creeped ever closer to the gaurd rail. Just as they reached the point where Willis could see the brush gaurd of the truck outside his middle seat window, the truck quickly lurched to the side, smashing into the tiny mini-van.

Willis' window shattered, his door crumpled as he could hear metal scraping on metal throughout the car. Everyone started screaming, his younger sister was having a full on panic attack as his Dad lost all control as the van was pushed by the semi. It toppled over the gauard rail, smashing on to the pavement below.

Willis had blacked out, yet he felt the sensation of needles piercing every inch of his skin, he was in pure agony, but just as that sensation started, it vanished, and he was met with a calmness that came over him in waves. Rolling through him as his senses faded, the screams went from a dull roar, to a moan, to silence.

The taste of iron from where he had bit his tongue went to a feeling of just liquid in his mouth, to nothing. His vision had already left him as he slipped, gently and peacefully, into an eternal sleep.