Stuck with the enemy

Chapter 50: She's got Skills

Adrian ultimately emerged victorious, pinning Marcus to the ground after a fierce struggle. Paul raised Adrian's hand in triumph, and the crowd roared with approval.

Beta Paul stepped forward again. "Second match: Elias Carter from Team Silver versus Jonah Reeves from Team Obsidian."

The crowd murmured with anticipation as Elias, a lean but wiry young man with sharp reflexes, faced Jonah, a broad-shouldered powerhouse whose mere presence was intimidating. The dynamic was clear from the start-speed against raw power.

"Let's see what you've got," Jonah taunted, cracking his neck as he stepped into the circle. Elias, unfazed, merely smiled and fell into a low stance, his sharp green eyes locked onto Jonah's every move.

Paul's hand shot into the air. "Begin!"

Jonah charged first, aiming to overwhelm Elias with brute force, but Elias sidestepped with a grace that made it seem effortless. He retaliated with a swift jab to Jonah's side, drawing a grunt from the larger man.

For several minutes, the fight played out like a chess game, Jonah trying to corner Elias while Elias darted around, landing precise hits wherever he could. The crowd grew louder with each near miss and counterattack.

Finally, Jonah managed to trap Elias against the edge of the circle, grabbing him with both hands, lifting him into the air. Gasps echoed through the crowd, but Elias didn't panic. With a quick twist, he managed to break free, using Jonah's momentum against him to slam him to the ground.

The crowd erupted as Elias pinned Jonah, his knee pressing into his opponent's back until Paul called the match. "Winner: Elias Carter!"

Elias offered Jonah a hand to help him up, which Jonah grudgingly accepted. Despite the loss, Jonah gave Elias a nod of respect, earning a cheer from the audience.

Paul then raised his hand once more, his voice cutting through the noise. "And now, the final fight: Deniz Brown from New Team versus Clara Everett from Team Crimson."

The crowd parted, creating a circle in the center of the field. Clara strode into the space with the confidence of someone who had done this a hundred times. She wore a sly grin, her posture relaxed yet predatory, like a cat playing with its prey.

I stepped into the circle, trying to mask my nerves. My heart was racing, but I forced myself to take a deep breath. You can do this, Deniz. Just stay focused.

Beta Paul stepped between us, his gaze flicking between Clara and me. "No foul moves. Keep it clean. Begin on my mark."

Clara raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. "Don't worry, Beta Paul. I'll keep it clean. I'd hate to ruin her pretty little face."

I ignored her, focusing on the rhythm of my breathing.

"Begin!" Paul barked, stepping back quickly.

Clara moved first, lunging at me with surprising speed. She was quick-quicker than I'd expected-and I barely managed to sidestep her strike. Her fist grazed my shoulder, sending a sharp sting down my arm.

"Not bad," she taunted, circling me like a predator. "But you'll have to do better than that."

I didn't respond. Instead, I waited, watching her movements closely. She was confident-too confident-and it made her predictable. Every step, every shift in her stance, revealed her next move before she even made it.

I wanted to observe her technique more closely, so I let her strike. Her punch landed on my stomach, but the impact was weaker than I expected. She was fast, sure, but her strength didn't match her bravado.

My lips curled into a small, knowing smile. She's not as strong as she wants everyone to believe.

Clara's expression flickered briefly with surprise when I didn't flinch from her hit. "What's the matter?" she sneered, stepping back into her stance. "Afraid to fight back?"

Still, I didn't respond. I stayed light on my feet, dodging her next series of attacks. Her movements were sharp but repetitive, and it became clear that she was relying on intimidation more than skill. A right hook, a kick aimed too high, another jab-all easy to predict and avoid.

The crowd's murmurs grew louder as they noticed the shift. Clara, realizing she wasn't landing any significant hits, grew frustrated. Her strikes became sloppier, her breath heavier. She was burning through her energy too quickly.

Now, I thought, it's my turn.

When she lunged again, I ducked under her swing and delivered a sharp jab to her ribs.

Her smirk faltered for a moment, replaced by a flicker of annoyance. "Lucky shot," she hissed, straightening.

"Come on, Clara!" someone from her team shouted. "Take her down!"

"She's holding her own!" I heard Jacob's voice cut through the noise. "Go, Deniz!"

Clara's frustration was evident now. Her movements grew more aggressive, and I could see she was trying to overwhelm me with sheer force. But that was her mistake.

With her next swing, I ducked low and swept my leg, knocking her off balance. She stumbled but didn't fall, her pride keeping her upright. I could see the anger flashing in her eyes now. She lunged at me with a growl, aiming a wild punch at my face, but I caught her wrist mid-air and twisted, using her momentum to spin her around.

"Too slow," I said softly, more to myself than to her, but the crowd caught it, and a ripple of laughter broke out. That only fueled Clara's rage.

She pulled away, her face red, and charged again. This time, I sidestepped smoothly, grabbing her arm and pinning it behind her back. In one fluid motion, I swept her leg again. She hit the ground with a thud, a shocked gasp escaping her lips.

I didn't waste time. Pinning her arm, I pressed my knee into her back, holding her down. "Yield," I said firmly.

She struggled beneath me, her pride clearly wounded, but she wasn't going anywhere. After a tense moment, she let out a frustrated growl. "Fine! I yield."

Paul's voice boomed over the crowd. "That's it! Deniz Brown wins!"

I released Clara and stepped back, offering her a hand to help her up. She hesitated, glaring at me like she wanted to burn a hole through my skull. But after a moment, she took my hand, her grip tight, almost crushing. "This isn't over," she muttered under her breath.

"Looking forward to the rematch," I replied calmly, walking away as the crowd erupted in cheers.

I turned to my team, who were cheering loudly, and felt a wave of relief wash over me.

Aras gave me a nod of approval, his expression serious but proud. Jacob, of course, was practically bouncing with excitement.

"Did you see that? She took her down like a pro!" Jacob exclaimed, punching Kai lightly in the arm. "I told you she'd win!"

Kai smirked. "Alright, I admit it. She's got skills."

Behind me, I could feel Clara's gaze boring into my back. It wasn't just a fight for her-it was personal.