book. She simply shifted her knee outward a fraction of an inch. Grigor's shin
collided perfectly with the hardened point of her kneecap. A loud crack
echoed in the gym, followed by a bellow of pain from Grigor, who stumbled
backward, clutching his leg. Elara casually turned the page of her book. Silas's
eyes widened in shock, but seeing the murderous looks from the entire Iron
Lotus team, he decided to retreat. "You'll pay for that at the tournament,
Kaelen," he spat, before dragging his limping fighter out the door.
That night, the atmosphere in the Iron Lotus was a mixture of triumph
and dread. Elara had defended the gym's honor without breaking a
sweat, but the reality of the tournament loomed over them. With Jax out and
Grigor now harboring a personal vendetta, their chances looked grim. Kaelen
called a meeting in his office. To everyone's surprise, he invited Elara.
"I'll get straight to the point," Kaelen said, looking at the small woman
sitting across from him. "Silas is going to target my guys. He’s going to tell his
fighters to inflict permanent damage. We don't have anyone who can handle
Grigor's size or their dirty tactics. Except, maybe, you." Elara shook her head
slowly. "I am not a competitor, Coach. My art is not a sport. There are no
points in what I do."
"I'm not asking you to score points," Kaelen pleaded, his voice tinged
with desperation. "I'm asking you to protect this gym. These guys... they act
tough, but this place is all they have. If Black Fang destroys us at the
regionals, this gym goes under. Silas will buy the building and turn it into a
thug factory. I'm asking you to stand for us."
Elara looked out the window at the gym floor. She saw young Leo