Fletcher and Durian's fight ended with a knockout which everyone already anticipated but they had to admit that Fletcher put up an incredible fight, her tenacity was truly noteworthy.
As Fletcher was carried out of the ring and placed on the emergency beds in the corner of the room, the students turned their attention back to the screen with the last fight finally taking place.
Besides the fight between Fletcher and Durian, this was the sparring match they were most looking forward to. Kenneth, once a formidable special forces officer in her past life, stepped into the ring with a deceptive air of fragility. Despite her seemingly delicate appearance, there was a fire in her eyes that she had acquired after years of being in the field. As she stood inside the ring, a sense of nostalgia washes over her, as she observes Vincent's towering figure, igniting a familiar thrill of excitement inside of her.
Vincent, with his imposing stature and formidable strength, presented a formidable challenge for Kenneth. Though he prefers fighting with weapons, his prowess in hand-to-hand combat was not to be underestimated. As the two engaged in a flurry of strikes and counters, the intensity of their sparring captivated the watching students, who are mesmerized by the display of skill and ferocity.
As Vincent charged at Kenneth with renewed vigor, the intensity of their exchange reached new heights. Blow after blow, they traded strikes, each one met with a precise block or counter from Kenneth, who parried his attacks with ease despite Vincent's size and strength. Vincent grabs a hold of Kenneth as he hits her with a barrage of strikes and blows each carrying enough force to knock any human out in an instant.
But this guy couldn't even be compared to the fierce and formidable opponents she had fought in her past life. His power and endurance as he took on her deadly attacks fuelled a sinful desire for blood within her, terrifying and shocking her greatly. Her battle hungry and warmongering spirit had been lit up and showed no signs of being quenched until the man was thoroughly defeated.
In a sudden moment of calculated finesse, Kenneth executed a feint side kick followed by a swift strike that caught Vincent off guard. As he stumbled, trying to regain his balance, Kenneth seized the opportunity to evade his next attack and swiftly maneuvered behind him.
Vincent, realizing his vulnerable position, attempted to grab Kenneth from behind, but she was too quick for him. With practiced ease, Kenneth countered his move, wrapping her arm around his neck and applying pressure above his elbow, effectively immobilizing him.
For a moment, the training room fell silent, the only sound that would be heard was the labored breaths of the two combatants locked in a tense standoff. Despite Vincent's size and strength, it was clear that Kenneth's skill and agility had turned the tables in her favor.
As the students watched in awe, the significance of the moment was not lost on them. In the midst of their intense sparring, Kenneth had once again demonstrated the power of skill and strategy over brute force alone. And as she held Vincent in her grip, it was clear that in this battle of wits and strength, she had emerged victorious once more.
But the tides would soon turn in Vincent's favour as he swiftly maneuvered to break free from Kenneth's hold, his strength overpowering her, it seemed for a moment that he had gained the upper hand. With a deft twist of his body, he grabbed her collar, intending to slam her to the ground.
But Kenneth had anticipated his move. With lightning-fast reflexes, she executed a move she used only when she was in a dire situation. As Vincent attempted to slam her down, Kenneth twisted her body in mid-air, her legs wrapping around his neck in a tight triangle choke. The unexpected maneuver not only allowed her to control her landing but also caught Vincent off guard, pinning him to the ground with surprising force.
Yet, Vincent wasn't one to be underestimated. In a move that took Kenneth by surprise, he grabbed her waist and rolled them both onto the ground, using his body weight to pin her down. With a firm grip on her arms, he effectively restricted her movements, leaving Kenneth momentarily trapped beneath him.
As the watching students held their breath, the tide of the battle seemed to shift with each passing moment. In this intense struggle between two skilled combatants, the outcome remained uncertain, leaving them feeling on edge, captivated by the spectacle unfolding before them.
The two were remarkable fighters, but it was Kenneth who stole the spotlight with her relentless tenacity and unorthodox fighting style. Every move she made was executed with precision and speed, leaving her opponent struggling to anticipate her next move. Though her techniques might've been unfamiliar to the spectators, there was no denying the effectiveness of these foreign techniques.
Lucien who had been observing the fight on the side couldn't help but be in awe of the these students. Each of them showing their talent and skills, perfectly adapting to their new environment despite how unprepared they were for these tests. A lot of students would crack from the pressure and from suddenly being thrusted into situations they were unfamiliar with. That was the whole point of the Testing Stage. To see if the students not only had the skills to belong but also the mental tenacity to overcome these challenges being thrown at them.
He was surprised to find that these new recruits didn't apply to become Fighters just for the sake of it. They knew what they were doing and had mastery of their abilities.
More importantly Kenneth who was only a first year, but fought like she'd experienced countless battles, each move perfectly calculated, efficient and never unnecessary. With each strike, he found himself more and more intralled with her, taking in every jab, every punch and every kick. The way she fought was agressive, never holding back, one might think she lacked restraint but the way she fought also contained still a certain level of grace. He tried his best to follow her movements but would find himself stumped when seeing the foreign techniques she would use on her opponent.
He wasn't the only one with both Alcione and Alexi watching on with curioisty and confusion, the students who seemed lost, but still unable to take their eyes away and most importantly Vincent as he was struggling to counter her strange attacks.
As the fight continued on, Kenneth drawed upon her years of experience and training, unleashing a barrage of strikes that tested Vincent's defenses to their limits. Despite his size and strength, he finds himself pushed to his limits by Kenneth's unwavering determination and unmatched skill.
After recovering for a couple seconds, Vincent charged at her again with full force this time. The two exchanged blows, Vincent striking, Kenneth blocking. Even with his significant height and strength, Kenneth wasn't being pushed back at all which confused Vincent. They continued to exchange blows at the same pace when suddenly, Kenneth struck him while throwing a feint side kick in the leg causing the man to lose his balance as he tried to block the kick with his forearms.
Luckily he shifted his weight to his other leg allowing him to gain back control. Vincent extended his arms trying to hit her face again which was blocked. He used this opportunity while she blocked his blow to rotate his body trying to position himself behind her to grab her by behind but Kenneth swiftly evaded his attack putting her arm around his neck and when she was sure she had a good grip on him, she rotated her body away from him, gripping his forearm while applying pressure above his elbow, holding him in place.
The students looked on with bated breath, wondering how Vincent would get out of her hold.
In a moment of desperation, Vincent used all of his strength to push Kenneth to the ground and straddled her, holding Kenneth in place. This was a grave misstep on Kenneth's part as she had forgotten that she was in the body of a young woman who barely weighed a 100 pounds.
"Ha! There's no way that twig is getting out of that hold." Durian exclaimed in glee as he rejoiced over her misfortune in schadenfreude.
Fletcher who had been anxiously looking at the fight glared daggers at Durian for his snide remark.
"Do you think she'll be able to get out of this?" Fae asked in a brittle voice.
"Of course she will. Despite only knowing for only a week, I weirdly have confidence in her ability to get out of anything." Fletcher admitted.
Fae looked at her in surprise. From the way they interacted with each other, one would think they were long time friends. Kenneth did sometimes act a little distant, but Fae could tell she cared for Fletcher and the feeling was mutual.
As Vincent's eyes gleamed with triumph, believing he had successfully trapped Kenneth, he underestimated the resourcefulness of his opponent. Kenneth, a former Green Beret, remained calm and focused, her mind quickly assessing the situation and formulating a plan for escape.
With precision and determination, Kenneth utilized her training and experience to her advantage. Despite being pinned to the ground, she knew that Vincent had made a critical error by neglecting to secure her legs as well. This oversight provided her with the opportunity she needed to turn the tables.
Planting her feet firmly on the ground, Kenneth executed a series of calculated movements, thrusting her hips forward, dropping her elbows, and extending her arms to destabilize Vincent's balance. As he hovered over her head in a moment of confusion, she seized the opportunity to circle her arms around his waist, using his own body as leverage to climb up and gain the upper hand.
With a swift maneuver, Kenneth locked onto Vincent's right arm, bumping her hips and flipping him over, effectively escaping his hold. In a matter of seconds, the tables had turned once again, leaving Vincent momentarily stunned as Kenneth emerged victorious from their intense struggle.
A grin finally settled on Fletcher's face as she cheered for her friend. Her good mood was contagious because Fae who had been looking anxious previously was now sporting a smile. Wei had a deep expression on his face as he watched Kenneth get out of Vincent's grip with ease. He couldn't help but be amazed with her level of skill. Durian on the other hand looked like he wanted to punch someone.
Using his momentary surprise to her advantage, Kenneth flipped their bodies, their roles now in reverse as she was the one pinning him down. Using her forearm, she presses it into his throat, hindering his ability to breathe.
The watching students erupted into applause.
Vincent started thrashing his body, trying his best to get out of the young woman's hold. He could feel himself slowly being free when his his widened. Vincent's heart pounded in his chest as he gazed into Kenneth's eyes, recognizing the ruthless determination that burned within them. In that moment, he understood the gravity of the situation—he was facing an opponent who would stop at nothing to emerge victorious, even if it meant resorting to extreme measures.
As Kenneth's grip tightened on his neck, her expression unyielding and her movements unwavering, Vincent felt a chill run down his spine. He knew that he was teetering on the edge of a precipice, and that one wrong move could spell the end for him.
With each passing second, the realization sank in that Kenneth was not bluffing. She was prepared to go to any lengths to ensure her victory, even if it meant crossing the line into darkness. And as he looked into her eyes, he saw a coldness there that sent a shiver down his spine.
In that moment of clarity, Vincent knew that he had no choice but to concede defeat. For if he didn't, he would be risking not only his pride but his very life. And so, with a heavy heart and a sense of resignation, he tapped the mat three times, indicating that he had given up.
Lucien was the first to notice his tapping motions and let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding in. The fight was over but Lucien noticed that something was wrong. Vincent had conceded but Kenneth didn't show any signs of letting him go. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he watched on, wondering what was going on.
It wasn't until he heightened his senses that he could see Vincent's red face turning blue and his heartbeat had become erratic. Kenneth kept an iron grip on Vincent and didn't let go until a hand tapped her on the shoulder, bringing her out of her trance.
Her eyes widened as she realized what she had just done. Vincent starting coughing irrevocably, his breathing ragged as he felt air return to his lungs.
Oh shit, I messed up.
"I'm sorry," she started to say. "I lost control of myself." She apologized as she extended her hand to help him up. There was admiration with a hint of fear in Vincent's eyes but he gladly took her hand.
"Don't worry about it. It was an honour to fight with you." He said bowing his head.
Kenneth looked down at him slightly confused when she remembered that this was a common greeting after a sparring match.
So she did the same, also bowing her head. "It was an honour to fight with you as well."
As the tension in the room dissipated, replaced by a sense of solemnity, the watching students realized the true extent of Kenneth's capabilities. They would never judge a book by its cover, but my its contents.