Luther knelt on the ground, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths. The realization of his defeat settled in like a crushing weight. He had done everything—pushed his speed, used every trick, every feint, every ounce of power at his disposal. And yet, in the face of Aria's overwhelming control, none of it had mattered.
He clenched his fists, his pride warring with his respect for the opponent before him. There were no wasted movements in her battle style. No excess. No panic. Just absolute precision.
The crowd's cheers grew louder, their excitement undiminished despite the sheer one-sided nature of the fight. Aria, the reigning champion, had once again demonstrated why she held the title. She didn't rely on overwhelming power like Anup, nor did she wield cruel efficiency like Cruzer had against Alisha. Her strength lay in her mastery. The ability to dictate every exchange before it even happened.
