The day had worn on, the air in the arena thick with the sounds of fists meeting flesh, the thunderous applause of the crowd, and the tension that hung like a cloud over both gyms. Josh's mind was running a mile a minute. Every match felt like a ticking time bomb, not knowing when or how Damian would make his move.
The break between matches gave everyone a chance to regroup, and Josh used it to recalibrate his strategy. He was pacing back and forth near the edge of the mat, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. Damian's smirk earlier had been bothering him, but it was more than that. There was a weight pressing on him, and it wasn't just about the tournament anymore—it was about proving that he and his fighters belonged here.
As Josh prepared his team for the next round, his assistant coach, Derek, approached him. "You've got that look again, Josh. You're overthinking this."
Josh stopped pacing and glanced at Derek, the tension clear in his eyes. "It's not overthinking when Damian is out to take us down."
Derek nodded, his face serious. "Yeah, but you've faced worse before. Don't let him get in your head. You're a better strategist than he is."
Josh didn't respond right away. Derek was right, but it was hard to shake the feeling that this tournament wasn't just about winning anymore. It was personal. For both of them.
Lily watched the interaction between Josh and Derek from a distance, her heart aching for Josh. She could see the strain he was under, the way the weight of leadership was pressing down on him. She wanted to help, to ease the burden, but this wasn't her world. This was a world of discipline, strategy, and physical endurance—things she had no real experience in.
She had been avoiding her manager's calls for the past few days, ignoring the reminders about her upcoming schedule, her commitments. The longer she stayed at the tournament, the harder it became to focus on anything else. The gym had become more than just a distraction. It was a part of her now.
As she watched Josh prepare his fighters for the next match, her phone buzzed again. She glanced down at the screen, her heart sinking when she saw the name flashing across the display: Claire.
With a sigh, she answered. "Claire, I'm—"
"I know where you are, Lily," Claire's voice cut in, sharp and impatient. "And I know what you're doing. This gym thing—it's a problem."
Lily frowned, her grip tightening on the phone. "It's not a problem. I'm just... involved."
"Involved?" Claire scoffed. "You're spending moreofyourtime, training with them, posting about them. Your fans are starting to ask questions, and we don't have answers."
Lily glanced toward the fighters warming up on the mat. "This isn't just about the gym, Claire. It's about the people. They need this, and I can't walk away now."
"I get it, but your career—"
"I'll handle it," Lily interrupted, her voice firm. "I'm not walking away."
Claire sighed on the other end. "Fine. Just remember, you have other responsibilities."
The call ended, and Lily slipped her phone back into her pocket.
The Rivalry Deepens
As the break ended and the next round began, the tension between the two gyms was palpable. Damian's fighters were strong, aggressive, and well-coordinated. But Josh's team had heart, and that was something Damian's gym lacked.
Josh stood on the sidelines, watching his fighter step into the ring for the next match. He glanced across the arena and saw Damian lounging against the wall, his arms crossed and his smirk ever-present. It was as if he knew something Josh didn't. As if he had already won in some way Josh couldn't yet see.
The match began, and Josh's fighter started strong, landing a series of well-placed punches. The crowd roared in approval, but Josh's mind was elsewhere. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that Damian was holding back, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
And then it hit him.
Josh remembered something!
Josh's eyes widened as realization dawned on him. Damian wasn't playing the long game to win individual matches. He was playing to break Josh's spirit—to wear him down mentally until he couldn't think straight anymore. Every smirk, every glance, every provoking looks was part of a larger plan.
As the match continued, Josh's fighter began to falter. The pressure was mounting, and Damian's smirk only grew wider. But Josh wasn't done yet. He called out to his fighter, his voice calm but commanding. "Stay focused. Remember your training."
The fighter nodded, his focus returning. He dodged a punch and countered with a powerful kick, sending his opponent stumbling backward. The crowd erupted in cheers as Josh's fighter regained control of the match.
But even as the referee declared his fighter the winner, Josh knew the battle isn't over.
Do you think Josh has figured out Damian's real strategy?