Max's opponent this time was on a different level, promising a slightly tougher challenge—though only slightly.
"Look at me, are you ready?"
"Both of you, to your corners!"
Max bowed to his opponent, a habit he'd picked up during his training in Asia. He then got into his fighting stance, determined to keep complete control of the match this time and not rush into quick strikes.
"Ready? Fight!"
Max locked eyes with his opponent and quickly advanced, throwing a front kick that was deftly avoided.
As Max closed the distance, his opponent attempted a body punch. Max evaded it effortlessly, using the defense techniques he had mastered. He slid closer and retaliated with surprising speed.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Three punches landed on his opponent's side, and the pain was evident in his grimace.
"Finish him, Max!" Miguel shouted, almost losing his mind with excitement.
"You slippery bastard!" his opponent snarled.
Max grinned and moved swiftly, weaving through the kicks his opponent launched to keep him at bay. Carefully, he minimized his retreat to maintain pressure.
Spotting an opening, his opponent smirked and launched a high kick aimed at Max's head. Max blocked it skillfully and counterattacked with a hooking kick.
Crack!
The impact landed squarely on his opponent's chin, sending his mouthguard flying.
Looking at his opponent with a provocative smile, Max felt a thrill he hadn't experienced in a long time. "You'll need more than that to beat me. Don't hurt yourself unnecessarily."
"I'm not even injured," the opponent growled, launching into a more aggressive counterattack.
This time, Max found himself forced into a tighter defensive stance.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Ducking and dodging his opponent's strikes, Max matched his speed, but the discomfort of the situation prompted him to retreat slightly.
Unlike previous opponents who relied solely on punches and kicks, this one was well-versed in multiple martial arts styles. His precise combinations were more challenging and threatened to cause lasting damage—a concern for Max as he advanced further in the tournament.
Time for a change in strategy.
"Other methods..." Max adjusted his posture, opening his stance to appear less defensive.
His opponent hesitated, confused by the change, but quickly attacked in frustration, sensing an insult.
"I'll end this with a feint..." Max muttered, tightening his fist. He absorbed his opponent's strikes head-on in a close exchange.
His punches seemed uncontrolled yet were remarkably fast, forcing his opponent onto the defensive. Midway through another attack, Max abruptly stopped, switching to a spinning kick instead.
Bam!
Though not his most powerful strike, it was brutal enough to momentarily daze his opponent and make him drop his guard.
Max, observing the opening, realized it wasn't sufficient. He immediately slid in close, charging forward like a relentless beast.
Leaping into the air, Max unleashed a devastating knee strike.
Crack!
The blow connected with his opponent's forehead, sending him crashing to the ground. The referee, still in shock, declared, "Winner: Max Jones!" Medical staff rushed in to treat the cut on his opponent's forehead.
"Good fight!" Max bowed respectfully to his downed opponent before heading back to his corner.
As he walked back, Alex, his next potential rival, watched him with a cocky grin. "That was a good fight. A bit short for my taste, but I think I could still beat you."
Max stopped, his mismatched eyes, one blind, one not—meeting Alex's gaze. "I'll be waiting for you in the finals, loudmouth. Just don't lose before then; that would be truly humiliating."
Alex scowled but turned his focus back to his own upcoming match.
...
"That was incredible, Max!"
Devon, visibly calmer now after witnessing Max's performance, was the first to congratulate him with a hug.
"Are you sure you want this?" Max asked, still catching his breath.
"Training with you will make the classes much more productive, I'm sure of it." Devon smiled, referring to the sessions Miguel had been attending. So far, it seemed he had only been improving his physical condition.
Miguel, meanwhile, seized the opportunity to hand out flyers for his Sensei's dojo, where Max would be training starting next week. Many spectators, intrigued by Max's skills, expressed interest in joining.
This newfound fame was set to bring Cobra Kai a wave of new students, laying the foundation for its future dominance in the Valley.