The Cobra Kai dojo was silent as Johnny Lawrence stepped onto the mat, arms crossed, scrutinizing Adam with a mix of appraisal and challenge. Around them, the other students, already drenched in sweat after an intense training session, watched the newcomer, curious to see if he would hold his own or crumble under pressure.
"Alright, kid," Johnny said. "You want to learn how to defend yourself? It starts now."
Standing in the middle of the dojo, Adam felt the tension in the room rise. His palms were sweaty, but it wasn't just nervousness. He felt a raw energy surging within him, a primal force he'd never understood before. And deep in the recesses of his mind, Ryo was watching.
Johnny motioned for one of the more experienced students, Trey, to step forward. Trey was tall, muscular, and wore a cocky smirk. "Always fun breaking in the new guys," he said, rolling his shoulders.
"Adam," Johnny said, his tone neutral. "If you want to stay here, you've got to prove you have what it takes. I'm not looking for perfect technique or a win. I just want to see if you've got guts."
Adam's stomach tightened. Trey was staring him down like a predator about to pounce. But before he could respond, Ryo's voice echoed in his mind.
"Let me guide you. It's a simple lesson: strike first, strike hard, and never show weakness."
Adam tried to resist the foreign voice, but his legs moved almost on their own. Trey took a step forward, ready to attack, but Adam, acting on instinct, lunged and threw a straight punch that landed squarely on Trey's face.
The dojo fell silent. Trey stumbled back, shocked, before growling in anger. He wiped the blood trickling from his nose and charged at Adam.
Time seemed to slow for Adam. Memories that weren't his flooded his mind: punches thrown, holds mastered, calculated dodges. His body moved as if it had been trained for years. Trey swung a roundhouse kick, but Adam ducked and swept his legs out from under him, sending Trey crashing to the ground.
"Well done," Ryo murmured. "But it's not over. Finish him."
Adam hesitated. Trey was on the ground, winded, but Adam didn't want to go further. Yet the rage of Ryo roared within him, urging him to advance and land the finishing blow. Adam clenched his fists, but this time, he resisted completely.
Trey scrambled to his feet, furious, but before he could retaliate, Johnny stepped in.
"Stop!" Johnny commanded.
Reluctantly, Trey obeyed, retreating with a glare at Adam.
Johnny turned to Adam, looking impressed.
"Not bad for a beginner. But around here, we don't hesitate. Next time, if you have the chance to finish a fight, you take it. Got it?"
Adam nodded, but deep down, he knew it hadn't really been him fighting. It had been Ryo.
Later that evening, Adam left the dojo with his bag slung over his shoulder. The streets were quiet, but his mind was anything but. He replayed the fight over and over, wondering how he'd known what to do. It wasn't just adrenaline or instinct.
"You see what you can accomplish when you listen to me?" Ryo whispered in his mind.
Adam stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, his breath quickening.
"Why are you here?" he murmured aloud, his fists clenching.
"Because you called me," Ryo replied. "You were tired of being weak, tired of hiding. I'm here to show you the truth. The world is cruel, Adam. The only way to survive is to be crueler than it."
Adam shook his head, refusing to accept the words.
"That's not me. I'm not you."
"You can lie to yourself all you want," Ryo said with a dark laugh. "But sooner or later, you'll see the truth. We're the same."
As Adam continued walking, lost in thought, he noticed a familiar figure at the end of the street. It was Miguel Diaz, one of Cobra Kai's most talented students, standing with Samantha LaRusso. They seemed to be chatting, but Adam immediately sensed tension in the air.
Miguel looked up and met Adam's gaze.
"Hey, you! The new guy, right?" Miguel called out, walking toward him with a friendly smile.
Adam nodded timidly.
"Not bad, what you did to Trey today," Miguel said. "It's not easy standing up to him. But watch your back—he doesn't like losing."
Adam hesitated before replying.
"I… thanks."
Samantha, standing beside Miguel, looked at Adam curiously.
"Are you sure Cobra Kai is the right place for you?" she asked gently. "There are other ways to learn how to defend yourself—ways that don't involve all this… aggression."
Adam felt an inexplicable anger rise within him.
"I'm here because I need to be," he said sharply before turning and walking away.
Miguel and Samantha exchanged a surprised glance but didn't follow him.
Back home, Adam dropped onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. His mother knocked softly on his door, but he pretended to be asleep. When he was finally alone, he whispered:
"You can't control me."
Ryo replied calmly:
"I don't need to control you. You'll come to me on your own."
Adam gritted his teeth, determined not to let the voice take over. But deep down, he knew the battle was just beginning.