Win at any price part II

On that platform, the fight between Kelly and Rin had only just begun.

Kelly had Rin's fist inches from her face, but she deflected it, and now it was Rin who had to dodge Kelly's punch, managing it by a hair.

Rin thought to himself: I knew her reaction speed would be a damn problem, but she still isn't using her maximum attack speed. What on earth are you planning, girl?

Kelly took her distance, intending to take her time reading Rin's movements, all to spare her little brother from facing this monster in the future. Because that's what big sisters do. But staying on the defensive wouldn't win her this match against the genius in front of her.

"I'm coming, prodigy boy."

"I'm waiting."

Kelly moved in cautiously, knowing what would happen the moment she entered Rin's attack range. Rin threw a quick punch, but Kelly ducked below it to close the distance. She succeeded. This time, nothing would stop her.

"So predictable."

"What a jerk."

without Kelly noticing, a downward blow was dangerously close—one she'd seen before: Pyo Wol's signature chopping right. But she dodged it again, this time countering that reckless attack with a direct punch to the abdomen. A fast strike at 30 points that twisted Rin's insides, forcing him to back off.

"Okay, you're someone I'll need to take seriously. Come here, brat. I'll show you the wall you'll never be able to climb, no matter how hard you try."

"You sure talk big for a prodigy so weak."

Rin approached, his star move, the Hien, with him once again. But this time, it wasn't an uppercut but a straight punch, one Kelly couldn't dodge, so she shielded herself with her arms. The impact made her take a step back. Yet, Rin didn't stop there—he began hammering away at her defense, each punch forcing her another step back until, finally, she escaped in a brief moment of distraction.

"I expected more from you."

She thought this as she watched Rin preparing to throw his Hien again.

"You'll pay for your recklessness; you'll learn not to use the same move against a prodigy."

She was ready to counterattack—the angle, force, and speed of her strike were perfect. Her counter hit Rin's chin full on. He was about to collapse to his knees when a memory flashed through his mind.

Flashback, seven months ago.

"Come on, if you can beat me in a one-on-one, I'll share that dream with you one more time. But if I win, our dream dies here."

"No, I don't want to. No, I don't want to fight you like this."

"Ready, Rin? This is a duel to confront reality."

After pulling off his shirt, his crimson-red eyes started to glow even brighter.

In just one second, Rin had to block a lightning-fast punch from his brother.

Sae adjusted his breathing just before delivering a powerful kick to Rin's calf, instantly knocking him down.

And once Rin was on the ground, Sae Ikari watched him closely with that dead stare that terrified Rin so much.

"Rin, what were you doing for those four years I was gone?"

End of flashback.

Recalling this, Rin stopped his fall as best he could, gritting his teeth.

Rin saw his older brother's shadow reflected in Kelly, even now, he was still under that shadow.

Before his knees could touch the ground, Rin put his hands out to flip and land on his feet. Then he looked at Kelly with a gaze full of fury.

"Your name's Kelly, right? You're dead."

Rin took a deep breath and released it in a sigh.

"Now I'll punish you, Kelly."

He thought, preparing to attack, but his punches only hit the air. As soon as Kelly saw the opportunity, she launched a second counter.

"This will be enough. Now no one will stand in my little brother's way."

She thought with a grin as she watched her fist about to land on Rin's chin. He wouldn't stay conscious after taking this hit. And so it was her counter had hit Rin, and in response, his head twisted dramatically. And despite that.

"Got you now, you bastard."

Rin had avoided damage from the counter by moving his head in sync with Kelly's punch, which was why his head's movement had been so dramatic. Now he could finally land a direct hit, one that would crush Kelly's stamina and speed a punch, with all his might, aimed at her solar plexus. And that's how Kelly ended up on her knees, clutching her abdomen, gasping desperately for air.

"It's incredible; he set a trap and turned the fight's fate with a single blow. But my goal was never to win."

She thought just as she heard Kaina reprimanding Rin.

"A hit like that could cause severe internal damage. I'll only give you a warning for now, but don't let it happen again. The same goes for you, Kelly—avoid dangerous counters. You're opponents, not enemies. If either of you uses excessive force against your opponent again, you'll be disqualified immediately."

"Damn, that punch hurt, but now I can read him. I'll force him into a counter, a counter that will lead him to defeat."

"I'll slow you down with a single strike, and then you'll be finished."

Kelly took a deep breath, preparing to get inside Rin's defenses.

Kelly/Rin: I'll be the one who wins this damned battle.

End of Chapter...