Devon’s First Fight

"Are you ready?" Max asked as he approached his friend.

Devon glanced at the girl who was her opponent and nodded slightly. "I'll win quickly."

As the matches reached their halfway point, the others were still preparing. Beforehand, Max had arranged a fight for Devon.

Everyone was eager to witness a women's fight, especially one organized at this venue.

Under the eager gaze of the crowd, which had been cheering for Devon, concerns arose upon learning that her opponent, Bianca, was a highly skilled and talented fighter.

As soon as the referee signaled the start of the fight, Devon began circling her opponent, aiming to disorient her. All the while, she kept her guard up, breathing deeply to stay composed.

"Alright, get ready!"

Hearing this warning, Bianca smirked slightly as she advanced towards Devon, delivering a kick. Her calm expression turned fierce, and what appeared to be a simple kick was, in fact, a feint.

Devon recognized this attack, as it was one she had practiced countless times. She knew exactly how to counter it.

In this moment, Devon clenched her teeth and relied on her instincts.

Bianca's kick, which started softly, transitioned into a spinning kick with her right leg, leaving her supporting leg exposed. Devon knew what she needed to do to win this opening exchange.

As Bianca approached, Devon moved her arms to the perfect height to block the initial feint. The moment the kick was blocked, she ducked low, sweeping her right leg across the ground.

Bianca, caught off guard, felt a sudden, forceful impact that completely threw her off balance.

"Ah!" Bianca cried out as she fell backward onto the ground, shocked to have been taken down by someone with nearly no experience.

After knocking Bianca down with a sudden sweep, Devon quickly approached her, attempting a leg lock on her opponent.

However, Bianca swiftly escaped the hold, stood up, and looked at Devon with a newfound respect. She realized she had underestimated her opponent and lost valuable points in her overconfidence.

"Resume!"

This time, Devon began with direct kicks, aiming to test Bianca's defensive skills, even if it meant risking losing a point for straying from her usual fighting style.

Bianca blocked the kicks, positioning herself behind Devon and attempting a counter-kick. She was taken aback when Devon, seemingly caught off guard, jumped and landed a kick to Bianca's shoulder, knocking her down once again.

But this time, Devon didn't rush at Bianca. Instead, she raised her fists, signaling her readiness for a direct exchange of blows.

Bianca, on the other hand, leaped to her feet once more. This time, she wouldn't underestimate Devon and decided to take the fight seriously. If Devon wanted a real fight, she would crush her.

Taking the initiative, Bianca delivered a powerful kick with all her strength, breaking through Devon's defense. Just as Devon was regaining her footing, a follow-up kick landed on her lower chest.

The referee frowned at the move, noting Bianca's size advantage over Devon. This fight seemed increasingly difficult for her. Yet, Devon remained focused, even after receiving such hard hits.

Devon, clutching the impact site, glared at Bianca coldly. She hadn't expected such a blow, but now she knew one thing she hadn't before.

This time, Devon raised her guard differently, waiting patiently for Bianca's attack. As soon as Bianca moved, Devon countered.

Thud!

Just as Bianca thought she had the upper hand, Devon's close-combat skills surprised her. Bianca tried to retreat, but Devon's elbow struck her shoulder with precision.

"I need to aim for her head," Devon thought, closing in.

As Devon prepared to deliver a straight kick, Bianca used her longer legs to sweep Devon's free leg, successfully bringing her down.

"Time!"

Devon clenched her fists, desperately searching for a way to beat her opponent. Just as the referee was about to restart the fight, the first round's time limit ended.

When Devon returned to her corner, Max, acting as her assistant, spoke up.

"She has much more experience and is now using her height to her advantage. I'm not sure what to do. Should I focus on targeting her legs to take her down again?"

"That won't work. The only way to win is to land a high kick to her face."

"That's impossible; her height—"

Max grabbed Devon's cheeks and shouted, "Focus!"

"Huh?" Devon looked at Max in surprise but fell silent as she realized how many people were rooting for her. It was ridiculous to say winning was impossible.

Max looked at his friend seriously, holding her face as he said, "Listen closely. You're talented, unique, and intelligent. Never forget that nothing is impossible. You can do this."

In an instant, the despair in Devon's eyes faded. The weight on her shoulders lifted, and the need to win at all costs disappeared.

"I'll give it my all!"

"That's the spirit, Devon! Go finish her!"