Retribution

The cafeteria was oddly quiet despite being filled with competitors and spectators. News of the matches had spread like wildfire—especially Diana Frost's clinical dismantling of Bailey. Noah picked at his food, his mind replaying the fight, looking for angles, weaknesses, anything that might have changed the outcome.

"You're doing it again," Kelvin said, breaking the silence between them. "That thing where you analyze a fight frame by frame in your head."

Noah's eyes refocused on his friend. "She's beatable."

"Diana?" Kelvin raised an eyebrow. "You saw what she did to Bailey."

"I saw a fighter who relies on precision targeting. Dead Zones have boundaries. Rules." Noah pushed his tray away. "Everything has a weakness."

Before Kelvin could respond, a commotion erupted from somewhere near the competitor's area. Heads turned as excited voices rippled through the cafeteria.

"Fight in the prep room!"

"Someone's getting demolished!"