"Goldman VS The Obsidian: Starting"

Goldman tilted his head slightly, his sharp gray eyes scanning Kai's hand that is in his pocket, He don't have a briefcase, he thought as he spoke. His voice, calm and almost taunting, carried a weight of condescension. "I see… you don't have the cash on you, do you?" His gaze swept over Kai, dissecting him, looking for cracks in his composure.

Kai exhaled slowly, keeping his expression neutral, his tone steady but measured. "Not all of it," he replied, his hand resting casually at his side. "There are people outside. Walking in here with a briefcase would've made things… complicated." His jaw slackened slightly, his posture deliberate—a picture of calm control.

Goldman straightened his coat with an air of feigned boredom, setting the briefcase down with care. "Complicated, you say?" He chuckled low, the sound laced with mockery as he adjusted his stance, his broad shoulders rising with an exaggerated shrug. "Funny, I had no trouble bringing this briefcase right here. Right past all those people."

Kai's eyes tracked the man's movements carefully. His tone may have been casual, but there was something deliberate in the way Goldman squared his shoulders, as though bracing for something. He's setting the stage, Kai thought, a faint warning buzzing at the back of his mind. What's he angling for?

Keeping his tone even, Kai replied smoothly, "I've got cash in my coat. The rest is in my trunk. How about I pay you what I have now, and we finish the rest outside? Safer for both of us, wouldn't you agree?"

Goldman's expression hardened slightly, his lips pressing into a thin, almost amused line. His cold eyes studied Kai for a long moment, as if peeling back layers to uncover something hidden beneath. Finally, a chuckle escaped him—a sound that was neither warm nor reassuring.

"I don't trust you," Goldman said flatly, his voice dripping with icy disdain.

Kai's mind sharpened, processing the words with precision. Don't trust me? That's expected. It doesn't matter. He kept his body relaxed, though a subtle tension coiled in his chest. His jaw tightened briefly, but not enough to betray his thoughts.

Goldman's smirk widened, twisting into something unnervingly pleased, almost gleeful. "Well then…" He flexed his fingers deliberately, the sound of knuckles cracking breaking the silence like distant thunder.

Kai's eyes narrowed slightly, tracking the movement. His demeanor remained calm, but his instincts fired warning after warning. Cracking his fingers? He's preparing for something. A fight, maybe? My guess is he's testing me. His frame's bigger than mine, but size doesn't guarantee skill. If he makes a move, I'll respond. Simple.

"Hm?" Kai hummed faintly, his tone neutral, almost curious. He shifted slightly, his hand slipping away from his pocket to rest at his side, ready but unassuming.

Goldman straightened fully, his smirk growing more menacing with every second. "I'll take the cash in your coat," he said slowly, each word dripping with amusement. "But following you outside to grab that briefcase? Risky. Too many variables." He paused for dramatic effect, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "How about a little game instead?"

Kai's gaze locked onto Goldman's, his body motionless, his voice quiet yet steady. "A game?" he repeated, the faintest edge of skepticism in his tone.

Goldman spread his hands, palms up, as if presenting an offer too enticing to refuse. "Fist to fist," he said, the words rolling off his tongue with deliberate weight. His smirk twisted into something more primal, almost predatory. "No weapons, no tricks. Just you, me, and the best man standing."

The air in the room seemed to shift, growing heavier, colder. Kai didn't flinch, didn't falter. "I see," he said calmly, his voice betraying none of the thoughts racing through his mind.

I had a feeling it'd come to this. Goldman isn't just testing my honesty; he's testing my strength, my resolve. If I back down now, I lose all credibility. But if I fight, I need to win, and I need to do it without losing my composure. His stance, his build—he's no amateur. This won't be easy.

Kai tilted his head slightly, keeping his focus razor-sharp. "If that's what it takes," he said evenly, "then let's play." His tone carried an air of quiet confidence, unshaken, unyielding.

Goldman's smirk widened into a full grin, equal parts delighted and dangerous. "Good," he said, his voice practically purring with anticipation. "Let's see what you're made of."

---

Goldman surged forward, his body a blur as he aimed a powerful punch straight at Kai's face. His movements were swift, clean, almost effortless—clearly the mark of someone well-versed in Muay Thai. Kai's body reacted instinctively, ducking low just as Goldman's fist swished through the air above him.

Fast, but I've seen quicker, Kai thought, his own stance shifting fluidly into a defensive position. His right leg was back, ready to drive off the ground for mobility, while his arms formed a tight guard. He's powerful, but he's telegraphing his moves too much.

Goldman backed off, assessing the gap between them. His breath steady, his muscles tensed but controlled. I need to stay focused, he thought. A flash of a smile crossed his face, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. His eyes were locked on Kai, waiting for the next move.

Without hesitation, Kai feinted a jab to test Goldman's guard. Goldman reacted, lifting his arm to block, but Kai's fist was only a distraction. In a quick pivot, Kai shifted his weight to his front foot and fired a low kick toward Goldman's lead leg—aiming for the knee joint.

Goldman sidestepped just in time, his foot sliding away from the attack. He didn't lose his stance, but the close call didn't go unnoticed. He countered immediately, stepping forward with a quick one-two punch combination aimed at Kai's ribs.

The first punch landed solidly against Kai's side, just above the hip, while the second barely grazed his jaw. The blows stung, but Kai's expression remained calm. His posture didn't flinch, and he countered with his own right hook aimed at Goldman's jaw.

Goldman blocked the blow effortlessly with a raised arm, but Kai quickly followed up with a kick aimed at his side, landing a sharp strike that pushed Goldman back a step. That's better, Kai thought. He's not invincible. I just need to keep the pressure on.

Goldman was already resetting. He wasn't wasting time; he was closing the distance again. His attack came in the form of a feigned left jab, a quick movement meant to draw Kai's reaction. But Kai didn't fall for it. Instead, he stepped to the right, evading the punch just as Goldman's elbow came around in a swift arc aimed at his temple.

The strike barely missed, and Kai moved in with a counterattack—his elbow slamming into Goldman's exposed ribs. The hit wasn't crippling, but it was enough to push Goldman back a step. He gritted his teeth, the small pain momentarily pulling at his focus.

Goldman smirked. "Not bad," he said coolly, his voice barely strained. He shifted his stance, readying himself. His next move was fast, testing Kai's reflexes again—an aggressive low kick aimed to catch Kai off-guard. But Kai was quick to react, his knee snapping up to block the kick with a sharp thud.

The impact sent a jolt through his leg, but Kai used it to his advantage. He grabbed Goldman's ankle mid-strike, pulling him off balance just enough to land a knee to his abdomen. Goldman grunted as the blow landed, but his expression didn't change—he was already twisting his body, trying to recover.

He seized the opportunity, using his grip on Kai's coat to bring him off-balance, driving his shoulder into Kai's chest. The move was precise, forcing Kai to stumble backward.

Goldman didn't stop there. In one fluid motion, he reached to grab Kai's coat again, attempting to throw him off-balance and set up for another series of punches. Kai wasn't slow to react, however—he planted his feet and swung his body in a sharp arc, throwing his elbow back into Goldman's jaw with crushing force.

Goldman staggered for a moment, but he recovered quickly, his grin only widening. He shifted back into his stance, eyes cold and calculating. "You're tougher than I thought."

Kai, though a bit winded, returned the smirk, wiping a thin line of blood from his lip. He's quick, Kai noted, but he's making mistakes. I need to keep my cool, wear him down. This won't be over quickly.

Goldman closed the distance again, throwing a heavy right hook. This time, the punch landed cleanly on Kai's cheek, sending a sharp pain through his skull. But before Goldman could follow up, Kai stepped back, using the momentum to launch a counter with his own jab.

The punch was clean, grazing Goldman's cheek, but the real hit came when Kai followed through with a knee aimed at his midsection. Goldman staggered, the impact sharp against his ribs. His breath hitched for a moment, but he gritted his teeth, his control steady.

"Not bad," Goldman muttered again, but his voice was tinged with more irritation now.

Kai didn't reply. His focus was entirely on Goldman's next move. The fight was far from over, and though Goldman had landed more hits, Kai knew his best chance lay in outlasting him. Long fights are my advantage, he reminded himself. I just need to hold steady, keep countering until he starts showing cracks.

Goldman, sensing the same shift in rhythm, lunged with a hard kick to Kai's midsection, attempting to break his guard. Kai shifted sideways, narrowly evading the blow, and responded with a sharp uppercut, aimed directly at Goldman's chin.

This time, it was Goldman who barely blocked, but the punch still landed with enough force to make him step back again, the air forced out of his lungs for a brief moment.

Kai didn't pause. He pressed forward, forcing Goldman onto the defensive. The fight wasn't over yet—and if anything, it was just beginning. The longer it dragged on, the more confidence Kai had. Goldman might have the upper hand now, but that wasn't going to last forever.