PRECISION OVER POWER

The stage was set, and tension was high.

Scott and Faux stood head to head in the ring, looking to put the other on the ground. They went in circles, observing the moves of the other opponent.

"Why don't you run your mouth like before, boy?" Faux snarled at Scott.

He chuckled and replied, "Well, I'm thinking. Thinking of the least embarrassing way to knock you out..."

Faux smiled. "That's what I want to hear... those snarky remarks, it makes it less sad when I beat you to a bloody pulp," he charged at Scott, throwing a devastating punch straight at Scott's face.

Scott's body froze at the sudden speed of Faux's punch. He ducked and countered with a vicious punch to the liver.

BAM!

"Ha, that ought to slow him down," Scott thought, not realizinghe had just made a great error.

Faux took the blow effortlessly. He did not even make a sound.

"Ha. Ha," Faux laughed slowly, "Is that the best you can do. Bitch!"

He lands a front kick on Scott's chest, which sends him flying to the end of the ring."

"Argh!!." Scott screamed in pain.

John stood from his seat, held and covered his mouth. No.. Scott.

Rick's face was indifferent, and so was Cherry's.

A mean grin ran through Esosa's face.

"So that the skill he thought he could use to challenge me..."

He folded his arms and said. "Trash"

"Hurck, argh," Scott choked on his saliva, gasping for air by the ringside.

Faux ran straight at him, attempting a knee strike on Scott's face, seeking to end the fight.

Scott quickly dodged the strike, running to the center of the ring.

"Karck"

Faux's knees smacked the ringside.

"His injured," Scott muttered, still gasping for air.

Faux stood with one leg; he did not even make a sound as his leg slathered lifelessly.

He looked at his leg and said coldly, "I hate it when it does that."

"Did he just say that like it was normal?, don't tell me... he doesn't—"

Scott glared at him intensely. He had just realized why his punch didn't do any damage

"So.., he doesn't feel pain.."

Faux looked at Scott and grinned. "So you just realized what I was... didn't you. Haha, punches blows those who did do shit!"

Scott stood up slowly, placed himself in a combat stance and replied. "Cussing doesn't make you cool."

"Krack!" Faux planted his knee, straightened his leg, and launched himself at Scott. He launched, into a flying kick.

Scott dodged the kick at the nick of time, firmed his stance while Scott was in the air, then added.

"But that red hair of yours.. I'll have to admit—."

BAM! he landed a heavy punch to his ribs.

"Is a little bit cool!"

The force of the punch sent Faux flying a few meters. He landed ringside and stood up like there was no damage taken. He touched his ribs, smiling.

Is that all? I barely feel anything. You're too weak... and far too slow," he sneered.

Scott looked at him and gave a soft smile." I hope you remembered that the winner will be based on the number of points, right?."

He charged at Scott viciously, predicting where Scott could dodge, following swiftly. He held Scott in a headlock and muttered, "I'm gonna kill you before he can stop me."

He held Scott's neck tightly, giving him no room to breathe.

"Say something now bitch" Faux whispered into his ear.

He dropped his weight instantly, bending his knees and grounding his stance. The sudden shift caught his Faux off guard, his feet shuffled, struggling to hold Scott's lowered frame.

"You're not going anywhere," Faux sneered.

He didn't answer.

Instead, he turned his chin inward, tucking it against the Faux's ribs, creating a sliver of breathing room. Then, with both hands, he grabbed the wrist of the choking arm and yanked downward.

His knee came up, slamming into Faux's knee. He was stupid for treating them so lightly because even if you don't feel pain, the knee joints (literal ligaments) are still needed to walk.

Using the moment, Scott stepped behind his leg, twisted his hips, and pulled sharply on the wrist while turning his body into the lock.

With a grunt, he popped his head out, gasping as fresh air rushed in.

He moved so fast, Faux didn't even realize when Scott slipped from his grasp.

"Yeah! Let's go," John screamed at the ring.

"That's impressive," Rick thought.

"Faux.., what are you doing?" Esosa muttered, folding his arms tightly. He was angry, and his face was clearly proof of that.

Scott pounced around the ring, smiling. He had already developed a plan to beat Faux.

"Get up. Don't get sleepy on me," He boasted playfully

Faux glared at Scott, face burning with anger.

This time, he kept his distance, circling Scott like a predator, like a shark eying its meal.

He saw his chance and, like a wolf. He attacked.

Faux tried to grab Scott, aiming for a submission, but he slipped away.

BAM!

Scott landed a brutal kick to his knees, and he wobbled around and tried to keep his balance.

Scott grinned, "You dizzy. Bub?"

"Argh," Faux screamed at Scott, trying to get a hold of him, but like a snake, Scott slipped through his grasp.

BAM!

Scott landed a massive blow to his knees.

"He's gonna go left. That means."

BAM!

Scott lands another to his elbow.

This went on for 10 minutes. For ten minutes Scott punished Faux, he kicked his knees so bad he could not walk another step and punched his elbows so hard he couldn't throw another punch.

Although Faux was stronger, faster and taller, Scott's techniques were simply unparalleled.

He could see ten steps ahead, so although Faux was faster, Scott could easily predict where he was going to hit, and although Faux was stronger and durable, Scott wore him out.

He drained his strength, making him run around the ring and hitting him multiple times on the elbow and knees. He just couldn't win.

Faux crawled across the ring, still desperate to hit Scott.

"Arhg, this guy—he...,he..., my hands, my legs they don't work like before"

Faux screeched at Scott. "What did you do to me..?!"

"Stop! The match is over," Rick commanded.

"Yeah!" John shouted, waving at Scott.

Esosa gripped his chair, breaking it in the process.

"I should've fought him. Faux.. he was too overconfident..." Esosa lamented.

Esosa, John and Cherry walked toward the ring and stood by its entrance

Rick turned to the cadets and asked, "Somebody please get Faux to the hospital." he expected Esosa to do it, but he just stood there, arms folded.

There was an awkward silence for a while. The other cadet also expected Esosa to help him, but he refused.

"Trash," Scott muttered, disgusted by Esosa's behavior. He looked at Faux sitting down at the corner, face down, embarrassed and disappointed.

"I'll do it," John said. He walked inside the ring, supporting Faux as he walked towards the exit. Esosa turned and followed closely.

"I.. lost?" Faux lamented.

Rick turned to Scott and said.

"Good job, cadet."

Scott smiled softly, replied, "Thank you, sir."

"But you broke the rules, so.. get ready for your punishment."

"Wha— but he...." he mumbled, surprised.

" I'll see you tomorrow," he said as he left the ring.

Scott held his head in horror and questioned, "What is he gonna do to me?"

He felt a cold chill run down his spine. It was as if something or someone was staring at him. He looked up, tense... and met her eyes. The Cherry Bomber. She was staring straight at him.

What's her problem?, he questioned.

Slowly, she walked towards him.

She's coming! he said internally.

Cherry entered the ring, stopped in front of Scott. She leaned towards him and whispered into his ear.

"Be careful of John." Then turned around like a robot and left for the exit.

Scott stood there, speechless, trying to process what he had just heard.