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THE MATCH BEGAN WITH PALPABLE TENSION, the air thick as the crowd murmured and cheered intermittently. Yoon shook off Kreese's distraction from earlier, when the older man managed to piss Gunther off by attacking a peculiar ponytailed bastard... his focus on Vlad, the towering Russian who seemed unfazed and determined.
The boy launched a precise back kick aimed for Vlad's chest, but the Russian sidestepped effortlessly, countering with a powerful flying kick that struck Yoon squarely in the chest, sending him stumbling backward.
"POINT!" the referee announced, signaling Vlad's early lead.
Kwon's sharp eyes followed the movement, his jaw tightening. "Do-jin, focus!" he barked in Korean.
Turning slightly, he leaned toward y/n and murmured under his breath. "This guy's not playing to win this round; he's playing to tag her in." His eyes flicked toward Svetlana, the girl warming up on the sidelines. "You've beaten her before. If it happens, you'll need to finish this."
Y/n nodded slightly, her gaze unwavering as she assessed Vlad's movements.
But before she could strategize further, Kreese's voice cut through. "Yoon, tag Nichols!"
Yoon hesitated, his eyes darting toward Kreese with confusion. That wasn't the plan. They'd agreed to wear down Vlad and avoid a tag-out. Still, Kreese's commands weren't up for debate.
Before the boy could react, Vlad charged at him again with a flurry of strikes—a double kick, both expertly dodged, but Yoon couldn't counter effectively. The Russian's sheer strength and agility were overwhelming, forcing the Korean on the defensive.
Kwon stepped closer to the mat's edge, his frustration evident. "Ignore him!" he muttered under his breath, though he knew Yoon wouldn't.
The opportunity came: Vlad overextended, leaving himself open for a split second. Yoon saw it and prepared to strike, but Kreese's voice thundered again. "Yoon, tag her now!"
Yoon's hesitation cost him the advantage. Gritting his teeth, he obeyed, retreating to slap Tory's hand.
Tory, looking momentarily thrown, stepped onto the mat. Her reluctance was palpable, but she quickly masked it, squaring off against Vlad. The boy wasted no time, lunging at her with a straight punch that she sidestepped.
Her movements were quick but hesitant as she launched a kick toward Vlad's side. He blocked it with ease, forcing her to adjust. Tory attempted a sweeping leg kick, aiming for his balance, but Vlad dodged smoothly, keeping her on the defensive.
