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"FEAR DOES NOT EXIST IN THIS DOJO... DOES IT?"
"No, sensei," Tory replied, her voice trembling with restrained emotion, but strong nonetheless.
Kreese's eyes darted to y/n l/n, who stared dead ahead, her expression as cold and detached as ice.
"Pain does not exist in this dojo, does it..?"
"No, sensei," the girl answered firmly, her voice void of hesitation.
Her stomach churned with something dark and raw—a feral need to win, no matter the cost. This wasn't just about a tournament anymore. This was about proving herself, about clawing her way out of the abyss she'd buried herself in, even if it meant letting history repeat itself...
Her mind flickered with memories—times when she'd crossed lines to win, times when she'd felt the rush of victory at the expense of her opponent's pain. The thrill of those moments called to her now, a siren's song luring her back to the edge.
The old man's voice grew sharper, his words sinking deep into the psyche of the team.
"Defeat does not exist in this dojo... does it?"
"No, sensei," Kwon smirked, cracking his neck. His casual confidence masked the storm brewing beneath his cool exterior.
"Good." Kreese's tone softened, though his presence remained electrifying, a storm ready to unleash its fury.
Sensei Kim strode toward Tory, the arena's air thick with unspoken tension.
"Nichols," she began, her voice steady but probing. "Is the Keene boy why you've been fighting so poorly?"
Tory rolled her eyes, shifting uncomfortably. "Yeah, yeah, I know what you're going to say—forget about the boy, he's just a distraction."
Kim smirked, a glint of something sharp and dangerous in her expression. "No."
Tory's head snapped up, startled by the unexpected response.
"Whatever he's making you feel—confusion, heartache... anger—feel all of it. And then use it."
The blonde blinked, her breath hitching as Kim's words sank in. The older woman's gaze flicked briefly to Chozen, standing in the corner of the arena. Her lip curled in disdain.
"What, you think you're the only girl who's ever been hurt by a boy?" Kim scoffed, glaring. "We can let them get away with it... or we can make them pay."
