Amazon's Coliseum III (ENG)

Chapter 71: Queen

Minerva Arena, The City

Dragana was teetering on the edge of unconsciousness, caught in that suffocating Mounted Guillotine Choke. Yet, even through the haze, she knew a critical decision loomed. Before the darkness fully claimed her, a far more unwelcome outcome awaited: a devastating neck injury.

It was only a second, but it was enough for a memory to flash through her mind: a conversation with Ekaterina from just the day before, back at the Russian's apartment.

...

A Day Before...

-So, you're actually planning to fight her, and then some...

-Yeah, that's right, Ekaterina – Dragana confirmed.

-I see... Well, then you must have a pretty good idea of what I intend to do...

-Fight her too?

-More than that. My mission's been crystal clear. I've been tasked with neutralizing her as a threat – she stated, a subtle smile playing on her lips. – Now that the specter of Navarez's allies in Israel, Europe, and the States has been dealt with, Cholokashvili is all that's left.

-Why?

-I have a mission, Dragica. And I have to see it through. Honestly, even Chocolate herself knows, and she's totally aware of it.

-And you're probably just as aware that if you fail, she won't be showing any mercy either.

-Exactly. If I'm prepared to take her out, she'll be just as ready to do the same – Ekaterina added, her smile deepening, growing darker.

-What's Cohen got to say about all this?

-You know, I actually love that she's not keen on the idea now. But it's not about Chocolate; it's about me. Believe it or not, Esther is a woman who turned a really soft heart to stone, but now that stone's cracked, revealing a pretty sweet person. Of course, she tries to act like she isn't. But... well... she knows that once you're entangled with the government, it's hard to break free without paying your dues; even if that means your life. She got off relatively easy, and I'm not about to go through what she did.

Dragana held her gaze, expression serious, though her eyes held a hint of sadness.

-Then I've got no other choice. I'll beat you.

-And what made you suddenly decide to be so merciful?

-It's not about mercy... it's just about what's right.

-Even after what she did to your father?

-Killing Chocolate won't bring me peace. What will bring me peace is her receiving a more fitting judgement. And there are people far more qualified to deliver justice than I.

-Your beloved Prosecutor, I suppose.

-He's more qualified than any of us, I'm absolutely sure of that.

-Then you better fight with everything you've got, because I will for sure. I've got a mission to fulfill... and I've never failed one.

-This will be the first time, then.

...

Present Time

So Dragana made her move against the Choke. She executed a swift bridge, pushing off with her free arm, then rolled to her right. While this could have allowed her opponent to re-establish the hold with body scissors, Dragana skillfully extended her legs, shunting her rival away, and shifted her body to Ekaterina's left flank, securing Side Control. This allowed her to yank her arm free from the submission. Even with Ekaterina still cinching the Guillotine, Dragana, now in a dominant position, threaded her right arm under her opponent's nape, encircling her neck. With her left, she clamped down on the hold, pulling her right arm in a way that began cutting off Ekaterina's blood flow. This counter, known as a Von Flue Choke, ignited a deafening roar from the crowd! It was clear Dragana was far from out of the fight, and Ekaterina was visibly weakening from the strangulation.