Chapter 38: The Words She Needed
Under the anxious gaze of the audience that had been supporting Devon Lee, the smallest girl still competing, they grew concerned upon learning that her opponent was a very talented girl.
As soon as the referee started the fight, Devon began moving in circles to disorient Sasha, all the while keeping her guard up calmly.
"All right, get ready!"
Upon hearing this warning signal, Sasha smiled slightly as she advanced towards Devon and threw a kick. The serene expression on her face turned fierce, and her seemingly simple kick was a feint. Devon recognized this attack as one she had been training for a long time.
Under this unexpected scenario, Devon gritted her teeth and relied on her instincts. At this point, Sasha would deliver a soft kick to switch it into a spinning kick with her right leg, exposing her only supporting leg. Devon knew what to do to win this first encounter.
When Devon saw her opponent's figure approaching, she moved her arms to the perfect height to block the initial feigned kick. The moment the kick was blocked, she swiftly ducked, sweeping her right leg.
At this point, Sasha was somewhat surprised as she felt a strong impact the moment she was about to execute the spinning kick, causing her to lose balance completely.
"Ah!"
Sasha screamed as she fell backward; she had been taken down by a girl four years younger.
"Point for Lee, back to your positions!"
After taking down Sasha with a sudden kick, Devon walked to her spot with a hidden joy, as her prediction had been just as she thought.
"It seems that little tricks won't work against you; I must get more serious." Sasha got up from the ground and looked at Devon with deep admiration. She had let her guard down and lost a point just when she thought she would go undefeated in this tournament.
"Ready? Fight!"
This time, Devon started with direct kicks. Her goal now was to test Sasha's defense, even if she had to lose a point for not concentrating as before and follow her fighting style.
Sasha blocked the kicks this time, and positioning herself behind Devon, she attempted to kick her. However, she was even more surprised when her seemingly confused rival jumped and kicked her shoulder, knocking her to the ground.
"No point, block!"
Sasha jumped to her feet; this time, she would stop playing with her opponent and start the real battle. If that's what she wanted, she would crush Devon.
Taking the initiative this time, she unleashed a powerful kick using all her strength, completely breaking Devon's defense. Just as she was about to recover, a kick from her opponent's right leg hit the bottom of her chest.
The referee frowned upon seeing this kick; obviously, Sasha was bigger than Devon, so there was no need to use so much force. However, penalizing her with a point for it was too harsh, so he said, "Point. If you use excessive force again, you will be penalized with a point!"
"She's exaggerating..." Sasha thought as she saw Devon getting up. It was true that if she used excessive force, a point could be deducted, or she might even be disqualified, so from now on, she would restrain herself.
Devon, holding the area of the hit, looked at Sasha coldly. She never thought she could be attacked in that way, but now she knew something she didn't before.
"Ready? Fight!"
Devon raised her guard again, patiently waiting for Sasha's attack, and as soon as she moved, Devon did too.
Pum!
Just when Sasha believed she had the advantage, Devon's close combat skills surprised her, making her want to retreat. But at that point, an elbow attack landed gently on the side of her shoulder.
"Point, back to your corners!"
"Just one more point..." Devon thought as she raised her guard once again.
"Fight!"
"Now!"
Just as Devon's voice rose with a straight kick from her leg, Sasha, leveraging her longer legs, hit Devon's only free leg, successfully knocking her off balance.
"Point!"
Devon clenched her fists as she desperately searched for a way to defeat her opponent, and just as the referee was about to start the fight again, a voice came from behind.
"Time!" Mr. Kim, who was standing next to Dash, shouted, and she approached upon realizing they did it to buy time.
"She has much more experience and now knows how to use her height. I don't know what to do; should I focus again on her legs to take her down?"
Mr. Kim nodded and said, "It won't work. The only way to win is by landing a high kick to her face."
"That's impossible; her height is..."
Dash held Devon's cheeks and shouted, "Focus!"
"Eh?" Devon looked at Dash surprised, but she fell silent knowing that many people supported her, and it was ridiculous to say that winning would be impossible.
Dash looked at his friend seriously while holding her cheeks and said, "Listen well. You're talented, unique, and intelligent. Always remember that you shouldn't compete or compare yourself with anyone because you have that sparkle that no one else can have... Remember, in victory and defeat, we'll always be together. You can do it!"
Devon's eyes instantly regained their sparkle; the despair on her shoulders disappeared, and the need to win at all costs vanished.
"I'll do my best!"
"That's the spirit, Devon, finish her!"
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