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"Top eight dojos, welcome to our final group event. Over the course of the tournament, you have each proven yourselves worthy of your place atop the leaderboard. And after today, only the best of the best will gain entry into our tournament of champions."

Jamie eyes wander around the building. As she looks to her right, her eyes land on her parents, Brittany, and Sienna. Brittany stood with James with a bright smile. The woman waves happily towards Jamie. Jamie smiles softly before her eyes drift over to her parents.

The two trying their hardest to appear happy, but Jamie could see their tense shoulders and worried expressions from a mile away. While staring up at them, her hand reaches back. Miguel looks down from behind her and smiles lightly while intertwining their fingers.

"Now, here are the rules for this round. Each team will face three opponents, determined by random draw, in an all-dojo tag team competition!"

The crowd cheers while Jamie sighs. Miguel straightens up as he looks around him. His eyes landing on another teen staring daggers into him. He frowns confused before turning away.

"Two fighters inside the ring. One from each dojo at a time. The other ten fighters remain outside, waiting to be tagged in by their teammate. Fighting will be continuous. No stoppages, no timeouts. So use your teammates wisely. The first dojo to score three points wins the match. By the end of today, your captains will either be fighting in the tournament of champions or be eliminated, watching from the sidelines. May the best dojos win."

•••

Demetri steps in first with another member of the team they were going up against. The two bow to each other before the referee steps aside, "Fight!"

The other teen blocks Demetri's kick before dodging his punch. Demetri kicks again and the teen simply leans back to dodge it. Demetri blocks his kick and a few more punches.

"Demetri. Hey, tag me in." Hawk calls out

"No! I got it!" Demetri yells. He gasps as he just narrowly misses a kick.

Hawk watches as Demetri blocks a few more punches, "Demetri, tag me in."

"No!" Demetri yells before turning back. Jamie groans as the other teen lands a kick to Demetri's face sending him down.

"Point!" The referee yells out

"What?" Jamie mutters as Demetri crawls over and tags her in

Jamie runs in and attempts a kick, but misses. She tries to sweep his leg, but the boy simply lifts it. As Jamie stands, she kicks again which is blocked before blocking a kick coming toward her. She blocks a few more punches before side stepping him and kicking at his arm.

She turns and kick at his stomach which he's able to block as he stumbles back. He looks towards his team, "Maria."

Maria smiles as she steps in. She immediately throws a punch before kicking at Jamie which Jamie is able to block. The two breathe heavily as they stare one another down. Maria swings and kicks at Jamie again. As Maria kicks at her again, Jamie kicks her other foot from under her sending her down. When Maria starts to get up, she blocks some kicks from Jamie. Jamie brings her arm up to block a punch before landing her own to Maria's stomach.

"Yes!" Johnny and Daniel cheer

"Point! 1-1!" The referee calls out

Jamie turns and tags Hawk in. Miguel claps, "Let's go!"

Maria tags another one of her teammates in. He yells out as he steps into the circle with Hawk.

Hawk lifts his leg up to kick and the other teen smacks it down. The teen easily blocks punches from Hawk before shoving him back. Hawk steps back as the teen sends fast kick toward him. Hawk grunts as he blocks again before kicking at the other teens face, but unfortunately misses. Hawk catches the boys leg before pushing him back. The other teen groans as he stares back at him.

"Hawk, tag me in." Kenny says

Noticing his hesitancy, Jamie calls out, "Hawk, tag in Kenny."

Hawk turns to Demetri who immediately shakes his head. Robby frowns, "What are you doing? Tag Kenny."

"Come on!" Kenny yells. Hawk looks toward the other team as his opponent stands. He then runs over to Robby and tags him in.

Robby looks around confused as he steps in the circle, "What are you doing?"

The opponent tags the opportunity to sweep Robby's leg from under him before punching him in his chest.

"Point!" The referee yells

As soon as Robby stands, another member of the other team is tagged in. He barely has enough time to block before pushing the girl aside.

"Robby." Miguel calls out. Robby tries to run over to tag him, but his arm is kicked away by another opponent that had been tagged in. Robby attempts to block a punch and is successful, but immediately has to block a knee.

His opponent reaches his arm up and as Robby goes to block, the boy hits him in his stomach. Earning the winning point.

"Point! Winner!" The referee says as the other teams cheers

"Team Pantera with an impressive victory. Miyagi-Do's loss puts them on the verge of elimination after their first match."

"Eli, why didn't you tag in Kenny when you had the chance?" Miguel says

"He just got here. You expect us to trust him?" Hawk says

"Trust me to what? Not get my ass kicked like you and Demetri?" Kenny says as the team gathers around one another

"Yeah, like you'd do any better against Spanish Hawk." Demetri says, "You completely disappeared after the Shittening. And then you coincidentally come back the same time as Silver. You really want to tag in a mole?"

"A mole?" Jamie says incredulously

"Are you serious?" Kenny says, "I fly here to help us win, and you won't give me a chance. Everybody laughed at me in the woods, but somehow, I'm the bad guy?"

"Yeah, see? He's still pissed. It makes sense why he'd want revenge." Hawk says

"Say something, you-" Kenny says stepping up to Hawk

"Hey! This isn't about Kenny." Robby says pushing them apart, "I'm the one who lost the match. Me."

The team watches him storm off as Miguel sighs, "Robby."

Miguel steps around Jamie to follow him. He only makes it a few steps before a teen passes and shoulder checks him. Miguel stops, "What the hell was that?"

Jamie furrows her brows as Axel continues on to his team, "I... I don't know."

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