╔. ■ .═════════════════════════════════════╗

╚══════════════════════════════════════. ■ .╝

THE ECHOES OF VICTORY STILL LINGERED ON THE MAT as Cobra Kai barely had time to savor their triumph. Kwon's smug taunt— "Too easy, man, come on..." —hung in the air, a stinging reminder to Miyagi-Do of their defeat. Both captains were down, their team dismantled with surgical efficiency. It wasn't just a win for the cobras; it was dominance.

Y/n and Kwon shared a rare moment of levity, exchanging high-fives and laughs. For a brief moment, their walls lowered, their usual intensity replaced with a shared pride in their overwhelming performance. It was the first time the girl had ever seen him laugh like that since they arrived to this place—genuine, unguarded, almost boyish.

"Guess Miyagi-do isn't all they hype themselves up to be," y/n joked, still catching her breath.

"How do you say in english...? Over-overrated," Kwon replied, shaking his head with a grin. "Who even do you think is this Miyagi person? Everybody there is more American than ketchup."

But his comment was cut short when the Chancellor's voice boomed over the speakers.

"Only two teams remain alive: Cobra Kai and the Iron Dragons!"

The arena erupted in cheers, but within Cobra Kai's ranks, a new tension began to build.

The Iron Dragons marched onto the mat with practiced precision, their movements sharp and synchronized. The fighters exuded confidence, their expressions cold and calculating. Even before the fight began, their discipline was obvious.

Still in formation, Cobra Kai instinctively shifted into defensive stances, their celebratory energy dissolving into wariness. y/n and Do-jin moved to the corners, eyes scanning the Iron Dragons for weaknesses. At the center, Kwon and Tory stood shoulder to shoulder, both sizing up the opposing team.

Their smirks quickly faded.

No one on the Iron Dragons had been eliminated.

Not a single one.

"They're fresh," Yoon muttered, his voice low.

Kwon clenched his jaw, his fingers curling into fists. "So what? They haven't faced us yet."

Y/n didn't share his confidence. Her sharp eyes caught the way the Iron Dragons moved—too fluid, too controlled. Every step they took seemed calculated, every glance deliberate. These weren't fighters who relied on brute force or sheer aggression. They were strategists.

"They don't look tired," Yoon said, his voice grim.

"They're not," y/n replied.

"Neither are we. Big deal-" Kwon scoffed.

"All six are still standing though..." Tory muttered, her voice carrying a rare edge of uncertainty.

"What's your strategy now?" The captain asked, his tone even, though his sharp eyes never left the opposing dojang.

"The same as before. We're outnumbered, sure, but only by two," Tory replied with conviction.

"No," y/n interjected, shaking her head. "That's too risky. All six of them are still standing for a reason. They've got some sort of tactic we haven't seen yet."

"So what?" Kwon challenged, his tone sharp. "You want to switch to defense now?"

"No," she replied firmly, exhaling sharply as she assessed the team ahead. "Yoon and I will take care of the front line just like Sensei's favorite... music explained the other day. You and Tory focus on the captains. Use the opening we make. End it fast."

Her voice was steady, but the weight of the plan hung in the air. The implication was clear: she and Yoon were ready to take the brunt of the Iron Dragons' attack, to shield their captains at any cost. 

"Did you seriously pay attention to that ear-rape?" Kwon raised a brow.

"Yes. She made me. All night, actually." y/n admitted wearily as the group exchanged amused glances. "But that's not the point!"

The team chuckled softly before recomposing themselves, their usual bravado tempered with focus as they took their positions. y/n and Yoon stepped ahead, a shield for the captains standing behind them.

The referee raised his hand high.

"BEGIN!"

Cobra Kai let out a unified cry, charging forward in their signature aggressive style, but they froze as if hitting an invisible wall when the Iron Dragons' front four dropped to their knees on a sharp command.

"What the—" y/n started, her confusion mirrored in the faces of her teammates.

Another cry rang out from one of the students, and the four fighters stood calmly, turning their backs on Cobra Kai and walking off the mat.

"They're leaving?" Yoon murmured, his brow furrowing.

"Maybe we scared them." Kwon smirked.

"They're not retreating," Tory said, her voice cold. "Look."

The two captains of the Iron Dragons faced off on the mat, their stark differences creating an unsettling contrast. The smaller girl stood poised, her calm demeanor radiating an air of dominance that made her mere presence commanding. Her arms hung loosely at her sides, yet every inch of her exuded quiet intimidation. Opposite her stood a towering boy, his broad shoulders and chiseled features making him strikingly handsome. However, his cold, expressionless face carried a lethal aura—as if his gaze alone could bring instant demise to anyone who dared meet it.

Y/n narrowed her eyes, her focus shifting as her body tensed.

But then, something shifted at her waist.

She looked down, her face twisting in frustration. "Oh, for fuck's sake!" she hissed. Her belt had come loose, the strain of the previous match finally catching up to her.

The referee beckoned her back to her sensei to fix it, waving her off with no pause to the match.

"They're still fighting!" the girl complained as she jogged toward Kim, who had her arms crossed in disapproval.

"Not in team events, you won't get time," The woman snapped, quickly grabbing the belt and tying it with expert efficiency. "This isn't an individual spar. Keep your gear in order, or next time, you'll lose more than time."

Y/n groaned but bit her tongue, her gaze darting back to the mat. Kwon and Tory were already engaging the Iron Dragons' captains.

The girl clenched her fists, apologizing under her breath as Kim worked swiftly to secure her belt. Her eyes darted restlessly to the mat, where the fight was unfolding without her.

So far, it wasn't looking good. Tory squared off against the female captain, while Kwon and Yoon faced the towering one. But instead of an even exchange of strikes, the Iron Dragons' captains maintained a composed defense, effortlessly dodging every attack Cobra Kai hurled at them. It was as if they were toying with them, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Y/n felt a pit form in her stomach when Yoon attempted a sweeping kick, only for the giant captain to sidestep and counter with a brutal shoulder slam. Yoon hit the mat with a resounding thud, disqualified on the spot.

"Dammit!" y/n muttered, her frustration boiling as her sensei finally finished tying the belt.

"Go!" the woman shot, shoving her forward.

Y/n sprinted toward the mat just in time to see Tory falter. 

The smaller captain caught her with a quick jab to the ribs, sending her stumbling backward. Kwon, meanwhile, was struggling against the sheer strength of the giant, who blocked his strikes with ease before countering with a crushing palm strike to Kwon's chest.

"Shit!" y/n cursed as she closed the distance, but it was too late. 

Kwon stumbled out of bounds, and Tory too was locked down. In a final attempt out of sheer desperation, y/n drove her knee into the face of the enemy captain, making the girl stagger back, but before her back could touch the mat, the referee called it—both Cobra Kai captains were down first.

Y/n froze on spot, her chest heaving. She'd been a second too late.

The Chancellor's voice echoed across the arena, heavy with finality. "Cobra Kai's out."

A hush fell over the room as the reality sank in. Cobra Kai, invincible in their first round, had fallen in less than a minute's time. Not only was this defeat crushing, but also straight up humiliating.

The commentator's voice cut through the silence, laced with pity. "Sometimes, victory hinges on timing, and missteps can be cruel. A valiant effort, but Cobra Kai's reign ends here tonight..."

"The Iron Dragons win!"

1.3k words