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

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

THE KIM DOJANG WAS ALIVE WITH ANTICIPATION. Every student, from seasoned fighters to newer recruits, formed a tight circle around y/n, who stood in the center with an air of defiance. Her gi, though slightly too small, bore the emblem of a cobra, faded but unmistakable. The whispers were a cacophony of curiosity and skepticism.

"Who is she?" one student muttered.

"She doesn't even have our uniform," another scoffed.

"She's probably gonna get destroyed," added a third, chuckling.

Kwon leaned casually against a nearby tree, arms crossed, his trademark smirk firmly in place. "Keep underestimating her," he called out in Korean, loud enough for the crowd to hear, positive that y/n wouldn't understand much of what he was saying. "I'm sure that'll work out great for you."

John Kreese stepped forward, his sharp voice cutting through the chatter. "Enough," he barked, silencing the room. He turned to Sensei Kim, whose gaze was locked onto the girl, dissecting every aspect of the newcomer with her cold, calculating eyes.

"This is y/n l/n," Kreese began, his tone brimming with pride. "She's not just good—she's the best. And she's here to show you all why."

Kim's lips curved into a faint, disbelieving smile. "The best?" she repeated, her voice dripping with derision. "That remains to be seen. Your standards, sensei, have always been... generous."

Kreese ignored the jab, his focus on y/n. "She'll take on anyone you put in front of her."

Kim raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Your confidence is entertaining, as always," she said, turning her attention to the unimpressed, y/h/c-haired girl. "You think you're ready to join Cobra Kai? To stand among my students?"

"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't," y/n replied, her voice calm but laced with challenge.

Da-eun's smile tightened. "Cobra Kai is not a gift. It is earned. If you want to stand here, you'll have to prove it."

"Then bring out your best," She said without hesitation, her words rippling through the crowd like a shockwave.

The students erupted into a mix of gasps, snickers, and murmurs.

"Is she serious?" someone whispered.

"She's either really brave or really stupid," another student muttered.

Kwon tilted his head, his smirk widening. "She's definitely something," he remarked, his eyes briefly meeting y/n's.

Sensei Kim's expression darkened, her voice cutting through the noise. "Hana!" she called sharply.

The crowd parted as Hana stepped forward, her movements deliberate and precise. She was tall, lean, and radiated confidence. Her reputation as Kim's chosen champion preceded her.

Y/n's eyes locked onto her opponent, analytical and unflinching. Kwon noticed her resolve and couldn't resist a quip. "You sure about this?" he called out, switching to english. "Hana doesn't go easy. Like, ever."

Y/n didn't even glance his way. "Good," she said simply, her voice carrying over the murmurs of the crowd.

Hana smirked, her gaze flicking over y/n dismissively. "You are brave," she said, her voice dripping with mockery. "I'll give you that."

Kim Da-eun stepped forward, her voice sharp and authoritative. "This isn't a game," she said to y/n. "Hana doesn't just fight. She wins."

Y/n however didn't even bat an eye. "We'll see."

Kwon stepped into the center, flag in hand, joined by Yoon on the opposite side. "Alright," Drawled the raven, looking between the two fighters. "Try not to kill each other. Or, you know, do. Either way, let's make it fun."

Yoon rolled his eyes but didn't comment. The tension in the room was palpable as Kwon raised the flag. "Begin!"

Hana wasted no time, launching forward with a high spinning kick aimed at y/n's head. But the girl ducked, narrowly avoiding the strike, and stepped back, her stance solid. Hana followed up with a series of rapid strikes—jabs, hooks, and low kicks—that y/n expertly dodged, her movements fluid but defensive.

The crowd murmured in awe.

"She's fast," someone said.

"But she hasn't landed a hit," another pointed out.

Kwon watched with a keen eye, his smirk never wavering. "Come on, y/n," he called out, his tone teasing. "Don't let her dance around you all day."

Hana, spurred on by the crowd's chatter, increased the intensity of her attacks. She executed a flawless tornado kick, the force of which sent a gust of air rippling through the ring. y/n sidestepped just in time, her focus razor-sharp, her heart thudding fast.

Though y/n's movements were precise, and calculated, she hadn't struck yet, due to her lack of practice. So instead, she used that time to study her opponent, noting the subtle shifts in her stance, the way she favored her right leg.

Hana attempted a low sweep, aiming to knock y/n off balance, but y/n stomped on her foot just in time, crushing it, making her yelp. If she couldn't figure out a way to attack just yet, she could at least lower her enemy's strength. 

"Are you gonna fight, or are you just here to dodge?" Hana taunted, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice when she attempted to sweep y/n with her other leg to free her right one, which y/n did after evading the attack yet again.

The girl didn't reply. Instead, she shifted her weight, her eyes narrowing as she saw another opening.

Kwon, unable to resist, called out again. "Careful, Hana. Looks like she's figuring you out."

Hana glanced at him, her annoyance clear. "Stay out of this, Kwon."

That brief moment of distraction was all y/n needed. She moved swiftly, sweeping Hana's weakened right leg out from under her and following up with a sharp strike to her left shoulder as she fell. The crowd erupted in gasps and cheers.

"Did you see that?"

"No way!"

Hana scrambled to her feet, her expression livid. She launched herself at y/n with renewed fury, her attacks faster and more aggressive. But y/n held her ground, dodging and blocking each strike with precision.

The fight became a blur of motion, each move more intense than the last. Hana executed a flawless crescent kick aimed at y/n's ribs, but y/n blocked it with her knee, and countered with a powerful backfist that caught Hana off guard.

Kwon leaned forward, his smirk turning into an impressed grin. "Not bad," he muttered under his breath.

Their exchange was a whirlwind of movement. Hana attempted a flying sidekick, her form perfect, but the girl caught her leg, twisting it with her hands, further damaging her right before making her fall with a sweep to her left. 

She then rushed to Hana's fallen body, and stomped her stomach, earning her second point.

Kwon, ever the commentator, let out a low whistle. "Yikes. That's gotta hurt," he muttered, earning a few nervous chuckles from the crowd.

Y/n didn't relent. She circled Hana, her presence looming. Hana gritted her teeth, forcing herself up despite the pain. The girl allowed it, her nonchalant composure making the moment even more terrifying.

"You should stay down," She said coldly, her voice echoing with a finality that silenced even the whispers among the crowd.

Hana, fueled by pride and Kim's earlier expectations, let out a scream of determination and charged. She threw a flurry of wild punches and kicks, her movements less refined now, desperation overtaking strategy. y/n evaded each one with chilling ease, her movements as smooth as water yet as forceful as a tidal wave.

Then came the moment. Hana overextended on a jab, her guard dropping for a fraction of a second. y/n seized the opportunity. With a fierce shout that reverberated through the trees, she delivered a devastating roundhouse kick to Hana's head, the impact echoing like a crack of thunder. The crowd collectively gasped as Hana crumpled to the ground, sobbing before she even hit the mat.

The silence was deafening, only interrupted by the girl's muffled tears. The spectators, stunned and wide-eyed, exchanged glances, their disbelief mirrored in each face. Kwon's smirk faltered for a second before returning, his eyes betraying a flicker of something deeper—admiration or maybe awe.

The atmosphere was frozen for a moment before erupting into chaos.

"She won!"

"Who the hell is she?"

The fight ended with the score at 0-3, and sheer astonishment etched on every face. Hana, Cobra Kai's female champion, had been defeated—by a stranger with a gi that didn't even fit.

Kreese stepped forward, his expression unreadable except for the faintest trace of satisfaction. He scoffed, his voice cutting through the heavy silence like a blade. "That's your best, sensei?" he said, his tone mocking. "I thought your Korean students were supposed to be unbeatable."

Da-eun's face was stoic, though her jaw tightened imperceptibly. She walked over to Hana, her steps deliberate and unhurried. She didn't spare the defeated girl a glance, instead addressing the victor of their spar.

Her expression was unreadable as she stepped forward and bowed, a gesture of respect, and y/n returned it, her movements firm and unhesitating.

"You've earned your spot," Kim said, her tone strict but tinged with approval. "But if you want to survive here, you'll need more than that."

Y/n met her gaze, her voice firm and unyielding. "I'm willing to learn. No matter what it takes."

Kim studied her for a moment, sensing the fire in her words. There was something about this girl, something raw and unrelenting. She reminded her of another student, an American who had once trained under Kreese as well. But y/n was different. She wasn't just a weapon; she was a fighter.

Kim's lips curved into the faintest smile. "We'll see."

As the crowd slowly dispersed, their murmurs filling the air, Kwon approached the winner, his hands shoved into his pockets. "You know," he said, tilting his head, "if you wanted to make an entrance, you could've just waved like a normal person."

Y/n glanced at him, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "Where's the fun in that?"

Kwon chuckled, shaking his head. "Fair point. Just don't get too comfortable. Things are only going to get harder from here."

Y/n's gaze hardened, her resolve clear. "Good. I wouldn't want it any other way."

As Kwon opened his mouth for a retort, Kreese stepped forward, his presence commanding immediate attention. "Enough chatter," he barked. "This dojo isn't a social club. Back to training!"

The students scrambled back into formation, though their gazes lingered on the newbie. Sensei's sharp eyes met hers briefly, a flicker of satisfaction glinting in them. His voice dropped, low enough for only her to hear. "You did well. But this is just the beginning." The girl nodded subtly, her fists tightening at her sides. 

She wasn't here to settle. She was here to rise...

1.7k words