𝐎𝐍𝐄. ACE DEGENERATE

OOO. Zhen Lilu Zhang stood in front of the worn-down building, her dark eyes narrowing at the sight. The Cobra Kai Dojo. She had heard whispers about it, read stories, and seen the videos of its legendary founder, John Kreese, and his infamous student Johnny Lawrence. She had been a karate master back in China, training her whole life under the strict guidance of her grandfather. But this? This was new territory.

She adjusted the strap of her gym bag, her fingers lightly grazing the metal clasp. She had been told about the dojo's reputation—about Johnny Lawrence reopening it after years of nothing. She had also heard about the students—the angry, rebellious kids who had no discipline. But Zhen had never been one to back down from a challenge. She came from a lineage of warriors, and she would prove herself here, too.

Stepping inside, the smell of old mats and sweat hit her immediately. The dojo was a far cry from the pristine, elegant dojos of China, but it felt... real. Authentic in a way that made her pulse quicken. The walls were plastered with old Cobra Kai memorabilia, relics of a time long past. The sound of punching bags being struck echoed in the background, and Zhen’s gaze swept over the small group of students who were training.

“Who are you?” A voice broke through her thoughts. She turned sharply, meeting the gaze of a man in his mid-50s, with bleached blonde hair and a face that looked permanently stuck in the 80s. Johnny Lawrence.

“I’m Zhen Lilu Zhang,” she said confidently, speaking clearly with a slight Chinese accent. “I’ve heard about the dojo and I want to join.”

Johnny’s eyes narrowed, his arms folding across his chest. He took a long moment to study her, sizing her up. “I don’t know what your deal is, but Cobra Kai is about strength. Discipline. We don’t have time for weaklings.”

Zhen didn’t flinch. She had heard this before. People often underestimated her because of her age or her appearance. But they would soon learn that her age and looks meant nothing when it came to her abilities. “I didn’t come here for a lecture. I came here to train. I am a Karate master.”

Johnny raised an eyebrow. “A master, huh? Alright. Show me what you’ve got, then.”

Without another word, Zhen set her bag down and moved to the center of the dojo. She didn’t waste time on theatrics—she simply dropped into a fighting stance. Her movements were fluid, controlled, yet exuded an undeniable power. Her body was a weapon, honed by years of discipline and training. She executed a series of quick, precise strikes, each one faster and sharper than the last. She spun into a perfect roundhouse kick that sent the air whooshing with its force.

Johnny was impressed—just barely hiding it. He didn’t let on that he was impressed, but he could tell she wasn’t just some wannabe trying to get into the dojo. She had the skills. But there was something about her that didn’t fit the Cobra Kai mold. She wasn’t angry or reckless like his students. She was calm. Precise. Dangerous in a quiet, controlled way.

“You’re good,” Johnny finally said. “But we don’t train here to show off. Cobra Kai’s about toughness, about breaking people down and building them up. You think you can handle that?”

Zhen’s eyes met his, unwavering. “I don’t need to be built up. I’ve already done that for myself.”

Johnny didn’t know if he liked that answer or if it rubbed him the wrong way. But there was something about Zhen—her quiet confidence, her undeniable strength—that made him nod. “Alright. You’re in. But don’t think this is going to be easy. Cobra Kai doesn’t take kindly to the weak.”

“I’ve never been weak,” she said, her voice low but firm.

As Johnny turned away to attend to his students, Zhen’s gaze drifted around the dojo. She could already feel the eyes on her—most of the students were clearly sizing her up. There were whispers in the air, murmurs of curiosity mixed with judgment. She could feel their skepticism.

One student, a tall girl with a fierce look in her eyes, stepped forward. “You think you can just walk in here and take over?” she asked, her voice laced with challenge. “You don’t belong here.”

Zhen tilted her head slightly, her expression calm but with a hint of challenge in her eyes. “I didn’t come here to take anything. I came here to teach, and to learn.”

The girl snorted, clearly unimpressed. “Yeah? Well, good luck with that. You’re not the only one here trying to prove themselves.”

Zhen studied her for a moment. The girl was strong, sure, but there was something in her posture that screamed insecurity—something Zhen had learned to identify over the years. She was more bark than bite.

“Proving yourself?” Zhen echoed. “To whom? Because no one here can prove anything to me.”

The girl’s eyes flared with anger, but Zhen wasn’t fazed. She wasn’t here to make friends—she was here to train, to push herself, and to prove that she was the best.

As Johnny moved on to address his students, Zhen stayed where she was, her focus unwavering. She was no stranger to challenges. She had faced far worse than a dojo full of judgmental teenagers.

Across the room, a girl with fiery red hair, her eyes full of defiance, watched Zhen closely. It didn’t take long for their gazes to meet. There was something electric about that look—something sharp, like a spark waiting to catch fire. Zhen could tell immediately: this girl—Tory—was not someone to be underestimated.

Johnny was right about one thing. Cobra Kai was a place for the strong, the tough, the ones willing to fight. But Zhen wasn’t just here to fight the kids at this dojo. She was here to fight herself—her past, her guilt, and the demons that had followed her halfway around the world. She wasn’t just going to prove herself to Johnny Lawrence or anyone else—she was going to prove to herself that she belonged here, in this world, where everything felt like a battle waiting to happen.

And as she locked eyes with Tory, Zhen felt a rush of anticipation. This was only the beginning.

---

Z

hen didn’t have to wait long before Johnny gave his students a brief pause in their sparring. He gestured toward her with an expression that was impossible to read. “Alright, new girl. Get in the ring. Let’s see how you handle yourself against someone who actually knows how to fight.”

Tory was already stepping forward, her expression hardening with a fierce glare. Zhen could see the challenge in her eyes, the same fire that Johnny had seen when he first opened Cobra Kai. But unlike some of the others, Zhen didn’t feel threatened. She didn’t feel anything at all. Her mind was a blank slate, focused only on the task at hand.

Johnny’s voice cut through the air. “Tory, take her on. Show her what Cobra Kai’s all about.”

Tory smirked, cracking her knuckles as she bounced lightly on the balls of her feet. “Hope you’re ready to learn the hard way,” she said with a sneer.

Zhen didn’t respond. She didn’t need to. Her body was already moving, naturally slipping into her stance, her eyes never leaving her opponent. It was like breathing for her—effortless and instinctive. She knew the game. It didn’t matter if her opponent was bigger, faster, or stronger. What mattered was control.

The moment the bell rang, marking the beginning of their sparring match, Tory lunged. A flurry of quick strikes aimed at Zhen’s face, but Zhen was already a step ahead. She parried a punch to the left, ducked under a roundhouse kick, and pivoted, using Tory’s momentum against her. Tory stumbled forward, catching herself just in time to avoid crashing into the mat.

“You’re fast,” Tory hissed, her expression turning from cocky to frustrated. She swung again, this time aiming a brutal kick toward Zhen’s midsection.

Zhen blocked the kick with a swift raise of her arm, her movements precise and fluid. She wasn’t here to prove anything to Tory. She was here to sharpen herself. But Tory didn’t seem to share the same mentality.

She attacked again, more aggressively this time, her punches and kicks coming faster, each one trying to break through Zhen’s calm defense. Zhen didn’t flinch. She dodged, blocked, and countered, her focus unwavering. Tory was strong, but her technique was sloppy—her aggression clouding her judgment.

Finally, Zhen saw an opening. As Tory went for another wild punch, Zhen ducked low, using her opponent’s momentum to flip her onto the mat in one fluid motion. The sound of Tory’s body hitting the mat echoed in the dojo.

The room fell silent.

Tory lay on the floor, stunned and gasping for breath, as Zhen stood above her, her stance unwavering, her expression unreadable. “You fight with anger,” Zhen said softly. “That’s your weakness.”

Tory slowly got to her feet, her face flushed with embarrassment, her fists clenched at her sides. The room was still silent, and for a moment, it felt like time had frozen.

Johnny took a slow drag from his cigarette, looking less than impressed. “Alright, that’s enough,” he said, waving his hand. “You two can spar later.”

Zhen stepped back, not bothering to acknowledge Tory’s glare as she took her place on the sidelines. She had done what she came to do—prove she was more than capable, not just in the dojo, but in controlling her own emotions. In her experience, it was never the strongest fighter who won—it was the one who remained calm, who thought two steps ahead.

But as she turned to walk away, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of the eyes on her. The other students were watching her with a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty. It was clear they weren’t used to someone like her—someone who didn’t fit the Cobra Kai mold. The dojo thrived on aggression, on strength, on breaking your opponent down and building yourself up. Zhen wasn’t here for that. She was here to prove something else entirely.

She grabbed her bag, the weight of it comforting against her shoulder. She was about to leave when a voice called out to her.

“You’re not bad,” came Tory’s voice, this time softer, more guarded.

Zhen paused, glancing back over her shoulder. Tory was standing a few feet away, her arms crossed over her chest. She wasn’t smiling, but there was a certain respect in her eyes. “You’ve got skills. I’ll give you that.”

Zhen didn’t smile either, but there was a quiet acknowledgement in her gaze. “You’ll get there,” she said. “But it’s not enough to fight with rage. It’s about control. Patience.”

Tory snorted. “Control. Yeah, okay.” She turned away, but not before shooting Zhen one last look—one that was a little more uncertain than before.

Zhen made her way to the back of the dojo, where the bags hung in rows, awaiting another round of practice. She wasn’t here to make friends, but she wasn’t here to start enemies either. Not yet, at least. But the tension was thick in the air. She could feel it. The other students were sizing her up, trying to figure out who she was, what she was about. She had a long road ahead of her.

As Zhen picked up a pair of gloves and wrapped them around her hands, the door to the dojo swung open, and a young man stepped inside. He was taller than most, with dark hair and an unbothered expression, but there was something in his eyes that caught her attention—something familiar.

He glanced at Johnny, who was now talking to another student near the corner of the dojo, before his gaze landed on Zhen.

“I take it you’re the new recruit,” he said, his voice low but clear.

Zhen raised an eyebrow. “And you are?”

He smirked slightly, stepping closer. “Miguel. And I wouldn’t expect anyone to take Johnny seriously, but you’re a hell of a fighter.”

Zhen offered a small, measured nod. “Thank you.”

“Don’t get used to the praise around here,” Miguel said, his voice tinged with something between sarcasm and genuine curiosity. “Everyone’s here to prove something. You should watch your back.”

Zhen didn’t need any warnings. She had lived through worse. “I’ll be fine,” she said quietly.

Miguel’s eyes lingered for a moment longer before he gave a half-smile and walked off to join the rest of the students. Zhen turned back to the punching bag in front of her, her thoughts as sharp and focused as her movements. The road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but it would be hers to walk. She had come here to master her craft, not to be anyone’s rival or anyone’s friend. She would carve her place into the Cobra Kai dojo—whether they liked it or not.

---

The next few days in the dojo felt like a whirlwind. Every day was another test of Zhen's resilience, skill, and ability to adapt. Johnny pushed them harder, encouraging them to fight with more aggression, more force. But for Zhen, it never seemed like a challenge. Her body was an instrument, every movement practiced and precise, each punch and kick a perfect extension of her mind.

But the dojo’s atmosphere was different. The students, especially the more aggressive ones like Tory and Robbie, were like sharks circling, always looking for someone to break, someone to overpower. The air was thick with competition and hostility, but Zhen wasn’t easily rattled. In her quiet moments, she could hear the whispers of doubt in the back of her mind, the ones telling her that she didn’t belong here, that she was an outsider, a stranger in a world that thrived on conflict.

It was the third day when things took an unexpected turn. After a brutal round of sparring with Tory, Johnny suddenly called for a break and gathered the group in the center of the dojo. Zhen wiped the sweat from her brow, noticing the usual fire in Tory’s eyes, but also a flicker of respect that hadn’t been there before.

Johnny’s voice rang out, low and commanding. “Alright, listen up,” he said. “You’ve all been working hard, but it’s time to take things to the next level. Starting tomorrow, we’re going to enter the All Valley Karate Tournament. I know some of you think you’re not ready. Well, too bad. We don’t wait for the right time, we create the right time. And we win. You all want to be champions, right?”

The dojo was dead silent. The idea of competing in the All Valley Karate Tournament was something most of them had dreamed of, but it was also terrifying. The tournament was legendary, drawing competitors from all over, many of whom had years of experience and a hunger to win. For a dojo as small and ragtag as Cobra Kai, the stakes were high.

Zhen felt a twinge of something unfamiliar in her chest—something like anticipation. She had heard of the All Valley Tournament, of course, but it had never been part of her plan. In China, the tournaments weren’t about glory or recognition. They were about discipline, about refining your technique, not about competing with others for a title. But this was different. This was a world of ego and pride, where reputation meant everything.

Miguel spoke up first, his voice filled with determination. “We’ll show them what Cobra Kai is all about.”

“Exactly,” Johnny said, nodding, “But you’ve got to train harder. No more slacking off. This is about survival. We’ve got a reputation to uphold.”

Zhen’s eyes met Johnny’s for a moment, and she saw the glimmer of something deeper in his expression—a spark of something that wasn’t just about teaching karate. He was hungry for victory, desperate to reclaim his past glory. But what was it he was really fighting for?

The rest of the dojo began murmuring among themselves, their excitement and anxiety mingling in the air. Zhen remained silent, but her mind was already calculating. She was here to win, but not for the reasons everyone else seemed to be. Winning the tournament would be the first step in showing that Cobra Kai was not just about violence and aggression. It was about control, about mastery. And Zhen was a master.

---

The next morning, Zhen entered the dojo, feeling the familiar tension in the air. Johnny had already set up a more intense training schedule for them. There would be no more breaks, no more easy rounds. This was about preparing for the tournament. Everyone was pushing themselves harder than ever before. Zhen could see it in their faces: the desperation, the hunger to prove something to Johnny and to each other.

She found herself paired with Robbie for a sparring session, and this time, there was no pretense of friendship between them. Robbie’s anger was palpable. It wasn’t just about technique anymore. He was angry at his father. He was angry at the world. And right now, he was taking it all out on her.

Zhen blocked one of Robbie’s strikes and quickly pivoted, using her opponent’s anger against him. He lunged forward, throwing wild punches, but Zhen was already a step ahead. With a quick spin, she swept his legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the mat with a heavy thud. Robbie lay there for a moment, staring up at the ceiling, his breath coming in short, angry bursts.

“Get up,” Johnny barked from the sidelines. “You’re not done until you’re on your feet.”

Robbie’s fists clenched, his entire body shaking with frustration. But he got up, his eyes burning with the desire to prove himself. Zhen couldn’t help but admire his determination, even if it was fueled by rage. She respected it—though she knew that kind of anger was ultimately self-destructive.

The rest of the day went by in a blur of sparring sessions, drills, and intense practice. Zhen’s muscles were sore, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t. The tournament was getting closer, and the thought of stepping into that ring with everyone watching was both exhilarating and terrifying. She had been a part of countless competitions before, but none of them had felt quite like this. The stakes were higher than she’d ever known, and she knew that Cobra Kai was counting on her.

Later that evening, as the students slowly filtered out of the dojo, Zhen lingered behind, wiping down the punching bags with a towel. She was alone when Johnny approached her, his footsteps heavy on the wooden floor.

“You’ve been pushing yourself,” Johnny said, his voice less gruff than usual. “You’ve got potential. But I’m not sure you understand what Cobra Kai is really about.”

Zhen didn’t look up. She continued cleaning the bag in silence, letting his words hang in the air.

Johnny sighed, stepping closer. “We don’t just teach karate here. It’s about something bigger. It’s about power. Control. Strength. If you want to be a part of this dojo, you’ve got to embrace that. You’ve got to fight like you mean it.”

Zhen set the towel down, finally meeting his gaze. There was no anger in her eyes, just quiet resolve. “I’m here to win, Johnny. I’m not here to play games.”

Johnny studied her for a long moment, his face unreadable. Finally, he nodded. “Good. Because we’re going to need every ounce of that fire when the tournament comes.”

Zhen didn’t smile, but something in her chest stirred. For the first time since joining Cobra Kai, she could feel a sense of belonging—a sense of purpose that went beyond the fight itself. She wasn’t just here to survive. She was here to lead.

And no one, not even Johnny Lawrence, would stand in her way.