Nessa's command cracked like a whip. She had no time to be impressed. She needed to win. The crowd, the League, the critics—no one cared if the opponent was blindfolded. A win was a win.
Drednaw charged. Its massive head glowed with power, a trail of dust and energy swirling behind it. Machamp, still kneeling, couldn't move in time.
Crash!
The Head Smash sent Machamp tumbling across the field, rolling over itself with a thunderous impact.
Bea gasped. "Machamp!"
"Follow up with Rock Slide!" Nessa shouted, pushing the advantage.
Rocks rained from above once more. This time, Machamp had no room to dodge. It crossed its four arms in an "X" above its head, bracing for impact. Stones pelted its body, grunts of pain echoing across the field.
Bea's breath caught. Was this the end?
"Finish it, Drednaw! One more Head Smash!"
Drednaw roared and charged again, legs pounding like drums against the floor.
Allen didn't move. He leaned back in his seat, arms crossed.
Next to him, the little Kubfu stood on the rail, waving tiny fists and shouting in support of Bea.
"It's her first real test since learning Observation Haki," Allen muttered. "It's okay if she loses."
But Bea heard him. Even over the roar of the battle, her sharpened senses caught her master's words.
Lose?
In front of Allen?
"No," she whispered. "I won't lose. Not here. Not now."
In her darkness, a flicker of light emerged.
Shapes.
Faint silhouettes.
She saw her Machamp. She saw Drednaw rushing in, a comet of crushing power.
It lasted only a moment.
But it was enough.
"Machamp!" Bea shouted, her voice slicing through the arena. "Half step left!"
Without hesitation, Machamp shifted. The Head Smash barreled past it, Drednaw missing by inches and skidding into open space.
"Now! Grab it from behind!"
Machamp's right arms clamped onto Drednaw's shell. Its left arms joined a second later. Drednaw flailed but couldn't break free.
"Throw it!"
With a grunt, Machamp lifted the massive turtle into the air and slammed it down with all its might.
Boom!
The field cracked under the weight. Drednaw groaned, dazed and flattened into the floor.
"Hydro Pump!" Nessa shouted in desperation.
Water erupted from Drednaw's jaws, spraying upward.
"Guard!" Bea yelled.
Machamp raised its arms in an X, absorbing the full blast. It pushed forward through the torrent, water bending around its rippling muscles.
Then it leapt.
"Cross Chop!"
Blades of energy formed along Machamp's arms as it brought them down in a wide arc.
Slash!
Drednaw's eyes bulged, then turned to spirals. Its legs twitched once, then stilled.
"Drednaw is unable to battle. Match goes to Bea."
The referee's voice echoed through the gym.
Silence.
Then—
"Master! I did it!" Bea cried.
She ripped off her blindfold, her eyes sparkling. The moment she saw Allen walking down from the stands, she broke into a sprint.
"Master!"
Before he could say a word, Bea jumped into his arms, wrapping him in a tight embrace. Her face pressed into his chest, beaming with joy.
"I won! I won!"
Allen smiled gently, patting her back. "You did well. Real good."
Bea was bouncing on her heels, her joy spilling out like a waterfall.
In stark contrast, Nessa stood frozen. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground.
"I... lost?"
She stared at her hands as if they were someone else's. The crowd had vanished from her awareness. The field blurred. Her world narrowed to one truth.
She had been defeated by a blindfolded trainer.
And a blindfolded Machamp.
Allen turned to her, walking across the field. "You held your ground longer than I expected. That's not nothing."
Nessa looked up, dazed. "What?"
"You're not as far behind as you think," Allen said simply. "Your level... It's just right. For her to grow."
Bea turned, eyes wide. "Master?"
Allen nodded. "Every student needs someone to push them. Someone just strong enough to challenge them, but not so far ahead that they're crushed."
He looked at Nessa. "That's you."
Bea stepped forward and offered a hand to her rival.
Nessa stared at it.
Then took it.
Their hands locked, warrior to warrior.
"Next time," Nessa said quietly, "I won't go easy."
"Good," Bea replied, grinning.
Allen crossed his arms, watching them both.
Now this... this was a real battle.
***
T/N: Missed me? Lmfao, the cringe energy coming out from this message—
Anyway, throw in your stones, might that be the motivation and make me consistent again. See ya!