The crowd surged with excitement, their cheers crashing against the stone of the arena like waves during a storm. Bloodied, bruised, and barely standing, Alex Trunsdale remained defiant in the face of the seemingly unbeatable Fenric.
The announcer's voice rose in pitch, riding the energy of the coliseum like a seasoned performer drawing out a climax.
"Can Alex Trunsdale really stand up to the might of Fenric's unstoppable fists?! Three hits! And yet, our underdog rises again!"
But Kai heard none of it. The crowd, the noise, even the pain faded beneath the white-hot clarity of focus that came with battle.
He rolled his shoulders, cracked his neck, and narrowed his eyes.
'I can't overpower him. I can't outmatch him. But I can outthink him.'
'Surely, my experiences in this world... and the one before... can help.'
