Chapter 7 – Solid Bone
Trent increased the pressure. He had expected an elderly farmer to be fragile, but Eli's body had been shaped by decades of work.
There was strength in the old man's shoulders and forearms. His hands were powerful from years of tools, machinery, and physical labor.
Trent landed enough contact to understand that Eli could take punishment.
But taking punishment was not the whole story.
Eli began answering at exactly the moments when Trent became careless. He did not chase. He waited.
The crowd became quieter.
The jokes stopped.
People were beginning to watch the farmer instead of the fighter.
Trent's confidence remained, but now it was mixed with frustration.
He had expected a victim.
He had found a problem.