Chapter 9 – The First Takedown
Trent decided to end the embarrassment.
He drove forward and tried to overpower Eli. For a moment it looked as though the younger fighter had finally found the opening he wanted.
Then Eli shifted.
He used Trent's forward momentum rather than resisting it.
The result was sudden.
Trent went down.
The room exploded with noise.
Eli stepped away and reset himself.
He did not celebrate. He did not smile.
Trent stared at him from the floor, stunned by what had happened. The old farmer had not beaten him through speed. He had beaten him through timing.
That realization hurt Trent's pride more than the fall itself.
Now the fight had become personal for him.
For Eli, it was still about the clock.