"I made a mistake," I said rigidly.
"You did," she agreed.
I looked toward Director Vance. His face was unreadable, but his jaw was clenched tight. "Then I apologize," I forced the words out.
Sarah didn't respond. Instead, she turned away, walking toward the exit of the gym.
For a moment, everyone in the room thought the confrontation was finally over. The heavy tension began to lift. But something inside me, some desperate need for validation, made me speak again.
"But I still don't understand something," I called out.
She stopped near the doorway. "What?"
"How did you move like that?" I asked. "That wrist-lock. That specific counter. They don't teach that in standard rotation. That’s Ghost Unit material."
The room went completely quiet again. Vance visibly stiffened.
Sarah slowly turned around. "You really want to know?"
I nodded.
She looked at me for several long, agonizing seconds. "Then stop asking questions and pay attention."
Director Vance sighed heavily, running a hand over his silver hair. "You two have already made enough of a scene. The drill is over."
But I took a step forward, ignoring my boss. I had to know. "I want one more round."
Several soldiers gasped. Vance glared at me. "Elias, stand down immediately. That is an order."
But Sarah raised her hand, silencing Vance. She remained silent for a moment, studying my face, searching for the arrogant rage that had fueled me earlier. She didn't find it.
Then she nodded. "Fine."
I smiled. But this time, there was absolutely no arrogance in my expression. I wasn't trying to prove I was better. I was trying to learn. I was completely serious.
We faced each other again in the center of the mat.
The second round was completely different. I attacked first, but I was much more calculated. I was faster now, my movements sharp and controlled. I had learned from the first humiliating exchange. I managed to catch her off guard with a feint, sliding past her defense and forcing her backward toward the edge of the mat.
She tried to counter with the same palm strike. I anticipated it, ducking under her arm and securing a grapple around her waist.
For the first time, she was the one struggling to regain control. I pressed my advantage. I forced her down toward the mat, using my weight to neutralize her leverage. The soldiers watching began to whisper, suddenly believing that I might actually win.
I looked down at her as we grappled on the floor. "Looks like I learned something."
She looked back up at me, her breathing completely even. "So did I."
Before I even understood what she meant, she completely changed her approach. Instead of fighting my overwhelming strength directly, she suddenly relaxed her muscles. She waited for me to push harder, waiting for me to overcommit my weight.
I did. And that was my final mistake.
She used her legs to trap my arm, turned my aggressive momentum against me, and forcefully swept me over her body. I crashed onto my back. I immediately tried to roll away and recover. She didn't give me the chance. She was instantly on her feet, moving with terrifying precision.
We both scrambled up, breathing heavily now. Neither of us wanted to surrender. I attacked once more, throwing a cautious combination. This time, she met me head-on. The fight went back and forth in a blinding display of technique. I gained the advantage, sweeping her leg. She recovered mid-fall and took the advantage back. I forced her backward. She escaped, pivoting smoothly. I nearly fell. I thought I had finally found an opening and rushed forward with everything I had left.
Sarah simply waited until the very last second.
Then she moved. In an instant, my balance completely disappeared. I felt a sharp pressure behind my knee, a strong pull on my shoulder, and then the ceiling spun wildly above me.
I fell incredibly hard to the floor, the impact echoing loudly. Before I could even attempt to recover, she had my arm locked behind my back, her knee pressed firmly against my spine. I was completely immobilized.
The room went utterly silent. I tried to move my shoulder. I couldn't budge an inch. I was trapped.
I looked up at the ceiling, my chest heaving, the sweat pouring down my face. For several seconds, neither of us said a single word.
Then, feeling the absolute reality of my defeat, I finally admitted it.