Her father noticed.

"You've never even seen her fight."

Sophie shrugged.

"I like her."

"Why?"

"Because everyone else hates her."

Her father smiled.

"That's your reason?"

"No."

Sophie looked toward the entrance.

"She looks like someone who doesn't care what people think."

The lights suddenly went out.

The crowd erupted.

A booming announcer's voice filled the arena.

"Ladies and gentlemen..."

The audience screamed.

"Introducing the undefeated champion..."

The music exploded.

Stella emerged.

Pyrotechnics sparked.

Heavy bass shook the bleachers.

Stella danced her way toward the ring, blowing kisses to the screaming crowd.

She stopped several times for photographs.

She posed.

She smiled.

She pointed toward the camera.

It took her five minutes just to step through the ropes.

Then the music stopped.

Silence.

A low instrumental beat began.

Maya emerged from the shadows.

No fireworks.

No dancing.

No waving.

No entourage.

She walked in a straight line toward the ring.

The crowd booed.

Someone shouted:

"GO HOME!"

Another yelled:

"YOU DON'T BELONG HERE!"

Maya heard everything.

But she looked straight ahead.

Sophie stood.

"COME ON, MAYA!"

Maya briefly looked toward the crowd.

She saw the little girl.

For the first time that night, she smiled.

Then she climbed into the ring.

Stella leaned against the ropes.

"You still have time to quit."

Maya tightened her gloves.

"No."

Stella laughed.

"You should have listened to them."

Maya looked at her.

"I've spent my whole life listening to people."

She paused.

"Tonight, I'm listening to myself."

The bell hadn't even rung yet.

But the arena had already changed.

============================================================
CHAPTER 5

The referee called both fighters to the center.

"Protect yourself at all times."

Stella nodded confidently.

Maya said nothing.

The referee stepped back.

The bell rang.

Stella immediately moved forward.

The crowd erupted.

"VIPER! VIPER! VIPER!"

Stella threw a fast combination.

Maya slipped the first punch.

Then the second.

Then the third.

The crowd became quieter.

Stella smiled.

"Running already?"

Maya didn't answer.

Stella attacked again.

Maya moved.

One step.

Two steps.

Every strike missed.

Stella's smile disappeared.

She wasn't used to this.

Her opponents normally panicked under pressure.