Maya defended.
The crowd began changing sides.
The chants of "VIPER" became weaker.
People were watching Maya now.
Not because she was flashy.
Because she was impossible to intimidate.
Then something unexpected happened.
Stella slipped.
Her foot caught the edge of the canvas.
Maya immediately stepped back.
She could have attacked.
Instead, she waited.
The referee checked Stella.
"You okay?"
Stella nodded.
Maya lowered her gloves.
The audience applauded.
Stella stared at her.
"Why didn't you hit me?"
Maya shrugged.
"You were down."
"That's the fight."
"No."
Maya shook her head.
"That's not who I am."
Stella looked away.
For a moment, the arrogance disappeared.
Behind the champion was a woman who looked exhausted.
The bell rang.
The third round began.
Stella fought differently.
She wasn't fighting for the crowd anymore.
She was fighting Maya.
And Maya recognized the difference immediately.
The pace increased.
The arena erupted.
Maya absorbed the pressure, moved with the attacks, and answered when necessary.
Neither woman dominated.
Then Stella landed a clean strike.
Maya stumbled.
The crowd screamed.
Stella raised her fist.
"THAT'S IT!"
Maya steadied herself.
She touched her lip.
There was a small cut.
Mick shouted from the corner:
"Stay calm!"
Maya looked at Stella.
Then smiled.
Stella frowned.
"Why are you smiling?"
"Because now I know."
"Know what?"
Maya raised her gloves.
"You're human."
Stella's expression changed.
The woman who had seemed invincible suddenly looked vulnerable.
The final seconds of the round became frantic.
The bell rang.
Both fighters returned to their corners.
The audience stood.
Nobody was laughing anymore.
Nobody was mocking Maya.
Six hundred people had come expecting a joke.
Now they were watching something completely different.
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CHAPTER 7
Between rounds, Stella's trainer leaned close.
"You need to stop thinking about winning."
Stella stared at him.
"What?"
"You're fighting her because you want to punish her."
"She embarrassed me."
"No."
He shook his head.
"You embarrassed yourself."
Stella said nothing.
The words hurt.
But they were true.
For years, she had believed dominance meant making everyone else feel small.
Maya had just shown her another definition.
Strength was remaining yourself when everyone wanted you to become something else.
The final round began.
The crowd was standing.
Sophie was gripping the edge of her seat.
Her father whispered:
"She's doing it."