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✰ SAVE THEM FOR LAST ✰
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"The time has come! Welcome to our first event!" Gunther's voice echoed through the mic, blasting from the loudspeakers, loud enough to reach the entire crowd—including those watching from the sidelines.

Santana stood behind her students, clad in a dark burgundy gi that matched theirs. It fit her perfectly, hugging her frame as she crossed her arms in front of her. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, yet with every movement, a few loose strands swayed.

She stood between her brother, Nico, and Luciana, the two captains of her team. They were a perfect match—not romantically, but platonically, balancing each other in a way that made them strong leaders.

"This first event is called 'Captain's War,'" Gunther announced, his tone laced with excitement. Santana nodded, her interest piqued.

"We told you how important your captains would be," Gunther continued. "Now, let's see how well you protect them."

A competitive thrill sparked in Santana. This was exactly the kind of challenge her students thrived on. They worked seamlessly together, and as far as she knew, there was no bad blood between them—at least, none that would interfere with their teamwork.

The rules were explained: four dojos would take the mat, but only one would remain standing. "If you hit the mat, you're out," Gunther clarified. "If one of your captains goes down, your entire team is eliminated."

Santana's nod deepened, her intrigue growing. Then, the matchups were announced. She and her students turned their attention to the board, where their group was revealed: Group A—Santana's dojo, Cobra Kai, Miyagi-Do, and Iron Dragons.

Nico and Luciana let out identical sighs at the sight of the names. Luciana, ever the sharp-eyed one, immediately glanced toward the other side of the mat. Sure enough, Kwon was already looking her way, that familiar, infuriating smirk tugging at his lips.

"Ay Dios mío... great," Luciana muttered under her breath, finally uncrossing her arms before turning back to face the team. Without hesitation, they closed in, forming a tight circle around Santana.

"I say we go for Miyagi-Do first," Luciana suggested, her gaze scanning the team. "They seem like the weaker target. Once they're out, we take on whoever comes at us next. We just have to stay off the mat."

She paused, giving her teammates a chance to offer their input.

"I think everyone is going to have the same idea," Santana pointed out, arms crossed as she studied the competition. "Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do still have that feud going, so Miyagi-Do will probably go after them first."

Her attention flickered to the other side of the mat, where Feng stood with his two captains, deep in conversation. Their eyes briefly met, and an idea sparked in her mind. She turned back to her students.

"Luciana, Nico," she said, her tone firm, "go for the Cobra Kai captains first. The rest of you, take out whoever you can."

Nico's brow furrowed as he glanced toward the remaining dojo—the Iron Dragons. "And what about them?"

Santana smirked. "Save them for last."

"Ready?" Gunther's voice boomed through the microphone, cutting through the tension like a knife.

Luciana barely had time to react before chaos erupted.

A sharp yelp rang out. Her head snapped to the side just in time to see Cobra Kai's captain, Tory, lunging at Miyagi-Do, fists already flying. It was like a switch had been flipped—Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai immediately turned on each other, their long-standing rivalry igniting into an all-out war.

"Go! Go!" Santana's voice cut through the noise.

A girl from Red Fury shot past Luciana, flipping into the fight without hesitation. She collided with a tall but scrawny Miyagi-Do boy—Demetri. His stance was hesitant, fear flashing in his eyes, but he was willing to fight. Her fists swung, her kicks aimed precisely, forcing him into a defensive dance of dodging and blocking.

Luciana sprinted toward Tory, but a sudden impact stole the breath from her lungs. A sharp kick to the stomach sent her stumbling back. Her gaze shot up—Sam, the Miyagi-Do captain, stood firm, her stance poised for another attack.

Luciana's shock quickly faded into focus. She swung, aiming a punch at Sam's jaw, but Sam dodged effortlessly, countering with a sharp elbow to Luciana's ribs. A pained yelp escaped Luciana's lips as she staggered, but she recovered fast.

Without hesitation, Luciana aimed a kick at Sam's knee, forcing her off balance. Seizing the opening, she spun, her leg sweeping toward Sam's feet. Sam ducked at the last second, but Luciana was faster—she launched into a side aerial, her movements fluid and unpredictable. As soon as her feet landed, she twisted behind Sam and delivered a kick to her back, sending her stumbling forward.

But Sam held her ground.

Meanwhile, Nico was locked in a brutal exchange with a Cobra Kai fighter. Their fists swung with precision, the occasional kick slicing through the air. They were evenly matched—every strike met with a counter; every dodge followed by a rapid retaliation.

The fight had only just begun, and already, the mat was a warzone.

Nico gritted his teeth, his muscles burning as he and the Cobra Kai fighter exchanged a flurry of blows. They were fast, evenly matched, but Nico had an edge—his sister's teachings.

He waited for the right moment, sidestepping a wild punch before launching a devastating knee straight into his opponent's ribs. The impact sent the Cobra Kai fighter stumbling backward, gasping for breath.

Without hesitation, Nico followed up with a powerful Muay Thai roundhouse kick, his shin connecting solidly with the side of the Cobra Kai's head. The boy hit the mat hard.

"Out!" Gunther's voice rang through the speakers.

But Nico wasn't done.

As soon as he turned around, instincts flared—duck!

He dropped low just in time to dodge two fists swinging toward him in perfect sync. A boy with a mohawk—Eli, better known as Hawk—and Miguel, one of the best fighters from Miyagi-Do, were coming for him together.

A grin tugged at Nico's lips. Alright then.

They came at him again, and this time, he met them head-on. Eli swung first, but Nico caught his wrist, yanking him forward and ramming his knee into his chest. With a grunt, Eli staggered back—right into Miguel, who barely managed to steady him.

Nico pressed his advantage, unleashing a rapid series of kicks. His legs moved like whips, striking toward both opponents with relentless precision. Miguel dodged, stepping back with perfect form, while Eli struggled to keep up, his blocks sloppy under Nico's speed.

Nico spun, aiming a roundhouse at Hawk's ribs, but Miguel intercepted, grabbing Nico's leg mid-air. Shit.

Before Miguel could twist his leg or throw him off balance, Nico reacted—using his free foot to push off the mat, he flipped mid-air, yanking himself free and landing in a crouch.

He smirked. "That all you got?"

Miguel and Eli exchanged a look before lunging at him again, and Nico braced himself—this fight was far from over.

Meanwhile, Devon and Demetri—both Miyagi-Do fighters—had already been eliminated, taken down by a combination of Cobra Kai and Red Fury fighters. The numbers were dwindling, but Red Fury was still holding strong, despite losing one of their own. Cobra Kai, too, remained a dominant force.

Miyagi-Do, however, was in dire straits. With only Hawk and Miguel left to protect their captains, the odds were stacked against them.

Nico, still locked in a relentless brawl with both boys, saw his opening. With precise timing, he ducked beneath Miguel's punch and swept his leg under Hawk, taking his feet out from under him. Hawk's body hit the mat with a loud thud.

"Out!" Gunther's voice boomed over the speakers.

Now, only Miguel remained for Miyagi-Do, and he was running out of allies fast.

At the same time, another fight reached its climax—a Red Fury fighter clashed with a Cobra Kai member, both of them reading each other's moves too well. They countered, blocked, and dodged in a near-perfect rhythm, until both simultaneously lifted their legs, striking each other square in the chest.

The force sent them flying backward, both hitting the mat hard. A brief silence followed before their groans of frustration echoed across the arena.

"Both out!"

The two fighters staggered to their feet, disappointment evident on their faces as they accepted their defeat and stepped off the mat.

With each elimination, the battlefield grew more intense. Fighters were falling fast, and soon, only the strongest would remain standing.

Red Fury was down to three—Luciana, Nico, and Mia.

Miyagi-Do had Miguel, Sam, and Robby.

Cobra Kai still had Kwon, Tory, and one other fighter.

Neck and neck, the three remaining teams stood across from each other, all of them catching their breath, sweat dripping down their brows. But then Luciana's eyes shifted past them, her gaze locking onto the Iron Dragons. Unlike the rest, they hadn't even entered the chaos. Instead, they stood in perfect formation, untouched and unbothered, watching the carnage unfold before them.

Luciana tapped Nico's arm, subtly nodding toward them.

Nico glanced their way but only smirked before shaking his head. "She said save them for last," he reminded her, his voice firm.

Luciana huffed but nodded, shifting her focus back to the fight. Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do had also taken notice of the temporary standoff, their fighters spread in a rough triangle. This moment of calm gave everyone a chance to recalibrate, but it didn't last long.

Nico's eyes locked onto Kwon, a smirk forming on his lips. "I want him," he mumbled under his breath before surging forward.

He weaved past an incoming Cobra Kai fighter, ducking under a kick before driving his fist into Kwon's jaw. Kwon barely flinched, his instincts razor-sharp as he countered with a quick roundhouse. Nico dodged, shifting back just in time before launching a sharp elbow toward Kwon's ribs. Their movements were fast, fluid—each one testing the other, neither backing down.

Meanwhile, Luciana and Mia stood side by side, their eyes flicking between Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai.

"You take Cobra Kai. I'll handle Miyagi-Do," Mia suggested.

Luciana gave her a nod, her lips curling into a smirk as she turned toward Tory, who already had her fists raised.

"Come on then," Tory challenged, her stance aggressive, ready.

Luciana scoffed, tilting her head slightly. "I think that headband is too tight around your head, chica," she taunted, flashing a grin.

Tory's expression darkened, and in an instant, she lunged.

Luciana anticipated it, side-stepping as Tory's punch barely grazed her cheek. She retaliated, her foot swinging up in a fast, precise kick aimed at Tory's side. Tory blocked it, grabbing Luciana's leg and attempting to throw her off balance, but Luciana twisted mid-air, using the momentum to flip backward and land on her feet.

Nearby, Mia was holding her own against Miguel, who was standing his ground to protect Sam and Robby. Their blows were swift, a mix of offense and defense, but Miguel was skilled—far more skilled than Mia expected. And in the distance, the Iron Dragons still stood, waiting. Watching.

Robby stood at the edge of the fight, watching as Tory struggled against Luciana. His fists clenched at his sides—he knew Tory could handle herself, but right now, Luciana had the upper hand.

Despite the temporary ceasefire between him, Sam, and Miguel, something in him itched to intervene. He couldn't just stand by. Without thinking, he pushed forward, heading straight for the fight.

"Robby, no!" Sam's voice rang out, panic lacing her tone as she sprinted after him.

But Robby was already too far in. His focus was solely on Tory and Luciana, completely unaware of Nico, who had spotted his movement the second he stepped forward.

Nico shoved Kwon away without hesitation, his eyes narrowing as he took off toward Robby. His pace was fast, calculated—Robby had no idea what was coming for him, but Sam did.

"Robby!" Sam screamed again, but he didn't hear her.

Nico was closing in.

Luciana tightened her hold on Tory, locking her in a chokehold. Tory clawed at her arm, trying to pry herself free, but Luciana was relentless, keeping her grip strong.

Everything happened in a split second.

Sam lunged forward at the same time Nico did, both rushing toward Robby, but Nico was faster.

"Ahh!" Nico let out a sharp shout as he launched himself into the air.

Robby barely had time to turn before a high flip kick struck him square in the face. The impact was brutal. His body hit the mat hard, and the moment his back slammed into the ground, it was over.

Miyagi-Do was out.

Luciana, seeing an opportunity, swiftly flipped Tory over her shoulder with raw force. Tory hit the ground with a harsh thud, groaning in pain.

Cobra Kai was out.

The dust settled.

The only ones left standing were Luciana, Nico, and Mia.

And now, all eyes turned to the Iron Dragons—every single one of them, still standing, still unscathed. Their formation was eerily precise, their presence calm yet intimidating.

Luciana wiped a bit of sweat from her brow, then smirked. She glanced at Nico, then at Mia.

"This should be fun," she mused, rolling her shoulders.

"Only Red Fury and Iron Dragons remain!" the announcer's voice boomed over the loudspeaker as Luciana, Nico, and Mia stepped into position, facing down their final opponents.

"We should've gone for them when we had the chance," Luciana muttered, shifting her stance. "We're about to get our asses kicked."

Before anyone could respond, a sudden thud echoed through the arena. All eyes snapped to the Iron Dragons' front line—four fighters dropping to their knees in perfect unison before rising just as smoothly. Without hesitation, they sidestepped off the mat, leaving only two competitors standing.

Two captains.

"You gonna fight, or are you just here to waste my time?" a voice called out.

Luciana turned to face the speaker—a short but solidly built girl, standing with an air of quiet confidence. Zara Malik. A Iron Dragon member, but more than that—a social media sensation in the karate world. Skilled. Disciplined. Dangerous.

Karate was her life.

And she wasn't going down without a fight.

"Mia, hit the mat. Let's make it even," Luciana called out, her voice firm.

Both Nico and Mia snapped their heads toward her.

"What? She's our only chance at a distraction," Nico protested, eyes darting between Luciana and their remaining opponents.

But Luciana didn't hesitate. In the heat of the moment, she swung her leg, sweeping Mia's foot out from under her. Caught off guard, Mia lost her balance, crashing onto her hands and lower back.

The whistle blew. She was out.

A wave of gasps rippled through the crowd. Whispers buzzed across the arena—shock, confusion. Why would Luciana take out her own teammate?

Mia scoffed, pushing herself to her feet, anger flashing in her eyes. Without a word, she stomped off the mat, shaking her head.

"That was harsh," Nico muttered, shooting Luciana a glance before stepping into a fighting stance. His attention shifted forward, locking onto his next opponent.

Axel.

Tall. Powerful. Unshaken. This was going to be a fight.

Luciana rolled her shoulders, bouncing lightly on her feet as she faced off against Zara Malik. Across from her, Nico shifted into his stance, eyeing Axel warily.

The Iron Dragons captains stood tall, unshaken. Zara smirked, rolling her wrists before settling into her fighting stance. Axel remained a solid wall of muscle, his expression unreadable.

The whistle blew.

Luciana wasted no time, lunging first with a roundhouse kick aimed at Zara's side. Zara sidestepped with ease, but Luci was already spinning, faking another kick before dropping low and sweeping her leg. Zara barely hopped over it in time.

Quick. She was quick.

Luciana snapped up, feinting left before delivering a sharp jab. Zara blocked, but the force made her stagger back slightly. Luci pressed forward, sending a flurry of kicks and strikes, her Muay Thai influence clear in every move.

Zara ducked and rolled under one of Luciana's swings, using the momentum to leap up and aim a spinning backfist. Luci barely dodged, the wind from the strike grazing her cheek.

Zara grinned. "Not bad."

Meanwhile, Nico was struggling.

Axel was tall, too tall. Every high kick Nico threw, Axel effortlessly leaned back, dodging like it was second nature.

Nico growled in frustration and switched tactics, launching a low kick toward Axel's leg. It connected, but Axel barely flinched.

Then he countered.

A brutal front kick sent Nico stumbling backward. He caught himself just in time to block an incoming punch, but Axel was relentless.

A knee to the ribs. A spinning elbow. Nico barely managed to keep up, forced to retreat step by step.

Luci, catching a glimpse of her brother struggling, gritted her teeth and lunged at Zara again. She flipped into the air, aiming a flashy aerial kick. Zara ducked, pivoted, and struck the moment Luciana's feet hit the ground—an open-palm strike to the chest that knocked Luci back.

She gasped, barely regaining her footing before Zara rushed her. Their arms tangled as they grappled, but Zara twisted, using Luci's momentum against her.

With a sharp yank, she sent Luciana crashing onto the mat.

At the same time, Nico took a devastating hit—a powerful side kick straight to the stomach. The impact lifted him off his feet before he hit the ground with a grunt.

A whistle blew.

It was over.

The crowd erupted, cheers and gasps filling the air.

"Iron Dragons win this event!" the announcer declared.

Luciana lay flat on her back, staring at the ceiling lights, panting. Nico groaned beside her, rubbing his ribs.

"Damn," he muttered.

Luciana exhaled sharply. "Yeah."

Across the mat, Santana clenched her jaw, hands curling into fists. "Shit," she muttered.

Then she caught sight of Feng—Wolf—standing still, arms crossed. Watching.

The corner of his mouth lifted ever so slightly in a smirk.

Santana scowled, ripping her gaze away as she cursed under her breath again.

This wasn't over.

Not even close.

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authors note:
sorry this episode wasn't as long as i'd like, but i'm trying to make as much chapters as possible (kind of) i at least want like two chapters for each episode. just to fill it up if that makes sense. BUT THANKS FOR READING! 🤍

thoughts? 💭 i love writing fighting scenes!!!

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