Zeph’s POV

I couldn’t understand what was going on in her mind. Agreeing to fight Benton, who was much stronger than her when it came to combat. Plus, with that head injury, she shouldn’t even be here. What if she gets injured again? What made me, even more, angrier was the fact, that even Ralph won’t listen to reasoning.

I, watched her desperately as she took her stance. I knew I needed to trust my teammates but I just couldn’t stand there waiting for her to get injured again. Still, the decision had been made and all I could do was watch.

She went for an easy stance putting both her fists in front of her face. Benton launched a frontal attack on her unprotected abdomen but she was ready. Dodging it swiftly by moving towards her left, she aimed for his temple. He dodged at the last second and brought his right fist forward which hit her brutally on the head. She lost her balance and fell back as drops of blood oozed out from her injured head. Damnit, that was what I was fearing.

" Serene, are you alright? " Ralph shouted making sure she can continue. She was already on her feet and gave him a thumbs up. " One point to Benton." Sarim Sensei announced.

They took their positions again, this time she didn’t wait for his attack. As she lunged forward pretending to attack with her right fist, he dodged by stepping to his right but she stopped her attack mid-air and while balancing her weight on her left hand she went for his legs. Before he realised what she had done, it was too late. She kicked him in his right knee making him squeal with pain and winning her point.

" Yes, that’s my girl. " Ayrden cheered her on. Now, they attacked simultaneously. Dodging and blocking each other’s punches and kicks but Benton got one in which hit her on the face, and blood spluttered out from her mouth. Another point to Benton, if he wins one more point, we will lose another key.

" Serene, you can do this. " Ayrden kept cheering her up, Ralph looked anxious but was clapping for her. She was relentless and I knew she wouldn’t back down. She went for a frontal attack again, Benton blocked and tried to move away but she moved swiftly towards his backside and before he could turn, she backhanded him on the neck with her slanting hand. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

The match was tied with two points each now. It could be anyone’s point. Benton attacked from her left side, trying to launch a kick towards her temple but she bent down and his kick passed over her head leaving his abdomen open for the attack she punched him in the guts making him bend over with pain.

" Yahhh, " Ayrden and Ralph clapped as they rushed towards her and group hugged her. She was beaming, her beautiful hair had come to lose and was scattered. Her head was bleeding but she didn’t lose her smile. For a moment she looked at me with those soft violet eyes but then looked away. Benton bowed down to her and handed the key with a smile. We were back to seven keys.

We kept moving, Xin Li’s team had lost all their keys so they were out of the tournament. It was between us and Paul’s team now. Next, we met Paul’s team in a rocky setting. There were huge boulders strewn all over and the heat was scorching. Paul was wearing three keys now. It was my turn to fight him.

" Ralph, I will fight Paul. And, I have a request, I will need a key from you. Let’s finish this in one go. I will fight him for two keys as the rules didn’t state that we only have to fight for one key at a time. " I pointed out. Ralph’s smile became broader: "Leave it to you to come up with a brilliant plan, you are extraordinary Zeph... " and here he went embarrassing me. " Shut up, give me the key," I said annoyingly. " Ok ok, " he apologized.

" Take mine as well, Paul has three keys so why not fight for three? If we win we will complete our ten keys and will be declared winners. Besides, I know you can win. I trust you. " I turned around to find Serene offering me her key which she had won from Benton.

She hadn’t given up on me and she has never stopped believing and trusting in me. I felt embarrassed inside, but I quietly took the key and wore it around my neck as I approached Paul and offered him my strategy. He consulted his team, who wanted to end this tournament as soon as possible as well. So, they agreed.

" I am not the same Paul you met during the qualifying test. So, watch out. " He gave me crooked smile which didn’t phase me at all. We took our stances. I waited for him to attack, he moved briskly than I had anticipated. I had practised with him on numerous occasions and I knew he was agile on his feet, he never remained in one spot for long.

He tried to punch me in the face which I dodged by tilting my head in the nick of time. I tried to grab his arm with both my hands but he had already gone behind my back and tried to grab my head. I, ducked just in time and back kicked him which landed in his gut and he writhed in pain. " One point to Zeph." Sarim Sensei announced. As my teammates cheered and clapped from behind me.

We took our positions again. I launched an attack on him this time. I aimed a kick at his temple, and he blocked and got hold of my foot. I jumped in the air twisted my body mid-air and landed a full-blown kick to his other temple with my free leg which sent him flying while I landed on all fours. "Another point to Zeph." Sarim Sensei’s voice echoed.

" That’s my boy, yahhh. " I could hear Ralph yelling from behind me. Paul took some time in getting up, he was holding his temple. But, he continued with the fight, attacking me from my left side this time. I blocked all his punches, and he then tried to kick me in the head. I grabbed his kicking leg with my left hand and threw a solid punch toward his face. He blocked with his arms, so I pulled him towards me with the leg I was holding. He lost his balance and as he was falling I elbowed him in the chest, sealing away my victory. He landed on the ground hard, with a loud shriek.

I, helped him get up and rubbed his back. Ralph was yelling at the top of his lungs behind me like a mad man as if something poisonous has bitten him. He hugged me from behind and I let him. The happiness exuded from every pore of his body. Ayrden and Darius patted me on the shoulder, both of them smiling ear to ear. Serene, was standing at some distance from me, looking intently at me. " I knew you would win. " She smiled at me, I lowered my gaze and looked away.

Paul gave me all three keys and shook hands with me. " You are exceptional, I am glad you were my opponent. " His eyes showed respect and I slightly bowed my head.

A golden door had appeared in the distance. Ralph divided two keys to each one of us. We entered the keys in the keyholes and as we turned the door creaked open, blinding us with bright light coming from inside. We stepped inside the door and found ourselves back on the ground, where everyone was waiting for us.