Right away, chaos broke out in the small arena. The noise of the crowd was getting louder and louder, with cheers, gasps, and shouts echoing off the walls.


    Fans leaped from their seats, their excitement spilling into the air like an unstoppable wave.


    Standing in the middle of the cage, Damon kept his cool, but his chest moved back and forth like a warrior who had just won a battle.


    At thementator''s table, the energy was no less intense.


    "Wow! Damon Cross! Are you kidding me?!" one of thementators eximed, gripping his headset, trying to anchor himself in the moment. "That knee, perfectly timed, absolutely devastating. This kid is the real deal!"


    Anothermentator, still shaking his head in disbelief, added, "Unbelievable. To step in on short notice, face a heavier, ranked opponent, and finish him like that! Damon Cross just made a statement."


    Reys of the final sequence shed across screens throughout the venue.


    The switch knee connected in slow motion, Cen''s head snapping back before his body crumpled to the mat.


    Each rey drew gasps and cheers anew from the crowd, as if they couldn''t believe what they had just witnessed.


    In the cage, the referee checked on Cen, who remained on the ground, unconscious.


    Damon didn''t look down at his defeated opponent; instead, his eyes scanned the crowd, soaking in the energy of the moment.


    Damon stood tall in the center of the cage, his chest rising and falling as he steadied his breathing.


    With his palms facing up, he slowly spread his arms out wide, as if he were weing the energy of the crowd.


    Putting his head back, he closed his eyes and let the moment fill him up.


    He felt weightless and floated for a split second amidst the loud cheers and shing lights.


    The fight''s weight, the pressure, and the fact that the chances were against him all went away.


    This was what victory felt like: pure, unfiltered euphoria.


    He could feel how excited the crowd was; it was like his beating heart was in sync with theirs. He let himself enjoy it for a short time.


    This serene moment was abruptly broken as someone gave him a light push.


    Damon snapped out of his trance and turned, only to see Edward standing there, wide-eyed and grinning like a madman.


    "Bro, what the fuck was that?"


    Edward blurted out, and you could feel how excited he was.


    He made a lot of wild hand movements, like he couldn''t hold it together.


    After them came the rest of the team, who looked like they were both amazed and proud.


    Victor smiled, which wasn''t like him at all in public.


    The other teachers cheered and pped as they walked into the cage.


    Damon couldn''t help but chuckle at Edward''s reaction. He looked around at the team and nodded. "That knee… man, it was just… clean," he said with a slight smirk. He knew what that finish meant, not just for the fight, but for his career.


    Anyone who had doubts, questions, orints about him before the fight had them all shut up in an instant.


    Any knockout or submission could change the story, but that knee? That was the best part of the whole thing.


    Victor stepped closer, pping Damon on the shoulder. "That wasn''t just clean," he said, his voice proud but calm. "That was art, kid. Pure art."


    Art?


    It was a word that always confused people who hated, didn''t watch, or didn''t understand martial arts.


    How could something so violent be art?


    How could something that could break your skull or leave you unconscious be called beautiful?


    How could something that risked brain damage be elevated to a form of expression?


    For Victor, the answer was simple. Art wasn''t just about the medium—it was about the execution. It was the precision, the technique, the flow. It was the ability to create something perfect, even in chaos.


    That knee wasn''t just a strike. It was timing, calction, and instincting together in a fraction of a second.


    It was a lesson learned through endless hours of drilling, of studying, of failing and trying again.


    It wasn''t just about hitting Cen, it was about outthinking him.


    Seeing the opportunity, visualizing it before it happened, and delivering it with the precision of a master painter''s brushstroke.


    Victor knew that for those who understood the craft, moments like this were what made martial arts more than just a fight. They were why people called it "The Art of War" or "The Sweet Science." Violence was the surface, but beneath it was a symphony of discipline and mastery.


    Damon turned to Victor, his smirk fading into a small, genuine smile. "Art, huh?"


    Victor nodded, his face serious now. "Yeah, kid. Not everyone gets it, but those who do… they saw something special tonight."


    Damon let those words sink in, the chaos of the moment briefly fading into rity.


    Damon smiled, "Well, I guess that''s why I''m a martial artist."


    Victorughed, "Sure."


    The announcer walked into the cage, microphone in hand, ready to announce the result.


    The referee called Damon to the center of the cage. Damon nced toward Cen, who was still lying down, not waking up.


    Damon nced nervously at Cen, his chest tightening.


    The medics surrounded his opponent, carefully checking him. Damon''s mind raced, and a knot formed in his stomach.


    Did I go too far?


    The referee stepped closer, sensing Damon''s unease. cing a firm hand on Damon''s wrist, he leaned in. "Rx, he''s unconscious, but he''s breathing. They''ll take him for a checkup, but he''s fine. Now focus, but depending on the check up the medics are doing, you might be announced alone."


    Damon sighed deeply, the tension in his shoulders loosening slightly. "Thanks," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the crowd''s noise.


    He turned toward Victor, who was standing near the cage, watching everything unfold.


    Damon''s steps were slow, his bodynguage still heavy with concern. Victor met him with a sharp gaze, catching the hesitation in Damon''s eyes.


    Victor rubbed the back of his neck and let out a low sigh. "Look, Damon," he said, his tone steady but firm, "he''s gonna be fine. You didn''t do anything wrong. This is the sport, and you did what you had to do. Now, get out there and own this. You earned it."


    Damon stared at him for a moment, the weight in his chest easing just a little. He nodded once, swallowing hard. "Alright."


    Victor pped him on the back, giving him a small push toward the referee. "Go get announced."