The atmosphere in the secluded training yard was thick with tension. Lisa sat on a stone bench, legs crossed, a smirk playing on her lips. Around her, the members of the "Sirens" watched with predatory interest. They didn't see Sophia as a threat; they saw her as a sacrificial lamb.
Lisa said
"Tina, don't break her too quickly. I want her to realize how foolish it was to come here and beg for favors."
Tina stepped forward, cracking her neck. Her movements were fluid, the mark of a professional fighter. She took a standard Taekwondo stance, her eyes locked onto Sophia's.
Tina said
"You chose the wrong day to play hero, little girl."
The Match Begins
Sophia stood still, her breathing calm. She wasn't looking at Tina; she was looking past her, as if calculating something invisible.
Sophia said
"I told you, Lisa. We need your help. But if blood is the only currency you accept... then so be it."
Tina didn't wait. She lunged forward with a lightning-fast Tornado Kick. The air whistled as her foot aimed for Sophia's temple. To the spectators, it looked like a guaranteed knockout.
Lisa said
"It's over."
But then, the world seemed to slow down for Sophia. A faint, golden hum resonated from her core.
[Sophia activates: Burst Mode - 10% Output]
In a blur that the human eye could barely register, Sophia wasn't there anymore. Tina's foot hit nothing but air. The force of her own momentum nearly threw her off balance.
Tina said
"What?! Where did she—"
Sophia said
"Behind you."
The Power of the Unknown
Before Tina could react, Sophia moved. She didn't use a martial arts technique; she used pure, overwhelming Super Speed. She appeared in front of Tina and delivered a light palm strike to her chest.
Even though it looked like a gentle touch, the Super Strength behind it sent Tina flying backward. Tina crashed into a brick wall, the impact cracking the masonry.
Lisa said
(Standing up, shocked) "Tina! Get up! What are you doing?!"
Tina, coughing and gasping for air, tried to stand. Her pride as a champion wouldn't let her stay down. She roared and rushed Sophia, throwing a flurry of punches and kicks.
Sophia dodged every single one with minimal movement, her eyes glowing with a faint, terrifying light. She was moving like a ghost.
Sophia said
"Is this the strength of a champion? It's... disappointing."
Sophia caught Tina's final punch mid-air. The sound of bones creaking under Sophia's grip echoed through the yard.
Tina said
(Wincing in pain) "Let... go... you monster!"
Sophia said
"Monster? You haven't seen a monster yet."
Sophia swung her arm, throwing the 140-pound fighter into the air like a ragdoll. Before Tina could hit the ground, Sophia blurred again, appearing above her and delivering a downward strike that slammed Tina into the dirt, creating a small crater.
The Aftermath
The yard went silent. The Sirens, who were cheering moments ago, were now backed against the walls, trembling. Tina lay unconscious, barely breathing.
Sophia stood over her, not a single hair out of place. She turned her gaze toward Lisa. Her eyes weren't filled with anger, but with a cold, divine authority that felt exactly like the pressure Kai had exerted on the boys' gang.
Lisa said
(Voice trembling) "What... what are you? That wasn't Taekwondo. That wasn't even human."
Sophia said
"I am a member of Kai's group. And like I said, we need your help. Do you still need a demonstration, or is your 'strongest' member enough of a lesson?"
Lisa looked at the crater, then at Sophia. She realized that if Sophia had used her full strength, Tina wouldn't just be unconscious—she would be gone.
Lisa said
"I... I understand. We'll follow you