Cobra Kai Dojo.
Johnny's face flickered with unease, but he said nothing.
Daniel's fists shook at his sides. "You won't touch them."
Chozen's voice broke the silence. Calm. Cold. "We accept."
Daniel's head whipped toward him. "What?"
Chozen's face gave nothing away. "We prepare. One week."
Daniel stared at him in disbelief, betrayed.
Samantha LaRusso lay still, pale against the white sheets, her arm bandaged and her face bruised from Andrea's explosion of violence. The IV dripped slowly, each drop a reminder of how fragile she looked.
Daniel sat at her bedside, his hand clutching hers like he could will her back awake. His jaw was tight, his eyes bloodshot. Amanda stood by the window, arms crossed, watching her husband with quiet worry. Anthony sat slouched in a chair, scrolling on his phone, but every so often, he glanced at Andrea's name on a news headline about the Cobra Kai fight, and something twisted in his stomach.
Daniel leaned closer to Sam, whispering. "I should've kept you away from this. From them. From all of it. I'm sorry, Sam. I promise—" His voice broke, rage and guilt tangled in his throat. "I promise they'll pay."
Amanda put a hand on his shoulder. "Daniel…"
He shook her off. "No. No more excuses. This ends now."
Miguel's Test.
Later that night, the dojo gathered. Kreese walked slowly along the line of students, like a general inspecting soldiers. His gaze lingered on Miguel.
"You've been weak," Kreese said. "Your injury made you soft. Tell me, Miguel — where do your loyalties lie? With Cobra Kai… or with your little LaRusso girlfriend?"
The room tensed. Hawk's eyes flicked to Miguel, Andrea's jaw tightened, Tory crossed her arms.
Miguel's throat was dry. He wanted to say Sam's name. He wanted to say he didn't belong here. But when he glanced at Andrea, her eyes burned into his — cold, sharp, warning him.
Miguel swallowed. "Cobra Kai."
Kreese smiled. "Good. Prove it at the tournament."
Hospital.
Later, Miguel sat at Sam's bedside, his hand trembling as it brushed hers.
"I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I should've been there. I should've stopped this."
Sam's breathing was steady, unconscious. Amanda quietly left the room, giving him space.
The door opened. Robby's figure leaned in the doorway, hands in his pockets, face cold.
Miguel stood slowly. "What are you doing here?"
Robby's eyes flicked toward Sam. "Making sure the damage is permanent."
Miguel's jaw clenched. "You don't mean that."
Robby smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Why do you keep coming back? You think being here changes anything? She's still broken."
Miguel stepped closer, voice tight. "At least I care enough to be here. What's your excuse?"
Robby's expression faltered for a split second. Then he pushed off the doorframe and left without another word.
Kenny's Room.
Across town, Kenny's bedroom was chaos. Bottles littered the floor, smoke curled in the air, laughter and shouts filling the livestream camera pointed at the group.
"Ten million, baby!" Kenny cheered, waving at the screen. "Ten million followers! Cobra Kai is taking over the internet!"
Kyler shoved a stolen bottle of vodka into the frame, grinning. "And the streets!"
Bert and Mitch were coughing through cigarettes, faces flushed. Hawk sat half in shadow, smirking at the madness but his phone buzzing with texts from Moon: Don't lose yourself. Please.
Andrea was leaned back on the bed, cigarette between her lips, eyes glassy. She took another drag and laughed bitterly, the sound foreign even to her.
Robby leaned in the doorway, watching her. She noticed and smirked. "What? Never seen a girl smoke her pain away?"
His gaze lingered, heavy. "Not like that."
Their eyes held, tension twisting, unspoken things hanging thick in the air.
The livestream continued, Kenny shouting into the mic, the Cobra Kai pack wild, dangerous, unhinged.
The Tournament Arena.
The next morning, neutral ground. Workers unrolled pristine mats across the floor of the arena, banners hanging, lights being tested.
The place looked less like a tournament and more like a battlefield being prepared.
Andrea stood with Hawk, Tory, Robby, Kenny, Bert, Mitch, Kyler, all silent, watching.
Across the floor, Chozen stood with Daniel. Their eyes met Cobra Kai's, the air electric.
The war was set. One week. No mercy.
And this time, no one was walking away unscarred.
The sun split the dojo windows into long bars of light. Miyagi-Do felt quieter than usual, every breath tense, every movement deliberate. Chozen barked short, clipped instructions, his tone sharp enough to slice the air.
"Again. Balance. Focus. Strong mind before strong fist."
Chris and Nate moved through katas, their forms strained but determined. Demetri's motions wavered, still nervous. He'd heard what Cobra Kai had become — bloodier, colder, ruthless. The memory of Hawk's fists on that rooftop haunted him, but he kept going.
At the back, Daniel stood, arms crossed, eyes tired but alert. His thoughts were still at the hospital.
Sam.
He had left Amanda with her, promising to return later. He couldn't shake the image of her lying pale and broken, tubes snaking from her arms. He had failed her, failed them all.
The dojo door creaked open.
"Looks like you could use some real muscle."
All heads turned. Kate stepped inside, duffel bag slung across her shoulder, a sharp smirk on her face.
"Kate…" Daniel's voice was thick with conflict.
"I heard about the tournament," she said, tossing the bag down. "If Cobra Kai wants war, they'll get it. You need a fighter who doesn't fold under pressure? I'm your girl."
Nate muttered under his breath, "More like the girl who starts half the fights."
Kate shot him a look sharp enough to silence him.
Chozen studied her, unreadable. "You are undisciplined. But… spirit strong." He stepped closer, eyes narrowing. "Can you obey?"
Kate's grin widened. "Guess we'll see."
That night, at the hospital, Sam stirred. Daniel shot up from his chair as her eyes fluttered open.
"Sam? Honey, I'm here."
Her voice was hoarse, but her gaze sharp. "How long?"
"A few days," Daniel whispered, brushing hair from her forehead. "You don't have to—"
"I'm fighting."
Daniel froze. "No. Sam, you're injured. You need to rest—"
"I said I'm fighting." Her jaw locked. "You think I'm gonna let Cobra Kai walk into that tournament and tear everything apart while I sit in a bed? No chance."
Daniel's chest twisted. "Sam, listen to me. You could—"
"Dad," she cut him off, her voice iron despite the weakness in her body. "If you don't put me in that tournament, I'll walk into it myself."
Amanda's voice came from the doorway, tired but firm. "Daniel, she's just like you. You're not going to stop her. You can only protect her by preparing her."
Daniel's eyes closed. His daughter's stubbornness wasn't new — but now, it could get her killed.
Across town, Cobra Kai's dojo was a storm.
"Harder!" Johnny barked, pacing the mats. Hawk's fists slammed into the bag, every punch cracking like a whip. Tory sparred with Andrea, their strikes vicious, neither holding back.
Miguel sat on the edge of the mat, wiping sweat from his brow, his chest heavy with conflict. He could feel Kreese's eyes burning into him from the shadows.
"You're holding back," Andrea said suddenly, stepping away from Tory and glaring at him.
Miguel looked up, startled. "What?"
"You heard me." Andrea's voice was cold, sharp. "You're not going all in. You're doubting. We can't afford doubt."
Miguel's jaw tightened. "Maybe I don't think killing people is winning."
The dojo fell silent for a beat. Hawk glanced between them. Tory smirked. Robby's eyes narrowed.
Andrea stepped closer, her voice low but brutal. "Then you'll lose. And we'll all go down with you."
Their eyes locked, unspoken history and fresh fractures twisting between them.
Kreese's smile deepened in the corner. Division was the seed he loved most.
Meanwhile, Miyagi-Do trained harder, longer. Kate sparred against Chris, her strikes sharp and aggressive. Chozen shouted corrections, Daniel circling like a hawk.
Demetri fumbled, earning a harsh clap on the back from Chozen. "Weak mind," Chozen snapped. "Cobra Kai will break you unless you break fear first."
Sam, despite her bandages, stepped into the dojo. Her gi hung loose, her movements stiff, but her eyes burned.
"Sam, no," Daniel said immediately.
"Yes," Sam replied, stepping onto the mat. "Teach me. Now."
Daniel opened his mouth to argue, but Chozen's hand landed on his shoulder.
"Let her," Chozen said simply.
Daniel's eyes widened, but Chozen's were steady.
Sam bowed to her partner — Kate.
Kate smirked. "Thought you'd never ask."
The dojo erupted with the sound of fists meeting flesh, the tension of war rising higher with every strike.
Meanwhile, the countdown ticked closer. One week until the tournament. One week until the deal sealed their fates.
Cobra Kai vs. Miyagi-Do.
No mercy. No escape.