Cobra Kai's dojo was dark.Not just from the blackout curtains Kreese had pulled across every window — but from the energy inside.Every breath carried anger. Every heartbeat was war.
Chains clinked as weapons were lifted off the wall — nunchucks, staffs, metal batons, throwing knives. Johnny stood near the back, arms crossed, eyes hollow. Kreese was in his element, pacing between his students like a general inspecting soldiers.
"Look at you," he said slowly, voice low and dangerous. "Winners of the tournament. You've earned your place. But don't get comfortable. Because trophies don't keep you alive. Fear does."
No one spoke.
Andrea stood near the center — still, silent, her gaze fixed ahead. Her hair fell in messy waves, eyes black with exhaustion and fury. Hawk and Tory stood close, weapons in hand. Kenny, Mitch, Bert, and Kyler lingered by the punching bags, nervous but eager.
Kreese continued. "The world wants to take everything from you. Your peace. Your pride. Your control. You think Miyagi-Do's going to stop? You think they'll forget what you've done?"
He stepped closer to Andrea, his shadow falling across her face."No. They're coming for you. For her. For all of you."
Andrea didn't blink. "Then we'll make them regret it."
Kreese smiled — cold, satisfied. "That's my girl."
The training started brutal.
Chozen's balance drills would've meant nothing here. Kreese's version of "discipline" meant violence."Strike first!" he barked. "And if they get up— strike again until they don't!"
Hawk smashed his nunchucks into a target so hard the wooden frame cracked. His arms trembled, sweat dripping down his tattooed skin. Johnny's jaw clenched.
"Hawk," Johnny said quietly, stepping forward, "You don't need to—"
"Back off," Hawk snapped, eyes wild. "I'm fine."
Johnny froze. That wasn't Hawk's voice. Not the one that used to brag and laugh and shove Miguel after practice. This one was colder. Hollow.
Tory noticed. She lowered her weapon, watching Hawk's shoulders shake for a second — before he masked it again, swinging harder.
At the other end of the room, Robby trained alone.No words, no emotion — just repeated motion.He struck the bag again and again until his knuckles split.
Andrea glanced over, something flickering in her chest — guilt, maybe, or something close to it — but she swallowed it down.
"Robby."
He didn't look up.
"You're bleeding."
"So?"
She took a slow step closer. "You can't fight if your hands are broken."
He finally stopped. His voice came out hoarse. "You think I care?"
Andrea's jaw tightened. She wanted to yell, to shake him, to ask why he still looked at her like she'd burned him alive.But before she could speak, Kreese barked —
"BACK TO POSITIONS!"
They lined up again.
Kreese stalked down the row, eyes sharp. "Weapons ready!"
Andrea lifted her staff. Hawk spun his chain. Tory rolled her shoulders, katana resting against her arm. Robby hesitated — then reached for the metal tonfa.
Kreese circled them like a shark. "Every Miyagi-Do student you see out there — they're not kids. They're your enemy. They want your blood. They want your fear. You want to survive?"
He grinned darkly.
"Make them bleed first."
The command exploded in their heads.
Andrea swung.Hawk struck.Tory screamed with every hit.Even Kenny — sweet, sarcastic, chaos-loving Kenny — had stopped smiling. His eyes were black holes.
Johnny finally snapped.He stormed toward Kreese, voice rising. "You're turning them into monsters, John!"
Kreese didn't even flinch. "I'm making them warriors."
"They're kids!"
"They're survivors."
Johnny's hand shook. His voice cracked. "You don't even see what you're doing, do you?"
Kreese stepped close, his voice a razor's whisper. "I see it perfectly. I see strength. Something you lost a long time ago."
Andrea froze between them, torn — her loyalty to Cobra Kai clawing at her heart.But when Kreese turned toward her, she straightened, cold again.
"Show him," Kreese said. "Show him what strength looks like."
Andrea hesitated — then smashed her staff against the concrete floor so hard it cracked. The sound echoed through the room.
Johnny looked at her — not angry, not shocked — but broken.
"You're better than this," he whispered.
She didn't answer.
Later that night, the dojo was empty.Only Hawk, Tory, and Andrea stayed behind, sitting against the wall. The silence was heavy.
Tory lit a cigarette, staring at the floor. "You think we're doing the right thing?"
Hawk laughed bitterly. "Right thing? We lost that months ago."
Andrea stared straight ahead, eyes distant. "It's too late to turn back."
Tory blew out smoke, voice quieter. "Then we better make sure we win."
Out in the alley, Johnny stood by his car, gripping his phone. Robby's voicemail still played on repeat — that broken voice saying he couldn't do this anymore.
Johnny's hands shook. His heart was breaking and he couldn't even scream.Because somewhere inside, he knew — maybe Kreese wasn't the only one who failed them.
He looked up at the neon Cobra Kai sign glowing through the window.
And for the first time in his life — Johnny Lawrence wanted it gone.