CHAPTER 20: ALL VALLEY TOURNAMENT - PART 2
POV: Ivyn Mikaelson
Quarterfinals morning. Tension in the Cobra Kai section is thick enough to cut.
Miguel and I warm up separately. Our impending match the only thing anyone can talk about.
Johnny approaches. "If you two face each other, I want it clean. Technical. No personal shit. Whoever wins represents the dojo in semis."
It's a non-answer about who he favors. Leaving both of us in competitive limbo.
"Yes, Sensei."
Morning matches first. I face a skilled Miyagi-Do student. Daniel's technique evident in his circular defense.
I mix styles. Cobra Kai aggression transitioning into Miyagi-Do circular blocks. Confusing him with the synthesis he doesn't expect.
Victory 3-1.
[MATCH 3: VICTORY]
[Hybrid Style Effectiveness: Confirmed]
[Combat XP: +80]
Miguel demolishes his opponent in under two minutes. Pure dominance. No mercy.
Robby advances with technical perfection. Hawk wins controversially with an aggressive strike that judges debate before awarding.
Semifinals bracket is set.
Miguel vs. Ivyn. Robby vs. Hawk.
The arena buzzes with anticipation.
Johnny pulls us both aside. "You're both my students. I'm proud of both of you. Now go show everyone what Cobra Kai means."
He walks away. Leaves us standing there.
Miguel speaks first. "May the best fighter win."
"May the best fighter win."
We bow to each other. The formality feeling like armor against everything unspoken.
Center mat. Referee between us. The crowd noise fades to white noise. Sam's face in the stands. Johnny's tension. Daniel watching with calculation.
All of it distant. Unimportant.
Just me and Miguel. Six months of friendship and rivalry compressed into this moment.
"Bow."
We bow.
"Fight!"
Miguel circles right. I mirror left. Both cautious. Respectful of each other's skills.
He feints high. I don't bite.
I probe with a jab. He slips outside.
"Testing. Both testing."
Ten seconds of careful distance management. Then I commit.
Jab-cross combination. Clean. Fast. The cross catches his guard but the jab before it tagged his chest.
"Point! Mikaelson!"
1-0.
Reset. Miguel's more aggressive now. Comes forward with low kick that tests my balance. I check it. Barely.
His follow-up cross catches my shoulder. Off-balance, I can't defend the hook that follows.
"Point! Diaz!"
1-1.
The match evolves. We trade points like chess pieces. Each exchange revealing more of our training. Our growth. Our evolution from the kids who started six months ago.
2-2.
Miguel takes the lead with a beautiful spinning back fist. Showmanship and technique. The crowd gasps.
3-2 Miguel.
I tie it with a body kick. Hard. Controlled. Right on the liver. He folds slightly but recovers.
3-3.
Sudden death territory. Next point wins.
We reset. Both breathing hard. Sweat stinging eyes. Muscles burning.
Miguel commits first. Combination that's aggressive but slightly wild. Fatigue making him sloppy.
I slip outside. See the opening.
Time dilates.
His guard is low. Fatigue dropping his hands by inches. Cross-hook combination would end this. I've drilled it ten thousand times. My body knows the path. The timing. The execution.
I can win this. Right now.
But winning means semifinals against Robby or Hawk. Finals against whoever survives. And Miguel is Johnny's chosen champion. His star student. The one who needs this for his confidence. His trajectory. His story.
More importantly, Miguel is my friend. Was my friend. Could be my friend again.
And maybe our friendship matters more than my ego.
I throw the combination. But pull it. Just enough.
The cross comes fractionally slower. The hook's angle slightly off. Creating the opening for his counter instead of closing it.
Miguel sees it. Blocks. Pivots. Tornado kick that catches my jaw.
The world tilts. Mat rushes up. Impact drives air from lungs.
"Point! Match! Winner: Diaz, Cobra Kai!"
Crowd erupts. Johnny screaming celebration. Miguel's relief palpable.
I lie on the mat feeling the weight of deliberately losing while making it look competitive.
[TOURNAMENT QUEST UPDATED:]
[Bronze Medal Path Available]
[Strategic Loss Recorded]
[Relationship Implications: Significant]
[Combat XP: +150]
Miguel offers his hand. Pulls me up. Our eyes meet.
"That last combination. You could have finished it."
No point lying. Not to him.
"Yeah."
"Why didn't you?"
"Because you're the better fighter. And Cobra Kai needs you in that final more than they need me." I pause. "And because maybe our friendship mattered more than my ego."
Miguel is silent. Processing. Understanding dawning in his expression.
Then he extends his hand. "That was stupid and honorable. Thank you."
We shake. Something broken starts mending.
[RELATIONSHIP RESTORED:]
[MIGUEL DIAZ: Friend (Respect Restored)]
[Trust: Rebuilding]
[Foundation: Mutual Sacrifice]
Medical area afterward. Ice on my jaw. Sam finds me.
"You threw that match."
Not a question. Statement of fact.
"I made a choice about what matters more. Winning everything or protecting people I care about."
She kisses me. Publicly. In front of everyone.
"You're exhausting and frustrating and I love you."
"I love you too."
Daniel watches from distance. Something in his expression shifts. Not quite approval. But respect. Recognition.
The bronze medal match is a blur. I lose to a skilled fighter from another dojo. Fourth place. Bronze medal.
Miguel wins the championship. Defeats Robby in a controversial final that has judges deliberating. But Miguel's victory is clean. Earned.
Cobra Kai's return complete.
The dojo celebrates. For one night, everyone is united in victory.
Johnny pulls me aside during the celebration. "You gave Miguel that win."
"I gave Cobra Kai that win."
"Same thing." He pauses. "That took more strength than beating him would have."
"Thank you, Sensei."
"Don't thank me. You earned my respect today. That's worth more than gold."
[TOURNAMENT COMPLETE:]
[Final Placement: 4th (Bronze Medal)]
[Combat XP: +300]
[Combat Rating: 55/100]
[Tournament Fighting: 850/1000 XP]
[RELATIONSHIPS RESTORED:]
[Miguel: Friend]
[Johnny: Deep Respect]
[Daniel: Cautious Approval]
[Sam: Deeply Connected]
[QUEST REWARDS: Unlocked]
That night, I hold Sam close. Accept congratulations from teammates. Celebrate with people who matter.
But the System displays something that cuts through the celebration.
[MAJOR CANON EVENT APPROACHING:]
[KREESE'S RETURN]
[Estimated Timeline: 2-4 weeks]
[Prepare accordingly]
I accept my bronze medal. Smile for photos. Store this moment of unity and victory.
Because I know this is the eye of the storm.
Success breeds attention. Attention brings scrutiny.
And somewhere out there, John Kreese is watching. Waiting. Ready to reclaim what he believes is his.
The war is coming.
And I need to be ready.
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