Chapter 31: 30

Chapter 30

Fifteen minutes ago…

Amber's hands got paralyzed.

And that was after only a minute into the match.

Ms Cataleya had made no attempts of dodging her punches at first. And despite letting her fists hit her, the squad leader gave no openings.

That's why…

She found it strange.

Based on the personality she showed her earlier, Ms Cataleya didn't seem like she'd let her bag the win so easily.

Amber is fully aware of the fact that the lady doesn't like her. Hence, Ms Cataleya accepted her challenge without batting an eye. She was… decided to put Amber in her place.

'Letting me hit her probably has consequences…'

And Amber realized she was right.

Because a minute after throwing some punches in, her nerves started acting up. Her fist won't move the way she wants it to. And before it could even reach the smirking squad leader, her hand would relax—resulting to a weak blow delivery.

She was perplexed. 'How…?'

Ms Cataleya's constitution wasn't something she had expected. She was slender, but every part of her body was hardened by strong muscles.

Amber could tell because her body was all she could hit.

Ms Cataleya had her arms up her face, serving as a good cover for fatal hits.

And Amber is familiar with the stunt because she knows boxing.

Her eyes widened when the lady suddenly tackled her to the ground, catching one of her arms in the process. Her heart raced, dread slowly spreading out to her system through her veins.

The squad leader was going for an arm bar…!

And it will be over for her if she allows the lady to get into the position!

Amber let out a shaky breath. 'I can't…'

'I can't control my arm at all…'

Nerve paralysis.

And she only acquired that after Ms Cataleya's body had received furious blows from her fists.

Amber didn't feel anything until then.

Is that supposed to be her special skill?

That's… amazing.

She has never heard of something like that before.

Is that innate?

Hopefully, not.

If such a high-level skill could be learned, perhaps, she might reconsider, and join the pack training permanently.

But, first off…

She can't stay on the ground.

That will put her in an absolute disadvantage.

So, using the strength of her lower body, specifically, her pelvis, Amber tried to roll over her body upwards.

"Shit…" Ms Cataleya cursed loudly, then reluctantly let go of her arm to distance herself from her. "Have you lost your mind!? You could have broken your arm!"

What's her problem?

Isn't that what she has been doing the whole time?

Targeting every bone of her body…

It's a good thing that she knows how to reattach a bone. Otherwise, she will be declared out of commission in no time, and pathetically lose the spar she started.

"That's not a problem at all," Amber coolly stated.

What's a broken arm if she wins an official sparring match against a tenured squad leader?

A broken arm or shoulder… that kind of thing can be sustained in an actual battle. If a pack warrior is afraid to make a sacrifice in order to hold his ground, and achieve his goal, then he's no true warrior.

Besides…

Broken bones heal.

Losses, however, can plague someone's mind for a very long time.

"Do you think your reckless way of fighting can actually help you win?" Ms Cataleya mocked, flipping her hair for the audience to see.

To denote that she's got the upper hand in their match.

But for her to call it 'reckless'…

'She's lying to herself,' Amber thought.

The squad leader wanted herself to believe that what she did back there was reckless—a desperate attempt to get out of her hold.

But…

There was a reason why the lady was standing several meters away from her now.

'Did she think I'd try something with my legs?'

Come to think of it…

She let her fists land on her, making Amber think that there was no need for her to utilize her legs. Her hand paralysis was also the reason why she was unconsciously avoiding to throw a kick. Amber thought that if her leg got paralyzed as well, that would seal the deal for her.

But, now…

When she just tried to roll over, Ms Cataleya suddenly grew wary of her movements—which only solidified her defenses even more.

Amber could tell from the look in her eyes that she would no longer allow another hit in again.

Still, the information that she's got on the lady is hardly enough.

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For her to be able to come up with a bullet-proof tactic, she's going to need a bit more. So, for now, she will keep her stance, and try not to make it so obvious that she already has a slight idea about the squad leader's… fears.

It may not be necessarily a fear, but… a misconception.

"Reckless isn't always bad…" Amber said in defense. Just because she's reckless, doesn't mean she no longer stands a chance. Besides, is there a handbook that says there's a proper way to fighting?

Little did they know, Amber's recklessness had long become her edge.

Fear comes in various forms and manifestations.

Though being fearless has its own drawbacks, most often than not, it does more help than harm.

Each person has a different threshold of pain.

But…

Amber no longer treats pain as a bad result.

To her, pain is what gives people strength. Feeling it means you're alive. And staying alive is what's important in life-and-death situations.

In their match, they aren't allowed to use weapons.

That's because their main sports don't require weapons unlike fencing—and among many others.

Ms Cataleya's main sport is… judo.

Amber had seen some moves from judo participants in every competition that she joined before, but the squad leader's tricks were totally different. It was as if what she was performing against her right now was a combination of two to three martial arts.

That's why, predicting her next moves has proved to be challenging.

Amber felt a sting by her right shoulder, causing her to bite her lower lip.

The squad leader wasn't able to complete the arm bar on her, but she still managed to pull her muscle, and cause a soft tissue injury.

Ms Cataleya knows which spots to hit, too…

Amber has been trying her best to move with reservation, yet she looks more beat up than her opponent.

Ms Cataleya still has her breathing controlled after all that. She wasn't lying when she said she was strong.

A lot stronger than her.

Amber is beginning to acknowledge that, and reality should scare her.

So, the gap between their skills is this large…

It's high-time for Amber to feel threatened.

To be filled with uncertainties…

Amber tried to open and close her hands. Her hooks are now useless. By now, Ms Cataleya had probably memorized her lousy moves.

Her fists now… are nothing but a distraction.

Her vision blurred for a quick second, and when she forced to keep her eyes open—the lady had already gone up to her face. Ms Cataleya stopped her fist at the final second as to show off, and make everyone think that she was capable of being merciful.

The lady flicked her forehead, and Amber thought her frontal lobe constricted.

Painfully.

"Ah…" she groaned, her feet becoming unsteady.

Amber feels confused.

Why does she feel like the ground is moving…?

'Is this my limit?'

She feels dizzy, and it's hard to make out her opponent's maneuver…

"You've challenged the wrong woman, Amber Santiago," she whispered in ear before she was pushed to the ground—again.

Her opponent climbed on top of her with a wicked glint in her eyes.

Then, she delivered punches after punches… non-stop. Amber had no other choice but to just lie flat there, and cross her arms to protect her head.

But, all the while…

She's thinking.

Despite the lightheadedness she's feeling…

She's thinking.

About a martial art.

One that is… the opposite of judo, a grappling-based sport.

Amber doesn't want to grapple an enemy. Subduing them means you're afraid of what they can do.

And that would be… boring.

Especially in sports.

What Amber wants is to strike an enemy down.

Because that defines a perfect win.

And the strike-based sport that might actually work on her opponent right now…

Taekwondo.

She hasn't mastered it, but… she can definitely use its fundamentals to her advantage.

After all, it's a kick-based martial art.

Now, the question is…

How would she pull that off if she was lying down, and getting beaten up ruthlessly?

There was only one thing Amber could think of.

A bluff.

"Ms Cataleya…" she croaked out while coughing up blood.

The lady stopped, and looked down at her, her brow raised. "What? You want to tap out?" She curled her lip.

"No…" Amber cracked her toes, and made sure it was heard by the person on top of her. "Is it really wise for you to… don't mind my lower extremities?"

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