Kanata Yamamoto vs Astrid Arvidsson - The Stoic Fighter Meets the Golden Dragon

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Kanata was overly impressed by the sheer willpower and strength that Astrid had let out. To think that after all that, and taking her critical finisher to put a cherry on the top... Astrid still managed to kick out? Kanata had a newfound respect for her opponent. Standing there awaiting for Astrid to stand up. Kanata let out a smile behind the crimson blood mask that trickled down her chin and onto her black leotard.

And now, with the two women standing upright once again. The crowd watches in anticipation of what happens next as the two put up their stance once again. Starting the last stretch of the match... Kanata grinned at Astrid and nodded. "May the best woman win." She replied back as the two then steps forward! Intending to give their all into the match!

Pain howled throughout her body, Kanata knew she's almost at her limit. Her undying spirit was what made her known, ending her matches with either her opponent being brought down by her or her complete destruction. She's here to bring the toughest out of all her foes. And so, she'd refuse to get down that easy. Astrid have to bring her everything to bring Kanata down!

"Gahkh!" Kanata threw her head to the side as Astrid's hook landed clean on her jaw. Her blood splattered to the canvas, painting it red. Her knees wobbled and her guard lowered slightly as her body jerked to the side. Kanata glared back to Astrid as she steps to the side to stop herself from falling. "I said everything!" Kanata roared out as she then swung her arm towards Astrid with an open palm! She intends to give back to Astrid with a right palm strike right to the side of her head!

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Astrid tried not to think about the fact that she could fall at any moment. Each of her matches was like something crazy, but Kanata pushed her to something completely different. Covered in blood and almost completely exhausted, the Golden Dragon was focused on sending the Japanese woman down before her strength left her.

Bypassing the brunette's defense, Astrid's fist crashed into Kanata's jaw. The Japanese woman's head jerked to the side, and blood flew out of her mouth. Under the loud screams of the audience, Kanata staggered as if she was going to fall. However, instead, she shifted her foot to the side, thereby finding balance. Where did this woman get so much strength from?!

With a scream even louder than the screams of the audience, she turned to Astrid, sending her palm into her head like a sumo wrestler. The Golden Dragon reacted almost instinctively. Shifting her right foot to the right in order to strengthen her stance, she threw both hands up, causing Kanata's palm to crash into her forearms, not her head.

And immediately after that, Astrid's left arm would rush forward. Not in order to hit the brunette, but in order to wrap around her attacking arm like a snake, thereby twisting it. She wanted to keep Kanata in place. But not out of a simple whim. She understood that if she wanted to use something really heavy, then first she had to stun the Japanese woman. And therefore...

"I KNOW!!!" Astrid would have roared in response to her rival's words.

Clenching her right fist, the Golden Dragon intended to show what her muscles were capable of. The blonde was going to send this fist forward and up as if trying to punch Kanata's head through with a hard right uppercut aimed at the chin of the Japanese woman!

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Kanata was known to be resilient back in her prime. Even to the point that she pushes the limit, one that seemed to affect her longetivity. She can still go, outlasting another shouldn't be that hard. And that was what she intends to do. Push the other beyond their limit. She doesn't seem to lose her viciousness with the palm strike as she swings it in hard.

But alas, Astrid managed to block her palm strike in time with her forearms. Slight annoyance could be seen in Kanata's face as she then tried to pull away only to find Astrid managed to quickly snake her arm around Kanata's. Stopping Kanata in place and with the two up close with each other. Knowing full well that Astrid is going to strike back. She braced herself for the strike... And as the fist flies towards Kanata...

"Bwaghhh!!!" Kanata recoiled back as her head flew back after taking a strong uppercut right on her chin. Her knees buckled, shifting back to her position before taking the blow. But the strike did quite a number on her as she knelt down. Her free hand gripping onto Astrid's top as her face planted on Astrid's abdomen. Smearing some blood on her face against her opponent's abdomen.

Gasping and coughing as she slowly tried to recover, she pushed her head back and glared up to Astrid. "No..." Kanata shook her head as she pulled herself up to her feet. "Harder." She let out once again, followed with her swinging her head forward! Going to clash her head onto Astrid's with a fierce headbutt!

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If a pleasant pain exists, it's pain in the knuckles. Why? Because this is a sure sign that the punch has reached the target. A slight smile appeared on Astrid's exhausted face the moment her fist crashed into Kanata's chin. A pleasant pain appeared in her knuckles and spread throughout her body. Unfortunately, this pleasant feeling lasted only a second because the Golden Dragon was catastrophically tired.

At that moment, when the Japanese woman knelt down, pressing her face against the blonde's bare stomach, Astrid was greedily gulping air. Why didn't Kanata fall? Right. The brunette grabbed the Norwegian woman's bloody sports top. Because of this, part of her lush breast were exposed, but now she was not in a state to attach much importance to it. Pain and fatigue were hellish a cocktail. However, Astrid understood that she must to keep attacking until Kanata could not continue.

And as soon as she thought about it, she felt her opponent's body tense up. Kanata raised her head and looked into the lavender eyes of the Golden Dragon. Words. These words literally made Astrid growl. Damn it, why is this woman talking like Astrid's blows don't mean anything???!!! The Golden Dragon's eyes seemed to turn red again for a moment due to anger.

It was anger that became what seemed to turn off all the painful sensations in her body. The pain did not allow her to move quickly. However, at that moment Kanata angered her so much that the whole world seemed to slow down for the blonde. And when Kanata straightened up to her full height, pointing her head at Astrid's head, the descendant of the great Vikings took a surprisingly fast, for a woman of her size, diagonal step forward and to the right, thereby avoiding her rival's headbutt.

Turning to the left on her toes, the Golden Dragon intended to be behind Kanata and at the same moment throw both hands up in order to push them under the armpits of the Japanese woman, and then join the palms on the back of her head, thereby closing the brunette in a full Nelson hold.

"Harder you say?" Astrid growled.

Well. Let's see. The Golden Dragon intended to hook Kanata's left leg with her right leg and then push the brunette hard forward. Yes, she had almost no strength left. However, now her own weight and gravity had to do all the work for her. Yes, that's right, the Golden Dragon intended to make Kanata fall face down with the help of a full Nelson facebuster!

Hoping that this would be enough for Kanata to finally stop repeating the same words, Astrid, if successful, of course, was going to turn her opponent on her back, and then just lie down on her tiredly to press her shoulder blades to the mat and thereby start what she hoped, will be the last pin attempt in this match!

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Even if Kanata struggled to get up to her feet. Even if her vision was already spinning around in a bloody blur. Her sense of balance were already wobbly as well. Kanata won't admit it's a struggle. To that, in her struggle. She tried striking back with a headbutt! But with herself already sluggish and unable to strike quickly. Astrid found her intention and evaded her headbutt in a swift motion.

She then found her arms seized in a full nelson hold. She hardly budged on the hold. Grunting out as she then heard Astrid questioning if she really wants it harder. Laughing drily at the question. She then mouthed out a silent "Koi". What comes next... Astrid hooked her left leg with her right leg. Tripping her as the two heavyweights fell forward!! The gravity assisted the fall as Kanata felt Astrid pushing her head down as well!

A harsh thud echoed around the arena as the two landed on the canvas!! Kanata laid face down barely moving, groaning out as she was then turned around to lay on her back. Astrid then laid her weight down across her body. Pinning her down for the count. The referee slide close and started slapping the canvas to count the pin attempt!!!

"ONE!"

"TWO!"

"THR---!" Just as the referee about to slap the canvas for the third time... Kanata's shoulder raise up although barely! Slightly shoving Astrid aside as she rolled to lay on her side. The referee then showed Astrid that it was a two count and the match still continues. Meanwhile Kanata shook her head, holding her pained expression, gritting her teeth as she tries to recover from the damages.

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Yes, that's right. Astrid was so exhausted that she didn't even have the strength to hook her opponent's leg. Kanata was an amazing woman who continued to push the descendant of the great Vikings forward, as if wanting the blonde to go beyond all possible limits. This tore the Golden Dragon from the inside, because she simultaneously felt both respect and hatred for her rival.

"ONE!"

Gasping for air, Astrid tried to tense her body after the referee slapped the mat for the first time. Considering how much effort she had expended in this match, she intended to make sure that this pin was the last one.

In this match, they inflicted an enormous amount of damage on each other. Each of the spectators saw that none of them intended to concede to the other. However, this match simply could not end in a draw. No. Someone has to lose. One of them has to snatch the victory from the hands of the other woman.

"TWO!!"

Astrid gritted her teeth and even squeezed her eyes shut. So close. So close. Just one second. Just one second separated her from victory. After everything that had happened in this incredible match, she couldn't even believe it. Astrid didn't see it, but she felt the referee send her hand down for the third time.

And literally a fraction of a second before this palm came into contact with the mat, Kanata jerked to the side, not only breaking the pin, but also forcing Astrid to roll off her, as a result of which the blonde was on her back. Panting from exhaustion, the Golden Dragon turned her head to look at the referee. The striped shirt raised her hand above her head, showing only two fingers.

"Mmmmmggghhh!!!!" Astrid groaned in frustration.

From the very first day she joined LAW, she fought exclusively with the toughest women. Each of them was incredibly strong. But without a doubt, Kanata was much more persistent than any of them.

The pain in Astrid's muscles and joints was unbearable, she had to literally force herself to roll over on her stomach and get up on all fours as her body protested against it. Fighting with this woman, the Golden Dragon no longer knew what she needed to do in order to win. It seemed that no attack was strong enough to finally force Kanata to stay down.

But the truth was that one of the attacks would definitely be the last. It may have seemed unreal, but Astid knew it. Therefore, she intended to grab the Japanese woman by the elbow and then get to her feet. Pulling Kanata up, the Golden Dragon wanted to make her rise too.

And if she had succeeded, she would have let go of Kanata's elbow, but only to grab her wrist with the left hand. Perhaps this would be the last attack she needed. Realizing that she could lose consciousness at any moment, the Golden Dragon did not hesitate. She intended to pull Kanata towards her, at the same time straightening her right arm to the side in order to hit the brunette in the chest with her signature move, which many people knew as a shorm-arm lariat, but which Astrid called the Bifrost!

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It hurts, her whole body hurts... Pains surging out from all her limbs. Kanata barely moved after breaking the pin. She was conscious through it all, but it felt like she could lose her consciousness anytime... No, she don't want to. Not after Astrid managed to kick out of her surefire finish. She wants to feel Astrid hitting her with her strongest move. This wasn't it... Call it her stubbornness, all she wanted was to fight strong opponents.

Groaning out, Kanata could feel Astrid grabbing hold of her elbow. No, there was no point in fighting out the grip. Kanata then got pulled up to her feet. Slowly rising back up following Astrid. Facing each other as she gets back up... And then, Astrid let go of her elbow and seized her wrist. Without any hesitation, Kanata was then pulled in with Astrid's arm rapidly approaching her chest!!!

It seemed as if Kanata would get hit by that strong lariat... But Kanata, in a move of desperation, ducked down and gets on her knees, narrowly avoiding the lariat. Her right arm then hooks itself around Astrid's waist. Using the hook to pivot herself behind Astrid and complete the waistlock. Kanata held the hold tightly and not intending to let go as she held it while kneeling down behind Astrid.

Kanata then rises to her feet, still keeping a firm hold in the waistlock. Not intending to let go no matter how Astrid tries to make her. She took a deep breath and then...

"RRRRRROOOOOOAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!" With a loud growl, Kanata then lifts Astrid off the canvas. Lifting her up in a familiar, basic, yet very picturesque arching motion of a german suplex. She expends all the strength she had left to bank on this one move. Driving Astrid shoulderfirst to the canvas with a german suplex and intended to hold a bridge as she kept the waistlock in for the pinfall! She doesn't have the strength left to pull another Burning Hammer, as she hoped that this move is enough to secure her victory!!!

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How much longer can they hold out? This was the question most viewers were asking at the moment when Astrid lifted Kanata after the broken pin. And the truth was that the Norwegian woman also asked herself this question. She was so exhausted that she just didn't know what else she could offer her rival. However, she wouldn't get any answers. And so she decided to just attack, even if this attack was the last one before her strength completely ran out.

The Golden Dragon pulled the Japanese woman towards her, at the same time directing the outstretched arm into her chest. Yes, it was far from the toughest attack in the blonde's arsenal, especially considering Kanata's stamina. However, both of them were so weak right now that even that would be enough. At least that's what Astrid thought. But she was wrong.

The heart of the descendant of the great Vikings seemed to stop for a moment. The reason for this was that instead of her opponent's chest, the Golden Dragon's right arm found only air. To the cheers of the audience, Kanata slipped on her knees under Astrid's lariat. But that wasn't the only thing she did. The brunette also stretched out her arm to the side. Not to hit Astrid, but to hook her waist.

Thanks to this, Kanata literally in one movement turned around, thereby ending up behind Astrid. At the same moment, the Norwegian woman felt Kanata clinging to her, squeezing her waist. There was nothing to hide here, a chill ran down the Golden Dragon's back.

Kanata got to her feet, thereby lifting Astrid above the mat. For the descendant of the great Vikings, it was more than obvious what was going to happen. In desperation, she waved her arms while trying to lean forward in an attempt to prevent Kanata from completing what she had started. However, the Japanese woman grabbed the Golden Dragon with a death grip. No, she wasn't going to let her go. Kanata wanted to win. And nothing else.

At the moment when the brunette leaned back, the wind whistled in Astrid's ears. Her hair, stuck together because of blood and sweat, rustled, and then there was such a loud bang that it was more like a bomb explosion. Astrid's upper body crashed into the mat with such force that the ring literally shook. The blonde's eyes rolled back and her mouth opened wide.

"Ghaaa..." the last of the air came out of her lungs along with a strangled groan of pain.

Her legs were hanging over her head. Because she was literally folded in half, it was hard to tell if she was breathing at all. Yes, she was breathing. But that was her only sign of life at that moment. For Astrid, this sudden attack by Kanata became something like a knife in the heart. Her shoulder blades were pressed against the mat and for the referee, who again lay down next to the women, this was more than enough to start counting.

"ONE!"

Nothing. Astrid didn't tense a single muscle at that moment. She could, but her mind seemed to forbid her. Why? It was a protest. Her mind was trying to stop her from hurting even more. Her mind was trying to make her lose consciousness. It was a reliable way, because it would lead to the end of the match, and this in turn means that she will no longer have to get hurt.

"TWO!!" Echoed through the arena thanks to the audience, who sincerely believed that this was the end.

Were they right? There was hardly a single person who would have accused Astrid of not doing her best. It was a really good match. A tough one. And to lose such a match is not a disgrace. No one would blame her. No one would... or...

She would. The temptation to give up under the pressure of pain and fatigue is always sweet. Pain and fatigue are the most convenient excuses. They serve as a consolation for those who are ready to stop, for those who are ready to give up their aspirations to win. But the Golden Dragon knew that she would never forgive herself if she gave up because of pain or fatigue when she still had at least one drop of strength.

"THR..."

The referee's hand went to the mat and at the same moment, with a groan full of agony, Astrid jerked her legs to the side, breaking out of her opponent's grip. The blonde was on the mat and her body was like a mountain of crumpled clothes. The descendant of the great Vikings gulped air, but was in no hurry to move. However, it didn't matter, because the referee got to her feet and raised her right hand over her head.

"ONLY TWO!!!" She said, although her voice was almost inaudible due to the roar of the audience, who seemed to have lost their minds after what they saw.

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Kanata tried the best she could to hold onto her bridge and keeping Astrid folded in a waist lock following the suplex. This has been quite the battle, bringing each women to their limits. Hard hits, slams, brutal looking spots. All of it happened and brought excitement to the crowd. Kanata was running almost empty, all that she hoped that this is enough to keep Astrid down for the 3 count.

She could hear the hand slapping the canvas as the pin started to count. She had her doubts that this suplex isn't enough to bring Astrid down but she wished that this match ends with her win. One... Two... She felt a little relief that she didn't feel much of a fight back on the two count. But what comes next...

"Ah!" Kanata let out as her grip was broken free almost at the same time as the third count. Her eyes widen in disbelief as she lay flat on her back. Slowly gazing over to the referee to see her fingers showing that she only had Astrid for a two count. "Ha...?" She let out in disbelief as she breathed in and out slow, drawn out breathing. There was no rush for her to get back up to her feet. She was more than impressed that like her, Astrid is that stubborn to not stay down and accept the loss.

Pushing her upper body up to sit up. Kanata glanced over to Astrid with a slight smile. "Subarashii..." She said, her jet black hair was turning to a shade of blood red along with her face covered in a crimson mask. Quite the sight in such a hard hitting match. "Un... Kono chikara de... Subarashii." She continued as she pull herself back to her feet. There was nothing but respect coming out from Kanata after seeing how tough and stubborn Astrid is. She then waved her hand up slowly, a gesture directed to Astrid to get back up to her feet. "<Let's finish this.>" She invited, knowing full well that what comes after this would be the last stretch that would show which women will stand on top of the other. That she was eager to get through and see how it ends.

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The atmosphere in the arena was truly incredible. Many people took part in the Apex, even those who had just signed a contract. Some even made their debut during the qualifying matches. Everyone was eager to get a chance to become the first openweight champion. Everyone wanted to see themselves with gold on their waists. This gave the audience the opportunity to see a huge number of great matches.

But this match could not be put on a par with most other qualifying matches. Yes, every fighter strives for victory in every match, because in the end it is victory in most cases that becomes what brings you honor and glory. However, in this match, the women did not strive for victory alone. Each of them sought to prove to the other that it was she who was worthy of victory. This confrontation turned this match into something completely different.

Everyone understood that. Audience. Kanata. Astrid. Everyone. And after the Golden Dragon broke the pin, everyone realized that this was the moment that everyone had been waiting for for so long. They have already exchanged strength, agility, endurance and skill. Now they just have to figure out whose will is stronger. Both Astrid and Kanata were in equally bad shape. The bodies of the body were covered in blood. And their reserves were almost completely depleted. In a sense, they went back to the beginning. They were equal again.

The Japanese woman was ready for the end. After giving Astrid words of respect, Kanata began to get to her feet. The blonde was determined to do the same. And so, despite the fact that it seemed to her that her body weighed more than a ton at that moment, she turned over on her stomach and put her palms near her head.

"To the last drop of sweat..." she reminded herself mentally.

Gritting her teeth, Astrid strained her arms and got up on all fours. Her body was shaking like an aspen leaf due to exhaustion. She was in pain and every movement, even the smallest, only intensified the agony. However, Astrid considered herself a person of her word. And she strove never to break her promises. Especially the promises she made to herself.

Barely restraining painful groans, the Golden Dragon pushed off from the mat and got to her feet. At the same moment, she staggered, but then, leaving her right leg a step back, she found her balance. Both women were on their feet. Face to face. And although at that moment they both looked like they were in a slaughterhouse, it didn't matter. The important thing was that they were still looking at each other with confidence in their gaze. It's time. It's time to end it all. Once and for all. No breaks. Not a step back.

Astrid raised her shaking hands and clenched her fists. With a curt nod to her rival, she took a deep breath, and then headed straight for Kanata. The Japanese woman withstood the power of the dragon inside Astrid, which was not possible for many. The blonde was ready to accept that if she was destined to lose today, then so be it. Kanata deserved to win just as much as she did. However, the descendant of the great Vikings was ready to accept defeat only if Kanata would surpass her not only as the Golden Dragon, but also as Astrid Arvidsson.

Placing her right foot slightly to the left of her left foot, the blonde intended to allow her body to make a spin. If her best friend had been in her place, it would surely have ended with a kick. However, Astrid had other plans. Turning around her axis in order to get a powerful impulse, she intended to send a rolling elbow strike in Kanata's face! Not only to knock the last of her strength out of her, but also to throw her to the corner behind her!