[Last Woman Standing Match] Astrid Arvidsson vs Diana Accera - For abs, booba and the Openweight Title (Apex Match)

[Devilish53]

The two titans were mirror images of one another now - their shadows mimicking the motions of the other, with neither backing down. Although they would literally, if only to take a single step back and rear from the strike. Astrid did so, and now Diana did the same!

Fully expecting the blonde wouldn't be so easily deterred by a weakened uppercut strike, Diana was already tensing her torso and preparing for the worst before her arm even came back to her. Though there would never be a case of preparing too much with this particular blonde, given that the strike she expected came with such force it looked as though she hadn't seen it coming at all!

Head rearing back, the Italian looked close to falling to her ass what with her skull wobbling back and forth, before she actively forced herself to stumble forward. The crowd was already reeling from Astrid's nasty elbow shot - what with them roaring in approval - before they found their cheers turning to boos before their very eyes!

For Diana didn't stumble into her foe so much as she did to her side. With an arm to swing up into Astrid's top half yet again - for another huge uppercut!

One intent on slapping the sweat clean from Astrid's brow! With Diana just as confused as Astrid likely was as to where she was finding this power from!

[skip-stop]

What warmed Astrid's soul at that moment? There was hardly anything significant enough to give her enough strength to send Diana down with just one blow. However, the cheers that she heard from the audience clearly intensified the weak flame that was in her soul. They supported her. Yes, perhaps the Italian woman was not a world-class villain who deserved maximum censure, but, nevertheless, it was Astrid, not her rival, who had the sympathy of the audience on her side today, right now.

Perhaps it was this that strengthened her strike, because after her elbow crashed into Diana's face, the brunette staggered so strong that it seemed that she would certainly fall. The upper part of Diana's body leaned back so much that gravity was already preparing to do the rest. But if everything was so simple, then probably anyone could become the first openweight champion.

Instead of falling, the former champion not only took an upright position, but also leaned forward, certainly in order to give her body at least some impulse. She used this impulse to send another uppercut into the Golden Dragon's chin. And although it was accompanied by negative boos from the audience, her attack found its target.

"GMMHHH!!!!"

This time Astrid's head didn't jerk to the side, instead her head was thrown back. Diana's blow really made the sweat fly off the face of the descendant of the great Vikings as if someone had used a spray gun. At the same moment, a white flash ran before the blonde's eyes. Literally for a split second, but her body went limp. Her body has long gone beyond her capabilities. And although she was strong, even she couldn't handle the amount of damage that continued to increase thanks to Diana's efforts.

Barely finding the strength to stay conscious, Astrid leaned forward, but even so she dropped to one knee. Blood started flowing down her chin. Scarlet drops dripped onto the mat. She looked like a wounded beast . But you know what? The most dangerous beast is a beast that has been cornered and is facing a life-and-death fight. The picture in front of her eyes pulsed because her consciousness was on the verge. But she could still hear everything around her. She could hear the audience shouting her name. And although it was nothing more than a cruel game of her mind, at that moment it seemed to her that her ancestors were shouting her name along with the audience, too.

Her left hand was still on the back of Diana's head. And although this hand was useless at that moment, Astrid knew that it was a good help for another thing. Letting out a groan full of rage and agony, she intended to get up from her knee while throwing her right hand forward. And although many expected that she would respond to Diana's blow with her own blow, Astrid intended to use her right hand only to further strengthen her grip on the back of her rival's head, now holding it with her both hands.

No, if she has to lose today, then first she will make sure that she gave her opponent everything. The last drop of sweat and the last drop of blood. Yanking the Italian woman's head towards her, the Golden Dragon intended to use what she had to use far more than once. Every time it hurt like hell for her. But the fact was that, if successful, of course, it would be much more painful for her opponent. Astrid intended to move her own head forward too in order to hit Diana right in the center of her face with a hard headbutt!

[Devilish53]

Diana couldn't stop. To do so would open the door towards the finish of the match - there was absolutely no way on earth she could lose this moment only to counter and seize control later. She was praying Astrid was in the same state, or all of this might have been for nothing!

With the uppercut finding its mark, Diana would be left arched forward with both hands to her thighs. Astrid was still standing, if partially, with her grip upon Diana being a light one yet one the Italian wouldn't bother to break off of her. With what little reserves she had left, she couldn't waste strength in fiddling and prying with the blondes grip.

And damn if she wasn't right to do so, given the retort that came her way.

For Astrid rose with boundless fury yet again not to throw arms or legs at the Italian, but her own good looks!

The roar of the crowd reaching its pinnacle as Astrid swung her head in hard, Diana briefly felt her eyes cross upon collision. Her hands - instinctively raised the moment Astrid began to pull herself to a stand - now clutched the wide hips of her foe. For had she not, she would have fallen flat to her back and the match would now firmly be in the larger woman's hands.

With the focus in her eyes failing to return, Diana knew she couldn't waste time in shaking off the cobwebs brought on by a near concussion-worthy headbutt. With a bead of spittle falling from her lips as she turned her head, the crowd once more found their reactions turning from positive to negative as Diana threw herself at her blonde nemesis with reckless abandon.

For Diana would press her head against her foes own if only to rest it, whilst maintaining her clutch of Astrid's hips. If to steady them, for a rising knee clean into her gut!

[skip-stop]

Fuck. It was painful. Surely many would agree that when your body is at its limit and you feel nothing but pain, using a headbutt is far from the best idea. Maybe even Astrid agreed with that. But at that moment she just didn't care. She only wanted one thing. She wanted to send Diana down.

The moment her forehead smashed into the brunette's face, Astrid felt as if her skull had split. For a moment or two there was nothing but a white veil before her eyes. Dizziness, pain and fatigue tried to drag her into the abyss. However, instead of succumbing to them, she forced herself to take a deep breath in an attempt to clear her vision.

If this blow brought her such consequences, then surely it was much worse for Diana. This assumption was more than fair because saliva was dripping from the mouth of the former champion, and her hands were on the hips of the Golden Dragon. It seemed that she was ready to fall even from a light breeze. But no. Of course no.

Drawing strength literally from nowhere, Diana pressed her head against Astrid's head. And at the same moment, when the arena was filled with disapproving whistles again, the brunette lifted her leg. Astrid simply did not have the strength to react to this in time, as a result of which Diana's knee crashed into her bare stomach. Her abs were covered with bruises of various colors and this blow became something like the last drop in an already overflowing bowl.

"GGUUAAHHHH..."

A lump rose in the blonde's throat. She involuntarily leaned forward and now both women were using each other as support. Astrid tried to take a breath, because she needed it catastrophically. She knew for sure that if she did not breathe, then the remnants of her strength would simply leave her body. However, even the thought of taking a deep breath caused even more pain. Her abs felt like a mess after all of Diana's attacks.

"Ghhhh... ghhhh..." she continued groaning.

Which attack will be strong enough to finally force the brunette to give up? Astrid didn't have an answer to that question. But, more importantly, she wasn't sure she had the strength left to offer Diana anything else. Doubts. Doubts began to take hold of her mind. Is this really the end for her? Did she really not have enough strength to defeat Diana?

"Anyone can doubt a fighter. The audience, other fighters, friends, parents... anyone. But a fighter has no right to doubt. Because if a fighter doubts, then this is the end. Doubts inevitably lead to defeat. Therefore, never doubt yourself, this is the only way you can become a champion."

The great words her father said to her before she went to Japan. Right. No fucking doubts. Astrid wasn't going to let Diana manipulate her. There are no invincibles. And if the brunette still had the strength to fight, Astrid was going to answer her. Even if she has to pay the highest price for it.

With a roar, the Golden Dragon, who was still holding onto the back of Diana's head, intended to pull her rival's head back in order to create some free space between them. What for? Well. She was really willing to pay for winning on this woman. Astrid had no idea if she could handle it, but there was no room for doubts in her heart anymore. She intended to pull Diana's head towards her, at the same time directing her own head forward again. Even if it was the last thing she would do, she intended to make sure that, accompanied by the deafening support of the audience, another headbutt would knock all the shit out of Diana's head!

[Devilish53]

Diana couldn't keep going. Not like this. Every strike she gave to Astrid was given back to her with gusto. She was already imagining rearing back, before throwing a hook that could damn near knock the teeth from her foes mouth - only for the blonde berserker to use that momentum to fire off a final strike that would damn near snap the Italian's jaw. Diana could stop and try for a slam or submission in favor of this little contest of theres, but to do so would have been outright screaming her intent to the woman she was intending to wrangle.

Astrid may have been as weary eyed as she, but Diana couldn't imagine she'd stay that way if she felt the Italian's hands wrap around her to hoist her up.

Forehead growing red, then outright purple as more spittle was force from her lips, Diana's head outright came back with a snapping motion as she stumbled a full step back. There would be no wobbly legs this time - she would outright fall to a knee with both hands flat to the canvas the moment her body reared back forward. With her face pointed at the canvas, the spittle would fall more freely now, with a fine line almost connecting without interruption from her lip to the canvas. All the whilst the crowd roared on, partly with the spectacle that they were baring witness to, but primarily to the fact Astrid had seized control. For whenever Diana had thrown her own strikes in retort, they were still responding with the negative!

Trying to force her right leg to straighten, Diana had absolutely no clue how she could come out of this encounter with control in possession. Her position gave her the idea to rise with another knee, or even an uppercut clean into the abs she had just struck. A part of her was already imagining the third headbutt that would swing her way had she done so...

But with this position forced upon Diana gave the Italian an advantage - one neither woman could have foreseen amidst this little back and forth of theirs. And with Astrid ideally reeling from the fact she had used her head as a club for the second time in a row, Diana wouldn't waste time in committing to her ploy.

Not as she let loose a battle cry with an item now to hand - one of the crooked steel chairs that the two had fallen upon time and time again! One she would look to damn near dig into Astrid's abs as she rose, with the rough edges looking to cut into the meat of this woman who simply wouldn't quit!

In the place of the usual negative outcry to Diana's resistance came literal outcry - part shock, part concern at the use of this brutal weapon!

[skip-stop]

It was definitely a lot worse than the first time. When Astrid's forehead slammed into Diana's chin, she felt her mind falling into darkness. Perhaps her willpower was still strong, but her body could no longer absorb the damage. She staggered. very hard. At this moment, it seemed to the audience that the Golden Dragon would not be able to stand on her feet. And they were almost right. She was really ready to fall. But then she heard something.

A quiet knock that could not be confused with anything. Someone's knee collided with the mat. And considering that it wasn't Astrid's knee, it wasn't hard to conclude that it was Diana's. The thought made Astrid open her eyes. Her vision was still blurry. Not just because of dizziness. She was in so much pain at that moment that her eyes just filled with tears. An involuntary body reaction that she couldn't do anything about.

And, nevertheless, she saw the silhouette of her rival. Diana really got down on one knee. Yes, Astrid was barely able to distinguish the features of the Italian woman's face, but she was sure of one thing for sure. If she hits the former champion one more time, then it will be the end for the brunette. Therefore, exhausted, the descendant of the great Vikings took a step forward. She clenched her right fist and prepared to make sure that Diana couldn't stop her from finishing the match.

The disapproving boos were so loud that for a moment she thought someone was trying to pierce her ears through. What was the reason? There was a chair in Diana's hands. Yes, before her series of successful attacks, she voluntarily gave up such a weapon, which one of the assistants agreed to provide her with. But now, when she was faced with a choice of victory or defeat, she did not listen to the call of her conscience. Instead, she used what was so conveniently at her fingertips. Without any pity, the Italian woman directed the edge of the chair to perhaps the only place on Astrid's body that she was going to really destroy.

"UGGMMM KHAAAAAA KHAA!!!!"

It started as a groan of agony, and ended as a hellish cough. Astrid leaned forward so abruptly that three kinds of drops flew off her face at once. Blood. Sweat. Tears. For a moment, she thought she was going to spit out her guts. The pain in her core was simply unbearable. It seems that Diana really set out to match the skill of the Belly Queen. The Golden Dragon simply could not find any other reasons why Diana focused such a huge number of attacks on her abs.

Whatever it was, but it didn't change the most important thing. Under the pressure of pain and fatigue, the mighty Golden Dragon sank to one knee, hugging her stomach with her hands. Every time she tried to take a breath, she felt an attack of vomiting. Was she trying to find the strength to once again respond to Diana's attack? Yes, she was. And although she couldn't blame her opponent for using a weapon to turn the game around again... Astrid bitterly began to realize that perhaps she had just missed her chance to defeat the Italian woman…

[Devilish53]

The crowd could hardly blame Diana for her use of the weapon - she hadn't exactly played out of the rules to acquire it, and it was very much within her right to make use of the steel chair. Albeit they were a little disappointment that the lively back and forth had been brought about to such an abrupt end - with Diana if anything appearing the weaker, given she had to make use of the outside object to take control!

Rising with sweat dripping clean from her face, Diana turned her gaze towards the masses as she let the chair slip free of her grasp. There was certainly the urge to use it again - multiple times in fact, to put this blonde in a state where defeat was without a doubt a certainty.

Instead, Diana looked for a more proud end, what with her hands reaching down to grapple at the shoulders of her foe to prop her back up! From there, an almost tender embrace awaited the Golden Dragon as Diana used her foe to prop herself up, all the whilst slowly moving her own feet. The move in mind from Diana required the utmost levels of power; power she would struggle to unleash even on a foe of middleweight variety. Needless to say, she wouldn't even bother trying to utilize said plan on a body as thick as Astrid's.

There would however, be a work around.

Pulling back as her embrace turned into a grip of Astrid's shoulder and opposing arm, Diana would look to turn her body as she pulled to send Astrid towards the ropes previously behind herself. It was beyond risky to let Astrid gain momentum like this - but the confidence of the Italian was once again shining through, given she had absolutely every belief that Astrid would be unable to offer retort. She'd just had her abs near caved in, after all!

Bracing herself as she sent her foe flying, Diana would blink the sweat from her gaze before lowering herself. Legs wide, stance wider, the motion Diana now had in mind for Astrid still required a great deal of strength, but it wouldn't at all be the amount needed to unleash her usual variant of her intended move.

For the moment Astrid closed in - against her will, thanks to the Irish whip - Diana would see about clamping on her hips before shifting her momentum upwards! The goal would be to have the big blonde forced up into the air in pop-up fashion, only for Diana to then pull on those hips the moment Astrid began her return to earth.

As to direct her into the Italian's shoulder - which would be poised to press right into the gut of her foe once again!

It would be a spinebuster of epic proportions as Diana brought Astrid down to earth, with the Italian even going so far as to pivot the blonde and herself as she closed in. For it wouldn't be the canvas that Astrid's rear side would hit - but the rough edges of the chair Diana had just introduced her abs to a moment ago!

In what was a rough, desperate version of Diana's most trusted finishing maneuver - The Italian Lance!

[skip-stop]

It was truly a terrible feeling. Which one exactly? A feeling of utter helplessness. Standing on one knee, the descendant of the great Vikings tried to do everything in her power to straighten up to her full height and continue to fight. She didn't just want it, she craved it. She felt that she had perhaps the most insignificant, but still a piece of strength.

Pain. Tearing apart pain. That's what tried to stop her. She needed oxygen, but every time she tried to take a deep breath, her core muscles convulsed in an agonized spasm. Diana took care of this with an incredible number of attacks on her abs.

All Astrid wanted the moment Diana grabbed her by the shoulders was to hit her. Anywhere. Head. Belly. Chest. No matter. She didn't care that the brunette used a chair to bring her to this condition. None of this was important to her. She just wanted to prove that she was strong enough. But despite all her desire, the blonde did absolutely nothing. More precisely, it would be more correct to say that she did just one thing. The Golden Dragon, without any resistance, allowed Diana to send her to the ropes with the help of an Irish whip.

If her speed was low, then surely she would have fallen after the second step. However, the brunette's intentions were crystal clear. Diana intended to finish the match. And for this purpose, she spared no effort. She pushed Astrid so hard that the blonde didn't even have a chance to fall. Yes, she could barely stand on her feet, but at that moment her legs carried her forward by themselves thanks to the impulse she received from Diana. Only at the last step her legs get tangled, as a result of which her body began to turn around.

Whether it was luck or not, the Golden Dragon didn't fall to the mat. Instead, she fell right onto the ropes. And it's impossible to argue with physics, at that moment she was ready to curse it. Why? Because she not only bounced off the ropes, but also gained even more speed. Thanks to this speed, she began to return to the center of the ring. And there her rival was already waiting for her. She knew it even through the fog in her eyes. She knew that whatever Diana was up to, this was the last point of her plan. Her Rubicon. Her apogee. Her ninth symphony.

"A promise..." she said to herself mentally. "I made a promise..."

Astrid hated making promises. But despite the fact that she did it as rarely as possible, she managed to make a whole lot of promises. She promised her father that she would never doubt herself. She promised Kanata that she would do everything in her power to ensure that the next time they met, she would have a belt around her waist. She promised Diana that she would give her everything she has in this match. So what kind of promise Astrid remembered at the moment when she was only a few seconds away from defeat?

No, it was none of those promises. She remembered a promise she had made miles away from here. In one of the regions of Italy. In one relatively small house. To the one certain woman. This woman was Fabiana, Diana's mother. Yes, Astrid wasn't going to deny that she had visited Italy in the first place solely to tickle her rival's nerves as revenge. But during the conversation with Fabiana... Astrid really, fully realized how much Diana had lost her way. What promise did she make? The Norwegian woman promised that she would help Diana. Even if she has to beat all the shit that she gained for that short time while she had the LAWLESS title in her hands.

At that moment, this was definitely her biggest motivation, but the Golden Dragon wasn't going to forget about the rest of her promises. She always called herself a person of her word. Yes, she tried not to make promises, but if she had to do it, she always made every effort to remain faithful to her word. She promised not to have doubts. She promised to do everything in her power to win her Apex. Besides, just ten minutes ago she promised Diana that she would see not the Golden Dragon, but Astrid Arvidsson. And if someone thought that she intended to break all these promises, then this person clearly knew very little about her.

Because Astrid fucking Arvidsson always keeps her word.

The pain tried to stop her. Despite the fact that she continued to move forward by the speed that she got both thanks to Diana and thanks to the ropes, the blonde felt that every cell of her body was filled with agony. Just like the time she was ready to accept defeat in the match against Kanata. She has actually reached her limit. But if there was one thing she learned during her qualifying matches, it was that if you're not ready to go beyond your limits, then you'll never get to the top. Yes, it's never easy. But if you're looking for easy ways, then you don't belong there. And, if someone has forgotten, then Astrid never looks for easy ways.

"Go beyond..." escaped her lips barely audible.

Since she still couldn't take a deep breath, she could only hold her breath. Yes, it was dangerous. But it allowed her to gain concentration. Just for a second or two. But it was more than enough. Yes, the pain did not disappear from her body, but it was enough for her to clearly see her rival standing just three steps away from her and certainly completed her preparations to finish off the Golden Dragon. Astrid had something to say to that.

When the dragon flame was useless, she always turned to something else. The blonde has said more than once that her origins are one of the most important things in life for her. And it really was. She believed not only that her great ancestors looked at her, but also that there was a piece of each of the nine realms in her. And now she intended to use one of them.

Gathering all her willpower into the right fist, Astrid was going to fulfill every promise she made on the way to this moment. She didn't know when and where her journey would end, but she was sure it wouldn't happen today. Today she will take another step forward and this step will not be the last. She was ready to take this step. A step beyond her capabilities. She did it at the same moment that Diana rushed forward to crush her.

The descendant of the great Vikings strained her right arm so hard that her muscles were ready to burst. She usually carried a dragon flame with her. But at that moment everything was different. Instead of being filled with warmth, the space around seemed to freeze. It wasn't warmth, it was a chilling cold. A cold that even fewer of her rivals had to experience than those who were given the honor of experiencing the Road to Valhalla.

Astrid intended to throw her right arm forward. For someone it was possible was the most classic right cross. But not for her. In this punch she put not only all her strength, speed and willpower. She put her whole being into this punch. It wasn't a right cross. It was her Helheim. And with this punch, the descendant of the great Vikings intended not only to prevent the attack of her rival, but also to justify all the expectations that were placed on her by a lot of people whom she met while she was getting to this moment through sweat and blood!

Helheim

[Devilish53]

It was a simple motion in hindsight. Lift, then fall. Diana had done this a million times, both in her normal variation of her finishing move, and the version she had reserved for moments such as now when pure exhaustion had overtaken her. There were plenty of counters to the move - but in the end, couldn't the same be said of every move in a wrestlers arsenal?

Diana was banking purely on the exhaustion of Astrid to ensure none came her way - whether it be Astrid carrying her pace forward to take Diana down, or to make use of the pop up lift for her own benefit. Astrid was sweating buckets, and her face looked as crimson as could be. She surely couldn't retort, not after the chair shot.

Right?

Diana's hands would never find purchase upon Astrid's hips as the blonde came in, with the ego of the Italian shattered in the most grandest of ways. Of course Astrid could retort. After all which she had done in the match thus far - working against every one of Diana's tactics, be they clean or less so?

There was an imagined target on the torso of the Italian as Astrid came in, with her right fist finding its mark and then some. Her hands would only just tickle upon the hips of the blonde dragon - and needless to say, they would find no actual purchase.

In fact, Diana couldn't even recall the most basic of motor functions the moment that fist hit her - with those in attendance rubbing their eyes, as they swore they bared witness to a gust of wind flow from Diana brought on purely by the impact. Little argument was made over whether or not the sweat was literally smashed from her however. Not as the canvas behind the Italian turned outright damp. A canvas that also bared the weight of Diana's knees upon them, as the Italian dramatically slumped down to both at the same time. Hands that were clasping at flesh were now to her side, with her head back and an odd, almost concerning lost look plastered on the Italians frame.

But oddly enough, the pain of Astrid's strike was minimal. Non-existent, in fact. Which only raised concern over how much agony said strike had actively brought upon Diana's frame - the delayed reaction was no doubt akin to being hit by a truck, full on. Diana wouldn't feel it straight away, but when she did...

[skip-stop]

There was a loud, even heartbreaking thunderclap when Astrid's fist crashed into Diana. And those who saw it could only open their mouths in surprise. It seemed that the blonde had nothing more to offer her rival. However, this punch was so strong that many thought that if Diana's body had been at least a little softer, then Astrid's fist would have gone through it. But instead, all that impulse, which carried with it the strongest punch of the descendant of the great Vikings, completely passed into the body of the brunette. The result was not long in coming.

Under the deafening screams of the audience, because of which the walls of the arena seemed to start shaking, Diana fell to her knees in front of Astrid. There was nothing but emptiness in the Italian woman's eyes. The Golden Dragon's hands involuntarily dropped and her palms were on Diana's shoulders. She was breathing raggedly, lowering her head and just trying to stay conscious. But it wasn't that easy. This punch cost her too much. Astrid's legs trembled and the only thing that saved her from falling was the fact that she brought her knees together.

Probably many were sure that Astrid just had to push her opponent slightly, forcing Diana to fall on the mat. Yes, those who thought so could not be blamed for this, because Astrid's last blow was truly impressive. However, the Norwegian woman had a completely different opinion on this matter. Even though there was a fog in both her eyes and her mind, she understood one thing very clearly. If by some miracle Diana will find the strength to get to her feet, then this will be the end for the Golden Dragon. And if there's even the slightest chance of that, then Astrid shouldn't let it happen.

So her hands slid down from Diana's shoulders. She intended to bend over her opponent and wrap her arms around Diana's waist. The audience expected to see the Victim for the Dragon, because it was the only movement familiar to them that the blonde could make from this position. But no. She knew it wouldn't be enough. Was there anything in her arsenal at all that would be enough for such a powerful woman as Diana to finally stay down? A difficult question. But, thank the Gods, Astrid loved difficulties. And so she set out to find the answer to that question.

The Golden Dragon took a deep breath with her mouth, and then pulled Diana up, turning her over and putting her on the shoulders. Sweat, blood and tears mixed on Astrid's face. Her legs were shaking like an aspen leaf, because at that moment she was being pulled down not only by her own weight, but also by the weight of her rival. The painful spasms barely allowed her to control her arms, but resisting this agony, she closed her palms in a lock on the brunette's hips.

So far it wasn't like any of the moves Astrid had demonstrated earlier. Someone might have wondered why the descendant of the great Vikings did not try to use the Road to Valhalla? It is unlikely that the former champion would have had a chance to get back on her feet if Astrid had used it. But the Golden Dragon had an answer to this question. She used the Road to Valhalla to give maximum honor to her rivals. But with regard to Diana, she wanted to do something different. Astrid did not want to give her the maximum honor, but to send Diana LAWLESS Accera straight into oblivion!

Therefore, despite the immeasurable pain in every cell of her body, the Norwegian woman took a step forward. And if after this step the audience still didn't understand what exactly she was up to, then after the second step the arena was filled with such loud shouts that it could certainly be heard in several neighboring blocks. The reason for this was that they understood where Astrid was going. Straight to the ladder that she put in the ring seemingly an eternity ago.

Puffing and snuffling, the Golden Dragon stopped after the third step, holding Diana by her hips with a death grip. She has made many promises since the beginning of Apex. Did she regret it? No. Why? Because the moment has finally come to fulfill each of these promises. With wide-open eyes full of unwavering determination, the Golden Dragon intended to bend forward in order to send her opponent's body down and smash her back right into the metal ladder with the most classic powerbomb!

The whole ring shuddered from the collision of the ladder and Diana's body. If the Norwegian woman had paid attention to what was happening around at that moment, she would have seen that the audience and even commentators began to tear their hair. It seems that they were no longer able to adequately perceive what was happening in the ring. Even the referee girl covered her mouth with her hands.

But.

No one. NO ONE noticed that Astrid was still holding her rival. Astrid's palms were still closed, her arms were still wrapped around Diana's hips, as a result of which the former champion's legs remained on the shoulders of the Golden Dragon.

The Norwegian woman's eyes turned red. This time it was not because of the light, but because her blood vessels couldn't stand the strain. Even though her teeth were gritted, saliva began to flow from her mouth down her chin. The descendant of the great Vikings let out an agonized groan at the moment when she straightened up again, lifting her rival back into the air. Astrid didn't know if the Gods would hear her, but she knew for sure that the heavens would shake today! Because right now she was going to send Diana down on the ladder for the second time with another powerbomb!

Legs. Arms. Her whole body was shaking. Dizziness hit her like a tsunami. There was a lump in her throat that prevented her from breathing. For just a second, she was sure she was going to fall. And although there was a lot of fog in her eyes, the Norwegian woman looked into Diana's exhausted face. It was hard to say exactly why, but it seemed to give her strength. She remembered everything they had put each other through. She remembered how much effort each of them had put into trying to prove that each of them was better than the other. These thoughts became her fuel. All she had to do was light a match.

"GRRAAAAAAA!!!!!!!"

With a wild roar, Astrid began to straighten up for the third time. Her spine was about to break. She didn't even know what it was that kept her on her feet. Willpower? No. Even that wasn't enough. But maybe it didn't matter. The Golden Dragon threw her head back, and the spotlights blinded her. For a moment, it seemed to her that her spirit had rushed straight to Valhalla. A strange relief passed through her body. Because of this, a faint smile appeared on her face.

Spreading her legs to the sides, the descendant of the great Vikings intended to fall on her butt and, using a sit-out powerbomb, send Diana down on the ladder for the third time! Yes, it was not a way to honor someone. And, yesh, she's never shown it before. Until today, she hadn't seen the need for it. But it was her critical finisher! The Fafnir's Revenge! And Astrid saw this as the only possible way to send Diana LAWLESS Accera on the pages of history!