[Deathmatch] Nerissa Labong vs Alice Gaster - A cocktail of blood and adrenaline (Apex Match)

[Vc0m]

”Don’t fall…for fuck’s sake…don’t fall...”, Alice egged herself on, knowing that once she fell, she was not getting up until after that bell rang…if at all. But even worse was knowing how close Nerissa was to her state as well. She knew that her punch did damage. One more…maybe two, hard hits were enough to down the Echidna for good…

But Alice’s grip was slipping, she could feel gravity wanting to claim her, calling on her to fall…she tried to grasp Nerissa’s arms…but she was still slipping down. Nerissa herself were doing more to keep the Pale Rider standing than Alice herself was. However, unfortunately for the Brit…Nerissa was doing it for a particular, painful purpose.

Nerissa called her attack…and jumped, driving her knee straight under Alice’s jaw.

The knee strike finally robbed Alice of her base, as she did what Nerissa wanted her to. The Brit legit saw stars for a moment…but desperately clung to consciousness, despite the fact that there was no way she could find the strength to get back up to her feet…

[skip-stop]

When Nerissa's knee crashed into the brunette's chin, the audience let out such a loud scream that the walls of the arena shook. In another situation, the Native American woman would have happily smiled at this because she loved being the center of attention. However, at that moment she was focused exclusively on not losing consciousness before she knocked everything out of Alice that she had left.

As soon as the Echidna landed on her feet again, she staggered. Not only because she used her body on credit because of completely empty reserves. The weight of the British woman pulled Nerissa down and the reason for this was that Alice could no longer stand on her feet. With a half-empty look the Pale Rider knelt down before Nerissa.

Only after that she finally let go of Alice's head. But only to bend down and grab both wrists of the brunette. For a moment, their faces were too close to each other. This allowed Nerissa to once again assess how far they had come in this match. Probably the most correct way to judge about it would be at the very end of Apex, but something told her that their match would clearly take its rightful place among the roughest matches of this event.

Perhaps already now she could try to go for a pin attempt. There was only one BUT. If by some unfathomable miracle Alice found the strength to break this pin, Nerissa was sure that it would simply destroy her. Therefore, the Echidna intended to act for sure. Besides... as she told Alice at the bar, she's not one of those who leaves things unfinished.

And although now the Native American woman has greatly changed her opinion about Alice after everything they went through, it did not change the fact that today she intended to leave the arena with a victory. Therefore, Nerissa straightened to her full height, holding Alice's hands by the wrists.

"ON!!" She shouted in unison with the audience.

Nerissa intended to pull both of Alice's hands towards her, thereby forcing her to lean forward. She could only hope that the Pale Rider had no strength left to resist. After all, if this was really the case, then nothing would have prevented Nerissa from throwing her right knee up in order to hit the brunette in the chin again, this time with a double wristlock knee strike!

[Vc0m]

Part of Alice still wanted to fight. She didn't care that she couldn't move, that barely a coherent thought could enter her head at the moment...for her, it wasn't over until it was over...

Another part of her knew that, within a few seconds, the ref would either call a knockout or a pinfall, whichever way Nerissa prefered to finish Alice off. As Alice knelt in front of her rival, with Nerissa grabbing her arms, she exerted so much effort, to simply look up at Nerissa's eyes...seeing the respect towards her behind them...even if the next thing that came out brought her a step closer to the dreaded end of the match, Nerissa calling the second shot of her finishing combination, pushing her knee towards Alice, and pulling her towards it by her arms, with another shot to her jaw with a Double Wristlock Knee!

"MMMGGGGH!!!", Alice screamed. As she opened her eyes, the whole world felt like looking at a water-colored painting, Alice not even being able to tell Nerissa's face anymore. If the Echidna let the Brit go, she would slump over on the floor, unable to keep herself upright even on her knees...but in the depth of Alice's remaining consciousness, something told her that the worst was yet to come...

[skip-stop]

Nerissa's knee crashed into her opponent's chin for the second time in a row. With another loud click due to the collision of bones, the screams of the audience flew through the arena. And while half clearly indicated support for the Echidna, the other half expressed sympathy for the British woman. When Nerissa returned the attacking leg to the floor, she had to bring her knees together due to the fact that she could hardly stand on her feet. Her breathing was so ragged that she didn't even feel if her lungs were filling with air.

But all this was nothing compared to Alice's condition. Nerissa was not one of those who was able to read the souls of other people. But she felt that there was still a desire to fight inside her opponent. Such fortitude amazed even the boldest imagination. Yet, fortunately for Nerissa and unfortunately for Alice, even the toughest willpower not always can help you. The strength of the British woman has completely dried up. Gravity began to pull her body down. It seemed that her fall to the floor was inevitable. But...

The Echidna released Alice's right wrist and took a step forward. Having practically no strength, the Native American woman intended to partially grasp the brunette's head and press this head against her bare stomach, thereby giving Alice at least some support. Nerissa's fingers sank involuntarily into short black hair. Without knowing why, Nerissa, unnoticed by everyone, slightly moved her hand first up, then down, thereby stroking her rival on the head.

Few people were able to fully experience this moment. Perhaps there was not one among the audience who could. But after all the pain they caused each other. After all their attempts to tear each other apart. After all their emotions from hatred to respect. After everything that had happened between them, there was something beautiful about this moment. It was impossible to put it into words. But Nerissa felt it.

She just wanted to relax her arms and let Alice fall. Maybe that was already enough to end it. Maybe the British woman couldn't break a pin again. But was it right? Deep down, the Echidna knew that her rival had one more, the very last drop of strength. Nerissa also had one. And so she couldn't afford herself to stop. No. She wanted to give her last drop to Alice, at the same time taking the last drop of her rival. Only then everything will become right. Only then everything they have gone through will not be in vain. They both deserved it.

The last charge. Ignoring the burning pain in her lungs, Nerissa whistled through her mouth, taking as much air as she could. Shifting her left arm, she intended to completely wrap Alice's head, thereby closing her in a simple front facelock hold. Despite the fading light in her eyes, the Echidna reached down with her right hand to grab the bottom hem of the Pale Rider's suit. Hissing and groaning, unable to contain her emotions, she intended to straighten up to her full height, thereby lifting Alice from her knees.

"ME!!!" She let out her last scream, which was literally drowned out among the screams of the audience, who understood what was about to happen.

That was nothing else, but her last drop. And Nerissa intended to use that to flex her muscles one last time. She wanted to lift Alice off the floor, completely turning her upside down. It seemed to many that in this match, both women used almost all possible means and moves against each other. And despite the fact that every minute their bodies were more and more covered with terrible wounds, none of this was enough for one of them to stay down. But with this move Nerissa was going to end this hellish match. And so she intended to fall on her back without delay, sending Alice's body vertically down. With this brainbuster, she wanted not only to drive the Pale Rider's head into the concrete floor, but also to complete her critical finisher, which better than anything reflected Nerissa's temperament. E.O.M. - Eyes On Me!

[Vc0m]

Both women could barely keep going…both women were barely even conscious by this point…and yet, Nerissa grabbed the semi-conscious British woman’s head, pressing her head to her body, likely to set up for her last move…

…but not before lightly stroking her head, a gesture only Alice was aware off…and one that elicit a single, involuntary response from her lips: ”Heh…”, not quite sure whether it was at the gesture itself…or at the realization of how little anger she had left for her rival…

There was no way Alice wanted this to be the end, however. She could still feel her thoughts…still felt like she could fight…Nerissa also knew it. One last full stop was necessary for the match to properly end on a high note, even if, with her current strength and energy, there was no chance for the Pale Rider to kick out…

With that, Nerissa trapped Alice’s head under her arm, before grabbing her shredded attire at her leg…before finally exerting the last of her strength, struggling…but succeeding in lifting the Brit into a position for a Vertical Suplex.

As Nerissa let out the last word, however, Alice knew that she wasn’t going to land on her back.

Nerissa dropped her straight down. Alice fell for less than a second…but between the fatigue, the hurt and her barely clinging to last remains of consciousness, the fall felt like it took hours…

Finally, however, Alice’s skull hit the ground.

Alice wouldn’t even scream, immediately seeing black, and falling splayed out on the floor after the Echidna’s finishing combination was complete…

[skip-stop]

Alice didn't make a sound. Instead, it was done by the audience, who seemed to go crazy at the moment when the brunette's head crashed into the concrete floor. Alice was lying face down without any movements. Nerissa was lying next to her rival. The Native American woman's eyes were tightly closed while her chest heaved up and down. Yes, it was definitely her last drop. Now she has absolutely nothing left.

"Fuck..." she muttered, barely moving her desert-dry lips.

She never expected this match to be easy. Not only because she was well aware of Alice's passion for hardcore. The circumstances were such that Nerissa personally gave her rival an incentive to fight as if not only her own life depended on it, but also the life of her sister, Clara. However, now Nerissa didn't care about Clara. Yes, she came here to send her a message. But now the defeat she received from the veteran was something completely insignificant for her. She wanted to defeat Alice, not Clara at that moment.

"Ggmmmmhh!!!" The Echidna groaned in agony.

She had to literally force herself to turn on her left side. At that moment, her battered body looked like it was a tartar steak. And although Nerissa opened her eyes, almost nothing changed for her. She was weakened so much that the black and white spots completely covered everything else. She didn't even see Alice, just her silhouette.

Placing her left hand on the floor in order to gain support with her forearm, Nerissa raised her trembling right hand. Grabbing her opponent by the shoulder, she intended to turn her on her back, although now even such a simple action seemed to her something impossible. It was only at that moment that the audience could fully understand how difficult this match turned out to be for her.

And when Alice finally was on her back, Nerissa just lay down on the brunette. She didn't even have the strength to hook the British woman's leg. She just lay down on her. Not across, but along. Nerissa's legs were on the sides of her opponent's legs. Her bloody lush breasts pressed against the more modest chest of the brunette. The last thing Nerissa did was put their palms together. Having nothing else to offer the woman who had dragged her through the real Hell, the Echidna lowered her head down. Her forehead pressed against the concrete floor, and her mouth, through which she took weak and quiet breaths, was near Alice's ear.

Just moments ago, many viewers were still demanding for them to fight forever. But everything ends sooner or later. Even the bloodiest hardcore match. Nerissa was lying on top of her rival and only willpower kept her mind from falling into sleep. It remains to find out the answer to only one question. After everything they had been through, was it enough for this match to finally come to an end?

There was only one way to get an answer to this question. The referee, who had not seen so much blood for a long time, lay down on the floor next to the women. After making sure that Alice's shoulder blades were firmly pressed to the surface, she raised her hand. Nerissa had to make every effort not to hold her breath at that moment, because because of this she could lose consciousness. Her heart was beating so fast that she could feel it in her throat. The reason for this was that the striped shirt abruptly dropped her hand down and slapped the floor for the first time.

"ONE!" Rang through the arena like a thunderclap.

[Vc0m]

In spite of the fact that she couldn’t move…in spite of the fact that she knew the bell was going to ring soon, ring for her defeat…Alice was satisfied. The match went past the grudge of Nerissa insulting Clara…past the grudge of Alice calling Nerissa, a relatively fresh wrestler, weak. The only thing that disappointed Alice was that she was walking out of this match, one of the most brutal and bloodiest hardcore matches she fought in, with a loss…

After a good few seconds, Alice would be forcibly turned onto her back, but despite the lights above the arena shining directing into the Brit’s eyes. Surprisingly to Alice, light was still hitting her eyes…but she couldn’t make out anything else. Soon enough, however, even they would go dark in the vestiges of her consciousness. Last thing she felt before going to sleep was feeling someone press against her body, and someone softly breathing into her ear…

With Alice’s shoulders pressed to the canvas, the pinfall was official:

”ONE!”

“TWO!”

Even at the second count, Alice did not budge.

Backstage, Clara Gaster, having seen the entire match on tv in the locker room…having stopped herself from walking out on several occasions already, would stand up and make her way to the gorilla position…

[skip-stop]

When the referee's hand slapped the concrete floor for the second time, Nerissa stopped breathing. Perhaps someone in her place would have thought that victory was already in her pocket. In any other situation, even Nerissa herself would probably think the same. But not today. Not in the case of Alice. This woman repeatedly rose up even after the toughest attacks of the Echidna, continuing to push their match to new limits of cruelty.

Therefore, all Nerissa mentally asked for at that moment was for her opponent to remain motionless. She would never admit it out loud, but she knew that if the brunette found even the tiniest bit of strength, then it would be the end for Nerissa. Many times it seemed to her that her body would not be able to take even more damage anymore, but every time she was wrong. However, she was completely devastated now. This was the fact.

They say that the most terrible thing is the unknown. At the moment when the referee raised her hand for the third time, Nerissa did not know if she had done enough to take the victory. This moral strain was literally driving her crazy. This short second lasted for her for an eternity. It seemed to her that she had not just stopped breathing. It seemed to her that even her heart had stopped. And then... Alice remained motionless and the referee's hand began to approach the floor.

"THREE!!!"

Ding-Ding-Ding.

Although no one heard the bell ringing at that moment. At that moment, the arena was filled with such wild screams that hardly anyone was able to hear even their own thoughts. And, to the credit of both women, the audience greeted not the winner, but the end of this truly incredible match itself.

If Nerissa at least tried to keep her body tense before the bell rang, then immediately after that she seemed to turn into jelly. Every muscle in her body relaxed and she, quite involuntarily, pressed herself as close to Alice as possible. She couldn't even bring herself to roll off her opponent's body. The Echidna didn't even know what exactly was keeping her conscious at that moment.

The referee approached the wounded and emaciated women. Grabbing Nerissa by the shoulder and pulling her slightly, she forced the Native American woman to slide off the brunette's body. Nerissa found herself on her back. The bright lights blinded her even though her eyes were closed. It was only at that moment that she remembered to breathe. Right. It's over. Now she can start breathing again.

Taking a deep breath, she regained a tiny part of her strength. Opening her eyes, she looked at the referee, who was asking if they needed medical help. It was the dumbest question possible at that moment. Of course they needed medical help. Even Nerissa, with all her pride, couldn't deny it, because there were still a lot of thumbtacks in her body. But not now. A little bit later.

Now that the adrenaline was starting to fade from her blood, she felt even more everything her body had been through. However, there were still a few things she wanted to do. First of all, she wanted to hear the cherished words. Words that will prove that all this blood wasn't shed in vain. Without holding back the groans of pain, the Echidna took a sitting position, and then rose to her feet. When she straightened up to her full height, the arena was filled with new screams.

"THAT WAS AWESOME! THAT WAS AWESOME!! THAT WAS AWESOME!!!"

A smile appeared on the Native American woman's bloody face. Now, barely standing on her feet, she still perfectly understood their feelings. There are matches with a clear favorite. There are matches where the support for the fighters is divided equally. And there are matches where the audience does not care who wins. It is such matches that deserve the most attention. It is such matches that deserve their greatest love. Today they saw what real pro wrestling is. Today they saw what real hardcore is.

And yet. Even in such a match, there is always a winner. The ring announcer reminded everyone about it by taking the floor.

"Your winner and the contender for the world openweight title is Nerissa Labong!!!"

The referee raised the hand of the Native American woman to an orchestra of shouts and applause. No matter what, there was hardly anyone in this hall who would say that she didn't deserve this moment. This match turned out to be a real Hell for both of them. But it was Nerissa who stood that ordeal. She won. She got to this Apex. She became the contender for the openweight title.

And while the audience continued to shout, the referee let go of her hand. The reason was clear. Since Nerissa was still able to stand on her feet, it means she will be able to do without careful supervision, which could not be said about Alice. The striped shirt returned to the brunette in order to check her condition again. Nerissa glanced at her rival, and then looked up at the ramp. A medical team appeared from behind the scenes, they already begun to descend the ramp.

But before they arrived at the place, she wanted to do one more thing. Staggering from side to side due to catastrophic fatigue, the Echidna took a few steps forward. And when she stopped, the screams of the audience immediately changed. The reason for this was that Nerissa bent down and picked up the kendo stick. The same kendo stick that belonged to Alice and that Nerissa used in this match against its owner. Yes, the Native American woman still had one thing to do.

Turning around, she headed towards Alice. She still remembered why they were here. She still remembered the circumstances that had brought them together. She still remembered the promises they had made to each other. And although the Native American woman was staggering from side to side, there was still a cold determination in her gaze. The referee, seeing this, got in her way because hardly anyone could have doubts about what Nerissa wanted to do.

"Move aside..." she hissed in a voice full of pain, but in which one could still hear the steadfastness.

The referee, not wanting to get hit on the head with the kendo stick, stepped aside and began waving her hands, calling for a backstage staff and possibly security to join her and the medical team. For Nerissa, it didn't matter, she took two more steps forward and stopped in front of Alice. For a few seconds she just stared at the British woman, as if trying to look into her soul.

"I don't like you..." she said, after which she gripped the kendo stick with her left hand with such force that her knuckles turned white.

It is unlikely that all this would have happened if not for their meeting in the bar. It's unlikely that all this would have happened if Alice hadn't called her a weakling. Nerissa remembered that. They started it in a bar and finished it here, in front of thousands of spectators. Nerissa overcame her. Nerissa kept her promise. As she said, she is a person of her word. And she doesn't like to leave things unfinished. That was why, right now, as she stood over Alice, she was about to complete the only remaining business between them...

"But that doesn't suggest I don't respect you..."

With these words, Nerissa extended her right hand to Alice. Both for a handshake and to help her get to her feet if the British woman, of course, was able to do it. There were hardly enough words to describe what an emotional swing the audience had just experienced. But their reaction was something amazing. It is unlikely that he fully understood this, but matches like this always change the fighters. When Nerissa came here, she felt nothing but hatred for Alice. And although she still wasn't ready to start throwing pajama parties with her, now respect for this incredible woman prevailed over all other feelings.

[Vc0m]

Alice stared at the blurry lights above her, unable to move a muscle, unable to even tell what count she was on. After what seemed like an eternity later, the third count would be declared, with the bell ringing to signal the end of the bloodiest Apex match…

DING DING DING!

”YEEEEEAAAAH!!!”

“BOTH THESE GUYS! BOTH THESE GUYS!”

“THAT WAS AWESOME!!!”

Alice opened her eyes, not to the bell ringing, but to the very…very loud cheers and chants as the arena crowd came unglued at the finish.

”Mgggh…”, the Pale Rider let out a few seconds after the bell rung, crowd still drowning any other sound in the arena, including Nerissa’s theme that played to honor her victory. As a semblance of consciousness returned to her, Alice could tell that her loss was now official…even if, in reality, she had lost a good few minutes ago.

She could still feel Nerissa pressed to her body, before, a few moments later, she finally slid off her, trying to rise to her feet…to stand tall in victory over Alice, to absorb the cheers from the crowd over the match…

…however, both women were tired and hurting from the match. The adrenaline disappeared in both of their bodies. Alice felt the full brunt of everything her body went through in this match. It hurt to even breathe at the moment, between blood loss, general fatigue, and the pain in her back and stomach. She winced as she felt every cut delivered to her arms, legs and body, her new, fresh outfit looking like it survived years of a calamitous war…worst of all, her head felt like it could explode at any moment, between every single strike, weapon shot and Nerissa’s finishing strike that she delivered to her…

And Alice wouldn’t trade a single one of these feelings for the world.

She felt proud of this pain…proud of surviving it for as long as she did…proud that, even though Nerissa won…she made sure she deserved that win. That she proved beyond the shadow of the doubt that even though she lost an early match of her’s, that she was a force to be reckoned with in this company…

After the declaration of Nerissa’s status as a contender for the Openweight title, the ref finally took her time to check up on the Brit, as the ref lightly tapped Alice on the cheek, thinking she was still out, and wanting confirmation that she was still responsive:

”Aaaah…stop…I’m…fine…”, Alice would say, elliciting a confused response from the ref as she motioned for the medical team to come in…

Clara would be following closely. The team definitely believed that the competitors were going to need help to the back even before the bell rung, so they were already at the Gorilla Position, with 2 stretchers ready…but only bringing one, since Nerissa could be helped to the back on her own strength. Clara was still nervous, however. In the lead up to the match, Nerissa let her disdain for Alice, as well as herself, be known. Even as tired as she was…was she going to hurt Alice?

As she saw Nerissa standing over her sister, kendo stick in hand, Clara rushed down the ramp, ready to stop Nerissa from striking Alice…

The Pale Rider raised herself up on her elbow as she heard Nerissa telling the ref to move out of the way, the Brit having a determined, brave look on her face towards the Echidna.

Clara would arrive as did the medical team, looking over at the scene, two bloodied rivals staring at each other…

Before finally, Nerissa outstretched her hand towards Alice…and the Pale Rider accepting both the handshake with a smile on her face…and the help back to her feet!

”Mutual…”, Alice would respond to everything Nerissa said to her…

However, the moment she released Echidna’s hand the firm grip almost fell, and Clara ducked herself under her sister’s arm!

”I got you! Take it easy…”

”Thanks…”, Alice would say with a raspy voice, taking a quick look at Clara: ”Make sure to…clean your clothes afterwards…though…”, she would say, Clara quickly realizing that Alice’s blood was smearing across her yellow coat.

”It’s…it’s fine…”, Clara responded with an awkward laugh, as she helped the medics to put the Pale Rider onto the stretcher. Clara took a look at Nerissa…with quite a different gaze than their first match. Now she wasn’t a rookie fresh out of MMA in her eyes. She still disliked hardcore wrestling, but it was hard to call someone who put themselves through a match like this a rookie. Clara looked at Nerissa as an equal.

”I think…we’ll need to talk…but later.”

She knew that Nerissa probably would hate being dismissed still…but ultimately, it was for the best. It was difficult to talk to someone after a bloody affair like this. Clara instead followed Alice, planning to follow her all the way to the hospital to treat her injuries, letting Nerissa celebrate her win at Apex…

[skip-stop]

When the women's hands joined in a handshake, the arena was filled with cheers so loud that their screams after the bell rang could only be compared to silence. Respect. Respect is a thing that cannot be overestimated. Today Nerissa and Alice have earned each other's respect. At the cost of pain and blood, but they earned it.

Nerissa smiled faintly at Alice's words, and then out of the corner of her eye she noticed some movement on the ramp. Turning her head to the side, she saw Clara rapidly approaching them. Only now the Native American woman realized that perhaps her actions could have been perceived a little incorrectly when she came to Alice with the kendo stick. In any case, the second of the Gaster sisters arrived just in time to pick up Alice, who, apparently, had absolutely lost the remnants of her strength.

Taking a step back, the Echidna watched the sisters reunite, not quite sure how she should feel. Yes, it was a match between her and Alice, but Clara had a lot to do with it. Nerissa still didn't know why the veteran ignored all her attempts to contact her after their match. Now she had the opportunity to find out in person, because her rival was right in front of her. The Native American woman even opened her mouth to ask her this about it...

But before she could say a single word, Clara looked at her. They say that the eyes are the mirror of the soul. Nerissa remembered Clara's gaze very well in their match. The British woman looked down on her as if Nerissa was just a mediocrity for her, who was lucky to be in a match with a veteran. But now... she didn't see it in her eyes. She expected to see the same neglect or even anger for what the Echidna had done to her sister. But instead, there was in Clara's eyes the same thing that was in Alice's eyes a moment ago. She looked at Nerissa with respect.

Despite not the most accommodating temperament, Nerissa was discouraged by this. If she didn't know what she should feel before, now she didn't even know what she should say. Everything that had happened between her and the Gaster sisters seemed to have become something very far. And although the audience was hardly given to understand what was between them, it was still very awkward situation.

In a way, Nerissa was grateful to Clara for the fact that the British woman had found a way out of this situation. A little intermittently, but she said they should talk later. Yes, perhaps this was the best option. It was hard for Nerissa to imagine exactly how this conversation would have gone, but she was unlikely to talk now, especially considering her condition. So she just stared at Clara for a few more seconds, as if considering her words, and then...

"Yeah..." Nerissa finally said with a curt nod. "Later... take care of her..."

Nerissa handed Alice her sister's kendo stick. A real warrior should not leave the battlefield without their weapon. And although Alice had already been put on a stretcher, Nerissa was sure that Clara would make sure that the kendo stick returned to her sister's hands. Without saying anything else, Nerissa just watched as the medics took Alice away. Looking at how Clara is walking next to her sister, something seemed to shrink inside the Native American woman. Yes, in a fit of emotion, she promised that she would send Alice's bloody body to Clara as a message. But she couldn't even think that it would end like this. It had been a long time since she had experienced such a wide range of emotions.

"You need a medical examination." The medic said to Nerissa, pointing to another stretcher.

Right. Such strong emotions distracted her. But now she remembered that her body was completely covered with wounds, and blood was still oozing out. Even her nose was broken. She didn't even want to think about what kind of bruises she would have under her eyes tomorrow because of this. For at least a week, she could definitely say goodbye to her natural beauty. And yet...

"I will leave here only on my own feet." She said, making it clear that she would not tolerate objections.

The medic could only spread his hands to the sides. Nerissa knew she needed to get to the infirmary as soon as possible. However, the winner must leave the arena with their head held high. That's exactly what she was going to do. Usually the way from the ring to the top of the ramp was an easy walk, but only when there are not so many wounds on your body. Yet Nerissa wanted to fully enjoy the fact that she had just publicly declared who she was and what she was capable of.

She raised her fist above her head, which caused a new wave of noise, and then began to climb the ramp. It was hardly the bloodiest match in history, but she was ready to make a big bet that it was unlikely that in another Apex match someone would shed as much blood as she and Alice shed today. Yes, this match will definitely take its rightful place on the pages of LAW history. Even if she won't get the coveted gold belt. Nerissa wasn't going to hide that she wanted it with all her heart. But even if this does not happen, she will still be satisfied with the result. It's her day. And she will remember it forever.

The Echidna stopped at the top of the ramp. Before hiding behind the curtains, she turned around. Thousands of eyes were fixed on her. She felt every one of them. Emotions overcame pain and fatigue for a moment. Nerissa bent both arms at the elbows, showing the audience two signs of horns. With a smile on her face, she stuck out her tongue and playfully licked her lower lip. It was a historic match, but her story is not over yet. No matter how Apex would end, and no matter on whose waist the gold belt would turn out to be, she knew that she would not stop until she became not just the best lightweight, but the best LAW fighter. It was with this thought, accompanied by the applause of the audience, that Nerissa Labong disappeared behind the curtains.

After passing the waiting room, she found herself in a long corridor. After taking a few steps forward, she stopped. Her legs trembled and she staggered. Nerissa was forced to press her right forearm against the wall in order to keep her balance. She felt like she couldn't stand anymore. A lump formed in her throat. She was too tired. She's lost too much blood. And now that no one was looking at her anymore...

"Fuck..." she muttered, barely moving her lips.

Somewhere ahead, the sound of heels was heard. Nerissa's head was lowered down and she did not see who exactly was approaching her. And in fact, she cared very little about it. At that moment, she was only thinking about how she could get to the infirmary on her own feet after she refused the help of the medical team...

"NERISSA!!!"

It was as if a truck had crashed into her. The Native American woman's legs gave way. But thanks to the hugs, she remained standing in place. It was like an electric shock to her. A wave of warmth ran through Nerissa's body. She felt something wet on her shoulder. Tears...

"It hurts actually..." she said with a quiet ironic laugh.

"Oh! Sorry! Sorry!"

When Nerissa was released from hugs, she raised her head and looked at Victoria. There were tears on the manager's face, but at the same time she seemed to be beaming with happiness. Nerissa wanted to smile broadly, but she didn't have the strength even for that. Therefore, the corners of her lips only slightly lifted. She knew how Victoria felt. She saw it in her eyes. Only a parent who is proud of their child can look at you like that. Having lost her footing, Nerissa's body leaned forward and Victoria picked up her ward.

"You need to go to the infirmary..." she said.

"Yes, I was just heading there," Nerissa replied sarcastically. "Wanna give me a hand?"

"Of course, we need to get these terrible thumbtacks out of your body as soon as possible..."

Trying to walk on her own, Nerissa headed towards the infirmary, accompanied by Victoria. She would love to chat, but she felt that if she spent her strength on it, she would definitely lose consciousness. And yet, noticing that her manager still had a smile on her face, Nerissa couldn't help herself.

"What are at smiling at?" She asked.

"One down..." After pausing for a few seconds, Victoria answered a little cryptically.

Nevertheless, Nerissa understood perfectly well what the Englishwoman meant. After all, besides her, there were two other outstanding women in Victoria's team, on whom the manager had no less hopes than on her.

"Two to go..." Nerissa added to her manager's words with a slight smile on her face.