Match type: hardcore
Victory conditions: pinfall, submission, knockout
Special conditions: hardcore rules are applied
While the hall was filled with noise after Astrid's last words, the striped shirt ordered the fighters to take a few steps back from each other. The blonde stared at Kyoko for a few more seconds, and then stepped back, creating some free space between them. Taking advantage of this short moment, she decided to stretch the muscles of her arms and legs at least a little. Now it seemed absolutely not obvious, but in fact Astrid did not expect a match here and now when she picked up the microphone. Although, of course, the fact that events developed in this way made the atmosphere even hotter.
Astrid Arvidsson
After making sure that Astrid and Kyoko would not attack each other, the referee girl approached the ropes, and then addressed some question to the commentator's table. It would be fair to say that the bureaucratic part is never pleasant for anyone, especially in such a situation. You don't need to get anyone's permission to fight in a bar or on the street. But in the case of an official match, especially an unplanned one, in the LAW ring, it was necessary to get the approval of the management. That's what the commentators were doing, talking to someone through microphones and headphones.
It didn't last long, but even that was enough for the audience to start losing patience. They were eager to see how these two self-confident women would show them a real fight. And at the moment when it seemed that the arenawas about to be filled with disapproving whistles, one of the commentators gave the referee a thumbs-up. Their match was approved by the management. To loud applause from the crowd, who clearly did not intend to hear a refusal, the striped shirt headed to the center of the ring. She looked at Astrid and Kyoko and then officially announced the rules.
"Victory can be achieved by pinfall, submission or knockout, no rope breaks, no countouts, everything is allowed, but falls count only in the ring," after waiting for a short pause, she asked the most important question, "ready?"
Instead of answering, Astrid grunted and clenched her fists. She put her right foot back a step. Both fists rose to the level of her chin. The right fist remained near her cheek, while the left fist she put a little forward. Turning her left side slightly towards her opponent, the Golden Dragon completed her classic fighting stance. The Norwegian woman was not going to deny that she was filled with determination and a thirst for battle, it was especially clearly visible in her lavender eyes. Astrid nodded briefly to the referee.
"Ready," she said.
This was not the first time she had to exchange sharp phrases with a future opponent before the match. It seems that it was beginning to become a kind of tradition. Matches with Alison Seong and Karen Starring were also preceded by conflicts. But everything was a little different this time. Because this time it wasn't Astrid who accepted someone's challenge. This time, someone accepted Astrid's challenge. A shiver ran down the blonde's back. Not out of fear or anxiety. But because she was in anticipation.
She has devoted most of her life to finding real challenges. Arriving in Japan, the Golden Dragon was able to really spread the wings. The flame she brought with her filled every match she took part in. Not a step back. Not a single doubt. Only the road forward. She didn't know how to live any other way. And she didn't want to live any other way. The Norwegian woman had a goal. She was determined to write her name into history. And now another challenge was on her way. Kyoko Akan. The Belly Queen. Astrid was ready to face her. There were only two things to wait for. Confirmation of readiness from the Japanese woman and the ringing of the bell.


