For one reason or another, Ember herself practically did not attach any significance to this gesture. However, the audience was shocked by the act of the Sand Lizard. They couldn't figure out what to make her voluntarily give up an honest victory. Some even suggested that in this way she wanted to show her superiority over her rival. Although, of course, it wasn't the case.
Yes, once inside the walls of LAW, Charlotte has already managed to face misunderstanding. But now, when Aira started asking the same question, the pink-haired woman for the first time faced misunderstanding directly from her rival. She heard it in the blue-haired woman's voice. It was a very subtle note, but Charlotte could hear the contempt in Aira's voice.
It was easy to see that the act of the Sand Lizard angered the Indonesian woman. Experiencing terrible pain after the fall, Aira began to get to her feet. Perhaps someone did not understand this, but it was obvious to Charlotte that this anger was the fuel for her rival. This anger even helped Aira to overcome the pain in her body. Like Charlotte, she was in a terrible state, but even so she managed to get to her feet.
There was no emotion on Charlotte's face at that moment. No anger, no sadness. Why? She understood what caused the dissonance in Aira's head. Yes, the blue-haired woman realized her guilt for the mean blow at the beginning of the match. But she still believed that victory is victory, no matter what price was paid for it. This principle was adhered to by most of the fighters of LAW. This principle was a stable part of their world. But when you come across something that is not familiar to you, when you come across something that violates the principles of your world, you will always show the same reaction as Aira.
Charlotte showed the first signs of emotion after Aira said she wouldn't blame her if she took advantage of the weakened condition of the blue-haired woman. The martial arts master blinked slowly, saying without words that she knew it. Charlotte wasn't going to blame Aira for the low blow or her broken nose either. The point was that Charlotte understood Aira's actions. But Aira didn't understand Charlotte's actions. The Indonesian woman demanded an answer. And Charlotte had that answer.
"Because..." she said at the moment when Aira with a furious cry rushed at her.
The Sand Lizard closed her eyes literally for half a second in an attempt to gather both thoughts and strength. They both crossed the Rubicon. This was their last round. And so, in that short moment, Charlotte tried to find a balance in her soul. She tried to remember what a real fighter should be like. Yes. Right. Resistant. Like a stone.
The Frenchwoman pushed off from the mat and rushed towards her opponent. The atmosphere in the arena seemed to have reached its apogee. The audience shouted their names. They didn't need a favorite anymore. Now they needed a worthy winner. Now that these incredible women had dragged each other through such a tough match, they wanted to find out which one of them had the strength to overcome the other.
They met in the very center of the ring. Their hands began to move almost simultaneously. Charlotte did not take her eyes off her rival's eyes. For her at that moment, time seemed to have stopped. She knew how strong and skilled this woman was. She knew how much Aira wanted to win. But she wanted the same thing. Martial arts was the only life Charlotte had known since the moment her family kicked her out. Therefore, she wanted to go forward while she had the strength. That's why she wanted to reach the top. That's why she wanted to show everyone without exception that...
There was a deafening bang, followed by silence. Even for those who were closest to the ring, there was no doubt. Aira's fist was right on the Sand Lizard's face. A few drops of blood fell on the mat. The young woman's arms and legs were shaking as if she was in death throes. Even the air around them became very heavy.
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And only after a second or two, something else became clear. The Sand Lizard's right palm was right in front of her face. And this palm was squeezing Aira's fist. Resistant as a stone. Because if a fighter's body is flabby, and fear lives in their heart, then they will never find the courage to meet an opponent's blow. Continuing to squeeze the fist of the blue-haired woman, Charlotte slightly lowered her palm. She wanted to look into the eyes of her rival. Now she was ready to give the answer.
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"We must be better," she said.
Without any hesitation, she intended to grab her opponent's wrist and then pull it towards her so that Aira would lose her balance. At the same time, the Sand Lizard was about to turn her left side towards the Indonesian woman. Was Aira able to understand this answer? Charlotte didn't know. But her words were true. She believed it with all her heart. There is always a choice. And very often, especially when it comes to the ring, the choice is between what is right and what is easy.
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The pink-haired woman made her choice a long time ago. No matter how difficult the circumstances are. No matter how desperate the situation is one way or another. No matter how strong her opponent is. Charlotte believed there was another way. Victory is victory. This was believed by the majority in this federation. But not Charlotte. For her, the victory gained by dishonor was worth nothing.
Even the majority of champions were ready to go to any baseness in order to keep the belt. That's why Charlotte decided to go through Apex. She wanted to prove and show that there is always another way. That's why she wanted to become the first openweight champion. Exhaling air from her lungs in order to relieve the pressure in her lungs, she intended to send her left elbow straight into the center of Aira's face, trying to hit her with a reverse elbow strike!
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They say that the goal is always important, but the path to this goal not always is. Charlotte couldn't agree with that. The goal can be noble. But what's the point if your path to this goal is filled only with meanness and excuses? Charlotte's goal was extremely simple and even in a sense banal. She wanted to become the strongest fighter. Would she have been called the strongest if she could have become the first world champion? Yes, in the eyes of most it would certainly be so. So was this goal really worthy of going in it like most others? No.
Charlotte was not ready to go to meanness for the sake of victory. She wasn't ready to give up the honor in order to become a champion. What was she ready for? She was ready to train, sparing no effort. Every single day she tried to push herself to the limit, honing her skills and developing her body. She flayed the skin off her fists every damn day. That was her life. And she didn't want another one.
The team that Victoria assembled consisted exclusively of outstanding girls and women. Each of them, from Margarita to Astrid, was a proud and purposeful person. But no one would dare to deny that it is Charlotte who strives for self-improvement more than anyone else. Nothing else was as important to her.
And now she had a chance to demonstrate it in all its glory, because if she managed to stun Aira, she would immediately let go of her wrist. However, this was only the beginning. Charlotte's eyes would have flashed pink lightning at the moment when she intended to take a step forward, pulling her right hand back. And then, using all her amazing speed, Charlotte was going to send an almost literally supersonic right uppercut into the solar plexus of the blue-haired woman. In this way, she wanted to make Aira not only lose air, but bend in half.
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Fatigue dragged her down as if someone had thrown her into a lake with a stone tied to her feet. But did she really come to this point only to stumble on the last step? It is necessary to fight for any beliefs. Charlotte learned this very well as a child. Her parents wanted her to become just another Ravel'. She Charlotte didn't want to be who they saw her to be. She resisted their will, which led to her exile. She lost everything. Even her own sister, whom she loved so much, hated her. But in return, she got her freedom. At that time, she was not afraid to fight fate. And today she wasn't going to be afraid to fight Aira. Her lungs filled with air. Oxygen ran through her veins, giving her strength.
"SHANNAROOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" Charlotte roared.
Uttering a deafening battle cry, the young woman directed the force into her right leg. She was determined to push off the mat. And if Aira had really leaned forward after the uppercut, then nothing would have prevented the Sand Lizard from bending her right leg at the knee and pointing it vertically upwards. She intended to hit the Indonesian woman with a knee strike right in the chin, hoping not only to knock out her remaining strength, but also to send her to the ropes behind her!
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