Main Event: Astrid Arvidsson (c) vs Astrid Ostberg for the LAW World Openweight Championship

[skip-stop]

Everything seemed to be going smoothly. When the Golden Dragon used the chain to pull the contender to her, she caught her rival by surprise, which helped her lift the other Astrid onto her shoulders. It was worth admitting that even with all her strength, it was difficult for her to keep the weight of the former heavyweight champion. However, Astrid wasn't here just to hold her rival on her shoulders. Instead, she intended to take a step and immediately start falling to the side in order to inflict significant damage to her opponent.

However, as soon as she took a step towards the turnbuckles, Ostberg wrapped the damn chain around her neck. The Golden Dragon's eyes widened due to the sudden pain and almost complete loss of access to oxygen. She was unpleasantly surprised by the fact that Ostberg was able to do it so quickly. However, there was no point complaining about it, obviously her opponent wanted to win just as much as she did.

Instincts and experience have made it clear to her that she has only three options. And, unfortunately, none of them was a real salvation for her. She could have ignored the chain on her neck, but in that case, such a movement as a death valley driver would surely do quite a bit of damage to her too. She could try using another movement that would be safer for her neck. And she could have given up the attack altogether, instead trying to get rid of that hard metal preventing her from breathing.

"Grrrr... AAAAAHHHH!!!!" Her strangled wheeze turned into a furious growl.

Astrid's arms tightened. No, she wasn't going to let Ostberg go. Even if she has to sacrifice every part of her body to win, she will do it. Not for the first time. During her previous match against the outstanding blonde, she was willing to let her arm break. Nothing has changed since that time. Still holding her opponent, the Golden Dragon began to fall to the side, sending the upper part of Ostberg's body straight into the turnbuckles. She tried to strain every muscle in her neck, but...

"GUUHHUAAAA!!! AAAKKHAA!! KHAA!! KHAA!!"

She didn't know exactly how this fall ended for the contender, but she knew for sure that at the moment of landing, the chain on her throat tightened so much that for a second she thought it could really break. Fortunately for her, it wasn't that bad.

However, tears involuntarily appeared in the Golden Dragon's eyes. With a groan full of pain, she rolled over on her stomach and put her hands on her throat. At that moment, she could hardly breathe. Due to the pressure with which the metal chain was tighten on her throat at the moment of landing, her airways were almost completely blocked.

Because of the overabundance of emotions, she even hit the mat with her fist. To some extent, it helped her focus. At least she heard the chants of the audience again. Yes, that's right, it's not the time to relax. Gritting her teeth and trying to calm down, the Golden Dragon intended to first remove the chain from her neck, and then check the condition of her rival and find out if her efforts were worth the pain. She was not afraid to be disappointed, but still she hoped that it was finally enough to break through the armor of the tank named Astrid Ostberg and that it would finally bring down the pace of her rival.

[CaptainL]

Like none other, this was a match that was pushing its participants to the limits of their potential. For Ostberg, it was about proving that she still had it in her to cement herself as a champion; for Arvidsson, she had just been granted the World Openweight title, and she had pledged to do it justice and live up to the honor. When the two heavyweights - both of them titans of the ring in their own right - went head to head with all their might, each of them striving with every fiber of their being to succeed, it would be no small task for the two Astrids to keep up with one another. For both Astrids, this victory was an important one - and it was worth whatever they needed to put themselves through to get there. Both of them were fully willing to put everything on the line - their bodies, their spirits, and their morals - in the pursuit of their goal.

Ostberg had shown that when she, in desperation, had resorted to tactics she would never have entertained during her title run - using the chain to control Arvidsson's momentum and to steer her into positions more favorable to her. Now, her burning desire to win, to taste the sensation of being a champion once again, was pushing her beyond what she would ever do before. With her teeth clenched in a snarl, and her face reddening under the sheer pressure she put herself through, she pulled the chain as tightly as she could around Arvidsson's throat, yanking it into place with all her might. Her muscles were stretched taut; she felt like her tendons could snap from how forcefully she pulled back at the chain, digging the steel links into Arvidsson's throat. Ostberg would never have been willing to do something so brutal before - but now, she had no choice. She was high atop her opponent's shoulders, teetering back and forth; at any moment it felt like she could fall, and if she did, she wasn't sure if she'd be able to get back up again. It was either this, or cede any hope to reclaiming her past glories. No matter what it took, Ostberg was willing to keep trying!

But Arvidsson was willing to risk it all, too.

Even with Ostberg wrenching as hard as she could on her throat, even with the air being choked out of her lungs, Arvidsson found it in her to move. Her face contorted in pain, and her coughs and gags wracked her body; more than a few of the fans looking on gasped at the sight of the agony she was no doubt enduring. A few times, Ostberg could feel herself teeter from one side to the other - was Arvidsson's balance about to give out? Was she almost free? Was victory within her reach? The fans, too, were staring in rapt anticipation - Arvidsson's fans hoping that she could still make the escape, and Ostberg's awaiting the start of another championship run for the woman who had once been at the top of the Heavyweight Division. In just seconds, that would all be determined. But the question was if Arvidsson would even have it in her. With sweat dripping down her brow, Ostberg's eyes were squeezed shut in single-minded focus, but she would still look out at her foe with one eye, watching for the moment her strength would at last give out. It had to be close. There was no way Arvidsson could escape, she thought. She just needed to keep things locked in for just a little more. Just a little more...

But then, the impossible happened. Arvidsson roared with all the strength she could muster in such a state - and she threw herself forward toward the turnbuckles, with Ostberg going along for the ride! Suddenly, she snapped forward at the waist, and like the firing of a trebuchet, Ostberg was slung overhead!

In a few short seconds, everything had changed. The former Heavyweight Champion found her full weight suddenly thrust forward, and in a blink of an eye she was in freefall. The focused glare on her face turned to a wide-eyed gape of shock and terror as she went hurtling toward the turnbuckles, which were growing nearer and nearer by the second. It was impossible, she thought - there was no way Arvidsson could possibly have enough strength left in her to perform such a feat of strength! And yet...that was exactly what was happening!

Just as quickly as it started, it was over. Ostberg's head met the cold steel of the ring post with a loud clang, the impact ringing all through the arena, and the strength deflated from her body then and there. Her vision went dark, and she began to slide slowly down the post, only for her body to lay crumpled in the corner. She was stunned; she could barely even bring herself to budge. And now, it seemed, it was Arvidsson's turn to take control...

[skip-stop]

Even when she removed the chain from her neck, it seemed to her that the metal links were still there. Yes, mentally the Golden Dragon was ready for pain, but the reality turned out to be much more severe. Even when you think you're willing to pay the price, you don't always understand the consequences of your choice. Now, experiencing huge problems with breathing, the blonde realized this better than ever. Due to the lack of oxygen in her lungs, she felt tingling in her fingertips, which was never a good sign. She could only hope that the price she paid was fair.

Still suffering from the pain, she forced herself to pull her knees forward so that she got up on all fours. Wiping sweat and tears from her face, she looked at Ostberg. It was the very moment when the champion could breathe a sigh of relief. She didn't do it just because at that moment it would have been an extra waste of oxygen, which, without exaggeration, was worth more to her than gold after that driver. But the fact remained, she finally managed to stop the onslaught of Ostberg, who was inexorably moving forward from the moment the bell rang.

Of all the people Astrid had fought on the way to this day, Ostberg reminded her of Kanata the most. Yes, that Japanese woman was not a top star of the federation, but her endurance was truly incredible. It was because of Kanata that Astrid, for the first time in a long time, doubted whether she could win the match at all. She never doubted her abilities, but that time her opponent broke her pins over and over again and regained the advantage in the most unexpected moments. They were both so stubborn and aspiring that their match turned into a real carnage, where the mat of the ring turned red because of the amount of blood spilled.

Ignoring previous experience is not a good idea. Therefore, even though for the first time since the start of the match Ostberg's armor was pierced, the Golden Dragon understood that if she dragged her opponent aside and pressed her to the mat, it would definitely not allow her to defend her title. No, in order to prove that this title belongs to her by right, she will have to make sure that she has pushed Ostberg to the limit.

She made a decision.

Instead of getting to her feet, Astrid rolled to the side. One complete roll was enough for her to be outside the ring. And when her feet landed on the concrete floor, the noise level in the arena increased noticeably. The audience knew that when Astrid is outside the ring, it always means that the match goes to a completely different, much more brutal level.

The Golden Dragon still felt unwell. It wasn't hard to notice because she had to put her hand on the edge of the ring to keep her balance. The lack of oxygen in the blood is definitely not a joke, especially considering that due to the intense pace of the match she rapidly continued to get tired. Astrid gritted her teeth and tried to take a deep breath through the pain in order to regain at least a little strength.

She intended to grab Ostberg's hand and pull her closer in such a way that the contender's head was on the edge of the ring. She hoped that her opponent was still in a bad condition and would not be able to stop her, because in that case she would have wrapped her left arm around the neck of the former champion, thereby closing her in an inverted facelock hold.

If she had not met resistance, she would have taken a step back so that as a result part of Ostberg's body would have hung over the concrete floor, while most of her legs would have remained on the edge of the ring. Breathing heavily, Astrid would throw her right hand up with the clenched fist in order to fire up the audience and get some support. At that moment it was extremely necessary for her because she intended to turn in the opposite direction over her left shoulder, while bending her right arm at the elbow. The last thing she had to do was start falling down in order to drive her elbow into the contender's chest and send her straight to the concrete floor with a hard inverted facelock elbow drop!

[CaptainL]

The landing had done Ostberg no favors. Arvidsson had a considerable amount of strength at her disposal, and she was willing to put all that strength to good use - and when all that force was put toward hurling her head-first into the corner post, the Norsewoman felt like she might as well have been hit by an oncoming truck. Her head had gone numb, and her ears were ringing. Every muscle in her body abruptly fell slack as she collapsed in the corner, and she could barely will the strength in her enough to so much as lift a finger when she felt like she was weighed down with lead from head to toe. When she looked up, the whole world seemed to waver back and forth - the ring spun and teetered as three, then five Arvidssons stalked toward her, and all she could say in her defense was to let out a low groan. By all accounts, Ostberg was down. She was wide open, and vulnerable for her opponent to move in for the kill if she so desired. When she was pinned in the corner, it seemed like she was in a perfect spot for Arvidsson to scoop her up for another slam, or to lay into her with strikes. Certainly it would've been in keeping with her repertoire.

So when Arvidsson instead slipped out behind the former champion, going out onto the apron and then stepping down to the floor below that, it took a few people by surprise. Surely the champion had an obvious opportunity lined up right in front of her - why wouldn't she take it? But Arvidsson had other plans - and that was an answer that would soon grow obvious when Arvidsson began to pull her opponent out onto the apron, leaving her dangling over the edge. There she raised an elbow. An elbow that would soon be slammed straight down into Ostberg's face, hurling her to the floor below! Arvidsson's gesture would indeed net her a few cheers - but when she hit the elbow drop a moment later, those cheers were accompanied by no small amount of winces and groans from the fans who sympathized with Ostberg's plight!

The impact of Arvidsson's elbow was itself a blow that landed with hammer-like force, causing Ostberg to cry out in pain. Her hips bucked and her legs kicked up into the air, and with her balance swept out from under her she had nowhere to go but down - where she hit the floor with a thud, her already-sore head bouncing up into the air before coming down again to further rattle her skull. As she dropped limp onto the floor, her arms and legs lay flat around her, and she stared up at the ceiling through a daze, the world around her spinning. She'd had some luck, but her opponent was quickly catching up.

[skip-stop]

The clang of the metal chain. The painful cry of Ostberg. The collision of her body with concrete sweat. Cheers from the audience. All these sounds combined into a single whole, which made the walls of the arena ready to start shaking. The Golden Dragon was lying on her back next to her opponent, her respiratory tract gradually began to return to normal and now she was greedily gulping air in an attempt to restore sufficient oxygen levels in her blood. She could feel every bruise on her body, but even so, there was a slight smile on her lips. Finally, she managed to take a big step forward. It was important for her to prove that she was capable of something more than playing second number in her first title defense. And although the match was far from over, she felt more like a champion now than a few minutes ago.

Placing her palms on the floor, Astrid took a sitting position and wiped the sweat from her forehead and pushed her golden hair back. She would be lying if she said she wasn't tempted to just sit for at least half a minute to catch her breath. However, it was enough for her to just look at her opponent in order to understand that this was a very bad idea. Ostberg was and is one of the strongest women of the federation. Rest was an unaffordable luxury for the Golden Dragon. If she allowed herself to relax, the other Astrid would take her title, she was sure of it.

Therefore, the descendant of the great Vikings got up on one knee and grabbed Ostberg by the shoulder in order to push her and turn her over on her stomach. The Golden Dragon caught herself thinking that maybe she should have demanded an additional condition for this match, namely falls count anywhere. Considering that after two heavy attacks, the former champion showed almost no signs of movement, Astrid could well take advantage of this and try to pin her opponent. However, the rules required her to return Ostberg to the ring before trying to get a victory. Well. Rules are rules. However, before doing this, Astrid intended to make sure that it would not be an easy walk for her rival.

Rising to her feet, the Golden Dragon turned over her shoulder and looked at the audience. Even now, they supported both fighters equally. Some of them urged Ostberg to find the strength to get to her feet, and the other part longed for something real big from Arvidsson. She couldn't please her rival's fans, but she could definitely do what her fans wanted her to do. Standing slightly to the side of the contender and facing her feet, the descendant of the great Vikings intended to bend down and wrap her arms around the contender's waist.

"Victim for the dragon! Victim for the dragon! Victim for the dragon!"

Astrid barely restrained the urge to bare her teeth because of these chants. Yes, they had seen it before and they knew exactly what she was preparing for. The blonde intended to strain literally every muscle of her body, and then straighten up to her full height, thereby lifting her opponent off the floor and holding her in a horizontal position.

"Gggrrmmm..." the champion would groan through clenched teeth due to the tension in her arms.

She has always had a special relationship with hardcore. She has never had the desire to use this as a basis for breaking the rules, which is why no one has ever seen any really dirty movements from her, such as low blows or pokes in the eyes. However, the Golden Dragon believed that hardcore is a sure way to find out what a fighter is willing to do for the sake of victory.

The champion intended to pull Ostberg up sharply in order to turn her over and put her on the shoulders. However, if she had succeeded, she wouldn't have kept the other Astrid there for too long. As soon as the contender was on her shoulders, the Golden Dragon would jump up and spread her legs to the sides, simultaneously pulling the Ostberg down. This move was damn destructive even when performed in the ring. However, now the Golden Dragon intended to throw Ostberg not on the mat and even not on the concrete floor. Right now, she intended to throw Ostberg directly onto the metal steps in front of her! Someone knew it as a gutwrench sitout powerbomb, but Astrid considered it her signature move, which viewers remembered as the victim for the dragon!

[CaptainL]

Astrid Ostberg had all but been knocked senseless. She'd already been rattled by the volley of hard-hitting moves Arvidsson had turned against her, and when the Openweight Champion's elbow slammed downward into her face, it was enough to drive her even deeper into a daze. The aftershocks of the blow caused her to kick, buck, and spasm, jumping up into the air, only to drop lifelessly to the floor below just a moment later as she toppled off the apron. As her back hit the unforgiving concrete, a cough was knocked out of Ostberg's throat, and her arms flopped uselessly at her sides. Her head was numb, her ears were ringing, and it was through a blurry haze that she stared up at the ceiling. And despite it all...Arvidsson still wasn't done.

Ostberg could only take slow, shallow breaths as she lay flat on the floor, each coming in a hoarse, raspy pant. She could hear the roar of the fans coming down from the bleachers, but it only barely reached her ears through the ringing drone that echoed through her skull. Even when Arvidsson stepped in front of her, Ostberg would only see a hazy, indistinct figure through half-lidded eyes. Certainly she couldn't make out what it was the fans were calling for Arvidsson to do. But either way...Ostberg would find out the hard way, soon enough.

She barely showed any resistance as Arvidsson lifted her. All she did was sag limply against her opponent, her head still spinning. When she realized how high she was held above the ground, the spark of lucidity set into Ostberg ever so briefly; for a moment she felt a shudder run through her spine and her eyes went wide, as though she knew, by some instinct, how much trouble she was in. But moments later, Arvidsson jumped up off her feet and hurled Ostberg forward. A gasp died in the former champion's throat - and the next thing she knew, a loud clang exploded through the air.

The chain shot out between Ostberg and Arvidsson, but it wouldn't be enough to slow the Norsewoman's descent. Soon, she came crashing into the steel steps - and she threw back her head, letting loose a howl of pure agony. Her back arched up into the air, and her legs kicked wildly as her eyes were squeezed shut in a pained wince. She tumbled down one step, then the next, with a thud each time, and when she finally came to rest at the foot of the steps her teeth were locked in a grimace as she lay there twitching. Ostberg was already near her limit, and that wasn't good enough for Arvidsson!

[skip-stop]

It was the very moment when some viewers grabbed their hair, mostly those who wholeheartedly supported the former heavyweight champion. When Ostberg was on the shoulders of the Golden Dragon, many still had hope that the contender would find the strength to prevent her rival's plans. However, when the descendant of the great Vikings spread her legs to the sides and sent the other Astrid down, their hopes were destroyed.

Ostberg's heart-rending scream stuck in Astrid's ears as her rival's body crashed into the hard metal. The contender's back arched like a bagel, while her arms and legs twitched convulsively. The Golden Dragon did not hold her opponent's waist, as a result of which Ostberg rolled down, first to the bottom step, and then to the concrete floor. There was an expression of terrible pain on her face and hardly at that moment anyone would dare to say that she was just getting ready to return to the game.

So thought Astrid herself too, who, though breathing heavily, got to her feet. Of course, she was in no position to complain, considering that she had managed to snatch the advantage from her opponent's hands with great difficulty. However, fighting at such a high pace was far from the easiest task even for her. When she got to her feet, she put her palms on her knees and took a few deep breaths before taking a step towards Ostberg. She intended to check whether she had put enough effort into taking the victory.

The Golden Dragon was about to grab the contender by the elbow and waist. And although after three such tough attacks she would probably have to lift Ostberg to her feet on her own, she was ready to give her rival this courtesy. She hoped not to meet resistance, and if this was really the case, then as soon as the former champion would be in an upright position, Astrid would take a step to the side, simultaneously pushing her opponent in order to throw her to the edge of the ring and force her to roll under the bottom rope.

Battle of the heavyweights. These words could inspire awe in the soul of anyone who was present at the arena today. There is no doubt that there are many outstanding fighters in LAW roster and you can see something incredible in every match. However, when it comes to heavyweights, no one has any doubt that this will be a titans match. Surely a match between two Astridas would cause an unprecedented stir even without a title at stake. However, today both women were much more motivated, because today what they both craved was at stake.

"Let's go..." Astrid muttered under her breath.

The Golden Dragon intended to follow her opponent and also roll under the bottom rope, because despite her addiction to hardcore, she could get her victory only inside the ring. And she wouldn't delay. The Golden Dragon was going to wrap her arms around both of Ostberg's legs, and then turn to the side in order to lift these legs above the mat and press her back against the contender's chest. The referee did not take long to wait. The striped shirt lay down next to both Astrid and, making sure that Ostberg's shoulders were securely pressed against the mat, raised her hand above her head, and then quickly slapped the mat for the first time.

"ONE!" Echoed through the arena thanks to the audience.

[CaptainL]

The tension in the air was so thick, you could feel the hairs rising on the backs of every neck in the stands. Each set of teeth clenched, and a breath was sucked back in every throat. The sight of a proud, capable champion like Astrid Ostberg, one who had faced so many powerful opponents in the past and pushed beyond every challenge in her way, reduced to lying in a writhing heap on the ground, her whole body surging with too much agony to so much as move, was enough to leave everyone aghast - if even Ostberg could be taken out by such a blow, it had to be something far beyond all expectations. And still, Arvidsson wasn't done. Nobody wanted to watch. Everyone was too afraid of what horrors might play out next. And yet, no one could look away. They were transfixed by the terrifying brutality Arvidsson was capable of unleashing - and in a match this pitched, where every moment mattered, no one could bear to look away for even a second, lest they lose sight of the action!

For now, at least, Arvidsson would show Ostberg mercy. When she had already been battered and knocked next to unconscious, the champion had already done what she needed to do, and all she needed now was to get her opponent back in the ring. But still, Ostberg was by no means in fighting shape, and that was plain from the moment Arvidsson lifted her to her feet. Her head was still spinning, sagging low to the ground under the weight of her own neck as her hair hung over her face, and she blundered a few staggering steps forward; her knees trembled and buckled and more than once her balance threatened to give out, but it was thanks to Arvidsson leading her along by the arm that she stayed upright. As they came to the ring, Arvidsson pushed her underneath the ropes, where she went tumbling aside a few short feet, propeled by the weight of her own body, before she fell flat on her back with her arms splayed out limp and useless at her sides, and her eyes glazed over in a daze. By all reckoning, there was no way Ostberg was in any shape to get back up or to continue the fight.

Indeed, when Arvidsson fell on top of her and the first count landed, no one was surprised that Ostberg barely even budged. So too, when the ref called out the "TWO!", no one batted an eye. Everyone was too busy watching the ring with anxious anticipation, awaiting when the final call would be made. Even the cheers had died down from the tension of the moment. Nobody wanted to break the hushed silence that fell over everyone with the gravity of a church congregation as they waited for what would happen next. It appeared that the World Openweight Championship was about to see its first successful defense in the history of the company...and yet, among Ostberg's legions of faithful fans, there were still more than a few who held out hope that, like it had so many times before, the Norsewoman's strength, endurance, and determination would still be able to save her.

And sure enough...they were right.

"THR-NO!!"

The referee's hand was only seconds away from touching the mat a third time when the impossible happened. Ostberg's body began to stir - slow at first, but the strength of the motions that ran through her from her head to her toes grew more and more by the minute. Her eyes blinked open, her breaths quickened - and at last, she planted her hands against the mat, then pushed upward, bringing her shoulders off the mat and breaking the pin! The match wasn't over, and yet the mere fact that Ostberg was able to do such a thing had sent the crowd on fire with all the cheers and fervor they would have shown Ostberg if she'd just won. And though the look in her eyes was still a weary one, Ostberg looked up at her opponent with a smile. When there was so much on the line, Ostberg wasn't going to give this any less than her best efforts. If there was any will to fight left in her, she'd see it through. And she wasn't even going to let herself come up short.

"Not...today..."

[skip-stop]

Silence. Absolutely silence. It seemed that all the several tens of thousands of people in the arena stopped making any sounds after the referee slapped the mat for the second time. It seemed unimaginable, but no one could find the strength to break this silence. And yet there was a fire raging in their souls. Some were willing to pray to anyone in an attempt to give Ostberg the strength to break the pin. Others directed their energy to Arvidsson, wanting this to be the moment of her first successful defense. This moment of silence was truly beautiful, because at this moment the audience wholeheartedly supported the fighters who fought for the right to be on top of LAW.

The Golden Dragon closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. It is very easy to lose track of time during a match, especially during a match when there is more at stake than just a bigger number in the score. Somewhere in the depths of her soul, the descendant of the great Vikings knew that her rival still had the strength to fight. So why did she decide to try to take the victory now instead of continuing the offensive?

Even if she had given an answer to this question, hardly anyone would have understood her. Astrid considered herself a warrior. After three really tough attacks, Ostberg was on the verge of losing consciousness and the Golden Dragon saw no honor in continuing to attack her opponent. Now the contender had a choice. Succumb to the pain and lose, or gather strength and continue the match. And at the moment when the referee's palm went to the mat for the third time, everything depended on Ostberg, not on Arvidsson.

And Ostberg made her choice.

Just a fraction of a second before the referee's palm touched the mat, the other Astrid straightened her legs in one sharp movement and pushed off from the mat. Just one short impulse, but the power of which was enough for the pin to break. At the same moment, the silence was broken too. The walls of the arena literally shook because of the screams of the audience, who admired the contender, who at the last moment found the strength to go further.

Staying on knees next to Ostberg, the Golden Dragon looked into her rival's eyes. The contented was still in pain and her fatigue was not going anywhere. However, despite all this, there was a smile on her face. Oh, Astrid knew that smile. She has been in the place of her rival more than once. Fighting with the strongest women of the federation, the Golden Dragon also had to overcome pain and fatigue in order to stay in the match, in order to win. It was the smile of someone who is ready to go to the end. It was the smile of a true warrior.

The champion smiled back at her opponent. The match wasn't over yet and they both had a lot of shit to beat out of each other. However, at that moment, the Golden Dragon felt nothing but respect for her rival. Perhaps this was the magic of the true sport. The descendant of the great Vikings always went forward, despite any obstacles. Today she was here not because she won a lucky ticket, but because she cut her own way to the main event of the largest PPV of the year. And now, seeing that her rival has truly indestructible willpower, she just couldn't help but feel admiration. There was no need for words, but Ostberg confirmed her determination by telling the champion that she would not lose today. The Golden Dragon nodded affirmatively, because Ostberg's faith in these words did not cause her any doubt.

"We shall see..." Astrid replied, making it clear that despite the respect she feels for her opponent, she was not going to lose either.

Without taking her eyes off her rival, the blonde got up on one knee. Tension began to fill the arena again and because of this, the noise from the audience became quieter. For a few seconds, the Golden Dragon just stared speechlessly at her rival. Some might have thought that she was thinking about what exactly she should do with Ostberg. However, the truth was different. The truth was that Astrid knew exactly what she wanted to do.

Slightly bending the fingers of her right hand, she leaned down to Ostberg and offered her to join their palms. Perhaps a toxic person would find leniency in this, however, this was absolutely not what the Golden Dragon put into this gesture. Ostberg proved that, like the champion, she is ready to fight to the last drop of sweat. So they will have plenty of opportunities to be tough on each other. Therefore, Astrid saw nothing wrong with truly showing respect to her opponent and helping her get to her feet so that they could start a new round as two equal warriors.

[CaptainL]

It should've been over. There was no way that anyone, not even a former champion with the sort of fortitude Astrid Ostberg boasted of, would ever be able to power their way out of such a devastating combination of offense as the one that she had just been through. The whole arena had fallen into a silence as they watched the referee count. Many were convinced that the end was inevitable; that Arvidsson could only retain. But, as unlikely as it seemed; for as much of a long shot as it was...there was still the hope that Ostberg might just make it. She had fought her way through impossible challenges and unbelievable odds before; surely, she could do it again - at least, that was what everyone hoped.

And, in the end, their hopes were not in vain - not when Ostberg managed to get her shoulder up at the very last minute, turning everything around!

The match still wasn't over, but from the arena-shaking outpouring of cheers and applause that poured down from the stands, one could be forgiven for thinking Ostberg had just won the title. She might have been sore, and the world around her might have felt like it was spinning. Her gaze might have been hazy and half-lidded and her whole body might have felt heavy - but still, Ostberg knew in that moment that she had taken on an incredible challenge and come out on top. To her, that itself was a victory, and it was a victory she couldn't help but smile to. All the fans agreed.

As it turned out, Arvidsson felt the same way. Ostberg looked up at her opponent, catching that look in her eye for a moment - that look of well-earned respect and admiration - and it was enough to make her smile grow just a little wider. She nodded her head, and she didn't hesitate for a moment to take Arvidsson's hand in getting to her feet. "Thank you." This was, without a doubt, a pitched battle, and one that both women were willing to fight as though they had nothing to lose. So too, in binding them together with the steel chain, it encouraged more brutal manuevers, and even Ostberg herself had given into some uncharacteristic aggression. However, Arvidsson didn't have the slightest bit of contempt for her foe when she saw how she was willing to power through the most daunting of challenges - and Ostberg, too, had just the same respect for the champion if she was going to put her up to such a task. Perhaps she had let herself get blinded by the promise of taking back her title before - but now, Ostberg was just happy to face an opponent as worthy as Arvidsson was.

And she was going to fight like it, too. This time, when Ostberg moved in to open up the offense once more, she didn't tug on the chain, or try to strangle her opponent with it, or lay into Arvidsson with a brawler's fisticuffs. This time, she opened things as she would any other match - bending over and lifting her hands to assume a stance, grabbing Arvidsson by the hands, and pushing up against her to lay into her with all the force she could in a test of strength. She winced as she pushed her body through the motions; her muscles trembled and twitched, threatening to give way. That sent a twinge of uncertainty down Ostberg's spine when she thought of the danger this put her in. Both of them were on equal footing, and both had just as much of a chance of taking the upper hand. But this time...even if her muscles were still stiff, and her body lurched with aches and pains, Ostberg was okay with that.

With a nod, she looked Arvidsson in the eye once again, repeating those words they had exchanged at the start of this match. "May the best Astrid win..!"