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

[skip-stop]

"ONE!"

"What... how..." flashed through Astrid's mind.

It was only after she heard a slap on the mat that she came to the realization of what had happened a few seconds ago. At the cost of incredible efforts, she was able to lift her opponent above the mat and even put her on the shoulders. Due to the fact that she was severely exhausted, she had to slow down. Instead of immediately throwing Ostberg down, the Golden Dragon had to spend precious time trying not to fall under the weight of her rival.

This turned out to be more than enough for the former heavyweight champion to make a sharp movement and jump off the shoulders of the descendant of the great Vikings. What happened next was like darkness for the blonde. She didn't even have time to figure out how Ostberg grabbed her legs. However, it didn't matter at all. What mattered was that as a result, Ostberg did what Astrid actually intended to do herself. The contender lifted her over the mat, and then threw her down.

Even though Ostberg was tired, it was a hard and powerful throw. The entire upper body of the Golden Dragon crashed into the mat. Not having time to group up, she hit the back of her head hard, which was the reason why she lost her orientation in space. Dizziness, pain, and fatigue mixed into one wild cocktail that clouded her mind.

The champion did not even immediately realize that Ostberg was able not only to carry out an amazing counterattack, but also pinned her to the mat with a very dexterous movement for a heavyweight. The mind of the descendant of the great Vikings recreated recent events only after the referee lay down next to them and slapped the mat. Fully realizing the dangerous position she was in, the Golden Dragon even stopped breathing as if someone had squeezed her throat.

"TWO!!"

At that moment, the Golden Dragon only felt two things. She felt that her body was unbearably heavy due to the fact that her reserves were practically empty. And she felt like she wasn't ready to lose, not like that. Was the second that separated her from defeat enough to think about which of these feelings was stronger? Perhaps this short period of time would not be enough for someone. But not for her. She knew exactly the answer.

"THR!!!..."

"NOOO!!!!!!"

When the referee's hand went to the mat for the third time, Astrid made it clear that she wouldn't accept a defeat like that. This feeling gave her strength. Yes, just for one move, but still. The Golden Dragon jerked sharply to the right in order to turn on her side and thereby rise her shoulder above the mat. Just in time for the striped shirt to stop her hand. To the loud cheers of the audience, the referee stuck out two fingers, indicating that the match was still not over. And this caused a barely noticeable smile on the tired face of the champion.

[CaptainL]

By this point, Ostberg was well aware that she was on borrowed time. Her body creaked every time she moved, and every inch she pushed herself caused newfound aches and pains to ripple through her body, leaving her wincing and shuddering and her body trembling. She had been through ordeals that would surely have taken out women with less endurance than she, multiple times over. She couldn't help but be impressed with every success she made - but, at the same time, she knew that she had her limits, and that every move she made was whittling down her reserves. She'd surprised herself with how much she'd managed to accomplish, but she could never forget that she wasn't invincible. That, in fact, her strength was dwindling. Every time she tried to put Arvidsson away, and the champion broke free regardless, that was a little less energy Ostberg had in the tank; a little less she could use to carry herself onward. She just knew that she needed to end the match soon, while she still could. If there was any saving grace to her predicament, though...it was the knowledge that after all Arvidsson had been through the gauntlet she'd put forth, she couldn't have that much longer to go!

There were plenty of fans who gasped and looked on in awe as Ostberg managed to lift Arvidsson up onto her shoulders, and as she slammed her down just a moment later. Even if the Norsewoman had shown them plenty of feats just as astounding up to this point, with each stride she made no doubt being an even harder one than the last, the thrills never got old. Even Ostberg herself was shocked to see that, despite all the pain and fatigue, she'd been able to bring the Golden Dragon down. Now, as she settled into the pin, she could only hope she'd stay down.

As the referee counted, Ostberg stayed right where she was, gasping for breath. Her fingers squeezed at Arvidsson's legs with a white-knuckled grip as she held herself steady. Her weary muscles quivered, and her skin dripped with sweat as her chest lurched in and out. But when she heard the count grow higher, and saw that Arvidsson didn't budge, that gave her hope - her heart quickened in her chest, even as her body stiffened. This had to be it. Arvidsson couldn't possibly break out now; not after all she'd taken. It just couldn't be possible!

And then, it happened - once again, Arvidsson managed to pull herself out of the jaws of defeat at the last minute; Ostberg only had a two-count! The former Heavyweight Champion looked down with wide eyes, and for a moment her heart slowed to a crawl. It just couldn't be. Not after all this. But as Ostberg realized a moment later, this sort of endurance was entirely in keeping with what she'd seen from Arvidsson so far. By this point, nothing could surprise her. No, it wasn't over - not yet. She had to keep on fighting until it was!

Gritting her teeth, Ostberg let out a huff as she pushed down at Arvidsson's body, using the momentum to shove herself to her feet. She teetered a little, her balance unsteady and threatening to give way, but she dug her heels into the mat regardless. There, she looked down on Arvidsson, where her teeth clenched into a snarl. Ostberg's failed attempt had only given her a newfound surge of energy. She was determined to do it this time - and she was willing to defy nature itself to make sure this attempt would work!

Roaring through clenched teeth, Ostberg bent down toward Arvidsson with energy she shouldn't have had. Like the jaws of a Venus flytrap, her arms swung into place around her foe's sides, locking down and squeezing her ribs as her biceps flexed. There, she hoisted Arvidsson back up, prepared to hurl her to the mat with a bodyslam!

[skip-stop]

Every inch of her body was in agony. After all the movements from Ostberg that she had to go through, the Golden Dragon was sure that she would feel better even if she had been hit by a car. She couldn't stop wondering at the strength and endurance that the other blonde possessed. It's one thing to know that your opponent is strong, but it's a completely different matter to test it on your own experience for real. Even with all those tough matches behind her, she still couldn't believe that Ostberg was such an outstanding opponent.

After she broke the pin, she was in no hurry to get to her feet. Yes, her willpower was strong, but her body was in such poor condition that there was no question of any quick rise to her feet. And although it was a sad fact for Astrid, the same could not be said about the contender. While the audience was enthusiastically rejoicing at the fact that the champion remained in the match, her opponent let out an irritated growl. Heh. Funny. Astrid could quite understand her, because despite the respect for Ostberg, she felt exactly the same. Another charm of such an outstanding confrontation. Sports respect did not prevent you from feeling annoyed at your opponent's stubbornness. And there was nothing wrong with that.

Annoyance that the Golden Dragon wouldn't let her take the victory gave Ostberg the momentum she used to get back on her feet. And while the champion was trying to catch her breath to regain at least some strength, her opponent decided it was time to end it all. Once on her feet, she immediately leaned down and grabbed Astrid.

"Grrrhhh..." the blonde breathed through her teeth.

It seemed that the pain in her body had reached its limit, but it was not so. Every movement and every touch was like real torture. And perhaps the most unpleasant thing was that the Golden Dragon knew that it would only get worse. When Ostberg pulled her up, it was obvious that she didn't do it out of the kindness of her heart, but only to either finish her off or prepare her for it.

Astrid couldn't let that happen.

At the very moment when Ostberg lifted her over the mat and turned her upside down, the Golden Dragon took the deepest possible breath. Bending both legs at the knees, she intended to straighten them sharply in order to upset her opponent's balance and shift her own center of gravity. Two loud stomps marked her success, because as a result, the champion landed behind her opponent.

Having let out the same irritated growl as Ostberg a few moments ago, Astrid intended to hook both of the contender's arms from the sides and thereby catch her in a double chickenwing hold. If she had succeeded, she would have taken additional credit from her body in order to strain her arms and legs. The Golden Dragon was about to abruptly lean back, lifting her opponent into the air for a simple purpose. Astrid wanted to drive Ostberg hard into the mat with a release tiger suplex!

[CaptainL]

Every movement that Ostberg made was putting more and more strain on her already sore body, which had been stretched and compressed long past the point where it could do much without at least an ache. But still, the Norsewoman wouldn't let that stop her. She couldn't stop, she couldn't slow down, she couldn't even think about it - if she did, she would remember how much pain she was in, and that could only hold her back. No, she just needed to clench her teeth and fight through the pain, no matter what. She had to keep the pressure on Arvidsson. She had to make sure she would stay down!

With a firm yank, she pulled her opponent into her arms, and up off the ground. Even she was impressed with how she'd been able to find the strength in herself to move her foe - but, she reminded herself just as quickly, she couldn't dwell on that for long; not when she still had work to do. Her legs were trembling, and she teetered more and more with every bit of her opponent's weight she took onto her shoulders, but she dug her heels into the mat, trying to steady herself as she leaned back further, and prepared to send Arvidsson crashing down!

Except Arvidsson didn't go down - or at least, when she did, it was on her terms. The determined look on Ostberg's face would soon give way to a wide-eyed gasp, as Arvidsson managed to throw her weight over in the air, swinging herself behind Ostberg and landing on her feet! Such an acrobatic manuever, at this stage in the match, seemed almost unthinkable - but Ostberg had begun to realize that the Golden Dragon was fueled just as much by her adrenaline and her determination as she herself was. Both of them had a single-minded desire to win the belt, and they would do anything they possibly could to make the dream a reality!

In her moment of shock, Ostberg let down her guard, and that gave Arvidsson the opportunity. She was able to get behind Ostberg, grabbing her by the arms, and wrenching them backward, twisting them behind her back! The veins in the former champion's neck bulged as she hissed under the crushing pressure; as Arvidsson hauled back on her shoulders, she felt like they were about to pop out of their sockets - and every lingering ache in her back and her arms was reawakened, sending a shudder through her system. And Arvidsson didn't stop there - she was determined to pull Ostberg off her footing too, about to hurl her to the mat!

The cheers went wild through the stands - it seemed as though Arvidsson was about to defy all odds, rejecting even what should've been possible in the pursuit of victory. But Ostberg knew that Arvidsson had countered her before - and that knowledge made her all the more determined to rise to her example; to show Arvidsson the same ferocity with which she had fought. Anything less, she knew, would be a tacit admission that she wasn't good enough; that she couldn't live up to Arvidsson's precedent - and to Ostberg, that was tantamount to surrender! As long as she still had some strength in her; as long as it was still possible for her to fight back...she would certainly try!

Just as her feet left the ground, Ostberg would suddenly swing her legs behind her. She went to throw her thighs around Arvidsson's toned midsection, crossing them behind her back at the ankles to lock herself in place. If she could do that, she would duck her head down to shift her center of balance - hopefully, the swift motion with which she ducked, coupled with the tension it would place on the chain, would bowl Arvidsson off her feet, and straight down!

[skip-stop]

When she broke free from her rival's grip and found herself behind Ostberg, it could be called a real feat. Astrid's body felt like it was on fire because of all the damage she had received in this match. However, even the fact that she was able to avoid the movement that the contender was preparing was not enough. Still wasn't enough. The Golden Dragon knew it and therefore she couldn't stop. She intended to defend her title and her right to be on top of LAW.

The descendant of the great Vikings grabbed her rival's arms, trying to keep Ostberg as close as possible. At such a late stage of the match, she completely lost control of her breathing. There was no point in trying to save strength, so the champion continued to breathe heavily through her mouth, being sure that if she did not do this, her body would simply refuse to obey her. Like her best friend, Charlotte, Astrid believed that you can only really get to know a person in a fight. She saw a real warrior in her rival. The Golden Dragon was sure that this movement would not be enough for her to take the victory, but she hoped that the movement would prepare the ground for something that would be the end for Ostberg.

Resisting the burning pain in her muscles and joints, the Norwegian woman pulled her opponent up and back. But as soon as the very moment came when the Golden Dragon had to lean back and throw Ostberg to the mat, she couldn't do it. Something prevented her spine from arching, and only a second later she realized that it was Ostberg's legs that the contender wrapped around the waist of the Golden Dragon. That in itself was amazing, but what happened next was sure to amaze even the wildest imagination.

Ostberg took advantage of Astrid's extremely unstable position and jerked forward sharply as fuck, creating torque. Before the blonde could do anything, her legs came off the mat and her body began to roll forward. It was a kind of wheelbarrow victory roll, except for one important point. The circumstances were such that due to fatigue, Ostberg did not use enough speed and therefore the Golden Dragon's body could not make a full roll. Instead of her back, it was her face that rapidly approaching the mat.

"Gplh..." a barely audible indistinct thing sounded.

Some viewers even squeezed their eyes shut at the moment when Astrid's face crashed into the mat. However, the full effects became visible only after her lower body collapsed onto the mat. Lying on her back, the Golden Dragon barely moved. Her face couldn't survive this collision without consequences. Her nose was bleeding, as was her lower lip, which had torn in several places. Astrid was breathing heavily through her mouth and her eyes were open, but there was nothing but mist in those eyes.

[CaptainL]

It had been driven by an impulse, born of a frantic desire to survive. There was no strategy in it. It wasn't even much of a formal wrestling move. But when Ostberg felt that she was being hauled up off the ground, and when she felt Arvidsson's muscles pull taut around her, it made her heart jump in her chest and her body stiffen with a surge of adrenaline. She knew what was to come if this hit. In the state she was in, and with all of Arvidsson's strength behind her - tempered to even greater force by the title that hung in the balance, and her sheer will to prove herself - Ostberg doubted she would still have it in her to succeed if she landed this move. It was non-negotiable. Every bit of effort the Norsewoman put in had to be in turning this around; in denying her opponent the win! And with that impulse surging through her mind, she kicked herself into a whirlwind of energy that betrayed her fatigued state, pulling Arvidsson off her feet - and driving her head-first into the canvas!

The moment Arvidsson hit the mat, a loud thump rang out through the arena, and every fan in the crowd fell into a stunned silence. They had witnessed plenty of astounding spots and death-defying falls in this match, but if there was ever one that could truly be called terrifying, this would have to be it. Ostberg had taken hold of the momentum of her descent, and Arvidsson had eaten every bit of it, coming down hard. Her landing was punctuated by a sickening crunch that left more than a few onlookers wondering if they had really seen what they thought they'd seen - some of them even wishing they hadn't, for the champion's sake. But as the dust cleared, and Arvidsson didn't move, it became all too clear. That had been too much for her - and it had knocked her out cold!

Ostberg had fallen at the same time, pulled down by the same momentum she had brought against her foe. She needed a moment to catch her breath, her head still spinning from the fall, but soon enough, she turned around and saw it - how Arvidsson lay there lifelessly, her eyes glazed over and blood pouring down her face. At first sight of it, Ostberg herself felt chilled to the bone; her face went pale, and she sat up a little straighter, asking herself if it had really been her who'd done such a thing - and wreaked such harm. The gasps she took to draw air into her lungs slowed into a breath that hung trapped in her throat. But then, she stopped and shook those thoughts and fears out of her head. No, she thought - she couldn't let anything stop her now; she couldn't afford to let Arvidsson make a comeback. Not now, when her body felt like it could fail on her at any moment, and any impact she took could well be her last. If she needed to act, she had to act soon. And with Arvidsson stunned as she was, she didn't know if she would get a better opportunity.

It was the adrenaline that came from knowing she'd scored such an impact that brought the strength back to Ostberg's weary muscles. Her heart beat faster and harder in her chest as she got her feet beneath her and pushed herself back up. She clenched and unclenched a fist to try and will the sensation back into her hand. But she saw, without a doubt, that it was true - Arvidsson was wide open. And that knowledge alone was able to propel Ostberg toward the finish. She knew she could do this. She knew that Arvidsson was down. Now, she just had to strike when the time was right!

Thanks to the chain, when Ostberg got to her feet, it had pulled Arvidsson up with her. Now, she was ready to make her move. She leaned in closer, reaching to grab her opponent around one arm and one leg, and from there, to hoist her higher - it made her hiss and wince and her feet to tremble beneath her own weight as she brought Arvidsson up higher and higher, but she couldn't look back now! If she could make this work, Ostberg would pull Arvidsson up onto her shoulders - and, as she threw her head back to bellow out a battle cry, she would throw herself downward to land the Stavanger Buster to a chorus of cheers!

Spoiler

[skip-stop]

"Gods... it... hurts... so much..." sounded in Astrid's head.

Pain is a part of any fighter's life, but what Astrid was experiencing at that moment couldn't be described. Of course, after Ostberg's amazing maneuver, the greatest agony the Golden Dragon felt in her face area. Her already dry lips turned into a real desert, while her mouth had a terribly unpleasant salty taste caused by blood. Considering the crunch she, like the audience, heard in all its glory, she suspected that her nose might be broken. And although she couldn't tell yet if that was really the case, it was just a drop in the ocean.

"Ghhhh..." a hoarse groan sounded.

The champion was not ready to move. However, this was no reason for her opponent to stop. Ostberg pulled the chain with force and thereby pulled the Golden Dragon closer to her. In fact, it did not bring with it any damage or even unpleasant sensations, but after everything that her body went through, the sensitivity of the descendant of the great Vikings was disrupted. Any movement and any touch caused such tearing waves of pain that she didn't scream only because she was too tired.

When Ostberg grabbed her arm and leg, Astrid didn't know what exactly her rival was up to, but it was more than obvious that this was something that should end both the Golden Dragon and her reign. Realizing this, the blonde tried to strain her body. She didn't feel strong enough to push the contender away, but at least she could try to keep Ostberg from lifting her.

"Gmmm... ghhh... ghhhmmm..." she was making painful groans mixed with heavy breathing.

Considering her condition, even such a weak attempt of resistance was worthy of some praise. But it was clearly not enough. Astrid had no doubts about what exactly her opponent was feeling at that moment. Ostberg was driven by both the adrenaline and the taste of victory on her lips. When you feel something like that, nothing can stop you. Breaking the weak resistance of the Golden Dragon, Ostberg lifted Astrid onto the shoulders, directing her upper body down.

The contender's roar filled the ears of the descendant of the great Vikings, and then she felt the cold streams of the air on her face. It was a pleasant feeling for her wound. Perhaps it would not be an exaggeration to say that at that moment all the pain left her body. An illusion. No more. Because she knew what exactly would follow this brief moment of relief.

First her head, and then the entire upper part of her body crashed into the mat with such force that some might have thought that the ring would simply fall apart. An invisible darkness penetrated into every cell of the champion's body. Saliva mixed with blood flew out of her mouth. Her eyes widened for a second. Her pupils trembled. Her legs twitched convulsively several times. Her fists clenched involuntarily. And then... her body went limp.

One short second of silence clearly indicated that it was difficult for most of the audience to comprehend what had just happened. Yes, it's hard to believe your eyes at such moments. But when they finally believed in what Ostberg had just done, the arena was filled with deafening cheers as none of the spectators remained indifferent. Only a few wondered if Astrid was even alive after the contender's incredible finisher. But no one knew the most important truth. Even though the Golden Dragon was wandering between light and darkness at that moment, her spirit was still strong. A strong spirit. A broken body.

[CaptainL]

It had been with no small amount of effort that Ostberg had hoisted her opponent into position for the Stavanger Buster. Her muscles ached and trembled; not only was her own body growing stiff and heavy from lack of energy, so too was Arvidsson's, and that only made her seem that much heavier when Ostberg attempted to bear her weight, gritting her teeth from the strain as sweat ran down her brow. But at last, the former champion had brought her foe up into her grasp, lined up perfectly for the thunderous impact that could only come from her finisher - and just moments later, she hurled herself off her feet, taking Arvidsson downwith her. The fans had been cheering louder and louder with every inch that Ostberg had held her foe aloft, but now that the promised moment had finally been delivered upon, they broke out into an uproar of cheers, chants, and applause from the moment Ostberg's feet left the mat, almost enough to muffle the meteoric thud that came from the two titans crashing down into the canvas.

For the next few seconds, Ostberg didn't move. All she could do was lay there, catching her breath. Her whole body felt numb from head to toe, and her head was spinning, her vision blurry; she struggled to hold anything in her focus when she had been exerted to the brink of passing out. There was no way she could bring herself to move after bearing the weight she'd shouldered. But her sides began to heave in and out as she took long, deep breaths, in and out. This was it, she told herself. She couldn't lose sight, in her light-headedness, of what this meant, and just how important that was. She'd done it - against all odds, she'd managed to bring the fight she needed out of her aching muscles. She'd hit the Stavanger Buster, and Arvidsson was down. That meant she was only seconds away from achieving her dream - from being a champion again. And that was all the motivation Astrid Ostberg needed to drive her forward when all else seemed lost!

Sucking down a gulp, she took in one last long breath through clenched teeth, and there her eyes narrowed on Arvidsson as though she'd locked onto a target. Her fist tightened with purpose; she knew exactly what to do. Ducking down, the Norsewoman grabbed one of Arvidsson's legs, and went to hook it, pulling it back as hard as she could to lift it to the sky for the pin!

"ONE!!"

[skip-stop]

"I'm tired..." sounded in Astrid's head.

It was the first time she had said that to herself during a match. Her eyes were slightly open, but she couldn't see almost anything. Even in those moments when the darkness in front of her eyes was dissipating, the spotlight light seemed dim to her because of the tears that involuntarily filled her eyes. Lying on the mat with the feeling that every muscle in her body was torn, the Golden Dragon was ready to admit without remorse that this was the hardest match of her career. During her previous matches with outstanding women, she had exposed her body to tremendous damage more than once, but no matter how hard it was for her, she never admitted to herself that she was tired, continuing to stubbornly go forward no matter what. Until today.

Blood was flowing down her face while her body remained motionless. This was enough for Ostberg to draw the only right conclusion. After the hell they'd dragged each other through, this was her moment. The contender lay down on the descendant of the great Vikings and hooked her leg under her knee, lifting it into the air as high as she could. Nothing prevented Astrid from hearing the referee drop to all fours next to them the next second. The spectators, eager to see the end of this epic match, buzzed like bees, but even this could not drown out the sound with which the referee's palm slapped the mat for the first time.

"ONE!"

The roar of the audience made it as clear as possible that everything that has a beginning has an end. Whether it's a match or a reign. Perhaps if any of them had known how Astrid felt at that moment, their screams would not have been so loud. Considering herself a warrior, she was never afraid of defeat. Every time she challenged another woman from the top of LAW, she knew that she could find herself in exactly the same position as she is now. Even when defeat was breathing down her neck, the Golden Dragon took it without any fear or any regrets, because she firmly believed that if she couldn't win today, then she would definitely be able to win tomorrow.

This time it was different. This match not only became the most serious challenge for Astrid in her life, but also made her look at some things in a completely different way. Her confidence that she always had a second chance was one of those things. Many, following her career, because of her character, forgot that she was the same fighter as everyone else. Astrid has her own dreams, which she aspires to. She wasn't ashamed to admit that she always wanted to be on top. Not because of money or fame, but in order to prove to everyone, first of all to herself, that you are capable of anything and that even if the whole world is against you, it depends only on you and your efforts whether you achieve your dreams.

Today, LAW management has given her a chance to make her dream come true. Among all the outstanding women who have demonstrated their skills and aspirations to the whole world at the Apex, it was she who was given the chance to prove that your success does not depend on luck, but only on what you are willing to go through for this success. Some might say that the Golden Dragon had reason to be proud of herself, because whatever it was, even now she was officially considered the first Openweight champion. But it didn't matter to her. Her dream wasn't to get to the title and lose it on the same day. Her dream was to leave behind a legacy that would never fade into oblivion. Her dream was that, thanks to her, everyone would remember one simple truth. You are the master of your life and it depends only on you whether you achieve what you want from your life.

"TWO!!"

Those who were present at the arena today and those who watched the broadcast online were sure that only the Openweight title was at stake. But for Astrid, there was much more at stake. Her dream was at stake in this match. On any other day, Astrid would have said that she would beat Ostberg next time. But being so close to defeat, the Golden Dragon was sure that if she lost, then such a huge gap would form between her and her dream that she simply might not have a second chance.

Considering how much had happened in the ring during this match, even the most skeptical spectators began to believe in miracles. Both Astrids have shown incredible things during their previous matches. But it was this main event that showed what two fighters are ready to do for the sake of victory. Sparing no effort, they beat and threw each other both inside and outside the ring. Time after time, each of them rose to their feet, preventing the other from gaining victory. Looking at this, the audience believed that both Astrid are capable of some kind of magic.

But the cruel truth is that there are no miracles. On paper, it looks beautiful, because it is much easier to visualize the inner dragon, which gives the fighter additional strength at the moment when their own strength has run out, than to try to understand where the fighter actually found the strength to continue the match. The cruel truth is that magic in the usual sense of the word does not exist.

The only magic in pro wrestling is the magic of fighting battles beyond endurance, beyond cracked ribs, ruptured kidneys and detached retinas. It's the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you.

That's exactly what happened the moment the referee raised her hand for the third time. Astrid didn't see that hand, she only saw her dream. Everything she had fought for on the way to this day was right in front of her. The responsibility for her dream lay only with her, and not with anyone else. And for this dream, she was willing to risk everything.

"I'm sorry, Astrid..." the blonde said as softly as if she hadn't said anything at all.

"THR!!!..."

The second the referee moved her hand down, the champion held her breath. On one side of the scale there was pain, fatigue and all the wounds she had received, while on the other side of the scale there was her dream. Her intention was extremely simple. Either make this dream come true, or die trying. Astrid simply did not see any other options for herself. It was her life. It was her decision. And so the Golden Dragon forcefully yanked her hooked leg while turning her whole body towards her opponent, thereby breaking the pin an instant before her dream turned to dust. But although she did it, she was not even close to pushing Ostberg away, instead it turned out that turning on her right side, she involuntarily hugged her opponent with her left hand.

"This fight isn't over yet!" She finished in a slightly firmer voice than a moment ago.

"ONLY TWO!!!!!!" The referee declared to the roar of the crowd, thereby officially confirming the words that the Golden Dragon had just said to her rival.

[CaptainL]

Ostberg didn't know how many times, in this match, she had found herself in the exact position she was right now. Draped on top of Arvidsson, her body weight holding her down with a force that came as much from her own soreness and fatigue as it did from her size. Her arm hooked around the Golden Dragon's leg and holding it firmly, her bicep curled and the bulge of her muscle pressing in deeply against her opponent's leg. Her body dripping with sweat, her sore and weary muscles trembling with every haggard gasp she took that left her sides heaving in and out. She'd lost count. There was one thing she was sure of, though - Astrid Arvidsson was truly something else. There was no other opponent, she was sure, who could have stood up to this sort of offense and kept going, who could ever kick out of so many brutal, earth-shaking slams in a row. Anyone else would have long since succumbed. She didn't think Thereisa Neidermeyer could do what Arvidsson was doing right now, or Kat Hart, or perhaps not even Alaina Sanders. But there was something that Arvidsson had that they didn't, and that was raw, unfiltered determination when the ultimate prize was right in front of her. The Golden Dragon had made up her mind that, now that she had the honor of World Openweight Champion bestowed upon her, she was going to emerge from this match wearing that with pride. And even in the face of incredible opposition, that burning desire was still keeping her going.

But Ostberg was determined too - she reminded herself as much, her teeth clenched with a hiss. For Ostberg, this was a second chance. She'd been granted the opportunity to claw herself back to the spotlight after her loss of the Heavyweight Championship; the chance to redeem herself for all the failures she still blamed herself for. She had already felt that she'd let down herself, her family, and everything the belt stood for with every time she failed to measure up to the legacy and the glory all those things meant. But if she could beat Arvidsson now, all would be forgiven. She would once again be a champion - it would prove that everything else was just a fluke; that she really was capable of everything she needed to be capable of. Ostberg couldn't afford to let herself slip into obscurity. She had to win this.

And now, it seemed, she was about to do just that. Her brow furrowed and her eyelid twitched nervously as she stared down at Arvidsson, watching her every move. But for all Arvidsson had surprised her in this match, she was confident now that she was down for good. There was no way, she thought, that anyone could break out of the Stavanger Buster so easily - not after all the offense Arvidsson had taken so far. Her body had to be breaking down on her as they spoke. It just couldn't hold out! All Ostberg needed to do was to keep her down a little while longer, and then, all would be made right...

And then...it happened. Arvidsson shoved all her weight to the side, her body lurched - and she kicked herself free of the Norsewoman's embrace!

No matter how many times Ostberg had seen this happen before, that moment still left her shocked. Her jaw dropped open, her eyes wide in awe, and the color drained from her face. "No-!!" she gasped. After everything that had happened to Arvidsson, after all she'd been through, it simply seemed impossible that this match wasn't over! And yet, after the incredible things Ostberg had seen her opponent do so far...she didn't doubt what she was seeing for a moment!

The shock faded as quickly as it began. Soon enough, Ostberg sucked in a breath and clenched her teeth, and her fist balled tightly at her side. She couldn't even think any more. She just had to act. She was too tired to think things through; she just needed to let instinct guide her. Even to think of how tired she really was could only slow her down. If Arvidsson was going to keep fighting...then so be it, Ostberg would too! Her eyes narrowed into a glare locked on Arvidsson, and she pushed one foot behind her, going to press it against the mat to hoist herself to her feet. No matter how much her muscles were trembling, she had to move - and she pulled back on the chain to try and bring Arvidsson up with her. Ostberg couldn't waste a moment reflecting on her state. All that mattered was what she felt. That was enough to guide her. The match was still going strong - and to see both women ready to give it their all, the fans could only cheer louder!