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

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The noise in the arena was almost impossible to compare with anything. The moment Ostberg's back slammed into the Golden Dragon's knees, all the spectators literally jumped up from their seats. While some clutched their heads, amazed at what they had just seen, others threw their hands over their heads, joyfully welcoming what could fairly be called the end of this titanic match. Sometimes it may seem that the match will never end. But even the toughest and most spectacular match must end eventually. Even when fighters are fighting on equal terms both physically and mentally, nothing can last forever.

At the moment of the collision, Astrid let out a painful groan while her face contorted. Ostberg wasn't the only one who ended up flat on the mat, the champion's legs went down at the same second. The blonde tried to do everything possible to stay conscious. She was forced to close her eyes because of bright white and black flashes. Even breathing was like torture, causing burning pain in her lungs, which forced her to take short and smooth breaths. Both her body and her mind were literally begging her for some rest.

Astrid had a lot of more than heavy moves in her arsenal. And given the circumstances, any one of them would probably have been enough to finish off the contender. However, the descendant of the great Vikings purposefully chose the hardest move possible. Not to show off, but to pay tribute to the great woman who gave her such an incredible match. The pain in her arms that Astrid felt at that moment will forever remain a reminder of what she had to go through for the sake of her dreams.

Turning her head to the side, Astrid forced herself to open her eyes. Through tears and fog, she saw Ostberg lying motionless. She was very close, there was no more than one meter between them. The audience, still on their feet, continued to increase the noise. But even with all this, the Golden Dragon remembered one important thing. The match is still not over. In order to fix this, she had to make one last effort.

"Guuuhhhmmm..." she groaned through clenched teeth.

With that groan, she rolled over onto her stomach. Her reserves had run out ten minutes ago, if not earlier, and now she fully felt the consequences of her body working on credit all this time. She couldn't even get up on all fours. Because of this, the meter between her and her opponent seemed like a mile to her. They say that the last step to the finish line is always the most difficult. And Astrid was ready to agree with that. Perhaps this is the very test that a true champion must go through. Find the strength for this last step even when your body refuses to move.

Biting her lower lip, the Golden Dragon threw her left arm forward, and then bent it at the elbow, thereby moving herself closer to her opponent. She did it again, but with her right arm. Only in one of her previous matches she felt as tired as now. Like Ostberg, Kanata pushed the Golden Dragon beyond her limits, forcing the blonde to give her all in the match. But the truth was, if she had any strength left, she would have smiled with pleasure. Someone would probably find it strange, but for Astrid, matches like this were real happiness. Thinking about it, she made one last rush forward.

Her ample breasts pressed against the equally ample breasts of the contender. The salty smell of their sweaty bodies completely filled the Golden Dragon's nostrils, further clouding her mind. No matter how much she wanted to leave things as they were, she reached for Ostberg's far leg. She intended to hook it under her knee and then pull it up to the other Astrid's chest. When it was done, the referee did not take long to wait. The striped shirt quickly lay down next to the two exhausted warriors, and then raised her hand above her head. Accompanied by a deafening roar from the audience, she slapped the mat for the first time.

"ONE!"

[CaptainL]

This moment was a long time coming. Both women had been running on fumes for a long time now - too long for any one person to reasonably do so. Yet, Ostberg and Arvidsson weren't ordinary people. Not only were they both trained athletes who had devoted their lives to conditioning and strengthening their bodies, they were both driven by a higher purpose - a determination to prove they were worthy the honors in contention. That had pushed them to heights neither of them, not even in all the ups and downs of their equally thrilling careers, could have imagined they would ever face.

But they couldn't push their bodies past the brink forever. Sooner or later, the strain and the fatigue was going to catch up to them. And now, it seemed, it finally had. For the last few minutes of the match - no one had bothered keeping time to say how long, exactly, it was; everyone was too enthralled in the action - the tension had come not only from the question of who would win, but equally as much from the question of how much longer it would take. When both heavyweights were on such an equal level, this match could only be determined by which one would break first. With every move and every shake of the canvas that followed, the fans and combatants alike asked themselves if this would be the one; if this would take them out for good. And at last, it seemed...that point had come.

Ostberg was laid out flat, barely conscious at all. Her body went heavy and sagged to the mat, weighed down under the force of gravity. All her muscles were limp and slack; a trail of saliva trickled from her dangling jaw. Arvidsson was just as weary - it showed in the groan she let out as she dropped down atop her foe, and from the weight that pulled down at her sagging limbs. But at least she could still go - she was still lucid. That was more than could be said about Ostberg, who didn't even feel more than a light tickle as Arvidsson's body fell down on top of hers. No matter how heavy her opponent was, or how rippling her muscles were, Ostberg's brain could only process the events that followed in gasps and spurts, and the world had become a numbing blur.

She didn't hear the first count of the referee, nor the roar of cheers that followed. She didn't hear the even louder eruption when the ref's hand hit the mat again!

"TWO!!"

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It wasn't just hard to believe, it was almost impossible to believe. Even after Astrid heard the first clap of the referee's palm on the mat. This match was a real proof that the impossible is possible. Time after time, Ostberg broke her pins, continuing to stubbornly go to victory. Therefore, even now, the Golden Dragon remained in agonizing tension. Cold logic said that she had finally managed to break both her rival's body and spirit. But considering how incredible her rival was... she just couldn't help but think that in a second Ostberg would break that pin too.

That's why her heart seemed to stop after the referee slammed her palm on the mat for the second time. They've been here before. And now they're here again. The Golden Dragon was once again one second away from victory. The only difference was that this time she knew one simple thing for sure. If Astrid Ostberg can perform a miracle again and break this pin, then this time the champion will simply not be able to get back on her feet. The moment she used the road to Valhalla, she went beyond her powers. She won't be able to do it a second time.

When the referee raised her hand above her head for the third time, Astrid closed her eyes. The screams of the audience died down for her, turning into dead silence. At this tense moment, the descendant of the great Vikings let go of all worries because now nothing depended on her. She had given everything she had, and now she could only hope that it was enough. Astrid didn't see it, but she felt the referee's hand go down. For those who looked at it from the side, it didn't last longer than a second, but for the blonde it was an eternity. Before…

"THREE!!!"

Ding-Ding-Ding.

The ringing of the bell and the roar of the audience became something like a bucket of ice water for the Golden Dragon. Quite involuntarily, she gasped. Her left arm relaxed and she let go of Ostberg's leg, but even after that she didn't get off her opponent. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she still couldn't believe it all was over. She just couldn't get rid of the thought that this was all an illusion and that the match was still not over. Lying on top of her opponent, Astrid desperately needed something other than the screams of the audience and the ringing of the bell. Hardly anyone could understand her, but she needed irrefutable proof that she had coped with this great challenge in the person of Astrid Ostberg.

"Here is your winner and still LAW World Openweight Champion Astrid "Golden Dragon" Arvidsson!!!!"

Yes, that was exactly what she needed. Hearing this and the cheers from the audience that followed, Astrid finally accepted reality. She did it. She defeated one of LAW greatest women and defended the title entrusted to her. Slowly placing her palms on the mat, Astrid rose from her opponent's body. However, although she took a more or less vertical position, she remained on her knees in the so-called Bambi pose. Still facing her defeated opponent, the Golden Dragon bent both arms at the elbows and tilted her head back slightly.

"GRRRAAA!!!!!!" She roared as tears rolled down her face.

Her emotions at that moment were much stronger than pain and fatigue. All her life Astrid has been striving to find out what she is really capable of. For this, she was always looking for the toughest challenges, not stopping even for a moment. And today she could say without any remorse that she had gone through the most difficult challenge. Yes, each of her previous matches was tough and uncompromising, but the match against Ostberg was the apogee of her career. What will happen next is unknown. But right now Astrid had reason to be proud because with this victory she proved her right to call herself the best. It was her day. This was her moment. And there was only one thing that could make this moment even better.

The referee approached the champion and handed her the gold belt. Still with tears in her eyes, Astrid got to her feet and took the title in her right hand. To the loud applause of the audience, the referee took the Golden Dragon's left wrist and raised her hand up, thereby officially declaring her the winner. The Norwegian woman had a smile on her tired face. She raised her title above her head and it was at this moment that the prepared pyrotechnics worked, complementing this moment with bright colors. It was her day. The day she wrote her name into history.

[CaptainL]

At last, this was it. Astrid Ostberg had fought on to the very limits of what her body was capable of - and then some. To the Norsewoman, there was no way she could lose; she could never forgive herself. Not if she faltered now, when she had more to gain than ever. When she had lost the Heavyweight Championship, it was a blow that practically shattered Ostberg's pride; it forced her to question everything she knew about who she was, how far she'd come, and all she'd achieved. It left her asking herself how much of her storied career came about by dumb luck, and how much of that fabled strength that she took such pride in was even there in the first place - if she had ever really been deserving of a championship in the first place. Now, though, she had the chance to salvage it all. If she won the Openweight Championship now, she could prove that she really did have the strength worthy of a champion - a champion even greater than what she'd been before. She could once again feel sure in herself. She would know she was right where she needed to be.

All of those thoughts were pushing Ostberg forward, fueling her with more energy and vigor than she ever should have had. She had weathered the storm Arvidsson had unleashed against her, taking blows that should well have caused her to crumble, and yet she stood tall through it all - for no matter what happened, she still had the ultimate goal in sight. Whatever happened, she wouldn't let herself come up second compared to Arvidsson, and not when the title was on the line! No matter how sore or how bruised her body grew, Ostberg knew she just had to keep going. Her determination had fueled her through incredible things, things that she should never have been able to withstand. If her own body wouldn't let her win, then she paid it no heed - her determination would do the work instead!

But even Ostberg had her limits. And even her reserves had to run dry at some point. She had managed to kick out of more pinfalls and death-defying blows than anyone ever should have been able to, but when Arvidsson brought her down with the Road to Valhalla, that was too much for her, at long last. All the air was driven from her lungs by the impact, and her body went stiff and heavy as her vision went dark. At last, Astrid Ostberg had fallen. The count was made - and the cheers ripped through the arena.

It was such a monumental occasion - the first successful defense of the Openweight Championship - that few fans could be blamed for only having eyes for Arvidsson in this moment, as she celebrated her victory. Few bore any mind to how Ostberg's eyes fluttered lazily, or how she moaned out a low groan under her breath. It was only slowly that she finally began to come to her senses. Her temples were pounding like the beat of a drum, and the edges of her vision were hazy; everything felt like it was spinning. But Ostberg already knew what had happened. The second she looked up to see Arvidsson standing at the referee's side, she knew how this match had ended.

"...Well done." Ostberg's voice was little more than a soft whisper, barely audible even to her foe. But even as she pushed herself back up, Ostberg bowed her head lower in reverence. If she had lost, she had lost fair and square, and Arvidsson had every right to call herself a champion after the feats she'd achieved. If this was a match that had truly demanded so much of them, and taken them to such lengths, and Arvidsson won it, the title belonged with her. Ostberg had to look to her with pride. She was glad to share a company, and a ring, with someone so determined; someone capable of such greatness.

And yet...Ostberg still couldn't help but feel a twinge of something else, as her body stiffened and she glanced back down. For as much as she wanted to greet Arvidsson with nothing but pride and honor and admiration, she couldn't help but feel a sour taste at the back of her throat; it seemed practically obscene that she felt this way at all. Was it guilt that she, somehow, hadn't done her best? No, that was impossible - there was no way, she was sure, she could have outdone herself. But that meant that Arvidsson had simply been better. And to Ostberg, that thought was not had without jealousy...

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As the fanfare began to fade, Astrid heard something that involuntarily made her flinch. The joy of victory, to her shame, made the champion forget about her opponent for a moment. Upon hearing Ostberg's voice, the descendant of the great Vikings immediately turned to her with the intention of helping her to her feet. However, this was not necessary because the other Astrid handled it on her own. The two heavyweights were face to face again. Almost. The truth was that Ostberg's gaze was downcast and she did not look the Golden Dragon in the eyes.

It was a bit of an awkward situation for Astrid. On the one hand, she knew for sure that she shouldn't feel guilty about her rival. It's sport. It's pro wrestling. There can only be one winner in a match. Today, they both put everything they had and even more on the line. The Golden Dragon knew exactly why she was here and what she was aiming for. Therefore, there was no room for doubt in her heart. If you want to be the best, you must be ready to do everything necessary for this, otherwise your dreams will remain unattainable for you.

On the other hand... the Golden Dragon just couldn't help but feel the pain in her heart area. It is said that a person can never fully understand another person. It might have been true, but Astrid was sure she knew exactly how her opponent was feeling right now. For the simple reason that she has been in Ostberg's place more than once. As a fighter, Astrid knew that defeat could await you in any match. But there are matches that you have no right to lose. Each of her victories was significant, otherwise she would not have been entrusted with the title today. But the three defeats on her account for the Golden Dragon were much more bitter for her than any victory sweet.

When the referee approached them and alternately freed their wrists from the metal chain, the descendant of the great Vikings took a step towards Ostberg. She had a lot to say. She wanted to let her opponent know how much this match meant to her and how much she respected the woman standing in front of her. Nevertheless, the champion remained silent. If she was really right about how Ostberg feels right now, then her opponent hardly needs her words right now. In such a situation, any word spoken by the winner will look like a consolation for the loser. So instead of launching into a tirade, the Golden Dragon decided to do what she always did best. Be brief.

"It was an honor for me," she said with all the sincerity and respect she was capable of. "Great match."

With that, she extended her hand to her rival, offering her a handshake. Words spoken at the wrong moment can hurt more than a bullet. Therefore, the Golden Dragon decided that they both needed to rest first. They will still have the opportunity to meet again and share what each of them has in their hearts. In another situation, Astrid would even have risked hugging her opponent because she felt grateful that Ostberg had given her such an outstanding fight. But she didn't want her opponent to take it in a negative way. Sharing emotions is never a bad thing, but maybe a handshake as a gesture of respect will be enough this time.

[CaptainL]

The moment Ostberg felt the chain fall from her wrist, her arm dropped limp at her side, as though weighed down with every ounce of strain and fatigue she had forced out of it in the desperate struggle to hold onto the honor a champion deserved. Her wrist throbbed where the metal had dug into the skin; for a moment she was reminded of how much it ached now that the rush of adrenaline that drowned it out had been lifted, but barely more than a second later that sensation too gave way to the unfeeling numbness of a body she was barely even conscious of the fact she inhabited. Her head throbbed, and every muscle ached; the world felt like it was spinning around her, fading in and out of focus. There was one thing Ostberg was keenly aware of, though. It hadn't been enough - she had lost.

She felt that sting of disappointment in her still. She had lost. She'd given it her all and then some, yet it still hadn't been enough. There was no way she could possibly outdo the performance she'd put forth in this match, she was sure of it - but that hadn't been enough to get her where she needed. What did that say for her future - was her time truly past; was she going to be left chasing after a dream she could never quite attain? When she looked back up at her victorious opponent, Ostberg's gaze lingered on her for a little while longer, and even when every muscle in her body had fallen slack, her heart still felt tense. She was aware she was looking at the woman who was the reason she wasn't a champion again, all too keenly aware. Arvidsson was looking back at her - but she wasn't alone. Ostberg could feel the gaze of every pair of eyes in the arena, and all of them weighed heavy on her shoulders. She didn't know how many were judging her, how many were analyzing every moment of the match to point to where she'd gone wrong, and what stood as proof that she was past her prime, but she knew there was at least one. There had to be.

When she heard Arvidsson's praise, Ostberg cracked just the hint of a smile, and she bent her head inward in a nod. "For me, also," she said, her voice tired and wavering. Ostberg meant it, too - Arvidsson had shown her just how strong she really was, and just how dedicated she was in her defense of the title. She had seen how well she could honor the duties that had been placed on her shoulders. Arvidsson deserved every bit of the honor of a champion, and even if Ostberg's grip was a weak one as she took her hand, that wasn't from hesitation, but from exhaustion. She still smiled at her as she gave her hand as firm a shake as she could manage, and as she tugged on Arvidsson's arm to pull herself slowly but steadily back to her feet. "It truly was a great match - and you should be proud."

But that doubt was still there - that nagging feeling wouldn't leave Ostberg alone. The feeling of what could have been, of where it all went wrong. She knew she should have had nothing but pride for Arvidsson - she had lived up to Ostberg's standards and then some; she had embodied every bit of the Norsewoman's picture of the ideal champion. And yet, it was the knowledge that she hadn't been enough, that she could've been in Arvidsson's place, that poisoned the pride she wanted to return Arvidsson for all she showed her in turn; that made her teeth clench and her breaths slow. Perhaps what hurt even worse than the disappointment was that Ostberg felt disappointed at all. And yet, she couldn't look past it, no matter how much she wanted to. Was she past her prime - and did that stop at the ring?

[skip-stop]

At one point, she really thought that Ostberg would not accept a handshake. The bitterness of defeat is a terrible thing that literally tears you to pieces. The Golden Dragon still remembered those feelings after the match against Katherine. She barely had the strength and honor to swallow her pride and shake her rival's hand. And she was sure Ostberg felt the same way. However, this blonde is considered a legend of LAW for a reason. Although with sadness on her face, she not only accepted the handshake, but also praised the descendant of the great Vikings for the match, saying that she should be proud.

“I'm...” said the Norwegian woman in a slightly trembling voice. “Thanks to you...”

She had a lot to say. She wanted to say how grateful she was that Ostberg had become her opponent today. She wanted to support this great woman, who was torn apart by sadness at that moment. And yet… The Golden Dragon couldn't find the words. Moreover, she wasn't sure if Ostberg wanted to hear anything from her right now. Perhaps the best solution would be to meet later. Yes, this is probably the best solution. Yet, there was something she wanted to say right now.

“Astrid,” the blonde said in a slightly firmer voice to her rival. “Everyone decides for themselves when their story comes to an end.” She squeezed Ostberg's hand a little harder, as if to let her know how serious she was in her words. “And correct me if I'm wrong, but your story is far from over.”

Astrid smiled slightly at her, and then let go of her hand. Taking one step back, the champion nodded goodbye to the other blonde to the approving hum of the audience, and then headed for the ropes. When the Golden Dragon was outside the ring, she staggered violently. She even had to close her eyes and take a deep breath. In a rush of emotion, she completely forgot that her body was literally completely exhausted. She needs a shower. She needs to rest. She needs her best friends. And she needs a huge can of ice cream. A great plan. But first…

She turned and walked straight to the front row. Smiling tiredly, she accepted congratulations from both Charlotte and Nerissa, as well as from the rest of their team. And then she stopped in front of Victoria. The usually unflappable Englishwoman could barely hold back tears, and in her eyes even the most unfeeling person could see that she was proud of her ward as if Astrid were her own daughter.

“I remember you dreamed of helping me and the others become great champions...” Astrid said, then handed the title belt to her manager.

Victoria touched the title reverently with her fingertips. At that moment, a wave of warmth ran through her body. Hardly anyone could describe her emotions at that moment. She was here today with her entire team, and each of these women was much more than just a client to her. She really considered them her family. And now that Astrid has proved that she deserves to be on top of LAW… Victoria felt happier than ever.

“I remember you dreamed of making your great ancestors proud of you...” the manager said, looking up at her ward. “I will not take responsibility to speak for them, but I will speak for myself...” tears ran down the manager's face. “I'm proud of you, Astrid...”

Amid a flurry of applause, Victoria hugged Astrid so tightly that the blonde almost groaned in pain. However, nothing could overshadow this moment. They both knew how much work had been put in for this moment. And although their relationship was not always smooth, over time they really became each other's family. Victoria took care of both Astrid herself and her career, while the Norwegian woman received an incentive like she had never had before.

“Now go,” Victoria said softly. “We'll come to your locker room later.”

“Yeah… thank you…”

Releasing Astrid, Victoria hurried to wipe away her tears. The champion looked at their team and nodded confidently, then headed for the ramp. Fatigue began to overwhelm her completely. Her legs felt like they were filled with lead. But even so, she was in an incredible burst of delight. Thanks in large part to the audience and devoted fans, who filled the arena with noise again, seeing off the champion.

Ignoring her fatigue, Astrid continued to smile and wave to everyone who congratulated her on her victory. And when she got to the top of the ramp, she turned around abruptly. Looking at the audience and at the ring, where the toughest match of her career took place, she still could not fully believe that she was now going to be the face of such an incredible federation as LAW.But although the future is always vague, she was ready to continue doing what she had always done. Fight to the last drop of sweat and blood.

With that thought in mind, the Golden Dragon raised the title above her head, simultaneously sticking out the thumb of her other hand in a signature gesture. The cheers of the audience were drowned out by a powerful volley of pyrotechnics, while an updated render of Astrid appeared on the titantron, indicating that now she is officially the First LAW World Openweight Champion.

“A star is born!” Victoria whispered before Astrid took a step back and disappeared behind the curtains.

[skip-stop]

The winner and still LAW World Openweight Champion is Astrid Arvidsson