Chapter 84: Quarter Finals (Eight Brackets)
Hearing the announcement, Klaus shifted in his chair and leaned forward before he narrowed his eyes and fixed them on the stage.
He was completely locked in to watch Trina’s matches.
Unfortunately, though, the first match was between two other students.
The same was true for the second and then the third.
Over an hour passed as the three matches finished, and most of the students were pretty lackluster compared to Trina.
He had sparred with her a few times, so he knew how good she was. He couldn’t even find ways to restrict her movements most of the time, but he could think of multiple ways to do so with the previous six university students.
Perhaps it was because Klaus had been taught how to take down his opponents as quickly as possible.
He also didn’t have to follow the guidelines, such as no grappling, but that had only made things easier for him while sparring.
Still, a student named Amelia had caught his eye.
She wasn’t as good as Trina, but she wasn’t too bad either.
If Trina wasn’t part of the tournament, Klaus was sure that Amelia would have won. Unfortunately, Trina was here, and no one could stop her from winning.
Too much was on the line for Trina to lose.
She had to prove herself; she needed the money for her mother’s treatment, and she wanted to show Klaus that he hadn’t made a wrong decision by making her his first knight.
The announcer’s voice once again rang throughout the stadium.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the number one taekwondo athlete of Opalstar University — Trina Frost!"
The audience rose from their seats and erupted into applause and cheers.
This time Klaus was also a part of them.
Trina walked out of the curtains and stepped to the center of the stage. Her deep brown bobbed hair fell loosely on her shoulders as she had begun to grow it out. She had an impassive expression with eyes full of determination and confidence.
She wore the traditional taekwondo dobok with a black belt with five golden letters embroidered across it. Over it, she wore the red protective gear, which included a chest protector, headgear, groin protector, shin and instep guards, forearm guards, gloves, and a mouthguard.
The white dobok contrasted beautifully against her tanned skin.
The audience cheered her name, and her gaze swept across them.
Klaus waved his left arm, hoping for her to see him, but unfortunately she was unable to before the announcer called out her opponent.
"Now! Let us welcome her opponent — Drisha Xavers!"
Drisha, wearing a red belt over a white dobok with blue protection gear, walked past the curtains, stepped onto the stage, and stopped a few steps away from Trina.
Her eyes were locked on Trina, a troubled expression on her face.
A referee appeared on the stage and raised his hands above his head.
Drisha and Trina took their spots and stances.
The referee blew his whistle, and Trina moved first.
She didn’t rush forward recklessly, but she crossed the distance with such sudden force that Drisha barely had time to raise her guard before Trina’s front kick slammed into her chest protector and drove her backward.
The referee signaled for the point, and Trina immediately returned to her stance.
Drisha steadied herself, then stepped forward with a sharp roundhouse aimed at Trina’s ribs, but Trina twisted her body away from the strike and caught Drisha’s leg with her forearm before pushing it aside.
She followed with a low kick toward Drisha’s thigh, and although the protective gear absorbed most of it, the impact forced Drisha to retreat again.
Trina advanced.
Drisha tried to circle away, but Trina matched every step, cutting off the angle until Drisha had nowhere left to move without stepping backward.
Then Drisha suddenly lunged forward and threw two kicks in quick succession, one toward Trina’s head and another toward her torso.
Trina ducked beneath the first, absorbed the second against her guard, and answered with a spinning back kick.
Drisha barely avoided the center of the strike, but the edge of Trina’s heel caught her side and sent her stumbling several steps away.
The audience erupted, and Klaus leaned forward in his chair as Trina lowered her foot and settled back into her stance.
She wasn’t smiling, nor was there any arrogance in her expression.
She watched Drisha’s movements like a predator waiting for its prey.
Klaus watched the match with a wide grin on his face, his heartbeat quickening in excitement.
Drisha wiped her mouth with the back of her glove, then charged again.
"Dammit!"
This time she attacked relentlessly, throwing a flurry of kicks while moving from one side of the stage to the other, and Trina blocked, slipped, and redirected each strike with frightening efficiency.
She gave ground when necessary, but whenever Drisha overextended herself, Trina stepped inside her range and made use of her recklessness.
A kick struck Drisha’s chest, then another, and then a sharp turning kick caught her protective headgear, snapping her head to the side.
The referee awarded the points, and Drisha’s expression tightened as she glanced at the scoreboard.
Trina was already far ahead.
Drisha knew she needed to take risks, and she rushed forward once more, but Trina met her halfway.
She blocked a roundhouse, seized the opening, and drove a powerful side kick into Drisha’s chest protector, forcing her backward.
Drisha tried to regain her footing, but Trina continued with a fast axe kick that stopped just short of her head before descending onto her guard.
Drisha groaned and stumbled.
Trina immediately stopped and stepped back; she didn’t wish to hurt her opponent more than needed.
The referee watched them carefully, then restarted the match.
Drisha attacked one final time, but her movements had lost their earlier sharpness.
Trina slipped past a kick, pivoted, and landed a clean roundhouse against Drisha’s chest.
The scoreboard changed.
The referee blew his whistle, raised his arm, and then pointed toward Trina.
9 — 0
Trina had won. That too without allowing Drisha to get a single point; it was a flawless victory.
"Winner, Trina Frost," the referee announced.
Trina lowered her guard and bowed respectfully toward Drisha before extending a gloved hand.
Drisha hesitated, then accepted it, and Trina helped her back to her feet.
The crowd erupted once again, but Trina only looked toward the stands, searching through the sea of faces.
Klaus awaited with bated breath, and then their eyes met.
For the first time since stepping onto the stage, a small smile appeared on her face.