Multiverse Fighting Championship: I'm the President

15 – Prayer

{The day before the fight}

With a torch stuck in the ground as a light source, Shori used a knife to carve some tribe letters into a tree, knelt before it, then closed her eyes and clasped her hands together.

"I don't know if my prayers will reach you, oh my goddess." She whispered. "And I don't know if you really chose me to be the fighter here."

That woman choked up. "I just want to go home, your majesty. I want to be with my friends, my family, and my people. I still have to protect them."

On that silent night, she sobbed. "Help me, protect me, give me the strength to go through all this, O my goddess."

***

Norug had to look up to meet the 6'2" tall woman's face.

"A plain club, huh?" The dwarf glanced at his opponent's weapon. "No spikes or other sharp objects. It seems you have the same taste as me, preferring to feel the sensation of crushing the enemy's bones rather than stabbing or slashing them."

While Norug chuckled, Shori gave the dwarf a cold glance.

As in previous matches, the referee explained the rules, then asked the two fighters to stay away from each other.

"Perhaps you are surprised to see this, viewers," Lognar commented on Shori, who didn't attack right away after the bell rang but moved around while observing Norug. "But this is how she fights. You might think a tribe member like her would attack aggressively, but that is far from the truth."

Matt responded. "In the wild, there are many predators, and they have their own way of hunting. One way is to stalk them first. If there were hiding places in this arena, she would have used them."

The spectators, who had been expecting a fierce battle, were starting to get irritated.

"Come on! Fight!"

"What are you doing!?"

"We're here to watch you destroy each other!"

"Attack me!!!" Norug provoked the woman. "Are you such a coward bitch!? You scared of my d*ck!?"

But Shori was still doing the same thing, walking around and keeping an eye on that dwarf.

"Are you saying that the Shori tribe follows what they see in the wild, Matt?" Lognar grinned. "It's going to be interesting, then. The fight between predator and prey in the wild can be fierce at times."

"Didn't you hear what the boss said? We have to make this fight good." Norug ruffled his hair in annoyance. "Well, I rarely strike first, but it seems I have no other choice."

Despite his short legs, Norug dashed at incredible speed. Even so, Shori managed to attack that man's waist first, then moved away.

Norug held his waist. Yes, even if a magic barrier protected someone's body, it didn't mean it would block pain as well.

That thing only reduces the risk of someone getting hurt, after all.

It goes on and on. Norug kept advancing, while Shori would give counterattacks, then run away.

"That reminds me of some species of snake that will only fight if they feel threatened or the enemy attacks them first." Matt was fascinated by what had happened before him.

"And she is so amazing at those!" Lognar spread his arms. "Once again, this is the result of your clever selection of fighters, Matt!"

Norug tried to attack from various directions, not only on the ground but also by jumping. Meanwhile, Shori provides a variety of attacks on his opponent, from club swings or thrusts to kicks, punches, and headbutts.

And all of that happens fast.

The audience no longer despises that way of fighting. They enjoyed the fighters' creativity in attacking and gasped when they encountered unexpected movements from Norug or Shori.

"This looks like a game of tag, but I love it, Matt! This is so much fun!" Lognar chuckled as Norug dashed across the iron wire wall and jumped to hit Shori. But the tribe woman kicked him in the stomach instead, forcing the dwarf to roll backward.

"But it's clear who is starting to lose here." Matt hissed.

Shori had hit Norug many times in various parts of the body, but the dwarf had yet to counterattack.

While Norug groaned in pain repeatedly, the tribe woman was only out of breath and occasionally wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Even so, the dwarf stepped forward to attack again.

"Ooooh!!!" The audience gasped.

Lognar rose to his feet. "Norug still has something!!!"

Norug caught Shori's hand holding the club, then twisted it. When that female warrior screamed in pain, she lost her grip on her weapon.

Norug kicked that thing before it even hit the floor.

"Looks like Shori is running out of stamina faster." Matt guessed.

Lognar nodded. "Yeah, their speed decreased, but Shori is slower. That's what gives Norug a chance."

A great struggle ensued because Norug did not want to let go of his opponent's hand. But in the end, Shori managed to break free.

Wasting no time, she slammed her knee into the dwarf's face.

The audience gasped again.

"What happened, ladies and gentlemen!?" Lognar screamed as his fellow dwarf's body flew to a corner of the arena. And when the commentator noticed the blood pouring from Norug's nose, he raised his voice. "Norug's magical barrier has been depleted!!! He's bleeding!!! He's bleeding!!!"

With a loud groan, Norug stood up with his hammer as support. With a pain in his face and a bit short of breath, he wiped the blood from his face.

On the other hand, Shori knelt while catching her breath instead of continuing the attack.

"Ah, even at this stage, we can't predict who will win yet." Lognar clapped. "Is it Norug, whose magic barrier is depleted, or Shori, who has no stamina?"

Norug had never felt his heart beat this fast. As a mercenary in his previous life, he had never encountered an opponent like this.

Usually, he is the one who provokes his opponent, then counterattacks. But this time, he had to improvise a lot to beat this woman, and it all failed.

Even the idea of catching Shori's hand just passed through his head a moment ago, born from his desperation.

He then glanced at his opponent. If Shori can push him to this stage, does that mean she's that special?

Instead of being annoyed, Norug grinned and used his battle hammer to point at the tribe woman.

"I like you, Shori! You're so strong!" He then took a deep breath. "After all this is over, marry me!"