The Mouse and The Monarch

3

"Ow, fuck," he muttered through gritted teeth, feeling the sting of the impact.

Ophelia couldn't help but smile at his reaction, a mixture of satisfaction and amusement growing in her chest.

There had been a time she could never land a punch on Zero.

"You're getting slow, old man," she teased, a wide smirk stretching across her face.

The playful jab earned her a groan of mock frustration from Zero.

"Shut up, Kid," he grumbled, a good-natured scowl on his face.

Ophelia couldn't contain her laughter as Zero, determined to prove her wrong, rightened his stance and lunged forward once more.

With a swift and fluid motion, Ophelia seamlessly dodged Zero's oncoming attack, her body moving with elegance.

Anticipating his every move, she expertly sidestepped his lunging strike and in the blink of an eye, countered with a precise manoeuvre.

Using his momentum against him, Ophelia deftly spun Zero, her movements quick and precise.

In one seamless motion, she executed a well-practised takedown, bringing him to the mat with controlled accuracy.

The impact resonated through the ring with a loud thud.

It was a testament to the culmination of skill and agility she had spent years building.

Zero, momentarily surprised by the sudden turn of events, found himself on the ground, staring up at Ophelia with a mix of admiration and shock.

"Since when have you been able to do that?" Zero huffed out of breath as he stared up at her.

His chest rising and falling quickly as he heaved for air.

Ophelia smiled and pulled the side of her thick black workout bra strap down, showing him her shoulder and the scar that ran from her collarbone to her armpit.

"Since you left and Simmons broke my collarbone in the ring," she said with a wide smile as she let her bra smack back into place with a loud slap.

Zero's eyes went wide as he stared at her in shock and horror.

"Don't worry, I broke his nose," Ophelia said as she smiled down at him with pride. The memory of Simmon's blood all over her hands as he screamed.

Zero smirked in return and nodded as he took in large gulps of air.

"That's my girl," he said as he wiped sweat from his brow.

Ophelia, revelling in her triumph, raised her arms above her head and let out a triumphant whoop that echoed through the basement.

The exhilaration of the sparring victory coursed through her veins.

"Goolili enni ahsan!" Tell me I'm the best! She declared with infectious enthusiasm, the words tumbling from her lips.

She watched Zero huff from the floor, a mix of amusement and mock irritation playing across his face.

"C'mon, tell me I'm the best," Ophelia teased, staring down at the prone figure of Zero.

"Ya proveruyu eto," I'll test that. A deep Russian voice interjected from the side of the ring.

Ophelia turned to see Klaus walking towards her. His muscles bulged as he cracked his knuckles.

A thrill of anticipation coursed through her.

A new challenge had presented itself, and her new team watched attentively from around the room.