From Trash to Lord of Thunder: The Rise of the Cursed Extra-Chapter 37: Why Do You Fight Like That?

"Wait, wait," Charles said, raising his hands with a nervous smile. "I was just kidding, you know? I didn't mean to challenge you for real."

Kaira tilted her head, her smile turning teasing. She stepped closer, invading his personal space.

"Kidding?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "Or are you scared of me, Rian?"

'Scared?' Charles thought, frowning. 'Is she taunting me?'

The idea irked him, but it also made him hesitate.

Kaira seemed too confident, so...

'Is she really that strong?'

"It's not that," Charles said, scratching his neck. "It's just... I don't fight girls."

Kaira blinked, looking surprised for a moment. Then her expression shifted, her brow furrowing and arms crossing, clearly annoyed.

"You don't fight girls?" she repeated, her tone dripping with disbelief. "Rian, seriously? You know that in the arena, that's the last thing that matters! You could face a woman any day!"

Charles opened his mouth to respond but came up blank.

Kaira had a point.

In this world obsessed with fighting, it wouldn't be surprising to end up in a match like that.

"Besides," Kaira continued, softening her voice, "I was worried about your health, you know? That's why I said no powers. So you don't get hurt, and neither do I. It's just practice. Come on, what do you say?"

Charles sighed, feeling cornered. Kaira's insistent gaze and energetic voice made it hard to say no.

"Fine," he said reluctantly, shrugging. "But don't complain if you end up losing."

Kaira let out a loud laugh, giving a little hop of excitement.

"That's what I wanted to hear!" she exclaimed, pointing to the padded area. "To the ring!"

Charles followed, noting how Kaira practically skipped with joy as she led him to an empty ring in the room's corner.

Some of the other trainees watched, murmuring among themselves, but Kaira ignored them completely.

"Wanna warm up first?" Kaira asked, hopping into the ring with a nimble move.

Charles scratched his head, a bit lost.

"Uh... what exercises do you do?" he said, trying to stall.

Truth was, he had no clue how to warm up properly; he just did push-ups, and that loosened him up.

Kaira smiled, hands on her hips.

"Start with the neck," she said, slowly rotating her head side to side. "Then arms, hips, and finally legs. Simple, but it works."

Charles nodded, faking confidence.

"Alright, I'll follow your routine then."

Kaira began guiding him, circling her neck in small motions.

Charles mimicked her, but his movement was awkward, his head tilting too far to one side.

Pfft!

Kaira stifled a giggle, covering her mouth.

"What was that, Rian? Looks like you're trying to stare at the ceiling."

Charles felt heat rise to his cheeks.

"I'm... warming up," he said, trying to sound serious, but his voice came out more defensive than he meant.

Kaira didn't hold back, laughing as she moved to arm stretches, raising them overhead.

"Come on, do it right," she said between chuckles. "Or have you never warmed up before?"

Charles frowned, copying her move, but his shoulders were stiff, and the stretch felt rigid.

"I do other stretches," he muttered, avoiding her gaze.

"Other stretches?" Kaira said, arching an eyebrow as she rotated her hips. "Like what? This is basic, Rian. Basic."

Charles groaned inwardly.

'Damn, she doesn't shut up,' he thought, following with hip exercises.

His movements were sloppy, and Kaira kept shooting him amused looks.

"Next time, you're teaching me those stretches of yours, huh?" she said, winking as she moved to leg stretches. "Let's see if they're... special."

"Yeah, sure," Charles said, mostly to himself, trying not to trip while mimicking her stance.

Thankfully, the leg stretches were easier, and he kept up without looking too foolish.

When they finished, Kaira straightened and pointed to the ring.

"Ready!" she said, flashing a toothy grin. "You take that corner, I'll take the other."

Charles walked to his side, feeling the other trainees' eyes on him.

Some had stopped training to watch, their murmurs making him uneasy.

'What do they want?' he thought, frowning. 'Hope no one else jumps in after this.'

Kaira, in the opposite corner, slipped into a fighting stance. Her knees bent slightly, fists raised to her chest, and her expression shifted.

Her playful smile vanished, replaced by a serious, almost intimidating look.

'What the hell?' Charles thought, a knot forming in his stomach. 'Is that Kaira?'

The transformation threw him off.

It was like the cheerful girl laughing at his stretches had become someone else.

Charles tried mimicking her stance but realized a problem.

He didn't know any fighting stances.

In all his prior fights, his opponents attacked first, and he'd just reacted.

'Keep it simple...' he thought, copying Kaira's pose.

They stood, locked in a stare, motionless for several seconds.

The air in the ring felt heavy, the spectators' murmurs not helping.

"You gonna attack or what?" Kaira said, breaking the silence. "Or want me to go first?"

Charles swallowed, forcing a smile.

"Ladies first," he said, hoping it sounded more confident than he felt.

Kaira didn't waste time.

With a quick Tap!, she lunged, throwing a punch straight at his chest.

Charles dodged, twisting his body as her fist grazed past.

'She's fast...' he thought, stepping back for space. But Kaira gave him no breather.

In a fluid move, she raised her leg, launching a high kick at his head.

Whoosh!

Charles ducked just in time, feeling the air shift above him.

But before he could react, Kaira spun mid-air, using the kick's momentum to hook her leg around his neck.

Charles jerked back, stumbling slightly.

Thud!

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His feet hit the ring's ropes, and he realized he was cornered.

'Damn it!' he thought, his heart racing. 'Is she really this good?'

"Don't hold back, Rian," Kaira said, stepping back with a smile. "I'm strong, you know? I can take your hits no problem."

Charles clenched his fists, ready to strike.

He wanted to throw a punch, but as he raised his arm...

Nothing.

His body wouldn't move.

'Damn it!' he thought, frustration surging. 'Not again!'

It was like the fountain fight. Rian's body refused to attack, as if programmed only to defend.

Kaira seized his hesitation, throwing another punch followed by a low kick.

Charles blocked with his arms, feeling the impact in his forearms.

'This is ridiculous,' he thought, dodging another strike.

Each time he blocked or dodged, he felt Kaira's body.

Her body felt hot, like her skin was burning even without powers.

The same was true for Charles, feeling electricity build in his back, arms, and legs.

It was the usual static, but with no water nearby, he couldn't use it.

'Should I just dodge until she tires out?' he thought, retreating as Kaira kept attacking. 'I can't hit her, so...'

Kaira's style reminded him of Lira.

Fast, precise, like every move was calculated.

But it was different too.

There was a wild energy in her attacks, like she relished the challenge.

"Ha..."

Both were sweating now, the ring filled with their ragged breaths.

Kaira threw another punch, which Charles blocked.

"What's this, Rian?" she said, laughing between gasps. "Is this your other way of warming up before attacking?"

Charles forced a smile, dodging a kick.

"Something like that," he said, though his mind screamed:

'It's not my fault! This damn body won't let me fight!'

Each blocked strike brought Kaira's heat.

It was intense, almost uncomfortable, but also... strange.

The electricity in him kept building, but without a conductor, it was useless.

Suddenly, Kaira stopped. She burst into loud laughter, doubling over, hand on her stomach.

"Ha ha ha!" she said, shaking her head. "You're weird, Rian. So weird!"

Charles blinked, confused.

"What?" he said, lowering his arms. "Why're you laughing?"

But before he could process it, Kaira moved with startling speed. Her body launched at him like a bear, arms wide, legs bent, as if aiming for a massive hug.

Whoosh!

The move was so bizarre Charles froze.

It wasn't a normal attack.

It was...

'What the hell is that?'

Kaira looked vulnerable, her body exposed, but her speed caught him off guard.

Thud!

She crashed into Rian, knocking him to the mat.

Charles felt the impact in his back, and suddenly, she was on top, hands braced on either side of his head.

Kaira's face was inches from his.

Her black hair fell over Rian's face, brushing his skin. He could feel her hot breath on his nose, the spiced scent of her sweat, and the heat of her body pressing against his.

'Damn it!' Charles thought, his heart pounding. 'What's she doing?'

He braced for a strike, a trick, something.

But Kaira just looked at him, her red eyes gleaming, her expression serious.

"Why don't you fight for real, Rian?" she said, her voice low but firm.

Her face was so close Charles could count the sweat beads on her forehead.

He swallowed, unable to look away.

The closeness unnerved him, but there was something in her gaze.

Not mockery, not anger.

It was... sadness.