The atmosphere in the dojo is electric, charged with a tension that goes well beyond competition. Daniel stands poised, heart racing as he faces Johnny—his fiercest rival, but also a reluctant combatant. The pain radiating from his injured ankle is a constant reminder of their complex history, filled with shared moments of camaraderie, struggle, and an understanding that now hangs in the balance. Johnny’s gaze shifts as conflicting emotions flicker within him. The shadow of Kreese looms large, a relentless force pushing him toward aggression, demanding unwavering loyalty to a brutal philosophy. Blood trickles from his nose—a harsh reminder that this rivalry has exacted a toll. But now, beneath the pressure to conform to Kreese’s wishes, Johnny is acutely aware of Daniel’s condition. He doesn’t want to escalate their conflict; the idea of further injuring someone he once called a rival weighs heavily on his conscience. Kreese's commanding presence suffocates the air around them, insisting that weakness isn’t an option. He senses Johnny's hesitation, pushing him to pursue an aggressive technique meant to capitalize on Daniel's injury. As Kreese approached Johnny, his menacing figure loomed like a storm cloud threatening to unleash. He reached out, wiping the blood from Johnny’s nose with a ragged piece of cloth, the coldness in his touch matching the chill in the air. “Sweep the leg,” he commanded, the words sharp and unforgiving. Johnny’s eyes widened, a mix of shock and dread washing over him. The thoughts raced through his mind—a vision of Daniel crumpling to the ground, his ankle twisting in agony, the very idea sends a shudder down Johnny’s spine. He had always viewed Daniel as a rival, someone to test his limits, but breaking his ankle? That felt beyond the pale. “What…?” Johnny barely managed to whisper, the weight of Kreese’s directive pressing down on his conscience. Could he really follow through with that? Kreese didn’t miss a beat, his voice rising with aggression, “You got a problem with that?” *