Chapter 72: For A Friend

  Dana Wright stood at the edge of the arena, her breath caught in her throat as Rory slammed Isaac into the ground. The impact echoed through the training room with a sharp crack, the floor denting under the sheer force of Rory’s throw.

  For a moment, everything seemed still. Rory, rolled over, with his chest heaving as he stood tall over Isaac’s body, his injured hand cradled against his side. It was the hardest she’d ever seen Rory push himself, and her heart swelled with pride at what he had managed to do.

  But then Isaac moved.

  Looking rather unphased, he rolled over and stood up, his body tense and unyielding. Brushing off his arms as he shrugged off the hit like it had barely touched him. His muscles rippled as he shifted his density again, hardening until his very presence seemed to weigh on the ground beneath him, deepening the cracks in the floor.

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  Rory’s face stayed determined, but Dana could see the wear in his eyes. His left hand was swollen, knuckles throbbing after the earlier strikes. Every muscle in Rory’s body was tense, ready to keep going, but his breaths were ragged, and Dana knew that his strength was fading.

  Isaac, on the other hand, didn’t say a word. He just stepped forward, shifting his weight, his posture solid. His eyes stayed focused on Rory, nothing more than that; no malice, no frustration—just moving forward like this was routine. Like he’d done this before.

  Rory barely had time to brace before Isaac threw a punch.

  Dana winced as Isaac’s fist crashed into Rory’s side. The sound of the hit was dull but heavy, and Rory was knocked back, stumbling. His feet struggled to find balance, but Isaac didn’t give him time to recover. Another hit—this time to the chest.

  Rory hit the floor hard, the sound of his body landing with a heavy thud that made Dana flinch.

  Isaac stepped back, fists lowering, as Rory stayed down.

  Dana’s eyes were locked on Rory, her hands tightening into fists as she watched him lay there, chest rising and falling slowly. Isaac stood nearby, his expression currently unreadable , standing straight, his fists unclenched now. He didn’t need to say anything.