Lyric

Inside the stone walls, one person waiting

No crowd. No cheering section

Just me and the champion in their corner

And the creatures caught between us

They speak without moving—

I can read it in how they breathe

I've trained three months for this

They've trained their whole life

I throw first. They throw back

Every move reads like a question

Every counter reads like a answer I wasn't ready for

My team falls one by one

I don't look away

Their eyes stay locked on me—

Not cruel, just clear

"You're not ready," they say after

Stacking my badges on the table

Not "come back later."

Not "you almost had it."

Just: "You're not ready."

I pick up my team. I leave

I walk ten miles that night

And catch three creatures I've never seen before

Stone walls. Sweat on the floor

Same place I'll return to

Not the same as before

Gym door locked behind me