The locker room stank of sweat and blood. Hawk sat on the bench, still panting, his hands shaking even though he tried to clench them into fists. The blood on his knuckles was already drying, dark brown against the tape.
The door slammed open. Johnny stormed in.
"What the hell was that?!" Johnny's voice was sharp enough to slice through concrete.
Hawk's eyes darted up, wide, almost childlike for a moment. "I—he wasn't tapping. He wouldn't stop fighting."
"He wasn't fighting! He was out!" Johnny barked, slamming his hand against the locker. The sound reverberated. "You almost killed him, Hawk. You think that's badass? You think that's what I taught you?"
Hawk flinched, then looked away, shame and confusion twisting his face. "I… I just… I couldn't stop. It felt—" He hesitated, voice breaking. "It felt good."
Johnny froze. His anger faltered for just a heartbeat. Hawk looked like he wanted to cry but couldn't — too deep in whatever storm had overtaken him.
"Listen to me," Johnny said, softer now but still hard. He grabbed Hawk by the shoulders. "That's not who you are. Don't let Kreese make you think it is."
The door creaked again. Kreese stood in the shadows, arms crossed, smile faint. "Don't confuse the boy, Lawrence. He just proved he's a soldier. The world doesn't need mercy. It needs strength."
Johnny's jaw clenched. He looked back at Hawk. "Don't let him decide who you are."
Hawk sat there, trembling, torn between two fathers.
The roar of the crowd outside shifted, a new energy. The Iron Dragons entered.
Their gis were jet black, edged with red. Masks like dragons' teeth. Leading them was Zara — sleek, sharp eyes like daggers — and Kwon, broad-shouldered, with a presence that seemed to shake the floor.
Andrea's stomach twisted. Zara's gaze swept the arena and landed squarely on her. The smirk that followed made Andrea's blood boil.
And when Zara's eyes lingered on Robby—Andrea's fists clenched so tight her nails pierced her palms.
Between fights, Miguel slipped away. He found Sam near the medical tent, her face pale but her eyes alive with fire.
"You shouldn't be here," she said bitterly.
"Sam, wait—" Miguel stepped closer, desperate. "I know I screwed up. I know I should've left Cobra Kai when I had the chance, but… it's part of me. Johnny, Hawk, Andrea—everyone there is my family too."
Sam's jaw tightened. "Family? They're destroying everything. They're destroying you."
Miguel's eyes softened. "No. You're the one thing keeping me from losing myself."
And before she could argue, he kissed her. Deep. Fierce. Desperate.
Sam froze — then melted into it, clutching him like he was the only thing keeping her standing.
But they weren't alone.
Kenny leaned against the wall, phone raised. His grin was wicked. Beside him, Bert, Mitch, and Kyler snickered like hyenas.
"Yo, Kenny, post that shit—make it viral!" Kyler whispered.
"Oh, I will," Kenny said, smirking as he tapped record. "Miguel the betrayer."
The boys cackled, already planning how to spin it on Kenny's "secret site."
The tournament dragged forward. The next storm hit.
Andrea vs. Zara.
Andrea marched onto the mat, fire burning in her veins. Zara smiled lazily, like she was about to toy with prey.
"You don't deserve him," Zara whispered, just loud enough for Andrea. "I'll show him what strength looks like."
Andrea's rage exploded. She lunged, fists and kicks fast, sharp, relentless. For a moment, she held the advantage, every strike fueled by fury.
But Zara was a wall. Calm, collected. Her counters came sharp and punishing, each blow knocking the breath from Andrea's lungs.
By the end, Andrea was on her knees, gasping, blood dripping from her lip.
Zara stood tall, barely winded. "Pathetic."
Andrea tried to rise, rage screaming in her chest. Hawk shouted from the sidelines, "GET UP!"
But the ref called it. Zara won.
Andrea slammed her fist into the mat, tears of rage burning her eyes.
Zara didn't look at her. She looked at Robby. And smirked.
Andrea's heart cracked. Hawk surged forward, ready to charge Zara, rage boiling—until Johnny grabbed him, dragging him back.
"Don't. You'll get disqualified," Johnny snapped.
"But she—"
"Not now, Hawk!"
Andrea sat broken on the mat, her chest heaving, rage and jealousy eating her alive.
Robby vs. Kwon.
The clash was brutal. Kwon was a monster, precise and merciless. Robby fought like hell, his style fluid, clever, but Kwon's strength drowned him. Each hit pushed Robby back further until he finally hit the mat and didn't rise fast enough.
The ref called it. Kwon victorious.
Andrea's heart twisted — her and Robby, both beaten.
Kreese's face darkened, fury pulsing in his veins.
He turned on the students, voice like thunder. "You're losing because you're holding back! I don't train cowards. I don't train weaklings. You want to survive? You finish your enemies!"
The Cobra Kai crew stiffened under his gaze.
And then Kenny stepped forward, phone in hand. His grin was sharp, cruel.
"Sensei…" he said, tilting the screen.
The video played. Miguel and Sam kissing.
The boys snickered behind him.
Kreese's smile didn't falter, but his eyes burned with silent fire. He looked at Miguel slowly, like a predator cornering prey.
"You lied to me," Kreese said softly. Too softly.
Miguel's stomach dropped.
"You don't leave Cobra Kai. Cobra Kai leaves you."
The crowd roared for the next match, but in that moment Miguel's world froze.