The next match started almost immediately, and I was grateful for the distraction from the suspicious stares boring into my back.

Two new fighters entered the ring, one massive guy from House Moon who looked like he could bench-press a car, and a lean woman from House Storm who moved like air. They danced around each other, and even I could tell this was going to be a real fight. Not like mine, where one person had been a walking punching bag for half of it.

The guy lunged first as cheers ...