Paedyn fights Slick in Dor’s underground ring, trading blows in a cramped cellar while the crowd roars around them. She stays masked and disguised as a male fighter called Shadow, knowing that anonymity is essential to her survival. Even so, Paedyn keeps returning to the ring because the money is far better than stealing, and she is desperate to earn enough for a real place to sleep.

As the fight wears on, Paedyn is hurt, exhausted, and hungry, but she forces herself to focus. Memories of Adena sharpen her resolve, because Paedyn sees the brutal work of surviving in Dor as something she is doing for her lost friend. She also tries to read Slick with her Psychic ability and finally realizes his weakness: he relies almost entirely on his upper body and leaves his legs vulnerable.

Once Paedyn understands Slick’s pattern, she changes the fight. She kicks his knee hard enough to cripple him, drives a knee into his stomach, and then recovers after he throws her to the mat. Using his body against him, Paedyn launches herself over his shoulders, locks him in a chokehold, traps his arm, and hyperextends his elbow until Slick is forced to submit.

After the victory, the crowd reacts with a mix of cheers and frustration from losing bettors, and Rafael publicly announces Shadow’s win. Paedyn goes to collect her earnings, pleased that she has proved herself and encouraged by the possibility of earning enough for a bed instead of another night on a rooftop. Rafael, now impressed, offers to set her up for regular nightly fights.

Paedyn is about to bargain for even more when a familiar voice cuts through the cellar. Kai has traced the path leading to the underground matches and arrives at the worst possible moment, asking whether Shadow is ready for another round. His appearance instantly turns Paedyn’s hard-won anonymity and temporary stability into a new danger.