"You think this is tough?" Cole said softly, turning his attention back to Greg. "You put padding on the floor. You establish rules. You put a timer on the wall, and you convince yourselves you're dangerous. You let bullies prey on the weak because the environment protects them from real consequences."
Cole took a half-step forward. The atmosphere in the room seemed to turn ten degrees colder. "I don't mistake sport for the work I was trained to do, Greg. Where I operated, there were no timers and no referees, and mistakes carried consequences that could not be taken back. So don't talk to me about handling the heat."
Greg's face flushed dark red. The disrespect was unbearable. His ego, built on 20 years of local tournament wins and the reverence of his students, demanded an answer. He reached down and untied the knot of his heavy black belt, dropping it onto the mat. He pulled his gi top off, tossing it aside, revealing a tight, sweat-stained rash guard.
"You think you're a killer?" Greg snarled, dropping his chin, his stance widening. "You think you can come in here and disrespect my mats? Let's see what you've got against someone who actually knows how to fight. Five minutes. Just you and me."
Sarah pushed herself up off the wall, her voice raspy and panicked. "Cole, don't. He's a fourth-degree black belt. He's a former national champion."
Cole didn't look back at her. He didn't take off his shirt. He didn't stretch. He simply raised his hands, keeping his palms open and relaxed, his eyes locking onto Greg with the cold, mechanical detachment of a professional assessing a threat.
"Put five minutes on the clock," Cole said. The buzzer echoed through the silent gym, a sharp electronic shriek that signaled the start of the round. Greg didn't waste a second. He was aggressive, fueled by pride and a desperate need to reassert his dominance. He shot forward with an explosive double-leg takedown, driving his shoulder squarely into Cole's midsection. He expected Cole to sprawl, to fight the hands, to engage in the familiar rhythmic dance of grappling.