BMMA: Bestial Mix Martial Arts

Lyra slumped in the lounge, still panting from training. Sweat dripped down her skin, and her muscles quivered like they might give out any second.

Across from her, Darius glared, his face sour, while Kai, beside him, cracked a joke Lyra barely caught.

"You think this is funny, Kai? It's downright insulting that after all my time training you, you can't guide a rookie worth a damn!" Darius growled, clutching his head like he was done with the world.

"Hey, that's why you're the coach, old man. Do your thing," Kai shot back coolly, jerking his thumb toward Lyra.

Lyra snapped upright, her ears flattening and her bushy tail twitching nervously. 'Sounds like he hasn't given up on me…' she thought, relieved, though she'd never admit it out loud.

But something about Darius set her on edge. He was grumpier than usual, like training her was some personal punishment. His resentful stare pinned her, and Lyra braced for the worst.

"Damn it…" Darius muttered, letting out a heavy sigh. Then he locked eyes with her. "Listen, teaching you the basics from scratch is a waste of time. You've got one week, so we're sharpening what you've already got. Two moves, that's it. Master them, weave them into your style, and use them when the moment's right."

He paused, scratching his chin. "The basics? You'll learn those later—if you don't get yourself killed."

Kai clicked his tongue, clearly not thrilled, but stayed quiet. Lyra, though, felt a spark of excitement. "So I can fight my way and still win?" she blurted, picturing herself free from Kai's exhausting routines.

Maybe this cranky old human had a trick up his sleeve.

Kai let out a dry laugh, and Darius stared at her like she'd said something dumb. "You…" he started, his brow furrowing. "Just do what I say and don't screw it up, got it?"

Lyra shot Kai a glare. 'What's so funny?' she thought, annoyed. But there was a bigger issue. She turned to Darius, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "If I do what you say, will I win?"

She wasn't entirely sold. 'He doesn't seem stronger than Kai…' But then she remembered how Kai had flattened her in their first spar. Her tail stiffened. If one human could beat her, who's to say another couldn't?

Darius met her gaze, dead serious. "Yeah, you'll win."

That was enough. A fire ignited in Lyra's chest. She'd do whatever it took. She wanted to prove her place, to stop feeling like cornered prey. 'I'm done running…' she vowed, imagining the day she'd crush her fears with one solid hit.

"Or at least, that's the plan," Darius added, breaking the moment as he scratched the back of his neck. "It's still a fight. If you get a tough opponent right off the bat, your week of training won't cut it."

Lyra blinked, her confidence wobbling. 'What the heck? Am I winning or not? Make up your mind!' she thought, her brow furrowing in frustration.

"Anyway," Kai cut in, propping an elbow on the table, "much as I hate to admit it, the old man's right. It's your best shot."

Darius nodded and stood, cracking his knuckles. "We start now. A week's nothing, so get moving."

Lyra swallowed hard. Her determination clashed with a knot of nerves in her stomach. One week to become unstoppable.

No turning back. She nodded firmly and stood, following Darius with her head high, even if her legs still wobbled a bit.

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Out in the wide backyard, Darius started setting up an improvised ring with ropes and posts. The sunset bathed everything in orange hues, and the cool air cleared Lyra's head a little, though her muscles still screamed.

Darius stood before her, imposing despite his wrinkles. "Listen up," he said sharply. "I'm not teaching you a whole martial art. That's for fools with months to spare, and you've got days. I'm giving you two weapons: one to keep your opponent at bay, one to finish them if they get close. Use them right, and you might walk out alive."

Lyra swallowed hard, her ears perking up, fully alert.

"First, spinning kick," Darius said, whipping around with a speed that didn't match his age. "Use your speed. If they charge, you spin and hit with your heel. Aim for the gut or the head if you can."

Lyra copied him, clumsy at first. Her bushy tail flicked instinctively to balance her, and though she nearly toppled, she felt the move's potential. For a moment, she got excited—it felt natural, unlike Kai's short, overly precise punches.

"Second, elbow strike," Darius continued, stepping closer. "If they get too close, spin fast and nail them in the temple or jaw. It's simple and can knock them out if you do it right."

She practiced in the air, her moves wild but sparking with energy. Darius corrected her, adjusting her arm angle with a patience she hadn't expected from him.

"Fight like you know how, but use these when you see an opening," he said, locking eyes with her. "I know how strong your kind can be… so make it count."

Lyra felt a warmth in her chest, surprised by his words. No one had ever told her that her Feral nature was an advantage. "Thanks," she whispered, almost without meaning to.

Darius grunted, brushing it off. "Don't thank me yet. You've got one week to nail this. If you don't, you'll be leaving that ring on a stretcher."

Kai, watching from the side, stepped up with a grin, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Chill, Lyra. Don't let the old man's doom-and-gloom get to you. Move fast, hit hard, like you always do. This is just a bonus."

Lyra gave him a shy smile, grateful, but the weight lingered. 'I've got to pull this off,' she thought. 'I can't fail.'

The rest of the evening, well into the night, was brutal. Darius pushed her to repeat the spinning kick and elbow strike until her legs shook, correcting every mistake without mercy. Kai helped her test them in sparring, dodging her attacks with that infuriating ease while tossing out tips.

She was exhausted, but with each rep, she felt a tiny improvement. Still, something gnawed at her: her hits weren't landing.

After her last spar with Kai, utterly humbled again, Lyra collapsed onto the grass in the center of the makeshift ring.

Kai strolled off, cool as ever, saying he needed to jog before bed. Lyra wondered if the guy had an endless battery.

Darius, stifling a yawn, approached her. "Not a bad start. Tomorrow, you'll go with Kai to sign up, then we'll pick up your training when you're back."

Lyra looked up, worry creeping in. "I don't get it… how am I supposed to win with this? None of my hits landed," she grumbled.

Darius glanced at Kai, who was already jogging off into the distance.

"Don't measure yourself against that kid, Feral. You'll only psych yourself out. Focus on your opponent—trust me, whoever they are, they'll be a lot easier to handle than him," he said, dead serious but with a glint of empathy in his eyes.

It was like he knew exactly how she felt facing Kai.

Lyra sighed, exasperated. She knew what Kai was capable of, but Darius's words still sounded over-the-top.