Win’doku shuffled toward the tournament arena, his sandals scraping lightly against the stone floor. The air was thick with the smell of incense and the roar of excited spectators. Banners fluttered overhead, emblazoned with mythical beasts and fighters locked in battle. But all Win’doku could think about was the pile of debt hanging over him like a dark cloud.

  Madam Kaida, the voluptuous proprietor of the Velvet Gale brothel, had given him ample time to pay what he owed. Time had run out, and his situation was getting dire. If he didn’t win this martial arts tournament, the consequences would be… well, not something he was eager to face. He’d accumulated his debt, mostly from services he’d rather not discuss publicly, but the girls there had soft hands. Very soft hands.

  He grinned at the thought. No time to dwell on that. He had a fight to win.

  The tournament prize was a chest overflowing with gold coins, glistening in the midday sun. That was the key to clearing his debt, and Win’doku couldn’t let anything stand in his way.

  His first opponent was a joke. The young man strutted into the arena, practically radiating arrogance. His tight crimson gi hugged his body, muscles bulging as he twirled a gleaming glaive over his head. The kid looked like he had no idea what was about to hit him.

  “Prepare yourself, old man!” the young fighter shouted, spinning his weapon in an almost ridiculous manner.

  Win’doku rolled his eyes and adjusted his frail-looking frame. He didn’t move a muscle. Instead, he exhaled deeply, and the air around him shifted. The wind began to swirl in a gentle breeze that increased in speed until it was a howling gust.

  The rookie had barely registered what was happening before the wind swept him off his feet, lifting him into the air. He flailed around like a ragdoll, screaming as he was hurled into the crowd. The audience gasped, and a few of them caught him, gently placing him back on his feet. He was out cold, his glaive clattering to the ground.

  Win’doku sighed, his hand still raised in the air. “Well, that was easy.”

  The crowd burst into laughter and applause, and Win’doku waved them off, scratching his chin with a smirk.

  The second fight was a little more challenging. His opponent was a massive beastman, easily twice his size and built like a mountain. Fangs like daggers and claws to match, the beastman snarled at him, pawing the ground.

  "I’ll crush you, old man!" he roared, stomping his feet with enough force to make the arena shake.

  Win’doku cracked his neck. This one would be fun. The beastman charged with surprising speed, throwing massive punches that were capable of flattening entire buildings. Win’doku ducked and weaved, dodging each strike with ease. His movements were a blur, the wind flowing around him as he danced through the battle.

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  The beastman swung a massive fist at his head, but Win’doku was faster. He ducked and kicked up a gust that spun the beastman off-balance, sending him tumbling forward. Win’doku stepped aside, waving his hand in front of him, and suddenly, the wind took on a violent edge.

  With a concentrated burst, the air sliced through the beastman’s fur like a hot knife through butter. He roared in pain, but the wind only grew stronger. Win’doku wasn’t done yet. The old man gave a swift jab to the beastman’s ribs, followed by a powerful blast of air that sent the beastman crashing to the ground.

  The crowd erupted into applause as Win’doku casually wiped his hands off, yawning. He barely broke a sweat.

  And then, the final round.

  Win’doku’s heart skipped a beat when the announcer called the name of his final opponent. It was her.

  Madam Kaida.

  She walked into the arena, her presence like a storm. Her crimson kimono clung to her body, the fabric stretched over her curves in ways that made Win’doku’s pulse quicken. His eyes instinctively followed the way the material clung to her busty figure, her ample chest bouncing slightly with each graceful step. Her lips curled into a mischievous smile as she locked eyes with him, the faintest smirk playing at the corners of her mouth.

  “Isn’t it a bit late for you to show up?” Win’doku muttered, trying—and failing—to sound casual.

  “I’m here to collect, old man,” Kaida purred, her voice dripping with sensuality. She took a drag from her cigarette, blowing a cloud of smoke into the air as she stared him down. “You owe me. And I’m not walking away without it.”

  Win’doku gulped. This wasn’t going to be an ordinary fight. His heart raced, but not out of fear. He couldn’t place it—his admiration, or something else entirely—but the thought of fighting her… it stirred something deep inside.

  The referee barely finished signaling the start of the match before she was upon him.

  Win’doku barely had time to react as Kaida’s knee slammed into his stomach, lifting him off the ground with a sickening thud. He crashed into the stone floor with a grunt, the wind knocked out of him.

  “Did you think I was just some pretty face?” Kaida asked, a teasing note in her voice as she crouched over him. Her large breasts swayed gently as she loomed above him, her gaze cold, calculating.

  Win’doku groaned, trying to get up, but she was already on top of him, pulling him into a brutal lock. Her thighs pressed into his chest as she squeezed harder, each second squeezing the air from his lungs.

  She didn’t give him an inch. She twisted, knocking him sideways and sending him crashing into the arena wall. He bounced off with a yelp, staggering to his feet, but she was there, like a shadow, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him to the ground.

  It wasn’t just the pain—it was the way her body pressed against him, the sensation of her curves pushing into him as she delivered blow after devastating blow. Each strike from Kaida was deliberate, efficient, and delivered with the kind of precision that only a true martial artist could achieve.

  Win’doku couldn’t help but laugh, even as his body screamed in pain. His vision blurred, his body bruised and battered, but there was something… something exhilarating about this. The wind inside him raged, but he was too distracted by the way Kaida was dominating him to summon it.

  She stood over him, breathing heavily, her chest heaving with each breath. Her long, dark hair framed her face as she glanced down at him, cigarette dangling from her lips.

  “You’re pathetic,” she whispered, her voice low and dangerous.

  Win’doku, lying in the dirt with blood dripping from his lip, just grinned up at her.

  “You’re incredible,” he croaked, barely able to keep his eyes open.

  She snorted, blowing another cloud of smoke in his face. “You still owe me my money.”

  Her heels clicked as she turned to walk away, leaving him lying there, battered, bruised, and more than a little broken. He couldn’t help but grin. Every punch, every humiliating blow, had been worth it.

  “Totally worth it,” he whispered to himself, the world spinning as he drifted into unconsciousness.