They all froze, their eyes locked onto the body sprawled across the ground.
The guy was completely knocked out.
There was no movement as well as no response.
Blood slowly trickled from his nose, staining the ground beneath him in a thin, ugly line.
The sound of his breathing was shallow and uneven, proof that he was still alive, but barely conscious of the world around him.
No one said a word.
Their faces were a mix of disbelief and fear, like their brains were still trying to catch up with what had just happened.
A moment ago, that guy had been standing confidently with them.
Now he was down, broken, and utterly helpless.
I let the silence hang for a second longer than necessary.
"So?" I said calmly, breaking it at last. "Who's next?"
The words weren't loud, but they didn't need to be.
They cut through the air cleanly.
Their expressions twisted.
Teeth were gritted.
Fists clenched.
Pride and anger flared in their eyes, even as hesitation crept in.
