“Are you ready?” Donald asked with a knowing grin.
Roxanne returned the expression, taking her proper stance.
The both of them stood within the ring, guided by the four corners of the small space. The wiring around the posts caged them in, and the comfy ground beneath them made their feet sink on slightly.
Geared with the training equipment, Roxanne focused on her mentor. He was also in his boxing gear. The head cushion, his boxing gloves, knee and elbow guard.
He also wore a soft plating on his body, same as Roxanne’s.
“Let’s get started already,” Roxanne replied.
The coach let out a low chuckle. Even after such a short while, Roxanne’s feistiness never ceased.
With no one else around to serve as a referee, Donald decided to make the opening call. Clearing his throat, he took his stance too, not willing to leave himself wide open after he just gave the signal for commencement.
“Three. Two. One… Begin!”
Immediately he said this, Roxanne lunged toward him in her usual style. Donald anticipated this move and smiled. Even after this time, her pattern was easy to read.
“She’ll be going with… The Right hook!” He thought to himself, proceeding to guard himself by his flank.
“Heh” Roxanne gave a smug look.
Before Donald could make sense of her confident reaction, she bent her back and hinged her hand.
“Wha-! Oh shit!” Donald instantly recognized the move.
Removing his hands from his right flank, he proceeded to block his middle region which was partially left unguarded.
>Bam!<
Using her elbow to hit his stomach, Roxanne lunged it at a rapid speed. Her attack pushed Donald backward since he wasn't able to defend on time.
"Gakk" He winced, taking a few steps back in recoil.
Donald quickly resumed his stance as he watched Roxanne approach him again, not giving him a chance to fully brace himself.
"Tch"
This time Roxanne swung her right hook, powerfully falling her hand as they lunged toward him.
Donald quickly ducked, bending his knees as he lowered his body. Roxanne's blow flew over his head and he could feel the rushing air brush through his hair.
Taking advantage of his position, Donald lunged for a counter strike, raising his powerful fist for a powerful uppercut as he drew closer to Roxanne.
Roxanne immediately brought her hands back and placed it with the other in an instant, blocking the blow her coach gave. Since it was all in a hurry, her defense was not sturdy enough, making her guard break as the first impacted her hands.
"Kueek" She winced, stepping back in recoil.
"You've gotten better, impressive. Here I was thinking you would have gotten rusty" Donald commented, rising back to his feet.
"Well… What can I say? I was made for this stuff!" Roxanne smiled.
The two kept exchanging blows and the sounds of their pounding and hits echoed throughout the empty room.
Donald carefully observed Roxanne's motion, analyzing if what he saw that night was a lie. No, it couldn't be.
"So far she seems normal, but… It's strange…" He thought within himself.
Not only was Roxanne better than she was previously, she didn't seem to be exerting herself like before.
"It's almost like… She's holding back!"
The very thought of that annoyed Donald.
"She must be then… Seems I'll have to draw it out…"
For him to do that, he would have more power and speed.
"I haven't done this in some time, but it looks like I'll have to take this very seriously!" Donald said to himself.
With no smile or cheerful air around him anymore, he approached Roxanne with frightening speed, causing her to get unnerved by his sudden change of pace.
Instinctively, she activated her Werewolf abilities which were being willfully suppressed. The fast movements of Donald slowed down, allowing Roxanne to dodge his hook with ease.
"W-Whoah…" Roxanne let out, backing away from Donald.
However, he gave her no words. With fixated eyes on her, he didn't focus on any other thing. Leaving no interval between his previous attack, Donald once again lunged at Roxanne, throwing volleys of punches at her.
However, with her heightened abilities, she evaded them all, wondering what caused the sudden change.
However, suddenly she began to get excited. Her insides became jumpy and restless, driving her to fight back.
"So the coach has been holding back all this time.." She grinned to herself.
Finally, she could fight him at full strength.
Roxanne raised her fist and aimed it at his shoulder, but he dodged her attack, surprisingly.
"W-Wha-?!" She let out in surprise.
Even though she was moving faster than him, he still managed to dodge her blow.
Donald took advantage of her flustered state and once again lunged at her. She raised her hands to block his hit, but his body bent down suddenly, and he aimed for her lower part.
As soon as she noticed this, she reflexively jumped up, dodging the assault on her legs. Her body, now meters in the sky, twisted as she somersaulted behind him.
Donald turned back to resume his attack, but his reaction was too slow.
>Bam!<
Roxanne's fist hit him from behind, pushing his body forward. His face turned to see her, twisting his body in order not to fall behind, but was met with two extra blows on his face.
"Gurkkk" He let out.
He stumbled and nearly fell to the ground, launching a final attempt to hit her. His weak arms flew to her face, nearing its target.
However, Roxanne easily dodged his sluggish attack and returned the favor with her classic right hook.
"Urghh" Donald groaned, losing balance.
As he felt his body falling to the platform, Donald had a vivid image of Roxanne's face.
"Bingo!"
Her eyes were glowing. The blue pupils of her eyes shone brightly, but Roxanne wasn't aware of it. She was too enthralled in the fight, so much so that her mouth widened in a grin as she made a look of satisfaction.
"So… it is true, after all. I was right!" Donald thought to himself.
His back hit the floor, signaling the end of the match. It was Roxanne's victory.
"Urghhh" Donald moaned as he felt his body ache.
"Oh, shit! Coach, are you okay?" Roxanne rushed to him, stretching her hand to lift him.
He suspiciously stared at her outstretched hand, eyeing it in apprehension. However, he couldn't afford making any suspicious moves now.
"It's fine… Arh" He said, taking her hand.
She pulled him up, allowing him to regain his stance.
"That was one intense fight. Whew… I didn't know you could fight kike that, coach. Who knew you've been pulling your punches on me all this while." Roxanne retorted.
"Hahaha, please…" Donald laughed heartily.
"… You won the match despite that, didn't you? I couldn't even land a single hit" Donald smiled.
"That's true, hehe. I guess I got caught up in the moment" Roxanne replied nervously, feeling guilty of using her werewolf abilities on him.
"If this had been a normal match… I would have lost badly!" Roxanne thought.
She didn't know how strong her Coach was until now… His strength, speed, and his sharp reflexes, especially during the last few minutes… They were nearly inhuman.
"We should take a break," Donald said, heaving in exhaustion.
"Y-Yeah, you're right" Roxanne said.
She wasn't feeling any ounce of exhaustion though, thanks to her powers.
"I should probably take a few minutes of rest… it'll be weird if I don't " She decided within herself.
The two of them left the ring and sat on the bare floor of the large room.
Still huffing and sweating all over, Donald smiled as he looked at Roxanne.
"So, while we're resting, why don't you tell me about your time with your grandma… I'm curious…"