The battle wasn't over.
Despite the wounds. Despite the gasps of awe from the crowd at the strength Athena had just revealed, Calixta stood up. Slowly. Shakily. Her movements were uncertain, her breath uneven. And yet… the grin never left her bloodied lips.
"I'm not finished yet," she spat blood onto the dirt, her voice guttural and raw. "Someone like you won't defeat me this easily."
In a flash, Calixta charged forward. Her fists aimed directly at Athena's face, but the latter tilted her head slightly and dodged with inhuman ease.
Calixta didn't waste a second. She spun around, delivering a quick left hook to Athena's side, who didn't dodge this time. She took the blow directly.
A spark of hope flickered in Calixta's eyes, thinking it had landed clean. But that illusion s
