Novarisca City, 7:50 PM

The sun was setting on an otherwise average day for Novarisca. People returned to their homes, to their families, to their friends. But for one girl in particular, the sunset offered no comfort.

Lucia Watanabe – a moderately-tall woman in her mid-20s – stood impatiently at a neon-lit wall leading to the entrance of the Crimson Ring, Novarisca’s underground fighting ring, her face adorned with an expression of boredom.

Her bright red trainers contrasted heavily with the black tones of the rest of her outfit, an identity card confirming her membership at the Crimson Ring present within the breast pocket of her top.

She checked her wristwatch impulsively, counting down the minutes until the entrance to the Ring would be opened.

“Oi!!”

Lucia’s head darted upwards at the sudden noise. As soon as she realised who had just shouted at her from across the street, she could do nothing but smirk. She recognised these goons from an earlier encounter.

“You,” the gang leader heaved, pointing at the young woman. “Yer Watanabe, aren’t’cha? Word is ya roughed up my boys here. I dunno where you heard, but there ain’t any way yer makin’ up for disrespectin’ the Bloodhound Snake Gang, chick or not!”

Lucia’s smirk only increased as she looked up towards the leader, her crimson-red eyes shining against the sunset, adorning him with a lazy expression, as if she knew she didn’t have to take this seriously.

“Ah, yes. Your ‘boys’, who were causing a scene at my favourite izakaya like a bunch of bloody lunatics. You know, honestly, you going on about ‘respect’ is funny, when you rabid bloodstained dogs lack any of your own. I hardly think the big man up top would approve, mm?”

At the taunt, one of the angrier-looking gang members drew his knife, lunging towards the impudent Lucia. “Say that to the boss’ face!”

Lucia stepped aside with casual grace, letting the knife-wielding idiot crash face-first into the wall.

“Ah, careful,” she facetiously warned. “What will the Crimson Syndicate think if they catch their underlings making a bloody mess on their cash cow?”

The gang leader, foaming at the mouth, pointed directly at Lucia and yelled, “Kill ‘er! And bring her head to the captain! She doesn’t escape alive!”

The rest of the gang members pulled out knives of their own, not intending on stupidly following the ways of their brother.

“Oh, wow, scary,” Lucia taunted, assuming a fighting position and beckoning the gang to attack her. “Come on then, let’s have a proper go. And I’ll make you pay back Mama tenfold.”

The first assailant tried to impale Lucia with a quick stab, which was easily dodged by the agile combatant as she weaved around the goon, quickly stealing his knife and retaliating with three quick slashes of her own.

The second assailant tried to bait Lucia into attacking first – a futile attempt against a fighter who can dash and kick faster than any goon can swing his knife. A rapid in-and-out weave followed by a direct kick to the gut was enough to fell this one.

The third assailant just tried to throw his knife at Lucia, who doesn’t even bother to dodge and let the thrown knife completely miss her – a move which embarrassed the gang member so much he collapsed out of his own stupidity.

“Dammit!” the leader exclaimed, drawing his own knife. “Why do I hire you idiots?! Can’t even beat a little girl?!” But in his livid stupor, he loses sight of his target.

“Hey. Tough guy. Behind you.”

Lucia playfully tapped the gang leader’s shoulder from behind him. Immediately, he tried to grab her wrist and turn the situation in his favour, but Lucia is quick and nimble; she immediately trips him up with a sweep kick and a subsequent suplex onto the adjacent road.

Lucia finally let go and stood up to stretch her arms. “Done and dusted. Now, I’ll be taking that ¥30,000 ‘protection money’ back. Or you can go back to the bar and return it yourself like an honourable man. Choice is yours.” She crouches down and playfully taps the side of the leader’s face with her palm before standing back up.

The leader, breathing heavily, was confined to kneeling on the floor as he struggled to stand up. Lucia sighed, almost taking pity on the poor, helpless soul. That’s when her wristwatch rang. It was already 8:00. It looked as though that money was going to have to wait.

“Ah, damn it. Hey, this has been fun, but I’ve got to get going. I’ve got a tournament to win,” she said, flashing her Crimson Ring membership card.

She turned around to head through the newly-opened passageway, ready to clock in for the day, as the sounds of the Crimson Ring’s equipment drowned out the fearful screams and curses of the gang members.