Gordon staggered backward, his eyes wide with fear as he gasped out, "Why don't we just end this here? Let's call it even. If you push me too far, I'll fight to the death—and I guarantee you won't walk away unscathed."

He was retreating frantically now, his voice trembling beneath the bravado. Survival, not pride, was his priority. Facing Aspen's disappointment was one thing—but losing his life was another matter entirely.

More than that, Gordon was struggling to process the reality in front