MMA System: I Will Be Pound For Pound Goat

A soft chime rang through the cabin, letting everyone know that there was news from the pilot. The pilot's voice was soothing and efficient over the intercom.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We are now beginning our descent into Bangkok. Local time is 4:35 PM, and the weather is currently a warm 32 degrees Celsius, or about 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with clear skies. We'll be touching down at Suvarnabhumi Airport shortly."

Damon stirred in his seat, adjusting the reclining angle to sit upright.

The sound of the engines grew softer as the plane began its gradual descent.

The flight attendant's voice followed the captain's, warm and practiced.

"Ladies and gentlemen, as we prepare for landing, please ensure your seatbelts are securely fastened, your tray tables are stowed, and your seatbacks are in their upright positions. If you have any larger electronic devices, please power them down and stow them at this time. Smaller devices may remain in airplane mode."

Damon glanced out the window, catching glimpses of Bangkok's sprawling cityscape below, bathed in golden sunlight.

Skyscrapers, highways, and clusters of buildings spread out like a maze, while patches of green fields dotted the outskirts.

The attendant's voice continued:

"We'd also like to remind you that smoking is prohibited until you are in a designated smoking area inside the airport terminal. Thank you for flying with us, and we hope you have a wonderful stay here in Bangkok."

The plane trembled slightly as it hit a patch of turbulence, and Damon gripped the armrest briefly, though his expression remained composed.

Around him, passengers began tidying up their spaces, retrieving bags from under their seats, and buckling their belts.

The familiar whine of the landing gear extending filled the cabin, letting everyone know that arrival was almost here.

Damon closed his eyes for a moment to calm down and get ready for the landing

"Alright," he muttered to himself, stretching his legs out as far as the space allowed. "Time to get to work."

Damon unbuckled his seatbelt and got up from his seat, following the other people getting off the plane.

He followed the signs through the busy airport, getting through immigration without any problems, getting his duffel bag from the baggage claim, and quickly going through customs.

The airport was massive and lively, filled with travelers and vibrant signage in both Thai and English.

Coming out of the airport, Damon took a moment to get used to the warm, humid air.

Victor had mentioned someone would be waiting to give him a tour, someone he trusted. Damon reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone.

He opened the message Victor had sent earlier, a picture of a woman attached to the details.

Staring at the image on his screen, Damon committed her face to memory.

She had a confident air about her, a bright smile, tan skin, and wavy, shoulder-length hair.

The bustling scene around him made it harder to focus, but he scanned the area, searching for her among the crowds.

"Alright," he muttered, squinting against the sunlight filtering through the terminal's glass walls. "Where are you?"

He glanced back down at the picture and then around the arrival area, hoping to spot her.

Damon sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he wandered through the arrival area, his eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of the woman.

The sheer size of the airport and the unfamiliar environment left him feeling slightly disoriented.

He muttered to himself, "Great, where am I even supposed to go now?"

Pausing for a moment, he considered asking for help, but the thought of trying to communicate without knowing the language made him hesitate.

He was about to swallow his pride and approach someone when he felt a light tap on his back.

Turning quickly, he found himself face-to-face with the woman from the picture.

She looked a little different in person, her features were sharper, her expression more focused, and she was shorter than he had expected, standing just a bit above his shoulder.

A wave of relief washed over him, and he let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Oh, thank God," he muttered under his breath, his shoulders relaxing.

The woman tilted her head slightly, a small smile playing on her lips. "Damon Cross?" she asked in lightly accented English.

Damon nodded. "Yeah, that's me. You must be—uh…" He hesitated, realizing Victor hadn't mentioned her name.

She chuckled softly and extended her hand. "Nok. Victor told me to expect you."

Damon shook her hand, feeling a little awkward but grateful. "Right, Nok. Thanks for coming to get me. I was starting to think I'd be stuck wandering around here all day."

Nok smirked and crossed her arms, her stance relaxed. "Don't worry, we'll get you where you need to be. Let's go."

Damon sighed again, this time in relief. "Lead the way."

The hot air of Bangkok hit Damon like a warm wave as they walked out of the airport. It was a lively city as the streets were busy and cars were honking.

Nok smiled as she led him through the crowd. "Victor told me you're a fighter, huh?" she asked, her tone conversational yet curious.

Damon smiled back humbly, adjusting his bag on his shoulder. "Yeah, I am."

She nodded, her expression showing genuine interest. "What style do you train in?"

Damon raised an eyebrow, slightly amused by the question. "Oh, Muay Thai."

Her smile widened. "Oh wow, very nice. Muay Thai is the pride of Thailand, you know."

Damon glanced at her, his brow lifting. "You knew that already, didn't you?"

She let out a soft laugh, her shoulders shaking slightly. "Maybe. Just wanted to hear it from you." She shrugged playfully before stopping in front of a sleek black SUV. "Come on, get in."

Damon chuckled, shaking his head at her cheeky response. He opened the door and slid into the passenger seat, his eyes still taking in the cityscape around him.

As Nok started the engine, Damon leaned back.