C.J. Thorpe glares into the camera.
“You ever think about armor, Narcissa? How people layer that shit on, thick as they can, like it’s gonna protect them. It’s almost cute—almost. They think it makes them strong, untouchable. But all it really does is hide the ugly truths they’re terrified to show the world—the fear, the weakness, the secrets they’re desperate to bury.”
“And you, Narcissa—you’re all goddamn armor. Wrapping yourself in Zeus’s power, thinking that makes you invincible. But I see right through you.”
“To everyone else, you might look like you’ve got it together—Calypso by your side, Zeus’s name to drop, guards ten deep. But it’s all a front, isn’t it? When I walked through your palace, past your flunkies, I saw you as you are. Naked. Afraid. Pretending you’re some untouchable queen.”
He pauses.
“But me? I don’t need armor. I don’t need a goddamn thing to protect me I walk through those doors with nothing but my scars—a big ‘fuck you’ to the world. I don’t need Zeus’s name or a wall of flunkies. You stabbed me, thinking it’d keep me down. But all it did was confirm what I knew—you’re a coward. Afraid of the truth, afraid to face me without your bullshit. You think you can keep me out? I’ve already torn through your walls.”
He taps the gold over his shoulder.
“You thought your armor made you untouchable. When I took this title, I shattered that illusion. You say you want it back, but what you really crave is that armor, that lie of invincibility. It was never real. And when I break it again, piece by piece, you’re going to be left standing there for everyone to see—naked, afraid, a scared pretender hiding behind borrowed power.”
“You’re not untouchable. You’re not invincible. And you’re damn sure not ready for what’s coming. Your time’s over. You’re a shadow hiding behind steel, hoping no one sees the truth. But I saw it when I took this championship, and I’ll see it again when you’re left with nothing. No armor left. Just you, exposed, with nowhere to hide.”
“I’ve walked through fire for this. I fought for every inch, and now, with this title, I’ll rip your facade off once and for all. Arcadia will see you for the fraud you are.”
CJ steps back, arms outstretched.
“You want to know the difference between us, Narcissa? You fight to cling to power. I fight because I’ve got nothing to lose. Because it’s all I know. I’m your reckoning, your nightmare, the truth you’re too damn scared to face. And when I get my hands on you, there’s not gonna be any armor left to protect you. Just you, me, and the ugly truth.”
C.J.’s voice drops to a cold whisper.
“I’m not here to beat you, Narcissa. I’m here to break you. And once you’re broken, you’ll realize what that truth is:”
“The armor didn’t protect you—it just hid the scared little bitch underneath.”