Los Angeles, the land of the stars, was where Connor, an up-and-coming actor known for his impressive use of kickboxing and karate in his movies, resided. However, his success was overshadowed by the controversies that surrounded him. Rumors spread like wildfire that he was difficult to work with, often yelling at the director and walking off-set. People also questioned the authenticity of his fights, accusing him of faking them. Unfortunately, these negative stories damaged his reputation and threatened to end his career before it even began.

Despite all the criticism he faced, the twenty-one-year-old was determined to prove all his naysayers wrong. He wanted to show the world that his martial arts skills were unique and original. The only issue was that he didn't know how to do that. But one day, while on the movie set, he overheard people talking about The King of Iron Fist Tournament. His curiosity piqued, and he retired to his trailer to research the tournament.

To his amazement, he found out that the tournament was the ultimate fighting challenge, where only the best fighters in the world could participate. Moreover, the grand prize was the new leader of the Mishima Zaibatsu, a powerful corporation. Connor felt a fire inside him ignite, "This is my chance to prove those who call me a fake wrong," he yelled.

Without hesitation, Connor left Los Angeles and headed to Japan to participate in the tournament. He also hoped to find his old karate master, who had taught him everything he knew about martial arts. Reuniting with his master, they made their way deep into the forest, where they found the old training ground. The serene atmosphere, with only the sound of rustling trees and chirping birds, made it a perfect place for training.

Connor put his body through intense physical training, determined to be in the best shape of his life for the tournament. But something strange happened while he was training. A mysterious red glow emanated from his body, giving him more power and strength than he had ever experienced before. His master noticed the red glow and asked him about it. Connor replied, "It's been with me since I was born. It's like something takes over my body and gives me the strength and speed I need."

After a month of rigorous training, Connor was ready for the tournament. He thanked his master for his guidance, hoping that his performance would generate more fans. But his master didn't appreciate his comment and delivered a swift punch to Connor's nose. He warned Connor that the tournament was not a publicity stunt and that he had to prove himself and win it.

Despite the brutal punch, Connor was excited and determined to emerge as the winner of the tournament and become head of the Mishima Zaibatsu. As he left the forest, he clenched his right fist, ready to face anyone who stood in his way.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

It was the day of the most awaited fighting tournament, The King of Iron Fist Tournament. The venue was packed to maximum capacity, and millions of viewers worldwide were eagerly waiting to witness the new head of the Mishima Zaibatsu.

As Connor entered the training room, he observed the other fighters participating in the tournament, using the equipment to practice their moves. The sight of the fighters made Connor realize that he was up against some serious competition that would push him to his limits.

Suddenly, the announcer's voice boomed across the room, ordering all fighters to assemble on the main stage. Everyone in the room started moving towards the stage, waiting for their turn to be announced. While standing in the long queue, Connor felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to see a man behind him, who told him to calm down as he was tapping his foot nervously. Before Connor could react, the announcer's voice echoed through the speakers again.

The announcer introduced all the fighters participating in the tournament, with some popular names before finally announcing Connor's name,

“A Hollywood rising start with remarkable skills in both karate and kickboxing hailing from the United Kingdom Connor......Knight.”

As he walked out on stage, the crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Connor took a moment to soak in the adoration before joining the other fighters. The announcer then went on to explain the tournament's format, how the fighters would be chosen at random, and only the winner would progress to the next round. The process would continue until the final two fighters were left, and the winner would be crowned the new head of the Mishima Zaibatsu.

The screen began shuffling through names and pictures of all the fighters, and the crowd watched in anticipation and excitement to see who the first name would be drawn. The left screen stopped on Connor, who walked forward to see who his first opponent would be.

The right screen stopped on a man named Feng Wei, who stepped forward to face Connor. The announcer made the fight official, and the first match of The King of Iron Fist Tournament was set to take place between Connor Knight and Feng Wei the following day.

As the fighters made their way offstage, a young Japanese woman greeted Connor and wished him good luck for the upcoming match, expressing hope that they might meet each other in the tournament. After leaving the venue, Connor was handed a key with a number on the tag. It was the key to the luxurious apartment where all the fighters would be staying for the duration of the tournament.

The apartment was tidy, and there was a note left on the table that read: "Dear Mr. Knight, on behalf of the Mishima Zaibatsu, we would like to thank you for participating in our tournament. We hope you have a wonderful stay with us and will be keeping a close eye on your progress in the tournament. You will find a gym for you to train on the ground floor." Connor left the note on the table and headed for the gym to prepare himself for the fight the next day.