In front of me I saw a group of people block my path.

They were all dressed in the same type of black and gray uniform, so it was obvious they were together.

I decided to stop and see what business they had with me, even though the size of their group, and their aggressive stares, did make me wary.

Soon most of the group came to a halt, and made way, to make a path that led to the back of their caravan.

Through it walked a massive individual that was about 7 feet tall and as wide as a City gate.

He wore the same intimidating black and gray uniform with cuffs on the sleeves.

He had long dark frizzled hair and a very rough facial complexion.

His nose was pointy but it looked like it had been broken several times.

Same could be said of his eyebrows, cheekbones, ears, and mouth.

In fact his whole body looked like it was one big massive callous.

He pointed at me and proceeded to call me out.

“ You! The fraud Martial Artist over there! I've come to expose you for what you truly are! In this City there is no room for Disciples of worthless trash like Kemoro. I've come to do everyone a favor and clean the filth that has come to stain this City. Disciple of Grime, I Teloro Genius, Disciple of the Callous Way Dojo challenge you to a Martial Duel, do you accept? Or will you run from the City like a coward as your Master did.”

Many people around the street started laughing out loud, or sneered and chuckled at Teloros’ insults.

Suddenly I knew what was going on.

I had knowledge of the Callous Way, it was one of the Organizations Kemoro had stolen some moves from, and he had even defeated its Head Master’s Brother in a Duel.

They were good at Body Defense Cultivation, hand to hand combat, and most primarily grappling.

It was obvious why this obstructive group had ill will towards me.

And hearing everyone's laughter I now knew why I was getting rejected from all these Organizations.

They rejected me because of the origins of my Martial Arts, they all thought Kemoro was my Master, and I was his Disciple.

I was confused at why everyone showed so much apathy to me and Kemoro.

But soon that was replaced with anger and determination.

I didn’t have any mind to explain to them that I wasn't Kemoros' disciple, in the end he taught me, and showed me a path to a higher state of mind, like no one had before.

Because of him, I had managed to hold on to the Ranker Rank that had fallen on my lap, and feel like I was actually worthy of the Rank.

He never rejected me because of my talent, nor did he give up on me.

Other than my father, and Mr Reyas, he had been one of the biggest influences in my life, and biggest inspirations despite only knowing him for a year.

I wasn’t going to take this man insulting one of the persons I most respected like that.

“Teloro was it, I'm usually a pretty respectful and easy going guy, but you've done and managed to make me angry. I don't care when people insult me, but I won't stand someone insulting a good friend and mentor whom I respect in front of my face. Rude and obnoxious man child Teloro, I Warrior Guso, Practitioner of the Combined Fighting Method accept your challenge. Get ready to eat your words in shame.”

“Hahahahahahaha is everyone hearing this clown. I have to say I'm surprised at your confidence and courage. It’s obvious you don’t know who I am. Don't be getting a big head just because you beat that idiot Fittino. Let me give you a proper introduction of myself. I'm Teloro, Genius Disciple of the Callous Way Dojo, Primary Heir of the Stonecrushing Stramo Clan, the physically strongest Clan in Volunterra,Top listing F Rank Ranker, you mud stain know your place. Today I’ve come to teach you the difference between Heaven and Earth.”

His words meant nothing to me, at the moment I was preparing myself for War.

I didn't care if he was Volunterra’s Mighty Leader himself. I was gonna take him down.

After Teloros spiel I suddenly heard a voice in my head.

“You have been challenged to Combat by F Ranked Warrior Teloro, I, the Seeier, look forward to the outcome.”

So the Seeier had finally revealed himself, I had no time to think when and how he chose to speak to each Ranker.

All I knew was that it seemed this fight was basically another Ranker Duel.

I cared not to respond to Teloro, and took my battle stance into patient Tiger Stance, a long stance.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

I meant business.

“Not a bad stance, but you’ve chosen to use the wrong kind of stance against me.”

Teloro took a running stance and charged towards me.

I figured he would want to strike first, but I had no idea a guy as large as him would choose to rush me down, still in the current stance I was in, it made no difference; I was ready for the counterattack regardless.

But soon another humbling lesson struck my confidence down.

Teloro moved fast for being such a big guy, and attacked me with a full on shoulder tackle, it was a very basic but efficient takedown and one I was fully prepared for; I dodged his attack to the side with excellent footwork, and speed, and struck him in the back of his head, and tried to to sweep him with a low calf kick.

When I struck his head I found that his body was as hard as a Rock, but although it hurt, my resistance training with Kemoro paid off; I followed through with a textbook low calf kick that should’ve taken him off balance, but as soon as I thought he was going to go down, Teloro did a backflip, landed right next to me, and before I could defend, grabbed me like a ragdoll with insane power, and slammed me to the ground.

The slam felt like the whole world had crashed into my body.

Such a powerful blow that it felt like all my organs were going to pop right out of me.

I had done a blow to the head to discombobulate him, and make my leg sweep more effective, yet he attacked me with a counter that seemed as though he had never taken any damage.

His strength was so great I couldn't resist his hold on me.

I felt like I was getting crushed by a stone.

After he slammed me into the paved ground and smashed it with my body, I was surprised I hadn't lost consciousness, but his grip remained.

“Hahahahaha I held back on purpose, I'm going to make you beg for your life you filthy scum.”

Again he raised me to the air faster than I could react, and slammed me into the ground.

He seemed to know how not to fully knock me out.

This guy was cruel.

Yet again a third time he raised me and slammed me into the ground.

I was sure the second slam had broken some rib bones, and damaged organs; the third slam managed to break my left arm.

The pain was agonizing.

I couldn't help but scream in pain.

***

The crowd watched as the duel seemed to be coming to an end, despite the brutality of Teloro, no one made a move to stop him, in fact almost everyone was feeling joy in seeing the Disciple of Kemoro get decisively defeated, and thrown around like a ragdoll.

Too many times had many of them suffered humiliation under the hands of Kemoro.

It was finally time Martial Citadel got its dignity back, and what better way than to witness the rise of true Martial Artists like Teloro.

Perhaps his methods were a bit cruel, but there was nothing they could do about it; it was looked down upon to interfere in one on one Martial Duels.

Those were the rules of Martial Citadel, and the Martial Traditions of the Citadel were sacred to all Martial Artists.

It's what made them who they were, the truest and noblest of Warriors, those who seeked to push humanity to its limits through its own means.

In a world of Monsters, Freaks, and Phenoms, they were the last bastion of the true essence of humanity's Warrior Spirit.

Tricks and nonsense like that which Kemoro taught, were nothing but a distraction, and a roadblock to progression of true and noble Martial Arts.

As soon as Guso was slammed to the ground the first time, one influential Martial Artist couldn’t help but remark.

“It's over, as I had thought tricks and deception are nothing compared to true power, a mighty Warrior like Teloro is a match to even a D rank I dare say, let alone this product of a Martial Scam Artist.”

Everyone else nodded and voiced their agreement.

In their eyes the match's result was sealed by fate, and it was a foregone conclusion that Teloro would emerge victorious.

The only question was whether Guso could even survive.

Most people observing also thought the demise of Guso was all but guaranteed, yet almost no one even felt a bit of pity.

So was the world of Experts and Rankers, there was no time for weak emotions.

But in the midst of their gloating and arrogant thoughts, humility decided to turn its ironic face towards them, and remind the pompous Martial Artists why Kemoro had become such a threat to them.