Raja Kint and Exochos Kint separate from the group. They find that the final eight competitors are going to the same room. The two enter the room and sit down. Only one person has not shown up yet. They both found their own space to sit. Raja Kint lay against the wall. His memories of the coliseum ran through his mind. From the moment he got trapped in the alleyway to the day of breaking out.
He sighed as the last person arrived. I’ve truly been through some things. And I haven’t even been here long. I never thought of it before. But how hard was the patriarch’s journey to the top? How difficult was Father’s journey that he set up a secret location? Or… maybe cultivation doesn’t have an end? The edge of his lip turning up. Guess there’s only one way to tell.
A guard entered the room. “The lot of you will sit around the stage outside. Go on.” Waved the guard.
Raja Kint got up and walked outside. The sun beaming down upon him. Upon going outside there were two guards at the exit.
The left guard says, “You all just sit around the arena in a circle. There will be spots where arrays were placed. Choose your pick.”
Raja Kint casually walked around. Some of the others walking while some ran. Raja Kint looked up at the crowd with a bit of surprise. Having not been paying much attention he felt shocked. There must be tens of thousands of people here. To build something to hold this amount of people is incredible. He found a free space and sat down.
Seeing everyone seated within their arrays. The announcer steps forward to speak out, “First of all. Congratulations on reaching the top eight in this fierce competition. There are thousands upon thousands of late-stage outer ki realms beneath the Bisuke Empire. Then there are thousands within the thousands.” The announcer smiles. “That are young and talented enough to try and qualify for our competition here. Leaving only the top of the crop. Coming out to just below 2,000 young cultivators. Now, from the many thousands. You eight have emerged as the best of your generation. No matter what happens from here. You all probably feel pretty good for getting picked.” The announcer pauses. “But, what would happen if you got absolutely crushed?”
Raja Kint smirked. They don’t want halfhearted battles huh. Well, that’s fine by me.
The announcer continues, “Now, how are we going to choose the battles for the top eight? We have something special this year. I will now welcome a young cultivator who I’m sure everyone knows of.” The announcer pauses for dramatic effect. “Josho Fenix will randomly pick names to fight today.”
Everyone’s eyes follow the announcer’s arm that’s pointed in a direction. A young man with dark red hair, pitch-black eyes dressed in a black taoist robe walked forward. With the sun shining on him many people thought that he was truly fitting to be the face of a generation.
As Raja Kint is watching he notices Josho Fenix look in his direction. He doesn’t think much of it.
Josho Fenix arrived next to the announcer. The announcer flips his palm as a small ceramic bowl with eight folded papers inside appears.
The announcer motions the bowl toward Josho Fenix. “Pick out our matchups for today.
Raja Kint hears Exochos Kint will be in the third match and himself in the fourth match. Causing him to sigh in relief. At least we don’t have to fight. We can reach the top four on our own.
Raja Kint calmly watches the first two matches. Even from the top sixteen there’s a clear difference in strength. Exochos Kint goes onto the arena facing against the tan boy. Raja Kint looks at the tan boy. Mumbling to himself, “To think he would make it this far. I knew he was playing in the battle royale. And that his body is peculiar. Maybe the most interesting besides mine.”
The two host a long drawn-out battle that forces out all of their cards. From hand-to-hand combat, speed battles, strength comparison, ki technique, battle iq and more were on full display. In the end Exochos Kint barely edged out the tan boy. Showing a technique that he hadn’t shown Raja Kint during their sparring.
Exochos Kint made his way off the arena with a straight back showcasing his full pride. Raja Kint felt quite surprised by the showing. Nevertheless his battle is called forth. He stands up and walks onto the stage. Opposite him is a girl.
The announcer shouts, “Fight!”
Noticing the girl not moving Raja Kint just walked over to her. He stopped moving as he stood right before her. Being only ten years old Raja Kint has always been the shorter one in his fights. And standing before the girl he was shorter as he looks up into her eyes.
“For a guy to have such pretty eyes is rare. If this was a contest of looks you would probably win,” says the girl.
Raja Kint raises his right arm and presses against her stomach. The girl didn’t react as Raja Kint continued pressing deeper until he stopped. The girl raised her right hand with a smile. She presses her hand into Raja Kint’s chest. He stands as if nothing is happening and she retracts her hand.
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Raja Kint holds up his right palm. “Together?” The girl raises her right palm and their palms press against each other. With matching force Raja Kint begins increasing his force. Noticing the girl keeping up he ramps up the acceleration of applied force.
Seems she’s keeping up so far. Let’s see her keep up with this. Raja Kint builds up the ki in his hand. The look on the girl’s face slightly changes as she increases her force even further. Raja Kint explodes with his increased strength noticing how fast her strength is climbing. Wind whistles around them as their arms fully extend.
Raja Kint looks down toward her feet. She has slid back while Raja Kint is still standing in place. Raja Kint lowers his arm while asking.
“So, you ready to give up?”
“You wish it was that easy.” The girl takes up a fighting stance. Her arms calmly moving up and down.
Raja Kint decides to respond with brute strength. He takes a step and leaps forward with his right fist punching out. To his surprise. His fist hits her hand but feels like his fist hit a soft pillow. He can only watch as his right fist is redirected elsewhere. The girl comes over and places her palm on his chest. Raja Kint quickly moves before she can get her full attack off.
Raja Kint’s eyebrows raise as an excruciating pain soars through his chest. His eyes widen as he grips his chest. Looking toward the girl with a smirk on her face.
“You were so proud of your strength. You probably felt proud of your speed too, right?” The girl looks Raja Kint in his eyes. “You also have many other amazing things. But it doesn’t mean you’re untouchable. All I did was tap you and that powerful body is rendered useless.”
Raja Kint grits his teeth as he focuses on the area to understand the problem.
The girl continues, “Hey, I just have to ask. So, are you ready to give up? Hehehe.” The girl laughs and begins walking over.
Seeing her approaching Raja Kint has a thought he didn’t think he would experience. Could I lose? As soon as this thought entered his mind. He immediately blotted it out with anger. From his youthful appearance appeared a hoarse voice, “NO!”
The girl stopped laughing in shock. Before laughing even harder. “I’m surprised you can let out such a voice. Must’ve realized who's the stronger one here.” She steps next to Raja Kint.
With her so close Raja Kint begins attacking. Unlike his usual fighting style he was much more ferocious. The girl smirked as she went to redirect a punch. Before she could touch the punch a heatwave-like ki burst forward. Her eyes widen as she quickly retreats.
Raja Kint smiles. “Your little trick is interesting. If my control of ki wasn’t so high then you would’ve had me.”
“What are you on about?” asks the girl dismissively.
“You inject your ki in a way that messes with someone else’s circulation of ki. For most people it would be near impossible to rid of that ki on their own. But you don’t realize that the punch I just used transferred all of your ki out.” Raja Kint stands straight while staring her in the eyes.
The girl says, “Will you use your technique ten times? Twenty times? How many times until you're tired? You can’t even touch me.” She takes up her fighting stance again.
Raja Kint internally sighs. She just has to be this tricky. From the attack earlier it seems she just needs her hand to touch me. Raja Kint lightly moves his feet and charges toward her.
Sending a fake left punch to hide his right leg sweep. She jumps over. Raja Kint sends a fast right punch that she calmly reacts to. He quickly pulls his punch back. Twisting his hips for a straight left leg kick. She steps to the outside while looking to redirect the kick away. Raja Kint flexes his right leg and swings his left leg to follow. The girl holds out both her palms not to redirect but to touch him. Raja Kint drops his right knee. Lowering the contact point for his left leg.
The kick hits her hip and she stumbles backward with a grunt. Her body twisting at the last moment to lessen the impact.
“Seems you haven’t focused on your body at all.” Internally Raja Kint was relieved. If she had practiced her body then she would be too strong.
The girl didn’t speak as she stood in her stance. Raja Kint furrowed his brows as a thought arrived. “This is a defensive technique not meant for attacking.”
“Why say that?” asks the girl with a serious face.
“You haven’t initiated an encounter once.” Raja Kint stands still for a moment. Of course, with the way she fights who would willingly fight her. Raja Kint stares at her with furrowed brows. Unsure of what to do.
Seeing Raja Kint paralyzed she begins to stably move forward. Raja Kint notices how on guard she is and simply allows it.
I usually don’t think during fights. But this is one where I can seriously mess up big time. Raja Kint smiles as his feet lightly tap the arena. His body swaying side to side. Fighting has never not been fun to me. Seems the people here have helped ease the pain on my mind somewhat. Raja Kint’s eyelids slightly droop. I’ll forever remember you all for this.
The girl looks at Raja Kint but feels as though something is different. Raja Kint approaches and she braces for impact. Just one touch and I’ll force him into a living hell.
Raja Kint throws a speeding left punch that she couldn’t redirect in time. The girl’s heart rate sped up noticing the speed.
Raja Kint smiled. “You mentioned earlier that speed and strength aren’t enough. Well then, let me show you a world you can’t understand.”