Martial Arts Worlds

Lights disappeared, and darkness fell over the audience as the music, played by the orchestra, slowly faded away.

Silence~

The audience hushed down in anticipation.

Through the enormous screen, lights cascaded down and illuminated the martial arts stage. It was only one stage, but it was a big one.

The smooth, concrete-made stage gleamed under the bright lights. It didn't have ropes like boxing rings, but it was very hard-looking and sturdy.

It looked like if one happened to fall down to the ground, the clothes would rip, skin tear, and bones break.

"Welcome everyone~!"

A loud voice boomed throughout the stadium, and once again, energetic music started playing, and the lights started flashing in a rainbow of colors.

"The final round of the second day is upon us! Quarterfinals with the nation's eight best schools left in the tournament!"

The audience's gaze landed on the enormous screen, where the eight schools appeared, and their quarterfinals matches were displayed in bold letters.

"In match one, we have Karuza High versus Kanyon High—a battle between sixth and second seed—Kiernan Hunter versus Thorsten Reed!"

The screen shifted, and the second match appeared.

"In match two, we have Kurogami High versus Foxfire High—a battle between Dietmar Dent and Miroslav Smith!"

The audience gasped in excitement.

It dawned on them that there weren't any weak schools left. It was powerhouses after powerhouses, each match as intense as the previous one.

"Aish, if Karuza High defeated Kanyon High, they'll have to fight against the winner of the match two. If Kurogami High wins, they have to first defeat the second seed school and then the third seed school to reach the finals."

Karma's friends said.

"It is indeed a tough-looking bracket."

Karma said.

At that moment, on every television all across New Rakuya, the broadcast started showing audience members, and then Karma and his friends appeared on the screen.

…

Nightingale, Abracadabra Castle.

"…"

Bella's eyes rounded up in surprise as, on her laptop, a somewhat familiar face appeared on the screen.

It was older, with some graying features, but it was definitely something she had met before. A meeting that ended rather intimately.

"Hmm?"

Nevaeh felt a spike on Bella's aura. A rather strange spike. She quickly turned her attention on the screen, but it had shifted away from the audience, and showed the third match instead.

"Is there something wrong?"

She asked from her little sister.

"No. Not at all."

Bella shook her head.

…

"And, in the third match, we have Montclair High versus Azura Academy—a battle between Zachary Lokiah and Willa Crestwood!"

The banners of Willa's beautiful face appeared on the audience, waving it like a flag in the wind. She had a large fan base, even outside Azura Academy, just like any other beautiful martial artists do.

When they heard that their princess was facing Zachary Lokiah, they feared for her safety.

It didn't matter that she was one of the greatest talents of the nation. To them, Zachary was on a whole other level. A scary, dangerous monster.

"Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!

Montclair High's supporters chanted from the stands, their voices echoing through the stadium. It was very chilly-sounding chant.

"Willa! Willa! Willa! Willa!"

Azura Academy's supporters fought back, screaming so hard that their faces turned red.

"And lastly, the fourth match, we have Tiamut High versus Rensho High—a battle between Ariadne Baring and Lionel Drummond!"

The screen turned dark, and after a few seconds, it started showing the members of the first match—Karuza High versus Kanyon High.

On the right side, Thorsten Reed stood in front, and at the back, Hedda Brautigam and Edwin Brenneman were standing with their hands on their hips.

And on the left side, Kiernan stood in front, and at the back, Julian and Jonathan stood behind him like bodyguards of highly valuable treasure.

"It is time for the quarterfinals!"

The commentator shouted into the microphone, and music started blasting through the stadium's speakers with unrelenting energy.

…

"Huff! Huff! Huff!"

Julian spun his arms around and hopped back and forth in the locker room, warming up his body.

"Are you serious? Haha, he really asked for a special match? That's stupid!"

He laughed after Kiernan told him about his meeting with Thorsten.

"It didn't make much sense to me, but also, the chance of accidentally losing is very low on the big stage. It's so much different than fighting in those small rings."

Kiernan said.

"True, so why didn't you accept the challenge? I was the one fighting, right? You think I wouldn't have won?"

Julian asked with a raised eyebrow.

It made his pride flare up even more.

"No… I think you would've won. I've 'fought' Thorsten before in that Punch Ball match. He is strong, but… not strong enough to win against you."

"So, why didn't you accept it? We could've ended the fight quickly and gone back to recover in the hotel."

Julian wondered out loud.

"Because I think the coach would've lost his shit if I had actually accepted the challenge."

Kiernan said with a chuckle.

"Hmm?"

Coach Jin looked over from the corner of the locker room and picked his ear. He thought that someone talked about him just now.

"Nah, but for real, why didn't you accept?"

Julian asked.

He knew that wasn't the real reason, but it could've been part of the reason. It didn't really make any sense to risk the victory by accepting the offer.

With both Julian and Kiernan in the team, they had much, much higher chances of victory than in a special one-versus-one match.

"I hope that you might actually lose so I can have a chance to fight."

Kiernan said with a smile and slowly wrapped his knuckles with white tape.

"For real?"

Julian turned to him and saw Kiernan nod his head. He was speaking the truth.

"Hah…"

He smirked, and cracked his knuckles with loud pop.

"Sorry, buddy, but you won't fight in a single match when I am here. I am not losing to anybody!"

"Hmm~"

Kiernan leaned back on his bench and shrugged his shoulders.