Rikku Ryusaki! Road To The Strongest Volume 1

 King's Field Fighting Arena. Contest Of Young Champions. Sagetown, Stoneburgh.

The arena was alive with the chatter of the various dojos in the city who'd gathered in the arena today to test their mettle and dojo philosophies against one another. Among the various schools present in the arena, there were two in particular who had an intense rivalry that had been boiling up under the surface for a long time now and here and now in the King's Field Arena it was finally read to burst. The Path of Lions and The Way of the Great Earth. The Path Of Lions has a well earned reputation for ruthlessness and are obsessed with turning their students into human weapons. The Way Of The Great Earth on the flipside focuses on training well rounded individuals with an emphasis on defense and adaptability.

Rock Herrero performed his warm ups with the rest of his friends in the Great Earth School. "Man there's so many other teams here. I didn't realize there were so many schools in Sagetown."

"Man I don't know what's crazier. The Lions, how many schools there really are, or that guy over there who entered alone." Brittny MacQueen quipped as she pointed at the somewhat disheveled looking teen currently relaxing against a wall looking completely relaxed. "I mean, like, he does realize he'll be outnumbered whenever his turn comes up right? What's his school anyway?"

"I think he entered unaffiliated actually." Marios Machado noted in between his stretches. "Poor guy. What's his name anyway? Rikku...something?"

"Rikku Ryu I think." Hermengild 'Hermen' Vancura shrugged. "I wouldn't worry about it. Lets just focus on the other teams here."

"I don't know man. Batman underestimated Joker in D.K. and we saw what happened there." Bastian Andonov reminded them. "Ah what the heck. We have a minute or two before the tournament starts. I'm gonna go chat with him. If nothing else, we could ask him to join after the tournament." He waved to his friends and jogged towards Rikku.

"Yeah, I gotta admit, I feel bad for him being all alone but we do have to win." Rock shook his head and started doing push-ups. "Joining up with us will be good for him."

"You know, maybe we should give him a chance and see what he's got?" Hermen suggested.

"We'll see." Brittny looked over to where the rival schools' respective senses were talking together. "I wish I knew what they were talking about though."

"It can't be anything pleasant."


"Hey man, listen, thanks for agreeing to this. I just...I think letting the kids get all of it out of their system will be good for them." Daniil Langerhuizen informed his former rival while rubbing the back of his head. "I've tried talking to them but..."

"Dude, dude, I get it. It's alright. My kids have the same problem." Jannik Landers assured him. "Trust me, beating the daylights out of each other is just what they need here. It worked for us and don't worry, they know the rules and they'll stand by them."

"Alright, good, mine too. Alright. May the best dojo win and I hope we can all go out for a buffet after this man."

"Back at you."

They shook on it.


Bastian quickly crossed the distance to Rikku and as he got closer he discovered he wasn't in fact leaning against the wall but merely standing close to it while perfectly balancing on the toes of his right foot with his left leg raised up and his arms folded with his eyes closed. (O-kaaaaay....this guy might be tougher than we thought.) Bastian noted but approached him anyway. "Hi there! What's up?"

Rikku opened his eyes and lowered leg down and rested on his heels. "Sup Brah?"

(Or maybe I was just seeing things.)

Bastian studied the kid. He had a toned physique so he was definitely someone who worked out a lot. He had calluses on his hands and feet so he was used to striking and being outdoors. Probably a parkour practitioner too. He had a shaggy rock and roll haircut that was slightly spiky. His expression was calm and relaxed but his face as a whole made him look like a delinquent. Hard to believe he could have such amazing balance.

"Right, how are you doing man? My name's Bastian."

"Rikku." He offered his hand and Bastian shook it. He was caught off guard however by just powerful his grip was. It was like a vice!

"Yow man! Wow you've got a grip." He laughed and they pulled their hands back. (Man oh man! What kind of training has this kid been through?) "I uh noticed you've entered the tournament alone. Don't you have a team? Where you from anyway?"

"Oh don't worry about my friends. They're up in the stands watching. I chose to enter myself as unaffiliated. For lack of a better name though lets go with...yeah, how about, Ryusaki Style? Sure, I think I'll go with that. Anyway, I'm from Bullpen Alley. Born and raised."

"B-Bullpen? You mean the Apartment Complex Slum?"

"The slummiest of the slums!" Rikku replied proudly. "Be it ever so humble. It's a great place."

"You have got to be kidding me! The Bullpen? That filthy mudhole?" Another fighter asked them.

Bastian audibly groaned. "What do you want Raimondo?"

Raimondo Capello Savage of The Lion School sneered at the two. "I walked over to see what you two ladies were gossiping about and then I heard this street rat grew up in a mudhole." He scoffed. "Are you serious man? That's not even a dojo! Just do yourself a favor and drop out, street trash."

"I'm hearing your mewling but I don't see any claws, housecat. If you want to throw down wait until we meet in the ring."

"Have you looked at yourself, trash? No team. No friends. No teacher. No dojo. And your Gi looks like you got it a cheap store. This housecat is going to tear your face off." Raimondo snarled at him. He stepped closer to him but Bastian got in between them.

"Get back to your gang, Raimondo. You're embarassing yourself and shaming your dojo."

"I didn't ask you, you little-" That was when Jannik grabbed Raimondo and placed him on his shoulder. "Sorry about that. He's just a little overexcited. Best of luck to you guys." He waved and walked back to the rest of his team.

"You guys okay?" Daniil asked them.

"Woah! Senseis popping up everywhere man." Bastian joked. "Sorry about him Rikku."

"It's all good. Now I can break his face in the ring instead of off on the sidelines. Nice to meet you Bastian. I hope we get a chance to throw down."

"You too man. Best of luck out there."

Rikku went back to relaxing as they returned to their team.

"Well that was a funny little show. So what did you learn?" Rock asked him.

"That Raimondo's as much of a moron as ever and that Rikku's from Bullpen."

"Seriously? What's someone from Bullpen doing entering here?"

"Eh, he's probably just here for fun like the rest of us."

"And that's the point. To do your best and have fun out there. Fight fair, fight clean, fight to win and never forget to enjoy yourself. Remember, anybody who enters that ring deserves respect." Daniil instructed his students. "And every fight is a chance to learn and evolve and hopefully make a new friend."

"YES SENSEI!"


"Mind telling me what you were doing over there, Raimondo?"

"I wasn't doing anything, Sensei. Really. Just a little pre-fight smack talk that's all."

"I read your body language. You were trying to pick a fight. That's not how we do things. We are going to win this tournament fair and square in the ring! Am I clear? There will be no fighting outside of it unless absolutely necessary."

"Yes Sensei. I'm sorry."

"You got in trouble." Marianne Bartolomei taunted him in a singsong voice.

"Oh shut it."

"Focus. This is no time for infighting."

"Yes Sensei."

Lights flashed around the arena and guitar players flew up out of the floor on levitating platforms while the drummers slammed on their drumsets so hard they were calling up a storm outside! Holograms played of the various teams in the tournament while multicolored flashing mist filled the arena and SugarRock Fresh-T Starfrost Dazzlesmile suddenly appeared in the middle of the tournament singing a Rock/Metal Cover Of The Greatest Show to get the crowd hyped for the tournament.

SugarRock Fresh-T Starfrost Dazzlesmile. Her tall frame and slender body were like of a Victoria secret model. Her blue eyes, like the sea, were calm and emotionless. Long, wavy blonde hair, so smooth and silky, almost as if it was tailored from gold fabric. Blue eyes, gold hair. A confident, sexy strut that tells the world, "I'm beautiful." and she never misses a single step. Tight black elbow gloves and a gorgeous striking red dress that covers just one of her shoulders, leaves the other uncovered and flows down into a beautiful v-neck. It's a close fit which makes the dress look comfortable, yet elegant and stylish. The dress' waist is narrow, but it's a slim fit. A large belt helps accentuate her waist in a stylish manner. Below the waist the dress widens and has a sundress style. The dress reaches to just above her ankles and is the same length all around.

SugarRock Dazzlesmile, real name Karina Chapman, born in Hinansho, struck a pose as the song ended and her band landed behind her and posed with her and then she spun her arm around in a circle and then she suddenly stood straight up and thrusted her arm into the air and the mist was blown clean out of the arena in a mini-tornado until it dissipated! She batted her eyes as she relaxed, allowing her eyelashes to flutter like the wings of a butterfly.

"WHOOOOOOO! BABY! Did that get your blood pumping or what people? Let me hear you roar!"

"YYYEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" The crowd around the arena cheered.

"What's that? Have you all taken a vow of silence? COME ON!"

"YYYEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"

"RRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

They roared with the audience. "NOW THAT IS WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR! We are live people at the greatest tournament in Sagetown! The Kingsfield Arena's Contest Of Young Champions! THE KINGSFIELD ARENA'S CONTEST OF YOUNG CHAMPIONS! Where the various dojos from around the city will fight it out to climb their way to the top! I'm talking cracked bones, bloody lips, shattered ribs and shattered dreams! It'll be a long bloody road but finally the remaining teams have arrived here at the finals to risk it all for the Grand Prize of $10,000,000.00 and The Kings Crown's Platinum Trophy!" A Hologram Of A Large Shimmering Trophy appeared above her in the sky. "But only one team can go home with the victory ladies and gentlemen. The others can collect the second place trophy and their shattered dreams! SO! WITHOUT FURTHER ADO! LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED! Allow me to introduce our teams of glorious gladiators!"

1: Team Earth's Way

2: Team Lion

3: Team Ryusaki.

4: Team Shinobi

5: Team Carnival

6: Team Luchadore

7: Team Judokido

8: Team Heavyweight

9: Team Free Fighting

10: Team Dai-Kyoshi

11: Team Diva

12: Team Shaolin

13: Team Brazil

14: Team Animality

15: Team China

16: Team Plus Ultra

17: Team Shadowboxing

18: Team Angel

19: Team Neryushchensk

20: Team Nova

21: Team Iron

22: Team Kenshiro

23: Team Karateka

24: Team Bone Breakers

"So many fighters with so many styles all here to dazzle you while they fight to the top! Your referee of course will be Kouji Fujita."

A tall gentleman in black pants and a referee shirt appeared in the middle of the arena seemingly out of nowhere! He silently nodded.

"Now of course everybody you all know the rules but for those who are new please allow me to reiterate them. Killing one's opponent is explicitly forbidden as is the use of weapons and hitting below the belt. Breaking any of these rules will result in a disqualification and potential banning from the tournament along with whatever legal troubles you incur after. A competitor loses if they forfeit the match, fall outside the boundaries of the arena, are knocked unconscious or are unable to stand after a ten count. Fighting outside of the arena in between matches is also forbidden. Now that we're clear on the rules I would like to direct everyone's attention to the screen."

A large screen lit up listing the brackets of the tournament. Raimondo grinned. True, Lion's and Earth's Way were on opposite ends of the bracket but the punk was up against The Bone Breakers while the Lions were up against the Team Clown freaks. Even assuming the street rat won that fight, and really, one guy up against a five man team of brutes like them would be suicide, he'd be so beaten down that he wouldn't be easy prey for the Lions after they tore up the clowns. Two easy wins in a row for them while the rest of the teams beat each other up.

This tournament was going to be an easy win.

A slasher smile appeared on Rikku's face.

"Are we...seriously fighting Carnies?" Brittny asked.

"Don't underestimate them. Those guys are goofy but they've got the skills to back it up."


"Now that we know who's going to be fighting in the first round, I would like to call the first fighting team into the ring. Entering as an Unaffiliated from Bullpen Alley and representing his self titled Ryusaki Style, Ladies and Gentlemen please put your hands together for the one man show, Rikku Ryusaki!"

"What? Are you serious? The Bullpen? Man they're letting anybody into this contest these days!"

"What's some street rat doing here? Is this a joke?"

"Hey, hey, this is a pre-game comedy show right?"

"He can't be serious."

"That kid is going to get himself killed!"

"GO HOME STREET PUNK!"

The crowd continued to jeer him while Rikku walked across the room and hopped into the arena. He performed a few warmup stretches while he waited for the fight to start.


(Poor kid.) Rock thought to himself as he watched him stand alone in the arena. (Even the announcer lady isn't taking him seriously.)

"Five fights in a row against guys like that. He's going to be massacred out there." Brittny said..

"I don't know...he's tougher than he looks." Bastian informed them.


"Now entering the ring representing Master Rhino's Hakai-Ken! Please welcome the bad boys of martial arts! IT'S TEAM BONE BREAKER!"

A team of five bodybuilding teens built like football players rushed the arena roaring alongside the audience and singing Andrew W.K.'s Ready To Die.

"Your life is over now! Your life is running out! When your time is at an end then it's time to kill again! We cut without a knife! We live in black and white!
You're just a parasite! NOW CLOSE YOUR EYES AND SAY GOOD-NIGHT!" They shouted the last part at Rikku and one of their fighters, a brute named Octavius Olympos, jumped into the arena and rushed across it until he was right in front of Rikku and looking down at him. He sneered at the lone fighter. "Last chance to back out before I snap your spine, street trash."

"Funny. I was about to tell you the same thing. Give me everything you've got little man."

"Heh. You're funny. We'll see how much you joke when I break you in half."

The referee got in between them and they took a few steps away from each other.

"Bow to your team!" Octavius turned around and bowed to his team and Rikku turned around and bowed to his friends in the stands and then they both turned back around.

"Bow to me!" The fighters bowed to the ref.

"Bow to each other!" Rikku and Octavius bowed to one another though Octavius didn't lower his head, smirking at Rikku the whole time.

"Now remember the rules you two. Take your stances and BEGIN!"

The fighters took their respective stances as the gong was struck. The fight was on!

A pair of wealthy teenagers observed the fight from the VIP Seats. The girl had short brown hair and she was wearing a fancy blue jacket with gold buttons over a black shirt which was complimented by black jeans and fancy shoes.

The dark haired fair skinned young man sitting next to her was wearing a fancy suit.

He's wearing a clean shirt and left it unbuttoned at the top for a more casual look. On top of the shirt he's wearing a chic vest with 7 buttons, it has a fairly deep v-line, it's just narrow enough for the top to remain visible, adding another layer to the overal look of the suit. The jacket perfectly wraps around his body. It's a solid color without a pattern which radiates finesse. The 6 buttons of his single breasted jacket are all buttoned up, it's the best way to wear a jacket like this after all. The jacket is the same length all around, it has vents at either side, there's a single pocket on one side and there's a breast pocket which contains a stylish pocket square. He's wearing pants which have the same pattern as the jacket, but a different, complementary color and they're a perfect match for his shoes. He's wearing a handsome pair of cap toe monkstraps. To top it all off he's wearing a graceful belt, which can be accompanied by a hat and cuff links.

"Geeeeeeze. I get it already. He's from The Bullpen. That doesn't mean they should rake him over the coals for it. Even if he is crazy enough to enter alone."

"And yet despite all of their taunting he's as cool as ice. I think this kid could surprise us."

"You really think so Harry? I mean, I've never even heard of The Ryusaki Style."

"So it's new. There's nothing wrong with that, Izabella." Harry Kusanagi assured her. "Lets see how he performs out there."

Izabella Bradford relaxed in her chair and sipped her tea before answering. "Well he's certainly cuter than the meathead. Hmmmm. Alright. Lets have a little fun. A thousand bucks says he wins the round."

"You're on."

They fist bumped and got ready to watch the newcomer throw hands with Octavius.

SaveArnold Sports by SHWZ on DeviantArtdeviantart.com

(I know the story of David VS Goliath but is there any version where David fought off Five Goliaths in a row?) Harry pondered.

The moment the fight began, Octavius crossed the distance between them and swung his arm down in a karate chop motion aimed at the boys' head as if he was aiming to split him in half only for Rikku to quickly dodge to the right. His hand came down on the arena floor and cut right into the hardened stone concrete floor of it like a knife! Octavius pulled his hand back out and wiggled it to throw off the dust. He smirked and rushed and swung his leg up in a roundhouse kick aimed at his head that Rikku ducked under. The kick missing where his head had just been by mere seconds! Octavius kept spinning, slammed his foot down onto the arena and kicked out at Rikku with his other foot which Rikku dodged again. Octavius put his foot down and charged him again and tried a swinging uppercut which Rikku evaded again!


"Scamper around all you want, little rat! But I'll catch you eventually and when I do!" He rushed Rikku again and went for a telegraphed haymaker aimed at his face. "I'll crush your skull like an egg!" He swung down at him but Rikku dodged again and maneuvered around him. Octavius looked over at him and swung his arm up in a backfist uppercut that Rikku evaded once more and he performed a few backflips before stopping once he'd put enough distance between them. He smirked and made a bring it motion.

"Are you a fighter or a dancer, little rat? You can't win by running away you know! But then again, you can't win anyway! You couldn't hurt me even if you did try to attack!" Octavius rushed him again and they repeated this song and dance. Octavius would run at him and attack him with his big powerful moves while Rikku focused his efforts on dodging around him for awhile before suddenly stepping up to him on his right foot which left his left foot free, allowing Rikku to pivot away to the other side of his opponent. Octavius noticed this but didn't suspect Rikku's intent and stepped back. That was when Rikku kicked his leg, grabbed his gi and arm and pulled and threw him to the ground! Rikku stepped away and there was a loud booming noise as the giant teenager slammed down hard on the arena! Rikku then jumped on top of him and moved his hands back at the same time as if they were connected behind his back through a pulley, struck forward with one fist he'd thrown his body weight into as if to cut through him as if using a sword and punching Octavius square in the face right between the eyes as if he was aiming to punch through him all while tensing and tightening the muscles in his hands and feet to harden the joints and increase the power of his punch!

Octavius' eyes widened and there was loud BANG! sound in the middle of the arena as if a loud gun or a cannon had just fired! A series of cracks spread underneath Octavius' head and Rikku backflipped away from him and landed on his feet again as the brutal teenager shouted in pain and he grabbed his forehead and rolled around on his back.


"That's impressive." Harry grinned. "Some Baguazhang mixed with elements of Karate, Jujutsu and Muay Thai."

"Combining elements of those three disciplines into a single close range punch. Who taught him that I wonder?" Izabella mused.


"You little bastard!" Octavius growled at him as he started returning to his feet. Rikku quickly closed in on him though and kicked his left leg out to knock him down again since that was the one that was off balance this caused Octavius to fall down on one knee and lean to the left. Now that he was off balance even worse, Rikku smashed the side of his face with a spinning back hook kick across his jaw. His head jerked to the side and he spat out saliva as Rikku brought his foot down and went on the attack with rapid powerful strikes with a combination of punches, elbows and kicks at his ribs. A left cross, right cross, left cross, right cross, an upward elbow across his jaw, an downward elbow down his face, a backhand hammer blow across his face, then three kicks to his ribs, then an uppercut under his jaw and finally Rikku leaped into the air and performed four quick kicks, two from each leg and then he dropped down to the ring and kicked his leg out in a push kick that he quickly followed up with a punch across his face!

This devastating combination sent him sliding backwards on his upperback several feet across the arena floor before he fell on his stomach and then up onto his back again. A moment of silence overtook the crowd as Rikku rested and waited for his opponent to make his next move.

The silence was soon broken by the announcer! "WOOOOOW WOW WOW WOW WOW! Some surprise moves from the Bullpen Rookie! It goes to show that you shouldn't ever count someone out here at the Kingsfield Arena! I don't think I've ever seen such a beautiful combination from a newbie like that! Good luck getting up after that one big guy! You've got 10 seconds!"

The Referee stepped up and raised his arm up. "One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Sev-" Before he could finish though Octavius pushed off of the ground to throw himself back into the air and he sprung back up to his feet! "You can stop counting now. I'm back." He rubbed his jaw and spat out a wad of blood on the ring floor then licked his lips. "Nice moves creampuff, I ain't gonna lie, that hurt but you're going to need a looot more than that to bring me down!"

"So we're done with the warmup I take it?" Rikku asked with a smile.

"You bet your ass kid. Now I'm going to put you in the ground." He lowered down on his toes and hands and then he flung himself forward while at the same time springing forward and rocketing towards Rikku. He dodged to the right to evade him only for Octavius to read ahead and stop himself, plant his palms on the ground, rotate his body by rotating his palms and throwing himself at Rikku! He tried to dodge him again but the giant read ahead and caught Rikku in the stomach with a clothesline! Rikku's jaw dropped open. "GAAAH!"

"You're mine now, rookie." Octavius sneered and swung him around before slamming him down on the arena hard enough that his body bounced off of the floor and then Octavius grabbed his right leg and yanked him over to him where he grabbed Rikku by his gi. "Time to show you why we're called the Bone Breakers!" He held Rikku tightly and then he broke into a full on run across the arena before he suddenly leaped fifteen feet into the air and did a few flips in the air while spinning Rikku with him and then he grabbed his leg, flipped him around and flung him down to the arena! Rikku flew back over front down to the floor and then he hit it hard, bounced off of it and fell down to the arena floor. Soon after, Octavius slammed down on him with a leg drop onto his stomach and chest! Rikku gasped in pain. Octavius rolled backwards, grabbed his leg and yanked him up into the air, caught him, tossed him up, caught him again and then he bent his knees and he performed a powerful leap backwards before slamming Rikku's head down onto the arena! Flipping backwards, again and doing it again, then doing it a third time before tossing the young fighter back up into the air, raising both arms up and hammering him down to the arena, kicked him up into the air, rearing back and smashing a powerful haymaker into his stomach that exploded against the smaller fighter's body! Rikku was thrown away across the arena but Octavius still wasn't done with him! He quickly rushed after the younger fighter and quickly closed the distance between them and grabbed him by his head and held him up into the air.

"I'll give you this much, rookie. You were more fun than I expected but trash is trash, my man. Next time, remember your place and stay in Bullpen with the rest of the rodents!" While he was talking, Rikku's hands raised up and he began fumbling around for his hand.

"Well damn you're still conscious. I didn't expect that. But it's over. I'm going to finish you with this next punch."

Rikku's hands slid down his hand and began patting his fingers.

"Goodnight, rat!" He reared back for his next punch and started to throw it only for Rikku to grab and break one of his fingers! Octavius shouted out in pain and stopped his punch. He tried to toss Rikku away only for him to grab his arm again and kick up his legs and kick him in the face! The sudden impact knocked him backward and made him release Rikku. As the smaller fighter was dropping down to the ground he grabbed onto his broken finger and drag his arm down with it!
Rikku then used this chance to kick him down to the arena floor before raising his hand up and grabbing another one of his fingers and breaking that one too as Octavius cried out in pain again.

With the giant brute down on the floor now the audience could get a good look at him now. He had numerous bruises and scrapes from the beating he'd just taken but no cuts and no sign of lost blood and he was still standing tall. Octavius slammed his free hand down into the ring and dug his fingers in and flexed his bicep as he tore into the arena floor and rolled away from Rikku a few feet before scrambling up to his feet and looking at his right hand. His index and middle fingers were broken. He cradled his hand as Rikku used this chance to catch his breath.

"For what its worth big guy." Rikku spoke up. "You're a powerhouse. Those hits of yours really hurt. Like cannon fire. Yeesh. Guess I should've expected some wrestling moves but I didn't think you could move like that. My mistake." He confessed.

"That's...great and all...but my fingers are still broken you know. The hell am I supposed to do with this?"

Rikku answered by jumping up into the air and kicking him in the face. "Not my problem."

"Oh that's not good." Izzy laughed. "When you fracture a finger bone, it can cause your whole hand to be out of alignment. He won't be grabbing him with those two fingers."

"He's certainly durable. Not too many kids his age could come back after a beating like that. In fact, I'm beginning to wonder if he trained for muscle density and strengthening his limbs. It would explain how he's able to come back from the hits he's taken and his striking power...if not necessarily him shrugging off the suplexes." Harry shrugged.

"Clearly he just has a hard head." Izzy joked.

Back in the arena, Octavius stumbled from the spinning kick and Rikku got close and delivered his special punch again point blank. Moving his hands back at the same time as if they were connected behind his back through a pulley, struck forward with one fist he'd thrown his body weight into as if to cut through him as if using a sword and driving the punch into his stomach as if he was aiming to punch through him all while tensing and tightening the muscles in his hands and feet to harden the joints and increase the power of his punch while driving his arm up into Octavius' stomach as the brutal giant was sent skidding backward a few feet. Rikku ran after him and then circled around him and he began striking the back of his right leg to force him down again. As he went down on the ground, Rikku leaped on top of him, wrapped his legs around his throat, grabbed his hair and he began driving his elbow into his head!

"OW! OW! OW! OW! CUT THAT OUT! OW! STOP IT! OW! YOU LITTLE!" He reached back and grabbed him with one hand and the three fingers on his other hand and threw Rikku over his head and across the ring. Rikku rolled with the impact and stopped himself. He stood back up and looked back at the brute who was getting back up and rubbing the top of his head. Though he was standing tall Octavius was nevertheless unsteady. Rikku's attacks were clearly having an effect on him so he used this chance to take a breather for a few seconds and then he stood back up and rushed him down again but Octavius recovered enough to throw a spinning kick at him only for Rikku to flip over it, land and rush him while he was still off balance and slammed against his leg, struck it and swept it, causing Octavius to fall on his face. Rikku then grabbed his hair, dragged him up and then he kicked straight up and caught him under the jaw before bringing his leg back down and kicking him again with an axe kick! Octavius' face slammed down on the floor again and Rikku put some distance between them and took a breather again.

"Well, well, ladies and gentlemen! Our little rookie fighter is really bringing the pain! It goes to show you that big things can come in small packages! Octavius doesn't even know what's hit him! The man has 10 Seconds to get up! Can he do it?!"

"ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR! FIVE! SIX! SEVEN! EI-"

Octavius pulled himself back up onto his feet. He stared Rikku down for a minute before he turned look at their Sensei. He silently nodded and Octavius grinned.

"Well...I didn't think I'd have to use this in the tournament. At least not this early. But you...you've earned it rookie. Only fair to warn you rookie. I'm about to go out of control." He warned Rikku.

"Hurry up and show me."

Octavius sneered and looked up at the ceiling and closed his eyes. He began breathing slowly and deeply while endlessly repeating "Power and Strength." To himself as he inhaled and exhaled. His body began swaying back and forth while he continued this. He began repeating something to himself in a quiet hushed tone. "I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength."

"Uhhhh what are you doing?"

"I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength."

"Uhhh hello? Dude, are you still in there? I didn't hit you too hard did I?"

Octavius' body began quivering and his muscles started to visibly spasm throughout his body!

"I-is he...is he doing what I think he's doing?!" Izzy asked as she sat up.

"It's...self-hypnosis induced body feedback. He's convincing himself that he's a powerhouse so thoroughly that his body is reacting to it and morphing itself to match!" Harry ran a hand through his hair. "Holy...I never dreamed I'd see something like that in this tournament!"

"I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH. I AM STEEL. I AM POWER. I AM STRENGTH!" He opened his eyes and roared as his muscles suddenly became massive and engorged! They swelled up like balloons and his skin became slightly redder due to the increased blood flow throughout his body. Large veins appeared all over his body, bulging from his skin! Bizarrely, his shorts also grew accordingly.

Rikku took a few steps back from him as the fighter's muscles continued swelling up until he finally stopped gasping for breath.

"Hakai-Ken...Violence Bane Rebirth Morph Mold Raw Power Revolution!" He announced and stood up to his full height and looked down on Rikku. Laughing in between his heavy breaths. "Take a good look all you weaklings in this tournament! This is the ultimate power! Raw unrestricted power given form! REAL POWER! MUSCLE POWER! UNSTOPPABLE POWER! I am so strong now I could take on everyone at this tournament! Hit me all you like! Nothing can hurt me now!"

Rikku straightened up into a relaxed pose but said nothing as he stared him down.

The rest of the stadium joining him in silence as they stared at the disgusting engorged muscle mass Octavius had turned himself into.

"What's wrong twerp? Cat got your tongue?"

Rikku smiled.

"Go ahead! Try and attack! I dare you!"

Rikku began cracking up as if he'd just heard a hilarious joke.

His laughter was soon joined by a few of the masters around the stadium to Octavius' confusion.

"What's so funny, huh? HUH?! WHAT'S SO FUNNY?!"

"Dude....dude dude dude dude. My dude. Jumbo. My man." Rikku stood back up with his hands behind his head. "Can you even move?"

"SEE FOR YOURSELF!" He bellowed and leaped at Rikku and slammed a punch down where he'd just been standing! His fist broke into and through the ring and shook the arena and stadium floor! Even the people in the seats felt the stadium shake underneath them!

"Missed me!" Rikku called from behind him.

He snarled and yanked his arm free. Octavius took a few rapid breaths and rushed Rikku again and tried to grab him only to miss Rikku completely again.

"Over here!" Rikku called from behind him again.

As Octavius chased him around the arena in circles, Izzy and Harry relaxed.

"Well. I can't say I would ever want to be on the receiving end of those punches, but he screwed up the transformation didn't he? I'd estimate he got a 60% power increase from it with an 85% decrease in speed and mobility. Maybe more. Octavius turned himself into a walking siege weapon that moves like a Tortoise."

"That's not all." Harry grinned. "He's burning himself out. His body is using more stamina than it has. at this rate he'll wear himself out before he catches Rikku. Furthermore..." Harry walked up to the glass and looked down at the arena. "Yeah. I thought so."

"What's up?" She asked as she joined Harry.

"Look at him. Despite the speed decrease he's still trying to push himself to keep up with Rikku but the kid is gradually increasing his speed. He's forcing the big guy to keep making the sharp turns like this to try and catch him He might be strong but this bulked up body isn't built for that. He's therefore putting unnatural stress on his legs that it can't compensate for."

"So in other words if he tries to keep this up, he'll tear or break something before long huh?"

"Yeah. It's an impressive transformation but horribly impractical." Harry noted. He looked down into the arena where Master Rhino had his eyes closed and rubbing the bridge of his nose. Looks like he'd noticed it too as did the rest of the masters though several students still looked freaked out. "Still. If nothing else we're getting our moneys worth with this fight."

"Agreed."

The fight continued in this manner with Octavius sweating bullets trying to keep up with the smaller fighter while Rikku continued to dart around him. The sweat trickled down his back, free flowing like condensation on a window pane, it beaded on his forehead and dripped from his chin. Rikku meanwhile kept his movements minimal. Despite the beating he took earlier he was able to move around just fine so he focused on conserving energy while speeding behind him. It wouldn't be long now. Whenever Octavius would land one of his devastating punches on the arena, the whole area would shake just like the first time but since he couldn't catch Rikku with them it meant nothing. The smaller, nimbler fighter would just get out of the way and put enough distance between them that he'd have plenty of time to recover when the shaking stopped. Around and around they went in circles with Rikku forcing him to strain himself to keep up. Faster and faster and round and around they went until, finally, the giant twisted his leg and fell on his face with a thunderous booming thud on the ground. Rikku casually brushed off his gi while the giant Octavius yelled in pain and held his leg. "AAARRGGHHHH! M-MY...MY LEG! WH-WHAT...WHAT HAPPENED?! AAAUGGGH!" His body rapidly to emit a cloud of steam as it began shrinking back down to normal.

"Heh. Finally noticed it huh?" Rikku asked as he walked towards him while waving his hand in front of his nose.

"WH-WHAT? N-NOTICED? NOTICED WHAT?"

"Your strength was unbelievable. I have no doubt that you were the strongest guy here by a wide margin in that state. But that's all you were. Just a glacier. They can carve out entire landscapes, including Yosemite National Park, if you give them a few thousand years. You might be the strongest guy around in that state but all that overexaggerated bulk just made it hard to move. You exchanged all of your speed and mobility for raw power and as a result you turned into a snail that couldn't move or fight properly. Furthermore, that power up of yours wasn't natural. You might've mind tricked your body into pumping itself up, but it put a serious strain on your body and burned away your stamina. So all in all it's useless against anybody who has any sort of speed." Rikku sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "Which brings me to my next point. You were pushing your body to keep up with me with your unnaturally transformed body. This put more strain on it than you had to while burning away more stamina than you had. All while I was gradually increasing my speed and forcing you to do the same. As a result, your body couldn't take the strain and since I did some damage to your leg earlier, that was what broke. You twisted your leg up and wiped yourself out for me." He crouched down in front of Octavius while the bodybuilder took all of this in. "You get it man? Pumping up your body is a good idea but you went waaaay too far with it. You need to hit that sweet spot of strong but not turning yourself into a siege fortress." He laughed and slapped the back of his head and brushed off his gi. "Anyway. This is over. So you should go to the medical room and get yourself an ice bath."

"Well damn. I really screwed up bad huh?" Octavius sighed and rested his forehead on the ring floor while the referee counted down the 10 Count.

"1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! 7! 8! 9! 10! That's it! Fight over! Winner: Rikku Ryusaki!"

The crowd cheered on the smaller fighter as he pumped his fists into the air. Up on the scoreboard a red X appeared over Octavius' face for his team while a green ✓ mark appeared in the first of five squares under Rikku's name.

Beneath their feet the ring was already starting to repair itself.

"Well well well! Talk about a twist of events! All that raw power and he still defeats himself! Now that's a lucky break!" SugarRock laughed and thrusted her hand up into the air and caused a wind to blow away the bad smell of the sweat. "Our little dragon might've gotten lucky in this first fight but he's got four more opponents! Can he do it folks? Can he do it? The Absolute Madlad VS The Bone Breaking Bodybuilders! WHO'S GONNA TAKE THE WIN AND MOVE ONTO THE NEXT ROUND? LETS FIND OUT!"

A female bodybuilder in a black spandex suit and a shock of redhair on her head walked up onto the ring and picked up Octavius. "Not a bad match there man. You
just get some rest now okay? We can take it from here." She lowered him onto a stretcher the medics had prepared.

"S-sorry, I screwed up there guys."

"Don't worry about it!"

"Yeah man it's fine!"

"Get some rest!"

"Heal up soon!"

He smiled at his team and passed out.

"Don't worry. We'll have him fixed up in no time. He'll be back up and walking around again just fine by tonight at the latest." One of the medics assured them and exited the arena with Octavius. His team watched him go before the redhead turned back around and walked back into the arena and stared him down.



"Alright run listen up! The name's Akilina Athenais Dominika Eulalia Viktorov! Akilina the Annihilator! Bringer of Death, Destroyer Of Worlds, Kicker Of Ass, Queen Of The Ring, Ender Of Lives, Ruiner Of Careers, Shatterer Of Spines and Wrecker Of Your Shit! Don't get cocky just because you won one single fight! I'm going to break you in half, baby dragon!"

"Akilina! Respect your opponent!" Master Rhino called to her.

"Yes Sensei! Sorry!"

Rikku laughed. "Talk is cheap, red. If you have something to say? Say it with your fists."

"Man oh man! I can't believe it! We've just started and you can already feel the hostility in the ring! I don't know what's gonna happen! So lets get this party started already!" SugarRock called out.

The Ref signaled for the match to begin and the gong was struck!

Akilina immediately went for a haymaker punch aimed at his head that Rikku dodged. Akilina read him however and followed it up with a spinning kick aimed at his head that he ducked, then another kick that he dodged, then she went for a spinning backhand that he ducked under and finally she stepped in with a haymaker punch aimed right at his face. He evaded her attacks and landed a few of his own aimed right at the giant woman's liver before he backed off again. She withstood the punishment however and swiped at him with a backhand that he dodged. Akilina dropped down into a crouch and kicking at his legs but he leaped backward so she got back up on her feet and rushed him. She threw a few wild random punches at him to get Rikku distracted in dodging them and then she slammed a kick into his leg. "Guh!"

She laughed and rapidly kicked up his leg and into his ribs and then his face. Rikku fell back and Akilina capitalized on this to grab him and pulled him close. "Now I've got you." She sneered and switched to holding his head in her steel iron grasp and yanked him into the air and began repeatedly driving her fist into his stomach.

"Heh. Gotcha now, rookie. You might've gotten lucky in your last fight but you're up against a Pro now and you're about to see just how scary we really are!"

With this she drove her fist into his jaw in a quick but powerful uppercut. Then she punched him again in the stomach while he was airborne! Then she grabbed Rikku's leg as he was flying away and yanked him back to her, spun him around, grabbed him and performed a sudden backflip that slammed Rikku's head onto the arena again! Rikku hissed and gritted his teeth from the impact. She wasn't done with him yet though. Akilina tossed him up into the air and then slammed him down onto the arena floor again! Then she grabbed Rikku by his head again, spun him around and tossed him away, ducked into a runner's pose and then she dashed towards him, quickly closed the distance between them and drove her fist into him once she got close! Her fist struck across his face like a thunderclap and he flipped head over heels in the air while she slid forward, stopped herself, leaped back, did a pirouette and smashed a kick into his back that launched him back across the arena. He bounced off the floor a few times repeatedly before he stopped.

Akilina laughed while dusting herself off. "This is over, street rat. Do yourself a favor and stay down." She turned back to her team and flexed.

"Wooow! What a ferocious assault on our little wonder boy!" SugarRock giggled. "I don't think he's getting up after that beatdown but the referee will do the countdown anyway! We've got a protocol to follow after all!"

Several audience members laughed at her jokes.

"...What is her problem?" Rock questioned. "Sure, entering alone is insane, but there's no reason to treat him like that."

"Have you heard any of her albums? SugarRock trash talks everybody." Brittny reminded him.

"Guess that's then. This is over." Raimondo laughed.

"It ain't over until it's over. You'd be wise to remember that." Jannik reminded his student.

"1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! 7!"

"OWWWWWW!" Rikku cried out and sprung back to his feet. "OWWWWW! OUUUUCH! YYOOOWWWZAAAA! THAT HURT! OH MAN! OW!"

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?"

"Told ya."

"The hell is he made of?"

"Ouch! Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch! PAIN! PAIN! OW!" He spat some blood on arena floor and wiped his mouth. "OW! OH MAN! OW! Welp! This sure as hell isn't working."

"Okay! Time out! Time the hell out!"

"Huh?"

Akilina marched up to him. "What are you made out of? No way a nobody trained in a like the Bullpen is this strong!"

"Okay seriously what is everybody's problem with my home?"

"It's not a dojo. It's not a gym. It's a muddy filthy dump ran by hobos. There's no way that place trained a fighter like you. Where'd you really train?"

"The Bullpen." Rikku confirmed. "Born, raised and trained. It might be a bit dirty but we made it into a real home over the years. The Bullpen is a real living breathing thriving place. Beautiful in its own way really."

"But that doesn't explain how-"

"I wasn't done yet. Those people you call hobos and filthy bums?" Rikku's smile returned. "Every single one of them is a Martial Arts Master in their own right! You've trained with one master? I've lived with dozens my whole life." Rikku jumped fifteen feet backward to put some distance between them and then he began performing breathing exercises and stretching to calm down himself down and relax his body. Then Rikku changed his stance again. This time to a frontal horse stance while keeping his hands in an x-block. "Alright then. If the basics aren't going to work on you, then I'll try something more advanced. Dance of the Floating Petal: Leaf In The Stream Of Creation!"

Dance Of The Floating Petal: A Leaf In The Stream Of Creation. This fighting technique revolves around its relaxed elegance and smooth as silk movement techniques. The technique revolves around flowing around the enemy like a petal dancing in the wind while manipulating his opponents own flow and movements when the time is right using minimal motions to turn the opponent's attacks against them. The user lets his opponent get over confident and focus more on the attack only to be caught out by the sudden counter of their opponent. They can flawlessly coordinate their movements, automatically achieving maximum efficiency in any action. Because the user's body moves without the use of their brain they are free to strategize and can dodge a wider variety of attacks, even in a weakened condition.

To utilize this technique, the user must clear their mind completely and abandon any distraction or thought that would disrupt the focus of their body so that it concentrates only on the struggle through the natural reaction (or instinct). Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. Water can flow or it can crash. Be water.

"Dance of the floating...leaf in the what now?" She scoffed. "Did I give you brain damage or something bro? Actually, you know what? Whatever. I don't care. I'm gonna break your face now." She kicked the floor of the ring to propel herself forward and then she struck out with a corkscrew punch aimed at his face. In a normal situation this punch would've drilled and smashed into the face of her opponent but Rikku slipped out of the way with ease and her punch was driven through empty air! She caught herself and then added in a spinning backhand but he simply dodged it. She tried a kick but he dodged that too. She tried to grab him but he slipped away. She tried to sweep his legs but he just stepped back and hopped over her leg. She tried a swinging uppercut and a punch at his stomach but he dodged one and side stepped the other.

No matter what she tried he simply flowed and danced around her with his combination of reflexes, footwork and reading her rhythm. While before she was thrashing him and smashing into the ring, she was now unable to touch him at all!


"Leaf In The Stream Of Creation. That's definitely a new one." Izabella noted. "What on Earth?"

"It looks like he's dodging entirely on instinct and reflexes." Harry responded. "It almost looks like a sword dance style that he modified into a hand-to-hand style. Too cool. I should look into this one."

"So how do you think this is going to go?"

"Well, if it was me down there...."


This continued until he had her movements mapped out and then his hand snapped up and grabbed her arm and pulled her arm while kicking out with his foot. He yanked her forward and then tilted her downward and slammed her face into the ring floor and then he quickly sat down on her back while pulling up her arm and twisting it. "It's over." Rikku told her. "You can give up or I can break your arm. I'm sure the medics can heal it, but I'd rather not break your arm in a friendly competition. Your call though."

"Unnnggghh...get off me!"

Rikku wrapped his legs around arm. "Last chance!" He told her again. "Tap out!"

"It's just one arm!" She snapped at him while pushng herself back up with hand. "Go ahead and break it if you can, beta-boy! I'll kick your ass anyway!"

"Your call." Rikku closed his eyes and suddenly leaned back while pulling on it and broke her arm.

"GAAAAAAAHHHHHH-HRRRRRGGGHHHH!" He got off of her while the warrior woman flung herself back up to her feet by pushing off of the ring with one hand. She gritted her teeth and staggered backawards away from Rikku while holding her arm. He offered her an open hand.

"It was a good match. You don't have to continue if you don't want to."

"Heh. Heh. Heh-heh-heh-ha-hah..." She gripped her arm. "I...ain't...done...yet. I've still got three limbs, little man! And I don't know which one to kill you with first!"

"I respect your choice, Akilina but are you sure that you wanna keep going?"

"Bring it, Rikku. I can take everything you've got."

"AKILINA! That's enough!" Master Rhino called to her. "You've already broken an arm. There is no reason to push yourself. Step down so the medics can tend to your injuries!"

"I'm sorry, sensei, but I'm not ready to give up yet!" She called back. "Please! Let me keep going! I can still fight! I won't disgrace us by surrendering just because it got a little hard! I will fight to the end!"

Master Rhino stared his student in the eyes. "Is that truly what you wish?"

"It is. Let me keep going."

"Very well." Sensei Rhino nodded his head. "Fight to the best of your abilities! Give him everything you've got!"

"Gladly, Sensei!" She called back. "You're in trouble now, runt."

"You've got more guts than I expected but do you really think you can with one arm broken?"

"You're about to find out." Akilina responded.

"Alright then." Rikku took his stance again.

Rikku and Akilina stared each other down until she broke the silence with a battlecry and charged him. She tried a spinning roundhouse kick but Rikku just ducked under it and slid backwards a few feet. She put her foot down and tried a kick at his mid-section but he simply dodged it. She put her foot down and tried a swinging backhand but he ducked under her and simply jumped over her follow up kick. As she was turning around to try and kick him again, Rikku suddenly lunged forward and struck the back of her right leg hard enough force her to slump down. Rikku then followed this up with his special punch delivered at point blank range into the middle of her back. Akilina jaw dropped as she was sent skidding forward across the arena on her knees for a few feet before she fell forward and hit her head on the arena floor! She slid on that for a few more feet until she was able to stop herself by digging her fingers into the ring. She winced from the pain in her broken arm as she picked herself back up but she rose up anyway. "You little punk!" She turned around to look for Rikku but she couldn't see him at first. At least not until she saw the feet flying at her face as Rikku drove both of them into her, tensing and tightening the muscles in his legs and feet to harden the joints and increase the power of his dropkick. In essence, performing a dropkick variant of his punch!

Partially due to still being off balance, Akilina flew backwards and rolled head over heels across the arena until she stopped herself and slid back up on feet. She spat on the floor and rubbed her mouth with the back of her hand. "Ow." She confessed.

"Are you sure that you want to keep going?" Rikku asked.

"Don't you worry about me. I'm fine. I'm fiiiiiiiiine. I can keep going." She assured Rikku. "I can keep right on going. I can go right for you!" She assured him and sprung forward and went for his legs only for Rikku to evade and counter with a kick to the back of her head that smashed her back down to the ring.

"...I really do not care for you." She groaned.

"Love you too." Rikku joked. "Really though, you have my respect, A.K. You're made of some stern stuff."

"Heh." She picked herself up again. "We train our bodies daily. You can hit me as hard as you want. I can take it."

"True but you've still got perfectly vulnerable joints." He pointed out.

 "...Like I said. Ahhh screw it, forget it! I'm gonna wreck you! Got it?!" She attacked him again.

Rikku waited for her to commit to an attack before he dodged her kick and slipped around to her right side where her broken arm was dangling and he drove a kick into the back of her leg. She nearly fell to her knee but she was able to steady herself just enough to prevent herself from falling. At least until Rikku kicked her twice in the back and she fell on her face again. A.K. pushed herself back up and swung a backhand at him that he ducked under. She tried a swinging roundhouse kick at his head that he ducked under and then he dodged her follow up kick. She turned back around and stepped in and drove a haymaker towards his face only for Rikku to slide under it, grab her arm and strike upward into her arm above her shoulder followed by quickly striking her beneath her wrist. A.K. felt a shock run up her arm and then it went numb. "Wh-wh-wha...what..what? What? What did you...what did you do?" She tried to move her arm but it was useless! It was like it was locked in place! Her arm was completely paralyzed! Rikku circled around to her back and she felt a series of strikes down her leg on similar positions. Above the knee and around her ankle. She dropped as her leg went numb. "Wha? What is happening? What are you doing to me?" She tried to get back up but her leg was paralyzed and her left leg wasn't enough to get her moving again. She had one broken arm and two paralyzed limbs and one working leg.

Rikku patted her on the shoulder and calmly walked around her and knelt down in front of her. A few quick strikes and her left leg was now paralyzed as well.

"What...in...the?"

Rikku stood up and smiled.

"What.did.you.do?!" A.K. demanded as she tried to move her limbs in vain.

"If an enemy insists on war, then you take away their ability to wage it." He replied with a shrug and pushed her over. She fell on her back and was left staring up at the sky. One arm broken and three more paralyzed. She was done.

Rikku took a breather as the ref counted down. A.K. tried and tried but she couldn't get her limbs to listen to her! She could only struggle in vain as she listened to the countdown.

"10! 9! 8! 7! 6! 5! 4! 3! 2! 1! 0! That's it! That's it! Round Over! Wonder Boy pulls off another win! Can he do it Ladies And Gentlemen? Can he do it? The Absolute Madlad!"

"I'm still waiting for an explanation, Rikku!"

Rikku sat down next to her. "Isn't it obvious? Those were Pressure Point Strikes." He laughed.

She face faulted. "....Rikku Ryusaki, I do not care for you."

"So you keep telling me." He ruffled her hair. "Don't worry. They'll wear off sooner or later. In the meantime the medics will fix your arm."

"I swear to our Sensei, I will kick your ass so hard next time!" A.K. declared. "So don't you dare lose to anyone else, got that? I have first dibs!"

"Sure thing. Take your time and hone your craft and improve yourself. I'll be waiting." He stood up and took up meditating stance to try and heal himself with his energy while he had the chance. Meanwhile the medics took A.K. and loaded her onto a stretcher and carried her out for treatment.

"Hey guys! Give him one for me!" She called back to the remainder of her team.



"Damn man. He got her too? He's just one kid, how is he picking us apart like this?"

"The kid is tougher than he looks isn't he? Yo, Damjan! You up for a fight?"

"Show no fear, gentlemen.' One of their fighters stepped up to the ring. Another muscular bodybuilding powerhouse. He looked a bit rounder than the others but no less powerful. He had a calm and determined expression on his face. "I will go. This runt has humiliated us enough. I'm going to drive him into the ground and avenge our fallen brethren.

SavePublished byBearver CtzSavePublished byBearver Ctz

Damjan Arkady Stepan Avdey Ivanović approached Rikku and he opened his eyes exiting his meditation. It was a patch job but it would have to suffice for as a little time he had to recover. Rikku met the next giant fighter face to face. "You've gotten lucky twice now but it won't happen a third time. My name is Damjan Ivanovic and I am the wall that cannot be broken. Bring your childish antics and skills and luck. You will break yourself upon me."

"You know? I'm pretty sure your teammates thought the same thing. Look what happened there. Anyway, give me your best shot big guy. I'll punch right through you."

"Pressure Point Strikes now too? Cool." Izabella beamed. "And if I'm not mistaken, those were similar to the secret pressure point strikes in Gōjū-ryū Karate with a touch of Goju Chi."

"You guessed right." Harry agreed with her. "He might be new to the fighting scene but he has an entire armory's worth of techniques. Just how many masters did he learn under? And...hmmm."

"What is it?"

Harry walked up to the glass and crouched down and looked down into the audience. They were cheering and shouting and egging on the fighters. It was impossible to make out their conversations amidst the cacophony of noise, especially from up here, but he wasn't looking for that. Instead his focus was on isolating their movements. Their physical actions. What they were doing. He quickly checked off the people who were just there to cheer on the fights. Next he focused on the specific people who were there to cheer on specific fighters. It was easy enough to mark off the people who were there to cheer on the musclemen. This left the people who were cheering on Rikku specifically. There wasn't many of them so they were easy to mark off. This left the people he was looking for. A pair of kids in the audience, around the same age as them and Rikku, who were making bets on the fight. A pink haired girl in a leather jacket worn over a white dress with cherries on it and a blonde haired kid in an orange shirt. Judging by their body language, at least what he could tell from up here, they had absolute faith in Rikku and they were instead using this fight as a money making opportunity by betting on Rikku to win the fights and collecting the winnings from the people around them who bet on the bigger fighters.





"Yeah, that's what I thought. You're smarter than I thought, Rikku."

"Did you find something?"

"Yeah." Harry stood up. "Wonderboy's hedging his bets. While he's obviously aiming to win the tournament, he's planted his friends in the audience and they're egging people on to betting on the fights. Obviously since Rikku is fighting an entire team here, something that is unprecedented in the tournament, and he's up against five fighters bigger and stronger than him, everyone would bet on the bigger fighters to win as that would be the most obvious choice. Then, Rikku takes them down and his friends collect the money afterword. This way, even if Rikku loses, they still won't leave empty handed."

Izabella hopped up out of her chair and she walked over to the window where Harry was pointing. "Ohhhh I get it." She grinned. "I guess you can't count out anyone from The Bullpen. Woe be to anyone who underestimates them."

"Man oh man. I have to admit, you're something else. When you first stepped up, we all assumed you'd lose to just one of us but now you've gone and taken out two of my teammates. What kind of training have you gone through?"

"Like I said before. I've lived with masters my whole life. So I was learning from them even when I was doing daily chores around the Bullpen along with doing more around the city. They're part of a student's payment, but they also build discipline and serve as a form of exercise to supplement the more conventional martial arts training. Several of these tasks are of course physically demanding and will build up muscle as well as any standard training regimen. Then of course you've got the hard stuff like striking trees and wood with my fingers, pulling nails out with my fingers, kicking rocks, shaking trees, headbutting things, knife scraping, standing on pillars, striking sand, toughening up my body....you get the idea. The rest was just repetition and learning techniques." Rikku summarized while taking this chance to recover his strength. "It's fun."

"Okay yeah I guess insane training like that would explain a few things. But still, you're just one kid Rikku. You aren't going to win this."

"You know you keep saying that but-"

He was cut off by the big guy rushing him with an elbow strike that he stopped and tried to turn to a swiping backhand that Rikku ducked under and then he followed it up with a quick palm strike aimed to both strike at and allow him to grab Rikku's skull but Rikku deflected it aside and maneuvered around him. Rikku quickly got behind him and tried to throw him to the ground but Damjan turned around and flipped and landed and tried to grab Rikku but he evaded him again. He continued using his defensive based style to outmaneuver the bigger stronger fighter with superior skill and evasion, slipping his punches, kicks, knee strikes and grabs and deflecting aside when necessary. On the flip side though, Damjan was primarily using quick strikes with his hands and he always was ready to defend them, not giving Rikku a chance to use his pressure points on him. So they continued this dance around each other until Rikku slipped a strike, maneuvered around him and him went for a strike on his leg only for Damjan to do a backflip into a handstand and kick down at Rikku's head! He avoided this and rolled backward while Damnjan's foot came down and broke a large crack in the ring! He put his foot down, came back up, turned and kicked at Rikku but he dodged this as well. Damjan smirked as Rikku stared putting distance between them and then flung himself into the air, flipped a few times and brought down his leg at Rikku! Rikku dodged to the left and Damjan was left to slam down on the ring again. He smirked and turned around and raised his fists again.

"Okaaay, you're more agile than I expected." He admitted.

"Just wait until I really get going, little man."

The fight resumed and Damnjan rushed in on Rikku with a lengthy boxing combination. Rikku deflected a right cross, then the left hook, then slipped two right crosses, dodged a left hook, dodged a right cross, deflected a left hook, ducked under a right cross aimed at his head, dodged a hook to his body, slipped a left jab with head movement, ducked under the right cross, deflected aside a left hook aimed at his body, deflected the right hook to his body, then he backed away while deflecting his next few hooks, dodged a long hook and a body hook and then Damnjan kicked straight up with his leg only for Rikku to jump a few feet backward to dodge this and he landed on his feet. But Damnjan wasn't done yet. He slammed his foot down, leaned and sprung forward for a football tackle only for Rikku to dodge him again but this time Damnjan suddenly leaped backward for a spinning headbutt! Rikku barely got down in time, balanced on his hands and shoulders and kicked up his feet! The resultant kick struck him in the middle of his gut while he was spinning around and Damnjan was launched several feet up into the air! "Woah!" He called out as he was launched upward. However he recovered and righted himself upward and closed his eyes.

"I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power. I am strength. I am steel. I am power...."

"This again?" Rikku asked.

It was indeed the self-hypnosis technique but instead of turning into a giant mountain of muscle, he instead only went far enough to just bulk himself up a bit overall but not to the insane level the first fighter did. While doing so, he raised his arm up into the air and surrounded it with Ki which only enhanced his muscles further. He dropped back down to the ground like a heavy rock wrapped in metal chains and he slammed his hand down into the middle of the arena.

"POWERHOUSE TREMOR WAVE!" He called out. The result was a wave of destructive energy that radially emitted away from the impact! The various fighters around the arena stepped back while their masters simply stood their ground. The audience ducked down and covered themselves. The referee simply jumped over the shockwave while SugarRock let the shockwave wash over without budging an inch. Her dress fluttered from the impact but that was about it. She smirked. "Kids these days."

Rikku on the other hand was not so lucky. The shockwave washed over him and while he tried to block it, the effect was too much. It was like a solid wall crashed into him like a tidal wave hitting every part of his body at once and passing right through his guard! He could feel his body vibrate and he was thrown backwards across the ring! Thanks to his insane training he was able to dig his fingers into the floor of the ring as he was being carried away by the wave and stopped himself. "Owwwwww~." He groaned.

"Annnd down goes Wonderboy! That looked like a painful one folks! Lets get that count started!"

The ref raised his hand and began counting. "1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6!"

Rikku forced himself back up to his feet. "Ow ow ow ow." He shook it off and took up his fighting stance again.

"He's back ladies and gents! He is back! He is going the distance! But will it be enough to secure the win?!"

Damnjan smirked and rushed him for another shoulder charge power tackle. Rikku barely managed to dodge to the side only for Damnjan to read his movement and stop and add in a swinging backhand that hit like an anvil and sent him flying away. He flew nearly twenty feet away, hit the ring floor, skidded across on his back and then he sprung back to his feet while rubbing his arm. "Well it's been fun kid but it's time to say goodbye." Damnjan taunted him and leaped in the air again while preparing the shockwave again. Rikku was ready this time though and read his movements. When he came back down for the shockwave this time Rikku simply leaped over it, flipped in the air and brought his heels down on the back of his head. He was knocked down and Rikku landed, grabbed his head, drove his knee into his head, uppercut him and began laying into him with a series of hard hitting punches and kicks to his stomach and ribs. It was like hitting his hands and feet against a solid boulder but he continued pushing and driving his attacks into him. Damnjan grunted but withstood the attacks long enough to grab Rikku by his Gi, lift him up and hop forward while slamming his head down. "GAAAAHHH!"

Damnjan then tossed him up into the air, leaped up, grabbed him and pile drove him into the floor of the ring again! He tossed Rikku up into the air again, leaped up, grabbed his leg and slammed him down on the ring floor on his back then on his face and then he stopped him up into the air and began laying into him with the boxing combination he'd tried earlier. Since Rikku was stunned and airborne, he was in no position to block or dodge and was hit with the entire combo. The right cross, left hook, right cross, right cross, left hook, right cross, left hook, right cross, left hook, left jab, right cross, left hook, right hook, left, right, left, right, left hook, body hook and then an overhead hammer punch to the ground finished by a kick to his ribs that launched Rikku across the ring. He landed on the side of the ring and he nearly rolled out of the ring before he stopped himself. Damnjan dusted himself off while the audience fell silent and The Rhino Team cheered.

"Well this is over. His bones are probably dust after that. No way he's getting up again. Feel free to count as high as you want. The rats been exterminated."


"For criminy's sake that's a little overboard isn't it? Was that necessary?" Izabella asked.

Harry just glared down at the ring. "Come on kid, get up."


"Well it looks like that's it then! Wonderboy put up a valiant effort but this is the reality of the situation everybody. Everybody has their limits and our little street rat just found his. Let's start that count!"

"10!"

"9!"

"8!"

"7!"

"Take...that...back."

"Huh?"

Damnjan turned around. "You've gotta be fucking kidding me...."

"Take....it...back." Rikku repeated while pushing himself up on his knuckles.

"6!"

"5!"

"Take it back. Now." Rikku snarled while he pushed himself up to his feet and glared at Damnjan and SugarRock. He walked forward and shoved Damnjan's hand out of the way as he stormed right up to SugarRock. Face to bloody battered face. "Take it back."

"Hey now kid, I just call it as I-"

"RIKKU!" He shouted into her mic. "RIKKU! RYUSAKI! GET IT RIGHT! Don't you EVER call me a fucking street rat, GOT IT?!"

"Okay, you're angry, and that's great and all, but I'm not the one you're fighting, Rikku, and attacking the announcer is a clear violation of the rules." She reminded him.

"Get my name right and we'll be just fine." He spat some blood on the ring floor again and wiped his mouth as he returned his attention to his opponent. "And you. Lets go."



Master Rhino sighed as he watched all this. (Note To Self: Remind my students what the word discipline means.)


"...Are...are you sure you want to continue?"

"I'm still standing aren't I? Come on."

"I...okay. Your call." He went for the shoulder attack again only for Rikku to sidestep him and lash out with a spinning hook kick to his knee that knocked him off balance. He recovered quickly but Rikku used that chance to lunge forward and jab his fingers into the pressure points of that same leg! He had to hit them extra hard but Damnjan felt a sense of numbness in his leg. It was a pins and needles feeling. "Ohhh no you don't!" He turned around and lashed out at Rikku but his balance was off so Rikku was able to dodge his swing and kick his leg out before grabbing his head and throwing him over his shoulder! Damnjan was sent flying a good ten feet himself before landing on his face and groundsliding. He came to a stop and sat up rubbing his face. "You little..." He looked back to see Rikku had changed his stance. He stood sideways with the left fist held forward and the right one behind. His brow was furrowed and he had one foot forward with one back. He began performing calming breathing exercises while a red outline began to surround his body and quickly began to glow brighter.

"Honō no Kokyū. Hītobokushingu. Tekkōdan Ikken Hissatsu." He spoke quietly and calmly while the wind began picking up around him.

Damnjan felt the feeling return to his leg and he tested it a few times before smiling and changing his own stance to The Rhino Charge Stance with his upper body lowered and his lower body moved up and his fists extended in front of him making him look like a beast. "Alright then. This time I'll finish it. I'm going to send you flying right out of the ring, rookie."

After a few more tense seconds, Damnjan flung himself forward at high speeds straight at Rikku so fast he briefly disappeared from view of the lesser fighters and audience members while the more skilled fighters saw him moving like a blur. Only for Rikku to meet him in battle! He sprung forward with a burst of speed and flames shooting from his feet, reared back his fist like a pendulumn, stomped on the ring, slid forward, turned and struck forward while making his body go completely rigid at the point of impact! The punch struck true and caught Damnjan right in the face! There was a burst of orangish-red light and an explosion of burning Ki that sent him flying backward! Damnjan's jaw dropped open as he was flung away with a combination of Rikku's force and his own being sent crashing back into him all packed up with a powerful flaming punch that sent a wave of heat crashing over him and exploded in his face! He flew back so far in fact he nearly fell out of the ring! Instead he simply fell on his face, bounced a few more feet, rolled head over heels and then fell out of the ring!

Rikku gasped for breath and began using his inner power to heal his wounds while everyone was stunned from this sudden display of obscene power and technique. Even SugarRock looked shocked!

"Welll....that was an explosive finish! Ladies And Gentlemen, Children Of All Ages, I can admit when I am wrong. I have been badmouthing this young man without seeing his full potential. I apologize for that. From now on, I will be treating him with the respect he deserves. LETS HEAR IT FOR THE BULLPEN WONDERBOY! RIKKU RYUSAKI!"

The audience erupted into jubilant cheers.

Master Rhino touched down on the other side of the ring and he checked on Damnjan. "Are you okay? Can you hear me?"

"...everything...hurts." He admitted. "I'm...sorry...Sensei. I-I failed and disrespected you."

"Don't worry about your loss. Losing can be a good teacher as well." He assured his pupil. "We are going to have to work on your discipline though." Master Rhino looked back up to Rikku. "Young man. I apologize for their disrespectful actions. You deserve more respect than this. Rest assured, we will be treating you with it from now on." He bowed his head.

"All good." Rikku replied while he focused on stitching himself up while he had the chance. Two more to go. Just two more to go and he'd win the round.

Then he could nap.

But right now he had faces to punch and fights to win.

A young lady with dark pink magenta hair, leather jacket, a white dress with cherries around it and leather boots on her feet relaxed in her seat while counting up the money they were winning through the bets. They were up to $350.00 now. This young lady, Raven Vanderbilt, had a lovely singsongy voice that accompanied her cheery mood. "Alright. This is all according to plan so far. All he has to do now is smack down the last two fighters and the round is ours."

"I just wish we could be in there helping him. This tournament would be a cinch if the three of us were fighting together but instead we have to sit here and watch him get pummeled into the dirt from the stands." Deon Lee growled and punched his palm. He's around the same age as Raven and has the body of a trained martial artist just like her and Rikku. He is a blonde young man with a boyish face and an orange t-shirt and blue shorts complimented by a belt, martial arts gloves and tennis shoes.

"I know how you feel but this is the card that's been dealt to us. That rat bastard knew we'd be unstoppable as a team so he purposefully made Rikku enter alone as part of the wager." She looked up at one of the VIP Boxes that was directly across from the one above them where they both knew the rat was watching the fight. "But screw him. It'll make his reaction that much better when Rikku wins the tournament on his own and Angy ends up look like the dumbass that he is."






Angelo Lazarus Savage sipped champagne from a fancy glass while he watched the fights play out below. He's wearing a clean shirt and buttoned it up fully to support the graceful bow tie he's wearing. On top of the shirt he's wearing a chic vest with 7 buttons, it has a fairly deep v-line, which causes the vest to line up perfectly with the jacket's v-line when it's button up. The jacket perfectly wraps around his body. It has a subtle pinstripe pattern which gives the suit an elegant look. The 6 buttons of his double breasted jacket are all buttoned up, he wants to look stylish after all. The jacket is the same length all around, it has vents at either side, there's a pocket on either side and there's a breast pocket which contains a pocket watch. He's wearing pants which copy the style of the jacket, both in color and pattern and they create a perfect balance with his shoes. He's wearing a classy pair of moc toe penny loafers. To top it all off he's wearing a luxurious belt, which can be accompanied by gloves and a hat. His stylish hat was resting on a hat rack though, showing off his slicked back midnight black hair he kept tied in a stylish ponytail. This was all topped by his sinister grinning face like a jackal.



"Not bad Rikku. Not bad kid. I have to admit, I didn't think you'd make it this far in the first round. But it looks like you're already on your last legs out there and the round isn't even over yet." He laughed and sipped the champagne. "Besides, even if you somehow win this round, you still have the rest of this tournament against you." Angelo crossed his legs and relaxed. "I may be a gambling man...but there are some bets you just don't take. Those fighters down there are going to tear you down like I'm going to tear down that mudpit of yours. Maybe that will teach you rats not to talk back to your superiors." (Besides, even if, IF the brat wins this, my contingency will ensure that I still come out ahead.)

Honō no Kokyū. Hītobokushingu. Tekkōdan Ikken Hissatsu. That's quite a mouthful." Izabella joked with a giggle before getting serious. "Flame Breathing is a Kenjutsu-style that mimics the burning effect of fire and replicates it with the user's swordsmanship. It's an evolved form of the mystical Way of the Flame originally taught on Mount Jogaku in Ancient Times. Heat Boxing then is a hand-to-hand variation of it. He's taking the aspects of Flame Breathing and applying them to his martial arts combined with utilizing his Ki to heat up and ignite his body. Tekkōdan. Armor Piercing Shot. This technique is designed to pierce through his enemies defenses with its power and intense heat. Ikken hissatsu. A term used in traditional karate, meaning "to annihilate at one blow". Put it all together, and the technique means Flame Breathing Heat Boxing Armor Piercing Shot Annihilates In One Blow."

"Well look at you, Izabella. You're a regular Kenjutsu Expert."

"Heh. Swordsmanship is a particular hobby of mine. Specifically a fusion between Wodao and Kumdo with a Wato sword."

Wodao
The wodao (Chinese: 倭刀; literally: "sword/knife of the wo people") is a Chinese sword from the Ming Dynasty. It is typically long and slender, but heavy, with a curved back and sharp blade. It bears a strong resemblance to the Tang sword, zhanmadao, Tachi or Odachi in form. Extant examples show a handle approximately 25.5 cm long, with a gently curved blade 80 cm long.

Kumdo
Kumdo is a modern Korean martial art derived from Japanese Kendo.its origin is the Japanese kendo. Though romanized in a number ways when written Kǒmdo or Geomdo the meaning remains "the way of the sword" and is cognate with the Japanese term. As a martial art, Kumdo has become accepted in Korean culture and society since its introduction from Japan to the degree that the term "Kumdo" has, in recent history, become a generic label for other Korean martial arts based upon swordsmanship. As a result, caution should be exercised to avoid confusion among practices espousing martial (i.e., Hankumdo) rather than sporting and competitive goals.

Wato
A Chinese-Made Sword, But With The Blade Of A Katana. Similar to a changdao. When the Ming Dynasty fought off the Wakō pirates on the coast of the mainland, they were confronted with the strength of the Nihontō that they wielded, having a very hard time fighting them off. The Shaolin Warrior Monk turned general Tei Sōyū turned his attention to this new sword and studied it, compiling all his research into a book known as Tantō Hōsen. Another general known as Seiki Keikō adopted the Nihontō as part of his army's equipment. By the end of the Ming Dynasty, not only was the Nihontō an official piece of military equipment, but the continent began producing its own Japanese-style swords as opposed to merely importing them, resulting in the Watō.

"Fancy. You'll have to show me later when we get some free time. Say in between matches?"

"Sure. I'd be glad to show you some real swordsmanship."

"Oh is that how it is?" Harry challenged.

"Ohhhh that's how it is!" Izabella laughed. "Regarding the match though. Does Wonderboy really have enough fuel left in the tank to keep going against his last two opponents?"

"I think so. In fact, I'm sure he does." Harry looked down into the ring where Rikku was mending his injuries. "That kid. He isn't just fighting for himself. I'm sure his pride is part of it but he's fighting for something bigger. It isn't just the pride of the Bullpen...." He put one hand on his chin and rested the elbow in his other hand. "It's almost like he's fighting for the Bullpen. As if there's something larger at play here. To find that answer, we shouldn't look down, we should be looking...up. Or rather...forward." Harry looked across the room directly at the opposite VIP Room and at the rich man sitting in the middle of it. He noticed Harry and raised his glass in a toast. "Hmmmm."

Izabella stepped up to the glass and raised her hand above her eyes. "Is there someone over there? He looks like a bit of a prick."

"You might be right. Keep watching the show. I'm going on a recon mission." Harry patted her shoulder and walked out of the VIP Room. He was met by one of the staff.

"Is everything okay, Mister Kusanagi?"

"Everything's just fine. Great even. I'm just going for a little walk. I need to stretch my legs."

"We both do."

Harry looked back at Izabella.

"What? You're not leaving me out of this. I'm as curious as you are."

"Alright then. Lets walk." The pair waved goodbye to the lady and walked down the hall to take the long route around to the VIP Box.


Down at the arena after the commotion calmed down and the fighter was carried out to be tended to by the medics, Rikku's next opponent removed his bandanna and cool shades before he entered the ring.


Chaquille Harrell walked up to Rikku and unzipped his vest and tossed it off back to his friend on the sidelines. Exposing the musclebound barrel chested physique he shared with his team. Following this he did a few warm up stretches while observing Rikku. He was currently covered in sweat, scrapes, cuts, bruises and blood and breathing hard but he was still in the fight. Chaquille shook his head at this.

"I have to admit kid. You are becoming a problem. You entered the tournament on your own and eliminated most of my team. You have to understand how that makes me feel, right? You might have one foot in the grave but I'm not going to underestimate you or insult you. I'm just going to eliminate you."

SaveScorpion Venom - New by mase0ne on DeviantArtmase0ne.deviantart.comScorpion Venom - New by ~mase0ne on deviantARTSaveScorpion Venom - New by mase0ne on DeviantArtmase0ne.deviantart.comScorpion Venom - New by ~mase0ne on deviantART

Rikku let out a burning ball of air that was searing the walls of his lungs. He continued to breathe as if no air would be enough until he was able to steady his breathing and release the tension from his body. "I've heard that before big guy but nobody's been able to back it up yet." He grab the top of his Gi. "Still. If you want to man up? Then I'll match you." He took off the top of his Gi and threw it out of the ring. Exposing his own muscularly toned physique. He was smaller and obviously less imposing than his opponent but he definitely had the physique of a martial artist. A Bruce Chan-esque physique! This young man wore the sweat on his body the same way a Hero would wear the new spring rain.




"Well alright then. Lets rumble."

The fighters took up their stances and the next match began!

Chaquille immediately rushed in with a shoulder charge only for Rikku to dodge to the right but he read ahead and he swiped at Rikku, continued to turn even after Rikku dodged and kicked out at him but Rikku dodged this as well and then he dropped down and kicked at the back of his leg but Rikku leapt over this. He struck at Rikku but he jumped over it and kicked out at his face but Chaquille caught his leg, pulled him up and slammed him down to the arena floor. Rikku gasped as the shock of the impact shook him. He pushed himself up and kicked him in the stomach with his free leg. He stepped back and pulled him up and swung Rikku around and tried to toss him out of the arena but Rikku was able to stop himself and caught himself on the ring. He bounced back in and he landed on his feet and ducked under a punch aimed at his face. He moved in close and drove his special punch into Chaquille's liver. Chaquille took the attack and it certainly hurt but he withstood it enough to grab at Rikku and pull him close. "Got you now." Chaquille lifted him up and performed a giant leap backward where he slammed Rikku's head down on the arena floor! Chaquille wasn't done yet though! He performed another impressive backflip and slammed Rikku's head down on the ring again! Then again! Then again! Finally, he tossed Rikku up into the air, caught him, spun around, swung him over his head several times and finally he stomped down on the ring and tossed him away like a spinning missile across the ring and towards the edge!

"Zan Tō Senpū Geki. Decapitating Throwing Whirlwind Strike! This is over! You'll fly out of the arena!"

"Rikku!" His friends called out to him.

Angelo chuckled. "I win."

But as Rikku was flying away from the arena and spinning towards the ground the red light began surrounding him again and he suddenly thrust his hands forward and released a burst of flames from his hands that flew out and exploded with enough force to reverse his descent and sent him flying back into the air at an upward angle! Rikku then repeated this technique and released another fireball that exploded close to him but safe enough that it wouldn't hit him. The explosion then sent him rocketing back to the arena. He touched back down on it and slid backward a few feet before he stopped himself. He performed a mocking bow. "Ta-Da!"

The crowd erupted into cheers and even Chaquille had to applaud his quick thinking. "Not gonna lie here, man. That was clever. So what do you call that one?"

"Honō no Kokyū. Kashō Happa-Ken. Destructive Fire-Emitting Palm-Fist." Rikku replied while rubbing his head. "Man that smarts." The headache he was feeling, along with the rest of the pain in his body, was the kind that stopped all other traffic in the brain, as suddenly all had met with red lights but he forced himself to keep going and focus on the fight. No way in hell was he going to lose here. Not this early. Not at all. Not with everything on the line.

"Cool. Okay time in!" Chaquille ran back into the fight and tried to grab him only for Rikku to dash forward and dive between his legs, slide between them, push up on his hands and kick out at his legs. He staggered a bit but he remained standing. Rikku capitalized on this and he jumped up and drop kicked his back the same way he'd kicked Chaquille's female companion earlier! Chaquille withstood the powerful impact he still dropped down to the ring, planted his hands on it and then he he kicked up with his feet while pushing off of the ring. Rikku barely dodged this and he had to drop down to the ground to do so as Chaquille leaped over him while spinning. He smirked down at Rikku while he soared over him. He landed on the ring again and then Rikku rushed him head on while Chaquille did the same. He flew at him with a power packed elbow strike and Rikku ducked under it and crashed his body against Chaquille's legs! He pushed against them and then he rose up while striking them and moving his arms up! The result was that Chaquille was flipped and his own force and momentum was used against him! He was sent flying head over heels and rolling across the ring! Chaquille slammed down hard on the ring floor and rolled across it for an impressive distance before he stopped himself and sat up rubbing his head. "Ouch. Man what just happened? Huh?" He got up and turned around in time to eat a leaping back jump kick from Rikku delivered to his face! He managed to raise his arm up and block it just in time but the impact pushed his arm against his face but he was able to withstand the impact though with some pain to his arm and face and he pushed Rikku away. He came back after him and he began driving his fists into Chaquille repeatedly.


"You really are a stubborn little prick aren't you?" Angelo asked while he watched the fight play out.

Rikku unleashed a dizzyingly fast assault on him only for Chaquille to tank the entire barrage of punches and kicks, though with some obvious discomfort, until he could grab at Rikku's legs but he saw this coming and he simply jumped in the air and kicked at his face. Chaquille withstood it however and he sprung up into the air and grabbed at Rikku again only for him to kick at him again using the force to bounce away from him. Rikku landed on the ring again while he flew up into the air. He flipped in the air and he started coming back down only for Rikku to kick at his leg and he jumped up, grabbed him, landed on his back, rolled back and threw him over his head! He flew back across the ring, landed on the ring, hit it hard and he rolled across it until he stopped himself. Rikku quickly closed in on him as he was getting back up. But Chaquille read his movement and he swiped out at him while kicking out with his leg only for Rikku to leap over his arm with a 540 twist complete with a kick across Chaquille's face and he landed on his feet. Chaquille recovered and he stood up and he began attacking him with a series of punches intermixed with attempts at grabbing him. Rikku flowed around his opponent while dodging and deflecting his attacks continuously until he eventually dodged between his legs and then he dashed back at him and he quickly struck the pressure points on his right leg and then he kicked it down. Chaquille went down on one knee and then Rikku kicked him down again. He gritted his teeth and then he pushed himself back up, rose up on his feet and pushed off of them. He landed one his feet but he was shaky with one leg numbed by the pressure points so he took a few seconds to balance himself and they squared off again.

(Okay seriously?! I know the brat learned from THEM but what the hell? He's fought two strong warriors back to back and taken numerous hits that should've shattered his bones? What the hell is this kid on? Just learning from those old bastards shouldn't be enough to make him this strong! He should've been pulp by now! No, no, calm down. Calm down. Relax. It's in the bag. Even if he somehow pulls off a miracle and wins this match, he still has the rest of the tournament to fight through and I've arranged for the bracket system to be set up that the final two teams will make it to the finals with him. So even if he somehow makes it there, he'll have to face both teams. I've got this in the bag.)

"You're certainly invested aren't you, Angelo?"

Angelo stood up and turned around to see Izabella Brandford and Harry Kusanagi entering the VIP Room. "Harry! Izabella! My very dear friends. Had I known you would be here I would've invited you here to my box. What's up? What can I get you?"

"Thanks but we're actually here to talk to you about something." Harry informed him. "I couldn't help but notice how laser focused you've been on Rikku's fights and you were on edge when we entered the room. You calmed yourself back down and relaxed but you're definitely emotionally invested in this fight. That tells me that you have something to gain from this fight and I don't think it's just money."

"It has something to do with that kid down there doesn't it?" Izabella questioned. "I doubt he's working for you, or the big guys either, but he's definitely involved with you in some way or another isn't he?"

"Heeeehhhh-heh-heh-heh-heh. You kids are so smart it's scary. To answer your question, yes, we have a bit of a wager going on. Just a minor bet. Nothing too serious."

"It's never a minor wager with you. What did you tell him?" Harry asked him.

"Always straight to business, eh Harry? Take it from me that's going to serve you well in the business world." He complimented him. "Well here's the thing. We do indeed have a wager going on. If he wins, he gets to walk away with the prize money, title and a hefty bonus as well. More than enough to fix up that mudpit hovel of his and turn it into something beautiful."

Izabella's eyes narrowed. "And if you win?"

"If I win? Well. If I win...I'm going to bulldoze that mudball and build something practical out of it. That place is an eyesore anyway. A filthy hovel that brings down the beauty of Sagetown. It's like looking at a beautiful painting and then noticing the mud someone's splashed over the corner of it. If this city is ever going to reach it's true beauty and potential then the Bullpen needs to either leave or get with the times. People coming and going through this city don't want to see that. They want to see the sheer radiant beauty of Sagetown while they're traveling through it." He sipped his drink. "Besides, it's not the end of the world. Setting up a business there will open up several new jobs which can only improve the economy. It's for the good of everyone and regardless of which of us wins this tournament, Sagetown as a whole benefits from the results."

"You haven't changed at all have you?" Harry asked him, his voice dripping with venom. "Still out to make as much money and gain as much power as possible, by any means available, regardless of who suffers."

"I thought it was weird that the kid entered this tournament on his own. You tricked him into it didn't you?" Izabella accused him.

"Welcome to the real world, children! If he lacks the business sense to wheel and deal with the big boys, that's his problem." Angelo laughed again and returned his attention to the tournament. "If you have any last minutes bets to place before this match ends, there's still time to place them."

Harry walked up to the window and observed the fight for a minute before he answered. "Fine. $100 Mill. On Rikku to defeat the last two members of the team."

Angelo laughed. "Voting for the guy with one foot in the grave already, eh? It's risky. I like it. Alright, you're on. How about you, Izabella?"

"Who's your team?"

"Hmmm?"

"Who are you sponsoring? It's not those meatheads down there. So who is it? Who did you bring in for the tournament?" She questioned him.

"Oh Izabella. Let me answer your question with another question." He sipped from his glass. "Who says I'm sponsoring only one team?"

"Who?" Harry asked him.

"Team Nova and Team Shinobi. Put them together? They're Nova Ninjas." He laughed.

Harry considered this and thought about the matchups of the first round of the tournament.

1: Team Ryusaki Vs Team Bone Breakers

2: Team Lion Vs Team Carnival

3: Team Free Fighting Vs Team Heavyweight

4: Team Karateka Vs Team Shaolin

5: Team Earth Vs Team Diva

6: Team Brazil Vs Team Luchadore

7: Team Shadowboxing Vs Team China

8: Team Shinobi Vs Team Angel

9: Team Judokido Vs Team Animality

10: Team Neryushchensk Vs Team Iron

11: Team Dai-kyoshi Vs Team Plus Ultra

12: Team Nova Vs Team Kenshiro

He had every confidence that Rikku would win the first match of the first round but it was too early to tell how the remaining match ups would go. However, he couldn't help but notice the placement of Team Nova and Team Shinobi.

(Let's see, if Angelo's sponsoring both teams, then we should assume they're both extremely strong. I have no doubt that they're being set up to crush the opposition of the tournament but considering their relative positions in the brackets and Rikku's position...I've got it!)

"You're planning a two-on-one for the finals aren't you? Your plan is for Rikku to make it to the end of the tournament where your two teams will fight him at the same time to crush him in a humiliating defeat and then your teams will fight each other. If Rikku loses in the tournament, at any point, you win. If either of your teams win the tournament, you win as well. The only way you lose is if both of your teams lose and Rikku wins."

"And that my friends is the business world. Make your enemies fight each other and then crush them all at once in a humiliating defeat. It's simple strategy and tactics."

"Good grief. You're still just as much of an asshole as ever, Angelo."

"I'll take that as a compliment, Izabella."

(This kid is..a monster in his own right.) Chaquille decided. (Just looking at the difference between our height and muscle it would be obvious that I hold the advantage. We all should hold the advantage over him. Yet here he is, having fought off three of us on his own and he's still able to fight me on equal footing despite all his injuries. Despite taking all those heavy attacks throughout the match, he's still standing tall. Kid, you have more than earned my respect. Heh. I wonder...if this is what it would be like to step into the ring with a young Bruce Yen or Jet Chan.) He pondered in amusement. "Alright, kid, come on. Don't keep me waiting."

Rikku oblidged him and darted forward. As he predicted Rikku went right for his numb leg. "Not gonna happen." He went into a handstand, pushed up with one hand and kicked down with his other leg but Rikku dodged him leaving his foot to smash into the ring floor. He dug it into the ring, straightened up and punched up into the air with his hands but Rikku had already jumped over him, flipped in the air, landed on his feet, turned around and dashed towards him again while Chaquille was still off balance. This time however, Rikku went into a slide on his legs and hands, passed by him and then Rikku went for a scissor leg grab on Chaquille's bad leg. Since the paralysis was still in effect, he tumbled downward but caught himself on one hand and swung his leg around to kick at his face. Rikku was able to block it but the impact still sent him rolling away before he came to a stop. "Heh. Heh-heh. Not going to be that easy kid."

Rikku rubbed his arms but then he leaped into the air, flinging himself towards Chaquille and kicked down at his leg, targeting the knee. He went down but managed to tag Rikku with a strike of his own in the chest. Rikku slammed down on his back while Chaquille dropped down on his side. He gritted his teeth and rubbed his numbed leg. "You're a cheeky little prick you know that?"

Rikku just laughed while rubbing his chest. "Well what can I say, I know how to press an advantage."

"Yeah, me too." Chaquille pushed himself up and lunged at him while Rikku was still getting up. Chaquille tackled him to the ground, turned him over and grabbed his arm. "As for this...this...is for my homegirl! FOR AKILINA!" He called out and twisted Rikku's arm and suddenly jerked backwards.

*SNAP!*

GAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!


Izabella winced.

Raven screeched.

Deon covered his mouth.

Harry narrowed his eyes.

Angelo laughed. "Well. Guess that's that, then huh? Hell of a fight though. So will be that cash or check, Harry?"

"Heh."

"What?"

"Don't go counting that kid out just yet, Angelo. It isn't over until its over."


Chaquille got off of Rikku while he writhed in pain on the ring. "I'm going to give you the same chance you gave my friend. Do you want to give up or do you want to keep going? Even if you're able to beat me with one arm you'll still have to face our team captain with all of those injuries. I'm sorry little man but you can't win this. But hey, it's all good right?" He rolled over onto his knees still clutching his broken arm. "It's just a tournament. You can train yourself again for next time, come in with a team and go for the title again. Really, even getting this far against a team on your own is breathtaking man. You're amazing. If you came in with a team, you might actually have a shot at winning the title. There's no shame in giving up. It's okay. Just say it and this can all be-"

"Zip.It." Rikku growled and pushed himself up on his feet again. "It's not about the title. It's not about that. It's not about...GRRRAAAAAARRGGGH!" Rikku climbed to his feet and stood tall against him. "It's not about...what I have...to gain!" He leaped into the air again and kicked Chaquille in the face with both feet. Chaquille's head jerked back and he stumbled backwards. Rikku landed on his feet and sprung forward with a spinning back kick to his stomach. He grunted and he was forced back further. Rikku advanced on him and reared back and he drove a power packed punch into his solar plexus before dropping down to sweep his leg and drop him to the ring. "IT'S ABOUT WHAT I CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE!"

Chaquille fell down onto the ring and hit it face first. "Okay, fine, that's the way you want it?" He turned around and kicked up at him and caught Rikku in the stomach as feeling came back to his leg. He sprung back to his feet only to be greeted with a power packed punch from Rikku's good arm and a kick that knocked him back down. He rolled away, sprung back up and attacked again. He attacked again with a series of punches and kicks that Rikku did his best to dodge and parry as he manuevered around him until Chaquille suddenly stepped in and delivered a powerhouse kick to his broken arm! Rikku yelled out as he was sent sliding on his side across the ring! "I was trying to be nice, Rikky, should've stayed down." Chaquille scolded him while Rikku rolled on the floor clutching his broken arm for a few tense seconds before he started getting back up. Again.

"Kid...what on Earth are you fighting for?" He clenched his fists. "No matter. I'm going to end this now. For your own good." Chaquille crouched down and dashed towards him only for his leg to seize up. He lost his footing and went flying and Rikku jumped for this chance! He quickly jumped towards Chaquille, grabbed his head and drove a knee into his face! Blood sprayed from his nose as he was knocked backwards! "Wh-whaaaa....." Rikku touched back down, pulled him back over, tossed him up into the air, crouched down and then he quickly rose back up and drove an uppercut into his chin! Spittle sprayed out of his mouth! Rikku took a step back and took his stance again and began to gather his Ki once more. "Chaquille Harrell...you were truly awesome. You are indeed a worthy opponent. It's just a shame we couldn't be competing under better circumstances. Don't hate me but...I can't afford to lose." His fist ignited once more as Chaquille touched back down and wiped his mouth. He rubbed his leg.

(The kick!) Chaquille realized. (The kick did more damage to my leg when it was paralyzed than I thought! That's why it seized up! Shit!) He looked back up at Rikku as he saw the flames around his fist and realized exactly what was coming.

"Heh...goddamn kid...you are amazing..." He raised his guard and tensed his muscles.

"Let's fight again sometime, okay? Under better circumstances." Rikku dashed towards him and reared back before driving his flaming fist into Chaquille's arms. "Tekkōdan Ikken Hissatsu!" There was another explosion and fire and heat washed over Chaquille! He withstood it briefly by pushing back with his arms and digging in his feet but all too soon the force of the blast overwhelmed him and he was sent flying out of the ring! Chaquille Harrell flew clear out of the ring and he slammed down hard on the floor where he ground slid towards a wall until his Master stepped in and caught him.

"That was an incredible fight. I'm proud of you Chaquille. You did your best out there and that's all I ask for."

Rikku collapsed to one knee while he poured his Ki into his broken arm to try and heal it while he had a brief breather. He could feel her eyes on him while he did so but he tried his best to ignore it and heal his injuries. He didn't listen to the SugarRock riling up the crowd or their cries or those of his friends. He had to keep going. He had to keep going. He had to keep going. Rikku got back up on his feet again still holding his broken arm and he looked up at the VIP Seats and gave a chilling death glare to Angelo Savage.

Angelo just glowered in return.

While all this was going on, Despina Thaleia Arethousa Megalos, Team Captain of Team Bone Breakers, was advancing into the ring. She stepped up into it and waited for Rikku to turn around and face her.



It was time to end this.

Daniil blew out a puff of air as he watched the match proceed. "Man oh man. Fighting with one broken arm. That brings me back..."


"Yeah and you still managed to pull through and win it." Jannik laughed. "That was an awesome fight, bro."

"Yeah. Awesome." Daniil Langerhuizen replied nostalgically as he looked back on his own tournament days under Master Enki who taught him the Earth Way of Martial Arts which was based around letting your opponent wear themselves down against your expertly executed defenses while conserving your own motion and energy. When your opponent slows down, overextends, or makes a mistake, you strike swiftly and decisively to end the fight while channeling power from Mother Earth beneath your feet and eschewing fancy moves in favor of strong, well-timed standard kicks, punches, strikes and throws. On top of internal and external strengthening through repetition and Ki/Chi Exercises, development of intentional movement and Kata practice, practitioners are expected to strike straw mats, iron sand, boulders and a number of other tough objects for a majority of their days! It served Daniil and his old friends well back in the days when he was competing in the tournament. Especially against the wildly offensive style of Jannik and his Lions.

They still gave him one hell of a fight though due to the variety of Cat-Themed Styles in the Lion Fist. Oh, sure, they called it Lion Fist, but Imperial Lion Kung-Fu was only part of the Cat-Themed Styles melded into it. So it was no surprise that Jannik managed to break his arm during their match. Sure, Daniil was able to win but man oh man did Jannik make him work for it.

They finally became friends afterword. Good times.

​In addition to being a powerful combat Style, Lion was also the symbol of the 1st and 2nd class military ranks in Imperial China for over 500 years 1391C.E. to 1911C.E. Lion is a tremendously powerful and effective fighting style both standing and on the ground, and fights with highly toughening grips, claw and fist weapons that can tear out, or crush the throat of a man in seconds.

Imperial Leopard is fierce, fast, cunning, and deceptive. As a master of feigns and deception Leopard often goes unnoticed and underestimated until they unexpectedly unleash years of combat training and vital point attacks with fast and highly toughened hand and body weapons. Leopard is a master of ambush and hit-and-run guerrilla style combat tactics. The Leopard Kung Fu Hand Weapons are legendary and kill with one strike to the throat

Imperial Tiger Style Kung Fu is a combat level martial art taught at Imperial Combat Arts school in Denver Colorado. Tiger style Kung Fu is a legendary martial art known for its toughened hand weapons, incredible power, and sheer ferocity. ​Imperial Tiger is a massive, complete martial art with the highest levels of toughening, intense combat training, and fully immersive battlefield weapon mastery. The Imperial Tiger Styles are designed to fight multiple opponents with lethal intent and come from a direct lineage of true combat level Tiger Kung Fu. At Imperial Combat Arts Tiger Kung Fu is a Mixed Martial Art containing 5 unique styles of Tiger, and other animal sub-styles that make this effective fighting style a complete martial art with master level toughening, ground fighting, grappling, chin na, hand to hand, kicks, throws, and weapon mastery.

"So did you hear his little speech? Any idea what that was about?" Jannik Landers questioned.

"Hmmmmm." Daniil put a hand on his dramatically while resting his other hand under his elbow. He ran over everything he'd seen and heard so far in the tournament and analyzed the information and then he factored in Rikku's Death Glare at the VIP Room. "There's no way to tell right now but if I had to guess I'd say it has something to do with the safety of The Bullpen and whichever Rich Guy is sitting pretty up there."

"So you noticed that too, huh?" Master Hippolyta Rothrock, the teacher for Team Diva, asked as appeared next to them. "Hey." She greeted casually as the students stepped back in surprise from the Master Class Fighter just suddenly appearing out of thin air.

"Hey yourself, Hippolyta. How's the team?"

"They're currently doing their exercises and getting ready for our upcoming match, Danny." She replied with a grin.

"That's great! The kids have been getting psyched to face off with your team."

"May the best team win, Danny."

"Don't worry. We will." Jannik joked.

"Best of luck with that too. Even if they win the next match, they'll have to face whomever wins this fight in the next round." Hippolyta reminded him.

"A challenge we eagerly except. We are the Kings of the Bests in this Concrete Jungle and fear no other animal."

"Yet, ironically, you were defeated by a mighty oak tree."

"Heh, to be fair, that was one stubborn tree." Jannik reminded Daniil while ruffling his hair.

"Grab your popcorn boys, the show's about to start. Lets if this little oak can weather the storm."


"Are you sure you want to go through with this in your condition?" Despina questioned Rikku.

"Sure. I'm fine. Lets go."

"I mean...if you want to leave now I won't stop you. Nobody will blame you for ducking out in your condition."

"I'm fine. Lets go."

"Are you absolutely sure?"

"Yes! I am entirely sure! I am absolutely one hundred positive!"

"You do realize that by accepting this fight you'll be accepting all injuries coming your way?"

"Yes!"

"Okaaaaaay." She raised her fists. "Lets do this. Turret Fire Time!"

The fight began and she went on the attack with a series of rapid fire punches aimed at his face like a machine gun that Rikku was forced to back away from while doing his best to deflect her rapid fire attacks with just his right arm. She didn't call it Turret Fire for nothing. Her punches were coming at him like blurringly fast boulders fired from a close range machine gun! Rikku did his best to bob and weave while struggling to handle her attacks with just one arm but Despina was absolutely relentless with her raging assault and he couldn't dodge everything. He could only do his best to try and mitigate the damage the best he could but even the blows she landed exploded against his body like boulders! Her strength was insane!



Rikku quickly lost his footing under her constant assault and she capitalized on it to land a barrage of those exploding boulder punches around his torso until she switched it up and drove a knee into his stomach that launched him up into the air before she turned around and backhanded him across the ring! Rikku fell back down onto the ring hard. (Right....Team...Captain...okay then...) He dragged his pain stricken battered body back up to its feet and faced her again.

She attacked him again as the match resumed. She hit him with a right then a left and then a push kick to the gut before turning around, grabbing his face, dropping to the floor and slamming him down on her shoulder before tossing him back down to the ring.



"Seriously?" Rikku asked as he pulled himself back up to his feet.

"It worked didn't it?" She asked in a cutesy voice before going back on the assault. "Turret Fire!" She called out again and resumed her speed punching.

"This again." He resumed his initial strategy and dodged while blocking what he could before he suddenly darted to her side and tripped her to throw her down. She landed on her hand and kicked him away though. Despina then crouched down and jumped high in the air, raised her leg straight up and prepared to bring it down on Rikku. Rikku had recovered however and leaped up to challenge her, dodged her kick and brought his own down on her but Despina flipped forward in mid-air and avoided his kick which simply slid off of her head and she brought her leg up and kicked him down to the ring instead! Rikku crashed down to the ring clutching his chest and writhing in pain. She smirked and raised her fist this time prepared to bring it down on him but Rikku sprung back up again, clenched his fist, tightened his muscles and sprung up to her again with a rising uppercut only for Despina to catch his wrist and punch him back down to the ring again.

She attempted to slam down on him once more but Rikku rolled away causing her punch to miss and punch a hole through the ring floor. That was when Rikku managed a kick on her ribs that knocked her back a few feet. He tried to scramble up again but she kicked at his face only for Rikku to dodge her and get to his feet. She charged him and attacked again but he slipped her punches and managed a kick on her back. She withstood it however and resumed her attack immediately. He dodged a right punch, then a left punch, then a right, then a right cross, then a swinging hook, then her other strikes, then her swinging backhand, then her kick, then her other kick, then her punch and then she caught him with a punch to the chest, grabbed his arm, pulled him back, gave Rikku a few hard kicks to the stomach, then a kick on his back, then she grabbed him and flung him across the ring. He hit the ring floor hard and nearly fell out before stopping himself. He laid on the ring gasping for breath and writhing in pain while holding his broken arm.

Despina brushed her hair back. "Stay down."


"RIKKU! RIKKU! COME ON MAN GET UP! COME ON MAN YOU CAN TAKE HER! PLEASE! DON'T GIVE UP, BRO! DON'T GIVE UP!" Raven cried out to Rikku as she ran through the crowd to the front of the stands. "COME ON, BRO! COME ON! GET UP! GET UP! YOU CAN TAKE HER!"

"BROKUUUU!" Deon cried out to him. "COME ON MAN! COME ON YOU CAN BEAT HER! YOU'RE STORNGER THAN THIS PLEASE! PLEASE GET UP MAN! YOU JUST HAVE TO FOCUS! COME ON! GET UP!"

The countdown began.

Angelo refreshed his glass. (They can yell all they want but the fight's over and so is The Bullpen. I win you little shit.) He raised his glass. "A toast. To the fallen warrior. The little dragon fought bravely but no man is an army." Angelo chuckled and began to sip his drink.

"RYUUUUUSAAAAAKKKIIIIIIIII!"

The audience and students held their ears from the sudden shout echoing through the area. The Masters looked backward at the source of the sonic shout. SugarRock tapped her mic, shrugged and then looked back at the source. Harry and Izabella took a step back from the sudden shout and Angelo dropped his glass. "Shit."

Rikku's eyes snapped open and he sprung back to his feet as if on reflex causing Despina's eyes to bug out. "I'M AWAKE, SIFU! Eh? Sifu?" He slowly turned around
to see a little old Chinese Woman wearing a purple shirt and pants with a hat on her head smiling at him.

Rikku, Raven and Deon immediately bowed. "Master Zumulong! I'm sorry! I wasn't sleeping on the job! I promise! I just needed to catch my breath! That's all!"



Zumulong Yahzu laughed and waved it off. "Juuust checking. Sorry I was so late. There were a few things to take care of. I've brought you some good news though! Loriabelle's pregnancy went off without a hitch! She's got a beautiful baby boy now! Named him Floyd!"

"Are you serious? That's great! We'll have to celebrate tonight!"

Despina scratched her head. "Okay...what's going on here? Who is this? And how are you still standing?"

"This is Sifu Zumulong Yahzu. She's one of the my Masters and the Landlady of the Bullpen. One of our greatest fighters and instructors."

"Hiya!"

"Huh. Well, nice to meet you, ma'am, but you still aren't winning this Rikku. Not in your condition."

"Nah, you've got this, kiddo. You can win this, Rikku. Just focus and balance yourself. Breathe. Focus. Flow like water."

"Strike like steel." He nodded and began taking deep relaxing breaths while he calmed himself down.

"Well, if we're going to get serious..." She closed her eyes and punched her fist into her palm. She began chanting her power up phrase while self-hypnotizing herself to make it so! In no time at all Despina had bulked up her body's muscles and opened her eyes again. She smirked and raised her fists again.

"Despina! Strike hard! Run over him! Do not dilly dally around anymore! Knock him out or force him out of the ring! Go for the win!" Master Rhino called to her.

"Yes sir."

Rikku finished calming himself back down and relaxed his body again. His arm was still out of commission but he still had three other limbs to fight with and that was all he needed. He opened his eyes back up and raised his fist again as he focused all his attention on his opponent.

SugarRock's voice faded away. The audience's voices faded away. The sensei's voices faded away. His fears and anxiety faded away. His anger faded away as he completely calmed down. He focused all of his senses on Despina. He focused on her breathing. He focused on her muscle twitches. He focused on her body language. The tension flowed out of his body and he entered a state of relaxation and tranquility with all of his senses transfixed on Despina.

"Leaf In The Stream Of Creation: Dead Calm." He informed her and raised his one hand while taking a deep breath and slowly blowing it back out.

"Cute. I'm going to flatten you now." Despina replied and raised one fist in the air, clenched it, tightened her muscles and drove her fist into the ring. "POWERHOUSE TREMOR WAVES!" She called out as shockwaves were emitted from the point of impact and they rippled through the arena and cracked and broke it apart around her!



Tremor Waves. Plural. When the technique was used previously it only sent out one shockwave but this time it was three of them! Rikku focused however and he flipped over one, quickly jumped over the other and then he jumped over the one after that! The referee simply jumped high enough to dodge them while the shockwaves ripped through the arena. MC SugarRock simply let the shockwaves wash over her. She slid backwards a bit but she maintained her footing despite the power of the shockwaves. She just laughed. "Kids these days and their flashy moves, am I right folks?" She tapped the broken floor of the arena and looked back at her. "Still...I don't think pouring that much power into a big attack is a good idea♫. No. I don't think that was a good idea at all."

The various teachers around the arena stepped out and held out their hands and canceled out the shockwaves to prevent them from going any further.

Rikku dashed forward and struck her across the jaw with a dashing punch and then he turned around and kicked her twice across the jaw before adding in a few quick strikes across the jaw and then kicking up at her jaw. She withstood every shot but the final kick made her jerk back and pull her arm back out of the ring. She stumbled back before recovering, rubbing her jaw and rolling her shoulders and pumping her arms before closing in on Rikku and resuming her attack. She tried a few revolving kicks aimed at his head that he ducked under and then she switched to straight punches that he dodged around before maneuvering behind her and striking and kicking the back of her leg before throwing her to the ring. She hit the broken ring floor hard but she bounced right back. Or she tried to. She attempted to spring right back up to her feet and was kicked and struck right back down.

(Okay, what the hell? First I was smacking this guy around like a tennis ball and now I can't even touch him? What is going on with him?) She rolled away and climbed back to her feet and then Despina attacked again only for him to again slip every punch she threw and ducked and dodged and jumped around her kicks. With ALL of his senses focused on the fight, and her in particular, and his mind calmed with his temper tempered by his inner calm, he was able to predict and out maneuver her despite the pain his body was in. Waves of throbbing, nauseating pain pulsed within him. His body hurt all over. His legs hurt, his arms hurt, his abdomen hurt, his back hurt, his head hurt, he was in bad shape. There was no movement without pain. Every movement he made to dodge her attacks made the pain flare up even more. But he fought to push through it and force his trembling hands to remain stable while he moved his sweat covered battered bruised body to dodge her attacks. Fighting through the pain was becoming increasingly difficult of course but he focused his mind on the task at hand. There would be time to rest after.

Rikku continued to elude her until he finally found his chance and he knocked her backwards and then he stuck her right leg, wincing as pain shot through his arm as moved it, and then he landed a few quick kicks up and down the same leg. He was able to knock off balance despite the pain flaring up through his leg, and he capitalized on this to spin around and kick her in the back and then he moved in with a few quick punches to her back and kick her to the ring.

Rikku jumped back to put some distance between them and then he raised his hand up and placed it on his broken arm again while he caught his breath and Despina got back up again and rubbed her leg.

Rikku turned his arm back around, grimacing at the agony that flared through his arm more intensely than before, and looked down at it. It was still in bad shape of course but he was starting to feel a little better. He tested his fingers. They were wiggling at least. Good. Not much longer then. He probably wouldn't get too many punches out of it just yet but it would be better than having it be completely useless. He would have to focus on his other three limbs for right now. Using his still healing arm would be a last resort surprise. The problem with all of this of course was that he was burning through his Ki trying to heal his injuries and he didn't have much left in him. At best, he might have enough for one more Tekkodan before he was spent. He was exhausted, both because of the pain and the energy he'd burnt through trying to patch himself up, but he didn't really have any choice but to deal with it. On any other day, he probably would've gone to bed and rested to make sure he'd wake up tomorrow completely recharged, but not today. Today was a day of pushing the limits. Rikku raised his hand in front of himself in a prayer-esque position. He breathed in and then out, raising his hand. He breathed in again, returning his hand to the prayer position. Then he breathed out, reaching in front of himself. Breathing in, he returned his hand. He performed his exercise until he focused all his attention on his opponent. He pushed the pain to the back of his mind. He no longer heard the noise of the crowd or anyone else. He could no longer smell the air or the heat of the day or his cold clammy skin. The pain too was pushed to the back of his mind. The only thing he could see was his opponent. The only other thing he was sure of in the whole world was that he would defeat her.


(Look at him. He's just a kid but he's taken everything we've thrown at him and he comes back twice as hard. I understand how hard the others had it now. However, I don't think he can keep up this pace in his condition. He's good but he's using more power than his body has. If I just keep pushing him he's bound to slip up sooner or later.) Despina rushed him again. She threw herself at him with the turret fire punches but Rikku outmaneuvered her again, bobbing, weaving, leaning around, dodging and sidestepping her punching barrage. Until she added in her kicks. He dodged around them and continued to do so. Dodging and evading her attacks. She was good. Very good. She was obviously considerably stronger and more durable than him but Rikku had her beaten in skill and technique. The only question now was if he could wear her down before his injuries caught up with him. Rikku continued to dodge and parry her attacks until he found his opening and he landed a few hits on her right leg again before dodging her retaliatory strike and landed a few in return but she just withstood the impacts and advanced on him to force Rikku backwards.

It was a battle between power and skill. His attacks weren't doing much damage against this advancing wall of muscle but they were doing a little bit of damage to her while he continued to dodge her. Despina noticed this however and switched her strategy. She simply stood still and tightened up her muscles while bulking them up just a little bit more. Rikku studied her for a minute while he recovered and then he slowly approached her. Slowly and cautiously until he was in striking distance and then he drove his fist into her stomach. No effect. She just smirked. He tried again and again. Repeatedly slamming his fist against those rock solid abs but he might as well have been trying to beat his way through slabs of iron for all of the luck he was having. So Rikku instead switched to attacking her legs and side. No luck there either. Her layers of rippling muscle simply protected her. His attacks might've caused some slight damage before but even that was negated now! Punches, backhands, kicks, knees, elbows, it was all nullified. So Rikku switched it up. He leaped into the air, used her as a springboard to leap up higher, raised his foot up into the air and brought his heel down on her head! Her head was tilted downward but she withstood it. Rikku then jumped off of her and began repeatedly kicking her in the face as she looked back up at him. Despina grimaced but she still withstood the power of his kicks until she struck up at him. Rikku ceased his kicks to spring off of her fist and then deliver a spinning kick to her face. However she ended up raising up her other arm and blocking it and then throwing him off before she lunged forward and grabbed his leg. "Gotcha now speedy." He kicked her in the face again but she once again withstood it and pulled him forward. She grabbed his neck and shifted her hand to hook under his leg and placed him on her back.

Despina spun around and threw him with all of her upper body strength towards the ground before suddenly turning him around for a back body slam!

"Cho Arashi Guruma!"

Rikku slammed down on the ring with a resounding KABOOOOOM! noise like a bomb had just gone off in the middle of the arena! Rikku silently cried out in pain as the musclebound amazon smashed him to the ring! She then got up, grabbed him, whirled him around, tossed him up and smashed him back down to the ring! Rikku ground and skipped and slid across the rubble of the ring while digging into it with his hand until he managed to stop himself. Despina quickly advanced on him, running towards him full tilt, fully intending to grab and throw him from the ring only to fall down on one knee and grab her head while her feet tripped through the broken ring. She fell on one knee and dug one hand into the broken ring while she held her head. "Uunnngggh...wh-wha? What? What?" She gritted her teeth and a trickle of blood slid down her forehead. "What?!" The kicks. The kid had done more damage to her than she anticipated. Which, combined with the attacks to her leg over the course of the match, and the broken ring, caused by the energy waves she put out which resulted in a drop in power for her, caused her to lose her footing.

Both fighters took a short breather while Rikku pulled himself back up again and Despina got back up on her feet. She wiped the blood off her head and raised her fists again while Rikku took his stance again and calmed himself. The fire began to rage around him once more. Despina licked her lips.

"That's a lot of power you're throwing around there. You're going all out, huh?"

"Yeah. This is all I've got left. One last bullet in the chamber."

"Heh. Alright then. I'll take you on." She took a deep breath and raised her right arm in the air and slowly closed it back up finger by finger as energy surrounded her arm. Her other arm and some of her muscles deflated while the right arm swelled and bulked up in muscle mass.

"Physical Intensification Tsuyoi Ude." She shifted her position and took the Rhino Charge Stance. "You've earned this little man. I'll come at you with everything I've got as well and send you flying out of the stadium."

"Muscle Manipulation, Physical Augmentation, Ki Manipulation, Hakai-Ken's pretty impressive, huh?" Rikku laughed. "You've been an awesome opponent Despina." The flames intensified and the reddish-orange Ki swirled around him like a tornado. "Come on then. Lets lay it all out on the line and finish this off right!"

As they powered up their techniques and braced themselves for impact, Despina studied her opponent. (You're incredible Rikku, but I've got this won. You can only use that fire punch of yours with your one good arm. You haven't been able to use the other one the whole match. You need to use your legs to maintain your footing while you deliver your punch your remaining arm. So I only have to look out for that one. If I evade it and take your side, you're finished. Sorry kid. But I'm taking this match!)

"LET'S GO!" They called out to each other and she sprung forward. Rocketing towards Rikku at maximum speed right at the get go! The ground under her feet was blown away and she crossed the distance between them near instantly! She pulled back her first and prepared to drive her superpowered haymaker into his chest like a rhino's horn being propelled by a speeding Formula 1 Racecar but before she could land the blow Rikku shifted to her side, closed his fist, pulled back his left arm and struck her with a red hot glowing right fist across the face with all of his power poured into it! There was a fiery explosion of Ki on the point of impact and her jaw dropped as she was being pushed aside by it!

"ALL OUT TEKKODAN SMASH!" Rikku screamed out while he drove his fist into her face! The fire washed over her face and Rikku swung downward and smashed her into the ring floor! With her own momentum redirected aside by the explosion she was sent flying across the ring and groundslid on her head all the way to an edge and then she fell out of it and slammed down to the floor where she slid on her back for a few more feet before coming to a stop. Despina was out of the ring.

Rikku had won.

The young fighter fell to his knees for a minute gasping for breath and holding his trembling hand in pain before he managed to pull his badly battered body to its feet one more time and thrust his left hand in the air while screaming at the top of his lungs.

"BUUUUUUUUULLLLPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEN!"