Chapter 49 - Reinforced

Li stood up from one of his stretches, hearing heavy panting behind him. He turned, seeing Thong at the entrance, feeling the smile behind Thong's mask.

Li's thoughts: I'm glad you're here to see this, Thong. I'll do my best.

The referee walked between the fighters, staring both of them down, immediately taking notice of the entirely different energies the fighters were giving off.

Referee: Fighters, take your stances!

Li took a traditional karate stance as Quintin stood in the same spot, his arms crossed as he looked Li up and down.

Li: Come on, Mr. Planck. The fight's going to start soon.

Quintin: I have nothing to worry about. Start the match already.

The referee let out a sigh before bringing his arm high into the air before swinging it down.

Referee: BEEEEGGIIIIINNN!!!!

Li's eyes lit up as the audience roared as he immediately charged in, his hands clenched into fists before coming to a halt. Mere centimeters from his face, Li stared down the sole of Quintin's shoe before watching him jump back, planting both feet in the ground. Letting out a sigh, Li entered his stance once more while Quintin turned his attention to the announcer table before raising his arm.

Quintin: Are you really going to allow this?

Zachary: Umm… Both of you agreed to this match.

Quintin: Not that, you idiot.

Quintin reached down before throwing his shoes away and raising his pants, revealing the metal and machinery that were his legs. Even his foot seemed entirely robotic.

Quintin: If I hadn't stopped myself there, his head would have flown clean off. So, Flair, what's the ruling about my legs?

Zenzo turned to see an annoyed expression on Zachary's face. Zachary let out a sigh, mumbling to himself as he raised the mic to his mouth.

Zachary: It seems the fighter Quintin has revealed a huge secret! His legs seem to be made of metal machinery! But similar to the rule with armor, as long as it does not have any sort of firearm, there is nothing to ban it!

Li's thoughts: Is that what he was talking about?

Quintin turned back to Li, a smuggish look on his face. Quintin put a hand through his hair before widening his stance a bit more.

Quintin: You heard that? Looks like if you get killed by these bad boys, there's nothing to punish me. You sure you want to continue?

Li: That isn't enough to stop me. I have something to prove here.

Quintin: Then die.

Quintin quickly charged in, switching into a right roundhouse kick aimed at his head as Li immediately brought his forearm up in defense, feeling the impact of the metal against his skin. Sliding with the kick before moving in further with a clenched fist as Quintin moved in as well, grabbing onto Li's wrist with his hand before hopping on his feet and going in with a left roundhouse kick. Li's eyes shifted directions, his knee shooting up, weakening the blow of Quintin's kick before being ultimately sent stumbling back. Doctor A watched on from a monitor in one of the rooms away from the ring.

Doctor A: So he made his augmentations known. But it looks like that hasn't given his opponent any advantage. If anything, he just made Li aware of the fate that awaits him.

Bruises were already clear on Li's arms, Thong looking on in worry.

Thong's thoughts: Quintin is strong. And those legs feel like cheating. Li… What are you going to do?

Li clenched his fists once more as Quintin charged in once again, shooting his right foot off the ground, aiming for Li's side. Li let out a sigh before spinning and meeting Quintin's leg with his own. Li winced in pain as the sound of metal on flesh was audible despite the gi he wore. Jumping back as he reached down to rub the side of his leg.

Quintin: Are you an idiot or something?

Li's thoughts: The next best option was to jump back, but he'd easily transition into another kick from that. What is this style?

Remy turned to Mike, who stared at the match intently.

Remy: Hey, you use kicks a lot, have any idea what Quintin's using?

Mike: I can't say I do, but if I had to give it a guess, he might be using Yaw-Yan. It's a very swift and powerful kicking martial art.

Theodore: A very apt observation, Michael. Quintin is known for his fluidity with his kicks, but who would have ever known that he was hiding cybernetic legs behind that clothing.

Carrie: That's totally gotta be cheating!

Gonzalez: Zachary said it was alright. I mean, they let a full suit of armor in the last match.

Theodore: Armor and augmentations are only as good as the fighter makes them. They're meaningless unless you have a clear advantage over your opponent. Mason was smaller, so he naturally had a disadvantage there, but in this match, Li has the size advantage. So it's up to him to be able to match or even overcome Quintin's legs.

Carrie: With his rank, I don't really think that's possible. It's like having Mike fight you, Terry.

Theodore: Carrie Miller.

Carrie: He did it again!

Li charged in once again, Quintin noticing a slow down in his speed.

Quintin's thoughts: This match was too easy.

Quintin's foot shot off the ground again, aiming for another right roundhouse kick towards Li's head. Slowing down the kick once again with a block, he winced in pain with the metal hitting his arm as Li reached forward, grabbing onto Quintin's shirt which took him by surprise as Li's own foot shot off the ground, aiming directly at Quintin's head. Quintin immediately raised his own arm in defense, being pushed along the kick.

Quintin's thoughts: He was able to outplay me?

Li moved in, landing a vertical punch on his face. Quintin stumbled back as the audience filled with shock.

Li's thoughts: If I wasn't willing to risk my body so much for just those blocks, I would've never landed those punches.

Quintin held his face, looking at Li through his open fingers.

Quintin: You annoying fucker…

Moving in, Li looked in shock before tightening his defense as Quintin advanced into a smooth motion of kick after kick. The kicks varied in direction and height, making it harder for Li to move in for a counter. More noticeable bruises appeared on his arms as he gritted his teeth.

Thong: Li!

Li's eyes lit up as his arms moved out, grabbing onto Quintin's right leg as it went in for another kick to the side. Quintin was taken off guard by this but quickly recovered as he jumped into the air, slamming his other foot into Li's gut, letting out a gasp before both fighters went down to the ground. Quintin quickly jumped back up to his feet, readjusting his glasses as he looked down at the bruised Li.

Quintin: You got lucky with that one punch, but I guess this is where the match ends.

Quintin's eyes looked in shock as Li pushed himself off the ground, wearing a smile on his face.

Li: Man, I knew it. Those legs really do make you strong. I'm in real trouble, but I don't plan on losing.

Quintin: Are you crazy?

Li: Maybe~

Li ran in, Quintin surprised by his speed as Li swung his whole forearm, Quintin moving in just enough so the fist would be behind his head, only to notice the smile of his opponent. Li slammed the inside of his arm to the side of Quintin's head, sending him flying to the side before rolling on the ground. He entered his stance once more as Quintin pushed himself back up.

Quintin's thoughts: That was too good. Way too good for someone at rank 300.

Li: So, shall we continue?