Chapter 53 - Perplexing

Zachary: WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET US MOVE ONTO THE FIRST MATCH OF BLOCK B! THIS IS THE MATCH MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR! SEEING THIS MAN KEEP HIS POSITION OR FALL! WILL THIS PILLAR OF THE ASSOCIATION FALL OR WILL HE MOVE ONTO THE NEXT ROUND? WILL HE KEEP HIS POSITION? WE'RE GOING TO DECIDE HIS DESTINY HERE! HERE AS RANK NUMBER ONE WITH 144 WINS AND NO LOSSES, STANDING AT 191 CENTIMETERS AND WEIGHING 100 KILOGRAMS, ENTERS "THE HEAD SPIDER," DAYMOND THERAPOSAAAA!!!!

Daymond entered the ring, holding a book in his hand as he walked up to Zachary. The audience stared in awe at the elegance the man held to himself. 

Man 1: So that's the head of the organization:

Man 2: It's not every day you get to see this guy fight.

Woman 1: What does he have in store for us today?!

Carrie: Sounds like the audience is really into this guy, huh?

Theodore: Of course. It'd be smartest to make strong connections with the current head. It lowers the chances of them being targeted themselves. I'm interested in seeing how he's changed from last time.

Remy: Does he really need to change from last time? Didn't he beat a super-strong guy and become head that way?

Theodore: He most definitely did, but that doesn't change the fact that the injuries he took in that match were near career-ending. 

Gonzalez: This is going to be a tricky one. He's entirely calm.

Carrie: There go your super senses again. I hope she doesn't turn out like you.

Theodore: Carrie Miller, do not speak badly of her.

Carrie: Eee! My bad!

Zachary: AND HIS OPPONENT IS THIS MAN! PURPOSELY CHOOSING TO FIGHT THE HEAD IN THE FIRST ROUND? HE MUST BE NOTHING SHORT OF INSANE! BUT ONE LOOK AT HIS FACE SHOULD TELL THE WHOLE STORY! ENTERING AS RANK 115 WITH 9 WINS AND NO LOSSES, STANDING AT 185 CENTIMETERS AND WEIGHING 99 KILOGRAMS, HERE COMES THE "PHANTOM STRUGGLER," KURO KAGEYAMAAA!!!!

Kuro entered the ring with a large smile on his face, nearly reaching from ear to ear. He walked to the center of the ring, staring up at Daymond who had just closed his book. Both met the other's gaze.

Midori: Not a single loss, I see. Have any of you witnessed anything odd about him in any of those matches?

Magnus: Odd? From what I've recorded, he's won every one of those matches with brute strength. That's the strangest thing I can see.

Midori: So he hasn't used it. Interesting. He seemed like the type to rely on it too easily.

Shun: It? What are you talking about, old man?

Moll: Are you talking about that special thing?

Midori: Most definitely. Young Shizu, are you perhaps aware of what I'm talking about?

Shizu: I have an inkling of an idea. Which is why I don't think this match will be easy.

Simon: Not easy? What's that supposed to mean?

Zachary: Such intensity! The match hasn't even started, but these fighters seem more than prepared!

The referee walked between the two fighters, his eyes moving side to side as Daymond hadn't moved from his initial stance, yet Kuro seemed like a predator ready to pounce. Daymond put the book in his coat, meeting Kuro with a smile.

Daymond: So you're a Kageyama. I've heard a few things regarding your family while on my journeys. 

Kuro: And? Whatever you've heard ain't gonna help ya, dipshit!

Daymond: You are most definitely one of the more rowdy fighters. I do hope you can give me an interesting match.

Kuro: Yeah, I'll make it interesting alright. Interesting before I mop the floor with your ass!

Cero, Tico, and Kammy sat in a room, watching the match from a monitor.

Tico: You sure we shouldn't check up on Mason?

Cero: That heavy blow to the head plus his lack of defense leads me to believe he won't be waking up until this block has finished.

Kammy: S-So why aren't we closer to the fight? Don't you want to get a better look at what Daymond may have at his disposal?

Cero: No need. I am aware that he has fallen from his prime.

Tico: Fallen from his prime? What's that supposed to mean?

Cero: The match that decided his fate as the head of this organization left him with injuries that would be nothing short of career-ending. Yet here he is, two years later. My best guesses are he either had intense surgery to bring himself back to his peak condition. Or he was bored enough to start this tournament before he had properly recovered.

Kammy: So you're saying he isn't even out there at full power?!

Tico: I believe a lot of what you say, Cero, but that's insane.

Cero: Then I want you to watch this match and tell me if his ability shows that of the head of this organization. The one that was feared for a while.

Tico and Kammy stared intently at the screen, Kuro entering his stance as the referee raised his arm. The referee quickly swung it down.

Referee: BEGIIIINN!!!

The quick swing of the arm immediately had dust fly into the air as Kuro stood inches away from Daymond's face. Throwing a quick right, Daymond quickly sidestepped, moving out of the way of Kuro's attack. Kuro stomped on the ground, turning to face Daymond.

Kuro: Hey, you're pretty fast yourself. I was afraid I'd just be beating up an old, tired piece of shit.

Daymond: And it seems all you're good at is throwing out profanities.

Kuro gritted his teeth, his wide smile still on his face. He unleashed a series of quick punches, Daymond's hands quickly reacting and blocking each one. A look of confusion filled Kuro's face.

Kuro's thoughts: He's reacting pretty good to these. They told me that he'd be pretty weak. What's up with this?

Daymond closed his hands on Kuro's fists, moving them to the side before landing a high kick to Kuro's face. Kuro's head shot up as Daymond released his grasp. Kuro's head immediately dropped, Daymond looking at him with concern. Kuro didn't meet him with a look of pain or fear, but rather, joy. His smile was deep, unnatural.

Kuro: Hey, that kind of hurt. I didn't give you enough credit.

Daymond's thoughts: I was aware from his previous matches that his durability is insanely high, but he didn't even stagger from that kick.

Kuro: But honestly, that was still weak as shit. This is what the head can dish out? I've had more fun with the fuckers from those previous nine matches.

Daymond raised his fists, Shun, Simon, Magnus, and Yussuf looked in confusion.

Yussuf: Hey hey… The boss rarely finds the need to raise his fists like that. What's going on?

Simon: Only one kick has passed. How's that enough to tell him to be serious?

Moll: That really shows the difference between our experience and yours.

Shun: What are you talking about?

Shizu: It's simple. Daymond has assessed that Kuro is a strong threat.

Magnus: Threat? Sure Kuro has thrown some strong punches, but I doubt that's enough to get serious.

Midori: While it might not be obvious to onlookers, those that are highly experienced and those within the battle themselves should be able to tell.

Shun's thoughts: This grandpa seems pretty experienced in these things. And he said from the get-go that Kuro was going to be strong. He knows something. What's he hiding?

Shun eyed Midori before turning his attention back to the fight.

Kuro: C'mon, asshole! Throw a good one, right here!

Kuro pointed at his cheek, Daymond focusing his sights. In a quick burst of speed, Daymond landed an uppercut to Kuro's chest. Kuro let out a cough, Daymond looking up at his face. Kuro's face was one that was hard to describe. All of it… including that smile.

Kuro: You missed.