Chapter 167 - One-Sided

Daymond's thoughts: He has all the showings of an amateur. It's a surprise he's made it this far.

The referee swung his arm down, signaling the match to begin. Thong tensed his body as he took his pose, but Daymond continued to stand there, eyeing his opponent.

Daymond's thoughts: He has an opening in every location. Against Theodore, each of his weakest locations were accounted for. He's more similar to Kuro, where he leaves his weak spots open. Is he planning to rely on his innate durability to survive this match?

The audience continued to cheer Daymond's name as he stared down his opponent. Thong slowly inched himself closer and closer as a cold sweat dripped down his cheek. His focus was entirely on his more experienced opponent, refusing to let any of his movements go to waste. In the stands stood the different members of the Virtus Imperium, watching with close intent.

Carrie: Man, this match seems so obviously mismatched… Thong isn't even exuding half the strength you showed.

Theodore: It would be impossible for him to do so. Which is why I believe Gerald may have a point in relying on Thong's more aggressive nature.

Theresa: Dear, what do you mean by that?

Theodore: Thong is an unusual young man. In each of his matches, he relied on the strength that only a part of him held. He's skilled in his own right, but when it comes to taking the offensive, it seems that part is pushed to another side of his mind.

Ziyad: That boy ain't right. But I can't put my guess on either since I didn't see how you trained him.

Daniel: Mask boy fight funny, but he good!

Angel: I hope you're right. This won't be promising otherwise.

Thong furrowed his eyebrows as he charged at full speed against his opponent. His eyes changed into a violent red as he pulled his fist back. Daymond immediately noticed this change, stepping back as Minh's fist swept through the air. Daymond followed with a flicker punch that Minh narrowly avoided before jumping a few feet back. The distance meant little, however, as Daymond ran up in front of Minh, towering over the young man.

Daymond: You're too easy to read.

Before Minh had the chance to respond, an uppercut sent his head reeling back as he stumbled backwards.

Zachary: Would you look at that, ladies and gentlemen! In no time at all, Daymond has already landed the first strike! He hardly even looks fazed!

Minh brought his head back down and charged at Daymond with a flurry of blows. Daymond weaved between each fist, his eyes following closely to each of Minh's movements. Theodore stared at the match closely, shaking his head.

Theodore: He's leaving himself open.

Carrie: Hmm?

Daymond's right hand moved quickly, connecting with Minh's torso as he forced his opponent to gasp. Minh reeled back in pain as Daymond followed up with an elbow to the face. Minh could see through Daymond clearly now. What the others had said was true, he was timing each strike for the opportune time to strike.

Minh's thoughts: This guy… He's insane!

Thong: I know! We can hardly touch him!

Minh's thoughts: You're up.

Thong's eyes returned to yellow as Daymond followed his last attack with a left hook. Thong let out a breath of air as he pushed Daymond's fist into the air with his forearm. Daymond's eyes shifted as he quickly kicked one of Thong's shins. Thong was taken off guard, allowing Daymond to change his left hook into a downward elbow. It slammed onto the top of Thong's head, Mike, Li, and Hugo letting out a gasp as they saw Thong's legs buckle. Daymond pushed Thong away with his right forearm, Thong sliding across the ground as he grabbed onto his head, one of his eyes still open.

Minh: Move!

Minh's eyes returned to red as he rolled out of the way, Daymond's foot slamming onto where he was moments earlier. Daymond stood back up and turned to his opponent, who jumped back onto his feet.

Minh's thoughts: That was close. You idiot! Why aren't you protecting against his hits?! That's your whole deal!

Thong: I can't prepare for them. It's like the moment I try to prepare, he does something faster than I'm ready for it!

Daymond's thoughts: I've prepared for each of Wing Chun's possible blocks, and I've watched each of his matches closely. Thong is full of surprises, but I've dealt with opponents far more trained and far more powerful. He's done for.

Zachary: And Daymond keeps Thong on the backfoot! Thong hasn't been able to land a single good hit, this match may be one of the most one sided we have so far!

Mike: What the hell?! Daymond hardly seems injured at all!

Hugo: Yeah! Wasn't he strangled and hit in the head several times?

Gerald: It's likely his stealing thing.

Mike: What?

Gerald: A contributor to Daymond's success is his ability to steal abilities and techniques from experiencing them. If my guesses are accurate, he's probably using Kuro's Release to dumb down any injuries he may be experiencing.

Hugo: That is definitely cheating! We need to get him disqualified!

Li: This tournament has let a lot more crazy things happen. Plus he's the Head, you probably won't go far with that complaint.

Gerald: Daymond is someone that makes his ability to copy known. Despite that fact, his skills are on another level. Despite all the assistance I gave them, Thong and his personality need to come to their own conclusion.

Minh clenched his fists as he widened his stance. A slight smile grew on Daymond's face as he saw a flame appear in Minh's eyes.

Daymond's thoughts: Finally getting serious, huh?

Minh moved like lightning across the ring, throwing a fast right straight at Daymond. Daymond moved his head out of the way, responding with his own right hook.

Minh: Now!

Daymond immediately saw that Thong's eyes were now a bright yellow. Thong knocked away Daymond's right hook as his eyes changed color. A wicked smile appeared under Minh's mask as he turned his right straight into a chop. Daymond ducked as Minh's hand flew overhead. Minh's eyes moved down as he threw forward a left kick. Daymond blocked with both arms as he slid back. He peeked his head out, watching Minh charge at him with intent in his eyes. Daymond moved back onto his feet and held both hands out.

Daymond: Lunar Graze

Minh threw many high speed straights at Daymond, who parried each and every one of them with minimal effort. To all those that were watching, each of Minh's punches simply bent out of Daymond's way. Minh gritted his teeth under his mask as he saw Daymond move forward slightly.

Daymond: You did decently. You forced me to use named techniques. But this is where you're done.

Daymond: Bellthorne Style – Fifth Form: Carnation

Daymond lowered himself as he moved through Minh's barrage, aiming a straight punch directly to Minh's gut. As his fist connected, his eyebrows raised as he felt a resistance in the muscles of Minh's stomach. He looked up, only to see Thong's yellow eyes.

Thong's thoughts: Just in time!

Thong followed with an upward knee, forcing Daymond to jump backwards and open distance. Thong placed a hand over his stomach as he looked at his opponent, who was entirely calm and collected.

Thong's thoughts: We're able to surprise him with our defenses, but we can hardly touch him!

Minh: It's just like those two guys said. Daymond's foresight is in another league. While we're able to get guesses of what an opponent will do next, Daymond is basically able to read each of our intentions for attacks!

Thong's thoughts: Read our intentions…

Daymond charged at Thong, who immediately raised his defense. Daymond unleashed several quick jabs aimed at Thong, whose eyes went into overtime. Using the Seung Chi Sao, his arms moved freely as he attempted to divert each of Daymond's attacks. Thong's eyes twitched in pain as he could feel the power behind each of his opponents strikes. They were unlike any punch he had felt before. They moved quickly, faster than Thong's eyes could track. He entirely relied on his sense of touch that Seung Chi Sao had given him. He continued to deflect Daymond's punches as bruises began to build up on his arms.

Minh: He's forcing us on the defensive!

Thong's thoughts: He's perfectly timing the power and speed behind each of his punches. Despite my defense being near perfect, it hurts more to protect against these than to let one hit me directly!

Minh: But don't let one strike you! Once he finds a moment of weakness, he'll go for a strike that'll drop us to the ground!

Thong's mind began to wander as his body continued his meaningless defense. Daymond could notice the damage he was already beginning to inflict on his opponent. Each of his strikes were calculated, something to perfectly counter the fighter that had beaten his fastest. However, Daymond's eyes shot open as he saw something he had not expected. In the same vein that he had attempted to move forward, Thong was slowly managing the same. His arms moved like snakes through Daymond's strikes. Daymond kicked off the ground and moved away from Thong, who had snapped back to his senses.

Thong's thoughts: Wha-

Minh: This is our chance! Go!

Thong went low as he sprung at his opponent. He let out a quick straight punch aimed directly for Daymond's solar plexus. The audience gasped as Thong covered the distance in an instant, a loud thud echoing as Thong made contact.

Thong's thoughts: I hit!

Minh: Yeah!

Daymond: Not quite.

Thong looked up as looked into the shadowy eyes of his opponent. Daymond's stare sent a shiver down Thong's spine as he looked down, only to notice his fist had connected with Daymond's grimoire. His fist shook as he looked back up at his opponent.

Thong: H… How the-

Thong was not able to get out his question before his opponent was able to move. Daymond, with an explosive power behind his foot, aimed a quick knee at Thong's chin. Thong moved his free arm over the knee, pushing himself away and back onto his feet. Daymond closed the distance, which sent a look of fear over his opponent. In that moment, Daymond connected a punch with Thong's chin which sent him flying across the ring and onto the floor. He laid on the floor, a look of pain visible for all to see. Li, Hugo, Mike, Theodore, and the others wore looks of shock as they saw Thong lay helplessly on the ground.

Zachary: This is a one-sided slaughter! Despite each close call Thong has managed, Daymond slips the carpet from under him each time!

Zenzo: If he doesn't get his bearings soon, Daymond might become too much for the young lad!

Thong looked at the ceiling in a daze as he felt like his heart was about to explode.

Thong's thoughts: How… How is he… this powerful?

Minh: Get up! He's coming!

Daymond slowly approached his opponent. His expression was as calm and collected as it always was.

Daymond: Is this really the best you have to show me? I am quite disappointed.