Chapter 3: The Land of Flames Episode 2: Facing the Strongest
The thunderous roar of the crowd filled the arena as Akira leaned against the wall, gasping for air. Beads of sweat rolled down his face after a grueling third match. He wiped his forehead and looked toward Yue, who was cheering enthusiastically from the sidelines.
"Brother Akira! Keep going! I know you can do it!" Yue's clear, cheerful voice rang out amidst the chaotic noise.
Akira nodded with a faint smile before turning his gaze to the arena. The energy from the spectators was unrelenting, as if their excitement fed the very flames of the molten city. This unexpected tournament had tested Akira in ways he had never imagined, forcing him to rely solely on his physical skills and techniques learned in his own world.
Round One: The Karate Warrior
His first opponent was a towering man with a physique as solid as a mountain. The man's stoic face and piercing eyes revealed his mastery of martial arts. Akira immediately recognized his stance—it closely resembled karate from Earth.
The rhythmic beat of three drums signaled the start of the fight. The man launched forward with a direct punch, fast and powerful. Akira narrowly dodged, but the force of the strike created a gust of wind that threw him off balance.
"This kind of power… He's no joke," Akira thought, steadying himself and watching for an opening.
The karate warrior maintained relentless pressure, mixing precise punches, elbows, and high kicks. Akira relied on his childhood combat training, using his agility and reflexes to evade the onslaught.
Finally, the opponent exposed a slight opening. With all his strength, Akira delivered a counterpunch to the man's side. The strike landed with a resounding thud, causing the warrior to stumble and fall.
The referee declared Akira the winner, and the crowd erupted in cheers.
Round Two: The Judo Master
The next opponent was a petite woman whose graceful movements betrayed an intimidating strength. Her confident demeanor and precise stance immediately signaled her expertise in judo.
"A direct attack won't work on her," Akira muttered, adjusting his strategy.
As the drums signaled the match's start, the woman closed the distance with lightning speed. She grabbed Akira's arm and, with a single fluid motion, threw him to the ground. Though not severely injured, the sudden impact disrupted his rhythm.
"If she gets a hold of me again, I'm done for," Akira thought, quickly rising to his feet.
He shifted his approach, using speed and distance to avoid her grappling techniques. Every time she lunged to grab him, he evaded with sharp, calculated movements. At the same time, he struck back with precise blows aimed at her weak points.
After a fierce exchange, Akira found an opportunity to land a decisive strike, causing the judo master to stumble and fall. The referee once again declared his victory, and the arena roared in approval.
Semifinals: The Aikido Practitioner
This opponent exuded a calm intensity that immediately put Akira on edge. The young man's poised movements and fluid stance were reminiscent of a flowing river—gentle yet powerful. Akira instantly recognized his expertise in aikido.
As the match began, the practitioner didn't attack but instead waited, his serene gaze locked onto Akira. With no choice, Akira launched a quick punch toward him.
In an instant, the opponent deflected the punch with a simple yet precise motion, redirecting Akira's energy and nearly causing him to lose balance.
"He's using my own force against me…" Akira thought, regaining his footing.
Fighting an aikido master felt like battling his own reflection. Every strike Akira threw was met with a seamless counter or redirection, leaving him increasingly frustrated and exhausted.
"I need to calm down…" Akira told himself, taking a deep breath. He stopped attacking recklessly and instead began observing his opponent's movements.
When the practitioner attempted another grab, Akira dodged with a swift step and countered with a punch to the shoulder. The strike caused the man to falter momentarily.
Capitalizing on this opportunity, Akira unleashed a flurry of attacks inspired by his twin-blade technique, adapted for hand-to-hand combat. The unpredictable rhythm of his strikes finally overwhelmed the aikido master, securing Akira's victory.
The crowd's cheers reached a deafening pitch as Akira stood in the center of the arena, breathing heavily. His opponent, now smiling faintly, gave him a respectful nod.
"You've done well… I'll be watching you in the final round," the man said before exiting the arena.
Akira stood tall despite his exhaustion, looking toward Yue, who was cheering wildly from the sidelines.
"Brother Akira, you're amazing! I knew you could do it!" she shouted, her golden eyes sparkling with excitement.
Akira smiled back, muttering to himself, "Just one more round… I'll see this through."
Each battle had pushed him to his limits, forcing him to grow and adapt. Though fatigued, his resolve burned brighter than ever. The final match awaited, and Akira knew it would be the greatest test of his strength and spirit yet.