''IT'S TIME FOR THE SEMIFINALS!''
*CHEERS*
The audience erupted in cheers— their faces were flushed out of excitement and nervousness.
Their team, Snowland is facing against Coldland, the reigning champion.
Not many have hopes of winning after seeing the dominance the Kings showed.
But they still have some hopes of a miracle happening.
The citizens from Snowland were praying for the miracle to happen.
The citizens from Coldland are expecting an easy victory.
Most of the families have gathered together to watch the semifinals.
Alice, Ben, and Darcel sat in their seats while their coach gave suggestions.
Richard and Four Kings were sitting silently.
''Michael, you are up,'' Giron said.
Michael nodded.
''Good luck,'' Sariel said.
Michael cracked his neck, it took him a few hours, but he managed to get his concentration back.
''FIRST MATCH OF THE SEMIFINALS! COLDLAND VS. SNOWLAND!'' Lyon shouted.
Michael instantly entered the stage, and the stadium went quiet.
They recognized him as the First King, and many thought he might be the strongest King.
Darcel gulped and stood up.
''Don't let him hit you.'' His coach advised.
Darcel nodded and entered the stage.
Michael took a slight glance towards the black-haired girl and saw her looking at him.
He quickly turned his gaze away.
Alice blushed and turned away, 'Did he see that I was looking at him…?'
''FIRST MATCH! Michael Vs. Darcel!''
''FIGHT!''
*SMACK*
Darcel took a quick step forward and unleashed his straight punch.
Michael swiftly dodged, but Darcel didn't stop unleashing his punches.
Michael swiftly kept dodging, but the number of punches kept increasing and the speed.
''Tsk.'' Michael clicked his tongue and had to block one of the punches, but then more punches appeared in front of him.
Without any choice left, Michael crossed his arms and took a lower stance.
[Heavenly Gate!]
*SMACK*
*SMACK*
*SMACK*
Darcel smiled and hit dozens, hundreds of times at his body.
*GASP*
The audience was shocked seeing Darcel taking the upper hand!
Soon, they started cheering like there was no tomorrow.
The citizens from Coldland who were watching their TV looked surprised.
But…
Darcel's smile soon disappeared.
He felt his fists hurting more and more.
He took a better look towards Michael and saw an unbelievable sight.
Michael's body… Was completely uninjured.
Not even a bruise was seen.
His uniform was the only thing that was slightly dirty, but the skin underneath that was flawless.
Michael's shirt got destroyed because of the punches, and his muscular and combat-ready muscles and abs were visible.
Alice blushed while twirling her hair, but she didn't stop taking glances.
''Argh…'' Darcel grimaced and stopped punching— he looked at his fists and saw his skin around his knuckles getting ripped.
''How…''
Darcel was shocked.
He is a master of Boxing, and his fists are almost impossible to get injured this way.
He has spent thousands of hours punching brick walls, trees, any hard surface.
And it has been a long time since he stopped getting injured from hitting any surface.
But now… He got injured after hitting Michael's figure!
Michael stopped guarding his body, and now everybody could see that his body was uninjured.
''M-Michael is uninjured! What amazing defensive capabilities!'' Lyon shouted with amazed look.
''Sorry… But I am perfect for endurance matches… The only way you can defeat me is if you are stronger than me, and don't even think about injuring me so that your teammates will have an easier time… It won't work.'' Michael said and went into his fighting stance.
Liam some distance away was watching the match, 'He went easy on me… He didn't use his defensive abilities against me… But doesn't matter… I didn't go all out against him either.'
Darcel gritted his teeth and started softly jumping around in his spot.
'I will have to go all out…' Darcel thought and gritted his teeth.
*SWOOSH*
Suddenly Darcel disappeared!
He appeared in front of Michael, and at the same time, he unleashed his jabs!
His arm became blurry, and the fist was only an inch away from hitting Michael's face.
But Michael didn't look fazed.
He had a calm face.
*SMACK*
The fist hit Michael in the face, but…
''ARGHH!'' Darcel cried out and took his hand back.
He looked at his fist and saw a huge bruise forming on his wrist.
Michael had a slight nosebleed, but he simply wiped it off.
''Let's see who is faster.'' Michael simply said and unleashed a simple straight punch.
Darcel easily dodged it and retreated some distance away.
But…
The floor below Michael cracked, and he burst into motion.
He appeared in the attacking range and used his jabs.
But, Darcel easily dodged the jabs.
''Sloppy,'' Darcel said after seeing Michael's jabs.
Darcel dodged another jab and used his last remaining hand to unleash his own jab.
*SWISH*
Darcel's jab was so much faster and more accurate.
His jab easily hit Michael in the cheek, but…
''ARGHH!'' Darcel cried out— his fist was aching in pain.
But… That was enough loss of concentration.
Michael saw him not concentrating and unleashed his straight punch.
Darcel turned his gaze towards Michael and gasped after seeing a fist only inch away from his face.
'I-I can't dodge!' Darcel cried out, and the punch contacted his face.
*SPEW*
Darcel was sent flying, his nose broke, and blood flew out of his mouth.
*Crash*
He landed on the ground, but…
He was outside the bounds.
''MATCH OVER! WINNER, MICHAEL!''
Groans of disappointment came from the audience, and only a few cheers were heard.
Ben sighed out of disappointment.
He looked at Michael's body and saw him being completely uninjured.
The citizens from Coldland sighed relief and started cheering with their families.
They thought that they were foolish to doubt the King's ability.
But it is always the same during the Battle of Cities when a new group of Kings appears.
Some of the tournaments go worse, but they still dominate most of their matches.
But they always manage to win.
And this year's Kings were supposed to be stronger than ever before.
Ben stood up and looked at the blushing Alice, 'Weird… Why is she blushing?'
He looked in the direction where she was looking and saw Michael's athletic figure, and he was also slightly sweating, which makes his muscles more appealing.
Ben quickly turned his gaze towards Alice and saw her blushing like young girl in love.
'That cannot be…' Ben angrily glared at Michael, 'Alice is mine!'
He stomped angrily towards the stage, and stood some distance away from Michael.
He clenched his fist.
''FIGHT!''
After those words… Ben attacked with anger!