*Clank*
Three figures watched the News, which was about the rigging scandal.
One of the figures took the remote and closed the TV with anger on her face, she has brown-colored hair, and has an attractive-looking face with a curved nose and delicate eyebrows.
She was the one Ichiro met in the breakroom, she is a fighter from Viorange - Tania.
''Damn!'' She roared in anger.
Next to her sat a feminine-looking boy, his height was around 160cm with short black hair, his name is Andy, he turned his head towards Tania and asked. ''W-What is going to happen now?''
Tania clicked her tongue and said. ''Tournament will be canceled of course, and we managed to get into top 8 for the first time in 30 years! Just our luck.''
The third figure in the room had blond hair which reached her shoulders, she had an average face if compared to Tania, but her innocent vibe brings out the protective vibe from any male, her name is Hayley.
They were celebrating for reaching the top 8, which was one of the best results in Viorange history.
But that celebration ended early.
Hayley then remember and asked. ''In the first video they talked about crippling Ichiro… you said you met him, didn't you Tania?'' She asked innocently.
But Tania's face grimaced. ''Don't mention him, he is partly at fault that this tournament got canceled!''
Andy sighed, ''Ichiro is the victim.''
Tania scoffed. ''He will be the victim of physical abuse next time I meet him!''
''Why do you hate him so much? Every time someone mentions him - You are gritting your teeth in hate.'' Hayley asked.
Andy was also curious.
''Does it matter?!'' Tania stood up and yelled in anger.
Hayley and Andy flinched.
'She really hates him… What did he do?' Andy thought.
''But one thing is certain… Kurogami Ichiro is my nemesis!'' Tania proclaimed,
Hayley and Andy looked at her with widened eyes.
Tania snorted and stomped towards her bed.
She lied down on her bed and started hitting the pillow while thinking about her nemesis.
'I hate him!' Tania screamed internally.
Every time she remembers Ichiro calling her as a thot… Or making fun of her height.
Her mind gets instantly clouded in anger.
'Just wait Ichirunt, I will make you pay for making fun of my height!' She narrowed her eyes while thinking about her revenge.
Hayley and Andy were speechless while looking at the behavior of their captain.
Their captain has always been tomboyish, while being quite violent, especially in the training.
That's why she earned the name of Demon Queen.
This might be the first time they see their Captain this angry.
Yes, she can get angry, like when she is in her periods…
Once she has her periods, no one in the Martial Club goes to the school that day.
And even some teachers don't go.
On that day, no one would even dare to breathe in the same direction as her.
That's why almost everyone has learned her Menstrual cycle.
And Andy and Hayley are aware that her periods shouldn't be in a few weeks.
They thought it was weird for her to be this mad.
They keep wondering, what did Ichiro do to her?
If people from Viorange find out that Ichiro made fun of her height…
Then everyone there would be screaming in anger and yelling 'Do you want everyone to die?!'
No one shall make fun of her height.
This is the number 1 rule in Viorange.
Ichiro has pretty much broken every important rule in Viorange.
People from Viorange are currently happily staying in their homes because Tania is thousands of kilometers away from them…
But they will suffer once Tania returns…
Because it will be a long time before her anger has calmed down.
For the next years or so, people from Viorange will be cursing the name of Kurogami Ichiro, and that name becomes taboo in Viorange and nearby cities.
Instead, they will have a different name for him…
He Who Shall Not Be Named In Presence Of Demon Queen.
They will learn that saying his name in presence of the Demon Queen…
Is the worst decision they ever made.
But that is all in the future.
At present time.
Tania's plan for revenge has started forming in her mind.
But it is a plan which will be executed in the far future.
But then suddenly… Earth trembled.
*CRASHH*
The three figures heard a loud crashing sound.
Andy and Hayley looked out of the window and saw huge clouds of smoke appearing on the horizon.
Tania stood up from her bed.
She walked next to them and watched the cloud of smoke.
''I-Is that fire?'' Andy stuttered while pointing at the buildings, which are in flames.
Tania narrowed her eyes.
With her honed senses, she can clearly feel the power ripples coming from the direction.
Especially coming from two different figures.
Three figures stood silently while looking at the buildings being in flame.
They saw multiple fire trucks driving in that direction.
…But then suddenly.
The three figures widened their eyes in fascination.
Because suddenly bright green light appeared in the area of flaming buildings.
The green light disappeared shortly afterward.
The flames also calmed down and shortly afterward disappeared as well.
''W-What…'' Hayley muttered.
'Power Trait?!' Tania thought with shock.
She felt two powerful presences there, and now she is sure that it comes from Martial Kings!
It means that there is a battle between Kings happening!
Tania was excited, she wanted to leave the hotel and run there to watch the battle between the two Kings.
Tania has watched the battle between Martial Monarchs on the TV before, but never in person.
It has been said that you can't feel how strong they truly are while watching from TV.
But if you watch the battle from a nearby area… You can clearly feel the power erupting from them.
Of course, normal civilians think that the Martial Monarchs are like gods even while watching the fights on TV.
Because their Power Trait is always mesmerizing and powerful.
Something that only God can do.
It is a realm, which ordinary people cannot reach.
Especially in Gensa…
The battle between Kings is almost impossible to see.
Because there are only about 5 Martial Kings in Gensa.
…But there are also some people whose strength is a complete mystery…
They are usually called Rankless Ones.
They are usually from the Underworld, keeping their strength secret and not doing any Martial Rank tests.
…But instantly when their identity is exposed… They get their rankings.
Arkenthym was one of the Rankless.
He was a Martial King when he got exposed.
At that time, he was called Rankless King.
Rankless Kings are the ones who have broken their limiters and reached the realm of Martial King, but they are called Rankless Kings because they are never informed about their limiters being broken.
Arkenthym could be called now as a Rankless Emperor, but the Martial Arts Association decided to give him rank without the test and put him in the Rankings as well.
Adamas could be also be called Rankless King because he kept his limiter being broken as a secret from the Association.
Martial Arts Association treats the Rankless Ones like they are criminals because most of them are.
But there are some Rankless Kings working for Martial Arts Association, or for some other powerful individual.
That's why the Rankings are not completely perfect.
In Martial King rankings there are over 5000 individuals.
But in reality… There could be more than 6000.
Usually, Rankless aren't the ones who seek fame. Instead, they are usually violent brutes.
They might be robbers… Murderers… Or simply Assassins.
Most of the Rankless fight in the Underworld tournament, which is the perfect place for them to earn some money.
There have also been some fights between Martial Kings and Rankless Kings.
Light Vs. Dark.
Good Vs. Evil.
Rankless Kings usually wreak havoc, while trying to fulfill their violent desires while killing people.
Martial Kings are usually the ones who are hired to stop them.
But… There have also been fights between Martial Emperors and Rankless Emperors…
And also between Martial Monarchs and Rankless Monarchs.
But it has been a long time since a huge battle has broken between Martial Artists and Rankless Ones.
The last time was 14 years ago…
It was a huge battle that was fought between Martial Saint and 5 Rankless Monarchs.
In that battle… Martial Saint managed to kill 4 of the Rankless Monarchs, but his body was filled with injuries after killing the 4.
And in the end, the last Rankless Monarch took down the Martial Saint.
Ending the battle which was won by Rankless Ones.
…But that battle made the relationships between Martial Artists and Rankless Ones unbearable.
Even a single collision between two forces can unleash an all-out war…
And today…
That collision happened.
Adamas - The Rankless King…
Was defeated by Mars - The Martial King…
That was Prelude to War.