''Lucas…'' Ichiro murmured.
Lucas grinned, ''Scared?''
Ichiro snorted, ''Fine, get on the ring.'' After those words, both of them leaped towards the center arena.
The Club Advisor gulped, 'I am afraid that the arena will be destroyed… The principal won't be happy.''
The clock was 7.45 AM.
More and more students are arriving at the school, and the first thing they heard was Lucas and Ichiro were planning to spar!
Students instantly started running towards the Martial Arts Club building; it didn't matter did they have club activities or not. This is a fight between two Golden Childs!
Even the teachers hurried to the building, and the busy Principal somehow found time to watch the sparring match as well.
Ichiro cracked his knuckles and did a few stretches with his arms.
Lucas took a deep breath and flexed his enormous muscles.
The area around the central arena was heating up!
The Martial Arts Club was already packed with people. Mark, Jake, and Ayako also found their way towards the crowd.
The Club Advisor walked to the center arena and pointed his arm towards the ceiling, ''Ready?!''
Lucas nodded.
Ichiro smiled and nodded.
''FIGHT!''
Ichiro instantly changed his stance and went into Cat Stance.
Lucas was never the person who liked defense. He went into offensive instantly!
He approached Ichiro, and once he was close enough, he unleashed his lightning-quick jabs!
Only blurs were seen.
Ichiro lowered his stance.
[Ironic Edge - Storm Hindering!]
He started using his wrists and palms to hit specific spots of Lucas' fists, stopping the momentum of his fists exponentially!
Lucas' fists didn't look as fast as before.
Lucas smirked, 'Nice…'
Ichiro smiled and unleashed his punch!
Lucas put his muscular arm as a block, but Ichiro's punch caused him to slide backward a few meters.
*CHEER*
The spectators were fascinated. Their battle was on a level they couldn't reach in their lifetime.
As a result, they cheered loudly.
''GO, ICHIRO!'' Mark roared, which caused the cheer of Ichiro's name to be resounded in the hall.
Mainly from the girls though.
''GO, LUCAS!'' Lucas' friends started cheering loudly, which also got support.
Lucas dodged Ichiro's quick punch; he twisted his waist and flexed his right arm's muscles.
[Lightning FURY!]
Lucas strikes became even faster!
Ichiro put his palms forward.
[Ironic Edge - Wind Hindering!]
*SMACK* *SMACK*
Smacking noises of flesh were heard in the hall.
Ichiro used his palms to redirect the lightning strikes, and it worked!
Lucas smiled, seeing his strikes being so easily hindered.
But Ichiro didn't survive unharmed; his palms had signs of bruises appearing. His body wasn't still strong enough to use Ironic Edge to its fullest capabilities.
'He has gotten stronger…' Lucas acknowledged, his face turned more serious. He flexed his leg muscles, which caused the arena to start cracking.
He raised his leg and kicked towards Ichiro!
[Lightning Punishment!]
Ichiro only saw a blur of kick approaching him, and soon the kick contacted with his shoulder.
His eyes narrowed.
[Ironic Edge…]
He didn't have time to use his Ironic Edge; the kick sent him flying towards the edge of the arena.
Ichiro landed on the ground painfully but managed to stay in the arena, only barely.
He stood up quickly but didn't see Lucas attacking; he only stood with a calm smile.
Ichiro shook his head, ''You cunt. You reached Half-Step Martial Captain, and you didn't tell me.''
Lucas smirked, ''So have you, it seems.''
Ichiro nodded and cracked his neck, ''End of the warmup; it is time to get some training done.''
''Agreed,'' Lucas said and went into his fighting stance.
Ichiro spurted into movement and put his hand on a spear-like stance.
[Iron Lance!]
Lucas widened his eyes and moved his head sideways, barely dodging the spear-like arm, but Ichiro's attack still made a slash wound on his cheek.
Ichiro used his left arm and grabbed Lucas' shoulder.
''?!'' Lucas had a bad feeling, but then he felt like he was fighting against gravity.
[Ironic Edge - Gravity Press!]
Ichiro gritted his teeth and pushed Lucas harder and harder.
Lucas' was almost kneeling; he gritted his teeth and tried not to fall; if he falls. He will lose.
Ichiro then used his left knee and did a knee kick towards Lucas' face!
Lucas' face was pushed backward, his nose was bleeding heavily.
Ichiro stopped holding his shoulder and instead started attacking with his fists.
The spectators could barely breathe; the one who is winning keeps changing constantly.
Lucas rolled on the ground, dodging Ichiro's kick.
Lucas quickly stood up and waited for Ichiro's attack.
[STEEL SMASH!]
Ichiro's punch was approaching Lucas' face.
But then… Lucas went into horse stance. Once Ichiro's punch was almost in contact with his face, he put his shoulder forwards.
[Indestructible!]
Ichiro's punch contacted Lucas' face, but his attack also contacted with his torso.
''UGH.'' The air left Ichiro's lungs; he held his stomach painfully.
Lucas, on the other hand, was holding his face in pain. His nose broke, and a blood trail left his mouth.
''S-Should we end this?'' The Club Advisor asked shakily.
''NO!'' Both Ichiro and Lucas roared.
The Club Advisor gulped and nodded; he left the arena. He feels like this battle is going to be more disastrous.
Lucas wiped the blood out of his face and went into his fighting stance.
Ichiro coughed and took deep breaths, the pain was lessening, and he could again concentrate.
*CRACK*
Both of them moved at the same time, and the ground below them cracked.
Lucas unleashed his jabs, and Ichiro again was in the defensive end.
[Lightning Storm!]
[Ironic Edge - Lightning Hindering!]
Both of their arms turned into blurs, and the spectators couldn't even see if the attacks hit or got blocked.
Few of Lucas' attacks hit Ichiro, but he didn't even flinch. With the help of Lightning Hindering, he manages to redirect the strength of the punches.
Ichiro's eyes started having blue rims.
[Weakness Detection Eye!]
In Ichiro's vision, he can clearly see blue spots appearing on Lucas's attacks; those are the Weakness spots.
[Ironic Edge - World Hindering!]
Ichiro started using his fingers, wrists, palms, and his shoulders to redirect the attacks.
Lucas gritted his teeth and tried to change the direction of his attacks, but that made his weak spots even more visible, which is what Ichiro wanted.
Ichiro moved his right arm towards one of the blue spots and struck it.
Lucas' posture instantly worsened, he started stumbling, but that gave Ichiro the time he needed.
[STEEL SMASH - THE END IS NEAR!]
Ichiro unleashed his nostalgic punch and struck Lucas on his stomach.
''Argh.'' Lucas was sent flying, but Ichiro instantly leaped after him.
After Lucas's back crashed to the ground, Ichiro was already above him.
[STEEL SMASH - THE END IS HERE!]
Ichiro's punch started approaching Lucas' face.
Lucas sighed and closed his eyes.
*SWOOSH*
But… Ichiro's punch was almost in contact with Lucas' face, but it stopped an inch before the contact.
Lucas opened his eyes and saw Ichiro's powerful-looking fist almost touching his face.
The Club Advisor was brought of his stupor; he put his arm towards the ceiling, ''SPAR OVER! WINNER KUROGAMI ICHIRO!''
*CHEER*
The loud shout woke the spectators, they instantly started cheering loudly.
Ichiro breathed deeply and reeled his fist back. He put his left hand forwards.
Lucas looked at the hand and grabbed it.
Ichiro pulled him up, and now they were standing facing each other.
Lucas stayed silent, but then he opened his mouth, ''Good match.''
Ichiro nodded, and with a slight smile, ''Nice one.''
Lucas chuckled and scratched the back of his head, ''To think you surpassed me so quickly.''
Ichiro wryly smiled; he would never be able to surpass Lucas this quick without the help of the System.
''You both alright?'' The Club Advisor said anxiously.
Lucas nodded, ''Broken nose probably, and I might have broken rib.''
Ichiro sighed, ''Yeah… My ribs hurt as well, and I might have internal bleeding.''
Lucas nodded, ''Yeah, I feel like my brains are swelling as well.''
''Yeah, we are fine, though. I think I might pass out soon and get permanent damage, but otherwise, I am fine.'' Ichiro said.
Lucas nodded, ''My ears are ringing as well; that is probably not good.
''Now that you said about it… I felt like my heart stopped beating a few times in the fight; it probably doesn't mean anything.'' Ichiro scratched his neck and said.
Lucas agreed, ''Yeah… I feel like my organs are failing, and I think my lungs exploded.''
Lucas and Ichiro turned their heads towards pale-faced the Club Advisor, and both said at the same time, ''We are fine, though.''
''THAT'S NOT FINE; YOU BOTH ARE DYING!'' The Club Advisor shouted anxiously; every time he heard their injuries, he felt like his heart had stopped beating.
But then… Lucas and Ichiro couldn't keep a straight face anymore and started laughing.
''PPFFTT!'' Most of the students heard the conversation and couldn't keep a straight face either.
''W-Why are you laughing?!'' The Club Advisor was confused, they are dying, and yet they are laughing?!
Ichiro wiped the tears from his eyes, ''It was only a joke; we both are fine.''
Lucas nodded and patted the Club Advisor's shoulder, ''You are so innocent, Club Advisor-chan.''
The Club Advisor's eyebrows twitched.
Ichiro and Lucas started walking towards the changing room with laughter.