Inside Karuza High's principal office.
Azer's heart began to race as he watched Kiernan take the final steps to stand at the ring.
'Kiernan can defeat Kalen, but what about their last fighter, Arthan? Middle Stage Martial Fighter, and I don't think Kiernan can go through the first match without a scratch.'
It felt like the second day spot was slipping away from their hands.
'Come on!' Azer looked at the framed picture on his desk, showing him and his father standing in front of Karuza High.
His father had his usual smile, but Azer wasn't smiling. It didn't look like he was happy.
The picture was taken only three days before he officially left Karuza High and joined their rival school, Xaru High.
'Another year?' Azer frowned and turned to look at the match on his laptop. 'You don't want to wait for another year, don't you, Kiernan?'
Class 1-A, Karuza High.
A television was playing the match.
It was the last day of the class, and instead of having their usual history class, they decided to watch the match instead.
The teacher was seated on the chair and was drinking the coffee he had previously brewed in the morning.
'Raimei High, how unlucky,' the teacher thought.
Julia and the rest of the class watched with keen interest. However, they've all heard about Raimei High. They were a famous school that was often featured in New Rakuya's fighting newspapers.
'They need to defeat Raimei and another school to get to the second day.' Julia's lips curled down. 'Not happening this year, huh…'
Her father promised to take her to Tiamut for the second day of the matches if Karuza High made there, but it was looking extremely unlikely.
Everyone in the classroom was already convinced of Kiernan's strength and knew that he was pretty much number one in their school already.
However, Raimei High gained their reputation by crushing talented individuals.
Talent meant nothing in front of them!
The stadium grew rowdy as the people all around New Rakuya cheered for their favorites. A few eyes also landed on the match between Karuza High and Raimei High.
Raimei High's cheerleading squad was loud. With their trumpets, drums, and pom-poms, everyone heard them clearly.
"Are the fighters ready?!" The referee asked.
"Of course." Kalen smiled and lowered his stance just a little bit.
The sole of his foot was tapping the ground, as if he were revving his engine before a race.
"I am." Kiernan moved into his usual Iron Style stance.
A few sharp-eyed audience members noticed something strange about Kiernan. It looked like he was a fortress, strong and unbreakable.
The referee gritted his teeth and swung his arm down.
With an explosive start, Kalen accelerated forward. He didn't run in a straight line. Instead, in a slightly zig-zagging motion, just like a lightning bolt!
As Kalen's feet left the ground, he was suddenly spinning in the air and threw a flying roundhouse kick.
Kiernan moved his right arm, and Kalen's leg smashed into his forearm. The kick had great strength behind it, but Kiernan didn't flinch even slightest.
'Weird…' Kalen thought. 'It definitely hurt. This kick of mine can break bones.'
As Kalen landed back on the ground, he raised his leg up and kicked towards Kiernan's side of the head.
Once again, Kiernan placed his arm in the way and blocked it before it could do any harm.
"So, you don't flinch away from kicking." Kalen retreated a few steps.
Those kicks were nothing but part of Kalen's plan. He wanted to immediately take control of the fight, so he hoped that those kicks would push Kiernan straight to the edge of the ring.
Most of his opponents usually dodge those kicks as they could sense the danger on them, but Kiernan didn't seem to be aware of it as he simply blocked them.
Kalen looked at Kiernan's arms, trying to see whether he actually felt the pain of those kicks, but it didn't look like it!
'Very well.' Kalen launched forward. 'Try to survive my martial arts then!'
Kiernan looked carefree. He just stepped closer, his body firmly locked in his defensive stance.
"Raimei Karate, Straight Punch!" Kalen twisted his waist, and as he threw his punch, his arm straightened out like a bolt of lightning.
Kiernan placed the side of his hand against Kalen's fist and steered it away smoothly.
"Iron Style, Rendering Edge!"
After missing his punch, Kalen lowered his stance. Way down. He went down to the ground and swept his legs towards Kiernan's.
"Raimei Karate, Sweeping Ground!"
Kiernan jumped over the leg and punched at Kalen, but as if he expected it, when the punch landed on his cheek, he turned his head alongside the punch.
Kalen started grinning, and he then swung his elbow at Kiernan's face, which seemed completely unprotected.
However, using his left hand, Kiernan grabbed the elbow and used his legs to wrap around Kalen's waist, pulling him down to the ground.
Like snakes, his legs moved up and wrapped around Kalen's neck, cutting off all his access to the air around him.
"Yes!" Jin jumped to his feet with a gigantic grin. 'This is where Kiernan's mastery shows. Grappling! He managed to destroy Andre Mathieu, a grappling specialist. Kalen is in trouble!'
Shocked cries came from Raimei High stands. They didn't expect to see Kalen in such a bad position!
However, Raimei High's coach didn't look concerned at all.
'That won't work.' Arthan said with a smile. 'Kalen is, y'see, quite crazy.'
Kalen stopped struggling. While the legs were squeezing hard on his throat, he couldn't breathe the slightest. It was also beginning to turn dark for him.
The referee was ready to call the fight off soon.
"Dinner? Just for me?" Kalen opened his mouth and said. "Yes, please!"
With his teeth, as if they had been sharpened by a knife, he tore into the meat of Kiernan's leg.
The blood spewed like it was straight from a crimson fountain.
"?!" Kiernan's eyes shook.