We were granted a ten-minute break after the qualification match. Ten minutes wasn't much time for most fighters to regain their bearings before the title round, but it wasn't an issue for me.
My abnormal stamina made burning out in this short event nigh impossible, after all. Compared to everyone else here, I was already ready for the next fight. Still, I took it without any issues since I could flaunt my win to Toph.
"Weak, weak, weak!" She complained as she stomped her foot, the ground trembling at each step. "Why are they so weak? At this level, I could beat them with my eyes closed!"
"But you're blind, my lady..."
She growled at my joke. "You get what I mean! Even the badgermoles would be a harder opponent; these shmucks are just fodder at this point! You should have just let me join this."
"Again, I didn't know that the level of Earth Bending in this underground tournament was... this low, admittedly," I sheepishly laughed. "But, as an old deranged man once said, 'Constant vigilance!' is key to a peaceful, safe life."
At my great advice, she rolled her eyes. Granted, she'd heard this a million times already, but I had to make the lesson stick.
"Whatever," she said, turning away with a dismissive wave. "I'll just wait here with popcorn while you bring back that belt. It'd look good in my room next to my other trinkets."
"Shouldn't it be displayed in my room instead?"
She snorted. "I'm gonna win it in the next tournament anyways; I might as well take it for myself!"
"Grrrr..." Arrogant little brat! I'll show you with a noogie to the brain when I get my hands on you...!
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Standing back on the now-spotless arena floor, I watched silently from my corner as the emcee hyped up The Boulder.
"Three-time champion of our Earth Rumble! The Boulder has consistently proven his prowess as the best Earth Bender in Gaoling with his explosive Bending!"
The crowd roared as he flexed, striking exaggerated poses for every angle, each one met with another wave of cheers from his fans.
"Strong enough to clash against three other Benders, fast and nimble, and strikingly handsome! Will this be his fourth-in-a-row attempt at the title? Let's find out! RIGGGGGHT NOW!"
Oh, above us, the arena roof shifted with Earth Bending to instantly close it, dimming the sunlight and simulating a dramatic stage of descending "lights." The effect only heightened the suspense.
"ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ARENA! THE BOOOOULDDEEEER!" A beam of sunlight cut dramatically across his section of the arena, spotlighting him.
Another explosion of cheers shook the stands.
"AND ON THE OTHER SIDE..." The emcee paused briefly, almost disinterested. "It's Zero. Give a cheer, I guess."
The favoritism! It's so thick! Even the "lights" seemed reluctant to reach my side.
I held back an amused chuckle as I rolled my shoulders, loosening up.
Both The Boulder and I slowly made our way toward the center of the arena.
"Hm... The Boulder is confused by you," he said, speaking in the third person as he sized me up. More specifically, my build.
Compared to his broad, rock-solid physique, I looked almost out of place. Thin and compact, as opposed to the standard most would expect from an Earth Bender.
"Are you an elder or something? The Boulder's morals are as sturdy as rock. The Boulder will not hit an old man... unless the old man hits The Boulder first!"
Without waiting for a response, The Boulder punched forward, and a slab of rock shot up from the ground in an instant.
I shattered it with a backfist.
A flicker of surprise crossed his face at how easily his attack had been destroyed. The Boulder then dropped into a low horse stance, then thrust both hands outward and up.
The ground beneath my feet erupted. Dust and stone rushed upwards in the form of sharp spikes, threatening to skewer me where I stood.
A simple jump backward was all it took to avoid them.
I landed lightly for just a moment before pushing off again. The spikes chased after me in a staggered line, tearing through the arena floor as The Boulder moved forward, his steps syncing with each rising pillar of stone.
That... That couldn't be it, right?
I shifted from defense to offense in a split second, pivoting on my heel as I rushed toward The Boulder.
He reacted immediately. With a hard stomp, he kicked up a slab of rock in front of him, then drove a punch straight through it. The stone shattered on impact, exploding into a barrage of jagged fragments that tore through the air toward me.
Hardening my skin with Chi, I brought up the backs of my fists and deflected each one in quick succession.
I came into punching range.
"What the—?" Caught off guard by how quickly I got in, The Boulder reacted on instinct, walls of stone snapping up around his body in a desperate attempt for defense—
My fist crashed through it without resistance, the stone caving in as I drove the punch straight into his noggin.
His body jerked backward from the impact, slamming into and then through the wall behind him, stone shattering as he was sent flying across the arena.
He hit the ground hard on his back with a heavy thud, a strained groan escaping.
I stood with my guard up, waiting for The Boulder to counterattack.
...
I stared at my fist upon realizing that The Boulder was not joking around. He was down for the count?
T-The fight didn't even last for more than a minute.
Toph was right; these guys were chumps compared to how we'd usually spar!
From the edge of the arena, a referee in white and black ran towards the downed Boulder, checking on him. A few seconds later, with a sharp motion, the referee slashed his hand through the air.
"The Boulder has been knocked out!"
"The winner is ZERO, the unknown challenger!"
(o.o)
(>.<)
(o.o)
(O.O)?!
"What?"
============================================
"All it took was one punch? I—what?!"
On the walk back to the Beifong estate, I couldn't stop complaining, the EarthRumble championship belt hanging from my waist.
"They hyped him up so much, and all I got was one punch in! That doesn't make any sense. Even Chenu could've knocked that guy out!"
I clicked my tongue in frustration. "I got fired up for nothing."
"Hey!" Toph shot back, giggling as she walked beside me. "At least you got the prize money you oh-so-desired. And I get to keep this sweet belt!"
She reached over and patted the metal buckle with clear satisfaction.
I immediately swatted her hand away.
"My lady, this is clearly mine. If you wish to take it, you'll have to fight me for it."
I paused, then added, "Though… I'll still need to bring it back to EarthRumble in a few months for the next tournament. So try not to break it."
Toph's grin widened. She planted both hands on her hips, clearly pleased with herself. "Ahh, so what I'm hearing is..."
"... Since my victory is already guaranteed, I should take good care of it!"
My eye twitched before my shoulders slumped.
"Sure, whatever you say, my lady."
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NEXT UPDATE: 14 May, Thursday
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