Ali sized Sol Mirek up with a sneer.
"You?" he said with obvious disdain. When he saw Sol earlier pushing Kaioh Kaku's wheelchair, and then someone else had even taken that task over, he couldn't understand what this young man could possibly be worth fighting.
But that was fine, Ali thought. Against such a weak opponent, he could easily save his energy for the real Great Raitai Tournament.
Sol didn't speak. He stood calmly, looking like any ordinary young man. A handsome face perhaps, but nothing about him suggested danger.
Master Hiro, barely containing himself, began shaking with suppressed laughter.
"Let's change locations, fight in the hotel's official training ground," he said between chuckles. "After all, this is technically a qualifying match for the Great Raitai. It needs to be formal. And maybe call an ambulance while you're at it."
With that, Hiro burst into the hotel, laughing so hard he could hardly walk.
The disciples who followed him exchanged sympathetic glances toward Ali.
"Well, I suppose we should go in first," Ali said coolly, though the sympathetic looks and the earlier remark stung his pride. How weak did these people think he was?
The group made their way to the training ground behind the hotel. Hiro, still wiping tears of laughter from his eyes, leaned toward Retsu Kaioh.
"How long do you think he'll last against Sol?" Hiro asked, unable to speak without laughter.
Retsu shook his head with an amused grin. "Master, you're being terribly impolite."
Kaioh Kaku sat serenely nearby, smiling but saying nothing, waiting for the match to begin.
Ali had not expected Kaioh Kaku to come watch. His smug expression deepened. If this was how his own father was acknowledged as a legend, then this fight would prove his lineage was just as strong.
He stood in the center of the arena, rotating his wrists, face radiating supreme confidence.
Across from him, Sol stood casually without even assuming a fighting stance.
"Can I wear gloves? I'm worried my punches might be too heavy and hurt him," Ali said with a grin, pulling out a pair of blue boxing gloves and slipping them on.
"Young man," Ali said with false concern, "it's not too late to surrender now. I wouldn't want anyone to accuse me of bullying children."
Then he shifted into a nimble boxing stance, feet sliding effortlessly.
"Begin," Sol replied calmly, eyes fixed on him without flinch or fear.
Underestimation made Ali's pride flare.
"Hmph!" Ali lunged, launching a sharp straight punch toward Sol's face.
Bang!
He expected a reaction, but Sol didn't even flinch. Ali's glove slammed into nothing but air—and yet his fist felt as if it had hit steel.
"What?" Ali stumbled back in shock, staring at his glove in disbelief.
On the sidelines, Master Hiro was laughing uncontrollably. "Hahaha, I told you this would happen!"
Retsu Kaioh merely shook his head with a wry smile.
Kaioh Kaku's cloudy eyes narrowed with a knowing expression. Sol was using psychological tactics Kaku had gently taught him — calm confidence to disrupt an opponent's expectation.
Ali, refusing to believe it, charged again. This time he unleashed a flurry of punches aimed at vital points.
But Sol still stood unmoved, no stance change, no hesitation.
"This is impossible!" Cold sweat formed on Ali's brow. Facing Sol made it feel like standing before an unmovable mountain.
Seeing Ali halt, Sol finally spoke.
"Your jab lacks efficiency, your cross has no real power, your footwork is loose," Sol said in a clear voice. "Not a single technique you used was executed properly. And yet you expect to compete with me on the same stage?"
He stepped forward slightly, gaze cool but cutting.
"I'll show you just how lacking you are."
Before Ali could react, Sol vanished in a blur of motion. A gust of wind swept across Ali's senses as he was struck three times in rapid succession — head, abdomen, groin — with precision so clean Ali barely had a moment to scream.
Sol wasn't playing. Since Ali couldn't control his own "little head," Sol made sure to remove the problem entirely.
Ali's body shot out like a kite with a snapped string, crashing through the training ground wall. Blood poured from his mouth and nose as he crumpled in a heap.
Right on cue,
Wee-woo! Wee-woo! Wee-woo!
The ambulance arrived at the hotel entrance.
"Perfect timing! Hahaha!" Hiro was in stitches, clutching his sides. "I told you, he wouldn't last three seconds!"
Retsu Kaioh smiled with quiet amusement. It was the first time he'd seen Hiro this joyful — even in that flashy light purple shirt.
Kaioh Kaku slowly pushed himself forward, his cloudy eyes sparkling with that curious light.
"Sol," he said with an ironic tone, "did he have a personal grudge with you? That was more brutal than necessary."
Sol shrugged with a hint of playful irreverence.
"He had a problem with my friend," he said simply. "And I was holding back. I didn't expect him to be this fragile."
Paramedics loaded Ali into the ambulance while Sol and the others walked into the hotel lobby.
Baki Hanma, having heard from Retsu what Sol had done, managed a weak smile.
"Sol Mirek," he greeted, voice hoarse but sincere, "long time. You've gotten stronger."
Sol gave him a nod, trying to sound casual.
"You too. Try to take it easy."
Baki grinned weakly. "I'll… keep fighting."
The next day dawned clear with a cloudless sky.
The towering stone arena rose into the air. Its smooth gray walls were adorned with red and gold serpentine pillars that gleamed in the sunlight — this was the ancient venue of the Great Raitai Tournament.
Outside, countless spectators waited eagerly, anticipation humming through the air for the greatest martial event in a century.
As the arena lights came alive, cheers thundered across the sky.
After a hundred years, the tournament was reborn.
The host's voice resonated through the arena with exhilarating fervor.
"Twelve warriors have come from across nations to compete."
"Master Hiro, representing Blackwater Province and the White Dragon Temple!"
"Retsu Kaioh, also representing Blackwater Province and White Dragon Temple!"
"Yu Haiwang, practitioner of Yaoying Boxing!"
"King Jikai, from Japan, Empty Hand Karate!"
A sudden murmur rose from the crowd.
"Can we accept only twelve contestants?"
"Absolutely not!"
A deafening protest broke out.
With a smile, the host raised his voice once more.
"Then let us welcome our special guest contestants!"
The arena exploded in cheers.
"Returning after a hundred years, the true legend, the former Great Raitai Tournament champion, still alive — the pinnacle among pinnacles, Kaioh Kaku!"
The crowd's roar was ear-splitting as the 146-year-old master entered, slowly pushing his wheelchair forward into the arena.
"Next, confirmed contestants by the Martial Arts Association…"
"The direct disciple of Kaioh Kaku, strength and technique combined, representing Huaguo — Sol Mirek!"
Sol felt a slight flutter in his scalp at the announcer's words. Apparently, he really couldn't escape being called the "ultimate weapon."
Amid the audience's cheers, Sol walked into the arena with stoic composure. In such a grand moment, cool was essential.
He stood behind Kaioh Kaku, both dressed in white martial training attire. Hearing the thunderous applause of thousands, Sol felt a surprising warmth in it — occasionally, such recognition was not unwelcome.
A faint corner of his mouth lifted before he suppressed it and composed himself.
He had to live up to the introduction, after all.
"The next two contestants are, from Japan… Yujiro Hanma! And also from Japan… Baki Hanma!"
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