Mishima Prefecture — Zenith Coliseum
Day One — Blood Path Tournament (Continued)
The coliseum hadn't cooled down one bit. After two explosive matches, the arena was electric with bloodlust and anticipation. The holographic cube above the ring flickered again, revealing the next fight.
Mini nearly leapt from her seat.
"ALRIGHT, YOU PSYCHOS! Strap in tight — 'cause it's time for the MAIN EVENT of Round One!"
Double Pace Sensei spoke calmly, adjusting his black robe.
"Next is the boy who wears legacy like armor. Phoenix Blood... Genji Takashima"
The crowd roared.
Mini pointed to the arena.
"AND HIS OPPONENT! The Shinobi of Silicon Valley! The Ninja of Netflix! America's Blade in the Shadows — DANIEL TAI!"
Spotlights crashed down.
Genji stepped into the ring wearing a simple martial gi, sleeves rolled, red pendant glowing on his neck. His green eyes were serious. Calm. Focused.
Across from him, Daniel Tai somersaulted onto the platform in full black combat gear — modern armor fused with traditional ninja garb. A katana was strapped to his back, though untouched. Smoke bombs hung from his belt. He wore a headset, syncing data in real-time.
Daniel smirked.
"Let's see how the ancient holds up against the future, samurai boy."
Genji said nothing.
He just lowered into Phoenix Form One.
The referee raised his hand.
"No killing. No weapons. First to surrender, knockout, or incapacity — loses. Ready?"
Genji nodded. Daniel gave a mock salute.
DING!
ROUND THREE: GENJI VS. DANIEL TAI
Daniel blurred out of view.
(Too fast!)
A kunai flashed from the shadows.
Genji ducked, narrowly avoiding it. Daniel came in from the side with a spinning heel kick — fast, brutal.
CRACK!
Genji blocked with both forearms, sliding back across the tiles. Sparks flew.
Daniel didn't let up. He moved like a snake — twisting, flipping, using hidden wires and smoke bombs to keep Genji off-balance.
"You're too slow!"
A shuriken grazed Genji's cheek. Blood dripped. The crowd gasped.
Mini screamed, "DANIEL IS A GHOST! A PHANTOM IN THE STORM!"
Genji clenched his fists.
(He's not just fast. He's studied me.)
He adapted. He stopped chasing shadows.
He closed his eyes, felt the floor.
Waited.
Step. Whirl. Wind.
Then he struck.
Genji turned mid-air and delivered a brutal counter elbow as Daniel came from behind — CRACK!
Daniel stumbled, surprised.
Genji moved. Quick jabs. Low kicks. Phoenix Talon combos.
He landed three clean hits to Daniel's ribs.
But Daniel wasn't done.
He vanished again in a cloud of smoke.
Then came a brutal sweep kick from below — WHAM!
Genji's legs were taken out. He hit the ground hard.
Daniel landed on him with a knee to the chest.
"You're good, Genji. But you're not ninja good."
He raised his fist to finish it — but Genji caught it.
Eyes glowing green.
He roared, flipping Daniel over.
His red pendant blazed.
"I don't need to be a ninja. I'm the storm."
He rose, breathing heavy, blood dripping from his mouth.
Daniel spun — launching a flurry of chain-linked kicks and pressure strikes.
Genji was slower.
He took hits.
He faltered.
But he endured.
Then, he bent his knees.
Spirit surged.
His eyes burned.
"Red Thunder Style... Final Kick."
He dashed forward — a red streak across the arena.
Daniel tried to dodge — but too late.
Genji soared.
"RAIJIN NO KERI!!!"
BOOOOOOM!!
His foot collided with Daniel's chest like a missile. The shockwave split the ring floor. Thunder echoed across the stadium.
Daniel flew backward, crashing into the wall. Cracked. Burned. Unconscious.
Silence. Then madness.
"WINNER: GENJI TAKASHIMA!!"
Mini jumped in place.
"HOLY CRAP! HE TURNED THAT NINJA INTO A SATELLITE!"
Double Pace simply nodded.
"Phoenix Blood. Proven."
Genji breathed hard, body swaying. But he stood tall.
Asumi clapped from the stands.
"He did it... That idiot really did it."
NEXT MATCH: ASUMI VS. BADDY GIRL
Mini looked puzzled.
"Uh... okay, this is weird... Next up — ASUMI MAOSHINARA vs... BADDY GIRL?"
A slow creak echoed.
From the opposite gate, a towering figure shuffled out.
It was an old man.
Wearing a frilly pink doll dress.
Makeup smeared.
Eyes wild.
Double Pace tensed.
"That's not a joke. That's Gurei Yubaba... retired assassin. Disguised as a child to disarm foes mentally."
Mini blinked.
"This world is messed UP."
Asumi entered in black-and-red phoenix gear. Calm. Confident.
But she stared at Baddy Girl like she was watching a horror movie.
"You seriously dressed like that?"
"Don't mock me, little birdie," the old man hissed. "I'll snap your back and stuff you in a dollhouse."
Ref raised his hand.
"Begin!"
DING!
ROUND FOUR: ASUMI VS. BADDY GIRL
Baddy Girl lunged forward with freakish speed.
His fingers twisted into unnatural claws — striking toward Asumi's spine.
She dodged, spinning to the side.
But he was relentless.
A backhand slam.
A double palm thrust.
A whirlwind of twisted old-man kung fu.
He laughed as he fought.
"Let me feel your bones SNAP!"
Asumi grunted.
He caught her shoulder once — wrenching it.
Pain exploded down her arm.
"Hah! Got you now!"
He raised her by the arm, about to slam her down —
But Asumi twisted mid-air, coiling like a whip.
BAM! Her knee smashed into his chin.
He dropped her.
She landed hard.
Staggered.
Then grit her teeth.
"Enough creepy uncle vibes. Time to burn."
Her aura ignited.
Red flame surged.
She launched into Phoenix Form Two.
Her fists moved like flares.
She struck his knees.
His elbows.
Then flipped over him and landed a flying kick to the back of his neck.
He howled.
"Dollhouse... CRUSH!"
He threw his whole body weight down at her.
She met it head-on with her technique:
Phoenix Smash Spiral.
A rising uppercut into his gut followed by five-hit combo, finishing with a kick to the temple.
The old man flew like a broken doll.
CRASH.
KO.
Ref waved.
"WINNER: ASUMI MAOSHINARA!"
Mini looked nauseous.
"That was the weirdest match I've ever loved."
As Genji, Blaze, and Xao Min rushed to Asumi's side, clapping her on the back, someone else descended from the stands.
Wearing sunglasses, an open summer shirt, and board shorts — a tall, bronze-skinned fighter sipped a coconut.
"Yo. You guys are killing it."
Mini blinked.
"CHRIS! Knee Boxer King of Okinawa!"
Chris grinned, tossing the coconut aside.
Genji grinned. "Good luck, man."
Chris cracked his neck.
"Who needs luck when you got skill?"
He leapt into the ring with a flying knee that shattered a training dummy.
The arena thundered again.
TO BE CONTINUED...