The stadium thundered with noise as the next contestant strolled toward the ring with the lazy confidence of a king entering his palace.
Chris, the man in the summer shirt, shades glinting under the coliseum lights, cracked his knuckles. His sandals clacked across the floor as he entered the arena.
"Next Match: Chris 'Steel Knees' Navarro vs. TBD!" Mini's voice echoed through the dome, practically bouncing off the walls.
"Chris is South America's undefeated underground combat champion," added Double Pace Sensei, arms crossed. "He's said to have shattered the jaw of a panther with a single flying knee."
Mini practically squealed. "That's totally unconfirmed, Sensei, but I believe it!"
Across from him, a slender figure entered with grace.
TBD was not some nobody. He wore a black wushu outfit with crimson linings, and his eyes burned with quiet purpose.
He bowed slightly.
"Long Xing of the Dragon Cloud Temple," he introduced himself softly. "It will be an honor."
Chris chewed his gum, tossed the wrapper behind him, and winked. "Nice to meet you, Cloudy Temple. Let's dance."
DING!
The bell rang, and Long Xing darted in like a phantom. His footwork was art—he glided like vapor, hands flowing in circular momentum. Chris didn't move. He simply watched.
Then Long struck.
A fēng hǔ jiǎo—wind-tiger kick—shot through the air. Chris barely tilted his head to avoid it. Long spun mid-air, following with a sweeping hook. Chris ducked under, letting the kick glide past his temple like wind. The crowd oohed in awe.
"Fast…" Genji murmured from the stands. Asumi leaned forward.
"He's controlling the air around his movements… impressive chi manipulation."
Long's foot pressed down as he twisted his torso—Tiger Palm!
Chris blocked with his forearm and skidded back one step.
"Solid block," Double Pace Sensei muttered. "He absorbed that."
Chris smiled. "Alright, now my turn."
He vanished from view.
Boom!
The sound echoed through the ring as Chris reappeared right in front of Long, knee already in motion. Long crossed his arms just in time, but the impact blew him backward ten meters, dragging his feet like twin skates across the concrete.
Chris took off his sunglasses, folding them and placing them on the referee's head.
"Hold those."
Then he advanced.
Long exhaled slowly. "Phoenix Feather Form," he whispered.
He exploded forward in a spiral dance—kicks, elbow strikes, twisting palm techniques all flowed like a poem. Chris was struck once—twice—a kick to the ribs and a palm to the shoulder. But he kept moving forward. One knee strike to Long's thigh halted the flow.
Another to the sternum lifted the wushu master off the ground.
BAM!
Chris grabbed Long mid-air, spun, and delivered a Spinning Knee Smash to the back as they landed.
"Ughk!" Long gasped, coughing blood.
"Chris has insane core power," said Double Pace Sensei. "Those knees aren't just strikes—they're verdicts."
Long fell to his knees, coughing. He stood again, wobbling.
"I have one more technique," he said, breathing hard. "This is the spirit of my temple. DRAGON'S DESCENT!"
He screamed as his body ignited in blue chi. His next strike—an overhead crescent kick—split the wind.
Chris's eyes narrowed.
"Fine. You get one shot. Let's see if it's worth it."
The kick came, blinding in speed and grace.
But Chris stepped forward—
And kneed straight into the arc, meeting the attack head-on.
CLANG!
The explosion of chi nearly tore the arena apart. Dust flew. The audience gasped.
When the smoke cleared, Long Xing lay unconscious, eyes white, still standing—only to collapse moments later.
Chris stood untouched. Breathing normally.
"Nice try," he said.
The referee raised Chris's arm.
"Winner: Chris 'Steel Knees' Navarro!!"
Crowd erupted.
Mini jumped in the air. "He's a beast! Did you see that knee?! It was like he just ended gravity!"
Double Pace Sensei nodded solemnly. "The Dragon fell to steel tonight."
Backstage – After the Fight
Chris walked back into the fighter's lounge, towel around his neck. Genji, Asumi, Balze , Xao Min and even some of the other fighters watched him with new respect.
Chris stopped in front of Genji.
"Not bad, kid," he said, nodding at him. "You've got good eyes. Saw you analyze my form."
Genji nodded. "You're incredible."
Chris grinned. "Wanna know what's more incredible?"
He leaned in. "I wanna fight you."
Everyone turned.
Asumi raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that?"
Chris cracked his neck. "I've fought 212 matches in my life. Only bled in three. Genji's the kind of fighter that might make me bleed a fourth."
Genji didn't look away. "I'll accept, if we both reach the final."
Chris's grin widened. "Damn right we will."
Control Room – Hidden Observation Deck
Far above the arena, in a dark room behind tinted glass, Ken, the man in the black suit, sat watching every second of the fight.
His finger tapped against his chair's armrest. Monitors lit the room with silhouettes of combatants.
A thin smile played on his lips.
"Chris… Genji…" he whispered. "Both are prime candidates."
Behind him, an assistant in white robes asked nervously, "Sir, should I inform the others?"
Ken shook his head.
"No… let the tournament continue. But mark them both. If either of them awakens it, I want to be notified immediately."
He leaned forward, watching the screen where Genji and Chris spoke.
Then he whispered to himself, a slow grin spreading.
"I guess I've found him."
To be continued