**Kuoh Gymnasium – Combat Ring**
The stands were packed, the atmosphere charged with excitement. The first official match of the tournament was about to begin.
—"Fighters to the center!" the referee announced in a firm voice.
Videl Satan walked confidently into the ring, her gaze focused and serious. Her opponent, Ryo Masaki, a tall, muscular guy with a street brawler look, stared at her with a mix of arrogance and mockery.
—"Seriously? A girl is my opponent? This is gonna be easy," he said with a clumsy laugh.
Videl just smiled... her knuckles cracking.
—"Are you sure?"
*Ding ding!*
The match began, and the moment Ryo raised his arm to attack, Videl slid in with impeccable speed, delivered a kick to his knee that threw him off balance, and followed up with a hook to the abdomen that sent him rolling across the mat.
—"Technical KO! Videl Satan advances to the next round!" the referee shouted.
The stands erupted in cheers. Some boys sighed, others clapped. Videl stylishly brushed the dust off her gloves and returned to her corner without looking back.
From the stands, Alya watched with narrowed eyes.
—"Tsk... dangerous... but skilled. Have to admit it."
---
**Fourth Match: Daniel Hernández vs. Tetsuya Kurono**
—"Daniel Hernández and Tetsuya Kurono, to the ring!"
Daniel walked up with a relaxed smile. His body still felt fresh thanks to his daily training. Beside him, Hikari and Hibiki gave him a thumbs-up from the barrier.
Tetsuya Kurono, in his impeccable white judo uniform, gave a formal bow. His resume preceded him: regional youth champion, third place nationally, winner of multiple medals.
Daniel looked at him with excitement.
—"Finally! Someone who might actually make me try! My Haki is gonna be thrilled!"
Tetsuya frowned.
—"Haki?"
—"Nothing, just anime stuff."
*Ding ding!*
The judoka ran toward Daniel with technical speed, aiming to grab his arm for a classic takedown.
But Daniel... was no longer there.
The instant Tetsuya extended his hand, Daniel's Observation Haki activated automatically, and his body reacted on instinct. Without thinking, his fist shot out straight into Tetsuya's face.
*BAM!*
A single punch. Precise. Devastating. Tetsuya flew backward as if hit by a wrecking ball.
Absolute silence.
The stands were mute.
The referee approached and, after a few seconds, raised his hand:
—"Tetsuya Kurono has been knocked out! The winner is Daniel Hernández!"
Daniel blinked.
—"Huh...? What... happened?"
> —"You reacted on reflex. Your Observation Haki detected the grab and responded with all your strength before you could think. You knocked him out."
—"Good job... I guess," Ddraig commented with a dry laugh.
Daniel's eyes widened like plates, his face a picture of shock.
—"But I was just going to dodge!? I didn't want to... I didn't! I BECAME SAITAMA!"
From the edge of the ring, Videl, who was still watching the match, frowned, impressed.
—"...That boy... who the hell is he?"
Meanwhile, in the stands, Alya slowly lowered a handmade sign that said "Daniel will win!"... her expression now one of disbelief.
---
**After the Round**
While the following matches progressed, Daniel was in the rest area, head in his hands, radiating an aura of comical despair.
—"I want a fair fight! Just ONE! It's not fair to be this OP accidentally!"
Hikari and Hibiki couldn't stop laughing.
—"At least you didn't end up in your underwear like in those anime," said Hibiki, holding back tears of laughter.
—"Yeah... and there's a whole tournament left," Hikari added with a mischievous smile. —"Maybe you *will* find your worthy rival..."
Daniel sighed, resigned.
—"I hope it's not Goku in disguise."
**Kuoh Gymnasium – Rest Area**
After the announcement of the 16 qualifiers for the second round, the referee gave an official half-hour break for the fighters to rest, hydrate, and prepare. The stands were still lively, with spectators excitedly discussing the impact of Daniel's first fight.
—"Did you see that punch?! Not even Saitama on his best day!"
—"That Daniel boy... is he really human?"
—"Could he be some kind of secret martial artist?"
Daniel sighed in a corner of the gym, sitting on a wooden bench while drinking a bottle of water. Beside him, Hikari and Hibiki helped him check his gloves and massaged his shoulders.
—"Try not to knock out the next guy with a sneeze," Hikari said playfully, wiping his neck with a towel.
—"The idea is to improve, not destroy," added Hibiki, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.
Daniel nodded, though his expression was serious.
—"This time I'll be more conscious. I need to learn to use Haki without it controlling me... if I want to face real supernatural enemies, I can't rely on reflexes alone."
> —"Finally you're thinking like a warrior, partner."
—"Controlling your strength is harder than obtaining it," Ddraig told him from the Boosted Gear.
---
On the other side of the gym, Videl was watching discreetly. Sitting with her arms crossed and one leg over the other, her gaze was fixed on Daniel.
—"That guy... how can someone be that strong without even looking like a martial artist?" she murmured, frowning.
Beside her, one of the eliminated fighters tried to chat her up:
—"Hey, Videl-chan, want some water or something?"
—"No," she responded curtly, not taking her eyes off Daniel.
It's not normal. His aura isn't that of a simple student... it's as if... he knows what's going to happen before it does.
Could that be the "Haki" he was talking about?
---
**Round 2: Announced Matches**
The loudspeakers blared as the names were displayed on a screen:
Videl Satan vs. Hideo Matsura
Daniel Hernández vs. Gouda Seijuro
—"Gouda Seijuro?" Daniel read quietly, watching his next opponent approach the ring to warm up.
He was an enormous, muscular man with an appearance bordering on absurd. He stood at least 2 meters tall, with arms the size of tree trunks and a deep voice that could be heard from the other end of the gym. He had won his first match through pure brute force.
—"THAT is your opponent!?!" Hibiki said, eyes wide as plates.
—"He looks like a cross between Bane and a sumo wrestler..." Hikari added, a bit nervous.
Daniel simply stood up from the bench, shook out his uniform, and adjusted his gloves.
—"Now for real... no automatic reactions. This time I'll learn something."
And as he headed to the ring, Videl followed him with her gaze, now with a hint of... admiration?
*I don't care what it is, but I want to see how far that guy can go.*
**[Round 2 – Match 1: Videl Satan vs. Hideo Matsura]**
Hideo Matsura was a tall guy with decent muscles and plenty of confidence. He strutted while greeting the crowd as if he'd already won.
—"Come on, pretty girl! Hope you don't break a nail," he joked with an arrogant smile.
Videl didn't even respond. She just took her fighting stance, focused, and waited for the judge's signal.
—"Begin!"
Hideo took a step forward.
—"Look, I'll give you the first— *THWACK!*"
A precise, lightning-fast punch connected with his jaw before he could finish the sentence. The audience fell silent as Hideo collapsed to the floor, completely knocked out.
—"Should've warmed up your tongue less and your body more," Videl said, shaking her gloves and walking back without a glance.
---
**[Round 2 – Match 2: Daniel Hernández vs. Gouda Seijuro]**
Next up was Daniel. He walked up calmly but determined. Facing him, Gouda Seijuro, a human wall, laughed heartily as he stretched his neck.
—"This skinny guy is my opponent? Hahaha! What a joke. Get ready for a lesson in fighting, pretty boy."
Daniel simply closed his eyes and focused. This time he wouldn't make the same mistake as with Tetsuya. He needed to control his strength and use the fight as training for his Observation Haki.
—"Begin!"
Gouda wasted no time, charging like a runaway bull, arms outstretched.
Daniel took a step back, eyes half-closed. Images of Gouda's attack reached his mind moments before they happened. Every movement predictable. Every shift of weight. It all came to him like an anticipatory echo.
*Too slow... too obvious...*
He tried to prolong the fight a bit longer. He dodged, performed a couple of soft blocks, even let a fist graze his guard to measure the impact. But it was useless. It wasn't enough. His Haki wasn't evolving; he was just repeating movements without real pressure.
—"Not worth it," Daniel murmured.
Then he decided to end it.
A quick feint to the shoulder, a lateral step, and a clean combo: hook to the stomach, uppercut to the chin, and a finishing spinning kick that sent Gouda flying out of the ring.
The silence was total for two seconds... then cheers filled the gymnasium.
---
**[Rest Area – minutes later]**
Daniel walked back, wiping off sweat as Ddraig spoke in his mind:
> —"That was a good finishing move. Elegant, clean... and theatrical. Did you do it to mislead?"
—"Obviously. If I knocked him out with one punch again, they'd start getting suspicious."
> —"Too late. The girl is watching you again..."
Daniel discreetly turned and, indeed, Videl was staring fixedly at him from her spot in the shadows. Her narrowed eyes, doubtful expression, and the way she kept her arms crossed spoke for themselves.
—"...She didn't buy the 'tough opponent' act, did she?"
> —"Not for a second."
**[Saturday, afternoon – Tournament Rest Area]**
The sun was slowly descending, tinting the sky in golden hues as the tournament progressed to its more intense stage. Only eight fighters remained.
The announcement of the semifinals brought a mix of excitement and tension to those present. However, an accident on the ring during one of the matches caused a brief delay. One of the stage supports broke due to a technique from a fighter, pushing back the schedule.
Daniel's match was rescheduled for the end of the day, which left him with more time... but also with a guaranteed final against Videl, if they both won their respective matches.
Videl, in her corner, observed the list of remaining opponents. Her eyes stopped on her opponent's name:
Takeshi "The Colossus" Haneda.
—"...That name..." she whispered with a serious expression.
She remembered that name from the few times she had heard conversations between her father and his old martial arts friends. Takeshi Haneda was one of her father's rival students in the past, an almost forgotten figure, but with a formidable reputation.
—"Dad never talked much about him... but when he did, he seemed annoyed."
As Videl tied her gloves and focused, Daniel watched the board with some confusion. His opponent's name:
Shiranui Kaito.
A young man with dark hair, steel-gray eyes, and an aura... strangely opaque yet unnatural. He didn't seem special physically—not a mastodon like Gouda, nor agile like others. But Daniel felt it from the first moment:
—"...This guy... something about him vibrates differently."
> —"Careful, partner," Ddraig warned. "That's not a simple human. I don't know what exactly... but he has a very faint trace of supernatural energy. Concealed."
—"A Sacred Gear user?"
> —"Maybe... or maybe someone who learned to hide his true power."
Daniel frowned, excitement and caution mixing within him. Finally, a fight where his Haki would have to be sharp.
**[In the ring – Last match of the day]**
Videl stepped into the ring, facing Takeshi Haneda, who smiled bitterly.
—"The daughter of the great Mr. Satan... Let's see if fame is genetic or earned."
Videl didn't answer. She just raised her fists. The fight was tough. Takeshi wasn't a novice; he was a master of classic combat, with years of experience and brute strength. But Videl... was faster, more agile, and more precise.
After a couple of intense exchanges, a combo of knee strike and punch led her to victory.
The crowd roared.
And Videl only thought about her next target: Daniel Hernández.
---
**[Moments later – Preparing for the final match of the day]**
Daniel adjusted the wraps on his arms while feeling Shiranui's gaze. There was no emotion on his face. Only calm.
—"This match will be interesting," the strange young man murmured. —"I've heard about you... Daniel Hernández."
Daniel frowned.
—"And who are you?"
Shiranui just smiled with a cryptic air.
—"Someone who wants to know if the rumors about you are true."
Daniel walked to the ring with a determined smile.
—"Then come and find out."
**[Kuoh Tournament – Last fight of Saturday]**
The sun began to set completely, leaving the gym illuminated by artificial lights. The crowd murmured with anticipation.
Daniel Hernández vs. Shiranui Kaito, two of the tournament's unexpected favorites.
Both stepped into the ring, facing each other. Shiranui was completely serene, with a low stance, fingers in an attacking position, measured breathing. A dense aura surrounded him.
Daniel, for his part, exhaled slowly.
Regulating his strength, careful with every step, every movement. His Observation Haki went into overdrive the moment the bell rang.
—"BEGIN!"
Shiranui disappeared.
Literally.
A trail of shadow slid across the ring like lightning, forcing Daniel to move backward in an agile spin. The speed was absurd; even with his Haki active, it was like seeing blurs.
—"What...?!" Daniel barely reacted.
The first blow came straight to his stomach, but Daniel blocked it just in time. The impact forced him back three steps.
—"Damn, this is serious..."
The onslaught of blows was relentless; each of Shiranui's movements was like a deadly dance, a style Daniel didn't know firsthand. However, his Haki improved with every second. His mind sharpened like a well-tempered sword. His breathing synchronized with the rhythm of his enemy.
It was then, in the middle of a rapid exchange, that Shiranui spoke:
—"...I didn't expect to find another Taimanin around here. I thought you were an undercover agent."
Daniel blinked, confused.
—"Taimanin?"
That name.
He knew that name.
Action Taimanin, a mobile game with ninja waifus...
Or worse?
Taimanin Asagi, the visual novel with a rather adult reputation.
Daniel slowly swallowed.
—"Please... let you be from the game universe and not the visual novel..."
Shiranui paused for a fraction of a second, puzzled.
—"You know about the Taimanin? Where did you learn that?"
—"Umm... YouTube," Daniel responded quickly, sweating comically.
Shiranui's expression froze.
His face went from neutral to total panic.
—"That was classified information! No civilian was supposed to know that!"
Daniel raised an eyebrow as an anime-style sweat drop rolled down his forehead.
—"Is this guy an idiot...?"
Shiranui began to have a comical existential crisis, muttering to himself things like "they're going to demote me!", "this was a reconnaissance mission!", "why did I say it out loud?!"
Daniel watched him silently, not knowing whether to hit him or offer him therapy.
—"Finished your drama?" he asked, arms crossed.
Shiranui recomposed himself and coughed in embarrassment, adopting his ninja pose again.
—"Forget what I said. Now I'm going all out!"
—"You say that as if you weren't before..."
**[Resumption of the fight]**
This time, Daniel was prepared.
His Observation Haki had taken a brutal leap during the fight. Now, no matter how fast Shiranui's technique was, Daniel saw the movements before they happened.
He dodged. Blocked. Predicted.
His body reacted automatically, as if it knew what was coming even without thinking.
Finally, a perfect instant:
A sweep.
A dodge from Shiranui.
A punch straight to the torso.
*BOOM!*
Shiranui flew across the ring and fell outside the ropes, unconscious.
Technical K.O.!
The crowd went wild.
Daniel's victory was clear... but this time, it was obvious he had to put in more effort.
From the stands, Videl watched him, serious and analytical.
—"Definitely not a normal student..."
**[End of the match – waiting area]**
Daniel returned to Hikari and Hibiki, sweaty, tired... but satisfied.
> —"Good job, kid," Ddraig said. "Your Haki is advancing by leaps and bounds. This type of fight suits you."
Daniel smiled with pride.
—"Now all that's left... is Videl."