Chapter 31 - The First Match – Kyoko vs Touwa
The crowd erupted into cheers as Jun stepped forward to make the first announcement of the Clan Wars. His voice echoed through the massive Colosseum, silencing the anticipation-filled atmosphere.
"The first match of the Clan Wars will be between Kyoko Seiryu of the Azure Dragon Clan and Touwa Raijin of the Thunder God Clan!"
A mix of cheers and murmurs spread across the audience. Kyoko, standing next to Sho, tensed up. She clutched her hands together and took a deep breath.
"I'm in the first match... I'm so scared," she admitted, looking at Sho with uncertainty.
Sho placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his voice steady. "You don't have to be scared. You trained hard for this. Just focus on the fight and do your best."
Kyoko nodded, though her nerves still lingered. She took one last deep breath before stepping toward the battlefield, the weight of thousands of eyes pressing down on her. Touwa Raijin, her opponent, had already entered the battle area, standing still in a relaxed posture, his arms loosely hanging at his sides.
Jun raised his hand, signaling the start. "Let the battle begin!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Kyoko tightened her grip on her sword and studied her opponent. Touwa was completely still, leaving himself open to attack. His stance had no guard, no defensive posture—just a relaxed body as if he wasn't even taking the match seriously.
"What is this?" Kyoko muttered. "Is he underestimating me?"
Realizing she had an opportunity, she dashed forward with impressive speed, aiming to strike. Her sword gleamed in the sunlight as she swung toward Touwa's exposed chest.
But just as her blade was about to land, Touwa vanished.
Kyoko's eyes widened in shock as a sudden force of air brushed past her. She immediately turned around—Touwa was behind her!
A perfect counterattack position.
She barely managed to dodge as Touwa swung his fist toward her head, stepping back just in time. She took a few deep breaths, her mind racing.
"What was that speed?! How did he move like that?"
Touwa smirked, standing in the same relaxed position once again. "You look confused, Kyoko Seiryu. Let me tell you something interesting..."
Kyoko steadied her stance and prepared another attack. She refused to be shaken. "I don't care what you have to say. I just have to land a hit."
With that thought, she launched forward once more, using her Seiryu Clan's renowned swift blade techniques. She aimed for his shoulder, calculating the exact angle where he could least evade.
But again, Touwa disappeared.
Before she could react, he was already behind her, and this time, he didn't hesitate. His fist struck her side with blinding speed, sending her staggering forward. The impact rattled through her body.
She coughed, gripping her ribs. "That speed is insane..."
Touwa sighed and shook his head. "I'll explain so you don't keep attacking blindly."
He raised his hand slightly. "My Thunder Step ability only activates when I'm in danger. That means if you want me to stop moving so fast, you have two choices..."
He smirked, his sharp eyes locked onto Kyoko's.
"Attack me recklessly... or leave the match."
Kyoko clenched her teeth. She wouldn't back down. She tightened her grip on her sword and rushed forward again, determination blazing in her eyes.
The battle continued for several minutes. Kyoko attacked repeatedly, trying to predict Touwa's movements, but each time, he vanished and reappeared, delivering counterattacks with inhuman speed. The audience watched in awe at his reflexes.
Eventually, Kyoko was running out of stamina. Her movements became slower, her breathing heavier. Touwa, on the other hand, was still standing effortlessly.
Then, he decided to end it.
With a thunderous burst of speed, Touwa rushed toward Kyoko, his fist crackling with energy. Before she could react, his punch landed squarely on her chest.
Kyoko's body flew backward. She crashed outside the battle field, rolling across the ground until she finally stopped.
The crowd gasped.
A few seconds of silence passed before Jun raised his hand.
"Kyoko Seiryu has fallen out of the battlefield. The winner is Touwa Raijin!"
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The Raijin Clan members cheered, celebrating Touwa's victory. The Seiryu Clan, on the other hand, fell into an uneasy silence.
Kyoko sat up slowly, holding her chest where the punch had landed. Her vision was slightly blurry, but she could still hear the roaring crowd.
She had lost.
Sho rushed to her side, offering a hand to help her up. "Are you okay?"
Kyoko forced a smile despite the pain. "Yeah... but that guy was way too fast."
Sho looked toward Touwa, who stood in the battlefield with an amused expression. "He's strong... but we'll find a way to counter him."
Kyoko sighed, still catching her breath. "Yeah. I have to get stronger."
As she stood up with Sho's help, she turned her gaze back to the battlefield.
This was just the beginning of the Clan Wars. And next time, she wouldn't lose so easily.