Post by Mr. Moon on Jan 16, 2022 2:28:19 GMT -5
Gabriel #1
After speaking with Namkhai, he struggled for a bit with an imposter syndrome, but that was gone now as he realized, that he had the same right to be there as everyone else. So, what, that he didn´t want to die there nor to take the life of anyone else. Since when were martial arts about throwing one’s life away, since when they were about murder? He was skilled enough and determined enough to prove his own path in the world of martial arts and victory in this tournament will be the first step to do so.
Since both Myra and Beast returned later that evening, Gabriel spent much of his time recovering via simple movement techniques and herbal medicines he carried with him, together with the light practice of some of his newer techniques, which he wasn´t so sure about yet. He was glad, that Myra proved enough empathy to take Beast outside to play, leaving him enough space for his own preparations, it definitely gave her some bonus points in his book. Anyway, the next day, the Professor wake up early, still a little bit sore after yesterday´s match, but otherwise in great shape and ready to face whoever was supposed to be his opponent next. To keep his mind clear and body in top shape, he skipped breakfast, taking only another of his herbal teas, and once Myra and Beast finished their own, he thanked her for the yesterday and headed toward the arena.
There, in the locker room, the Professor found a much smaller group of warriors. The original 32 fighters were reduced to a mere 16 all experienced and capable martial artists, just by the virtue of passing through their opponents in the first round. As the day before, he took off his jacket, tie and boots, so he could use some of his barefoot techniques, but otherwise, kept the rest of his suit, while the men around him were changing into the uniforms of their respective martial arts, or simply fighting shorts. Just as professor Moon took his place on the bench, the large screen that was broadcasting what was happening in the arena via visual Den Den Mushi activated with a shot focused on Python.
“Ladies and gentlemen!”
He exclaimed towards the crowded stands.
“Please let me welcome you at the beginning of the second day of our tournament. Yesterday, we saw 32 warriors, 32 masters of their arts facing each other in these very sands. 16 of them fell, their slayers now wait for the opportunity to prove, that from all the Four Blues, that it´s them and them alone who is the strongest!”
He made a short pause until the roar of the crowd calmed down and then continued.
“Unlike yesterday, this day won´t be based around personal challenges. This day will also test the luck of our warriors!”
With that, he reached backward where Mr. Katsumasa handed him a large glass full of small pieces of papers. Python reached inside and pulled two, than opened one and read aloud.
“Now, without bothering you with useless speeches please welcome our first contender, who in the first round destroyed his opponent with impaired strength and ferocity. Real demon whose power earned him a bounty of 6 000 000 Beli, with 666 centimeters and 666 kg, Kiozan “the Demon Ozeki” Haryiama!”
Hearing his name, the giant sumo wrestler grinned and headed to the arena, but Python continued with his speech, right after the crowd calmed down.
“And now for his opponent. The man who is feared in the wrestling world as the true Angel of Death, a warrior who proved everyone who claimed that his art is just to show a wrong when he utterly demolished his opponent yesterday! With 196 cm and 141 kg, the one and only Shinosuke “Hell´s Angel” Mutoh!”
As the crowd started their cheering, a large, heavily muscular man messy haircut and face painted as if he was a member of some death metal band grinned and walked outside. There the two titans clashed in a twenty-minute-long fight to the death. From the look of it, Gabriel could clearly say, that Kiozan was the more skilled one. Unlike Shinosuke, his attack was well-timed and aimed, unlike the flashy moves used by his opponent, however despite that and his titanic strength, he seemed to struggle to keep Mutoh down. Because every time he punched or threw him, the wrestler returned with revenge. And unlike the sumo-wrestler who was running out of stamina quickly, the Hell´s Angel seemed to have an infinite amount of stamina. But even that wasn´t enough as in the end, heavily bruised and tired Kiozan managed to grab his head and smack it against the wall of the stadium, leaving the wrestler unconscious on the sends. The crowd was ecstatic, yelling both of their names as the medic carried the defeated warrior away, while Kiozan returned back to their locker room.
“That was wonderful fight!”
The giant of man grinned.
“Thanks Professor, hope the rest of you will get battered much more than me, so I won´t have it too tough tomorrow.”
He laughed, while Python took his glass again from Katsumasa, to pick another two fighters.
“Now ladies and gentlemen that was wonderful fight. Both men showed real warrior spirit but now it´s time to find out, who will join the Demon Ozeki in the third round and I can promise you, this one will be very interesting because we will see a clash of the representative fighters of two rival families in the underworld! First comes the priest whose faith in God compelled him to exterminate the evil as an assassin for a mafia. Representative fighter for the Morella family, with 189 cm and 99 kg, Zion “The Exterminating Vicar” Robinson!”
Once again, the crowd erupted in cheers, while a tall, athletic-looking man with a stern face and shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a traditional aikido uniform headed outside.
“And now for his opponent!”
Python continued.
“Newcomer in the world of underground martial arts who proved his might in the first round by defeating representant of the Profaci family!”
Gabriel froze.
“The representant of the Raven family and inventor of the Imperial Fists martial arts, with 191 cm and 90 kg, Gabriel “The Professor” Moon!”
Professor Moon frowned. This wasn´t looking good. From all the fighters he saw in the first round, Robinson was definitely one of the strongest. As it looked like, Kiozan´s wish might actually come true. Anyway, he got up from his seat and walked through short corridor to the arena, ignoring the loud crowd around him.
“You fought well in your yesterday´s match.”
Zion said while stretching his shoulders.
“You too.”
Gabriel replied.
“Strange I never saw you when we clashed with the Ravens, they had to hide you really well.”
Gabriel sighed. The professor in him wanted to correct his opponent, but before he got the chance to speak, Robinson continued.
“Doesn´t matter, let´s forget who our bosses are just for this moment. After all, this isn´t their fight but ours. Am I right?”
Professor Moon nodded.
“Yeah, this is our fight.”
And as both of them took their stances, Python started the second match of the second round.
Meanwhile, up in the auditorium, another match was about to take place although completely different. Right after Python announced Gabriel´s name, a tall and attractive blonde in her late twenties, wearing a bright red dress got up and walked to the V.I.P. section, as if she owned that place. Elizabeth Morella, the eldest daughter of the Morella family.
“Hello, birdies!”
She greeted Myra and Isaac with a wide smile, ignoring Python´s disagreeing look.
“Are you ready to lose some money, together with your dignity?”
