Chapter 21: Mind-Body
*Yawn*
''So how are the matches going to be fought?'' I asked the club advisor while letting out few yawns.
''30 Fights will be held in the smaller arena's and the audience was given chance to choose 2 fights which will be fought in the center arena.'' The club advisor told me.
I raised my eyebrow.
''So 15 fights will be fought first in smaller arena's with one fight in the center arena and then after those fights will be another 15 fights in smaller arena's and one in the center arena, did I get that right?'' I asked
''That's right.'' Club advisor nodded.
''So when it is decided which teams will be fighting in the center arena,'' I asked and the club advisor looked at me and said. ''Soon, voting phase is currently ongoing.'' I nodded.
''I am sleepy,'' I told Lucas who raised his eyebrow and asked. ''And?''
''Hmm?'' I looked in confusion towards Lucas who looked towards me like I am an idiot. ''You said that you are sleepy, so nothing to add to that?''
''Nah, I just said I was sleepy,'' I told while yawning.
Lucas had thick black marks forming on his forehead and said coldly. ''Then go to sleep and never wake up.''
''I might take a short nap,'' I said, I took a more comfortable position in the chair and closed my eyes for a nap.
''…'' Lucas looked at sleeping Ichiro with an unreadable expression.
…
After 30 minutes of the voting phase, teams who will be fighting in the center arena were decided.
It was of course Armya Vs. Yrim and with surprise Irio Vs. Hiena!
''…That was unexpected.'' Club advisor said with widened eyes.
''Well, people are curious about Ichiro now,'' Lucas said while taking a glimpse towards drooling Ichiro who was still sleeping.
''…Shouldn't we wake up him? We will be fighting first.'' The club advisor asked Lucas.
Lucas then looked at Ichiro who was drooling with his mouth open.
Lucas then raised his arm and then…
*Slap*
Slapped Ichiro which made a red mark on his cheek!
''OW!'' Ichiro screamed and stood up in anger and yelled. ''Who the fuck!''
*Whistle*
Ichiro then took a glimpse towards Lucas who was whistling innocently and asked. ''Do you have any idea who slapped me.'' Ichiro looked at Lucas with clenched fists.
''Yes.'' Lucas nodded.
''Who…'' Ichiro said quietly.
''Not telling,'' Lucas said and kept whistling which made Ichiro's eyes turn bloody.
…
(Ichiro POV)
''So we are fighting first,'' I asked while rubbing my red cheek.
''Yes, so prepare yourself.'' Club advisor said, I nodded.
I looked behind me and saw Liam sitting quietly and said. ''You go first.'' which made Liam's eyes almost pop out of his skull.
''B-but I will lose.'' Liam muttered with a pale face, I only took a glimpse towards him and said. ''Who gives a sh*t, go get some experience and try not to humiliate yourself.''
''Ichiro is correct, do your best in the upcoming fight and don't mind if you lose, because you probably will.'' Lucas said while nodding and then looked at me and asked. ''Who is after Liam, you or me?''
''I will go,'' I said and Lucas nodded.
''So who is stronger, you or Lucas.'' The club advisor asked with curiosity and other students of Irio also started listening closely.
I looked at Lucas who was also looking at me.
I said ''Depends…''
''Depends of what?'' Club advisor asked.
I said. ''We haven't fought against anyone past Low Martial Leader ranker and we have done few spars, but nothing serious, so either one can win.''
''We both have grown stronger in the past 3 weeks and last time we sparred 2 weeks ago and I barely won, no idea who wins now'' Lucas said and I nodded.
I continued. ''Lucas could probably beat Peak Martial Leader with some difficulty.''
''Yes, but I feel like I am missing something which is crucial to reach Martial Captain,'' Lucas said solemnly.
''…Club advisor, any advice?'' I asked from him
''Everyone who has reached Martial Captain has always said the same thing…'' the Club advisor said and then continued. ''To reach Martial Captain, you need your body to be connected with your mind.''
''Body connected with mind…'' Lucas muttered quietly.
'Body connected with mind.' I thought to myself while trying to find out what it means.
''That is why Martial Captain rank is also called Mind-Body realm.'' Club advisor mentioned.
'In my previous life, Tai Chi helped to relax your body and mind… maybe that helps.' I thought to myself.
''You kids don't need to be concerned about reaching Martial Captain yet, it usually takes people multiple years to reach Martial Captain from Peak of Martial Leader.'' I heard the Club advisor say and I gave him a nod, but I kept thinking about it…
''Also, you can't learn mind-body from anyone, it isn't a thing that can be taught.'' Club advisor said and Lucas and I looked at him in confusion.
He only shrugged his shoulders and said. ''Mind-body is different for everyone, it is the first part of getting your own Power Trait, which you unlock completely after your limit break, that's all I know.'' and then continued with.''That is why the martial practitioner journey is always lonesome, you can only count on your own talent and will to succeed.''
I and Lucas nodded with gratitude towards our club advisor, which helped us to clear some of our doubts.
…
Sometime later.
''Our turn~'' Lucas said teasingly towards Liam.
''Good luck,'' I said towards pale-faced Liam.
''Go for it.'' Club advisor nodded.
''…Fuck…'' Liam cursed and stood up with shaky legs and started walking slowly towards the center arena while looking towards us few times, hoping that we were joking.
Well, we weren't.
''How much will he last?'' Lucas asked from me and I shrugged my shoulders and said. ''He will do fine… I think.''
''Very reassuring.'' The Club advisor said and I gave him thumbs up.
''Match Nr.1! Middle School of Hiena Vs. Middle School of Irio!''
''First Round! Mick Ledorman Vs. Liam Taylor!''
Mick looked at shivering Liam with arrogant expression and disdain. Mick had dark blue hair wearing his team outfit, which consisted of a full red outfit with some white spots around the shirt and pants. He was standing at 179cm with a semi-muscular build, with arched eyebrows.
Liam has brown hair with brown eyes, a slim build, and an ordinary face which is the perfect example of ordinary, he was standing at 175cm, slightly shorter than Mick, while wearing an Irio's school fighting outfit, which consisted of white pants and half white, half blue shirt with black stripes on sides.
''Are you both ready?!'' Referee yelled
''Yes!'' Mick roared
''Y-yes.'' Liam weakly answered.
''Fight!'' the Referee roared and went to the sidelines to supervise the fight.
Mick did his move first and started slowly walking towards Liam.
''Irio is more pathetic than I thought.'' Mick suddenly said while walking towards Liam.
''W-what?'' Liam stuttered while asking Mick.
''If a pathetic piece of sh*t like you can get here, I can only imagine Irio's skill level.'' Mick looked at Liam with disgust.
''…'' Liam didn't answer to the insults and only kept backing off from Mick.
''Tsk, useless.'' Mick spat while looking at Liam and said. ''You don't belong here, get out the trash!'' Mick roared and started moving with great speed from his spot.
His hair started flowing in the wind, while he picked up his speed, not as fast as Slych, but still incredibly fast and he easily reached Liam within seconds.
''EEK!'' Liam cried out, seeing Mick reach his spot.
Liam tensed up after seeing Mick's face, which made his heartbeat up in a nervous manner. He then put lower stance and did a straight punch, aiming at Mick's face, hoping it to work even though the power behind that strike, can't do anything towards Mick, who is Low Martial Leader.
''Tsk.'' Mick clicked his tongue and easily took hold of Liam's fist.
Liam started squirming while feeling his bones starting to break under Mick's powerful hold.
''Is that all?'' Mick asked and raised his right leg and kicked it towards Liam's shinbone.
*Bam*
Mick's kick easily contacted Liam's shinbone, which made a huge sound of flesh getting beaten.
''ARGH.'' Liam grimaced in pain, seeing that Mick's kick easily bruised his lower leg.
Liam was stiffened with fear and his hands started shaking and his breath started quickening.
''LIAM, KEEP FUCKING MOVING!'' Then Liam heard Ichiro's furious roar.
''Heh, you heard him, what are you going to do?'' Mick asked with a mocking look.
*Phew*
Liam took a deep breath and looked at Mick with anger and put his left hand towards Mick's arm which held Liam's right arm, then he put all his strength on his fingers, trying to take Mick's hand off from his fist, which already had few broken bones.
''…RGH'' Liam grimaced and forcefully took his fist from Mick's hold.
After that Liam quickly ran backward, making distance towards Mick.
…
''This is not looking good.'' Lucas grimaced in disappointment.
''He is much stronger than what he is showing! His confidence is at rock bottom right now.'' Ichiro said.
''Yeah… he is seeing so many strong people in this tournament and it doesn't help the fact that his teammates are so much stronger than him.'' Club advisor said while shaking his head in pity.
…
''Come back here!'' Mick roared and rushed towards Liam with his dark blue hair flowing in the wind.
''…'' Liam looked towards approaching Mick with fear.
Mick reached Liam and started making low kicks, making fun of Liam while Liam desperately tried to dodge them, but to no avail and his posture kept getting worse and worse with each second with bruises forming everywhere.
''Hmph.'' Mick snorted and decided to end this farce, he accelerated and took hold of Liam's neck.
Mick hold Liam from his neck, while Liam looked at Mick with terror and his face started turning purple while kicking his legs towards Mick's torso, which didn't make him even flinch.
''Ugh.'' Liam tried to desperately break off the hold, but to no avail, since Mick was Low Martial Leader with great physical strength.
''You don't belong here!'' Mick roared and threw Liam out of the arena, making him fly out of the bounds and straight to the hard ground.
Liam landed on the ground on his back, while he still looked at the figure of Mick in the arena who looked like unbeatable existence to him, and slowly then his eyes started whitening, passing out on the ground, with unwillingness.
''First Round over! Winner Mick Lederman!'' referee roared.
Mick looked around him with an arrogant expression while flexing his muscles. He then looked at Ichiro sitting with a grim face and showed his middle finger. ''You next losers~''
…
(Ichiro POV)
''…'' Lucas looked with no expression towards Mick who showed his middle finger towards Ichiro, then took a glimpse towards me. ''You just got disrespected, bro.''
''Yeah… I saw.'' I muttered while looking down to the ground.
''What are you going to do?'' Lucas asked with no expression.
''Whoever is going to face me next… is going to leave the arena with few broken limbs,'' I muttered with a grin and stood up from my chair.
''Heh.'' Lucas grinned and said with bloodshot eyes. ''Break his middle finger too, just for a souvenir.''
''Aye captain,'' I said and started walking towards the center arena.