Chapter 22: Close Quarters Combat
Before the start of Round of 64…
Team with quite unique uniform, which had black pants and black shirt, but with a logo of a serpent on front of the shirt and on the back, were currently sitting in one of the stands.
''Irio… it is quite in the spotlight now, right captain?'' a young man in his 15s with blond hair with curly hairstyle, with sharp eyebrows and pale looking face said towards young man next to him.
''Yeah, maybe I should have done the time attack…'' Captain of the team said, he had brown hair with a slick-back haircut, blue eyes and bushy eyebrows made his overall look, quite unique.
''You would have definitely done it under 2 seconds~'' a blond young man told.
''Yes, but Slych's time is not possible to beat, time attack was perfect for him.'' Captain said
The blond man nodded as well.
''Irio looks quite strong this year~ well expect that brown-haired fellow.'' the blond young man said with a grin.
''It's not the only the team who is exceptionally strong this year… some teams have only used their backup fighters so far, but from Round of 32 they will start showing their strength,'' Captain told.
''Aye.'' the blond man grinned and his eyes glimmered in excitement.
…
(In the audience)
A woman in her 30s with red hair was using her phone to vote. ''Who are you voting for?'' she asked while taking a glimpse towards her friend, who was a woman in her early 20s with brown hair, ordinary black eyes, moderate-sized breasts, and a beautiful face to the crown, she was currently using her phone. She heard what her friend asked and said. ''Irio's match.''
''Why? I know they looked impressive, but there are stronger schools out there.'' The red-haired woman asked in confusion.
''Because I am curious.'' a brown-haired woman told, while the red-haired woman tilted her head in confusion, a brown-haired woman sighed and said. ''Look at him.'' she pointed towards Ichiro's figure who was still sleeping.
''What about him?'' a red-haired woman asked in confusion, brown-haired woman slightly smiled and said. ''Everyone here is tensed up and nervous, even Slych.'' a brown-haired woman explained and then with a slight smile said.''All except him, he is only sleeping carelessly and I saw him in time attack being slightly nervous, but I was mistaken…'' she took a slight breath and continued. ''He wasn't nervous, he was excited instead.''
''Maybe he doesn't have any expectations towards this tournament.'' the red-haired woman guessed and the brown-haired woman shook her head and said. ''No… he has most fighting spirit out of all competitors.'' then she stopped talking for a moment and her eyes looked at Ichiro's figure and said with a slight smile.''He looks just like him…''
''Looks like who?'' a red-haired woman asked.
The brown-haired woman sighed and said quietly. ''He looks like Abyss, 30 years ago.'' red-haired eyes widened for a moment.
''I see…'' red hair woman's eyes were now locked towards Ichiro.
…
After Liam's match…
''Good job.'' Hiena's team captain also known as Rywiol said towards incoming Mick.
''It was easy~¨ Mick grinned and walked towards Hiena's team stand.
Rywiol grinned as well and looked towards Ichiro who was stretching and said.''I guess he is next.''
Mick and another member of the team, who had hair with a silver color, grey eyes which reflected slight arrogance, while looking at them. He had the same outfit as other teammates of Hiena with a red outfit with small white spots was looking at standing Ichiro without expression.
''Qin, you are next?'' Rywiol asked from the silver-haired young man.
A silver-haired young man, also known as Qin looked at the captain and nodded and said. ''Sure.''
''Watch out for his spear-like arm, that seems to be his strongest attack,'' Rywiol told and Qin nodded gently and stood up from his spot.
''…'' Qin looked at Ichiro who started walking towards the arena with an unreadable expression, he had a bad feelings about this fight, but he decided to put those thoughts back into his mind and started walking towards the stairs leading towards the top of the platform.
…
''How is Liam,'' Lucas asked with concern.
''The medic team said that he is only knocked out, he will make full recovery.'' Club advisor said and looked towards Lucas and asked. ''Are you feeling guilty?''
''Little bit. but I know that this experience either makes him quit martial arts or makes him stronger.'' Lucas said with a sigh.
''I hope Liam got his determination to get stronger from this fight.'' The club advisor hoped that Liam wouldn't give up after this setback.
…
(In the stands of Armya)
''Slych, you seem interested in him.'' The young man with the name of Rawal said towards pale-looking young man next to him with long black hair.
Slych curved his mouth a little bit and said. ''I really want to fight against him.'' Rawal raised his eyebrow in surprise and asked. ''Why? What is so special about him?''
''He is only one out of all fighters who still kept their same fighting intent after seeing me in time attack.'' Slych grinned while his cold grey eyes looked at Rawal.
Rawal was slightly surprised and asked.''So, that's why you decided to do time attack, to decide who is worth fighting?'' Slych grin grew and nodded.
''Even I can't take his attack straight on, his attack power is no joke,'' Slych told Rawal who widened his eyes in disbelief.
''No matter how strong one is, if you can't hit a target it is useless.'' Rawal mentioned and Slych nodded and said with a slight smile. ''But I am sure his real strength doesn't lay on his attack power.''
…
(In the Center Arena)
''Match Nr.1! Round 2 Kurogami Ichiro Vs. Qin Li Zhang!'' referee announced
''Are you both ready?!''
Ichiro smiled slightly and answered with a nod.
Ichiro was standing with his cat stance, which is a stance he used most with Iron Style.
The Cat Stance or Neko Ashi Dachi is one of the most versatile stances in Iron Style. This stance is used to spring forward quickly in the same fashion that a cat jumps at its prey. The left cat stance is formed by stepping the right foot one foot back from the starting position of the Natural stance.
Qin also nodded with his grey eyes glaring towards Ichiro.
Qin was standing with Back Stance, the Back Stance is performed with the leading foot pointed directly forward, the rear foot perpendicular at a 90-degree angle from the front foot. (This is why it is sometimes called an L Stance, your two feet are placed like the letter L)
''Fight!'' referee roared and instantly Ichiro burst from his spot like a cat jumping at the prey, in this case, Qin is the prey.
Ichiro jumped quickly towards Qin with his right arm stretched forwards while his left arm was stuck next to his waist.
Qin looked at approaching with no expression and waited till Ichiro arrive at his spot to start Close Quarter combat, it seems the easiest way to block Ichiro's spear-like hand.
Some people have already taken notice of Ichiro's Iron Style and everyone had the same thought, he can't use Ironic Edge if he is in close-quarter combat or his Iron Lance, because it needs momentum to reach its greatest attack power.
Ichiro reached 6 meters from Qin and looked at him, he saw that he has no intention of attacking, decided to attack instead.
Ichiro did a quick burst of speed from his spot and reached Qin in a second.
Ichiro clenched his left fist and did a quick straight punch towards the torso of Qin. The silver-haired young man quickly put his right arm as block and managed to successfully block it, then he swiped towards Ichiro's left leg, trying to trip him over.
Ichiro saw it and quickly raised his left leg to dodge Qin's sweeping kick and then did a quick step backward, but Qin didn't let that happen, he instantly went offensive and started close quarter combat.
Qin did multiple attacks with his fists, palms, and legs, but Ichiro managed to block them or evade them.
Ichiro's eyebrows started furrowing.'So he thinks my Iron Style can be blocked this easily…' Ichiro thought with slight anger.
Qin still kept bombing Ichiro with his versatile attacks.
*Bam*
Qin did a quick sidekick, but Ichiro blocked it with his left arm, but he wasn't done, after his sidekick failed, he decided to grab Ichiro from his collar instead and throw him to the ground.
*Grab*
Qin grabbed Ichiro from his collar and his grin grew and when he was about to throw Ichiro to the ground, he suddenly felt himself landing on the ground on his butt!
[Ironic Edge - Gravity Control!]
''?'' Qin looked around him in confusion and looked at his shoulder and saw Ichiro's fingers on it.
The moment when Qin was about to throw Ichiro to the ground. Ichiro put his fingers on Qin's shoulder and used Ironic Edge to direct Qin's center of gravity towards another side, making Qin lose his balance and fall to the ground.
''Hmph!'' Qin snorted and quickly took off his shirt and managed to escape from Ichiro.
''…'' Ichiro looked at Qin with no expression while holding Qin's shirt in his other hand and decided to throw it out of the arena.
''You just got lucky!'' Qin roared and rushed towards Ichiro again for Close Quarter Combat.
*Bam*
Qin punched Ichiro, but he managed to put a nicely timed block in front of him, easily blocking the punch. Then Qin raised his left leg and kicked towards Ichiro's shinbone, but Ichiro raised his right leg and blocked Qin's kick nicely.
Qin furrowed his eyebrows seeing his attacks failing, but decided to push Ichiro more.
Qin put his leg onwards and started doing hand-to-hand combat with Ichiro.
Qin used his fist masterfully while unleashing a few palms attacks towards Ichiro, but Ichiro was calmly blocking them all while slowly walking backward.
*Bam* Until palm finally successfully hit Ichiro's left cheek, making it slightly red.
Qin's grin grew and decided to unleash even more powerful attacks.
Ichiro was under heavy bombardment from Qin.
But Ichiro still looked calmly and then saw Qin unleash another straight punch aimed at his face.
Ichiro used his right arm quickly to block it.
Qin saw a chance and unleashed his right arm and aimed at another side of Ichiro's face.
*Whish*
Qin's fist was a moment away from making contact with Ichiro's face, but then Ichiro's face turned serious and used his left arm while doing backhand motion deflecting Qin's fist.
Qin's eyes widened, but Ichiro already unleashed his attack.
Ichiro clenched his left fist which made muscles grow and veins on it while his left fist approached Qin's torso.
*Bam* Ichiro's left fist successfully hit Qin's torso, making a powerful sound in the result.
''UGH,'' Qin spat a mouthful of saliva while holding his stomach area, where previously Ichiro's left arm made contact.
Qin clenched his teeth and forcefully stood up, Ichiro's eyebrow furrowed in surprise, the fight wasn't over yet.