ZEB Building Japan on ZAGE Fighting Tournament.
Yumi Ichijou stood at the top of the stage, letting out a quiet sigh. Why did her boss always insist she be the MC for ZAGE events—and always in a Princess Daisy costume, no less? Still, she couldn't exactly say no. Zaboru Renkonan had promised her a generous bonus, as he always did, and that kind of offer was hard to turn down. Whether she liked it or not, being the face of the ZAGE official events had become a yearly tradition for her.
Yumi smiled and shouted into the mic, "Welcome, everyone! Today, we officially kick off the ZAGE Fighting Tournament!" Her voice echoed across the buzzing venue. "We've already secured eight participants for each of the featured fighting games in today's event! And as many of you already know, we have an exciting newcomer joining the tournament lineup this year—it's none other than Dead or Alive!"
The crowd erupted into applause and whistles, the energy inside ZEB Building surging as fans cheered in anticipation.
Yumi smiled and said, "Without further ado, let's welcome our first eight players from Street Fighter II! As many of you know, Street Fighter I is officially being retired, and Street Fighter II will take its place moving forward!"
Cheers rippled through the crowd as the eight Street Fighter II contestants walked onto the stage. Among them were some familiar faces, including Endo and Takayuki. But there was something noticeably different about Takayuki this year—he carried himself with a newfound confidence and energy, a stark contrast to the quieter, more hesitant presence people had grown used to in previous tournaments.
Then Yumi Ichijou continued her duties as MC, welcoming players from other major fighting games featured in the tournament—Tekken, Guilty Gear, Dead or Alive, Soulcalibur, and MARVEL VS ZAGE. Her energy remained high as she introduced each group, with fans cheering loudly for their favorite franchises.
The tournament battles heated up quickly, with the level of play intense across every bracket. As expected, each game aside from Street Fighter II had already determined its finalist. The remaining competitors had delivered some jaw-dropping performances, earning their spots in the finals set to be held the following day. The matchups were fierce, the crowds were louder with each round, and the venue felt electric with anticipation.
Meanwhile, the Street Fighter II bracket was still underway, building toward its own dramatic conclusion.
Now, the Street Fighter II tournament had reached its semi-final stage, and the remaining players stood as the last four contenders: Pasokon, Hayabusa (Endo), Takayuki, and GunRagon. Each fighter had earned their spot with grit and skill, drawing loud cheers from the audience. Three of the semifinalists—Pasokon, Hayabusa, and Takayuki—were representing Japan, while GunRagon hailed from the United States, making him the sole international player still in the bracket.
The first match played out as many expected—Pasokon was completely overwhelmed by Hayabusa. The crowd wasn't surprised. Most believed Hayabusa was the favorite to win the entire tournament yet again. What made things even more intense was the rumor that Hayabusa wasn't just in it for the title—he had his sights set on something bigger: a one-on-one challenge against Zaboru Renkonan himself.
No one had ever managed to beat Zaboru, not even in a single round—except for Endo. Years ago, Endo made history by taking just one round from Zaboru, and that alone was treated like a legendary moment in the fighting game community. Endo knew that if he wanted to leave a mark, he had to go beyond that. His win over Pasokon was dominant, almost surgical, a clear statement to everyone watching that he was ready for something more than just a trophy. Endo grinned to himself, a flicker of fire in his eyes. 'This year, I'm definitely going to beat you, Zaboru. Just wait—your time's up.'
The other semi-final match featured Takayuki versus GunRagon, and most of the crowd believed it was GunRagon's match to lose. Known for his dominance and precise gameplay, GunRagon mained Dudley—a fast, technical boxer with sharp movement and tight combos. In contrast, Takayuki was playing Ken, a character many viewed as more straightforward. On paper, the odds seemed clear.
Yumi Ichijou smiled as she addressed the audience. "And now, we welcome back Player Takayuki to the semi-finals! Will this be the year he finally breaks the curse, or will history repeat itself like in previous tournaments? Without further ado... let the match begin!"
The match began, and the atmosphere was thick with assumptions—most people expected Takayuki to fall short again, just like in previous semi-final appearances. His history of getting this far only to lose had cemented that belief in the crowd. But what happened next left everyone stunned.
As the first round unfolded, mouths fell open across the arena. GunRagon, known for his sharp reflexes and aggressive Dudley play, was expected to dominate. But it wasn't GunRagon in control—it was Takayuki. From the moment the match kicked off, Takayuki took command of the pace. He executed flawless parries, predicting GunRagon's every move with surgical precision. His Ken was fast, reactive, and devastatingly efficient.
He didn't just win—he obliterated. A clean 3-0 sweep, with each round feeling more one-sided than the last. The crowd erupted in disbelief and cheers as Takayuki's perfect reads and pressure left GunRagon scrambling.
What truly shocked the audience was the transformation. This wasn't the same cautious, hesitant Takayuki they had seen in past tournaments. This was a version of him completely reborn—aggressive, focused, and fearless. His gameplay was so dominant that some began to whisper he might be the only one who could challenge Hayabusa, or maybe... even Zaboru himself.
Yumi Ichijou said, "Whoa! What an unexpected turn of events! That was an absolutely dominant performance from Player Takayuki! Could he be the one to challenge Hayabusa tomorrow?" Her voice carried the crowd's awe as they continued to cheer.
Endo(Hayabusa) watched Takayuki closely, his expression tightening. He knew Takayuki well—they had faced each other numerous times over the years in ZAGE tournaments. But this Takayuki was different. The fire in his eyes, the composure in his movement—it wasn't the same rival he had grown used to. Endo frowned slightly and thought to himself, He's changed… he's strong now. I can't underestimate him anymore.
Meanwhile, Takayuki smirked and walked over to GunRagon, extending his hand. "Good match," he said firmly.
GunRagon smiled and shook his hand. "You're damn strong, man."
Takayuki let out a small chuckle and nodded. "I am strong."
GunRagon blinked, caught slightly off guard by the confident response. He had expected Takayuki to be humble or bashful, as he often was in the past. But this time, Takayuki stood tall, eyes sharp and full of conviction.
With a grin, GunRagon added, "Beat Hayabusa for me, will ya?"
Takayuki nodded again, this time with quiet determination. "Count on it."
Ever since he made the decision to change his life and reclaim his confidence, Takayuki had become an absolute monster in video games—especially in arcade fighting games. During the preliminary rounds, he hadn't lost a single round. Not one. It was wild. Spectators began whispering that it felt like Takayuki could read his opponents' minds, predicting their every move. His playstyle was sharp, adaptive, and almost unnervingly precise—reminiscent of Zaboru himself in his prime.
Even Zaboru, watching , couldn't help but smile during the match against GunRagon. "Heh... this guy can read opponents like a book. Impressive. I wonder what happened to him—he's so much more confident now. But I'm glad," Zaboru muttered under his breath.
With more strong players like Takayuki emerging, Zaboru knew one thing for sure—the future of e-sports was about to get a lot more exciting.
To be continue
Please give me your power stone and if you want to support me and get minimum 11 advance chapter and additional 1 chapter a week for 3 bucks considering subscribe to my patreon patreon.com/Zaborn_1997
Also Join my discord if you want https://discord.gg/jB8x6TUByc