Chapter 135: Tigers Don't Bow
—
The next day blurred past in fragments.
Illyana made good on her promise and spent the morning dragging us through places tourists weren't supposed to see. I say "dragging" because half the time we were following her through half‑hidden doors and service corridors that didn't show up on any map.
From the outside, the joined Heavenly Cities looked like a postcard: floating palaces, glassy bridges, and clouds you could walk on. From the inside, they looked like the anatomy of something.
Thick ribs of white stone that weren't quite stone, humming with low power. Shafts where you could actually see chi sliding down like liquid light into the mountain. Old dragon carvings half‑covered by newer crane motifs. In one back passage, we walked under an arch where three different city‑scripts overlapped, their seal arrays knotted together in a way that made the Omnitrix itch.
If I squinted, I could see how the whole thing used to be elegant. Before someone smashed it together like a kid with too many Lego sets.
We moved deeper away from K'un‑Zi's pretty surface into places where the style changed. There were some harder lines here, and more animal motifs there, and without ever crossing a formal border.
Illyana pointed once with her chin.
"This is where the City of Thunder wired its storm wards into K'un‑Zi's backbone," she said. "They bolted them on after the last lightning accident."
"Accident," Charmcaster repeated with a scoff. "You mean massacre."
"Details," Illyana said.
I was curious what this story was about, so Charmcaster explained it to me as we walked. It was an almost natural incident that killed thousands. We weren't in those other cities yet; we were walking through the joints where they plugged their systems into Crane Mother's mountain.
Underfoot, the Dragon Furnace kept tugging at my chi although it wasn't absorbing anything.
We saw little gods. Street shrines with tiny offerings. Spirits stuck in walls. An old woman selling charms who nodded to Illyana while staring at the Soulsword at her back.
It was a lot.
By midday, my head felt full and my legs had that tired ache that said I'd walked more than most tourists and less than any local.
We stepped out from a cramped stone tunnel onto a broad upper balcony that overlooked a junction plaza. This was one of K'un‑Zi's main hubs, where the other Heavenly Cities had anchored their embassies like ships around a harbor. From here, we could see one of the big teleport hubs.
It was a round stone platform carved with more sigils than I could parse, ringed with pillars shaped like mythical creatures. People and spirits flashed in and out with ripples of light as they jumped between cities.
To the right of that, grafted onto K'un‑Zi like a parasite, was Tiger Island's enclave.
Dark shingles with orange banners that were painted with stylized tiger heads. Carved stone jaws formed their main gateway.
I'd seen it from a distance before; up close, it radiated its own flavor of aggressive chi.
"Tiger roost," Illyana said. The disdain in her voice was almost affection, like she was talking about an annoying cousin. "They refuse to live in guest quarters like everyone else. Brought their own."
"If I'd spent centuries in a jungle city, I wouldn't trust the plumbing either," I said.
Charmcaster leaned on the railing, eyes tracking a patrol. "Their banners are so ugly, though," she said. "Someone should tell them orange clashes with heaven."
"Volunteer?" Luna asked with a smirk.
"Hard pass."
Psylocke was checking out the area with a careful expression, her posture rigid. She was a cautious person by nature, but the others weren't, so they didn't look bothered as they hadn't seen how the Tiger Island people treated me and Illyana last night.
I might have made a joke, but then I saw who was standing in the middle of the Tiger yard.
It was the old man from the banquet, in the same plain grey robe with the tiger crest at his collar. He held a staff in his hand, his perfectly combed beard not swaying in the wind. Suddenly the aura became heavy, like damp heat in a closed room.
Tiger Island's elder.
And half‑lounging on the low wall beside him, one leg swinging, was the true leader's heir.
Tiger's Beautiful Daughter didn't bother dressing like a respectable guest, which made sense since she'd dared to not bother when meeting the Crane Mother.
Her sleeveless top hugged a torso built for killing, not dancing, and the silk skirt with its side slits did absolutely nothing to hide the lines of muscle in her thighs. Gold bangles circled her wrists and ankles, humming faintly. Her hair fell loose down her back in dark waves, a few thin braids laced with little fangs.
She looked like trouble, and like she knew exactly how much a person would think that and enjoyed it.
Her gaze swept the plaza, missed nothing, then landed on us.
Hard to avoid us when we were standing right in front of their gate.
Illyana's shoulders were set. "Stay behind me," she said. "And try not to say anything stupid like last night."
"That's a high bar," I said, but followed anyway.
We took the stairs down onto the plaza proper. Traffic flowed around us with sect disciples in matching uniforms, envoys from other cities, and some random Earth mage trying not to stare at a dragon spirit.
Tiger Island's guards stiffened as we approached. The elder turned fully to face us, the weight of his attention as unsubtle as everything else about him.
"Darkchilde of Limbo," he said. His voice had that rolling mountain accent I'd heard in some kung fu dubs, heavy and rough. "I have wanted to ask since last night, how do you like the Heavenly Cities? Even worms are allowed to crawl on the Crane's stone this year, it seems."
Friendly as ever.
Illyana stopped at the invisible line where Tiger stone met K'un‑Zi stone. She didn't bow. Her mask was off; her expression might as well have been stone.
"And the Tiger still feared leaving his cage, dragging the chains along," she said. "Congratulations on learning how to walk on clouds without falling, old man. That must have taken effort."
A few people at nearby stalls suddenly had an epiphany that they had somewhere else they needed to be.
The elder's grip tightened on his staff. "We cultivate strength over centuries," he said. "Not like you, getting power handed over by evil creatures. Playing with filth, feeding on refuse. A demon who makes herself queen of trash."
Charmcaster clicked her tongue softly and whispered to me, "He's not wrong about the trash part."
"Hey, she's on our side," I pinched her waist, making her wince.
Illyana continued, "At least my realm is honest about what it is," she said. "Your island breeds attack dogs and calls it tradition. I suppose lying to yourselves keeps you warm."
Tiger's Beautiful Daughter shifted. She slid off the wall in one easy motion and landed at the old man's side. Up close, the stripes on her outfit were actually little runes, crawling faintly under the silk.
"We breed warriors, demoness," she said. Her voice was smooth and low, with a faint rasp. "Not cowards hiding behind foreign devils."
Illyana's eyes cut to her. "Would you look at that," she said. "The cub dares to speak among adults."
The girl smiled, slow. "You're the one who dragged your boy champion up here, aren't you?" she asked. "Couldn't win your own battles, so you found a new toy."
"You do realize I'm not allowed to compete in this stupid tournament by myself, right?" Illyana looked annoyed.
I noticed how her jaw tensed at "boy." I also saw the way the girl watched for that reaction and tucked it away with obvious pleasure.
So that's how it was.
"Don't fall for it," I said softly. "She's poking you on purpose."
"I noticed," Illyana replied, just as quiet.
The elder's gaze flicked to me then, sharp and cold. "This one was uttering big words last night," his laugh had a mocking tone. "A fool with a toy."
"Ben Tennyson," I said. "Professional saviour of the world."
Tiger's Daughter looked me up and down like I was a curiosity on a market stall. "You look so ordinary, are you really the four armed monster?" she inquired. "It makes sense though. A pathetic mortal vessel like yours is surely bested by any other forms you can wield."
Was she trying to bait me? Into saying something stupid like 'Fine! I'll fight you in my human form!'? Because it wasn't working.
"Sorry to disappoint," I said. "You'll see the good parts in the arena."
Her eyes gleamed. "I hope so," she said. "It would be boring if you screamed and broke in one hit."
The elder rapped his staff on the ground once. "You arrogant runt, how about we make a bet? If you lose, hand over that watch."
"Nah."
He scowled at the prompt refusal. "You think Crane's favor will save you?" he asked with a glare. "You think a few kind words at her table make you untouchable?"
"Pretty sure she literally called me that," I said. "Might have misheard. The tea was strong."
His nostrils flared. "When Li Hua breaks your bones for the crowd," he said, voice softening into something close to pleasure, "no dragon's word will glue them back together. Limbo's whore will watch you fall and do nothing."
That last line bothered me far more than the insults they'd thrown me. And I was far from the only one. Even Luna looked pissed.
So of course, one could only imagine how furious Illyana got. She went very still beside me. I could feel the spike of her power in the air, hot and sharp, like a sword being drawn.
My hand moved before I thought about it, before she could free her Soul Sword. I set it on her shoulder.
"Hey," I said quietly. "Not here."
Her eyes slid to my hand, then to my face. For a moment, I thought she'd shrug me off and let Limbo eat the plaza.
Instead, she let out one slow breath through her nose.
"You old bastard, your mouth is still as foul as your jungle," she told the elder. "One day you'll choke on it."
He snorted. "Words," he said. "Always words with you demons."
Tiger's Daughter watched all of this with open amusement. She enjoyed it. The insults and the tension. The way Illyana had to swallow it.
That settled any lingering doubt I'd had about how hard I was going to hit her later.
"Save your curses for the pits," the elder said. "You are not even worth my staff here." He turned slightly, dismissing us without saying it. "Come."
Tiger's Daughter held my gaze for another heartbeat.
"Don't die too fast against me, Benjamin Tennyson," she said. "It would be a waste of a good face."
Then she pivoted on her heel and followed her elder into the Tiger enclave without looking back.
The air felt thicker when they were gone.
Charmcaster let out a long, low whistle. "Wow," she said. "He really went straight for the 'whore of Limbo' line. Classic old fucker energy."
Illyana's shoulders were still tight under my hand. Slowly, they loosened.
"You okay?" I asked.
"I will be," she said. "After you rearrange that little bitch's face. Do not hold back just because she's a girl, you understand?"
"If that's what my queen wants," I replied, and that seemed to please her.
But then she grumbled. "He insulted me, that imbecile," she said, as if that were explanation enough. "In front of my champion. He's lucky this is a neutral location."
"I noticed," I said. "That heir liked it a bit too much."
Illyana's gaze flicked back to the Tiger gate. "Yes, she thinks that small kind of victory matters," she said. "Because it's the only one she can get. Weakling."
I cracked my knuckles, thinking about the fight. The rest of the day wasn't very fun as I spent it very eager for the next day.
****
It was time.
The area surrounding the arena stank of stone dust and old blood. There was also some kind of incense that tried and failed to cover both.
I stood in a side tunnel, Four Arms form filling most of the space. The walls here were carved with the same crane motifs as everywhere else, but they were scuffed and chipped from too many fighters' shoulders.
Up ahead, the tunnel opened into blinding light and noise. The ring.
Above that, the falcon‑headed announcer was in full performance mode. I could hear his screech even through stone.
"…Tiger Island's prodigy! Claw of the Southern Jungle! Welcome, the young heiress of the Tiger Line–"
He drew out the titles like he got paid by the word. However, her strength was no joke. Her side shouldn't be underestimated.
Tiger's Beautiful Daughter stepped into the light and the crowd roared.
Even from the tunnel, I could feel the subtle shift in atmosphere. The way the Tiger enclave's section of the stands went wild, banners shaking. The way other city factions watched more quietly, assessing.
The fact that Li Hua was supposed to be the Immortal Weapon of Tiger Island. Being the heir and all that. She already filled that role in the comics, but for whatever reason she hadn't climbed that seat in this life. Not yet at least.
The problem was… my opponent was suddenly the Tiger's Beautiful Daughter. Not who I was supposed to fight.
The bracket had me against Bride of Nine Spiders. I'd prepped for that. Then Tiger Island threw their weight around, pulled strings with the tournament officials, and swapped her out for their own heir. How's that even allowed?
Real professional. They wanted to fight me that bad?
Whatever the reason behind their decision was, Li Hua had been gift-wrapped a spot she didn't earn. And I was going to unwrap it for her.
I moved up just enough to see her through the arch.
She walked into the ring barefoot, like the stone was an old friend. Her golden mask glinted against the sunlight. She wore that same striped silk, bright against the black jade floor, and a lazy confidence in every step.
She didn't acknowledge the cheering. Didn't wave. She rolled her shoulders once, shook out her arms, and bounced on the balls of her feet twice. That was it.
The announcer finished his spiel and milked the noise.
Then his voice shifted directions.
"And from the realm of Limbo, marked by the Queen of Demons herself, our rising star, the black horse!" I winced slightly at that wording, "The red‑skinned juggernaut who crushed all his opponents. Champion of chaos! Tetra‑Man!"
Time to work.
I ducked my head and stepped out.
The light hit me first, then the heat from the crowd, along with the feel of the ring under my feet. There was a slight spring from the arrays underneath.
I rolled my shoulders, cracked my top set of knuckles, and let the roar wash over me.
Tiger's Daughter watched me come with that same sharp interest as earlier. Seeing Four Arms up close didn't make her flinch. If anything, her eyes lit up.
"Better," she called across the ring. "This shape suits you."
"Glad you approve," I rumbled back. My voice carried differently like this. Deeper and more resonant. "Would've worn a tie if I'd known."
She snorted. "You joke now, demon," she said. "We'll see if you're laughing when you're on your back."
"You want to get on top that bad?" My reply seemed to piss her off for some reason.
The referee this time was some old monk with more scars than teeth who shuffled between us, raising his hands.
"You know the rules," he said. "No killing unless both agree. No attacks on the crowd or boxes. The Crane Mother watches." His gaze flicked to each of us. "Begin when the bell rings."
He shuffled back to the edge and raised a small gong.
The bell's clear note cut through the noise.
I moved first.
There was no need for a fancy opener. Just a straight, heavy stride forward, my lower arms ready to grab and upper arms coiled for a strike.
I planned to live up to my promise to Illyana. Four Arms wasn't built for some dancing, so I moved the way he was born to move.
Tiger's Daughter didn't backpedal. She came in too, at an angle, steps light.
At the last moment, I lunged, all four arms snapping out, trying to catch her between reach and weight, end it in one clean scoop. It all happened in under a second, and yet…
She wasn't there.
The air where she'd been burned in my lungs as my hands closed on nothing.
For a heartbeat, I saw her… smear. Like someone had dragged part of her frame sideways faster than my eyes wanted to track.
Then her heel slammed into the back of my right knee.
The impact was devastating.
Pain lanced up my leg and the limb buckled and I was sent flying.
I managed to dig my feet into the floor before I could be thrown out of the arena and be eliminated. I dropped onto my other leg as the crowd gasped.
She was already above me. A second kick snapped against my lower spine. It held less power but perfect placement. It pushed and used my own momentum to spin me half‑sideways.
This time, I had to dig all four hands into the ring to stop the slide. Stone cracked under my fingers.
The arena's roar came back into focus, full of surprise and delight.
I huffed once, then laughed.
"Okay," I said, turning my head enough to look back at her. "That's fun."
She was already a few steps away again, weight on her front foot, shoulders loose, eyes bright. There was no apology there. Just the satisfied gleam of someone whose first test had gone exactly how she wanted.
"You're really slow," she said. "And heavy."
"Hey, I'm still standing," I pointed out, pushing back up to full height. My knee complained, but Four Arms' durability kicked in fast.
I hadn't been underestimating her, but her strength still surprised me. It made sense, she hadn't become the champion of the Tiger Island in the comics for nothing.
This is a good thing. I had to physically hold back a grin. This wasn't going to be a one‑sided stomp either way. Boring would have been worse.
"Show me what Tiger speed really looks like, then," I said. "I'll see if I can keep up."
Her grin widened, showing a hint of sharpness behind the beauty.
"As you wish," she said.
Then she moved, and the real fight began.
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