Vayu had watched every match with full concentration, replaying them in his mind and imagining how he would handled each move. He knew his turn would come soon and he could be the one fighting against them in the second round. Wanting to test the styles he had just seen, he went back to fetch some throwing knives and a pair of axes, trying to imitate Aspen and Ryan.
When he returned, the sixth match was already going on and by the time he sat down, it was over, now it was his turn.
His opponent was Suwaha the same one Aspen had encountered in the jungle. Suwaha was known as Aspen's lackey, and Aspen had already instructed him to crush Vayu thoroughly.
The match began.
Vayu pulled out both the axes and threw them, mimicking Aspen's earlier move against Shri. But Suwaha had spent enough time with Aspen to know all his attacks. He dodged it without losing his balance and when Vayu leapt at him with a dropkick just as Aspen had when they were fighting in the forest, Suwaha already expecting this sidestepped with ease and kicked Vayu midair, sending him skidding across the ground. The crowd laughed.
"Pathetic" Suwaha sneered "Aspen's moves don't belong to you".
How did he do it? It looked so easy when Aspen did it… Vayu thought, forcing himself back to his feet.
This time he drew his throwing knives and began to throw them rapidly. But almost immediately, he realized how bad his aim was. Suwaha on the other hand to maintain his balance tucked both his daggers back into its sheath, moving lightly as he dodged smoothly, he weaved side to side, closing the distance until he drove his fist hard into Vayu's chest.
Vayu staggered, barely keeping his footing.
"Is this a joke? How did you even earn those points?" Suwaha sneered.
Vayu didn't answer. Instead, he calmed his breathing, "I have to fight my own way" he thought.
At last, he drew both his daggers, determination in his eyes.
"Oh? Now you're going to use those?" Suwaha mocked before rushing in, his dagger raised.
Vayu waited, then moved, he unleashed the Fourth Technique Gale Spiral. With one dagger, he deflected Suwaha's strike, and with the other, he slashed across Suwaha's chest, Suwaha hissed, stepping back, but Vayu pressed in, landing a hard kick in his abdomen., knocking him back.
This time, when Vayu leapt for a dropkick, Suwaha was still off balance. The drop-kick landed perfectly, sending him sprawling across the floor. Pain flickered in Suwaha's eyes, but more than pain rage was visible, to him, Vayu wasn't even a fighter.
Vayu waited calmly for Suwaha to rise.
By then, he retrieved one of his axes that was within reach. As Suwaha stood, Vayu grabbed it and swung with full force, executing his Amber Slash. Suwaha tried to deflect, but the sheer power behind the blow knocked the dagger from his hand.
As Suwaha's weapon clattered to the ground, Vayu didn't press forward, instead he jumped back, steadying himself. What he wanted wasn't victory it was experience that he needed the most. Every fight was a lesson, and the more he learned now, the better chance he would have the next time he faced other opponents.
Suwaha rose, this time drawing both knives, his expression serious. He no longer underestimated Vayu.
Vayu dropped the axe and pulled out both of his daggers, the two began to circle each other.
Suwaha struck first, Vayu met his attack head-on, steel clashing against steel. They traded blows when one attacked the other defended or sometimes they both attacked at the same time. For Vayu, it was new, he could sense how Suwaha would strike, but he struggled to respond with his own offense. He didn't yet know how or when to attack. The more he thought about it, the sloppier his movements became.
He could defend, yes but his strikes never broke through.
Frustration crept in, anger followed, his swings grew wide and reckless, and wide swings only left him open, giving Suwaha more openings.
When Suwaha's blade almost cut his throat, instinct took over. Vayu ducked not because he had time to think about it, but because his body moved on its own.
That moment sparked a realization, the same conclusion he had reached once before.
He backed away, creating distance. His chest rose and fell as he steadied his breath. He calmed his emotions.
Don't think about it" If I feel it I'll do it" he thought.
This time, Vayu let his body flow naturally. When his mind whispered to swing, he swung. When it urged him to block, he blocked. Slowly, his movements found rhythm. His strikes gained momentum. His attacks began to carry weight, timing, and precision developed not from thoughts, but from instinct.
Suwaha swung his daggers into powerful arcs. His style wasn't refined he mostly relied on force, not precision. Wide slashes that looked intimidating but burned stamina quickly. Each time Suwaha struck, Vayu deflected or slipped aside instead to fight it head on. Sweat began to show on Suwaha's temple. His breathing grew heavier, he was strong, but soon he started to crack, his endurance reaching its limits.
He tires himself with every strike, Vayu realized. If I step in before his arm gathers momentum his attack will lose power and he will lose his balance Vayu thought.
The moment came, Suwaha drew back for another heavy slash, shoulders tensing, eyes narrowed with focus. Vayu stepped forward without hesitation. His dagger snapped against Vayu,s shoulder. Suwaha winced, his grip loosening, and his body stumbled back half a step.
That single moment shifted the fight.
Vayu slid his daggers back into their sheath. From then on, he relied on movement and timing. When Suwaha lunged again, Vayu pushed his chest with a quick shove, throwing him off balance, then delivered a sharp punch to his ribs. Suwaha staggered but swung again, desperate. Vayu ducked low, slipped past his arm, and pushed him from behind before retreating.
It wasn't flashy it was calculated, to the audience, it looked like Vayu was mocking Suwaha, letting him swing wildly while staying just out of reach. Every failed attack draining Suwaha further, his movements becoming slower, heavier.
Anger distorted Suwaha's face. He gritted his teeth and forced his tired arms to move faster. "You think this is a game!?" he barked, voice hoarse. Suwaha kept swinging faster without giving any chance to Vayu.
Vayu kept moving backward, until he felt the hard edge of the arena behind him. Suwaha noticed that too. A sly smile tugged at his lips "Nowhere to ru—" but before he could finish his sentence.
Vayu's right fist cut him off mid-sentence, smashing into his face. The force twisted his head sideways. A second punch drove into his jaw snapping it shut, then his right elbow slammed into his face, ending his attack with a tornado kick.
Suwaha sprawled onto the ground groaning, his head was spinning as he tried to rise, he fell again.
Vayu had seen enough, he stepped close, the blade glinting as he placed it lightly against Suwaha's throat.
"Surrender," Vayu said quietly, his tone steady.
Suwaha's hand shook around his dagger. He screamed to resist "I… I can still fight" he spat, frustration thick in his voice.
The elder overseeing the match raised his hand. "Victory goes to Vayu!"
Some of the crowd looked cheered although it hadn't been the dramatic clash of techniques they expected. To them, it was a slow and simple. But for Vayu, it was different.
It was the first time he had fought his best, the first time he wasn't smashed into a tree trunk. This was his first victory, he felt happy.