George was taller than Kairo, lean and chiseled, his frame humming with faint mana currents. His steps were precise and calm as he charged.
His silver anklets glimmered faintly as he raised his leg and snapped a kick through the air, a casual warm-up and yet the shockwave cracked the arena floor.
Unlike others, George didn't just care about entering Nexus Academy, he was also concerned about doing it in the most entertaining way possible.
Others wanted power because of noble reasons like playing their role in the fight against the Demons, helping humanity grow to meet the other races in terms of development, but George had a more personal reason for power.
He wanted fame.
Yes, Heroes were famous, and the strongest of them were the most famous. This was why he wanted to be strong, so strong that everyone will know about him and bards will sing songs about him.
He wanted mothers to tell their children bed-time stories of the mighty George Best… this was why he fought.
This was why he trained, and this was why he wanted to enter Nexus Academy.
'I love this boy's fighting style, he's the perfect foil for my rise to the top of the world!' He thought excitedly.
"Don't take this personal, slumrat," George said in a voice that carried smug amusement. "I'll end this quickly".
Kairo rolled his shoulders, expression flat. "You talk too much".
George laughed, and then he charged. Kairo also charged.
George's speed was frightening, a blur of motion as his leg whipped up in arc towards Kairo's midsection, but with Muscle Lock, he blocked.
Kairo's intention was to counterattack immediately after blocking.
But…
CRACK!
The impact was stronger than he expected as it rattled through his bones, sending him sliding across the floor.
The crowd gasped at the sheer precision of the strike.
George pressed in, every movement clean and clinical. He advanced, sending a side kick that caught Kairo's ribs, before fluidly transitioning into a spinning back kick that smashed against his guard.
George fought like freaking Liu Kang.
Every strike was fluid like water, chaining together with no wasted motion. He left no opening for Kairo to counterattack.
Kairo's body shook under the punishment, his expression now grim. His muscles burned, his lungs screamed, and his stomach growled.
'He's faster… sharper… and every kick digs deeper'. His eyes were sharp and calculating as he weathered the storm.
George smirked as his flurry continued. "Raw strength? That's nothing before refined technique".
"I am George Best, the most entertaining Hero in the world!"
As George bragged, Kairo's eyes lit up as he sneaked in a wild punch but George ducked low, his shin whipping into Kairo's thigh.
Kairo staggered as pain shot up his leg.
The coliseum buzzed with approval at the skill gap on display.
This fight laid bare all of Kairo's weaknesses to him. His ability gave him raw strength and muscle utility that he tried to be clever with, but he didn't have any technique to maximize its lethality.
He was not trained, he never had a combat master.
All he had was the streets and street fights.
From the stands, guild scouts scribbled notes. "Predictable brute force. No technique. Won't last long".
Kairo gritted his teeth, blood dripping from his lip.
'If I keep trading, he'll pick me apart. Think, dammit! Think!'
And that was when it hit him. 'The rhythm!' Kairo's eyes narrowed.
George's pattern wasn't random, it was measured. Left feint, high kick, pivot, low sweep… it was a pattern, a flawless cycle, but a cycle all the same.
Kairo's intelligence stat sharpened his mind even in the midst of battle, allowing him to grab hold of the idea as he rapidly broke it down.
His perception sharpened, and then he began to see the gaps between the strikes. It was not flawless afterall.
George advanced again, forcing Kairo to react and then he unleashed a spinning roundhouse aimed for Kairo's head.
This time though, Kairo didn't block. Instead, he stepped into it.
To any spectator, it looked foolish, and yes…
BAM!
The kick smashed into Kairo's shoulder as pain shot through his brain, but gritting his teeth, Kairo's hand clamped around George's leg like a steel trap.
[Hypermuscle Creation Activated!]
George's eyes widened. "What…?!"
But it was too late.
In terms of raw power, he stood no chance before Kairo, not with Hypermuscle Creation activated.
Kairo's muscles bulged, veins thrumming through his body as with his pupils dilated, he roared, lifting George off the ground before slamming into the stone floor with devastating force like a ragdoll.
BOOM!
The impact sent a chill down the spine of the spectators.
The platform cracked as dust rose in a billowing wave. The crowd erupted, excited at the sudden turnaround.
George tried to roll away, but Kairo pounced, fists hammering down like pistons against his opponent. He had the advantage now; he would not let it go.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Each blow reverberated with force, shaking the platform.
George raised his arms to defend but his Iron Body ability groaned under the relentless barrage as cracks spread across his mana shield.
Kairo did not stop using Hypermuscle Creation as he kept on hammering, even as he felt all his muscles and bones ache under the tightness.
But he didn't care. All he cared about was victory.
Veins in his eyes ruptured, his eyes turning blood-red, but Kairo didn't stop as he kept on hammering his fists down.
George spat blood, desperation flashing in his eyes. His mana flared as his shin ignited with blue mana before lashing a desperate kick into Kairo's ribs.
CRACK!
A rib or two cracked as Kairo too engrossed in punching didn't use Muscle Lock.
He coughed and staggered, but instead of retreating, he grinned through bloodied teeth.
"You hit hard," he said, grabbing George's leg again, "but so do I".
With a surge, he ruthlessly twisted, then…
CRACK!
George screamed as his leg bent unnaturally.
Kairo seized the moment, driving a final hammerfist straight into his opponent's chest. The air left George's lungs in a sickening gasp.
His eyes turned white, his consciousness slipping.
The referee raised his hand. "Winner, Kairo Vale".
For a brief moment, there was a shocked silence, and then…
BOOM!
The coliseum erupted in excited cheers and applause.
George's body lay sprawled on the ground, his technique shattered by raw persistence and willpower.
Kairo staggered upright. His chest heaved up and down, with sweat and blood dripping from every pore. His knuckles were bruised and his ribs ached, but he was still standing.
From the floating platforms, some nobles sneered. "Savage. No finesse".
But the guild scouts? Their eyes narrowed with a different kind of recognition.
"Adaptability," one murmured.
"The boy's learning mid-battle," another said.
"That makes him dangerous".
Kairo glanced up at the holographic board showing his name as the winner.
He clenched his fists, muttering under his breath. "One round at a time".
He walked away.