"W-winner..." Announcer 1's voice faltered over the arena's speakers, trembling in the silence.
Vagat's screams pierced the air as he clutched his mangled ankle, the joint dangling at an unnatural angle.
"My foot… my fucking foot!"
I rose from the sand, dusting myself off, a grin curling my lips.
Medics swarmed the arena, rushing to Vagat's side as he groaned in agony.
The crowd stirred, their initial shock giving way to a rising tide of cheers. Those expecting a simple sports bout had already started leaving the arena with their tails between their legs.
But the ones who stayed, those who craved the raw, unfiltered violence of the Association of the Gods, roared with approval.
This kind of brutality was exclusive to the AOTG.
"WINNER, RED TAKAHEN!" Announcer 1 repeated, his voice now steady and loud.
The crowd's cheers crashed over me like a wave as I strode out of the arena, back to the shadowed halls backstage.
Haruki waited there, arms crossed, his grin wide as could be. His black cat leapt about in a frenzy, mirroring his excitement.
Asuna stood beside him, eyes and jaw wide in disbelief.
I shot them both a wink.
"Brilliant. Fucking brilliant!" Haruki said, delivering a playful jab to my abs.
I didn't show it, but the little man's punch stung like hell.
"B-but how?" Asuna stammered, still grappling with what she'd witnessed. "Your opponent was an amateur fighter."
Before I could answer, Haruki nodded, as if what she said was the whole point.
"That's right. An amateur." he said. "Vagat's got four fights under his belt, all in amateur leagues obsessed with points, not knockouts."
Asuna frowned, her red brow furrowing. "That means he's experienced though."
Haruki shrugged. "Compared to the average man, sure."
His sharp eyes turned to me, taking in my chiselled frame and calloused hands, forged in the crucible of 143 street fights.
"Red's no average guy. He's lived combat. Raw, violent combat. Far more than Vagat ever has. And he's not chained to one martial art. That move out there… was that a heel hook?"
I smirked smugly. "That's what it's called? I had no idea. If wrestling doesn't work, I drop lower and snatch the ankle. Most opponents never expect me to hit the ground willingly."
Haruki's eyes widened. "You pulled off a jiu-jitsu heel hook without knowing what it was?"
Before I could answer, his black cat sprang onto my shoulder, its rough tongue licking playfully at my cheek. The three of us burst into laughter, the tension of the fight fading away.
"She's taken a liking to you after that performance," Haruki said, still chuckling. "Come on, let's celebrate with a proper meal. Then… we'll figure out what's next."
———
I sat across a table decorated with Jepon's finest dishes, facing Haruki and Asuna.
The small man scrolled through his tablet, his expression focused, while Asuna sliced into a steak, her eyes flicking up at me every few seconds before darting away.
There was a different look in her eyes now. Not the doubt from before, but something sharper, like respect.
Showing a woman you can break a man's ankle in front of thousands does wonders.
"The first fights are done," Haruki said, his voice serious as he studied the tablet. "Half the fighters are 1-0, like you. The other half, like Vagat, are 0-1."
A perfect split. King could now pair winners against winners, and losers against losers.
But a question nagged at me.
"What about fighters too injured to continue?" Vagat's shattered ankle would keep him out for months. Far too long for the next round.
Haruki's eyes didn't leave the tablet. "Investors can replace their fighters. If they can't, they're dropped, and their spot goes to someone else."
I nodded, processing the ruthlessness of it.
King, whoever he was, clearly had the logistics locked down. But who was he?
PING!
A notification chimed from Haruki's tablet. His eyes widened as he read the message, surprise lighting his face.
"Is something wrong, Fa—, I mean, Master?" Asuna caught herself, her voice hesitant.
Haruki's expression softened into a grin.
"The local jiu-jitsu gym reached out to us. They saw your fight and want to help polish your technique and turn you into a true practitioner... Heh, you're already making a name for yourself, Red."
Pride swelled in my chest, but I kept my face neutral. An invite from a gym was no small thing. Still…
"I'll pass."
Asuna's fork froze mid-air. "W-what?"
"Is it smart to train with a local gym?" I said, leaning back. "What if they're feeding info to my next opponents? Who knows what deals are being made behind our backs?"
Haruki scratched his chin, his brow furrowing. He hadn't considered that.
As a fighter with no martial arts background, tied to no formal organisation, I had a unique edge. My style was a mystery.
I was unpredictable, and my weaknesses were unknown.
"At least for now, we should hold off on gyms or sparring with other fighters," I added. "Until I've got a few more fights under my belt."
Haruki sighed, setting down his tablet and shoving a chunk of meat into his mouth. "Fair enough. You'll train solo for now, at least until your second match. But don't forget, your next opponent's already got a win, just like you. It will be a much harder fight. Not against some kid that claimed to be a Muay Thai prodigy."
I raised a wrapped fist, my grin fierce.
"No worries. No matter who they are, they'll end up with their face in the sand."
———
King's Office
In a darkened room, a shrouded figure sat behind a desk, clouded by aura.
Before him stood his secretary, a muscular young man in a crisp black suit, his posture sharp and to attention.
"If I had to pick one fighter who stood out, sir," the secretary said, "it would be ********. He faced the toughest opponent yet still came out on top."
King nodded slowly, a dark aura coiling around him like smoke.
"But," the secretary continued, "the fastest finish came from a young student, Red Takahen. He ended his fight with a heel hook."
King's aura stirred slightly. "A jiu-jitsu practitioner?" He questioned, voice deep and resonant.
The secretary shook his head. "No, sir. No martial arts training. Just a student who loves to fight."
Behind the shroud, King's lips twitched into a faint, dangerous smile.
"Red Takahen…" He tasted the name. "Make sure his next fight is an impossible victory."
The secretary nodded sharply, saluting. "Already done, sir."