Under the blinding spotlights, Rin really wanted to go blind. He's definitely not ready for it yet. In front of him was the fighter earlier and adding to Rin's nervousness, he sure is massive than he looked from the stairs above.
"And also, don't use your 'trump card' yet!", Elihim shouted from the audience.
Rin looked at his master with a confused look.
Rin's opponent clicked his tongue and muttered, "Not using your trump card? Your underestimating me even if I'm exhausted.", the fighters heavy voice was really intimidating if included with his buff appearance and rough square-ish face and his grizzly long hair.
'No, no, no one's actually underestimating you!', Rin wanted to speak but only kept it in his head.
"Hmph! Name's Dragger! Let's have a good match.", Dragger introduced himself in a "polite" way.
Rin slowly breathed in and out. Then he too introduced himself, "Rin! Rin Gotha! Nice to meet you and let's have a good match!"
Dragger positioned himself in a fighting stance, he pretty much looked like a boxer in his form.
Seeing his opponent getting ready, Rin too assumed himself in his own "fighting stance". When he was about to, he just realized something.
'Wait, I haven't learn a sine thing about fighting yet! Back when I defeated those thugs, I relied on my superhuman strength brought by the Natural Energy but now, Master doesn't even want me to 'use' it!', Rin panicked inside his head.
He turned his gaze to his Master trying to get help.
Elihim noticed Rin and winked at him with a smile.
'MASTER!!', Rin was shocked by his own master.
He reluctantly stopped thinking to rely on his master and just accepted it.
Rin gulped and thought optimistically, 'Wait, I have experienced many things now. What am I panicking?'
He observed his opponent and concluded, 'He is still a human and can not hurt me as bad as those Gods did to me. I'll just have to endure and go through it. Plan and then take every chances to win!'
The bell rang vibrating through the air and into Rin's focus mind.
The crowd patiently waited if there is a surprise waiting for them. If this youngster truly hold strength to support the confidence he had to stand in front of Dragger as an enemy.
Nobody of the two started to make actions yet. They both observed each other cautiously.
Dragger was a true veteran and he had his own standard. He first had to test the water but he can not analyze his opponent's movement because he have not move at all!
Rin's heart was pounding like crazy. Even if he mustered his will, he still couldn't go against his body's instinct that was telling him that this man, Dragger was a dangerous guy.
Dragger's eyebrows furrowed and made the choice to act first. With his footsteps, he suddenly appeared in front of Rin.
Rin could do nothing but stare. The next thing he saw was a huge slow fist in front of him but suddenly, it accelerated to the point where Rin didn't have the time to react and only felt a pounding pain in his stomach.
Dragger pulled his punch in confusion.
Rin stumbled backwards and fell on his back. His strength suddenly disappeared and only weakness took his body.
'Wha? Just one hit and I'm already down?', Rin looked Dragger's confused face.
"Kid? I thought you are hiding something. You think this fight is a joke?!", Dragger felt dishonored fighting an amateur. This was his 6th fight, it was supposed to be something to be celebrated but it was tainted by a kid. This was something very shameful for his career!
When Rin heard that, instead of embarrassment or fear, what welled inside of his was anger. Thinking how much he suffered just not to feel pain anymore, how ironic would it be if that was all for nothing!
"Are you kidding me!?", Rin yelled at the top of his lungs.
Dragger was angered by this and felt like teaching Rin a lesson, "You!..", he walked forward and tried to grabbed Rin's neck.
Rin's face frowned and quickly dodged it in a desperate manner while holding his stomach.
Dragger just pitied him and let him escaped. But was surprised when the kid went back to him, preparing to attack.
Dragger snorted and did nothing in confidence, thinking, 'Kid got some guts but that's not enough.' he readied himself and stood still, ready to accept Rin's incoming attack.
Rin ran and jumped in an attempt to kick Dragger. Making such a big move is definitely dangerous but Rin knew that Dragger would just take it by just looking at him and even if he is not, Rin would still not care still attack.
Rin jumped in a significant height making him stay in midair and swung his leg at Dragger's head with all he's got.
"Ahhh!!", Rin shouted as he put all his strength in that one kick. "Don't underestimate a full day of running!"
Rin's foot landed on Dragger's head with a Tok!* sound. Dragger's knees were unexpectedly forced to bend from the impact! Then Rin used his foot on Dragger's head to jump back but Rin have no idea how to spin in the air so he landed poorly on the ground.
Rin immediately stood up and saw Dragger with his red eyes and pulsating nerves on his red forehead.
"ONE DAY!!??", his eyes were glaring at Rin as if he was ready for a kill, "Aren't you the one who's messing with me!!??", Dragger shouted as blood flowed on his forehead coming from his head.