The main Blackdragon Dojo was holding a black belt test. Lily, Jerry and Karen were the judges for the event. The event received increased media coverage due to rising action star, Colt Smith, taking his test. The Lees allowed a small media presence inside the dojo since it increased the desire of the students to do their best.
There was a slight buzz of interest when Dan Hirono entered. He tried to downplay his arrival, but he had managed to shift attention to him during a rival event. Jerry Lee slyly glanced towards Lily and his mother. Karen shook her head almost imperceptibly.
The form tests were first, followed by board breaking. Sparring was scheduled for last before the deliberation of the judges and the award ceremony. Karen served as the referee for the sparring.
"Mr. Hirono, would you like to honor our students with a spar," Karen asked.
"Uh no," Hirono said flustered and clearly caught off guard by the question.
Karen smiled and nodded. She selected two students. After they bowed to her and each other, she double tapped her cane on the floor for them to begin. The spar was intense and fast paced. Karen announced the winner of the spar and the crowd cheered.
After many matches, it was finally time for Colt Smith. He walked out to the center of the floor. Karen pointed to a student sitting in the front row. He was about to get up when a masked stranger in a sleeveless black hoodie placed a hand on his shoulder easing him back to a seated position.
The stranger walked to the center of the floor. The stranger looked Colt up and down without saying a word. He looked at Karen and their eyes locked for a moment. Karen didn't say anything as she sized up the stranger.
Jerry started to intervene, but Karen held up a hand to stop him. The crowd started to get excited as they thought this was a publicity stunt for Colt to show off. Karen gave the command to bow. Both men bowed to her, then bowed to each other.
Colt assumed a Blackdragon fighting stance. The stranger assumed a Hirono fighting stance. Karen raised an eyebrow and Dan Hirono's relaxed posture changed. There were whispers among the students and spectators.
"Who is that guy, " a gravelly male voice asked.
"Why are they letting him crash the test," a silvery female voice asked.
"Is he using Hirono style Karate," Dan Hirono shuffled around in his seat at this remark.
"I bet that Hirono is behind this," another male said.
"This has probably got something to do with one of his new movies," a nasal sounding male said.
"Begin," Karen said as she double tapped her cane on the floor.
The stranger launched a barrage of quick strikes. Colt seemed to block them with relative ease. Karen watched the exchange with interest. Lily and Jerry also made some quiet comments to each other. Hirono frowned as he watched the spar.
The stranger began to block as Colt took the offensive. The stranger tried to keep up with Colt's quick punches and Colt caught him with a jumping back kick to the stomach. The stranger staggered back from the kick clutching his stomach. Karen tapped her cane and held up a hand signaling that Colt earned a point.
Karen tapped her cane and the two men reset. She looked at Colt. He had a smile on his face. She looked at the stranger. He didn't take his eyes off his opponent. She doubled tapped her cane again.
The stranger hopped forward with a kick. Colt easily dodged to his right. He attacked with a roundhouse kick, but the stranger ducked. Colt immediately followed with a Dragon Sweep. The stranger hopped over the low kick. Colt caught him with a Rising Dragon Fist.
"Point," Karen said as she held up a hand in Colt's direction.
The stranger rubbed his jaw. Colt went back to his spot and assumed his fighting stance. The stranger returned to the center and changed into a Blackdragon fighting stance. Dan Hirono clenched his teeth as his face started to redden.
Jerry Lee and Lily looked at each other for a moment. Karen looked at the stranger's new stance. Her eyes were appraising, but her face remained stoic. She double tapped her cane. The stranger quickly landed a Low Lunge Punch to Colt's stomach. Colt fell to the ground clutching his stomach.
Karen tapped her cane on the floor. The stranger went to his spot and assumed the Blackdragon fighting stance again. Colt got up and went to his spot. Karen looked at both men. The stranger gave her a brief sideways glance before looking back at Colt.
Colt decided to take the initiative. When Karen double tapped her cane he flew forward with a punch. The stranger stepped into the attack and dipped slightly to allow the punch to miss. The stranger reached up grabbing Colt's arm. With swift execution, the stranger turned and threw Colt to the floor. He followed up with a punch to the body of his prone opponent.
There was a loud collective gasp from the crowd. Jerry Lee and Lily stood up. Colt looked winded and angry. He rose to his feet. The stranger waited at a distance. Karen checked on Colt before having them step to the center.
"Match point," Karen said as she looked at both men.
Everyone was on the edge of their seats. Lily and Jerry were watching closely. Almost everyone in the crowd had pulled out their phones to record this moment for their social media accounts. Dan Hirono sat silently with his arms crossed and his brow furrowed. Karen lifted her cane and paused before double tapping it.
Colt begins his attack with a series of kicks. The stranger blocks and dodges. The stranger begins to counter and attack. Colt begins blocking and dodging. The stranger seems to be getting faster and closer to landing a decisive strike.
Colt staggers back after blocking a jumping elbow strike. The stranger leaned into a lunge punch. Colt blocked it and the stranger circled his wrist around Colt's. He grabbed the actor's wrist and pulled him forward. The stranger spun around to get behind Colt as he stumbled forward off balance. The stranger jumped into the air and dropkicked Colt in the back. He then kipped up as Colt crashed to the ground.
"Enough," Karen said as she slammed her cane on the ground.
Jerry Lee and Lily approached, each standing on one side of Karen. The crowd was on their feet. The stranger offered his hand to Colt to help him up. Colt accepted and rose with the stranger's help. The stranger bowed to Colt and then to Karen.
The stranger was about to leave, but Dan Hirono grabbed him by the shoulder. "Hey. You're not going to make a fool out of me like that."
"You do a good job of that yourself," the stranger replied while slapping Hirono's hand off his shoulder.
"You arranged this just to embarrass me. You wanted to make my karate look weak and use this wannabe action star to get you free publicity," Hirono said while pointing at Karen.
"I would remind you not to make a scene that you don't want the world to see," Karen calmly said while holding Jerry and Lily back.
"And who are you," Hirono said as he attempted to grab the stranger's mask.
The stranger casually blocked his hand. Hirono became incensed and tried again. The stranger blocked his attempt again and threw a straight punch. The stranger stopped his fist an inch away from Hirono's face. The stranger wriggled his eyebrows in amusement.
"You've got to be quicker than that," the stranger said.
Hirono's breathing increased as his face became flushed. He straightened his suit jacket and harumphed. He walked past the stranger like he was about to leave, but quickly tried to kick him in the back. The stranger easily dodged the attack and countered with a palm strike to his ribs.
Hirono managed to sneak the mask as he crumpled to the ground. The stranger removed his hood completely revealing his identity. Hirono coughed up blood as he looked at a famous face. The crowd rapidly began to snap pictures.
"Welcome home, son," Karen said with a smile.