~1 hour before the tournament start~
Fighter is showing Sierra to the tournament medical room. He opens the door and inside is a hospital room. It had 15 hospital beds and everything a hospital would need for treating injured patience.
"This is your station Sierra you'll be treating the injured."
Fighter says holding the door open as Sierra walks in and examines the room.
"I know why you're helping him, you want to know who the first Core user was don't you?"
She says turning towards him.
"Always the perceptive one aren't you."
He says walking in letting the door close behind him. He walked further into the room.
"How could he possibly know anything about that?"
She asked him as Fighter walked further into the room.
"The temple of the first core user, inside the walls, described him as an ancient being from another world, it said that he gave others core abilities that he had deemed worthy. The information I was able to get was very limited, inside the temple was a giant door. No matter what I did the door would not open. On the front was a handprint. I assumed that the door would only open to a particular person. I left a small number of robots despite not trusting them to guard the place. I left them there hoping to find clues elsewhere. However, my old friend Big Boss needed my help and I was gone for 2 years. When I came back the robots I had left were destroyed and the door had been opened."
"What was inside?"
Sierra asked him, as Fighter sighed.
"Unfortunately there was nothing whatever was inside was taken by the person who opened the door."
"Okay, so how does this link back to Jack."
Fighter pulled out a phone and tossed it to Sierra.
"What's this?"
She asked as she caught it.
"I believe the kids call it a cellphone. I'm not an expert though."
Sierra rolled her eyes and looked at the phone.
"I meant what's on it?"
She asked as Fighter turned towards her.
"It's a recording from one of the robots, the only recording of what happened that day, everything else was destroyed. This is all I could salvage."
Sierra turned on the phone and she clicked on the video. It was in the first-person perspective of the robot. It was foggy and the robot was standing outside the temple along with 20 other robots. The ground was made of black sand. As a figure wearing a cloak and a hood appeared, his face was not yet visible, due to the fog.
"Halt we have been instructed to guard this area following the finders keepers protocol, this area is now the property of Nine industries. Leave now or we will insert the lead into your system, the fast way."
The robot extended four miniguns from each corner of it's back and pointed them at the figure.
"This is sacred ground I've been searching for quite a while, I'd hate to have to leave now."
The figure said walking closer.
"What are you, anyway I've never seen anything like you?"
The man said, still walking closer.
"I am an automated life form known as a Robot, Robot being derived from the Slavonic word robot meaning servitude or forced labor, I am deeply depressed and would very much enjoy terminating you. So please try me. Final warning if you do not leave we will mount your head on that wall right over there."
The robot said as the other robots pointed their guns at him.
"I think you have this backward, this isn't my final warning it's yours."
The figure said coming into view, as Sierra was shocked to see who it was. As she paused the video.
"It can't be, how is that even possible to find such a place he would have to have a map or someone guiding him."
Fighter walked over and pointed at the phone.
"Keep watching you're not gonna want to miss this."
Sierra looked back down and played the video.
"Commence Fire,"
The robot said as a barrage of bullets were fired at the young boy. The boy disappeared as the sound of metal being smashed and ripped apart filled the air.
"You guys aren't human are you?"
The boy said as the robot began looking around for him, all he could see was his fellow robots falling to the ground. The robot kept looking but couldn't see him.
"Where are you looking?"
The robot looked in front of him and saw the boy. He aimed his gun at the boy. The boy punched a hole through the robot's chest.
"Whatever you are, don't blame me for what's happened, this is sacred ground you shouldn't have been here in the first place."
The boy pulls his fist out of the robot's chest. The robot falls to the ground, its head facing towards the entrance of the temple. The next thing it saw was the boy walking over it as he headed into the temple. Soon a bright light came out from the temple. The robot's camera became glitchy as static appeared on the screen and everything went black.
"Is that it?"
Sierra said looking at Fighter, as Fighter reached and grabbed the camera.
"Unfortunately yes, whatever that light was it shortened out the robot's camera, I was lucky enough to get any video at all."
Fighter said as he put the phone in his pocket.
"When I went into the room it was rather small but in the middle was a pedestal. Whatever was on it had been taken. The one who opened the door and took whatever was inside was none other than the boy in the video, Uppercut Jack."
~1 minute into the start of the tournament~
The battle royal raged on as the crowd cheered.
"So what do we do now Gerrit?"
Jack asked, looking around.
"Well I'd want to fight you but I don't think these guys would honor a 1v1."
Gerrit said looking around as well.
"Probably,"
Jack said as he began to think to himself.
"I shouldn't face off against Gerrit now, his ability may have an advantage in large crowds. It's best if we split up. Plus I still want to beat him 1 on 1 that way he won't whine when I win."
Jack thought to himself as
Gerrit was also thinking of a plan.
"I shouldn't engage Jack in combat right now. He is extremely close to me, however, he still doesn't know my ability so he'll be conscious. Plus he probably wants to fight me 1 on 1. Fine by me makes it easier that way he won't whine when I win."
Gerrit turned towards Jack with a smile.
"How about a contest?."
Gerrit proposed as Jack turned towards him with curiosity.
"Contest? what kind of contest?"
Jack asked with his arm crossed.
"Yes, the contest is whoever beats the most people before the final eight are left on stage, and owes the other drinks."
Jack smiled and uncrossed his arms.
"Sounds like fun you're on."
The two high fives and go on their way.
"Try not to fall off!"
Gerrit said walking off,
"Right back at cha."
Jack said walking in the opposite direction. Across the stage, Kuro was watching from afar. His phone began to ring as he pulled out his pocket.
"Yes, your majesty?"
Kuro said, still watching Jack. While Kuro was on the phone a group of men all surrounded him.
"Do you have eyes on the target?"
Zin asked him, as Kuro paid no attention to the men who were surrounding him.
"If we team up we can take out the others and be the last ones standing."
One of the men said, as they all smiled and ready themselves.
"This purple-haired guy doesn't stand a chance against us. With me Gregor the mighty, we are guaranteed to win."
Gregor said as they all rushed Kuro.
"Yes sir it seems, hm,"
Kuro said now, noticing he was about to be attacked.
"One moment sir,"
Kuro raised his other hand and all the men were stuck in place. Kuro brushed through his hair with his hand and put it back in his pocket.
"Sorry for the interruption as I was saying."
As Kuro continues to talk with King Zin, Gregor's mind begins to wonder what is happening.
"What is happening, I can still hear and see everything around me but no matter what I do my body won't move. It's as if he has control over my entire body."
Gregor continued to try and move along with the other men.
"Understood sir,"
Kuro said, hanging up his phone and putting it back in his jacket pocket.
"Sorry about that let's see you were about to attack me."
Kuro said as he waved his hand and the men became unfrozen. They all fell to their knees and started to catch their breath as if a heavyweight had just been lifted off them.
"What was that? How was he able to do that?"
Gregor came from a family of giants. His mother was 8'7 while his father was 9'2. He was the tallest of his siblings standing 10'2. He was always the person who stood above others. Yet he felt as though this man before him challenged his stature. Not only was he known for his size and strength but also his intelligence.
"I'm out of here."
One of the men said as they all quickly ran away except Gregor.
"What are you?"
Gregor asked as he pulled out a giant hammer from behind his back.
"I don't converse with people beneath me."
Kuro said as he put both hands in his pocket.
Gregor became enraged and charged at Kuro.
"I am Gregor the mighty, my hammer is indestructible. My might is above all others, to challenge me is to ask for death."
He swung his hammer down at Kuro to crush him completely.
"You know it's funny you should say that."
Kuro said as the hammer came closer and closer.
"Because you see when it comes to delivering death."
They came into contact with Kuro's head, once it did it immediately broke apart on impact. Shattering into millions of tiny pieces.
"There's no one better to call than me. Your not worth my time or my effort, hm look at that you got some dust on my glasses."
He said as with one hand he reached up and took off his sunglasses. To show his blood-red colored eyes glowing. Gregor's hands began to shake as he started to back up in sheer terror.
"What are you?"
He said as he continued to walk backward, as Kuro walked towards him slowly, not answering. Wiping his glasses clean.
"WHAT ARE YOU!?"
Gregor shouted in fear and frustration.
As Kuro stopped walking and put his glasses back on.
"Weren't you listening?"
He said as he walked in front of Gregor and put his hand right above Gregor's stomach.
"I am death."
Kuro said as Gregor stood there in fear, unable to move. Gregor blinked and when he opened his eyes he was on his back.
"Where am I?"
He thought to himself.
He didn't move for a moment, then he started to get up but for some reason, he couldn't. He started to feel this pain all over his body. He started to gain some feeling in his neck and head. He looked to his right and saw the stands where people were sitting. He looked to his left and saw the fighting arena.
"Oh I'm outside the arena, how did I get here?"
He looked around as much as he could and saw a giant tv. It was replaying what had happened. He saw himself standing in front of Kuro and an instant he was pushed back as if he was never there.
"I see, all I want to do is get up and beat the #### out of this guy. My body though won't move."
Suddenly he felt immense pain in his body. As he shouted out in pain. As he shouted he thought.
"I see everything happened so fast my mind didn't have to comprehend what happened. Now I'm feeling it all at once."
Gregor quickly passed out from the pain and was carried out by the medical staff.
Jack looked up at the giant tv to see the replay.
"Fighter told me that was a Jumbotron I think. That purple-haired guy didn't even punch."
Jack stared at it for a minute.
"Hate,"
He heard in his head. He quickly snapped out of it and looked around for who said that.
"Kill!"
Jack heard as he looked around and saw a big guy walking towards him.
"There you are Uppercut."
Jack smacked himself to regain focus as he shook his head.
"Fahem ahem mm, okay I'm here."
Jack looked to his right and saw someone running at him.
"Well, that can't be good."
Jack said as he got in his stance. The man stood 8'7 his shirt was ripped open and he had these strange gauntlets on. The man threw a straight punch at Jack. Jack flipped backward and did a few back handsprings to gain some more distance. Jack did one last flip and lands on his feet. When the man fist hit the ground it created an explosion.
"Phew, that was a close one."
Jack said, adjusting his hat, as the man slowly rose his fist.
"You Uppercut Jack, you are known as the best martial artist in the country. I've come to show the world who the real best is. I knew you couldn't resist something like this. I am Roushin of the exploding fist."
He said as he put his right foot behind his left. And both his fist next to his cheek.
"If it's a challenge you want then it's a challenge you'll get."
Jack said as he took his stance.
"I am Jack of the uh um the....... Uppercut style yeah that."
The man grunted and charged at Jack. Jack stood his guard waiting for him to make the first move. Roushin threw another left straight punch. As Jack thought of his next move.
"I see he's so large he knows it's hard for his opponent to predict his moves, his fist covers most of one's vision. I can't see if he's going to follow up with another straight or a hook. If I can't see how his body will shift then."
Jack widened his stance and got lower to the ground.
"I'll watch his stance, he's going to throw the straight and then follow it with a hook."
Jack ducked under the left straight, he saw the right hook coming from the corner of his eyes. He bent his legs some more and jumped over the hook. He flipped in the air and went for a spinning ax kick. Roushin put up both his arms and blocked the kick. As the kick was blocked Jack could smell gasoline, as he saw a sudden spark come from Roushin gauntlet. Jack quickly jumped backward as an explosion came from out of the gauntlets. Jack landed on his feet and stood back up and took his stance. Jack started to think of a strategy.
"Every time he punches there are a slight gas smell and sparks from his gloves. I can't see a compartment for the gas to come out, wait a minute let me test something."
The Roushin came charging at Jack and threw another straight punch.
Jack planted his feet and threw a straight punch to counter. The two fists collided Jack could smell the gas coming and then he saw the spark.
"Here it comes,"
Jack thought to himself planting his feet.
The explosion came and went he sliding backward. As he was sliding he looked at his arm and saw scratches and some burns.
"It's as I thought,"
Jack thought to himself
"Since my training began my physical endurance and defense have increased. An explosion like that should have burned my arm to a crisp. Meanwhile, his arm has suffered no damage. He's changing his aura into gas and using the gloves to spark the flames. He's an element type."
Jack thought back to his training when Fighter talked about Core types.
"Core types? What are those."
Jack asked as Fighter sat him down in a chair too small for him.
"Hush now child and let me explain,"
He said, pulling out a chalkboard.
"Um this chair is too-"
"HUSH CHILD!"
Fighter shouted, cutting him off.
"Ahem now as for Core types, even though each ability is unique they each fit into their category.
Chi users-use the latent ability in one's body to enhance their physical strength and create chi techniques.
Element users-are those who use elements, depending on the element will change how you master it. With Loki, he had to absorb electricity. For earth, you must come in tune with the earth, feel its energy, and shift it.
Manipulator type-These guys are a little hard to explain. They're like puppet masters, they aren't really that physically strong but they are crafty. Manipulators can create objects like swords and control them at will, they can send them flying at you. They can do many other things as well.
Enhancers-mainly focus on physical strength; their abilities will mainly be related to their physical stature, and how they've built themselves.
Medical proficiency-Someone who has studied under the medical field and can heal someone without medicine. They can use their core energy to heal any wound.
Weapon masters-are those who have trained with weapons their whole lives. Gaining ability related to the weapon.
Aura manipulation is surprisingly the category you fit into Jack. You're not a master at it but knowing how to do it is still surprising,hmm if I were to rank it I'd say your aura manipulation from D to S rank it is at least C+ or a B. It seems that although your mind has forgotten about your powers and your past your body hasn't. So once you started training it began to reawaken powers you already had.
At first I thought you were an enhancer. However once you used red armor it was clear to me that in your past you had studied aura. It was most likely because of whoever trained you then. You use aura to enhance yourself than
you manipulate your the aura around you to create Red armor.
You told me the more you hit something the more you feel the heat grow in your red armor. It's building up power until it reaches its peak and unleashes a powerful attack, henceforth your ability is something I like to call the gauge. Like in a video game the more you beat your opponent the more power you get. Once your character fills up his gauge bar he can unleash a special attack. It's the same thing with red armor. Aura manipulation is one of the hardest skills to do. All users of aura have very unique abilities.
And finally, the most unique and rarest category is Remarkable.
People in this category can master all other categories and I've only ever met 1 who was in this category."
Fighter said as he finished drawing on the chalkboard.
"Really who?"
Jack asked, trying to fit in the chair.
"Not important this flashback is over."
Fighter said, putting the chalk down.
"What are you talking about?"
Jack said as Fighter slapped him in the face.
Jack stared rubbing his cheek as he was sliding across the arena floor.
"How did, what the, what just happened?"
Jack said rubbing his cheek, as he soon stopped sliding.
"In any case, I figured out his ability to generate gas from his body which makes him an element type."
Jack charged straight towards Roushin.
"Coming towards me huh saves me the time."
Roushin said, throwing a left hook.
Jack slid under the punch and punched Roushin's left knee. Jack slid on the other side and saw Roushin slightly kneeling from the pain. Trying to keep himself from falling.
"As I thought he's trained his upper body more than his lower half. That's why he leads with punches only, to avoid having his legs caught up in the explosion. Ooooh, a plan is forming right now."
Jack started running circles around Roushin.
Roushin threw his guard up to cover his head and chest.
Jack ran in from the and punched Roushin right shin. Roushin didn't have enough time to react. Jack ran around and punched his left knee again.
Roushin whence from the pain. Jack started to run circles around him again. He charged towards him head-on.
Roushin got frustrated and threw a straight punch.
"Now,"
Jack thought as he did a sidekick and kicked the side of Roushin's arm. Roushin's arm was kicked off course and he lost footing and punched his leg. Roushin screamed as he knelt and grabbed his leg. Jack took his stance and smirked.
"Your fighting style is interesting but you focus too much on one aspect. It left you vulnerable to an unexpected attack. It makes you a little too aggressive."
Roushin knelt there holding his leg.
When suddenly a guy and girl with metal bats appeared behind him.
"Look sis this guy all worn out, let's take him out while he's down."
The boy said as the sister laughed.
"Great idea bro *hehe*"
She said, raising her bat up.
"This is bad,"
Roushin thought to himself.
"With this injury, I may not be able to beat them both, I'll have to rely on my defense and wait for an opening."
The sister swung her bat at Roushin but was suddenly kicked away by a red flash.
"What the?"
The brother said in shock.
Roushin looked behind himself and saw Jack standing their glowing red. As he quickly punched the brother off stage. Jack went out of red armor and went to offer Roushin a hand.
"Here,"
Jack said, offering Roushin a hand.
"Why did you help me?"
Roushin asked not taking his hand, still kneeling.
"Because I respect you. If those two guys beat you up and then I beat you up, that wouldn't be a fair fight. I want to beat you on my own, no tricks or anything."
Roushin smiled and took Jack's hand. Jack helped him up as Roushin bowed.
"Thank you, Uppercut Jack, I may ask you a favor?"
He asked Jack, raising his head.
"Of course,"
Jack said as they too let go of each other's hand.
"I'm going to put all my power into this next punch, I want you to do the same."
He asked as Jack smiled.
"Are you sure? I mean you're still injured."
"Of course it's the only way I'll be satisfied."
The two smiled and Jack nodded.
"Alright then,"
Jack jumped backward and landed 40 feet away from
"I'll be using a technique my father taught me, it's my most powerful attack."
Roushin said as the gas became so thick it appeared white around his fist. Jack went into red armor and started to charge up his aura.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
The two shouted as they charged each other. Roushin punched down towards.
"Exploding PUUUUUUUNCH!!!!"
Roushin shouted,
"UUUUUUUPPPPPPPEEEEERRCUUUUUUUUT!!!"
Jack shouted as the two fists collided creating an explosion that sent Roushin flying off the stage.
The crowd cheered in amazement.
Roushin slowly got up and rested his back against the stands. He looked upon the fighting stage and saw Jack giving him a thumbs up. Roushin smiled and gave him a thumbs-up back. Roushin was quickly taken away to the medical room.
"Nice guy you don't meet those too often, now I'd better hurry or else Gerrit is gonna beat me. Hopefully, he hasn't been knocked out yet."
As Jack continued to higher his score Gerrit was increasing his score.
"7, 6,8,9,10, and 11."
Gerrit said as he was counting with his finger. As he was counting someone was trying to sneak upon. Gerrit quickly shot over his shoulder and shot the guy in the knee cap. The man fell to the ground grabbing onto his knee screaming in pain.
"Ow, you shot me."
Gerrit turned around and started looking at his gun.
"There's a little dust on this."
He said as he started to brush it off.
"Are you even listening?"
The guy said as he was laying on the floor.
Gerrit pointed his other gun while still looking at the one with the dust.
"Listen either crawl off the stage or I shoot the other knee cap, then your shoulders, and so on."
Gerrit said cocking the gun. The man squealed and crawled off stage as fast as he could.
"Few I hate wasting bullets like that."
Gerrit looked around and saw someone wearing a hood charging at him. The person swung their blade at Gerrit's throat. Gerrit quickly ducked under and fired two shots at the person. As the person flipped backward dodging the bullets and quickly took their stance.
Gerrit also took his stance pointing both at guns at them.
"Straight for the neck I'm surprised, but I'm pretty sure killing isn't allowed."
The person removed their hood revealing their face.
"A girl? What do you want with me?"
Gerrit asked her, as she changed her stance. The blade was now in front of her, her left foot in front and her right behind facing off to the side.
"You know who I am."
She said.
her hair was long and dark blue, she wore a long blue coat with white lilies on it.
"......Sorry I have no idea who you are."
Gerrit said as he was confused. As he started to take a closer look.
"Wait, that's the sword of Shin ra Ru the leader of the moon clan. Oh oh, now I see what's going on."
Gerrit said, smiling, as the girl smiled back.
"Yes that's right I'm his daughter Rin ra Ru, I've come to kill you Gerrit the gunsmith."
She said, taking a step closer.
"Well, then Rin ra Rin let's see how good you are."
Rin smirked and charged at Gerrit.
Gerrit fired one shot straight at her face. Rin slices through it and pressed forward.
"I've been waiting a long time for this."
She said as she went for a thrust.
Gerrit dodge to the left, Rin quickly changes her thrust into a horizontal strike. Gerrit ducked under it and leaped backward.
"How long have you've trained with that thing, cause so far your father was still more impressive."
Rin took her stance again,
"You haven't seen anything yet."
She said charging at Gerrit, she jumped to the side and started running around Gerrit. Gerrit just stood there waiting for her next move. Her speed continued to increase making it harder to see her. Once she had run around 10 times she leaped forward and at Gerrit's back. She aimed her Kanata at his heart.
"I've got him now,"
She said to herself.
Gerrit turned to the left dodging and pulled his arm back. Rin missed her strike and Gerrit punched her in the face. At the speed she was going she spun out of control and tumbled along the floor. While she was tumbling and stabbed her katana into the guard to stop herself.
"DAMN YOU!"
She shouted standing back, getting back into her stance.
"What did you think I wouldn't hit you because you're a woman, sorry but that's not how I operate."
He said spinning his gun around.
"Your moves are easy to read, you're too eager to kill me that your rushing."
Gerrit stopped spinning his gun and held it at his side.
"SHUT UP!"
Rin shouted as she charged at Gerrit.
She started to unleash a flurry of sword attacks. Gerrit was dodging all her attacks effortlessly.
"I can read all your attacks, I see years and years of training behind each strike. However you're not a master yet, something has been holding you back for years and you can't figure it out."
Gerrit blocked the upper strike with his gun holding it in place. Rin stood there shocked.
"Let me tell you what it is. Your lust for revenge has been holding you back all this time. I believe you have an older sister, for all these years she's never sought revenge you should probably ask her why."
Gerrit said as Rin grew more frustrated.
"I HAVE MANY TIMES BUT SHE NEVER TELLS ME!"
Gerrit smiled and chuckled.
"Did you try asking nicely?"
Rin gritted her teeth and her sword began to glow.
"SHUUUUUT UP!"
Her sword glowed blue cutting through Gerrit guns,
"Well, this is new."
Gerrit let go of the gun and dodge right. As it was cut clean in half. Gerrit dodge rolled and aimed his other gun at her. Rin charged at him quickly with her sword still glowing.
"Still think I'm not ready?!"
She jumped in the air holding her sword over her head. Gerrit reached into his jacket and threw a smoke bomb. Rin sliced through the smoke but Gerrit was nowhere to be found.
"WHERE ARE YOU!?"
She said looking around.
"Over here."
She looked behind herself and saw Gerrit holding a sniper rifle.
"Where did you get a sniper rifle?!"
She said holding her sword up.
"That's for me to know and for you to find out."
Gerrit said as he fired a shot at her.
"I'll CUT RIGHT THROUGH IT!!"
She said as she swung her sword down to cut through the bullet. However, the bullet wasn't being cut in half it started to push her back.
"What's happening?"
She said as she started sliding backward.
"Your ability to increase the strength of your sword is interesting and I have no doubt there are still many more things you can do. However, that blade has a major weakness, which only I discovered when I fought your father."
He said as Rin tried to stand her ground.
"WHAT!"
Gerrit started to walk away ignoring her question.
"You're not ready for that secret maybe you will be one day, but for now your simply outclassed."
Gerrit put the sniper over his shoulders and walked away.
"DAAAAAAAAMN IT AAAAAAAAAALLLLL!"
She shouted as the bullet speed increased and pushed her further and further off the stage. She tried to hold it back with all her power. She looked over her shoulder and saw the edge was approaching.
"I'm sorry father I was so close but I couldn't do it."
She said to herself as she was pushed off the stage. While Gerrit was busy fighting Rin Jack was raising his score.
"Rah,"
Jack said punching someone off stage.
"Alright that makes 45, I'm probably pulling ahead now."
Jack smirked as he heard a loud crash behind him turned around and saw someone behind him.
"Found you Uppercut."
The man said as he slowly stood. He had long spiky hair, his jacket was ripped and torn. He wore black boots and fingerless gloves.
"Well, well if isn't Downercut I knew I'd have to face you eventually I just wasn't expecting it to be so soon."
Jack said, taking his stance.
"Our rematch is long overdue Uppercut it's finally time to throw you into the ground."
The two smiled as Downercut got in his stance.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
The two shouted as they charged at each other.
~To be continued~