In a wooden room, lit by the soft light filtering through the cracks, Jigoro is focused on perfecting his art. His body, sculpted and voluminous, is a testament to the rigor and discipline he applies to every movement, every refined technique of ancient jiu-jitsu.
Before him, his master, a man who carries the marks of time on his face, but whose posture and musculature defy his age, watches attentively.
This master, despite the wrinkles and baldness that denote his experience, possesses a physique many young fighters would envy. He is not there just to teach fighting techniques; he is preparing Jigoro to face opponents with abilities beyond the ordinary, to deal with superpowers that defy the laws of physics and human nature.
"Jigoro, superpowers are problematic, but once you understand them, it takes but the slightest trigger for a fight to change," comments the master, his voice echoing through the training room.
Jigoro, with the posture of a predator, not prey, responds confidently: "But master, I am the predator, not the hunted. It is my opponent who needs to understand my superpower. And not just that, to understand my martial art, the ancient jiu-jitsu, an art I have trained in since childhood and honed."
The master nods, a subtle smile tracing his face marked by time. "If martial arts were made to deal with the strong, you took that literally, Jigoro. You believe that someone who does not know martial arts has no chance against you, and that is a powerful truth."
Jigoro merely nods, his determination reflected in every defined muscle, every focused gaze. He knows that his abilities, combined with his superpower, make him nearly invincible. And with that belief, he prepares to face any challenge that may arise in the coliseum.
Back at the coliseum, where the most skilled students of the academy congregated to test their prowess, the judge approached Miguel and Jigoro. With a firm voice, he laid down the only rules: "Everything is allowed, except taking lives." Both nodded in agreement, ready for the challenge that loomed ahead.
Jigoro absorbed the atmosphere around him, feeling the pulse of the crowd's energy. There, amidst the ancient walls of the arena, he felt at home. It was the moment to show the results of years of hard training and unwavering dedication.
The distinctive sound of the drum echoed through the coliseum, announcing the start of the combat. With a serene expression, Miguel advanced towards Jigoro. Meanwhile, Jigoro adopted his characteristic battle stance, an ode to the ancient techniques of China.
Jigoro kept his eyes fixed on the figure of Miguel, who approached with confidence. Despite Miguel's imposing reputation as the best of the second year, Jigoro did not back down. He knew that Miguel had dominated the top of the rankings since the previous year, thanks to his unique power: control over light.
But Jigoro was not intimidated by Miguel's fame. With determination, he took a step forward, beginning his own march towards the challenge.
They approached each other in the arena, each movement calculated as tension hung in the air. In a swift move, Jigoro launched a high kick towards Miguel, but the top second-year student dodged it easily, demonstrating his agility.
In response, a sword of light materialized in Miguel's hand, slicing vertically towards Jigoro. However, the latter also managed to dodge skillfully, staying focused and ready for the next move.
With Miguel creating space for closer combat, Jigoro advanced, seizing the opportunity to close in. Miguel's sword of light did not instill fear in Jigoro; his master had trained him to deal with blades, and he trusted his skills.
Despite his master's warnings about the lethality of blades compared to superpowers, Jigoro continued to advance, only careful to avoid letting Miguel land a fatal blow to his head.
Miguel continued his precise attacks with the sword of light, while Jigoro skillfully dodged, looking for an opening to counterattack. However, Miguel's defense was impeccable, and he easily blocked Jigoro's strikes.
The spectators in the arena were perplexed, barely able to follow the rapid and precise movements of the two fighters. It was a spectacle of skill and agility that surpassed the understanding of many.
The level of combat was overwhelming, leaving everyone astonished at the dexterity of both.
For the more experienced, it was clear that the fight boiled down to who could decipher the other's fighting style first. Each movement, each dodge, was an attempt to read the opponent's next step and anticipate it.
Suddenly, Miguel surprised everyone by materializing another sword of light in his hands, further intensifying the pace of the combat. His attacks became even faster and more furious, keeping Jigoro in constant motion to dodge. The audience was astounded by Miguel's supernatural ability, barely able to follow with the naked eye the attacks he launched.
In the midst of the audience, Say and I watched the fight between Jigoro and Miguel in astonishment. For me, especially, it was an incredible surprise. The movements of the two seemed to have been extracted from an anime, with fluid animation and a speed doubled. It was difficult even to follow with the eyes the rapid and precise movements of the two.
Beside us, Neo watched with a calm expression, as if he were accustomed to such a display of power and skill.
Back to the fight, Jigoro stomped on the ground, causing a giant stone from the arena to rise into the air. With a skillful spin, he kicked the stone towards Miguel.
Miguel watched Jigoro's approaching attack and, as if he were light itself, he moved. In an instant, he took a lateral leap, dodging the assault with impressive agility. In the blink of an eye, he resumed his offense, advancing relentlessly towards Jigoro.
Moving as if he were the very light, Miguel's speed was impressive, leaving many spectators unable to find a gap in his defense. However, Jigoro saw things differently…
Miguel's attack manifested in the form of quick and precise cuts with his two swords of light. This time, Jigoro did not intend to flee. As the attack was about to hit him, a vertical cut from top to bottom, Jigoro remained calm, joining his index and middle fingers.
At the critical moment, Jigoro touched the blades of light with his two fingers, skillfully redirecting them to the side. Miguel's attack struck the ground with force, splitting it with the impact. It was an impressive display of technique and control by Jigoro, who easily handled Miguel's attack.
Without missing the opportunity, Jigoro quickly positioned one of his legs over the blades embedded in the ground beside him. Using them as support, he launched a precise kick towards Miguel's head.
However, once again, Miguel dodged skillfully, releasing the hilt of the light swords to avoid the imminent attack. But this was exactly what Jigoro had planned. With determination, he stomped on the ground and advanced mercilessly towards Miguel.
At that moment, Miguel felt the tide of the battle change. It was now Jigoro's turn to take the offensive, launching himself with renewed ferocity.
Without giving Miguel time to react, Jigoro surged forward and delivered a 'tsuki' directly to the opponent's face. The impact of the strike resonated through the arena, echoing the sound of the collision.
Miguel's head was violently thrown back by the impact of the punch, but his body remained firm in place. However, after the blow, a small bloody hole could be seen on his forehead, indicating the damage caused by Jigoro's precise attack.
The 'tsuki' is a technique originating from Japanese martial arts, known for its effectiveness and lethality. Characterized by a direct and straight movement of the fist towards the target, it aimed to cause significant damage to the opponent.
But Jigoro did not stop there. He began a series of consecutive attacks, delivering precise 'tsukis' to Miguel's chest, eye, clavicle, and throat. Each strike was executed with mastery, aiming to weaken and incapacitate his opponent.
Miguel was bleeding, with his vision blurred on the left side and unable to feel his right arm. The intense pain in his chest and the lack of air consumed him as he struggled to stay on his feet.
Jigoro, seizing the situation, prepared to deliver the final blow, the one that would end the fight once and for all. But just as he was about to do so, a sinister smile appeared on Miguel's lips.
A shiver ran down Jigoro's spine as a dark premonition took over his mind. Every cell in his body screamed for him to back away, but it was too late.
Miguel's body began to glow intensely, accompanied by a deafening buzz that forced everyone in the arena to cover their eyes. Jigoro was engulfed by this blinding light, and before he could react, an explosion occurred, shaking the coliseum and sending debris in all directions.