(Arthur POV)
Underestimating the old man was a grave miscalculation.
As I faced Master Roshi, the folly of my attempted trickery became painfully apparent. If not for my wings, I'd have been eliminated. Though, even if I had been, I could always resort to the "Load" option, reverting to my save file from an hour ago, before the fight.
The possibility of losing this fight loomed large in my mind. Roshi, after all, was a master with decades of experience, having invented many martial arts techniques.
I landed back in the arena, forcing a smile. "You're pretty strong, old man," I admitted, adding cheekily, "Despite being a pervert, you're quite the master."
Roshi, in his Jackie Chun disguise, retorted, "Watch your mouth, young man."
We engaged in a brief staring contest before I launched into an attack. To my frustration, Roshi effortlessly evaded every strike.
Gritting my teeth, I decided it was time to unleash the "Devil's Dance".
***
(3rd Person POV)
The audience watched in awe as Jackie Chun consistently evaded Arthur's relentless attacks.
"The old man is incredibly strong!"
"Indeed. He must be a true master."
Backstage, Goku and Krillin observed the fight with growing amazement.
"That Arthur seems to be completely outclassed by Jackie Chun!" Krillin exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Goku nodded thoughtfully. "If Arthur defeated Yamcha, and he's struggling against that old guy, then that old guy must be incredibly powerful."
On stage, Roshi feigned a yawn, channeling "Ki" into his hand. "Here, have a taste of the breeze," he chuckled, waving his hand towards Arthur.
As the wind attack rushed towards him, Arthur suddenly called out, "Devil's Dance!"
Roshi's eyes narrowed as Arthur gracefully evaded the wind ki attack. The old master's brow furrowed in curiosity. "Dancing?" he muttered, intrigued by Arthur's unusual evasive technique.
The fight had taken an unexpected turn, leaving both combatants and spectators alike wondering what surprises lay ahead in this clash of youth and experience.
Arthur closed the distance in a flash. "I'm here," he announced, launching into a kick.
Roshi leapt high to evade, descending with a counter-kick of his own. But Arthur's graceful evasion led seamlessly into a counterattack. He sidestepped and threw a punch at Roshi, who narrowly avoided it.
Undeterred, Arthur pressed on. His movements were fluid, his attacks lethal. He kept up a relentless barrage, weaving between offense and defense with mesmerizing precision.
From the sidelines, Yamcha watched, transfixed. "I can't tear my eyes away from Arthur! His movement is... captivating!"
"You're right, he moves so gracefully!" Bulma agreed, hearts practically visible in her eyes.
Yamcha trembled, his gaze locked on Arthur. 'Incredible... He's using a powerful technique that makes him look spellbinding! If I were his opponent, I'd be lost in his movements!'
Even Roshi, in the thick of the fight, found himself intrigued by Arthur's technique. 'Fascinating... Did he invent this himself? If so, his potential is truly remarkable.'
Arthur continued his assault, burning through his stamina and energy as a substitute for magic. 'Damn it,' he thought, gritting his teeth. He managed to land a few hits, but they seemed to have minimal effect on Roshi.
While Roshi struggled to land his own attacks, his experienced eyes never stopped searching for weaknesses in Arthur's technique. A glint of understanding flashed in his eyes as he noticed Arthur's intensity gradually waning.
'Ah, so he can't maintain it without sacrificing something,' Roshi noted with a smile. 'I'll just wait for him to tire himself out,' he chuckled inwardly, settling into a more defensive stance.
Sensing Roshi's relaxed demeanor, Arthur immediately activated "Wrathful Rage." The pent-up frustration fueled his power surge.
Roshi's eyes widened in surprise as Arthur's attacks suddenly intensified. Each punch and kick now carried a sting that couldn't be ignored. 'Did he used another technique?' Roshi marveled, struggling to maintain his defense.
In response, Roshi employed his "After Image Technique," aiming to confuse his opponent. But the combination of "Devil's Dance" and "Wrathful Rage" sharpened Arthur's senses. He saw through the illusion and landed a solid punch, sending Roshi flying.
As Roshi regained his balance, Arthur prepared to press his advantage. But before he could, Roshi's voice rang out, shocking everyone: "I concede!"
A wave of confused murmurs swept through the crowd. Arthur halted mid-stride, bewildered. He knew Roshi had more fight left in him - he hadn't even used his "Full Power" form yet!
"What's the matter? You don't want to continue?" Arthur asked, genuinely perplexed. Despite his struggle, he'd felt himself improving with every exchange.
Roshi giggled. "Hehe, I'm too old to fight an energetic young man like you! My bones are already giving out!"
Arthur mentally called 'Bullshit' on that excuse, knowing full well Roshi's strength surpassed that of ordinary young men.
Suddenly, Arthur felt a gentle probe at his mental defenses. Recognizing Roshi's telepathy and sensing no threat, he allowed the connection.
Roshi's voice echoed in his mind: "I'm very impressed by you, kid. You have some interesting martial arts skills. But you still need to train if you want to be stronger. It's about control, discipline, and knowing when to strike. You need patience and work hard."
As Roshi leapt off the stage, his mental voice continued, "See you till then. I want to see you fight against my disciple."
Arthur watched Roshi's retreating back disappear into the crowd, a mix of confusion and respect swirling in his mind.
The announcer's voice cut through Arthur's reverie: "Er, ah, that's it, ladies and gentlemen! In an unexpected turn of events, Jackie Chun has conceded to Arthur Pendragon!"
The audience erupted into cheers, their excitement palpable despite the unconventional conclusion to the match.
As the applause washed over him, Arthur found himself reflecting on Roshi's words. The old master had seen potential in him, but also areas for growth. This victory, while satisfying, was clearly just the beginning of a longer journey.
Arthur relaxed as he made his way backstage, passing Goku and Krillin who watched him with a mix of awe and curiosity. Finding a quiet spot, he sat down to rest.
Krillin's nervous voice broke the silence. "It's our turn to fight now, huh, Goku?"
"Yeah, let's do our best!" Goku giggled, bounding towards the arena with infectious enthusiasm.
After catching his breath, Arthur moved to watch the battle between Goku and Krillin. The fight was intense, but ultimately, Goku emerged victorious.
"Looks like this is it for now..." Arthur murmured, noting he still had '28 remaining' in this world.
He knew facing Goku would be challenging, especially with afternoon approaching and a full moon on the horizon. The prospect of battling a Great Ape was not appealing.
Moreover, time constraints weighed on his mind. Thirty days here equated to one day in his world, and he'd already spent about a day here - roughly 40 to 60 minutes in reality. By not fully using the "one-day" limit of {Creator's Realms}, he could reactivate the ability without expending 3 million mana - a significant saving.
With a decisive nod, Arthur hit "save" and exited the world.
Back in the "Creator's Realms" interface, he promptly exited, finding himself once again in his office. The clock revealed only 57 minutes had passed.
"Phew." Arthur exhaled, flexing his right hand. While he hadn't mastered "Ki," his combat skills had markedly improved. The experience left him confident in facing powerful martial artists in his own world, knowing he could further hone his skills in "Dragon Ball" if needed.
His musings were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Enter," he called out.
Klein stepped in, followed by several unfamiliar faces. "Where did you go, boss?" he asked, confusion evident in his tone. "I knocked ten minutes ago, and no one answered!"
Arthur's gaze shifted to the group behind Klein. He improvised quickly, "I was... sleeping."
Klein's expression remained skeptical. "Boss, these are police investigators. They have some questions for you."
Arthur's mind raced, wondering what could have prompted this unexpected visit from law enforcement.