The crowd let out a huge roar, chanting the name of their champion who got up after that damaging strike.
"TETSURO! TETSURO! TETSURO!...."
In contrast to the smiling Tetsuro, Arc's expression was cold, baffled and shocked.
[How's he still conscious?! Monster doesn't even begin to describe it]
"Yeah...after a hit like that, he remained conscious long enough to manifest his horn. How? I'm sure he was out cold....that only kept him down for a few seconds? How do I beat him?"
Arc kept muttering to himself dazed. He was confused and his guard full of holes. However—
"HEY, KID! ARE YOU READY?!"
Tetsuro snapped him out of it, not moving an inch. Arc quickly corrected his stance
"I left myself wide open, why didn't you attack?"
"That's easy. It'll be uncool to use cheap tricks against a kid"
"Or you're buying time for your wounds to heal. I bet you can't even walk"
Tetsuro smiled at his assessment
"Is that what you think?"
He assumed a fighting stance
"Here's my bet— you'll fly into that wall in 3 seconds"
Arc sharpened his senses to the maximum, prepared to the next exchange
"2... 1.."
"Huh?"
*CRASH
It took a few seconds for Arc to process what happened. Faster than he could react...or even blink, Tetsuro closed the distance and sent him flying into the wall with a single punch.
"ROOAAARRR... TETSURO! TETSURO! TETSURO!...."
In contrast to the crowds delight, Rei's eyes widened in despair, squeezing her fist as she muttered...."A-Arc". Tears welled up in her eyes as she smiled softly upon seeing Arc at out of the rubble, bloodied, but still safe and sound.
"*Huff huff— You really are a terrifying monster, Mr Tetsuro"
"Hahahaha.... You say that as though you're not far more terrifying, kid"
Tetsuro's face got serious, his eyes fierce as a tiger
"You've already adapted to my speed, haven't you?"
In response, Arc locked in, closing the distance. Tetsuro swung his fist but Arc dodged it by a hair's breadth, leaping into the air to land a counter kick which Tetsuro blocked.
A fierce staredown ensued, each fighter watching for their opponent's next move.....one step, two steps, DASH—
Another exchange of blows followed, both had given up on blocks or parries, only focusing on dodges and strikes.
"I guess your boy's going to lose this one"
Yuki said, watching the fight indifferently
"Don't count him out just yet. Besides, he's he's managed to dodge most of Tetsuro's attacks and is landing far more strikes than him"
"You know as while as I do that the problem is the difference in power. Each of boss Tetsuro's hits far exceeds the kid's own in power. Whereas, his hits are barely fazing the boss."
"....."
*CRASH
She was about reply but stopped, turning back to the arena in shock. The stalemate was broken after Arc received a heavy blow to the stomach, it's impact breaking three ribs on both sides before he flew into the wall again.
He fell on his knees writhing in pain while coughing up blood.
"You can't win, boy. Just give u—"
Tetsuro's eyes widened as he watched Arc stagger to his feet. Battered, bruised, but not out!
"You can't be serious, just spare yourself the pain"
"Don't get me wrong, my ribs are broken, muscles are screaming for me to give up. My vision is blurry and I really want to crash in a bed right about now. However—"
He wiped off the blood around his mouth with his sleeve and smiled
"It'll be real uncool to just give up like that, am I wrong?!"
Tetsuro's eyes widened at his trivial reason for standing, then let out a huge laugh
"HAHAHAHAHA, You're a real interesting kid. Don't say I didn't warn you.... Alright, time to knock you out"
"Bring it o—"
*CRACK — CRASH
Tetsuro's speed increased even further, locking another solid hit in Arc's stomach, raising him to eye level. The next moment, Arc's face was covered by Tetsuro's huge palm as he drove him into the wall.
He pulled Arc out of wall, still holding him by the face.
"With this, the battle is over"
He threw Arc into the air and fired of a series of rapid, heavy punches locking in a hundred hits in less than 5 seconds. He then grabbed the battered Arc as he spun around at incredible speeds and then
"Oni clan martial arts: Tornado throw"
He let the boy go and he flew like a shotput into the wall. Arc was severely injured from that but he wasn't unconscious. He got up once again, his legs shaking at the stark difference in power.
"Spare yourself anymore pain and just give up, kid. You don't have any fight left in you, do you honestly think you can damage me as you are when you weren't able to at full strength?"
Arc's head sank as he muttered to himself
"Maybe he's righ—"
"— DON'T GIVE UP ARC! JUST A LITTLE MORE AND YOU'VE GOT HIM!"
That scream of encouragement lit a fire in his eyes. After all, it came from none other than Rei herself. Yuki stared at her in disbelief.
"Do you want him to die!"
"Shut up, Yuki. You didn't see what I did!"
"Huh?"
"At the start of this fight, I had the same thought as you. However, right now... I know he can do it! He can win!"
Yuki could tell it wasn't blind faith, she had absolute confidence in his victory.
"Wait, you didn't— *scoff— no way, there's no way he'll be able to use that"
Yuki scoffed at the idea but couldn't help but notice Rei's azure eyes focusing intently on the fight with hope and conviction
[That tomboy's still rooting for you, fool]
"Yeah, how can I give up after that"
He said, smiling with fire in his eyes
[Still though, she's correct. I just got some info from Lady Irene.... She said it's revealing, not manifestation]
"Huh?"
["Manifesting" that horn is part of natural physiology of ogres independent of ygg thereby boosting their physical abilities—]
"I know tha—"
[— However, that order of cause and effect is reversed]
"Huh?.... wait you're saying the horn is just a result?"
[Yes. The strengthening is basically just a muscle expansion and tightening breathing technique natural for ogres. While expanding and revealing usually unused muscles, the horn hidden deep in the temple is revealed]
"I see... How does that help me"
[In expansion and tightening to key areas, there are also weak points, fatal areas. Although unintentional, you hit most of those points during your last exchange....]
"Now that you mention it, it was after that he started egging me to give up. Not to mention, this last attack felt a little desperate"
[That's right, he's just putting on a show of invincibility. Your attacks definitely hurt him and that tomboy noticed it too]
"Hmm...why do I get the feeling you knew about that all along?"
[That's irrelevant. Just a little more and you've got him]
"Easier said than done. He might be injured, but he's still faster and stronger. I won't be able to get a decent hit in"
[That's true.... well, wouldn't you say this counts as a "do or die" situation?]
Those words reminded Arc of something
"Yes. Yes, You're right..."
*********
2 days ago— At the bath
*SPLASH
Sighhhh..... I lost again"
Arc said while floating with his back on the water.
"Still though, at that last moment, you got wayyy faster. What was that?"
"It's not important, you can't copy it in time anyway"
"C'mon, tell me! Pleasee Master!"
Her eyes narrowed as she sighed after brief period of silence
"It's a breathing technique created by my sister"
"You have a sister?!"
"Ofcourse I do! Does your memory have a filter or something?"
[Her Sister should be the person that rude oni called a traitor]
"Oh!"
"Anyway, it works by accelerating and controlling your blood circulation with your breathing for explosive speed. She taught it to me but it took years to master"
"Show me!"
"Didn't you hear what I said? Besides it's dangerous to practice it, one wrong move and your body could blow apart from the inside, we can't have you getting severely injured before the fight. Also, I'm sure you can imagine how much strain that technique will place on your organs.....Just focus on beating me in that state"
"So it's a do or die thing, huh? Still show me for reference"
"ARC!"
"Please"
He put his hands together. She stared at him for a few seconds before giving in.
She assumed the stance and controlled her breathing, her skin started turning pale red with fumes emanating from her pores.
"This technique is called..."
******************
"Thanks, I. After your explanation on that horn, I think I understand that technique better now. It's basically a souped up version of the oni's breathing technique, isn't it?"
[We're finally getting somewhere... Now kick his ass!]
Arc mimicked Rei's stance and breathing
"Oni clan martial arts: Rai Izanagi original..."
His skin turned pale red from the blood rush and fumes emanated from his pores
"....INDRA!"
He leapt forward at great speed straight for Tetsuro who tried countering with a corkscrew punch to drive him back to the wall. However,
"Oni clan martial arts: shave"
He appeared behind Tetsuro, spun round placing all the force in his curled fingers and locked in
"Oni clan martial arts: Rai Izanagi original: DRAGON CLAW!"
Tetsuro crashed into the wall and blood burst out his muscles as though he'd stabbed by a hundred blades
"Now that's..... IMPRESSIVE, KID!"
Tetsuro said, stepping out of the debris with the eyes of a tiger.
"Two wounded beasts, clawing their way to victory. Now that gets me fired up"
He assumed a fighting stance and Arc did the same, ready to give everything left in the tank.
They were both pushing past their limits and each could feel instinctively that the fight will soon come to an end.
*BOOM
Their clash resonated through the soul's of the audience who responded with thunderous cheers.
Hit, party, dodge, counter— a fierce back and forth between Arc and Tetsuro ensured, each party unyielding, refusing to drop.
Arc used the momentum from parrying a swing to leap in the air at point blank range. He spun in the air while Tetsuro assumed a stance Arc had earlier in the fight
"Oni clan martial arts: Rai Izanagi original: Dragon claw!"
"Oni clan martial arts, Secret Technique: Rising Dragon"
*CLASH
The impact from the opposing forces reverberated through the prison, each party pushing hard with all they've got to clutch the win.
"AAARRRRRRGGHHHHHHHHHHHH"
With fierce determination and power, Arc knocked of Tetsuro's kick and was on a one way trip to his face. Tetsuro quickly attempted countering with a punch but they both knew he won't reach in time....
*PLOORGHH
A few inches short, Arc hit his limit with Indra and blood burst forth from his whole body.
Tetsuro's punch connected, driving him into the ground and knocking him out cold.
There was a brief period of silence as the audience took a while to process the shocking conclusion. However, their loud cheers suddenly errupted the arena
"A CLOSE FIGHT BUT THERE WAS NEVER ANY DOUBT! THE WINNER IS OUR VERY OWN CHIEF! BOSS TETSURO AMAMI !!!!!!"