Many fighters rushed to their assigned rings, the sound of footsteps echoing against the polished stone floor.
Among them, Daichi and Makoto stepped into Ring 4.
The arena lights flared beneath their feet, bathing them in a pale blue glow. Around them, shimmering barrier walls buzzed softly—designed to block outside interference, not to save anyone from their own mistakes.
From the speaker system overhead, Shirona's voice rang out with sharp enthusiasm.
"Alright rookies! Take your stances!"
Makoto rolled his neck with casual ease, eyes locked onto Daichi with cool confidence.
Daichi raised his fists, heart pounding in his chest as he bent his knees into a ready stance.
This is it. My first match. I'm ready to take him down.
"BEGIN!" Shirona shouted.
Daichi shot forward like a bullet, his feet pounding across the arena.
"Let's go!" he roared, leaping into a high spinning kick aimed straight at Makoto's head.
Makoto didn't flinch.
He sidestepped with surgical precision, barely moving more than necessary. Daichi's foot sliced through empty air, the missed momentum throwing him slightly off balance.
Before Daichi could recover, Makoto's fist shot forward—fast and clean.
It crashed into Daichi's shoulder with a dull thud.
"Guh—!" Daichi stumbled backward, wincing from the hit.
But he grit his teeth and steadied his stance.
I can still use my ultimate move...
He charged forward, shouting:
"Sonic Kick!"
His foot connected—clean and fast—landing squarely on Makoto's chest.
Makoto blinked, caught off guard. But only for a second.
"I gotta admit," he said, brushing off the hit, " didn't expect that one.". But now… this fight is over."
Makoto dashed forward. His fists blurred—one, two—Daichi barely ducked them.
On the third punch, Daichi twisted, countering with a rising knee and shouted:
"Have another—! Sonic Kick!"
He spun for another fast high kick, but this time Makoto was ready.
He ducked under it and slammed an uppercut toward Daichi's gut.
"Crap, that was close—!" Daichi thought, narrowly leaping backward to escape.
Daichi landed, breath heavy—then saw the red glow at his heels.
His heart sank.
BZZZZT!
"OUT OF BOUNDS! Winner: Makoto Shushin!" Shirona's voice echoed through the hall.
Both fighters froze, chests rising and falling with deep breaths.
Daichi thinks to himself while staring down, eyes wide—his heel was just past the glowing boundary line.
That... that was it?
All that buildup—
just for one mistake?
A heel past the line?
No.
Not again.
I won't let it end like this next time.
Makoto walked over slowly, hands in his pockets.
"You're really fast," Makoto said with respect. "But the problem is… you're too reckless."
Daichi looked up, sweat running down his face. "Tch..."
Makoto paused, offering a faint smirk.
"But I'm looking forward to our next match."
With that, he turned and walked off, footsteps soft but sure.
The referee approached Daichi, nodding respectfully.
"You've still got 90 points," he said. "Plenty of tower left to climb. You might want to check out the training room before your next match."
Daichi gave a quiet nod and whispered thanks before stepping out of the ring.
His fists were clenched tightly by his sides.
The loss stung—but it didn't break him.
As he reached the exit, he looked over his shoulder at the arena, eyes gleaming with fresh resolve.
Far above, on the tower's 100th floor, where champions trained, a man sat alone in a vast, dim training hall, his black hair clung to his face, soaked with sweat. A jagged scar ran down beside his left eye.
Akihiko exhaled slowly—then froze as a voice called out.
"Well, if it isn't our champion. Still punching shadows, huh?"
Akihiko looked up.
A tall man with spiky blonde hair stood in the doorway, arms crossed, wearing a cocky grin.
"Sataru Yoshida," Akihiko muttered, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Still ranked #2? I figured you'd finally slipped to #3 by now."
Sataru chuckled, stepping into the room.
"Bold words for a guy who's been punching shadows all day."
Akihiko stretched his shoulders with a mock sigh.
"Gotta stay sharp. Can't let you catch up."
"Catch up?" Sataru grinned. "I've always been on par with you, and if you hadn't pulled that trick last time, I'd be #1 right now."
Akihiko raised an eyebrow.
"You've been saying that since the dojo."
Sataru laughed.
"And I'll keep saying it until it happens."
Their smiles faded slightly, the air shifting.
"But hey… I didn't come here to spar."
Akihiko tilted his head.
"Oh?"
Sataru's grin narrowed.
"It's about the rookies."
Akihiko's expression darkened with interest.
"Rookies?"
"Yeah," Sataru nodded. "One of them… is someone we both know."
Akihiko's eyes narrowed.
"You don't mean…"