Martial Arts Worlds

Chapter 27 The Winners

"Ah..." Kiernan looked at his broken hand with slight pain. "Martial Soldier still ain't enough."

With a sigh, he turned around, and his eyes immediately opened to the sight of his teammates jumping to the ring with tears rolling down their cheeks.

"You did it!" Klaus and Timothy were shouting in triumph, their voices drowned out by the roaring crowd.

The audience was on their feet, clapping and cheering loudly as they celebrated the team's victory. It had been a frustrating couple of years for Karuza High's fans.

It felt like Irio High's team was getting stronger with each passing year—this year wasn't supposed to be any different, but Karuza High managed to pull a shocking upset.

Finally, they released their frustrations into loud cheers. It was a surprise that the ceiling didn't fall apart from the force of their excitement.

"We are going to nationals!" Klaus excitedly patted Kiernan's back while roaring in laughter.

Kiernan smiled with relief. His nerves finally began to dissipate.

This was a completely surreal feeling to him—hearing over a thousand audience members cheering—it was nothing like being back on earth.

'I can't say I dislike it.' Kiernan thought to himself with a chuckle. 'I wonder if there are bigger stadiums out there.'

"Is your hand alright?" Timothy asked with a nudge of his glasses. His eyes were also red, suggesting that he also shed a few tears. It was also a very emotional moment for him.

"It will heal." Kiernan said with a smile and then walked off the ring with the two others.

"Good job." Jin patted him on the shoulder with a giant smile. "You freaking did it."

"I am glad I didn't disappoint." Kiernan said honestly. It was one thing he didn't want to do.

"Get your injured hand checked out; we'll leave shortly after." Jin eyed the crazy audience and said, "Nationals next..."

Kiernan nodded and headed with Klaus and Timothy towards the medical wing.

In the VIP room, Bernard fell down on his knees with a shocked gaze. He couldn't believe what had transpired.

Azer loosened his clenched fist. He had clenched his hand so tight that his palm had turned a pale shade of white. There were times when he also forgot to breathe.

"This can't be happening..." Bernard whispered.

"He is only a first-year..." Azer took a deep breath. "I guess the next few years will be Karuza's time to shine. With Kiernan, I don't see us losing."

"Hah..." Bernard gritted his teeth and mockingly laughed. "And so what? After he graduates, Karuza High will be back in Irio High's shadow. One person cannot change the fate of the entire school!"

"I wonder..." Azer sighed. "Nationals, it had been a few years since I was there. I wonder if we have a chance this year."

"Hahaha!" Bernard laughed. "You really think there's even a small chance of you winning? Dream on, Azer. You know nationals are on a whole other level. If I had to guess, your team doesn't even make past the first round!"

"Thanks for the pep talk." Azer took his hat and put it on. "I'll remember your words."

Bernard hatefully glared at him and watched as he left the room. Immediately after, he collapsed on the ground and let out a defeated sigh.

Karuza High's supporters, in a very high spirit, started to slowly depart from the stadium.

Ding, ding!

[Quest Completed!]

[Reward: Iron Style Pill!]

A small, round pill appeared on Kiernan's hand. It was pretty much the same size as the medicine pills he swallowed. However, this pill had a metallic sheen to it, as if it were made out of iron.

'This might come to great use in the nationals.' He stored it inside his inventory, where it would be safe.

The door to the infirmary opened, and Jin came in with a thrilled look. He was about to say something, but then he saw a member of the enemy team in the infirmary.

Seeing that look, Shura innocently smiled and stood up. "I guess I gotta go~ Any idea where my teammates are?"

"They should be in the neighboring room." Jin said with a nod. "The doctor is there checking up on Kang."

"Okay~" Shura hopped to the exit, waved goodbye to everyone, and then left.

"Congratulations everyone!" Jin said with a smile. "We reached nationals!"

"Ah, I wish we could relax for a week." Nath stretched his arms. "I guess that is not an option, mister coach?"

"You know it," Jin said. "There are three weeks left until nationals. That is not a lot of time. If there's a possibility of increasing your strength even a little bit, we need to do it."

"What's the plan, coach?" Ryan asked.

"We'll go to Tiamut's Training Village." Jin said. "The nationals are happening in New Rakuya's capital—Tiamut—so we might as well go there early.

"Tiamut's Training Village is a special place. There will definitely be other teams there, training as hard as they can before the nationals. It is a place only reserved for teams competing in the nationals.

"So we are eligible to go there."

"Interesting, when will we leave?" Nath asked.

"Tomorrow morning," Jin said. "We cannot waste even a day."

"I wonder if Tiamut High's team will be there." Klaus thought out loud with a curious look.

"TIamut High?" Kiernan asked. "Is it representative of Tiamut?"

"Yes, and Tiamut High are the reigning champions." Jin said. "They've won the last five years in a row."

"Whoah..." Kiernan whispered in awe. "They're strong, huh?"

"This year, they might have their strongest team yet." Ryan said with a serious look. "After all, they have that monster on their team."

"A monster?"

"Yes, his name is Johan Yeager, and rumors say that he has reached Martial Champion. That rank is above Martial Fighter."

'So, the ranks are following—Recruit, Soldier, Fighter, and then Champion...'

"We should be getting going." Jin said with a clap. "Enjoy yourselves tonight; I'll even allow it if you stay out past curfew. Tomorrow onwards, it will be non-stop training."