Martial Arts Worlds

Chapter 7 Kiernan vs. Dominic

Ding, ding!Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The school's bell rang for the final time, signaling the end of the school day.

The students poured out of the school building and headed straight to the stadium. There were a few ranked matches they were excited for.

While the stadium continued to get filled with students, on the stadium's top floor, Azer gazed down at the stage through a large window.

He was dressed in a fancy black suit with three buttons buttoned up and a red bow tie. There were also patterns of black flowers on his sleeves and collars—black flowers were a trademark of Karuza High.

At that moment, the door opened to the room, and a slick-haired man entered with his chin raised in pride and a smirk on his lips.

He wore a tailored suit with black suns embroidered on the lapels.

This man was the headmaster of Irio High, Bernard. His surname was a complete mystery.

"Azer, my friend." Bernard said, extending his hand for a firm handshake. "Been long time."

Azer looked at the hand, ignored the handshake, and turned to look out of the window.

"What do you want, Bernard?"

"Hahaha," Bernard lowered his handshake and stood beside Azer while looking out of the window. "I heard that there will be some nice matches today."

"Is it?" Azer raised an eyebrow and scoffed. "I am sure you will be disappointed. Today is just some small matches to decide some student disputes."

"Oh, is that so?" Bernard chuckled and side-glanced at him. "I heard Dominic will be fighting. Is he also fighting for merely a student dispute?"

"He is fighting against a 204th-ranked student," Azer said calmly. "So, I suppose so. You know the kids; they'll find any reason to start a fight."

"Well, have you thought about my offer yet?" Bernard asked with a calm smile.

"I have, and I have to refuse," Azer said. "That sum of money is not worth it for selling away the most promising student."

"Is that so?" Bernard chuckled and raised a single finger. "I have another offer."

"I am not interested," Azer said calmly. "Dominic is the future of Karuza High. With his lead, I am sure we will reach the national stage once again."

"Only if you defeat us." Bernard hummed playfully. "Only one school can participate in the national tournament as Irio's representative. It has always been either Irio High or Karuza High.

"Irio High has been the representative for the past two years. This year, our line-up is even stronger."

Azer narrowed his eyes.

"That's why I have an offer." Bernard looked at him and smiled. "We'll forfeit the representation match."

"What?!" Azer exclaimed. This time, he was completely taken off-guard.

The representation match was a fight between Karuza High and Irio High to decide which school would represent Irio in the National Martial Arts Tournament.

It was three-versus-three, and the team that was standing at the end would be declared the winner.

"Today's challenge match is between Dominic Raze and Kiernan Hunter!

"The rules are simple—if you get knocked unconscious, pushed off the stage, or surrender, you lose. You're not allowed to kill your opponent, not in here."

The match overseer then raised his arm and looked at the two young men.

"Dominic, are you ready?"

"Yeah." Dominic cracked his knuckles.

"Kiernan, are you ready?"

"Yes." Kiernan replied calmly and moved to his fighting stance—his front foot's toes curled up, his back foot slightly behind him, his arms in front of him in an open-palm stance.

The match overseer breathed in and then swung his arm down. "Fight!"

Swoosh!

Dominic didn't take even a second to think. He immediately rushed in with a quick charge.

After reaching the range of the attack, Dominic formed a fist. All his strength was focused on a single point on his fist. And then he punched.

It was a very fast and accurate punch.

Dominic was practicing a martial art called Raze Family Style. It was a style passed down through generations in his family.

It was a simple martial art with deep meaning behind it. It was a style that focused all strength on a single point. If that point happened to be in the heart, it would result in a fatal blow.

This time, Dominic focused the point on Kiernan's nose. He planned to cave his face in and make him pay for this humiliating match.

The cheers became louder as everyone realized that Dominic was going for the victory.

At that moment, Dominic's fist smashed straight through Kiernan's face. The crowd erupted in a mix of shock and awe as, in their eyes, Kiernan got punched with immense strength.

However, Dominic's eyes shook.

'Why didn't it feel like I hit anything?'

At that moment, the "punched" Kiernan, whose body was slowly falling towards the ground, vanished like it never existed.

"I am here." Kiernan whispered underneath Dominic's arm.

As he was about to get punched, he ducked underneath Dominic's arm to make a perfect afterimage that made it seem like he was punched when in reality he had dodged.

It was such a difficult thing to do, as it needed perfect timing. He had to dodge pretty much at the moment when the punch was about to land on his face.

"Well then..." Kiernan grinned and then slammed his palm against Dominic's face. The hit sounded chilly and crisp, echoing through the stadium.

Dominic stumbled backwards with a bloodied nose and a shocked expression plastered across his face. He had just been hit by someone he thought was an insect.

The cheers slowly subdued and the stadium suddenly turned quiet.