"WELCOME BACK TO THE G.O.D. TOURNAMENT, YOU ANIMALS OF AGONY!"
Mimi Katsura's voice shot like a bullet across the Mishima Arena.
The crowd—still recovering from Blaze Kuronuma's breathtaking victory—rose again like a storm reborn.
Flames danced across the monitors. The arena's center began shifting—tiles clicking, locking into a flat stone platform surrounded by shallow water.
A new stage. A new fight.
And on the screen above them, bold red letters flashed:
MATCH TWO: ASUMI MAOSHINARA VS. KAI FUSHIDA
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At ringside, Chris Navarro leaned forward in his seat. "This one's going to be nasty."
Beside him, Genji felt his pulse pounding. "Asumi… show them the strength of the Maoshinara."
Xao Min cracked her knuckles, eyes flicking to the arena.
Kazuya stood silent, watching intently.
Blaze, still wrapped in a towel, blood on his lip, whispered, "Don't get hit by that footwork."
---
"INTRODUCING FIRST—THE SOUTHERN FURY! THE MANTIS OF OKINAWA! SIX STRIKES IN A SECOND! FROM THE FUSHIDA CLAN—KAAAAAAIIIIIIII FUUUUUSHIDAAAA!"
The gate burst open.
Kai Fushida stepped into the light.
Leaning. Loose. Barefoot. His green robe open at the chest, rope belt fluttering. His hair tied in a loose topknot, his expression unreadable. Hands out like a praying mantis. Every step was a twitch. A dance. A warning.
The crowd buzzed with anxiety.
> "He's fast," someone murmured.
"Too fast."
---
"AND HIS OPPONENT—THE STORM-HEARTED PHOENIX! GRANDDAUGHTER OF ZAKACHI MAOSHINARA! FIGHTING FOR HONOR, FOR BLOODLINE—ASUUUUUUUMIIIIII MAOSHINARAAAAA!"
The lights flared gold and red.
Asumi strode forward, her ponytail snapping like a whip behind her. Her black and crimson training uniform hugged her lithe form, trimmed with flame patterns. Her feet were light on the ground—her breath steady.
But her eyes were fire.
As she stepped into the ring, the air shifted.
The crowd could feel it.
> "You burn brightly," whispered Kai, bowing lazily.
"I burn until I win," Asumi answered, lowering into stance.
---
DING!
---
Round One:
Kai moved first.
A blur. A ghost. A staccato of snapping limbs.
He came in low—then up—then twisted sideways with a flurry of strikes that mimicked insect limbs. Hands like blades. Legs like springs.
> "Mantis Foot—FIVE-FANG VARIANT!"
Asumi barely dodged the first three.
The fourth scraped her cheek.
The fifth struck her ribs—hard.
She staggered back, blocking the sixth with her forearm. Her eyes narrowed. Blood dripped from her lip.
Kai didn't stop.
He danced again—hopping, zigzagging. His foot swept low. His palm struck high.
> "DIEZ STRIKE!"
Asumi ducked under it—
And countered.
> "PHOENIX ARC!"
Her leg whipped in a crescent. Fire hissed across the stage.
Kai ducked, twisting—but Asumi had already turned—
"SCARLET TURNING KICK!"
She hit his jaw.
CRACK.
Kai flew back—but rolled to his feet, laughing.
> "Yes," he hissed. "Make me feel alive."
---
In the stands, Genji stood. "She's controlling the tempo now."
Chris folded his arms. "But the mantis waits to trap."
---
Round Two:
The fight got brutal.
Kai closed the gap with lightning speed. His feet never stayed still. One moment he was flipping. The next, sweeping.
He baited Asumi into a high kick—then ducked under it and spun—
> "INSECT'S WRATH!!"
His elbow hit her shoulder.
She screamed—pain lancing down her arm.
Kai smirked.
> "I see it now. You favor your right leg. Let's break it."
Asumi's eyes flashed. Her breath centered.
She remembered Zakachi's words.
> "The Phoenix is not a technique—it is a heart. You rise not because of strength. But because you never choose to fall."
Blood dripping, leg trembling—
She spun.
> "PHOENIX REIGN!"
A double-kick—one from the left, then a feint—
Kai blocked.
> "TOO SLO—"
BOOM.
> "RED WING SWEEP!!"
Her heel crushed his temple. He staggered.
She flew.
"PHOENIX ASCENT—SECOND FLIGHT!!"
Her knee crashed into his chest. His feet lifted off the ground.
"NOW—FALL!"
"FIRESTORM COMET—THIRD FANG!"
Her spinning axe-kick slammed him into the arena floor like a meteor.
---
The crowd screamed.
Water sprayed.
The floor cracked.
Kai Fushida didn't get up.
---
Silence.
Then—roars. Deafening roars.
WINNER: ASUMI MAOSHINARA
---
In the viewing gallery:
Blaze jumped up, punching the air. "YES!"
Genji clapped once, hard.
Kazuya cracked a rare smile.
Xao Min yelled, "THAT'S MY GIRL!"
Chris gave a smirk. "I underestimated her. Won't happen again."
Asumi stood above her broken opponent, breathing hard. Her arm hung limp—but she didn't care.
> "For grandfather… and for Genji."
She bowed.
And walked away.
---
In a hospital room far away, a young girl in a floral kimono watched the broadcast, smiling through her tears.
> "You did it, Asumi."
---
Above the ring, the screen crackled again.
NEXT MATCH: XAO MIN FENG VS. PANDA — THE ELITE GUARD
A shadow of a massive figure rose on screen—wearing a Chinese opera mask, holding a giant guandao.
Mimi Katsura's voice dropped low.
> "Time to see what happens when lightning meets the mountain."
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TO BE CONTINUED.