Unexpected Challenger

Sora Yamada

The lights were shining brightly, and the sound of cheers, which were likely for me, echoed throughout the entire stadium. I walked along the gray concrete path laid out before me, patches of sand-like dirt on either side. The stands towered so high that they could practically touch the clouds, and every single velvet seat was occupied by a student or faculty member. At the very top of the stadium was a ceiling made of glass, dimmed so that the sunlight didn’t interfere with interior lighting.

“Sora! Sora! Sora!” I guessed correctly. The cheers only grew louder as I approached my stage, the zone in which I would showcase to the world why I deserve to represent Japan this time around. My magic skills have been honed through years of grueling training. Out of everyone currently attending Golden-Cross University, I am undoubtedly the strongest.

The screams came to a slow halt, the announcer at the center stage holding a hand in the air, a microphone in her other hand.

Sakura Yamamoto, a third-year student with exceptional grades and public speaking skills. It’s only fitting that a woman like her was the announcer this time around. The lights suddenly dimmed, casting Sakura in the spotlight.

“Allllright everybody!” Her voice boomed throughout, “I am your announcer, Sakura Yamamoto! Thank you for joining me for this year's Golden-Cross super fighting tournament! As most of you may know, this year's tournament is a special one, and that’s because the winner this year will get to represent Japan on the world stage!”

The crowd boomed for a few seconds, then returned to silence.

“With that said, let us prepare for the first official round of the Golden. Cross. Super. Fighting. Tournament!” Another wave of cheers exploded throughout the stands.

“Innnnn the right corner! We’ve got the one, the only, Sora Yamada! He’s a third-year here at Golden-Cross University, an esteemed member of our student council with some of the best testing scores. Not only is he a weapon academically, but he’s a weapon on the field! And don’t just take it from me! The students of Golden-Cross actually voted in a poll before this tournament, resulting in a landslide of people stating he would be the one to represent Japan on the world stage! Without further ado, let us welcome Sora Yamada onto the stage!”

A golden light shone onto me, the sound of the crowd cheering my name only fueling my adrenaline as I stepped forward.

“Sora, do you have any words for your fans?” Sakura quickly approached, holding the microphone in front of him.

“Of the seven continents, Asia is the only one to have not yet claimed a victory in the world tournament. I am here to change that. This year, the tenth world tournament will be ours!” The crowd roared in response.

“Sora! Sora! Sora! Sora! Sora!” I couldn’t help but smile.

“Alright, alright. Let’s calm down so we can introduce our second contestant!” Sakura stepped backward away from me.

“Ok folks, innnnn the left corner! We’ve got a bit of an underdog. His grades are average, and he hasn’t participated in any of our tournaments until this year. However, we all appreciate a good underdog, don’t we?” She held her microphone out toward the crowd, their cheers echoing endlessly throughout.

“Despite his underdog status in this tournament, he is still quite popular around school. Welcome to the stage, the one, the only, Akira Susami!”

The crowd erupted, but not in excitement. It was a mixture of confusion and surprise.

Akira Susami, that is a name I’ve heard before.

I watched as the light on his side flicked on. That boy, I definitely have seen him before.

His hair was a bleak brown, a single streak of red at the center. He had frizzy, short hair.

He’d chosen to battle in his school uniform, an odd decision only someone like him would make.

Yes, Akira Susami, the school's clown.

“Akira, do you have any words for the people watching?” She held the mic to his lips.

“Yes. I will be number one.” He held a finger in the air, and the crowd again erupted with that same confusion.

“Before we commence, I would like to give a quick rundown of the rules, just as a reminder to whoever is watching out there. We use a point system to determine the victor of each match. Clean strikes using projectile-based attacks are worth one point. Clean strikes with melee-based attacks are worth two. Knockdowns are always worth four regardless of what type of attack is used, while knocking someone off the stage is worth five. And finally, a knockout will always result in an instant victory. The fighters get two ten-minute rounds to show off their skills and claim victory. Now, with all that out of the way, let us begin the very first match of the Golden. Cross. Super. Fighting. Tournament!” She stepped out of the stage's light and into the shadows at the side.

“Round starts in five.”

He turned to face me, and it was then that I realized the weapon he was carrying into this battle. A crimson-red fingerless gauntlet, with a dragon etched into the top.

“Four.”

I swear I’ve seen that gauntlet before, on someone else's hand.

“Three!”

What is this feeling swelling in my chest? Is this clown really making me feel fear?

“Two!”

Whose gauntlet is that?

“One!”

As soon as the word left her mouth, Akira was on the move, rushing me down with a spark in his eye. A fire burst around his gauntlet, encapsulating his arm as he lowered it down to the ground, scorching the gray stage beneath.

“Flaming fist!”

I only barely managed to dodge his attack, an intense heat burning around my face. I leapt back, quickly drawing my sword, holding its white hilt in my hand, the stage lights causing my silver blade to gleam.

“Water serpent!” A rush of water exited from the tip of my blade, a continuous flow bursting outward and forming into a serpent.

Fire beats water; this is one of the most basic principles of elemental magic. It’s unfortunate, really, to be matched up against me during the first round! And to be a fire type as well, truly, unfortunate.

I brought my blade down from the sky, the serpent crashing into the ground beneath us, sending out a powerful wave of water. I watched as Akira struggled against the wave, his body being pushed toward the edge of the stage. His legs gave out, and his body was swept off the stage.

“That’s five points for Sora Yamada! How will Akira respond to this?”

He leapt back onto the stage, his uniform drenched in water, and his gauntlet dim. I could see him smile and mutter something to himself as he returned to center-stage. He faced me once more, eyes wide with enthusiasm.

“Resume!” Sakura shouted.

Akira was the first to initiate once again, and with the same approach. The flames from his gauntlet were much dimmer this time.

This fight was over before it began.

I swung my blade outward, a beautiful crash of waves following behind the trail of my slash. I was caught off guard by a sudden rumble beneath my feet, a burst of fire and dust flashing right before my eyes.

My slash met air, and Akira was nowhere near where I swung.

My eyes caught a glimpse of him in the air, an extravagantly elegant trail of fire following behind his aerial maneuvers.

I watched as he quickly held a hand up toward the sky, orange mana gathering at his palms before exploding in a powerful burst of hellfire. His body zipped back down to earth, black, white, and orange flashing through my vision. I was hot, then I was cold.

That was something I would never expect from Akira; he’s definitely grown, but not even that will be enough.

I had somehow fallen to the floor, but that’s of no matter.

I reopened my eyes and prepared to stand, but everything in my body was hurting. Now that I think about it, what’s that sound?

Is that… Is that cheering? What could they possibly be cheering for? No, they aren’t cheering, they’re roaring.

Everything was finally starting to become clear. My body was no longer on the stage, and Sakura had returned from the shadows, holding Akira's hand up in the air. At my sides were a man and a woman in all white with face coverings, the two of them examining me thoroughly.

“With a surprising instant K.O., Akira has claimed this round!” The crowd continued its confused roaring; some were even booing.

Wait… No! No! No! I lost? How could I have lost to someone like him! He’s a damn- This is a fluke!

I tried to stand, but my body immediately gave out.

“You shouldn’t try to move, sir.”

“Shut up!” I roared. I ignored the pain in my body, moving forward with sheer willpower and rage. I hobbled back onto the stage, the crowd even more confused. Akira eyed me with what looked like pity, only fueling my rage even further.

“I want a rematch!” My voice echoed.