Ready To Rumble

“But why?! Why would she go that far just to put your sister on the throne?!”

“I…don’t know. Naturally, the only one who does is my sister.”

Kimiko begins to pace around the room, trying to come up with her own answer. But as nothing rational comes to mind, she returns to her seat and curses outwardly.

“This is a mess! Your family is a complete mess!”

Kayin remains silent, but slowly raises his right index finger.

“What?” Kimiko asks.

“...there might be someone else who does know. ”

“Who?”

Kayin remains silent.

Kimiko’s expression changes, “...sounds like trouble.”

“I’ll ask you this…why do you think Iboji-Oja always has so many corpses to get rid of?”

“I assume it's because of your sister’s new tax syst-”

“It’s because there’s an underground martial arena. Somewhere in the heart of this city.”

“Oh. And is that where we’ll find this person?”

“If I know anything about them, I’m sure they’re there.”

“Alright. Let’s head out, then.”

“Wait, let’s? You’re coming along?”

“You expect me to let my ticket to your sister’s head just roam around? You’re blind, remember!”

Kayin scoffs, and rises to his feet.

“Do as you will.”

***

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! LET”S GET READY TO RUMBLEEEEEEEEE!!!!”

The intense atmosphere surrounding the underground martial arena breathes intensity, particularly due to the loud noise from fans and fighters alike being trapped indoors. Dozens of black and white light torches surround every wall, mixing the arena into an eerie sense of both light and darkness. Special magic, built by avatar wielders involved in the craftsman trade, circulates the center of the arena, giving the spotlight to each of the fighters below.

Kimiko walks carefully through the large crowd of fans, while paying close attention to the build of the fighters below. Covered in a hood to remove attention towards herself and her foreign appearance, she takes a seat in one of the farthest corners from the arena, and clears her throat.

This catches the attention of a young chocolate-skinned woman that sits not too far from her, sporting a large afro and a pair of stylish sunglasses. The woman offers up her drink to Kimiko, but Kimiko shies away from the offer.

The lady attempts to speak to Kimiko, but Kimiko, unable to hear her through the screams of the crowd, seemingly ignores her.

“THIS IS A ROYAL RUMBLE MATCHUP! LAST ONE STANDING WILL BE DECLARED THE CHAMPION!”

Kimiko looks around, and starts mumbling to herself in a frustrated tone, as she recalls what Kayin had said just before they reached the arena.

“This arena only allows for male participants. Women aren’t allowed. So leave the fighting to me.”

Kimiko kisses her teeth.

***** this place! I wanna fight!

“I said!...”

Kimiko jumps back, startled, as the young woman now sits directly beside her, and screams in her ear. Instinctively, Kimiko had already grabbed the sheath of her sword.

“You don’t need to hide your appearance! Foreigners are more than welcome here!”

Kimiko pauses. The lady points to individuals situated in the crowd at random spots, each having their own distinct appearance, in order to prove that there are other foreigners as well.

“But…”

“Sit down, sister! We’re here to enjoy, aren’t we?!!”

Kimiko sighs, before taking a seat beside the woman and removing her hood.

“From the Tenka Empire, right? I had a few friends over there, too! Would you rather I speak your language with you?”

Kimiko smiles, grateful for the gesture, but shakes her head.

“Alright!” The lady turns her head back towards the stage, “Then let’s just enjoy the buffet!”

Kimiko nods her head...

Before she realizes what she just heard, and snaps her head back to the woman with a confused expression.

After announcing each of the fighters, the announcer looks down at his sheet of paper, and clears his throat for the fiftieth time.

“AND FINALLY! THE LAST FIGHTER REGISTERED FOR TONIGHT!”

“HAILING FROM…THE TENKA KINGDOM?!”

The crowd gasps in unison, all clearly shocked by the announcement.

But none are anywhere near as shocked as the Tenka Kingdom's priestess, as she stands from her seat with an angry expression.

“WHAT?!”

The lady beside her laughs enthusiastically.

“HIS NAME…IS KAYIKO!”

Kimiko grinds her teeth so hard that it could even be heard through the noise from the crowd.

I’ll kill him! I swear I’ll kill him!

Kayin steps out into the spotlight of the fighting stage, and receives a mix of praise and confused shouts. His dreadlocks have now been tied back, and the cloth covering his eyes is as white as cotton. The scars across his body demand attention from the crowd, but not any more than his announcement in relation to his actual appearance.

“Is that what people from Tenka look like?” one man asks.

“I heard their skin is as bright as the sun, and their hair as straight as wheatgrass.” another says.

“That boy just looks like one of us! He should check his citizenship!” another boasts with laughter.

Loud noises from all sides swirl around Kayin, but Kayin only smiles confidently as he stands in place after entering the stage.

I’m sure she wants my head right now.

Wouldn’t be the first time though.

“AAAAAAAND….BEGIN!!!”

The stage of fifty men morphs into a chaotic scene of blood and weapons flying in every direction, while Kayin remains in place.

“With scars like that, you would think he’s a warrior!…But he’s really just a coward!”

“Why would they let a blind man into a match like this?!”

Kayin’s head turns towards a fighter coated in blood, as the fifty men has now been quickly reduced to thirty. The fighter licks his wrist, and a spirit of fire envelops his back, showing off his pair of fiery wings that is uncommonly seen in this arena.

Kimiko sits up from her chair.

An avatar wielder?!

But Kayin said the gods are forbidden here!

Kimiko looks around, and realizes that none of the fans have caught on. Or from another perspective…

They simply can’t.

…shit!

The man rushes towards Kayin and jumps in the air, poised to not only rack up his kill count, but to also become a crowd favorite.

“I’ll put you out of your misery!” he screams with excitement.

An easy ki-!

thud!

Without anyone being able to see what transpired, the man’s head now lays calmly on the ground. The sword he had poised in the air is now held in Kayin’s hand, soaked in his blood. In fact, the sword given to Kayin for the fight still remains sheathed by his side.

The crowd all stand up in shock, as a madness ensues about what had just transpired. The twenty five fighters left now turn their attention towards Kayin, also shocked.

Even Kimiko appears completely stunned.

However, the lady beside her seems…displeased.

Kayin walks calmly towards the middle of the stage, and lifts his sword. He begins to move it around, pointing it around to different areas of the crowd, until it sets its sight upon Kimiko.

No.

The blade points to the lady beside her.

Kayin grins.

“Sorry I’m late. But I’m here for my coronation…grandmother!”

The crowd becomes even more mad than before.

Kimiko's mouth falls to the floor, as she slowly turns her head to face the woman beside her.

The lady scoffs and takes a sip of her drink.

“G-G-....GRANDMOTHER?!!!!”