Chapter 88

As the fight recommenced, Kim launched himself into the air about twenty feet up flipping around and flaring his Chi to come down at me with a diving kick that somehow had him rocketing down at me. I was forced to dodge, diving away from the kick even as he smashed into the tiles of the arena floor, breaking the heavy-duty stone tiles and throwing up rock dust. That kind of power was interesting, but it was nothing I hadn't faced before. The Judge could have done something similar if he'd been inclined, after all.

Instead, I launched myself at him in a Flying Dragon Kick of the Great Kung Lao, testing my own aerial maneuvers against Kim's. Seeing me rocketing toward his side, Kim launched himself into the air, kicking out as he backflipped into the air, the power of his Chi-enhanced kick trailing a plume of flame from sheer air friction. I recognized the maneuver as the main Signature Technique of Bonghwang Taekwondo, the Hienzan.

My Flying Dragon Kick smashed into his Hienzan and we hit each other at the same time, both of us smashing each other back and away. I landed on the opposite side of the ring on my back, smashing through one of the heavy-duty stone tiles used as the flooring of the arena. Kim did the same, both of us cratering the ring on opposite sides and throwing up plumes of dust. I felt my ribs bruise from the blow even as my skin was seared by the fire, but Kim likely wasn't in any better condition.

As I kipped back up to my feet, I saw that my suspicions were correct as Kim was holding his right side. I grinned at that, pushing the pain to the side as I channeled Chi into the palms of my hands, drawing on the Chikara no Hadou to hopefully finish this in the next go with a single Denjin Hadouken of the Ansatsuekn. Kim must have realized what I was planning because he surged his Chi, compressing it into his muscles in a way that seemed like he was folding it in on itself before blasting forward almost faster than the Human Eye could see in a blindingly fast series of arcing strikes that left afterimages in the air as he rushed forward. He was across the arena in the blink of an eye, forcing me to let the Denjin Hadouken fly before I had a chance to charge it at all.

Kim smashed through the uncharged Chi Blast with a blindingly fast, blindingly powerful, roundhouse kick before planting his leg and lashing out at me with an axe kick. Immediately, I surged my own Chi and stomped the ground, rooting myself as I performed the Kongoshin of the Ansatsuken. The Axe kick fell on my shoulders even as Kim launched a follow-on kick, still trailing after images as well as flames. I took it with the Kongoshin, the diamond body defense of the Ansatsuken remaining intact under the pressure, before countering with a Chi-enhanced punch that smashed into Kim's stomach as he tried to set up for another arcing kick.

As I threw the punch, I tried folding my Chi in on itself before joining it with my muscles like Kim had. It wasn't a complete technique, unfortunately. I wasn't the sort of person who could perfectly copy techniques after seeing them once, even with my powers of Analysis working. However, it was passable enough to improve the power output of my punch substantially. My punch blasted Kim backward and he dug a furrow in the arena tiles as he skidded along the ground in a tumble. For a few moments, Kim didn't get up, as the Announcer began counting down from ten. I dared to hope that maybe I'd won this without showing too much of what I could do. Alas, it wasn't to be.

Kim managed to get to his feet just before being counted out. It seemed I wasn't that lucky, unfortunately. He shook his head to clear the cobwebs before turning to glare at me.

"You stole my Technique!" He accused.

"I did no such thing! Did you see any kicks in what just happened?" I demanded.

"That isn't the point! The Bonghwang Chagi uses a specific method of Chi Enhancement that I felt you use!" Insisted Kim.

"News Flash, folding your Chi in on itself isn't something you can claim ownership of. A lot of Chi Blasts and Beams use that sort of thing as part of their gimmick!" I scoffed.

"So you deny that you stole my technique?" Pressed Kim.

"Categorically!" I huffed.

"Very well, I shall force you to see the error of your ways then!" Announced Kim.

"Right, because you're doing a bang-up job of that so far." I snarked.

"Enough of this! I'm putting everything into this one, so get ready!" Shouted Kim.

"Fine, in that case, I guess I'll break out the big guns!" I retorted.

This I did somewhat literally, condensing my Chi into the heavier, Geki Hou, version. Almost immediately, my muscles bulged, gaining mass and definition as my shirt tore to shreds, Master Tung Fu Rue's Technique powering up my body and causing me to 'hulk out', as Xander had always claimed back in Sunnydale when I'd been training him and Sheila, though Sheila had always refused to try the Geki Hou. Once I was sufficiently powered up, I began to draw upon the Chikara no Hadou, charging a Denjin Hadouken of the Ansatsuken once again.

As I did that, Kim was once again folding his Chi in on itself before joining it to his muscles, though this time, instead of the three folds he'd done previously, he'd folded it five times and then condensed it. It was enough that his skin took on a golden glow before he charged forward, movements no longer leaving after-images, but trailing lines of light as he blurred forward in a powerful, fast, series of strikes. He ate up the distance between us in heartbeats, arcing kicks trailing light as he walked his way over in a series of roundhouse strikes. I backed away, giving ground as swiftly as I could in order to have enough time to charge the Denjin Hadouken.

In response, Kim launched himself into the air, flipping around into a shining axe kick, Chi billowing out like Phoenix Wings from his back as he rocketed toward me from fifteen feet away in a giant, leaping, axe kick. I launched my Denjin Hadouken as he descended, the beam of blue Chi crackling with charged bolts of yellow power as the Denjin Hadouken blasted forth. Kim's kick smashed into the beam, almost arresting its momentum, before ultimately, the Denjin Hadouken detonated with a boom that I was sure could have been heard all the way on the other side of the city.

Kim's last-ditch technique had proven more powerful than the Denjin Hadouken, as he plummeted toward me feet first, but destroying a blast like that had robbed the technique of most of its power. His kick smashed into my shoulder, knocking me down and back as he backflipped off me to land on his feet unsteadily. My shoulder was bruised from the blow, but it was nowhere near enough to stop me, not like it would have been if it hadn't had to chew through my Denjin Hadouken. I kipped back to my feet and exited the crater in the arena tiles I'd made from the impact of being kicked down, still ready to fight.

"Unbelievable! You took that head-on! Nobody's taken my Zero Distance Bonghwang Chagi before!" Grumbled Kim.

"First time for everything. Do you have another one in you? Cause I can still keep going." I questioned.

"No, much as I hate to say it, my tank is empty." Sighed Kim.

"Well, then it seems like you're in for a world of hurt. Unless you'd care to forfeit?" I queried.

"No. I won't give up, even if I used up most of my Chi in that last technique!" Insisted Kim.

"Well, then. I guess you'd better prepare yourself to get knocked out, huh?" I asked.

"I won't go down easily!" Warned Kim.

He took up a stance, though I could tell he was gassed and running on fumes. He was favoring his right side and I could tell with my powers of Analysis that he had a pair of cracked ribs. At the same time, his right shin bone had a hairline crack in it. Taking my attacks head-on like he had probably hadn't been the smartest thing, but I could respect the guts that sort of thing took, even if he was annoying. I'd make it a clean knockout and have a healing potion waiting for him when he woke up as a professional courtesy.

Kim let out a shout, charging forward one last time, this time in a somersaulting axe kick that he poured the last of his Chi reserves into, his leg trailing fire as it split the air. I rushed forth in a Senkugoshoha of the Ansatsuken Style, slipping past the flames wafting off his Axe Kick and dodging to the side as his leg came down, splitting another of the stone tiles in half. As I pivoted around, my fist came in streaking for Kim's Temple, connecting with a thud and sending him to the ground, out cold.

The Announcer began to count down from ten, but I already knew this would be a knockout. Kim wasn't getting back up after burning up so much of his Chi Reserves in big, flashy, moves. As the Announcer reached ten, I nodded once as he called the match.

"Ulysses Laertiádēs is the winner by knockout, Folks! What a spectacle! I bet you folks weren't expecting that sort of light show so soon, huh? Unfortunately, it seems like our combatants wrecked up the Arena a bit too much! We'll be taking a short break while the Arena Staff replace the tiles, so now would be a great time to use the bathroom!" Called out the Announcer.

I made my way over toward my teammates, grabbing a vial of healing potion out of my Expanded Jacket Pocket as I did so. While I was there, Kensou cocked an eyebrow at me.

"What happened to don't show everything you can do?" He questioned.

"You think that was all my moves?" I queried back.

Kensou looked like he wanted to retort, but didn't have one ready. Athena, however, had picked up on the vial of Healing Potion in my hand. Gesturing toward it, she cocked her head to one side in a questioning pose.

"What's that for?" She asked.

"Kim fought well, this is a healing potion. I'm gonna give it to him." I answered.

"Well, you'd better hurry. It looks like the medics are about to carry him to the infirmary." Intoned Athena.

I turned to see two burly men levering Kim onto a stretcher and made my way over to them to try and get them to stop for a second so I could force-feed Kim the healing potion. As I flagged them down, however, the one at the front of Kim's Stretcher only looked annoyed. It was the One at the Rear who spoke to me.

"What do you want? We've gotta get this guy to the infirmary or Doc Minazuki'll have our asses." Growled the Rearmost Stretcher-Bearer.

"Or, you could let me feed him this and he'll be right as rain." I tried, holding up the potion.

"What's that? Some kinda medicine?" Demanded the Frontmost Stretcher-Bearer.

"Of a sort. A sort that heals up all kinds of wounds nicely." I nodded.

"Pull the other one, Kid. There's no such thing as a miracle cure." Scowled the Frontmost Stretcher-Bearer.

"Come on, it can't be the strangest thing you've seen today." I pointed out.

"Doc Minazuki won't like it. She can be pretty damn scary when she wants." Frowned the Rearmost Stretcher-Bearer. I could tell he was considering it, though from the glint in his eye.

"Yeah, she's no slouch in the combat department, either." Remarked the Frontmost Stretcher-Bearer.

"Though, I wouldn't mind her putting her hands on me." Mused the Rearmost Stretcher-Bearer.

"You're nuts, she'd kill you." Scoffed the Frontmost Stretcher-Bearer.

"But what a way to go." Insisted the Rearmost Stretcher-Bearer.

While they were busy arguing over the apparently attractive Doctor that Kagura Enterprises had managed to rope into working the infirmary, I made my way over to Kim, popped the cork on the vial of Healing Potion, and began pouring it into his mouth, pinching his nose shut so he swallowed. Soon enough, Kim's eyes fluttered open and he bolted up in the stretcher, much to the two Stretcher-Bearer's astonishment.

"How do you feel?" I questioned.

"Surprisingly better. What was that?" Queried Kim.

"A healing Potion pioneered by the Count of Saint Germain. I happen to own a copy of one of his Alchemy Grimoires." I shrugged.

"Who?" Asked Kim.

"An old School Vampire Hunter and Sorcerer. One who tangled with two different versions of Dracula, though oddly never the original. It doesn't matter, though. The point is, your ribs and leg should be good as new." I answered.

"Fine, no sweat off my back. If Doc Minazuki comes after you, though, don't say I didn't warn you." Groused the Frontmost Stretcher-Bearer.

"Yeah, in the meantime, if you're all right, get off the stretcher. We'll need it for actually hurt folks." Concurred the Rearmost Stretcher-Bearer. Kim hopped off the stretcher and both Stretcher-Bearers made their way back to the infirmary. Kim sighed and looked over at me as he realized his leg and ribs actually didn't hurt even after moving around.

"I may have judged you unfairly. Please accept my apologies." Apologized Kim.

"No worries, there's still the matter of our wager, though." I pointed out.

"Right. I suppose I should have realized that. I will have a training manual shipped to your home once the Tournament is over if you'll leave your contact information with me." Sighed Kim.

I wrote down my information and handed it off to Kim, who stashed it in a pocket before making his way back toward his team. I did the same, heading back toward Athena and Kensou. Unfortunately for Kim, it seemed his teammates were disheartened by his loss and had already told the announcer of their intent to forfeit. Kim scolded them, but it was too late now. I tuned them out in favor of lighting up a Red Apple Cigarette and sitting down, pulling out my Guitar from my expanded jacket pocket and strumming out a few notes.

As I inhaled the smoke, watching the Arena workers replace the tiles, I began to strum out a song I knew but hadn't really had the opportunity to play for an audience before. It was one associated with a Mexican Play from the eighteen-nineties called The Mask of Zorro, a dramatization of the Second Zorro's involvement with the Don's Revolt of eighteen-forty-one against Mexico that saw California become briefly independent before Annexation by the US. The Music from the play was largely flamenco in nature, and the guitar bits were complex accordingly. I managed though.

Unfortunately, if anyone noticed, they didn't say anything. Likely the teams were too engrossed in strategy to pay attention to me. I stubbed the butt of my cigarette out and put my Guitar down just in time for the last of the tiles to be replaced. As things got back underway with the announcement of Team Korea Justice's forfeit and our Team's Advance, I looked up at the screen provided by Mishima Electronics for the next match, Team Japan versus Team Ikari Warriors. I turned back to the arena to see that Nikaido Benimaru had decided he was going to go first, and he was already standing there in the ring, bouncing on the balls of his feet impatiently.

Team Ikari Warriors was, as I expected, the PMC Team in the fatigues and combat gear. Interestingly, instead of either of the two large, musclebound, Male Members of Team Ikari Warriors, the one who stepped up was the Woman with the Spiky Blue Hair that I was fairly certain was in no way up to military regulations. Just for kicks, I decided to scan both combatants with my Chi, Mystic, and Psychic Senses.

Benimaru was fairly standard, his Chi was decently trained, not to the same standard as Kim's was, but he made up the difference with Electrokinetic Powers from the disciplines of both Psychometabolism and Psychokinesis. That wasn't anything unusual for a high-level tournament like this. No, what did surprise me was the Woman, Leona. It wasn't her Chi or any innate powers she possessed on her own that shocked me so, though her Chi was well-trained enough. No, it was the fact that she seemed to possess enough of a spark of a divine to have been gifted a sort of Cutting Energy Power.

Probing further, I got the distinct impression of eight pairs of eyes on eight, serpentine, heads, all of which bore fanged maws large enough to swallow a battleship whole with room for more. Immediately, I was shocked out of my vision. I knew what I'd just seen. Leona Heidern carried a power bestowed on her lineage by the Yamata-No-Orochi. As the fight commenced, I looked around, spotting Nightwolf from across the arena. He nodded at me, letting me know he'd sensed it too.

I turned back to the fight, intent on keeping a closer eye on Leona. I'd been so focused on the New Faces Team that I'd let a potential Fourth Vector for the Yamata-no-Orochi's resurrection slip by me entirely. That wouldn't happen again. It couldn't happen again.

The fate of a significant chunk of the world depended on it, after all. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here we have the next chapter. Ulysses beats Kim and seeing Kim get beat made Choi Bounge and Chang Koehan decide to throw in the towel, especially since Ulysses and Kim put out enough power to completely wreck up the Arena to the point where the ring tiles needed to be replaced. Meanwhile, Ulysses managed to figure out that Leona was also a potential vector for the Yamata-No-Orochi's return.

Other nineties stuff this chapter includes mentions of the techniques of the Ansatsuken from Street Fighter, The Techniques of the Great Kung Lao and Nightwolf from Mortal Kombat, The Count of Saint Germain is from Castlevania, while Xander, Sunnydale, the Judge, and Sheila are from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Doctor Minazuki is from Rival Schools, the Psionic Disciplines of Psychokinesis and Psychometabolism are from Second Edition Dungeons and Dragons, while Red Apple Cigarettes are from the Works of Quentin Tarantino. Finally, the Don's Rebellion of Eighteen-Forty-One and the Second Zorro's Participation in it are from the Mask of Zorro, the Guitar Part of the Dramatization of which that Ulysses was playing was effectively the theme of the movie done in Flamenco Guitar. Everything Else is from King of Fighters.

At any rate, the next chapter will cover the next couple of matches as Ulysses Watches them, as well as the start of the match with Team Hungry Wolf.

Stay tuned. . .