Journey of the Dragon

Chapter eighteen : Bare handed vs The Sword

 After the end of the match between Tatsui and Gill, which Gill won. The host gave time 15 minutes to rest until the next match started. Currently, Dragon is seen near the door of the female-only treatment room. He had not yet been allowed into the room, because at this time, Tatsui was still in the care of medical wizards.

 Not long after, someone approached Dragon while asking him to talk. That person was Glauss, who yesterday had been defeated by Dragon, he happened to be there because he was recovering, after yesterday his right chest was stabbed by a dagger from Dragon, at that time his body parts from chest to stomach, looked like they were still bandaged with thick bandages.

 "Hi." Glauss greets Dragon.

 "Oh, hi." Dragon also greeted him back. Their meeting was awkward.

 "I've heard about what happened to your girlfriend ... I'm sorry." Said Glauss to Dragon.

 "Tha- thank you, she is my friend... Not actual girlfriend." Dragon replied.

 Glauss looked a little confused to start a Conversation with Dragon. "O- oke, Mmm ... You must be very worried about her condition, right?" Asked Glauss.

 "Yes, but right now I'm more worried about his mental state ... Because she had a big goal in this Tournament, but now she failed." Said Dragon who looked gloomy.

 "Do you also have big goals in this Tournament?" Glauss asked again.

 "Yes, of course. I'm sure everyone who participates in this Tournament also has their own big goals. Including myself, but yeah what can I do ... Oh yes, did you come to see me here to repay my actions yesterday? " Dragon asked openly.

 “No… I'm not someone who doesn't want to accept defeat. You've managed to beat me, and that means you are greater than me. " Glauss replied.

 “I don't care about who is greater among us. Winning or losing is determined by our struggle. " Dragon said as he continued to pay attention to the door of the treatment room.

 “Yes, you are absolutely right… As you said earlier, everyone who participates in this Tournament, must have their own purpose. Some are for praise, for the sake of increasing reputation, for popularity, or for prize money. " Said Glauss.

 "Is fighting for money wrong?" Asked Dragon. cut off the words of Glauss.

 "No, I'm not saying that it is wrong to participate for the prize money." Said Glauss.

 "Oh, sorry. I got carried away with emotions. " Dragon said. He asked that, because Tatsui participated in this Tournament for the prize money, so he thought that Glauss would say bad things about it.

 Then, Glauss continued his words which were interrupted by Dragon's question just now, “Yes, our goals are indeed various. That's what gives us strength when facing battles ... Likewise with me. I also have a goal in this Tournament. ”

 "What is your goal?" Asked Dragon, who started responding to the chat from Glauss.

 "I want to find my true opponent." Glauss replied.

 "True opponent?" Dragon asked again.

 “Yes, I've only been in the profession as an Outer Knight for four years. It started when the Master Big hit won his first title in this Tournament. Since then I have been actively training and in the profession as a knight diligently, so that my reputation is increasing day by day, so that one day I can have a name as big and as famous as Master Big hit. Actually, my main reason for participating in this Tournament is to face the Master Big Hit ... I consider that he is my true opponent, therefore I really want to fight him in this Tournament. But when I met you, and fought against you. I think I have found my true opponent. Namely someone who fights his opponent seriously and with passion. "

 "What are you talking about?" Dragon said. Then he laughed a little. Then the laughter was followed by Glauss, and in the end they both laughed together in the hallway of the Amritzer Stadium, like two very close friends.

 Glauss admires Dragon because Dragon has managed to beat him with the fighting spirit of a true fighter, so that now Glauss has great respect for Dragon as a rival or true opponent for him. Looks like Glauss wants to have a good relationship with Dragon.

 The two of them still continued their conversation, “Oh yes, by the way, that wound on your chest, has it healed? You look healthy now. " Asked Dragon.

 "Oh, here. Thanks to the animal DNA that is in my body, so my body can recover quickly, and while being assisted by healing from medical wizards of course. ” Glauss replied.

 "Wow, that's great. Is animal DNA your strength from birth? " Dragon asked again.

 “No… I got this power when I was 14 years old. At that time I was the victim of an a*******n and experiment from an evil organization. Then I managed to escape, and continue to live life with the power of animal DNA, until now. " Glauss replied.

 "Hmm ... Life is never easy from the start, huh?" Muttered Dragon.

 "Oh yeah, when we was in the arena. It seems that you also have some kind of healing power. Does that also include your power? " Asked Glauss.

 "Yes, some kind like that." Dragon said slightly awkwardly, because actually the healing ability came from Melinda, who didn't want her existence to be known by anyone.

 "Are you willing to use that healing power to help your friend now?" Asked Glauss. What he meant was to Tatsui.

 “Yes, it was like that at first, but I'm not allowed to enter… Even so, it doesn't matter. Because now she was currently being handled by professional medical wizards. Surely she will be fine. " Dragon said.

 “You can't lie to me, my animal instincts tell you that right now you are sad and worried. Even if you try to hide it. " Glauss said.

 “Hmm, I guess so ... Yesterday, when I was injured and unconscious. Tatsui has taken good care of me and looked after me. And now, when she's in this state, there's nothing I can do for her but wait. It should be my turn to look after her. " Dragon said while feeling sad.

 "Oh, I see ... Tell you what, if it's about that, just leave it to me. You don't have to worry. I'll take care of her as long as she still doesn't regain consciousness. And when your female friend regains consciousness, then I will definitely tell you immediately. Right now you have to focus on the match and on the opponents you will face. Your female friend also definitely doesn't want you to lose the match just because you worry too much about it, right? ” Glauss said to Dragon, he offered to help take care of Tatsui there.

 "Okay then, thank you very much ... Oh yes, I have a message that you must convey to her when she regains consciousness."

 "Tell me." Said Glauss.

 “The message is… You don't need to worry, no matter what. Your village will still be repaired. " That was the message from Dragon that had to be conveyed by Glauss to Tatsui, after she regained consciousness later.

 "Fine, I'll tell that to her." Said Glauss.

 Dragon wanted to say this to Tatsui, so that Tatsui would not feel sad and disappointed because she had failed to become a champion in the Togu City Tournament. Dragon wanted to tell Tatsui that she still had hope that his village could be repaired. And Dragon will surely grant that wish. But right now, Tatsui condition is still unconscious.

 Then, Dragon immediately went to the special audience stands for the participants, to watch the next match, which will bring Master Big hit against Azter. The master of inner power from West Star dojo, will face off against the official Knights of the Gold One Kingdom, who have weapons in the form of two black swords called Dark Paralyzed. Which one of the two of them will come out as the winner? Was it the Master who had won the Tournament before, or was it a tough Knight from the Gold One Kingdom?

 (Gill) (M.Big hit vs Azter) (Zhoei vs Ajora) (Bernie Zarr vs Dragon)

 The Host started calling the participants who were going to hold the second battle. Namely Azter against Master Big hit. All spectators looked very enthusiastic to watch the battle. They were eager to see Azter beaten up by the Master Big hit, or maybe the other way around. Anyway, the two people's battle was a battle that could not be missed, for the entire audience of the togu City Tournament.

 Azter and Master Big hit were already facing each other on the arena, they were looking at each other with serious stare. Then Azter began to speak to his opponent, "I think, by beating the defending champion of this Tournament, then I can immediately be considered as the strongest." Azter said.

"You are wrong. There are still many people who are stronger than me. " Said Master Big hit, modestly.

 "Who do you mean? Was that guy named Gill? ... He's nothing. After beating you I will definitely beat him, then I will advance to the Final and become the champion of this Tournament. " Azter said confidently.

 "Looks like you are obsessed with becoming the strongest person, huh?" Asked the Master Big hit.

 "Of course, because my King too, is the strongest person in this Land of Azhuloth." Azter replied (The king he meant was Gold one).

 “Hmm… I don't dare say that I am the strongest among us, so the final result will decide. But I can say, that I can break your sword, like breaking a toothpick. " Said Master Big hit.

 After hearing these words, Azter's emotions started to ignite. "What are you saying?!!"

 Then the Referee immediately started their match. Without saying much else, Azter quickly ran towards the Master Big Hit while preparing two Dark paralyzed swords in both his hands. Then immediately, he jumped and was about to stab the Master's body with these two swords.

 But the Master Big Hit could easily dodge the attack, then caught and wielded Azter's two swords. After that happened, Azter began to feel surprised, because it turned out that Master Big hit's hand did not suffer any cuts at all, even though he was holding the Dark paralyzed sword in his palms. Even though the slightest incision wound is obtained from the sword, it can cause paralysis for the limb of the person who is affected. But apparently, ordinary physical attacks were not effective against Master Big Hit’s body.

 Then immediately, Azter launched his next attack. The tip of his Dark paralyzed sword, began to branch and extend, then the branches of the sword stabbed into Master Big Hit's body.

 But still, that attack was futile, because the tips of the sword, could not penetrate the Master's skin at all, then Azter immediately spoke, "Hoo, it turns out your skins are really tough, huh?" Azter asked.

 “This is the basic form of inner power technique. Namely stance body hardening. " Answer Master Big hit.

 “Yes, I know… The next move is definitely more dangerous, right? Namely strength-enhancing stance. A move that is used to strike your opponent with great power, like the one you did to that iron beater guy. ”

 "Hmm, looks like you know a lot about the basics of inner power techniques." Master Big Hit said with a smile, with the tips of the paralyzed dark sword that continued to guerrilla to stab his body but did not work.

 Then Azter spoke in his mind. ("As I have learned, the internal power technique is divided into three moves. Namely body hardening moves, strength-enhancing moves, and body limit breaker moves. When using body hardening, its endurance will increase while its attack power is normal. But when using a strenght-enhancing, his attack power will increase while his body's resistance will return to normal, the two moves cannot be used simultaneously ... But if he uses a body limit breaker, then he can use the two moves simultaneously. The body's endurance and strength will both increase. But the stance of Body limit breaker usage is very dangerous and risky for the user's body condition. So that only certain people, who can truly master this techniques, and can use the third type of skill freely. Now, I need to be able to get a gap, between his switch on the use of that techniques”.) Azter said in his mind, it seems like he underestimated Master Big hit a little too.

 Then after getting stab too much from Azter’s sword on whole his body, Master Big hit immediately released his grip on Azter's sword, then he threw a punch towards Azter's stomach. Luckily for Azter, he realized this in time, so he immediately jumped back so that he wouldn't be hit by a fatal blow. After Azter's position was far from the Master Big hit, the Dark Paralyzed Sword returned to its original form.

 "Damn, I got caught by his bluff. I should have attacked him while dodging.” It seems Azter not fully underestimated Master Big hit, because he looks very alert on this battle. Then he speak again. “Now I'll be more serious !! ” Azter said as he stuck his two swords onto the floor.

 The master Big Hit realized that something bad was going to happen, when Azter started sticking his sword to the floor. And it turned out to be true, long, pointed black spikes, suddenly burst out of the floor, in large numbers heading towards the Master Big hit.

 Avoiding it is useless, because the thorns will always appear and follow where the Master Big Hit’s steps go, so the Master Big Hit decided to hold the stab of the thorns by crossing his hands in front of his face. Although Master's hand was hit by repeated stabs from the sharp thorns, he did not receive any injuries, not even his body was pushed back. The thorns seemed to hit a very thick and sturdy wall.

 As Master Big Hit's body was getting stabbed repeatedly from the thorns that burst in front of him, Azter spoke in his mind. ("He concentrated his hardening moves at the front to withstand the attacks of my thorns. Hmm ... What if I tried to attack from the side. Is the hardening on the side of his body is weaker?")

 Then the unexpected thing to Master Big hit happened, several more thorns came out from under the floor which was beside Master Nig Hit's left body, and hit the Master's waist quite hard. Because of the thrust of the thorns, Master Big Hit's body was pushed and fell to the side, so that now he was in a prone position. But Master Big Hit's body still didn't drip blood at all, and only his clothes were torn apart.

 Everyone was shocked to see this, until the host said, “Whoa !! This is the first time Master Big hit has been dropped on the arena !! ”

 Then when the Master Big Hit was about to stand up again, suddenly several more thorns burst out from behind, and immediately dived until they stabbed the Master's back, so that the Master Big hit's body couldn't get up because it was pushed down by the thorns pressing down on his back. It turned out that the pressure from the thorns was so strong that even Master Big Hit's had a hard time getting back up.

 But more and more, slowly the Master managed to get up and lift his body so that he could stand again, even though his back was still under pressure from Azter's thorns, slowly but surely, Master Big hit had returned to resting on his two feet, but with a bent back position, because it is still under pressure.

 But suddenly, several more thorns burst from the floor in front of the Master, which immediately slid into the Master's chest and pressed down on him, so that now the Master Big Hit's body was crushed by the thorns from both sides. From the front and back, although the spikes could not penetrate the Master's body, but still, the pressure and thrust from both sides was strong enough, causing Master Big Hit to have difficulty breathing, and starting to feel tightness in his chest.