Bindo picked up two papers and rode the names. "For the fourth match of round one, it will be...KARASU VERSUS SHEN!"
Everybody got shocked. The two avians mostly. They looked at each other with their eyes wide as the two best friends who have been friends even before starting Kung Fu were getting to fight each other. Fate really played a big card this time.
"Really? Shen and Karasu will have to fight?" Fung asked in surprise in the crowd. He was with Fenghuang and Mei Ling.
"I really didn't expected this to be possible." The owl admitted while preening her feathers.
"This is horrible." Mei Ling said she looked at her two friends getting in the fighting zone. "No friends should be forced to fight like this."
"They have to follow the rules of the tournament, Mei Ling." Fung told her.
"Well I still think it sucks. It would be better to play rock, paper, scissors. That way, they could get straight to the next round without putting their friendship at risk."
The New Legend members too were pretty worried for their avian friends.
"Karasu!" Shen suddenly called him. "If you hold back your hits, I will be very mad at you, got it?!"
The raven simply nodded as an answer. "Ready? Karasu? Shen?" Bindo asked them and they simply nodded without looking at him. "Then, may the fourth match of the first round BEGIN!"
Both opponents took out their respective weapon (Masumune Blade for Karasu and Guan Dao for Shen) and got in fighting stance. For many seconds, they glared at each other while the spectators were waiting impatiently. "What's he waiting for?" Shen though.
Knowing how calm the raven was, Shen decided that, if he wouldn't attack first, then he'll be the one to start and charged forward. Soon, they engaged a close combat, clashing their metal weapons against one another. Since Shen had a larger reach of attack, and could also use his metal talons, Karasu had to get on the defensive.
Eventually, he got on the offensive and swung his sword at Shen who dodged it and went for a strike that Karasu blocked. The encounter lasted very long with both fighters either blocking or dodging the other's offensives until they jumped away from each other, but immediately charged forward once more and went for a punch. Simultaneously, their attack reached the other's face, knocking them back at the same time. They got back up quickly and panted a bit while rubbing their cheek.
"That was hard!" Saras remarked as he came back from the infirmary with his best friend. "They sure know how to fight with swords."
"Karasu..." Koji though while looking at his friend and mentor fighting.
"Not bad!" Karasu said with a smirk before rising his blade. "Ready for the next part?"
Shen also smirked. "I'm waiting just that!"
They charged and engaged another close combat with their weapons meeting with loud CLASH! every time. Shen actually managed to land a kick in the raven's face before jumping back. However, Karasu followed and delivered a strong wing smash that caused Shen to be knocked back, but he performed moonsaults to regain his balance.
Karasu suddenly charged his sword with Lightning Chi which he shot at Shen. The peacock managed to block it with his Guan Dao and immediately got back in fighting stance. However, he realized that the raven had disappeared after the attack. His best friend was behind him and went for a kick which Shen managed to block at the last second before re-engaging the close combat.
At a moment, the two avians took off in the sky and turned it into an aerial battle. The spectators had to look up to follow the fight. Even there, they could barely find openings in their opponent's defense and soon, they decided to get back to the ground. As soon as they reached it, Karasu shot some ninja stars which collidded with throwing knives Shen shot simultaneously. The two birds panted heavily.
"They really are at the same level." Fenghuang noticed. "Ever since they met, those two boys always learned to fight as equals. They know each other's tricks and techniques by heart. This is bound to be an hard encounter."
"Attacking me from behind was kinda dirty, don't you think?" Shen asked with a smile.
"Everything is allowed in a free-for-all match." Karasu noticed.
"Okay then, you used a Chi strike; allow me to use mine." Shen charged his weapon with Fire Chi and shot a fire ball at Karasu. The ravne managed to dodge it, but Shen immediately charged afterward with his fire charged Guan Dao, so, Karasu charged his Masumune Blade with Lightning Chi.
Everytime the two weapons clashed with each other, it caused bigger CLASH! and also sent sparks and flames flying around. They kept striking over and over again, sweat forming on their skin and feathers until they gave an ultimate smash that caused a small Chi explosion sending both of them flying back. They panted in exhaustion as they tried to stand up.
"Alright! I will go all out now." Karasu though before screaming: "DRAGON CHI VOLLEY!"
He started firing multiple homing arrows covered in Chi which forced Shen to get back on the move to avoid them all. Karasu could keep it going on as the Dragon Chi volley technique didn't consume that much Chi. Eventually, Shen decided to fight by using his Feathered Flurry technique which saw him shooting many rapid fire knives. While Karasu was able to dodge them, some still rubbing on his skin and left marks.
He ended up flying off to avoid the fire knives and put some distance between he and Shen. However, this last one smirked as he suddenly used his Chi to shoot many fireballs which surrounded Karasu, preventing from going anywhere. "You fell into my trap!" He said as, with a move from his wings, made all the fireballs crash into Karasu, creating a big explosion in the air.
"Oh my god! He killed Karasu!" Koji panicked.
Not really. A Ligntning shot struck Shen in the shoulder, hurting him a bit, but not too much. Karasu came out of the smoke left by the explosion which damaged his blue vest to the point he was now half-naked. It didn't bothered the men, but girls in the arena like Aicha were sure enjoying the sight.
"I admit: you almost got me there!" Karasu said before panting.
"And that's only a pre-taste to what I've got for you!" Shen focused and his Chi started flaring up around him. Holding out his free wing, the peacock manifested a second Guan Dao. However, this one was made of Fire Chi. "This is my Burning Shen form! My power increases and I can't feel pain, but all the damages I will take will be felt at once, after it ends."
"Alright. My turn then." Karasu said with a smirk before also focusing and soon, his Chi envelopped him and took the form of a dragon. "Dragonic Aura! This technique increases my speed and durability, but it has a long cool-down after use."
The two birds charged once again and their weapons collided, causing big Chi explosions. The action was now faster and harder - so much that the others (even Kuai) had difficulties following. Both avians were going at it all, exchanging many strikes and cuts, but thanks to their actual form, it didn't slowed them down. Yet, the injuries they got were deep and a lot of blood was coming out to taint their feathers.
After around 2 minutes of hard fighting, the forms ended and the two avians stood still. Everybody waited with anticipation to see who had won...
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...It was shen who fell to the ground.
"Contender Shen is no longer able to continue! The winner of this match is KARASU!"
The crowd cheered loudly while the raven dropped to one knee, the damage he took while in Dragonic Aura getting felt now. Yet, despite being hurt and having won his match, he could only look at his injured best friend laying down on the ground.
"I'll take him." Fenghuang suddenly flew down in the arena and picked up Shen in her wings while Mei Ling and Fung joined to help Karasu walking. "That was a great fight you did there, boys. Now, let's get you to the infirmary."
Karasu had no objections. He was tired and could take some rest and so did the uncounscious Shen. As they were making their way to the infirmary, the raven heard his beetle student:
"THAT WAS A GREAT MATCH! NICE JOB, KARASU!" He screamed with excitation.
The ninja raven simply smiled at him and showed his thumb feather.