Chapter 52: Round Three, Fight Four

Zephyr's Island, mid evening.

As darkness washed over the island that the tournament was taking place on, the final battle of the third round was soon to start. Brock Irvine and Skye Hawk were off in their locker areas warming up for their match. Both felt they had a lot to prove being that both considered themselves lucky to be in the third round.

"Man, Ryu let me win that last round when he could have easily decimated me, I have to go out there and get me a real victory," thought Brock to himself as he stretched out his legs.

"I won last round by a judge's decision, that means I need to step up my game if I'm gonna get to the semifinal round," thought Skye to herself as she tightened her boots and prepared to head for the double doors.

At the same time Skye headed for the double doors leading to the arena, Brock also exited his locker room and headed in the same direction, both looked at each other briefly, but didn't say anything to each other as they waited to be announced. Outiside in the arena, Triple R and Sue both were in the center again ready to announce the next match.

"Well folks, the third round is coming to an end, nad I'm sure it'll be a wild finish as we see who the last participant in the semifinals will be," said Triple R.

"That's right, time to see whether a nature lover or a surf bum will be moving forward to the next round," added Sue.

"Our first opponent is the strongest surfer in Sydney, he wiped out his first two opponents in his powerful wave and he's looking to drown yet another warrior, so once again folks, give it up for Brock Irvine!" announced Triple R.

Brock stepped out into the ring looking confident, he quickly ambled over to the center of the ring and let out a powerful battle cry. Brock was clothed in a khaki colored vest with a black tank top underneath, khaki colored shorts, and brown leather boots. Brock then turned around to face the double doors and wait for the match to start.

"And his opponent is the thunderous heir to the Thunderfoot tribe, hailing from Tucson, she tore apart her first two opponents like a vicious hawk and she's out looking for new prey to feed on this round, again, show some love for Skye Hawk!" announced Sue.

Skye burst through the double doors also walking very proudly. Skye was clothed in a blue feather headband with a bright green top, blue denim shorts, and brown feather boots. Skye walked to the center of the ring and her and Brock took their fighting stances as Triple R and Sue took their battle stances.

"Round 3, Fight!" announced Triple R and Sue in unison.

Brock and Skye wasted no time in going after each other right off the bat. Brock threw out a straight fist to Skye's face, Skye ducked under the attack and aimed a low kick at Brock's feet, which Brock leapt over. Brock then threw out a low roundhouse which Skye promptly parried and then Skye aimed a chop at Brock's chest which was also parried. Brock stuck out a knee to Skye's stomach and successfully connected with the attack, Skye doubled over and Brock chained his successful strike with one of his special techniques.

"Tiger Uppercut!" shouted Brock.

Brock lifted Skye into the air with a multi-hitting upeercut move. Skye hit the ground hard but rolled back to her feet quickly and saw Brock dart at her.

"Condor Spire!" screamed Skye.

The Native American female leapt forward and smacked the Australian with powerful double handed chop sending Brock onto the floor, but Brock did his own ukemi and threw out a high Tiger Shot, Skye ducked underneath the projectile and dashed at Brock aiming an elbow at his face, Brock blocked the elbow and countered with a crouching fierce punch to Skye's knees, Skye parried the attack and got a clean hit on Brock with a chop to the face, Brock retaliated however with a sweep knocking Skye back down again.

"Well, Brock is determined to make Skye wipe out in this fight, but let's see if he succeeds in doing so," commented Triple R.

Skye did another ukemi as she landed on the ground again, she saw Brock leap at her and thinking quickly, Skye countered with another move of hers.

"Tomahawk Buster!" shouted Skye.

"Skye rose up into the air, driving her head right into Brock's abdomen and sending him back down onto the steely canvas.

"And Skye is going completely savage too, here's hoping Brock doesn't wind up getting smoked like a peace pipe," commented Sue.

Brock rose back up to his feet with great speed, Skye dashed hastily at the tall Australian, but did not see Brock's next attack coming right at her.

"Dingo Claw!" hollered Brock.

Brock rushed forward and swiped at Skye with a powerful claw like strike which nailed Skye cleanly and put her back down on the ground. Skye scrambled back to her feet and leapt into the air preparing for a deadly air strike.

"Condor Dive!" roared Skye.

Skye dove down at a breakneck speed and rammed head first right into Brock. The force of the Condor Dive sent Brock flying back and landing hard on his back. Brock moaned in pain, but still managed to get back up. Skye threw out a high kick, Brock parried the strike and retaliated with a strike of his own.

"Kangaroo Kick!" shouted Brock.

Planting both hands on the ground firmly, Brock jutted both feet forward and decked Skye cleanly on her abdomen, Skye doubled over in pain and Brock quickly followed suit by knocking Skye back on the ground with another Dingo Claw.

"And these two wild warriors are defying all of the Darwin laws, it's mind boggling!" announced Triple R.

"Indeed, it's a wonder as to which beast will be one to fall first," added Sue.

"Well Brock, you're a tough warrior, I appreciate the challenge that you are giving me," said Skye.

"No problem there girl, but you know that I'm still gonna be the top dingo when this match is all said and done," retorted Brock.

"I disagree, I will be the one soaring forward, and I'll prove it to you here," replied Skye.

"Well if you disagree, then come and prove me wrong," responded Brock.

The two warriors ran towards each other yet again, Brock threw out a kick, but Skye parried the attack, grabbed Brock by the vest and threw him away from her. As Brock did an ukemi to get back to his feet, the threw out a Tiger Shot, but Skye though fast as she saw the projectile hurtle towards her.

"Hawk Reflector!" yelled Skye.

A blue barrier materialized in front of Skye sending the Tiger Shot back where it came. Brock fired another Tiger Shot, making it collide with his previous one and wound up nullifying them both. Skye dove in attempting another Condor Dive, Brock jumped back making Skye whiff her attack. Brock then responded with his own move.

"Surfboard!" yelled Brock.

Brock slammed Skye onto the ground face first and immediately jumped on her back and started riding her like a surfboard. Brock got off after a while, and as Skye got back up Brock ran at her with a Dingo Claw, however, Skye parried the claw and grabbed Brock for her own special move.

"Thunderfoot Typhoon!" screamed Skye.

Skye leapt high into the air and spun Brock around in her arm and as she descended she slammed Brock down hard on his head, and then leapt back giving her some room to plan her next move. Brock slowly got back to his feet and shook his head vigorously to regain his composure then took his fighting stance yet again.

"Wow, and Brock recoveers from a mind scrambling Thunderfoot Typhoon, that's impressive!" announced Sue.

"Well, he's rode some tough storms as a surfer I guess, so I'm sure he's used to nature's wrath," added Triple R.

Skye leapt at Brock for another Condor Spire, Brock parried the leaping chop and comboed a low fierce punch into a Tiger Uppercut sending Skye sailing back and groaning in pain a bit before rising back up again.

"Hey Brock, you ready to go for the real stuff?" asked Skye.

"Yeah, I hope you can handle the strong shit," replied Brock.

"Oh you better believe I can," retorted Skye.

"I'll have to see that for myself to believe it," said Brock.

Both warriors ran at one another again and started throwing out attacks which were all dodged, blocked, or parried, neither fighter could get a hit in on each otehr for a while. Eventually, Brock threw out a knee to Skye's stomach, Skye parried and successfully got a clean hit in with a fist to Brock's face, Skye then glowed blue as she unleashed a Super Art.

"Raging Typhoon!" yelled Skye.

Skye grabbed Brock by the head again and spun in the air doing a Thunderfoot Typhoon, but instead of letting Brock go, the Native American female held her grip on the Austrailian surfer and leapt into the air again and slammed Brock on his head again, Skye still held tightly to Brock and leapt high into the air again and slammed Brock down a third time, and finally released him. Brock rubbed his head in pain as he sat up, but he stoon sprang back to a standing position trying to ignore the throbbing pain in his skull. Skye ran at Brock again and tried to hit Brock with a Tomahawk Buster, but Brock dodged the upwards body blow attack and as Skye landed Brock kicked her in the face and his body glowed blue as he unleashed his own Super Art.

"Boggo Road Blast!" bellowed Brock.

Brock hastily pelted Skye with two Kangaroo Kicks and then chained those kicks into a powered up Tiger Uppercut that smacked Skye eight times, as Skye started to fall back down to earth, Brock nailed her with a powered up Tiger Shot while Skye was still airborne, Skye flew back about ten feet and moaned in pain, but still slowly got back up ready to fight some more.

"That young woman is quite tough, she's really taking everything Brock is throwing at her quite well, and at such a young age, it's a marvel," mused Sagat from the stands.

"C'mon Skye, you can conquer this trial, be strong, for you are the next chief after I retire," called out T. Hawk.

"Hey not bad stuff, for an appetizer I should say," taunted Skye.

"Oh you wanted the full course, I'll gladly give it to you, hopefully it won't be more than you can chew, we don't want you choking," teased Brock.

"I'll swallow you whole, like a hawk does with a worm," stated Skye.

"Sorry, but I'm not on the menu today so I'm gonna have to cancel your dinner plans," retorted Brock.

"It seems both we're all getting a good feast with this fight, but I'm sure someone is going to get some bad indigestion sooner or later," commented Triple R.

Brock and Skye charged forward again, Brock let out a snap kick, but Skye ducked under Brock's long leg and hit the surfer with a sweep, Brock rolled back to his feet and saw Skye throw out a punch to Brock's ribs, Brock grabbed the female's fist and flung her over his shoulders onto her back. Skye did her own ukemi as Brock threw out a low Tiger Shot aimed at Skye's feet, Skye leapt over the projectile and ran at Brock and smacked him in the chest with a hard double handed chop. Skye's body glowed red as she prepared to try and take Brock down with her Hyper Art.

"Sacred Thunderfoot War Cry!" shouted Skye.

Skye threw an uppercut in an attempt to trigger her Hyper Art, but to her surprise, Brock parried the uppercut, which completely snuffed out Skye's Hyper Art. Brock started laying a flurry of kicks into Skye until the Native American female became disoriented. As Skye started to stagger about in a dizzy state, Brock's body glowed red as he gathered energy for his own Hyper Art.

"Wild Dingo Wipeout!" roared Brock.

Brock sped at Skye and riddled her with eight rapid fire Dingo Claws, and immediately after the last Dingo Claw connected, Brock slammed Skye onto the ground like he was doing a surfboard and then proceeded to leap onto Skye's back six times, afterwards, he lifted the battered warrior up to her feet and decked her with two Tiger Uppercuts. As Skye started to fall to the earth, Brock unleashed a powered up Tiger Shot, sending Skye flying back and hitting the ground hard.

"Oh...no," moaned Skye as she tried to rise back to her feet but just fell back down unable to get back up again.

"And the match is over, and the hawk's wings have been clipped!" announced Triple R.

"That is correct, which makes the winner of this match Brock Irvine!" announced Sue.

Brock raised his fist triumphantly as he was announced the winner of the match, Sagat nodded to his student to congratulate him.

"You fought well my daughter, don't worry, we'll find a way to restore our home," said T. Hawk.

After taking a moment to savor his win, Brock walked over to Skye and lifted her up and held her up so she could walk.

"Ugh, good fight, I'm just a little disappointed that I lost," grumbled Skye.

"Don't be sad, your dad is correct, we'll get you the money that you'll need to rebuild your tribe's land, no matter how much it may take," assured Brock.

"You sure about that?" asked Skye.

"Yeah, I'm gonna donate money that I win from surfing competitions and endorsements I may get to helping your people out," answered Brock.

"Well thank you Brock, you truly are kind, I wish you luck in the next round," said Skye.

"Thank you, now let's go get some rest," suggested Brock.

Skye nodded in approval as her and Brock headed back to the locker area, Triple R and Sue again walked out to the center of the arena.

"Well, the third round is now officially over and we're nearing the end of the tournament, soon we will get to see who goes on to face Zephyr!" announced Triple R.

"That's right, tomorrow, obth the semifinal round and the final round will take place, these last few matches should be ones you won't want to take your eyes off of," announced Sue.

"We will begin the fights in the afternoon tomorrow, plenty of time for those remaining four fighters to get plenty of rest," said Triple R.

"Indeed, let's see what our semifinals look like," added Sue.

"Fight one will be Sean Matsuda versus Mel Masters," said Triple R.

"And fight two will be Marcos Ortega versus Brock Irvine," said Sue.

"So go get some rest everyone, we don't want you nodding off during these last few awesomely great fights. So good night and we'll see you here tomorrow!" exclaimed Triple R.

With that, all the spectators left the arena to turn in for the night, Zephyr looked on amused as he walked out of the arena too.

"Well, my grand performance is coming up shortly, but I really don't feel like waiting idly by for that fight, maybe I'll have a little fun with these warriors that have come here just to try and change their inevitable destiny, they will learn not to toy with a god," spoke Zephyr maniacally.

Author's Note: The third round is over and the semifinals will be approaching fast, but the next chapter will be some downtime, and also expect a lot to revealed in the next chapter which will include the mission to rescue Gill among other things. So I'm off to go work on that chapter, but until then, please read and review.