"It is now time for the final match of the second phase. Master Kivuli versus Hundun. Please come down in the fighting zone."

Kivuli opened her wings and flew down in the fighting zone with her opponent. A rhino who looked like a member of Chor-Ghom Prison's famous Anvil of Heaven. "Get ready to be squashed, birdie!" he said with cracking his knuckles. "I'm gonna win this tournament and regain my lost honor!"

The martial eagle rose a curious eyebrow at this. "You lost honor?"

"Yes; after Tai Lung defeated us and escaped from Chor-Ghom, I lost everything I had! This is my chance to change my destiny!"

"Participants, are you ready?" Nunzio asked.

"More than ever!" Hundun shouted while Kivuli just nodded.

"Very well then. Let the eight and final match of the second phase... BEGIN!"

Hundun removed his horn, much to the watchers' surprise, and revealed five canon-looking holes which he filled with red rocks. "Eat my canon blasts!" The rhino started shooting explosive blasts at the martial eagle who opened her wings and took off into the air to avoid them.

"... This guy has a cannon inside his horn?" Po asked with blinking his eyes.

"Just when you think you have seen everything...," Yukan mumbled.

After around ten shots, Hundun ran out of shots and started recharging. Kivuli saw her chance and rose her wing to summon her purple seal. "Come to me, Purple Rainmaker!" Her trusty sword came out of the seal and into her wing. The martial eagle dove down toward her rhino opponent and made it to him before he could finish recharging, swinging her sword and cutting across his torso.

As a jet of blood flew in the air, Hundun groaned and collapsed on his face, dropping all the fireballs he charged in his cannon. Nunzio went to check on him and then turned to look at everyone. "Participant Hundun is no longer capable of fighting. Therefore, the winner of this final match is Master Kivuli!"

"Well done, Kivuli!" Yukan beamed with a smile.

"W-Where did she get that sword from?" Tigress asked.

"It's a special power of hers," the sun parrot replied, not wanting to say too much about it to a potential future opponent.

Tigress narrowed her eyes at the martial eagle as she pulled her sword back into her magical seal. "What's wrong, Tigress?" Po asked.

"I don't know, Po. There's... something in that girl's gaze that seems familiar. But I can't tell what is it..."

#

Around half an hour later, after the tournament staff cleaned the fighting zone, Nunzio called all the winning fighters down in the middle of the arena. He looked at all of them with his arms behind his back. "First of all, I wish to congratulate each one of you. Dragon Warrior Po Ping, Master Siax, Kira Lee, Master Sunbird, Daito Shun, Master Tigress, Hong Ze, and Master Kivuli. You all came out victorious of your respective match and qualified for the third phase."

Po tossed a fist in the air and held his paw toward Tigress for a high-five. The feline just rolled her eyes and complied. Daito grinned viciously and Kira Lee rubbed the back of his head as he looked anywhere but at his opponents. Siax crossed her arms. Hong Ze nodded his head with a smile before seeing Kivuli giving him a glare which made him gulp. Yukan looked very serious.

"So, what's next, ref?" Daito asked.

"I was coming to that point." The elephant cleared his throat before moving on. "The third phase will be the last one of this year's tournament. It will take the form of a mini-tournament with one on one matches just like the ones of this phase."

"What? More matches like the ones we just did? That's so lame!" Po whined, only to get silenced by an elbow strike from Tigress.

"As I was saying," Nunzio continued, annoyed to be interrupted, "the third phase will be a mini-tournament of matches between the eight of you. However, this one will be slightly different. It will take place in this arena, but you will all fight in front of a large audience of very important people. I'm talking about Kung Fu Masters, authority figures, clan leaders, Imperial figures, and even nobles."

"Really?" Hong Ze asked, a grin forming on his lips.

"Whoa, I didn't expect it to be THIS important," Kira said with rubbing the back of his head.

"As you know, the Legendary Tournament is a very ancient and important event for China as a whole," Nunzio continued. "The third phase will be a chance to make a name for yourselves. Some of you fight to make your masters proud, but some of you are also here to prove their worth or just gain money and fame. Fighting in front of such an important audience is a dream opportunity. It will happen in two weeks."

"Two weeks?" Hong Ze asked. "Why not in only two days?"

"Because the tournament staff will need time to prepare the Jade Palace Coliseum Arena for the third phase. That and also because we need to wait for all the scheduled important people to arrive in the city. You should take advantage of this time to rest, think of a strategy, or train. You revealed a lot of your skills during the second phase, so it would be good to get prepared in advance. I can do nothing but wish you good luck."

With Nunzio's speech being done, Yukan couldn't help but turn his head and look at the other participants. He still remembered with how much ease they won their encounters while he struggled against Snow Kid. Gulping, he looked down at his wing and frowned.

"If I want a chance to win the tournament, I'll have to become stronger than this. I'm gonna ask Master Shujinko to give me a special training..."

After the tournament staff allowed the remaining participants to leave, Yukan and Kivuli returned to the Frog Dojo. Upon arrival, they received a hero's welcome with all the students cheering and complimenting them. The Martial eagle replied with an amused smile while Yukan just waved at them before going to see Shujinko who, as always, was sitting in the living room, drinking tea.

"Master," he said to get his attention.

"Aww, Yukan, Kivuli, you're back," he said with a smile after finishing a sip. "Where's Shining Eagle?"

"She's at the local infirmary. She lost her fight and is out of the tournament," Kivuli informed him.

"Oh, too bad," the old frog said with a sad expression on his face. "I hope she fought with honor and bravery."

"Don't worry, master; she did," the martial eagle assured before looking around. "Where's Kodok?"

"In his room. Ever since his lost, he has been spending a lot of time there. He barely comes out of his room outside of diner time and for going to the bathroom," Shujinko explained. "He told me that he's working on expanding his arsenal so that he'll be more helpful in the future. I think he still has a hard time digesting his defeat in the tournament."

"I'll go talk to him. And after this, I'll go pay a little visit to Shining Eagle at the infirmary," Kivuli said and walked away.

"There's something I want to ask you, Master," Yukan said.

"What is it?"

"I know that you only train us on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, but... during the second phase, I saw the other participants in action and I realized I have no chance of winning unless I become stronger. So... do you think you could give me a special training to give me a chance, please?"

The old frog blinked his eyes a few times before twisting his lips into a smile. "Of course, Yukan. How can I refuse when you ask in such a polite way? We can start your training right after I'm done with my tea."

Author's note: The second phase is done. Our winners are Yukan, Po, Tigress, Kivuli, Daito Shun, Kira Lee, Siax, and Hong Ze. Which match was your favorite and who do you think will win the tournament?

Hundun made an appearance in this chapter - he's a villain from Legends of Awesomeness, if you don't remember. I wanted someone special to face Kivuli.

We're gonna get a little training for Yukan before moving on to the third and final phase. I will try to make the matches even better than those of the second phase. Until then, stay cool and may the gods watch over you all.