After deciding to stop his special training, Yukan spent the next two weeks doing nothing but his usual training under Master Shujinko's normal tutelage on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This last one asked the sun parrot many times if he was sure that he didn't want to continue the special training they started to unlock secondary fire elements like lightning or acid. As much as he wanted to, Yukan denied every time, not wanting to risk making the same mistakes as before. He would just participate in the third phase and pray for success...
Throughout the days, the masters of the Frog Dojo saw more and more important people such as nobles and members of the Imperial Army coming into the city in order to assist the third phase of the Legendary Tournament. This made them understand that Nunzio was not exaggerating when he said that the third phase would be attended by such people and that it would be a great opportunity for the participants to make a name for themselves.
Then, before they knew it, the great day arrived. The eight remaining participants returned to the Jade Palace Coliseum Arena, where the second phase took place. However, unlike the previous time where they were alone with Nunzio and the medical team, the arena was this time filled with a large audience of commoners who came to watch the show, Kung Fu Masters, authority figures, clan leaders, Imperial figures, and even nobles.
"Wow, they didn't hold back on making this a public event, did they?" Kivuli commented to Yukan who nodded in agreement.
The sun parrot looked at the stands filled to the rim and looking at them. While most of them looked excited and happy to be there, others had formal looks on their faces as if they were here just because they had to. He soon spotted the part of the audience where the Frog Dojo masters were sitting including Master Shujinko, Shining Eagle and Kodok. Shining recovered from her injuries and was allowed to attend the show while Kodok finally got over his defeat and came out of his room to watch it too.
Yukan then turned his head to see the other participants of this phase. Po looked just as excited as ever, while Master Tigress just crossed her arms and waited for the phase to begin. Kira Lee nervously played with his thumbs and Daito Shun grinned in anticipation. As for Siax and Hong Ze, they didn't express any emotion outside of looking confident. "I just hope they haven't learned new techniques during the time break."
"YOUR ATTENTION, EVERYONE!" The whole arena fell silent as Nunzio, standing in the middle of the arena, talked out loud for all to hear. "Before we begin the third phase, I would like to take the time to thank all of you who joined us for today as well as to explain the rules to the eight remaining participants."
"I bet it's gonna be the exact same thing as with the second phase," Hong Ze scoffed with his arms crossed.
"As I previously said, the third and final phase is a mini-tournament of one on one duels just like the second phase. However, this time, it will continue until there is only one remaining. The rules for the matches are the same as before: your opponent and yourselves fight with everything you have until one of you is either incapacitated or decides to give up the match."
"I guessed right," Hong Ze mumbled, only to be silenced by a nudge from Master Siax.
"Without any further due, we will now proceed with the first match that has been decided by the tournament staff during the two weeks break time. I call the following participants: Master Sunbird Yukan Tori and Daito Shun!"
Upon hearing this, Yukan's eyes widened. "I-I'm starting off against this guy?!" He could still remember with how much brutality he managed to take Master Crane down.
"Oh no," Shining Eagle said in the audience.
"What's wrong, Shining?" Kodok asked her.
"This guy that Yukan is up against faced Master Crane during the second phase and broke his wing with no remorse whatsoever," the female avian replied with a look of worry. "I hope Yukan will be careful against him."
"Do not worry, my little Shining Eagle," Master Shujinko said with a smile after taking a sip of the tea he brought. "If there is one person I know who can take care of himself, it's Yukan."
Back in the fighting zone, Nunzio asked the tournament staff to lead the other participants to the stands reserved for them from where they would watch the match before their turn. "Let's go, Yukan! You totally have this!" Po beamed with enthusiasm.
"Po, you know he's supposed to be our enemy in this phase, right?" Tigress asked.
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean I cannot cheer him on." Tigress did not argue against her friend. She could not deny that she too would like to see Master Sunbird avenge Crane against Daito Shun.
Yukan and Daito stood across from each other in the fighting zone with Nunzio standing between them. However, he could not prevent the two participants from giving each other glares of competition. The tiger twisted his lips into a smirk. "So the time has finally come, huh? I was so excited to face you in this tournament, Sunbird!"
Yukan replied with a grin of his own and slammed his fist into his wing. "I can assure you I feel the same way!" He turned his head to look at the large audience looking at him. That was it. The chance to prove his worth and see if he became strong enough to make a difference...
"Yukan, Daito, do you have anything to say before the beginning of this match?" Nunzio asked them.
"No," they replied at the same time.
"Very well then. Let the first match of the final phase... BEGIN!"
Daito immediately attacked, smashing Yukan across the face with a strong punch that knocked him aside and to the floor. A good portion of the audience gasped in surprise as they were not expecting this. Yukan remained still on the floor for a moment. However, before Nunzio could check on him, the sun parrot suddenly kicked up to his feet.
"Thanks. For a second, I thought this punch was all it would take to beat you," the tiger said with a chuckle.
"... Don't get too cocky, Daito..." As he spoke in a low, threatening voice, the sun parrot set both of his fists on fire and glared up, his emerald eyes glowing with anger. Charging at his opponent, he let out a battle cry. "ROARING FIST!" As his attack collided with Daito, a big fire explosion occurred, creating some smoke.
"He got him!" Shining Eagle beamed.
Yukan grinned as he thought the exact same thing... just before the smoke cleared, revealing a light blue energy shield around the tiger. "Huh?! What the-"
"Impact Barrier!"
The energy shield exploded, sending Yukan flying into the air. What the heck was that technique? Regardless, he recovered from his momentarily surprise to regain his composure and set his right foot on fire. "TAKE THAT!" Upon falling down, he slammed his burning foot on top of Daito's head, knocking him to the ground and creating a small crater upon the impact. The avian then jumped back to put some distance between his opponent and himself.
After a few seconds, Daito got back up with a glare and a burning mark on his head. "I admit you got me there... but this is FAR from over!" The tiger took his fighting stance while Yukan did just the same thing.
"Oh my god! This is going be great!" Po beamed, feeling the tension rising in the air.
Yukan charged forward and threw a kick that Daito ducked, striking a fist into the avian's side. He replied with a right hook into the tiger's face that made him groan in pain before grabbing his opponent's wing and throwing him over his shoulder, directly on the floor. As he rose his foot for a stomp, Yukan rolled out of the way and dropkicked Daito in the back, which put some distance between the two of them.
"Come on, Yukan!" Kivuli mumbled. "If you want a chance to face Hong Ze and avenge Shining, you need to win this..."
The sun parrot flapped his wings to give himself a little boost and landed a kick right into Daito's chest, sending him crashing into the arena's wall. For a moment, he couldn't help but chuckle at the fact that these walls would have collapsed a long time ago, were they not made of steel.
"NOW, this is getting interesting!" Daito said with a snarl.
"Don't tell me you were just warming up; I won't believe you," Yukan said without lowering his fighting stance.
Daito did not reply that and instead disappeared with sending shards flying everywhere. They didn't touch Yukan because he was too far, but he still recognized this technique: the Shard Teleportation. He used it to defeat Master Crane. Then, out of nowhere, the sun parrot received a violent uppercut under his beak that almost broke his jaw and sent him crashing a few feet away.
"H-How did he do that?!" Kodok asked in surprise.
"Shard Teleportation," Shining Eagle said. "He used that technique during his match with Master Crane. Since he came too close to Daito, these spikes pierced through his body, giving him some serious injuries." The avian shivered at the memory.
Yukan rubbed his beak in pain as he got back up and groaned. "I won't lose!"
The avian immediately got back on the offensive, charging at Daito for a punch which the feline blocked. He attempted to counter with a leg sweep which Yukan avoided with a jump followed by a somersault in the air that allowed him to land a kick on top of the tiger's skull, exactly where he touched him previously.
However, the feline did not stop there and performed another leg sweep that tripped Yukan off his feet and then planted his paw into his stomach. "IMPACT!" A small explosion knocked Yukan many feet away. But, while he was in midair, the avian rose his wings to send some glowing green orbs floating toward his opponent. "FIREFLY BOMBS!" Snapping his feathers, the glowing orbs exploded around Daito, just as Yukan collided with the floor.
"Oh, a light show," Hong Ze mused to himself.
"This fight is getting intense! Who do you think is gonna win?" Kira asked as he was sitting on the stand's security barricade to have a better view.
"I'm not sure," Siax replied as she rubbed her chin. "They seem to be on equal parts so far. Unless they have new tricks that we haven't seen yet."
Yukan and Daito both got back up, panting in exhaustion and from the pain of their wounds. However, neither of them was ready to give up now.
"COME AT ME, SUNBIRD!"
"With pleasure..."
Author's note: Yes, I know that you were all expecting Yukan to face Hong Ze so that he could avenge Shining Eagle's defeat. Well, sorry, but looks like it's gonna be a match to avenge Master Crane instead.
I'm gonna move on to another house again in two weeks, which means I might gonna have to take a while before publishing anything new on this site again. I hope not because things are getting spicy in here.
Do you think Yukan is gonna win against Daito? And who do you think will face in the next matches? Stay stunned to find out and, as always, may the gods watch over you all.