Chapter 6. Grit Those Teeth, Renaru!

The venue of the tournament is an old arena on the outside of town. So many people were here you'd think the circus was in town instead. But seeing as all of this was for either hopeful heroes to show their stuff or just fighters bringing their students with them.

Maryanna leads the way with me almost running to catch up with her stride. It's not hard to do but she's tall as hell. She seems to be in her element as I hide near her. Just taking in all the sights and the sounds of hawking vendors and eole all going around to the sign in desks. Maryanna reaches down and grabs my hand.

"Come on. I don't wanna lose you." She says as she signs us in. The guys at the desk took one look at me and then back at the sheet. All three of them looking at me like I just signed my death warrant.

The arena is old but still functional enough to have enough for everyone. We make it to my locker room and get my stuff unloaded as the opening ceremony goes on for this big ol tournament. It's more of an exhibition so there isn't much to lose.

Either way I'm excited as all get out. My body is shaking in anticipation for my first match. I can't wait!

Earlier the day of the tournament Mom had gone out and gotten me a set of real boxing trunks. They're white with orange on the end with red flame designs. Almost like a swordsman from a show I watched growing up.

I smile and get on my gloves. My eyes are on the ring ahead as the first fight of the first round is about to begin. There's this really tough guy even among the other fighters here. Miss Maryanna stands next to me with her eyes on how I look with my red and white and orange gear.

"Listen kid… you sure you don't wanna turn back Piston Jones really chose a wicked boxer to sponsor this year…" she sighs. I shake my head with a bright smile.

"I've trained for this! Don't worry. I'll bring it home. You just get ready to gush about me!" I exclaim throwing out a few shots in the air. "After all… how bad could it be?!"

Maryanna sighs and ruffles my hair. "Sheesh… you really don't know how to quit."

I laugh and hear the music start. I feel the adrenaline and my flames burning in me. Whatever music they got going for my foe… it's really foreboding. I see him. Longish blue hair tied back from his face. Cruel looking eyes glaring at me from the ring.

"That's Hitori Kama. He's got a really bad quirk." Maryanna says. "Think you can take him?"

I nod and march out to my music that sounds like an old song I used to listen to during training. The announcer comes out with this speil.

"Facing the Magus of the Ring is this shining example of an underdog! The rising flaming spirit of a soul that wants to make it to the top of the charts! RENARU…KAENSHITAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

Instead of a warm welcome… I got jeering and booing.

"Break him down, Magus!"

"Don't you dare let up!"

The yelling doesn't get to me. I just crack my neck with a smile. "Wow… what a real warm welcome huh? Wonder what their damage is?"

Magus uncrosses his arms and smirks, "Well… let us begin." I get into my stance and the bell dings. With that I suddenly feel hits on all sides. Something about him is odd. He's striking, sure but what's hitting me?

I dodge a swipe aimed for my gut and see a shadowy figure advancing on me. I take a few shots on the chin moving backward to limit the range of whatever is hitting me. He's barely moving and I notice that the ring is darker than usual.

All he's doing is using some shadows with him directing them with his boxing. If I bust through them with my flames, then I can take him down! The bell rings and we go back to our corners. Miss Maryanna sits me down and smiles down at me.

"Nice stand there Renaru! You got a strategy?"

"Yeah. Just watch me next round. I'll smoke this guy… he's just using shadowboxing." I growl as I swish water in my mouth and Miss Maryanna ices my bruises. I stare across at Hitori as he glares at me with his smile wide.

I don't even smirk or react to it. That'd show weakness. I shuffle forward with my fists when the bell rings again. More shadows crash into me. More blows taken and just barely blocked. I breathe in deeply trying to light myself up enough to banish the shadows.

Once I get him without them it's all over! I feel my hair heating up as I bounce on my feet suddenly darting forward too close for his shadows to dogpile me. I smile.

'Inner Flame…' I think, 'First Strike… Embers of Wildfire!' Small flames lash out at Magus taking the shots with his shadows breaking down faster than light. 'Yes! He's through! I can take him down!'

Those thoughts were rudely interrupted by his fist smashing right in my face. I skid backward with blood coming from my lip. I don't have time to wipe it away as he chases me down. I weave and bob through his assault and block the best I can.

I'm not built to take strikes like this! He lulled me in with his shadows but this guy is insane! I think Come on Renaru! You always think outside the box! How do you think you survived fights at school! How do you think you lived this long

I feel myself growing smaller as the vastness grows between me and this guy. He's built better. Taller. Stronger. Everything I'm not. In fact most of the guys here are. But there has to be an advantage. Has to be something I've got!

My small size might work to my advantage! I get through his guard and smash my fists into his gut. He stumbles back onto the roes and I breathe in quickly. My flames stoked mightily.

"Khhhhhhh…" I breathe in with my feet heating up. In seconds I'm right on top of him with my fists flying. "Second Strike… Flashfire!" Two lightning quick jabs with bursts of flame blitzes his jaws. He's down right after the second with the referee starting the count.

"One!"

"Two!"

"Three!"

"Four!"

Magus tries to get up. His body shaking and his face burnt a little from the intensity of my flames. I don't ever let down my stance. His legs wobble before finally giving out. But before he can hit the ring I grab him by the wrist.

"Hey. Fall easier." I say. Letting him down gently. Once he lands everyone cheers with my eyes on the lights of the ring. 'I… I won… I fucking won!' I thought with a smile. After my fight in the first round I went back to my locker room. Mostly to take a breather. It's a small tournament. Only about a few fighters between me and the title. Well.. just about four of us.

I came back out of the ring to watch the next match. Turns out it's just starting. The announcer comes back in with a big smile on his sweaty face. He's big and tough looking.

"In this corner he's the Steel Beast from Saitama… TETSUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTETSUUUUUUUUUUUUU! TETSUTETSU!" Another boy with silver hair and odd eyelashes with iron arms.

"Alright! Nice job there!" Maryanna calls. "Now keep a close eye on this next fight!"

I turn towards the ring and see the iron arms boy's foe. A bigger kid with a weird metal quirk took a huge gauntlet on his right arm with bright red skin and horns. Kinda looking like Hellboy. Still the fight was on.

The steel and gauntlet ring out Clangs and grunts sound as I see the kid go flying and the gauntlet is steaming from some kind of force. The kid suddenly blasts forward and nails the Hellboy look-alike dead on.

He goes flying out of the arena and the crowd roars in approval. I yell along with them. This means our fight was gonna be next! I'm so pumped! I'm so excited! All I gotta do is win all this!