...
A smoky bar packed full of Murim members watched the TV screens intently. Some were from the Reunion. Others were Traditionalists. It was one of the few neutral grounds that no one would attack their enemies. Nor could they be attacked on the grounds. Information exchanges most commonly happened here as well.
This was why Yoochun Lee was here. He was looking to gather information about the Heavenly Riches Clan. While he had been friends with Yuri and Jinyup things changed. Like the Reunion deciding to take part in the Shinmujengpe. That was not normal and he had the feeling that they were up to something.
"Kid has balls," said a gruff unknown voice.
Yoochun ignored them. It was none of his business who was participating in the Shinmujengpe.
"Going against Linus," said another, "He's got to be suicidal."
Yoochun blinked in surprise. Someone was going against the Heavenly Riches. That was suicidal if they didn't have the Heavenly Paths training. Not his business. It was not his business.
"No one sane would purposely go against the Heavenly Riches," agreed the first.
Against his better judgment Yoochun looked up at the screen and he had to clench his jaw to stop it from dropping open. He recognized the boy who was expertly exchanging strikes with Yuri.
What in the hell was his Cub doing there? Izuku was told to keep his head down and avoid the Reunion's notice. This was the farthest from avoiding their notice he could possibly get. Then he saw the lightning and swore under his breath.
No more hiding it seemed. Izuku had announced himself to the world. The Cub was there and he was going to show the world what he could do.
...
In a similar bar on the other side of the country another man sat sipping his beer. His brown eyes were glued to the screen as he watched Izuku face off against Yuri Linus. He had to hand it to the brat he had balls.
Chun Woo had spent a year teaching the boy Kang Sera. He had wondered what she had taught him in the last year. Whatever it was it had the intended effect. Izuku was expertly using techniques they had barely touched on. Foot techniques he had only been shown once on the last night.
"Isn't that your disciple?" The bartender questioned.
Chun said over the glass, "He is. I'm surprised at how well he's doing."
"You think he might take the seats?"
Now wouldn't that be interesting? He would be the second generation of Goomoonyrong. Would they set a new precedence?
That would certainly be interesting if Izuku did in fact win. Chun Woo doubted however the kid had the strength. His ki center was smaller than all of his peers. Most children starting out had more ki than he did and no matter what they had tried it refused to grow. He had not told Izuku that but it was the unfortunate truth.
Ki techniques could only get the kid so far. Without access to more ki he would be unable to keep up the fight.
"Oh shit."
Chun glanced up sharply just in time to see the cameras of the event go dead. He could hear the commentators asking what was going on. There was no answer however. What in the world?
...
Izuku pushed himself painfully to his feet as he tried to understand what happened. Two versions of Spacial Void Fist and collided. In the end the referee had to intervene or risk Izuku and Yuri killing each other. Izuku's shirt was no longer whole. It barely had a sleeve left to it. The rest was no longer in existence. Yuri wasn't much better off and if he wasn't Chun's disciple he might have looked away in embarrassment.
Instead he took a breath before releasing it calming his anger. If he didn't keep it down his ki would try to manifest. That would prove disastrous.
For his part the referee seemed to be consulting with the administrators. The argument was heated even if he couldn't hear what was being said. From the corner of his eye he could see Yuri was glaring at him. The barest twitch of his lips showed his amusement at her antics.
The twitch was gone when he looked to the left and saw a man standing there. He was over six feet tall with shaggy black hair and a scraggly beard. His dark eyes were fixed on Izuku and a shiver ran down his spine. That man.
Izuku was half tempted to turn from him and act as if he didn't recognize him. He didn't. He couldn't. For they both knew that just as he had recognized Izuku just as Izuku had recognized his uncle. The man was Jeon Jang-Il elder to the Sunwoo Clan, the youngest to date.
At his side his hands clenched. He refused to turn away from the man who had ignored his existence. The man who was supposed to look after him and treat him as his own. Yeah. Right. Izuku had been a burden in their eyes.
Behind his uncle there were other familiar faces. Ones he hadn't seen since he left the clan to train under Yoochun. Elder Kwon gave him the same disapproving look he had before. He never accepted Izuku's position in the clan. If he had his way Izuku would have been thrown into an orphanage. It made the youth want to use his untraceable quirk on the man. That would be murder however and he didn't think that would look good on his resume.
The referee returned to the center of the arena drawing his attention. He waved him and Yuri forward so that stood in the center glaring at each other.
The referee said staring at them intently, "This battle is declared a tie. Neither of you will be allowed to fight in the rest of the Round. You both will get a point in the win as a consolation."
Well that was something. Though if he couldn't fight for the rest of this battle that was annoying. He had wait until the next round to fight anyone else.
Yuri growled, "You should just let us continue this fight. I want to continue this."
The referee said coldly, "This is my final decision. If you continue to argue I will have you disqualified."
Izuku said with a cold smile, "We will meet again in the next round Yuri. Just ensure that you make it."
She sneered, "Of course I'll make it. You had better as well."
Then she turned on her heel and stalked out of the arena. Relief seemed to flood the referee and Izuku also turned away. Only to bump right into his uncle. So they would be doing this now.
