I flew home and carried my space pod along. After training with both Korin and Kami as well as getting used to 10x earth's normal gravity, i was blazing across the sky at a speed i never thought i could fly before. It took me about 10 minutes to get home from the lookout, i set the pod down in its underground garage and went inside. I decided to throw my armor in the washer, take a shower, put on some normal clothes and watch T.V for a bit. After about an hour i thought that it might be a good idea to maybe measure my power level now, since i've become stronger after Kami's training. I took out my level reader and placed it on the T.V, i let it begin to scan, stood in front of it and powered up as much as i could. Once it was done, i took it and placed over my eye, i'd say the results were, satisfactory. Power Level 350.
For the next week, i lightly trained and just relaxed until it was time for the tournament, i didn't have a need for school anymore, so what was really the point? I still kept doing nightly crime fighting though and surprisingly, there really wasn't a lot of people to stop during the week. 4 days left until the tournament, i decided to go and sign up early. The tournament arena was about 200 miles from where i lived, but at the speed i could fly at, i made it there in about half an hour. I made sure to land in the woods nearby so that nobody could see me. Even though there was still half a week left, the tournament place was packed. I made it through the crowd and went over to reception where they were signing up the competitors; i ended up waiting an hour in the long line, but i made it up front to this old guy in an orange monk gi.
"Name please."
"Cherik, uhhh, Cherik... Jones." Is that seriously the best name you could come up with?!
"Alright, and how do you spell your first name, i want to make sure i get it right."
"C-h-e-r-i-k. And of course, jones is spelled, well, jones."
"Alright then, age and species."
"Species?"
"Yes, we're accepting competitors from everywhere in the world, and not everyone is human you know."
Yeah, way ahead of you old guy. "Alright, age 16 and Species, human." I made sure to keep my tail hidden and disguised it as a belt.
"Ok then, Cherik, you are signed in and ready to compete, see you in 4 days."
"Thank you. Oh, by any chance, has someone named Stryker signed up yet?"
"Sorry, but i'm not allowed to reveal who's here and who's not, it's part of the rules. Oh, and speaking of rules, here's the rulebook for the tournament." He handed me a small booklet from the pile behind him.
"Thank you, well, guess i'll be here in 4 days." I left and flew on back home. I read the rulebook and it only really just covered the basics, it was more of a list than an actual book.
World Martial Arts Tournament Rules
1. No type of any armor is allowed, only fighting clothes as well as spandex suits are permitted
2. No Weapons such as guns, swords, knives, etc. Any weapons found will result in immediate disqualification
3. Fights will continue indefinitely until one competitor is ringed out or knocked out
4. Being knocked out until the referee counts to 10 results in loss
5. Touching any solid object while outside the ring such as the ground, wall or stands, will result in a ring out and a loss
These were really just simple rules that everyone should know, so i tossed the rule book or rather rule pamphlet and rested up for the next 4 days.
Finally, the day of the tournament came. I got up really early out of excitement. I threw on my suit, gloves and boots since there was no armor allowed, also i knew i was gonna need to have clothed that expanded in case i needed my oozaru form. I carried a backpack with some cash, my power reader and spare clothes since i knew that this tournament was probably gonna last a long time. I flew off to the arena, i was about halfway there when i realized that i was missing my senzu beans; so i flew back home, grabbed the little satchel of beans, threw it into my backpack and flew off again. When i got there, i decided to secretly scout out the competitors. The old guy at registration was right, there were loads of competitors here and i'd say about 30% of them are something other than human. I didn't really get too worried though, all the competitors had much lower power levels than mine. The strongest human i saw, only had a power level of about 12, the strongest person there besides me, was a dragon type thing and his power was only 72. At this point i was glad i increased my power so much, if i had gone with my normal goal of just a 25 power level, i'd have gotten destroyed. I didn't worry too much as i walked around the tournament grounds; that is until my level reader went nuts and detected a power level of 357.
what the hell? what could trigger it to... Stryker. He has to be close, he just has to.
I walked and followed where the level detector was telling me the power signature was. After walking just a few meters, it showed i was about 3 meters away from the power signature. I looked a little to my right and saw him, Stryker. He didn't seem like much, just a well toned human with short blond hair and brown eyes, but he wasn't talking to anyone or walking around, he was just standing there with his arms crossed and eyes closed, just thinking. I decided to stay away from him until we fought, so i put the level reader in my backpack and went to get some food before the tournament started.
I was close to being done with my massive meal when i heard on the announcements that the preliminaries were about to begin. I went into hyperspeed, finished my meal, paid the bill and ran out as fast as i could without being suspicious as to why i'm so fast. I got to the arena just in time for them to pick the first wave of fighters. There were 40 competitors, that means there were 20 preliminaries, 10 quarter finals, 5 semi finals with one match being a 3 person battle royale, 2 finals and then the championship match. All the preliminary matches were to take place at the same time in different arenas, but all other matches afterwards will take place at different times, so if luck is on my side, i'll face Stryker in the finals in my 5th match.
My first fight was with someone named Grendal, he seemed to be the kind of person who spends every single day in the weight room, lifting the machine itself instead of the weights, he was 6 feet tall and was also the strongest normal human i scouted earlier, only a power level of 12. I just chuckled as i stepped into the ring, lowering my power to around 7% my maximum which was plenty, if you put the calculations through, that was a power level of 24 and that makes me easily twice as strong as him. I stepped to face him and he just began to laugh and gloat in my face.
"I'm surprised there was a featherweight division here, i think you should forfeit now and not suffer what'll happen if you fight, just run along now and go back to mommy." I just got in my stance ready to fight, a slight smile on my face. "Hmph, now we're seeming like the tough guy huh? Alright then, let's do this." The bell rang and he charged forward to try and hit me, but i just dodged out of the way and basically began to dance around him. He couldn't hit me for anything, he was throwing punches left and right, charging, kicking, everything, at one point i just stopped and began blocking with one hand; I managed to hold both of his hands in place and didn't let go until i said something.
"you know, you should have forfeited when you had the chance." I let go of his arms, threw one punch to the gut and while he was keeling over in pain, i jumped and kicked him in the side which sent him flying into the gong and onto the ground. I walked off the stage while the announcer did his thing.
"Amazing, even though Cherik seemed the underdog, he pulls through with an outstanding victory! Don't underestimate any fighter here folks, you don't know what tricks they may have up their sleeves." My next match was with a bear man, i guess, his power level from before was a 27, so i powered up to 10% to give myself the 35 power level advantage. We sized each other up, no talking was exchanged, the gong rang and we went for it, well, he did at least. He went with a completely different fighting style than Grendal, he went for a rolling attack, used all his paws, hands? whatever, he used them to gain traction and charge forward with more speed than i expected, at one point his claws were mere centimeters from my face, that's when i decided it was enough. I waited until he went into his rolling ball attack, i caught him mid spin and launched him over me onto the ground. I went off to wait for my next match, which my competitor still hasn't finished yet. I went up to the balcony to watch who would win this match and face me in the next. The two who were fighting were some fat guy who bounced a lot and used it to his advantage and a weird pteranodon looking guy who took to the air and gained an advantage there. Eventually, the pteranodon dude won by tricking rolling ball into bouncing offstage. I went to the arena where i would fight him and waited.
"Next up in this fighting showdown we have the amazing young prodigy Cherik against the terror of the skies, Terrordon!"
"Terrordon huh? is that the best name you could come up with? Jeez, you're worse than me at making names."
"*scraw* you won't be talking so trashy once i'm through with you." I could tell this guy relied on trickery to get his opponents out of the ring, so he wasn't very strong, i still stayed at 10% power though, just in case. The gong rang, and just as i expected, he took to the sky and began to fly around and dive bomb me, but i was too fast, i jumped and tried to attack him, but he was pretty good in the air, i kept close watch and i realized his plan the moment i saw him fly right up close to the edge of the ring, he was planning for me to attack, he'd dodge and i'd be sent flying out, but i wouldn't let that happen. I gave a slight chuckle, ran forward and tried to kick him out of the sky, just as i thought, he moved out of the way, but just before i hit the ground, i stopped myself by flying and went up behind him, tapped his shoulder and threw a punch to his face that sent him sprawling on the ground out cold. The ref counted to 10 and made me win by knockout. I had to wait a few minutes, but then the announcer's voice spoke up over the speakers.
"Alright folks, the results are in, time for the final matches before the championship fight, these matches will be held one at a time in the main ring and then we will commence the championship round. In 10 minutes the first round of the final matches will commence, Cherik vs Crushjaw, and afterwards will be Stryker vs Kendroman. See you there folks." So, i had 10 minutes to prepare, or rather, 10 minutes to waste time and just wait at the arena, which is exactly what i did.
"Now commences the first round of the final draft matches, Cherik vs Crushjaw! Whoever wins this will be one of the competitors fighting for the 3 million dollar grand prize, but let's just see what we're going to witness then." Crushjaw was the dragon like dude who was the strongest person i scouted besides Stryker, he had a power level of 72, so it wasn't much, i simply powered up to 1/3 of my power and got ready to fight. The gong rang and we charged, the moment the match began, i could tell this guy wasn't too big in the speed department, so i used that to my advantage. I began to literally run circles around him so fast, that i began creating speed images of myself. He didn't know where to go, so he kept punching the images with no success. I then appeared from behind and kicked him in the back which sent him flying out of the ring. I walked off to spectate the next round, just to see what i was up against.
This round was Stryker vs Skullor, he was a skeleton warrior with a power level of 64, pretty strong, but Stryker wasn't even showing any mercy, he punched him in the ribs, ran to the other side of the arena faster than anyone except for me could see, kicked him in the back which made him fall to the floor and eventually he picked him up and threw him out of the ring and into a wall. I was impressed by the way he fought, he was focused on finishing fights fast and wasting no time whatsoever. After that match, the announcer revealed who would be fighting who in the championship match, Stryker and I, go figure, and there would be a 2 hour wait for us to be prepared before the fight. I decided to take this time to get some food and rest up before the match. I heard there were 15 minutes left before the round, so i paid the bill, went to the bathroom and then to the arena where i met Stryker in the ring with 10 minutes until the fight.
"So, you're the one who made it to the finals, judging by the way i'm sensing your strength, you must have trained with Korin and Kami as well." Stryker said while evaluating me.
"Yeah, i am. They've told me about you, you're the only other one to survive the god water as well as the only other one to train with Kami. They've also told me that if you win this tournament, you'll secure yourself as ruler of the world."
"You've got that straight. Now, just because you're strong, doesn't mean you'll will so easily. I have more planned than you know."
"Good, i wouldn't want this fight to get boring."
"Well, at least we both enjoy fighting when the opponent is more your strength. This will be enjoyable."
"Indeed. But i still intend to stop you."
"I'll wait for the chance." After a bit, the final minute began before the match. The two of us got ready to fight.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to the championship match! This round will decide the winner of the 3 million dollar prize and champion title! In the ring we have the two most impressive fighters we've ever seen, these two fighting prodigies don't look a day over high school age, but yet they've still plowed their way through the competition. Hopefully this will give us the battle of the ages. Now let's commence, Stryker vs Cherik!" The bell rang and we charged forward, neither of us held back our power since we knew how strong the other was. The battle was amazing, never before had i fought someone this strong and with this much determination to win, i was getting over the top excited to continue. Our fists and kicks were flying at incredible speeds, but for some reason, we never seemed to properly connect. I realized almost too late that i was being pushed back towards the edge of the ring, so i blocked one of his punches and jumped above him, back to the center of the ring.
"Well, i must say i'm impressed Cherik, i haven't felt this excited about a fight in a while."
"I'm saying the same. i've never had to fight all out, everyone's always too weak for me to do so."
"Same here. i don't want this to end." We kept at it, zipping everywhere in the arena, throwing non-stop combos, dodging, blocking and hitting each other as the battle progressed. eventually, we were down to our last winds. The two of us stood there, one end of the arena to the other, both of us breathing heavily but smiling at the excitement of our battle. The crowd was going absolutely ballistic due to our fight.
"It seems we're at an impasse, Cherik. We're too evenly matched."
"Yeah. Seems like it. we just can't beat each other."
"Well, that's just perfect. it gives me the opportunity to test out something i've been working on as of late."
"wait what?" He gave an evil chuckle and brought his fists together, he was concentrating his ki and expanding it throughout his body. As he did this, he was growing larger and larger, thankfully so were his clothes. Eventually, he finished. He was about the size of me as a great ape and he took up half the arena. He spoke to me in a loud, booming voice, and he wasn't even yelling.
"Witness your doom, Cherik. I've learned to use my ki to create this giant form, and with it, you and this planet are done for!" he slammed his fist in my direction with just as much speed, if not faster than when he was in normal size. All i could do at this moment was dodge and begin to fire ki blasts at him, but they seemed to do nothing. "It's pointless, i'm far too powerful in this form. Once i'm through with you, i'll take over this planet and rule it with great power."
"Wait, before you kill me. Would you mind telling me what that form actually does?"
"Well, since you asked, i'll humor you. In this form, all of my abilities are increased fivefold."
"So, all your powers and physical abilities are increased to five times their normal?"
"Yes, my speed, strength, energy, everything. Much stronger than you." I just began to laugh. "What's so funny?"
"Oh, nothing. just the fact that i was starting to get worried. Five times isn't that much to worry about."
"What do you mean?"
"I guess it's time i reveal what i've been saving until now." I charged up my power ball and threw it into the sky behind Stryker.
"Ha, was that your last ditch effort? If it was, then you really need to work on your aim"
"wasn't really aiming for you, i'm not aiming this at you either." I shot a beam at the power ball which caused it to detonate and begin expanding to it's designated size. I looked directly at it and began to feel the change taking place, my tail popped out from the suit i was wearing, revealing my saiyan feature.
"What are you doing? what are you planning?!"
"Oh, no-thing, really. Gah. Just, that i'm a saiyan. Ragh!" I was growing taller and my body began to expand into the form of an oozaru. "Saiyans are a race of warrior beings. And wh-when we look at a full moon. Or a substance that gives off as much radiation as one. Ragh!" The transformation accelerated and i now stood before Stryker, a little taller than him and a full on oozaru. "As i was saying, when a saiyan looks at a full moon or a substance that gives off the correct type and amount of radiation, we become this, it's known as an oozaru. And you know the best part?" I grabbed the neck of his gi and brought him close to my face, looking at his hilarious state of shock. "The best part, is that my power is increased to TEN times it's original. This means, you're done for." I threw him into the air and punched him so hard, he was sent flying about a mile away, i flew over there and began to lay the beat down on him. There was nothing he could do, he wasn't fast enough or strong enough to stop me. I ended it by grabbing him, swinging him back and forth while slamming him to the ground, threw him into the air and blasted him with a mouth beam. Stryker crashed to the ground and then went back to his original form. I blasted my energy ball, reverted back to my original form, grabbed stryker and flew him back to the now silent arena.
I set him down and the announcer needed a good minute to compose himself.
"Uhhhh. Oh, um! It looks like Cherik is the winner! He's saved us all from Stryker and is now the world martial arts champion!" it took a bit, but the crowd let that sink in and they erupted in a roar of cheering. Stryker was gaining consciousness again, i walked up to him and extended my hand to help him up. He looked at it and then back at me with a look of anger, sadness and question.
"Why? Why help me up? After what i caused, what i wanted to cause. You're the winner, you shouldn't help out someone like me."
"Hey, i believe in giving people second chances if they have the ability of becoming a good person, i see that ability within you. Take my hand in friendship and join me to use your powers for good, i know we can protect this planet together." He smiled, laughed and grabbed my hand. I pulled him up, nodded and we both raised our arms up in a victory stance.
After obtaining my prize money, changing and packing up everything i'd brought, i went to say goodbye to Stryker.
"You fought well, Stryker, i haven't had that much fun in a long time."
"Same here, if you ever want to spar or train, call me up. i'll be more than happy to fight again with you."
"Same, well, i'll see you later." We both flew off in opposite directions. On the way home, my power reader dropped from my backpack, i flew down and caught it, but once i did, i pressed a button i've never noticed before, it began to make a single beep every 2 seconds. I put it on my face and saw that it said. transmitter activating. After about another 10 seconds, it triple beeped and it now read Transmitter active. The message disappeared, i didn't really think much of it, so i just put it back in my backpack and continued to fly home.
About a week later, i was watching tv, when my level reader began to produce a triple beep with a 1 second pause between. I put it on and it said i had an incoming call. I pushed the main button, which supposedly accepted the call, from the other end, i heard a voice that sounded, basically, like a deeper version of my own voice, and for some reason he knew my name.
"Hello, Cherik. You might not know who i am, but i'll offer something to explain. I'm your older brother, and i'm coming to your location in 3 months, your time. When i get there, that planet had better be devoid of life and ready to sell to Zoltris's empire. Fight back if you want, but i'm warning you, that's not the smartest move. Before i hang up, is there anything you want to ask me?"
"First off, tell me your name and then tell me how you found me."
"Well, my name is Calio, as for how i found you, i've always had your scouter listed in my contacts, but your transmitter was never activated. About a week ago, i saw that the signal had appeared, but was too weak from where i was, it took me a bit to get a good signal, but i finally was able to contact you."
"Well, get ready to fight, i'll be waiting for you. I'll protect this planet for as long as i live."
"Well, don't say i didn't warn you." The call ended and i knew what i had to do. I flew out as fast as i could, stopped by korin for some senzu beans and went to Stryker's place. I knocked on his door and he answered it. I gave him a quick run down on what's about to happen.
"Well then, it seems like we need to train." I nodded and we flew off to train for the next 3 months in preparation for Calio's arrival.
Author's note: Sorry guys, this was my fault. I totally could have updated this story sooner, but i was just lazy and didn't feel like it most days, but anyway, here you go. Hope it was worth the wait. If you like it, favorite it and leave a review if you want, till next time, i'll try to get another chapter out sooner, but, no promises. Peace
