A/N: Hey, guys! In the previous chapter, Little Mac defeated the huge King Hippo, and now he only has two opponents left to win the Major Circuit Champion Title! Let's see who will face this time.

Chapter 8: A Magician's tricks: VS Great Tiger

''Phew. For a while, I thought I couldn't make it.'' said Little Mac.

''Yet you won. Your next challenger is the Indian Great Tiger. In 29 matches he won 24, of which only three by KO, and he lost 5. His father was a great magician, and like him, he can use special magic tricks.'' replied Doc.

''Magic tricks?'' asked the boy.

''During his special attack, the Tiger Punch, he teleports around to attack you with a series of jabs, and can even duplicate himself. Keep your guard up when using this attack.'' explained the coach.

Mac was a little surprised, but headed for the ring and saw a dark-skinned shirtless man. On his head, he wore a white turban with a gem, and he had a black mustache and goatee. He wore orange striped tights, yellow boxing gloves and brown boots. He was a 29-year-old lightweight, 1.80 meters (5 feet 11 inches) tall and weighing 60 kg (132 pounds). ''Let's see what you're made of, Great Tiger.'' he said to him.

''A pussycat against a tiger? Lost cause.'' replied Great Tiger arrogantly.

''Would I be a kitty? I am a lion and I will make you feel my true strength!'' replied the young man, determined.

''Start!'' announced the referee.

(''Hail from the Past- Castlevania Portrait of Ruin OST'')

Great Tiger attacked first with a right jab, but Mac saw the gem on his turban shine and avoided the attack before hitting him four times. A quick right uppercut struck him, but he managed to dodge another, slower one from the left.

''Then try this!'' exclaimed Great Tiger, making a series of uppercuts, but the opponent intercepted him and counterattacked. Mac then dodged a hook by arching his back and performing a powerful uppercut, and with one minute elapsed since the start of the first round, the Indian fell to the ground. The referee started counting.

''1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6-''

Great Tiger stood up and gritted his teeth. ''I'm just warming up.'' he said.

''I know, me too. Now it's time to get serious!'' said Mac.

In fact, the match was now more competitive, with Great Tiger using his special attack. Swapping places with his double, he launched a series of five jabs, and Mac managed to parry the first three, but the fourth penetrated his defense and the fifth almost made him fall to the ground, but he then replied with his Star Punch, knocking out the opponent for the second time. Twenty seconds left before the end of the first round.

''1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! 7-''

By the time the Indian got up, the time of Round 1 was already over, and he was at a disadvantage.

(''Hail from the Past- Castlevania Portrait of Ruin OST-s'')

''Very good, Mac. Great Tiger's uppercuts are deceptive: if he does it to the right, he will try to trick you into dodging too early, while those on the left are fast. If you can successfully block the Tiger Punch, your opponent will be dizzy, and it will be your chance! If he's a tiger, then you're a lion, as you said, so show him!'' Said Doc.

''You are better than I thought. But you won't beat me.'' said Great Tiger.

''We will see about that. If I were you, I wouldn't be so sure.'' Mac replied, and Round 2 began.

(''Arid Sands (Day) - Sonic Unleashed OST'')

Little Mac avoided a right uppercut and hit Great Tiger on the stomach five times, then dodged a left hook and hit him in the face four times. A left uppercut, however, was too fast, and he couldn't react in time, falling to the ground.

''1! 2! 3! 4-''

The young American got up and let out a lion-like roar, and Great Tiger smiled. ''You're not bad. Let's see how you're going to deal with my Tiger Punch!'' he exclaimed. He attacked with a right hook and then a left one, but Mac dodged them and hit him repeatedly, leaving him with small bruises on his face and stomach. He created a clone of himself and they swapped places five times, ready to attack, but the boy parried all the blows, leaving him dazed, and an uppercut on his chin threw him into the air, making him fall to the mat.

''1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! 7! 8-''

Great Tiger stood up again, and the fight continued. After a minute, he was about to use his special attack again, but Mac had an idea. He closed his eyes, identifying with his hearing the real Great Tiger and waiting for the right moment.

''Not yet...'' he thought, having parried the first two jabs. "A little more..." he parried two more, then realized that the last one was about to arrive and opened his eyes. ''Now!'' he cried out. He pushed his body to the side and let out a roar as he activated his Star Punch, and Great Tiger let out a yell before being hit. He then began to be teleported randomly to equally random places in the ring and then fell to the ground right in front of Little Mac, who was with his arms folded. He did not get up.

(''Arid Sands (Day) - Sonic Unleashed OST-s'')

''Great Tiger is KO! Victory goes to Little Mac!'' announced the referee.

The audience cheered as Mac posed flexing his right arm with a smile, chuckling.

''You fought like a lion, Mac! A LION!'' yelled Doc.

With Mac's help, Great Tiger stood up. ''I shouldn't have underestimated you. You managed to counteract all my tricks, and you looked like a lion, both from how you fought and from the roar you made. The thing I liked most about this match is the way you gave me the final blow, you showed a mixture of brawns and brains, and I won't easily forget this match.''

''Thanks. There's only one opponent left for the Major Circuit Champion Title, right?'' asked Mac.

''Yes, your next opponent is the Champion. It's very strong, so be careful if you face him.'' replied the Indian.

''All right, Mac. Come on.'' said Doc, leaving the ring with his protégé.

A/N: Mac will soon become the Major Circuit champion! Hope you enjoyed this chapter and see you next time! See you soon!