Chapter 6: Hard Knocks, Electrifying Results

The next round took the four of us to Brazil, in a place called San Paulo. There, the stage was set on a road with collided vehicles and spilled fruits. It reminded me of how messy Mikhail's hut used to be, back when I was living in Moscow.

I was all set up to fight, and I was getting prepared by punching the punch pads that Yang was training me with, and then my opponent came out of the blue, with a basketball in his hand. He wore one of those weird outfits that look like karate gear, except his was yellow. He had short dreadlocks, and looked exactly like the Brazilian version of a punk kid.

"Just look at that punk… he doesn't even look fit to fight. What a loser!" Yun said, poking fun at the karate punk looking kid fighter. This made Yang and Effie laugh, and me a bit more confident.

"Ha! You're right, Yun." I said, "He does look like a loser! Just look at that lame basketball he's holding! That's so lame."

"Hey! I'm not lame! I'm a student of Master Ken!" he shouted at us with an immature anger, which just made me give out a sly smile.

"Really now? Don't make me laugh." I said, mockingly "Then what's your name, 'Lil Punk'?" Yun and I broke into incessant laughter.

"My name's not punk, my name is Sean Matsuda, student of Ken Masters!" he then tried to throw the basketball at me, but Yun smacked it away.

"Oh, it's on now! Come on Illia, we'll show him who the real pros are!" Yun stepped in beside me, "We'll call ourselves the Electric Dragons!"

"Electric Dragons! What kind of asinine name is that? I was going for a name like the Electric Storm Shockers." I said, in opposition to his team name.

"Okay then, we'll call ourselves the Electric Storm Shocker Dragons." Yun said, "Now let's take this guy down!"

"All right then, Yun, let's do this, with supreme style!" I said. I then pointed at Sean and said, "You're going down!"

"Round 1: Fight!"

The fight began with all three of us going at each other at high speed. But Yun and I had a better idea, which involved combining our attacks together.

"Zesshou Houhou Blast!" I gave Sean a huge jolt of electricity, as Yun leaped forward and knocked him over. Yun and I high fived each other, as Effie and Yang cheered us on the sidelines.

"Tornado!" Sean began a circling kick towards Yun, and nearly made him stumble over.

"Not so bad now am I?" he said, dribbling his basketball. "I've been perfecting this technique for many days, to impress my master on the day I see him again."

"Yeah whatever. Shut up." Yun said, rubbing his side in pain. "I bet whoever your 'master' is, probably thinks you're a nuisance."

"Idiot is more like it." I said, "Or maybe even… Dan." I laughed at the name afterwards.

"How dare you say that name to me! Shoryu Cannon!" he launched a rapid shoryuken that merely missed me.

"Slam Dance!" I grabbed Sean and slammed him three times, instantly knocking him out. Yun recovered, and had an amazed look on his face.

"Whoa! Illia, I didn't know you could do that…" he said, giving me a bow, "You're like, so cool!"

"Thanks, it's just a move I learned through training." I said, "But I did also learn it while I was imprisoned."

Sean got up, and angrily pointed at me, "You're gonna get it the next round, especially for calling me Dan!"

"Bring it on, Dan!" I mockingly said, with confidence, and some cockiness I had gained from Yun.

"Round 2: Fight!"

Sean was all hyped up and speedier than ever, causing me to become slightly overwhelmed.

"Dragon Smash!" he slid over, pinned me down, and then bashed me hard in the chest with two fists.

"Damn it!" I screamed in pain, prompting Yun to prepare for a counterattack in my defense.

"Nishoukyaku!" he leaped up and struck Sean in the face with two kicks. Sean fell onto the ground, face down.

"Got him Illia!" Yun, said helping me up from the ground, "Now's your chance to knock him out!"

"Believe me… I've been born ready for this moment to come! Electric Snake!" I conducted a shower of sparks that struck the ground, causing him to become stunned.

"Now for the main event!" Yun and I said in unison, "Sourai Slam Dance Rengeki!" I grabbed Sean and slammed him three times, then held him up to allow Yun to kick him several times mid air. Sean was knocked out instantly, after the effects of our super art team attack.

"Ah yeah! We did it!" Yun and I gave each other a firm grasps of the fist for a great fight. Effie and Yang did the same, as if to mimic our actions.

Sean got up, and had a look of pure rage in his face. "You stupid punks! Now I have to retrain for my master all over again! And you…" he pointed at me, "I would've fixed you like I would fix my TV!"

I walked up to him, calm and collected, as if I were a true master to this kid. "You're a bit rude. Are you selfish as well?" I said to him in curiosity, "Tell me why you fight."

"I'll tell you, if you tell me why you fight." He said with his arms folded. "I'm sure you've got a master whom you're trying to impress."

"Actually, I have no master." I said in honesty, "But I know I've got a brother of my own to rescue, two friends I can count on, and a girlfriend that I'm doing a great job of impressing."

"Cool! But from what I've heard, you're also fighting for your freedom from that red and blue halfed guy right?" Sean said in interest.

"Exactly!" I said, "That's why I've entered the tournament in the first place, so I can get my freedom back."

"That's awesome! This'll definitely inspire me to be the greatest student that Ken Masters has ever taught. That's why I fight."

"Well that sounds like a valid reason to fight, I suppose." I said, scratching my head out of confusion. "Although I've never had a role model when I was growing up…"

"Illia come on, we gotta get goin if we wanna get to Gill." Yun motioned for me to leave.

"I better get going. I hope you find your master somewhere sooner or later."

"Thanks, it was meeting you; uh… what was your name again?"

"Just call me Illia. Everyone else does, since I hate being called Necro." I said with my head turned toward him.

"All right then, good luck Illia! Kick that blond haired guy's butt for me ok?"

"Okay I will. See you soon!"

We headed off to our next destination, as Sean headed the other direction to search for Ken. I couldn't help but think about the great teamwork that Yun showed when we were fighting together, as it had blown my mind earlier. I had a feeling that I might start trusting him with helping me save both my brother and get my freedom… if only I had some sort of sign that my brother was nearby. It wasn't going to be easy, but I knew that I'll be able to survive this long road ahead, well at least for a few more rounds... I guess.