NOVPUBWhen Rain saw Terra, she looked annoyed, but she also looked completely fine. Seara just shrugged when Rain looked at her… it seemed that the match had been one-sided, even though Seadrei wasn't in the ocean and didn't use magic.
"Well, he is six hundred years old for a reason," Rain thought.
Rain asked Seara how the match had been, but she didn't say much aside from the fact that it only lasted two minutes. It was a surprisingly short amount of time… in any case, when it comes to endurance, Terra was unrivaled. Still, her healing skills couldn't be used, so that was half of her fighting style sealed. Perhaps that made her lose her pace or something.
Before long, Terra went to the garden and then began to do some muscle training, lifting massive earth blocks with her arms and while doing handstands as well. That gave Rain a good idea… he also finally had the chance to punch Seadrei for letting his family be split for decades, and no one could complain if he made Seadrei swallow some of his shark-looking teeth.
In any case, the next day arrived, and just like before, Rain and Seadrei would be the first ones to fight. Before that could happen, Rain decided to see the matchups that would happen next, and he was surprised by the weirdness of it.
Leiah vs. Seara, Reca vs. Rein, Kei vs. Gila, Luna vs. Fil, Danny Vs. Sealyn, Seadir Vs.
Hart, and Luco vc Keila.
Rain discovered that the next set of matchups included fighters he wasn't familiar with—Luco, Hart, and Keila. However, as he delved deeper into that, he soon confirmed that they were the children and nephews of Esmeralda and Branden. While their lineage wasn't of high importance to Rain, what caught his attention was the potential for intense familial clashes in the upcoming rounds.
The realization struck him: he might face his mother, Leiah, or his wife, Seara, in the next round and possibly one of his own children after two days in the final. The prospect of battling his own family members in the tournament wasn't anything new.
He considered the possibility that they might approach the matches with a determination to defeat him, and he had to balance the challenge of maintaining respect as their parent while engaging in competitive combat.
As the tournament progressed, Rain found himself grappling not only with formidable opponents but also with the intricate dynamics of family ties within the competition. The impending matches against his closest relatives added an extra layer of complexity to the already intense martial arts tournament.
"Hopefully, this will bring back the admiration that they had for me when they were kids," Rain thought. "Well, let's start from the beginning… kicking Seadrei's ass."
Before long, Esmeralda called Rain and Seadrei for the ring. As Rain and Seadrei made their way towards the ring, a palpable wave of excitement swept through the spectators. Despite stepping down from his post as the sea emperor, Seadrei remained a living legend, and the prospect of witnessing his unmatched skills in the tournament once more stirred the crowd's enthusiasm.
The onlookers couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation as the sea emperor, with his legendary reputation, prepared to showcase his martial prowess once again.
On the other hand, Rain, though still relatively unknown to most, carried an air of intrigue. His ties with the higher-ups and the mysterious, unconventional skills he displayed had piqued the curiosity of the spectators. However, there lingered a sense that, despite his connections and unique abilities, he had yet to be seen as an equal to the formidable sea emperor.
The contrast between the two fighters, one a seasoned living legend and the other a rising enigma with uncharted potential, added an extra layer of intrigue to the impending match. The audience, brimmed with anticipation, was eager to witness the clash between Seadrei, the seasoned warrior, and Rain, the untested but intriguing challenger.
"Begin!" Esmeralda shouted.
Rain and Seadrei charged into the middle of the ring and collided there. Rain grabbed both hands of his adversary, and while he began to be pushed backward, he propelled himself forward while still grabbing the hands and then headbutted sEadrei's face.
The attack was followed by a kick on the chin that made Seadrei raise his head. Still, he soon glared at Rain again… his face only two scratches. Despite that, Rain ignored the failure. Seadrei spun his body and tried to hit him with a sidekick, but Rain just jumped slightly and used the opponent's head to approach once more. Seadrei had been waiting for that and soon hit Rain with his left elbow…
Rain blocked the attack with his arms, and he felt his bones cracking. Seadrei's parameters were supposed to be at least three times higher than his in terms of strength and endurance… Rain assumed that as he was spinning in the air.
Before long, Rain realized that he was going to fall from the arena, but with a single kick in the air, he stopped his movement, and with another, he charged back toward Seadrei.
The atmosphere crackled with tension as the spectators witnessed Rain's astonishing display of strength and agility. The spectators were perplexed; it looked like magic, but there was a distinct absence of mana in the air. The sheer force and velocity of Rain's movements seemed to defy the laws of nature.
The wind generated by his actions spread across the arena, a testament to the incredible kinetic energy at play. It became evident that Rain's extraordinary feat wasn't a result of magic but rather a showcase of raw, brute strength and exceptional dexterity.
Even those in the audience who were seasoned martial artists felt a sense of admiration and disbelief. While they might possess strength and skill, the sheer magnitude of Rain's physical prowess left them astounded. It was a testament to his unique abilities and hinted at the untapped potential that lay within him.
