The 21st Tenkaichi Budokai III: Approaching the Climax!! The Final Matches To Decide The World's Strongest

[Returning to the present...]



--- --- --- --- ---
[In the tournament audience, Gerie waves her hand towards her blushing face, trying to cool down...]

Gerie: "That kid was really something..."
[Image of Johnathan appears]

"If he was just a bit older...Maybe I'll have to peak back next tourney!!"



[Turns, starting to walk through the crowd to head towards the restroom...]

[Looking around for someone to take with her...]
Shadowbender0909/12/2019
[Abra who has been following behind Gerie, begins to trail behind the woman hiding on her way to get her...]



[Gerie stops...]
[...]
[But is focused on the rear end of a muscley ex-contestant...]

Abra: "Abra get bouncy chest evil lady!"
[Abra begins to sprint over to Gerie while shes distracted!]


Abra: "YATA!"



[Gerie grins at the muscled man...]



("Alright, you're my next meal, you sheep--")

CHOMP

[The muscled man happens to turn, just seeing Abra standing there, alone, before turning back...].

[...]
[!!!]

Abra: "...Why the floor further away from Abra...? Abra body feel different again."


"Abra chest feel heavy..."
(Same action but less excited face and more confused)

[Some audience members glance over to see this, and are utterly confused even without recognizing this "teen" as Abra...]



Women:

"What has become of the youth these days..."
[A few young students from Johnathans dojo happen to catch Abra's experiments as well..]



?: "My energies back..."
??: "I'm ready to try some more exercises!!"

??? : "Or we could stay right here..." [Bleeds]
[But... Appearing behind them, was the girl who'd lead the students so far...]



[The boys turn in response to her killing intent...]



--- --- --- --- ---

Abra: "Oh, Abra think she starting to get it!"



[Abra bounces around a bit looking at her chest now thinking her chest is balloon]


[Insert giggling noises of amusement]

--- --- ---

Announcer: [Cough]
[Lifts mic] "Assuming you can hear me, contestants Abra and Arashi please come to the main martial arts hall to prepare for your entrances..."
("... I had to spoil the match up reveal...") [Head drops]

--- --- ---

Jewel: "... That technique that 'Krillin' was using..."
"I know I've seen it before..."
[Pause, in thought]
[Several of the instances Jewel witnessed of Krillin fading in and out, Johnathan's fist passing through illusory copies of Krillin, go through the screen one-by-one]
"I know...! That was sensei's technique... the Zanzoken..."
"I'd made a good number of attempts at getting it down, but..."
[Image of Jewel faceplanted on a grassy ground, as the current Jewel closes her eyes in memory... looking more than slightly annoyed]
"I could never get it quite right..."

Rota: Seems like a good move, must have got lucky when he used it on me.

Jewel: "... That must be it..."

[Doesn't want to say anything, but looks into Rota's cataracts..]

("If you don't rely on sight to begin with, the Zanzoken is only at half strength against you....")
("Leaving behind high quality illusions and allowing high speed movement are the cores of the technique ...Krillin only had the speed factoring in during that fight..")

("From the start, you had the greatest chance against it out of any of us..")


Both fighters understood in their own way... The depth of Krillin's perserverence and skill.

Rota: "He's strong, that Johnathan, I'll give him that."
"But will it be enough."

Jewel: "Yeah...Looking at who his next opponent's going to be..."
"Ignoring everything else... Rose is able to attack without anyone even perceiving what she's done until after the fact."
"It'll take a genius among geniuses to counter something like that!"

Rota: "No..."



"After what she's accomplished..."



"It'll take a monster...."

Jewel: "Even the former champion might be in trouble against her--"



"...the former champion... Who I face in this round..."

[Rota can't see it, but can very well feel the panic coming from Jewel.]

Rota: "Oh um, sure but, he can't be that must stronger. Actually, I missed his last match, how'd that go?"

Jewel: "...It was over almost as soon as it began..."
"Nothing that judo master... Kakondo... did, even touched him..."
"Then he used his own move and finished it in an instant..."
"...To be expected, of a former champion..."

[A curious face forms, and her voice drops in volume just a bit]

"...A former champion... just like Howl-sensei ..."

[Looks up, determined]

"Just how far can I go against someone like that?"

--- --- ---
[The only image shown of Kankodo Vs Son Gohan]

--- --- ---

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
[The announcer gets notice that the fighters are ready and in the martial arts hall...]

Announcer: "Without further waiting...We're ready to begin!!"

--- --- --- --- ---

[A certain banner still flies...]



*Arashi/Storm

Katsuo: "It's time...!"

Crew: "Yeaaaaah!!"

Katsuo: "I think he'll show it  to us again...What came out and overthrew---"



"The Yokozuna...!!" [breaks down crying]

[Everyone suddenly gets down, tearing up...]

They were still getting over it...
--- --- --- --- ---

Announcer: "Alright then!!"

"Iiiiiin the left corner...!!"

"He may just embody this passionate new era of martial arts we find ourselves in!!"

"Before this tournament he made one promise...to defeat the Yokozuna in a match here today. All this earned him was a crowd laughing in his face..."

--- --- --- --- ---
[Arashi starts to step out from the the martial arts hall...fist back shown proud, the tiger and "Adamantine Gym" intact across his back...]


--- --- --- --- ---
"But as I'm sure you all know, in the first round he accomplished just that..."

"A shocking upset for most watching, this is what I mean, this is what the new era has brought us!!"

"Paving the way for everyone, blowing onto the fighting stage once again with his Fujinken..!!"

"Iiiiiiittss...!!!"

[As Arashi steps up, he pulls at the bandage around his head, and it unravels...]





Announcer: "Annnd in the right corner...!!"
"The reappearance of the youngest fighter in the Tenkaichi Budokai's history!! Not to mention one of our most peculiar!!"
--- --- --- --- ---
[A clip plays from little Abra's previous entrance...]



--- --- --- --- ---

Announcher: "She entered today with her whole family, for those coming in late, as the daughter of one of this years strongest competitors, Rose!!"

"After a fierce battle with her older sister , where no punches were pulled, she's back and ready for more!!"

"Iiiiittss....!!
[Lifts hand towards the entrance point...]


"Abbbbrraaa...!!"

Abra: "HELLO EVERYONE!!!"



"ABRA IS HERE FOR BATTLE!"



Announcer: [Turns head]

Bounce



Crowd:

"EHHHHHHHH!?!?!"
"She's...!!"

Bounce...

"Bigger!!!"



Announcer: "A-Abra...Is that really you?"

--- --- ---
Rota: "Crowd seems to be surprised to see her. Did she change her outfit?"
--- --- ---

Abra: "YEAH YEAH! ABRA GOT TALLER AND BIGGER!"

--- --- ---
Jewel: "...s... She seems to have... Aged???"
--- --- ---

Arashi:



"Just what the heck is your mom feeding you?"

[She thinks back to the ice cream from before.]
Abra: "Abra gets lots of sweets!"

Arashi: "..."



--- --- ---
[Meanwhile Markus and Shaya look up at their son...]

Markus: "Damn kids these days are getting weirder and weirder ain't they Shaya? Shaya?"



[Markus turns to see Shaya's tail patting the ground rhythmically with excitement]

[Meanwhile those behind her stood frozen stiff. From the shock of Abra's appearance or Shaya, perhaps both.]



Markus: "Why is it that whenever Arashi gets moody you get more animated? Not very mentor-like if ya ask me."



Shaya: "Oh save it! He did things your way in round one and that's fine and dandy but we both know textbook tactics aren't gonna do squat here!"

[A mischievous grin spreads across her face.]

"That's where MY teaching comes in!"


--- --- --- --- ---

[Meanwhile...two figures walked into the main martial arts hall, getting a view to the stage through the hole in the stage wall both Abra and Arashi had contributed to earlier....]

Son Gohan: [Sees Abra]
[Being drunk, thinks his eyes are playing tricks...]



Rose: [As well, gets a glance of Abra.] "Hmm...?"
[Her eyes widen for a moment, as she begins to take out her notepad.]
"...she had another growth spurt...? It's only been two months since the last one..."
[She begins to remember Abra roughly two months ago...]
--- --- ---


--- --- ---

--- --- ---
[Rose's head lowers slightly at an angle where the light causes a glare on her glasses and obscures her eyes.]
[But her eyes seemed to focus on...]

Abra:

Rose: ("She's at that stage of growth already...?") [adjusts glasses]

Son Gohan: "She's..."


("At that stage of growth already!?")
--- --- --- --- ---

Announcer: "Now then....Let the third match of the second round...!!"



"Begin!!"
[The Gong is struck]



--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

"Black Hole" Abra Vs "Fujin" Arashi

Begin!!!

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Engage Battle!
--- --- ---
Initiative Order

Arashi (9)
Abra (7)
--- --- ---
Arashi (Lv. 2 / 72 HP / 86 EP / 4 AP)
Abra (Lv. 2 / 83 HP / 91 EP / 8 AP)
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Round 1, start!
--- --- ---

[Abra begins to get into her normal fighting stance but has issues actually doing it, both from her change in body and it not feeling right to her.]

Abra: "Hmm... Oh! Abra know! Abra just let body do it!"



Abra: "Yay, Abra got it!"

Arashi " . . . . gotta say feels kinda nice not to be the only odd ball around ha ha ha."
"But I gotta warn ya Abra, cool new look or not..."



"I'm winning this."

[She begins to loosen up letting her body shape into a fighting stance until...]

--- --- ---
[Son Gohan leans forward, drunk blush still coming through mask...]

Son Gohan: ("Hmm...")
[Mind goes to when he'd met Arashi, talking about how he'd use the preliminaries to prepare for the proper tournament matches...]
[Then to his boxing stance when fighting, his footwork, and his Dempsey Roll...]

("He's got an out there personality, but he seems to prefer sticking to the books when fighting...")

[Image of Arashi's Daitoppa]
("Even his own original move is a love letter to boxing ...")

[Glances towards Abra...]

("This girl is the opposite, she clearly doesn't have a days worth of martial arts experience, unless you count today...")
("She fights one step at a time, with whatever means come to mind...Pure ingenuity and reflex...")

[Image of young Abra super-inhaling against Nana.]
("You don't know what's coming next, and neither does she...")

("They're...")

--- --- ---



--- --- ---

[As soon as the ref gave the word Arashi was off!]


Arashi ("Man this pisses me off! If it were dad or Johnathan they would've figured a super plan to win!")

[Mid dash the boy takes a deep breathe as he closes in on Abra!]

("But screw it!")

("All your super powers mean is I don't gotta hold back!")

---
Announcer: "Arashi's closed the distance...!!!"
"He's hungry for first blood!"

[...!!!]
---

[Arashi closes the distance almost instantly and seems to take aim at Abra's face when suddenly...]



[Abra instinctively pulls her leg back for a kick as he closes the distance between them attempting to stop him.]

Announcer: "But Abra snaps back!! The victor...!?!"

[...]

Arashi: "Just like I thought..."



[Arashi suddenly hits the breaks and leans back!]

[Using his back leg to maintain balance while his tail...curled up like a spring!?]

[Pushing off against the ring floor Arashi is sprung forward a second after Abra's kicks swings just over his face.]

[Arashi landed a clean hit... but something felt off!]



[Causing him to pull back.]

("What the heck? Never hit anything that's felt so  . . .weird!")
--- --- ---
Abra's Turn!

Announcer: "What a blow! Abra won't just be walking that one off !!"

[Abra sits for a second as the spot of impact seems to shift and ripple on her skin beneath her clothes as she starts to heal some. She then turns to Arashi.]



Abra: "That was a good one! It looks like Abra's turn now!"

Abra's Passive Regen kicks in healing for 10 HP! (67 -> 77)

[Arashi grins as he states.]

"Bring it, but I warn ya..."


[Abra leaps forward to Arashi as she pulls her hand back...]
--- --- ---
Son Gohan: "An instant re- hic -covery?"

Hiccups
Son Gohan will usually get them when he's been drinking, but only when he's thinking about fighting...
--- --- ---

Arashi ("Oh s-!")

[Using all of her new found body Abra slams a fist right into Arashi's mid section . . . so it would seem!]


("Crud, she's faster? So the new look's actually a power up?")

[Abra's assault just kept coming! In fact, she was starting to push him back!]

[Cross Block and all!]

Announcer: "I-I stand corrected!! Abra's back with a vengeance!!"

Arashi: ("Come on! This is your range! Dominate it! ")

[...]

--- --- --- --- ---


Markus: [Grins somewhat] "Did our Arashi just use a counter?"


"Usually shows as much interest in that sort of thing as...well, you ..."


Shaya: "Don't you start..."


"Besides, I'm more impressed with that brutal follow-up!!"
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Round 1, end!
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ------ --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ------ --- ---
Initiative Order

Arashi (9)
Abra (7)
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Arashi (Lv. 2 / 72 HP / 82 EP / 4 AP)
Abra (Lv. 2 / 53 HP / 91 EP / 8 AP)
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Round 2, start!
--- --- ---

[Johnathan had returned to his spot from before...Propping himself up on the wall, While he was watching, His mind was focusing in and out...still partially stuck on what had happened during his fight with Krillin...yet still. he had a puzzled look on his face as he managed to notice Abra's healing..]

Johnathan: ("Strange...but given what i saw her do earlier...perhaps i shouldn't be surprised. Still, Arashi's doing well despite it...He's probably figured it himself, but if that girl can heal like that...")

("He can't afford to take any hits like that himself...")

--- --- ---
[Rose adjusts her glasses once again, staring at Abra's performance.] "Her muscle memory isn't adjusted to the changes of her body yet."



[She stows away her notepad once more,] "Continuing this fight might be a bad idea...even if its the perfect opportunity to take note of things..."
"...then..."
[She places her hand along the wall, sticking her head through the broken wall space and begins to shout.]



--- --- ---



Announcer: "W-What was that...?"

Rota: "Huh, is she having a change of heart?"
[Unable to see Abras form, Rota is under the impression Rose has had second thoughts about her infant daughter fighting in the tournament]

--- --- ---
[Abra looks over to Rose stopping completely and tilting her head.]



Abra: "Abra stop? Does Abra need to leave now?"

Rose: "You've had another growth spurt, it's probably for the best you take the time to adjust to that body before attempting to do anything like fighting!" [She crosses her arms.] "I'm telling you to withdraw for now!"

[Upon hearing these words the Fujin's full body movement came to stop almost automatically]

--- --- ---
[Arashi turned and saw Rose standing behind the large break in the stage wall.]

[At first he believed that he had to be hearing things. That he was watching a mother tell her daughter to give up in front of all these people.]

[But then Rose said it again.]

Arashi "Wait... what?"



[Turns to face his Shaya and Markus then back at the ref...]

"Can she... do that?"



--- --- ---
Johnathan: ("She's...just going to pull her child out for her?)"
--- --- ---

Abra: "Oh, Ok!"
[Abra looks over to Arashi.]


"Bye bye Mr. Tail-guy! Abra like you, you were fun to play with! Abra gotta go so Abra play again later!"



[But still not being use to her body, she falls off the edge...]



[She quickly picks her self up and runs off to Rose...]

Rota: [a slight cringe in his face] "Might he hard to live that one down."

Johnathan: [Eye-twitch, before taking a deep breath.] ("Not my business...")

[Arashi just sort of stands there, not really sure what to say or do]

[Besides wave...]

Arashi "Yeah...sure."

("She's not mad at her mom? So Abra's really ok with it? Did she really come here just to have fun?")


(Arashi on the right)

[Arashi's tail sort of drops down along with his gaze.]

("I don't get it. She's so awesome and she's even powered up! I wanna keep going but... it's not like I can force her. Still, this doesn't feel like a real win...")

--- --- --- --- ---
"THAT'S FUCKING BULL SHIT!"

[Suddenly among the crowd a lone woman is roaring at volumes far greater than any of the intense cheering that occurred today!]

Shaya "If you were just gonna tell your kid to quit than why let her enter in the first place four eyes?!"

[Behind her a lone man struggles to keep her from leaping from the audience.]

Markus: "Shaya what did we agree on when we decided to com-"

[Shaya cuts him off.]

Shaya: "We told him we wouldn't let em' compete unless he trainedten times harder, made it threw a desert, and hardest of all bring home a straight A report card!"



"Just who do you think you are!?"

"You cocky, tooth pick with glasses, disrespectful, little b-!"

[Markus promptly covers her mouth before any more unpleasant words spilled out]



Markus "Sorry about that!"

Rose: [From the other side, tilts her head as if only catching certain parts of the woman's words..] "...four eyes? Cocky? Tooth pick?"



[Markus slowly drags Shaya away.]

Rose: [Is very confused, adjusting her glasses again.] "It seems I somehow upset someone..."

[She turns her attention back to the ring, watching as Abra gets closer, then to Arashi.] "Forgive my interruption. Abaara doesn't seem to be used to her new body yet; so i cannot let her continue. I assume being one of those honorable types, it might be considered unfair otherwise (and I wouldn't be able to get good data either.)"

[The tailed boy remains silent for a moment]
[He slowly walks over to Rose]

Arashi " ..I don't like it. Not one bit, but if Abra is fine with it I'll... zip it i guess."

"Can I ask for one favor though?"

Rose: "Hmm? A favor?"



Arashi "When Abra is ready can I be the first to take her on? She's...really awesome."

"Black Hole" Abra...

Rose: "..." [Takes a moment to consider. She observed him previously, and it was possible he'd make a good match up for Abra regardless...And of course, she was curious about that tail, too.]



[She somewhat smirks, before pulling out her notepad and writes on it once more before vaulting through the broken piece of the wall to stand next to Arashi. She rips out a page and extends her hand.]

"Sure...I'm sure Abaara would love to..."



[Just like with Son Gohan and Nana, on the paper was an address.]

Drops out in the second round.

[Arashi kindly takes it]

Arashi: "Looking forward to going at it with her again!"



"Fujin" Arashi moves on.

--- --- ---
[...]

[Where was Son Gohan during this?]

[Well, moments before...He'd spotted a drink vendor touring the crowd...And had left to procure himself some red solo cups of alcohol...]

[The proper way to enjoy such an amazing match up was---]

[---And it was over...]

[...]

Son Gohan: [Drinks anyway...]

--- --- ---

[Arashi heads into the hall to grab something to eat]

Arashi "I'll be right back. I'm not going to miss this next fight."

[Arashi turns and points at Jewel.]
Arashi: "You're not quitting to are ya?"



Arashi: "I wanna see the lighting fast bad ass from round one! I don't get how it works yet but who knows! Your butt counter might catch em by surprised!"

[Jewel had just been about to answer, stunned that Abra withdrew so easily and affirming she wasn't giving up here... But Arashi's statement made her stop short]

Jewel:

"Butt...?"
("Butt counter... what is he--")
[Image of her attacking Man-Wolf comes up on the screen, specifically when she responded to Man-Wolf pulling a knife]
("Oh... That... I guess that means that training I was doing...")
[A still frame holds on the screen, of a very surprised Man-Wolf being swatted by Jewel's golden tail]
("Worked...?")

Rota: "Huh, never considered the butt to be a viable body part to strike with. Yours must be really firm to do that!"



Arashi "Yeah! Something tells me this is going to be a good show! Be right back!"

[Arashi leaves to grab a quick snack before the next match.]

[Stopping halfway from where the quarter-finalists had their meal took a look at the paper from Rose.]

("I wonder if Rose ever thought about teaching...")


--- --- ---

[Jewel, meanwhile, has turned her back to both Arashi and Rota, blue upper face and red cheeks evident]
Jewel: ("I hadn't considered this to be one of the possible consequences of hiding my tail when attacking with it...")

Rota: "Well, he's taking that better than expected."

[Turns to Jewel]

Rota: "But what about you?"

Jewel: "..."
[Finally collects herself. Abra's sudden withdrawal was unexpected, but if she was happy to do so, then who was she to throw shade about it?]
"The odds may be against me in my coming match, but I intend to see this tournament through as long as I'm able."

[Rota smiles]

Rota: I envy you.
"Facing off one of the best the world has to offer, what I'd give for a glimpse of that...."

Jewel: "I'm wondering how far I'll go against someone like that."
("Though... With that power I suddenly showed last match... that power I didn't think I'd possessed... ")

[Image of Man-Wolf swinging at the illusionary Jewel replays, shortly before Jewel comes up to deliver her final one-two punch...]

("If I can figure out how to harness it at will, I may yet have a chance.")

--- --- ---

Announcer: "We'll soon be ready to start the final match of the second round...!! Who will fill the final slot for the semi-finals!?"
"Participants, please be ready..."

[Near the entrance stood Jewel, Rota standing beside her.]

Rota: "You ready?"

Jewel: "I am..."
[Looking around, not seeing Son Gohan around]

Rota: "I'm sure he'll show up in time."

[Rota hold out a fist]"But where is he at...?"



Rota: Win or lose, give it you all, and don't come back with any regrets.

Jewel: "..."
"I'll do everything I can."

("I didn't come here to give up now...")

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Announcer: "Now then...our first contestant..."

"He entered this very stage almost ten years ago ...Before coming out on top and taking home the championship!! He was a true dark horse !! His mere presence here today is nostalgic, he's even wearing the same mask as that day!"

--- --- ---
[Behind him, Son Gohan essentially dances onto the stage, drunken blush still coming through his mask.]


--- --- ---
--- --- ---
"Outside of his appearance here, his name has spread around the world through word of mouth for decades ! The number of martial arts masters around the world he's not only met, but bested...may be unmatched!!"

"They say he was trained by the Muten Roshi ..."

"In the left corner!"

"The man blessed by the God of Martial Arts...!! IIiiittss...!!"


Jewel: [Quietly, to herself] "Wait... He was trained by the Muten Roshi...?"
("So was... Sensei...")

--- --- ---
Shaya: "That guy..."



"He still gets under my skin..."
"When he's in a fight, without even trying, he'll do whatever it is you don't want him to do ..."



"So this time he got freaking wasted!?"
--- --- ---
[After Son Gohan takes a few mores strikes at the air, he leans back to laugh at himself, his exaggerated mouth coming down past the mask...]

[...]

Announcer: "And in the right corner...!!"

--- --- ---
[As Jewel steps out, she doesn't hear anything that's being said...It all drowns out....]

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
...
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
A Particular Mountain Forest...

[...]

10 Years Ago...

[Numerous figures blur through the tall trees, shooting from branch to branch with their leg strength alone...]

[They were kitsune, all with a single tail, wearing similar outfits in a variety of colors...]




The Zenko's hunters...


The warrior-type kitsune in charge of bringing in enough meat to supply the entire Zenko village.Their organized labor is a necessity for the villages survival...
---

[Meanwhile...a little girl runs at a normal pace along the ground beneath the branches...her spear held carefully in both hands as she tried to catch up--]

Trip...



[~ The Weakest Warrior-Type Kitsune ~]
[~ Jewel ~]

[She quickly got onto her knees, rubbing her reddening face...]

[Quickly looks up, looking around the trees...]

Jewel: [Head drops] "I lost them again..." [Looks up somewhat, clearly disappointed...]

[...]

[Slinking up behind her, without her even realizing...was a massive beast with green fur which helped it to blend in...]



Shinrin Panther

[The Forest Panther]

[The panther steps on a branch, causing Jewel to turn...]



[However, when the panther started to approach...Jewel raised her spear, pushing her fear aside...]



Panther: [Eyes narrow...]

[...]

[Before it pounces at full speed, faster then Jewel could even see...]

--- --- ---
[Above, a glint appears in the tree tops...]
--- --- ---


Howl: [Glances down towards Jewel.]

"...Separated from the hunt and left alone, you immediately find yourself preyed on..."

"It'd have been smarter to turn your tail and run, little one..."

Jewel: "..."



"I...I'm not here to run away..."


Howl: [Looks back into Jewels eyes...]

"Ah...what a sharp spear you have..."

[...]
This was the day Jewel met Howl.

Soon...She would become his student.

Years Later...

--- --- ---
[Jewel's spear slams into the latest boulder with a twist, but practically bounces off of it...]

Jewel:

"It still won't work...!!"

[Atop the boulder, Howl sat, as he started to laugh.]



"You've still got a long ways to go!! Ahahaha!!"

[...]

[Suddenly, his triangular ears twitched, silencing him.]

[Jewel looked up in confusion, just as Howl disappeared from the spot...Reappearing behind her, and raising her over his shoulder.]

Jewel: "...Eh?"
[Both shoot off in a blur towards the forest line, and into some cover...]

"W-What is ---" [Mouth is covered...]
[Looks up to see a bead of sweat running down Howl's cheek...]

[...]

[Two kitsune soon land down where they'd been, looking for something...]

Jewel: "...?"
[...]

?: "Elder Howl...!!!"

??: "They were here recently..."

[The to look and sniff around, to little avail...so they start simply shouting out...]

?: "You can't shirk your duties any more sir!! You've missed the past three meetings, and the other elders won't let you off this time!!"

[...]

[Both sigh]

??: "Why does he even waste his time like this..."
"I've seen the girl in a hunt...She's nothing special, even after years of his guidance..."

Jewel: [eyes tremble...]

?: "Right...Its dangerous for her to go on them in the first place, as she is. It'd probably be best..."

[Jewel looks down, mouth still covered...]

"If she quit being a hunter."

[...]

--- --- ---
[Soon the two left, to continue their search...]

[Howl stepped out of cover, stretching.]

Howl: "Well, back to it then. Here, I'll go over my tips again..."

[Jewel quickly steps passed him.]

Jewel: "Uhhhm..." [Voice cracks...]

Howl: "...?"

Jewel: "I'm...ready to go home for today..."

Howl: "...Already? You usually keep me til the sun set..."

[...]

Sniff...

Jewel: "I'm really sorry..." [Facing away from Howl, can't look at him...] "I think we can stop all of this now..."

Howl: [Smiles fades]

Jewel: "I...I keep wasting your time...N-no matter how hard I t-try I never get any better. And the village needs you...I...I'm..."

[...]


[...]

[...]

Howl: "...No."

[A hand comes to rest on Jewel's head...]



Howl: "The one being selfish... was me."

[...]
"Jewel. If my training is to much for you, then please feel free to quit."
"If you've changed your mind about becoming a great hunter, please feel free to quit."
"If you can't stand your foolish old sensei, then please feel free to quit."

"But if you want to continue bettering yourself...Then please remain my student ."

Jewel: [Eyes widen, lips trembles, tries to hold back further tears.] "W-Why...Why do you spend so much time helping me."

Howl: "Because I'm a selfish old man... Who's taken a bet..."

Jewel: "A bet?"

Howl: "Yes. I haven't forgotten about my duties to the village...I've just taken a bet..."

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
...
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
[The Present...]

Announcer: "It's....!!!"

Jewel: ("I'll prove it today...")

("That you made the right call, Sensei.")




Announcer: "Now...Let the final match of the second round...!!"



"Begin!



--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

"Former No. 1" Son Gohan Vs "Kitsune" Jewel

Begin!!!

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Engage Battle!
--- --- ---
Initiative Order

Jewel (23)
Son Gohan (7)
--- --- ---
Jewel (Lv. 2 / 80 HP / 123 ESP / 6 AP)
Son Gohan (Lv. ? / ??? HP / ??? KP / ? AP)
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Round 1, start!
--- --- ---

[Son Gohan turns to wave at the cheering crowd, before continuing some casual dancing.]

[As he does however, he nearly tips over, before straightening back out and bursting into laughter...]

"Ohoho hic hoho..."

[Jewel had made her approach all the while, but as s he gets close, she realizes, for sure, it's not an act.]
[Jewel smiles at Son Gohan, upon understanding he is absolutely plastered]

Jewel: "You're not taking this very seriously, are you?"

[...]



"Son Gohan is immediately knocked away by a devastating right !!"

[The entire crowd fills with shock...]

--- --- ---
Shaya: "..."


--- --- ---

[Son Gohan rolls along the ground for a moment...]

Announcer: "He's down!?"

[On the roof again Rota is listening carefully]

--- --- ---
Rota: "Outside of martial arts a drunk is an easy opponent...But inside..."
--- --- ---

"hic..."

[Gohan starts to stand, wobbling...]

Son Gohan: "Oh...there went the hicgong..."
[Takes an odd stance...]



--- --- ---
Rota: "Inside they’re even more dangerous."
--- --- ---

Jewel attacks Son Gohan with a Basic Physical Attack, but he endures, taking only 6 damage!

Jewel: ("He's definitely drunk...")
("But... Maybe as an ex-champion he knows what he's doing!? ")
[Jewel's eyes widen as the hypothesis hits her]

("I'd better be on my guard...!")
[Jewel's body tenses, preparing for a strike]

Jewel burns an AP to use the Dodge action! (Jewel AP 6 -> 5)

Turn End!

The maximum range a fighter has when striking. Inside this range is the martial artists territory.

Being able to read another's constantly changing Seikuken, be it through natural talent or hard work, is the sign of an experienced fighter. --- ---
---
[Jewel appears in a blank space, before numerous silhouettes of animals start jumping at her, and she starts to dodge and weave between them...]



After facing off with wild beasts for years, Jewel has become naturally attuned to reading Seikuken without knowing it, through her honed senses and well groomed instincts.

However...

--- --- --- --- ---

Focusing on Son Gohan now...She had no idea...



What his territory was...

--- --- --- --- ---
Son Gohan's turn!

[...]

[A sense of dread strikes Jewel...]


[Even as she fully prepared herself, something slipped past her own Seikuken...]



[An unbelievably hard strike smashes into her face, knocking her off her feet before she properly registers it...]

--- --- ---
[Sweat ran down Rotas cheek, even with heightened senses he couldn’t make out when the attack even began]

Rota: "S-so fast!"
--- --- ---

Announcer: "Jewel's head flies back even harder in response!!"
"But I didn't make out what kind of strike that was!!"

Jewel: ("I... I didn't see his attack at all...!")
[One of Jewel's feet come down, stopping her from flying back harder]
("Was my assumption correct...!?")

[She straightens, rubbing her sleeve against her darkening cheek...]



Son Gohan attacks Jewel with a Basic Physical Attack, inflicting 16 damage! (HP 80 -> 64)


[Son Gohan meanwhile doesn't seem to have moved, back in his wobbly stance...]



--- --- ---
Suiken

The Drunken Fist

A fighting style only possible through intoxication, where the user's movements become irregular and eratic: attacking with no warning, offense and defense are applied with entirely unconventional motions.

The user seems to have no conscious awareness of what actions they might take, which also means opponents aren't able to predict what they might do.
--- --- ---
An unknown range...

And an unknown attack pattern...


[Son Gohan seems to fall forward...]



[Before appearing right infront of Jewel, upside down no less, slamming his knee quickly into her stomach]

[A visible blast of air erupted out from her back from the impact..]

Son Gohan burns an AP to attack Jewel once again with a Basic Physical Attack, inflicting 15 damage! (HP 64 -> 49)

[Jewel is unable to see this coming, flying back without lessening the blow at all...]

[She nearly smashed into the stages wall, but caught herself just before impact, merely sliding into it uncomfortably...]

Jewel: ("I barely saw the attack coming...!")
("If he were sober, would this situation be even worse?")

("Still...")

[Stands up straight]
"I can still fi--"

[A line effect goes through her stomach...]



Announcer: "!?!?"
"Gohan's second blow to Jewel's body has caused her to start coughing up blood...!!"
--- --- ---

Shaya: ("...I may have gotten carried away...")
("Seeing her land a hit, I thought she just might make it farther then me...")

---
[Flashback]


("But it seems she's made it about as far as me...")
---
--- --- ---
[Jewel covers her mouth with one hand...]
("I didn't think the damage was this bad---")



[Before Gohan's open palm zoomed over her head, impacting the wall, and causing much of its stone to explode outwards...]

Son Gohan burns another AP to attack once again, but misses, striking the wall and inflicting 13 damage! (Column F HP 30 -> 17)

[As Jewel pants somewhat from the pain and shock...sweat starting to drop down her forehead...]

[Son Gohan stumbles back, made dizzy by his own speed...]



Turn End!

Round 1, End!

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Initiative Order

Jewel (23)
Son Gohan (7)
--- --- ---
Jewel (Lv. 2 / 49 HP / 123 ESP / 4 AP)
Son Gohan (Lv. ? / ??? HP / ??? KP / ? AP)
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Round 2, start!
--- --- ---
Son Gohan: "Woo-hee...~"
"Slow down there...I can't keep up with this pace..."

---
Crowd: "But he's the one doing it!!"
---

[Jewel struggles back to her feet, intent on continuing, a small trickle of blood flowing from her mouth, which she wipes away as soon as she's back on her feet]
Jewel: ("I'm not losing... not yet...")
("Not after what it's taken to get to this stage--")

[Heartbeat effect]

[Jewel's eyes widen, that cacophony from before returning as her mind opens up]




Jewel: ("This... again...?")
("I don't get it... I thought I'd never develop this kind of power...")

("But... if I can harness it at all, it'd have to be now...")

[Her mind is open, hearing the thoughts of everyone around her, but slowly, the voices start to fade, her gaze focusing on Son Gohan]
("If there's any chance I can win... it's probably from this... the power I shouldn't be able to wield...")

[As the thoughts fully filter out, a faint golden aura can be seen outlining Jewel... It's faint, but definitely there.]

Jewel uses Power Boost, increasing her effective Level by 1 and boosting her other stats accordingly!!

[A vein appears on each of her temples from the concentration she's exhibiting...]




Rota: This pressure, she’s not done yet!
--- --- --- --- ---

[Inside the Hall as Arashi is halfheartedly eating he was struck by an abrupt jolt]

[Arashi jerks around in his chair and looks over his surroundings wondering if someone was nearby.]

Arashi "What the heck was that?!"

[Too Arashi's confusion there was no one in the mess hall besides him and  . . . a random Nurse.]

Nurse "Um! I'm sorry! I was told to check on you! I'll just be going!" [Leaves!]

Arashi "... sigh wouldn't have minded some company." [Sits back down and continues eating]

("Give em hell out there Jewel.")

--- --- --- --- ---


[Son Gohan's arms drop somewhat...]

[But it only fell into a new position, making a fist, and rocking back and forth...]



[Before the fist starts to jerk...]
--- --- ---

Shaya:  [Eyes widen] "That's just like..."

Markus: "My Flickers...!!"



The Flicker Jab
While a regular jab strikes straight out towards the target, the Flicker Jab is thrown upwards from a lower angle, and as the name implies "flicks" with a sort of jerking motion...



The arm is stretched out like a whip, before the wrist is "snapped" back, returning the arm into position to fire again.

Flicker Jabs come with unmatched range, allowing various angles of attack at high speed, making them a formidable weapon.

Markus: "Its not totally the same as in boxing, but he's using the principle flawlessly...!!"

Shaya: [Head vein] "While wasted!!"
--- --- ---

[An onslaught of whips test the air around Jewel, snapping back loudly all around her...]

Unpredictability + Flicker Jabs

Suiken: Flicker

[Before Son Gohan starts to step in...]
[Jewel responded in kind...]



[Jewel weaved through the flickers, trying to find an opening. Sadly, even with her mind open, she still couldn't pinpoint exactly where his actual attack would come from. She'd just have to take a guess. Her left fist popped slightly as her fist readied for a punch, aiming directly for the center of the mask...]

--- --- ---
Markus: [Eyes widen] ("She actually closed in..!!")

Shaya: [Leans forward]


"Hit him!!"

--- --- ---

From this close up position, not only should a Flicker Jab have been impossible, but so should switching to any other attack from this position...

However...This flicker was not taken directly from boxing...It was simply a similar enough movement.


Which broke those rules.

Son Gohan attacks Jewel with a Basic Physical Attack, which she fails to endure, inflicting 16 damage!! (HP 76 -> 60) (AP 4 -> 3)

Announcer: "What a close one!!"
"But Jewel's head is smashed back once again!!"

--- --- ---
?: "S-She had him!!"
??: "What are you suppose to do against this guy..."

???: "It's not even fair..."
--- --- ---
Turn End!

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Initiative Order

Jewel (23)
Son Gohan (7)
--- --- ---
Jewel (Lv. 2 / 60 HP / 123 ESP / 3 AP)
Son Gohan (Lv. ? / ??? HP / ??? KP / ? AP)
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Round 3, start!
--- --- ---

[Rota grit his teeth, she managed to get closer but it was still not enough]

Rota: "There’s nothing unfair about being too strong.....but still, this gap, she can close it. Somehow..."

Son Gohan: [Stumbles back] "Ohoho--"

[Looks up...]

[Jewel is gone...?]

[Son Gohan chances a look up, seeing Jewel about to bring the hammer down, a heel kick to be precise, and...]





Announcer: "From above!?"

[Son Gohan had raised his arm just in time, but his sleeve was torn apart from the force...]

[Jewel slipped down, before jumping back.]

[As she did, she could make out a visible mark on Gohan's arm...]

Jewel attacks Son Gohan with a Basic Physical Attack, inflicting 15 damage!

Jewel:

--- --- ---
Rota: "That’s it, if she can keep that up then-"
--- --- ---

This time...It was Son Gohan who disappeared.

--- --- ---
[From the sidelines, Johnathan catches sight of him first...]
--- --- ---
[From besides Jewel, Son Gohan lifted up his hand, one finger pulled back...]
[The hand muscles seemed to bulge for a moment...]




[With a finger flick which sounded off like a sonic boom, a blast of force knocked Jewel back...]
[Jewel had little room to correct herself before impact with the wall...but she found a way...!!]



Son Gohan attacks Jewel with his Keikai Tonton, inflicting 24 damage!! (HP 60 -> 36)

Jewel: ("That move...")
("Howl-sensei could do something similar...")

[Gaze centers on Son Gohan]
("It only makes sense that martial artists of this level could do such a thing with one finger...!")

--- --- --- --- ---
[Throughout the fight so far...Opa had been in a state of panic...As the hits against Jewel piled up...]



Opa: "OOOOOO!!!"

--- --- --- --- ---
Initiative Order

Jewel (23)
Son Gohan (7)
--- --- ---
Jewel (Lv. 3 / 36 HP / 141  ESP / 3 AP)
Son Gohan (Lv. ? / ??? HP / ??? KP / ? AP)
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Round 3, start!
--- --- ---
[Johnathan watches as Gohan's technique fires off...]
[Having re-focused when it seemed like the old man was getting serious..In his minds eye, he can see himself mimicking Gohan's movements...Every muscle he used to achieve that shock wave...]

Johnathan: [Smirks.] "..Not a bad technique...But you have better, don't you?"

???: "What's with the creepy grin Johnathan?"

[Out of nowhere, standing right beside the "Unnatural Talent" was "The Fujin"]

"You enjoying the Super Move Buffet?"
[Arashi had returned.]


[Johnathan turns]
Johnathan: "Yes, actually. You would be too if you could do it..."

"...You alright? you seemed dejected after your last fight..."

[Arashi speaks threw gritted teeth as both fists tremble.]

Arashi "I'm. Fine!"



"I was just ...hungry! Also do me a favor don't call what happened earlier a fight!"

[Ate 30 Minutes Ago]

Johnathan: "...Hm. Can't say it didn't bother me myself, but I'd try and get a handle on that soon if I were you, you don't want that anger clouding your judgement when you fight your next opponent.."

[Johnathan turns back to the fight.]
"Speaking of..."

[Arashi sets his sights on the match in front of him.]

"TSK! Yeah well Jewels got herself stuck between the worlds toughest rock and a hard place. But that works perfectly!"



Johnathan: "...Hmm, and how do you figure that?"

Arashi: [Realizes Johnathan never saw her last matches KO.]

Arashi: "Cuz she's the kind of opponent my dad says is best to take out quickly. Tha more ya push her around..."



"The more ya piss off the beast that's just dying to get at your throat."


[...]

("Kinda like me and mom.")

[Johnathan looks at Arashi, and raises an eyebrow.]

Johnathan: "...Hm..That sounds like it could easily be a detriment, honestly. But still..."

[Turns back to the ring]

"This isn't an impossible duel. While the difference in ability is clear...She can still win this."

[Arashi scoffs upon hearing the word detriment]

Arashi: "Sure maybe on paper it does! But any skill that a lame fighter uses can end up screwing em over. Jewel ain't lame."

[Arashi crosses arms and starts focusing on the match]

"You didn't see the world class agility I did. She puts the art in martial arts!"

But at least we can agree on one thing though...This fight ain't over."

[Jewel, below, wipes her brow. She's definitely cornered here... And had she not recovered she would have been the second contestant to go through the wall for a ringout... That wall couldn't take much more punishment. The audible crackling she could hear confirmed it.]

Jewel: ("I was hoping not to use it... a martial artist of this caliber might be able to see...")
("But if I can't get out of this bind now...")
("I'll be the next one through the wall!!")

[Jewel centers her gaze on Son Gohan, as she begins to twist her body around to try to do the attack Arashi (And probably others now) mistook as coming from her butt]

Jewel (ESP 135 -> 129) attempts to use a Tail Twister (ESP 129 -> 117) on Son Gohan, but...!!



--- --- ---
Arashi:


--- --- ---



[Jewel's twisting backside honed in on Son Gohan without issue, he hardly seeemed to move, and her tails sprouted for a fraction of a second at the moment of impact...!!]

[Before her body zoomed right through the illusion of Son Gohan...]

Jewel: [Eyes widen]

Announcer: "Could it be!?"

--- --- ---
Arashi: "Krillin's move!?"
--- --- ---
Announcer: "Son Gohan's left an image of himself behind through speed and skill alone, just like Krillin had earlier today!!"
"I've got the feeling we've been allowed to witness a truly incredible technique!!"

Jewel: ("I thought for sure that was a clean hit...!")
[Jewel turns back around, already making to move away from the cracked wall, when she sees the real Son Gohan now...]
--- --- --- --- ---
Markus: "His pressures changed..."

Shaya: "Of course it has..."
[Grins somewhat.]

--- --- --- --- ---




Shaya: "She's sobered him up..."

Jewel: ("His haze is gone... I can still smell it on him, but he doesn't look the part anymore...")

[Son Gohan calmly raises a hand]

Son Gohan: "Well done. You forced the Zanzoken out of me..."

"Not only that, you've broken my Suiken as well..."

"Ohohoho...Sadly I'm no fun sober..."

[Jewel's concentration veins are still visible at this stage. Just to point out.]

Jewel: "At least I got you sober..."
[Jewel resumes her fighting stance, now safely away from the wall at this point]
"But I'm not about to give up."
--- --- ---
[Arashi's widen in shock]
Arashi "He was drunk till now?!"

--- --- ---
Son Gohan: "Hmm...About that..."

[Places hand back behind.]

"Don't you think it'd be safer for you...To forfeit the match now ?"

At that exact moment, a particularly sore spot on Jewel's abdomen called for her attention--the same spot where she'd been hit earlier that caused her to start coughing up blood. Jewel fought her instinct to grab at that spot, even as she considered what Son Gohan was saying. Maybe it would be safer to give up now. She was already in this state again, and her opponent was just barely hurt. And her opponent didn't need to exert himself nearly as much to hit so heavily...

Jewel: [Gritting her teeth] "... it... would be..."

But Jewel wasn't one to take the easy way out. It would have been easier to stop being a hunter, it would have been easier to stop training with Howl, it would have been easier to leave Fungus Town alone, and it would have been easier to just take Man-Wolf's offer.

Jewel: "But I didn't come here, and make it to the quarterfinals just to give up!"
"Whatever happens in this match, I'll see it through to the end!"

[...]



Son Gohan: [Voice shakes for a moment.] "I see..."
"You remind me of an old student of mine..."


[...]

[Jewel watches as Son Gohan gets into stance, and as soon as his stance is set, her eyes widen with recognition. It couldn't be...]


Jewel: "That stance...?"

[Without hesitation, Son Gohan was off...]



[The first movement came, and Jewel instinctively ducked under...]


[Jewel looked up at the blow with a vague sense of nostalgia...]

[The glow around her seemed to intensify for a moment, causing her bangs to flash upwards...]

[And Son Gohan's fast and sharp strikes continued...!!]


[Jewel impressively weaves through several strikes, until one skids past her cheek (no blood)...]

Jewel: [Eyes move from the strike towards Son Gohan...]

---



---
Around Son Gohan is a bubble, his Seikuken ...and while Jewel doesn't perceive ones Seikuken directly...

From the quickest of observations, her senses told her...

---
[A visible hole opens up in the Seikuken, for just a moment...]
---

[Between strikes...a single point on his person left was left open...]

Jewel: ("Now!")
[Jewel's right hand shoots out towards the open point, curled into a fist, and this time, she hits home!!]

Jewel: "!!!"
[She keeps on pushing, pulling Son Gohan off his feet, following through at full strength...]


[Son Gohan is slammed down into the ground, bouncing hard off of it, the already damaged tile erupting into cracks and dust.]

Son Gohan attacks Jewel with a Basic Phsyical Attack, but Jewel succesfully counters, inflicting 13 damage!!

--- --- ---
Rota: [Throws a fist into the air] "She got him!"
--- --- ---

Announcer: "Unbelievable!!"

"Just when Gohan had us holding our breaths, Jewel weaves through his blows and lands one hell of a counter!!!"
--- --- ---

Shaya: "This girl..."



"I like her..."

Markus: ("...Look out Arashi...")
("Your mother's got that look in her eye...")



--- --- --- --- ---

[Jewel straightens into her preferred stance again, exhaling a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding]

Jewel: ("His movements became less unpredictable after he'd sobered up, but...")
("It was still difficult to find an opening...!")

[Son Gohan lands down from his intense bounce, on both feet...]

HP ??? -> ???

Son Gohan: "Well I'll be...Reading my movements on your first try?"
"Whoever trained you should be awfully proud...Ohohoho!~"

[Returns to stance...]

Jewel: "Yes well...I have to admit..."
"It was almost like I'd seen those movements before."

Initiative Order

Jewel (23)
Son Gohan (7)
--- --- ---
Jewel (Lv. 3 / 36 HP / 117 ESP / 3 AP) [Powered-Up]
Son Gohan (Lv. ? / ??? HP / ??? KP / ? AP)
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Round 4, start!
--- --- ---
Arashi "Now that's what I'm taking about!"

[Arashi turns to face Johnathan with a smug grin]

"What was that thing you said about 'detriment'?"


--- --- ---
Jewel takes stock of her condition again. She really did get roughed up. Maybe just a moment... Just a moment of respite might turn the tides.]

[Jewel straightens her stance a bit, intaking a deep breath, then exhaling it. As she does so, one of her concentration veins vanish]

Jewel uses her turn to Rest, regaining 6 HP (36 -> 42); 8 ESP (117 -> 111 -> 119); and 1 AP (AP 3 -> 4)

Son Gohan: "..."

"That ...mm, strange power of yours...How long have you been using it?"

Jewel: "... It... Awakened today... Earlier on..."
"I can't say I've been using it very long..."

Yet, Jewel couldn't place why she'd said as much, even if it were true... This was her first fully conscious attempt at using said power actively. It was still taking a bit to keep her mind "open" as it was...

Son Gohan: "How interesting...And you know what these are don't you?"



"They're psychic powers ..."

(For the sake of things they're talking quietly enough for the audience to not really hear. Not whispering, but being drowned out)

Jewel: "Psychic powers...?"

It made sense... It would explain why that illusion had struck when it did... In truth it was the first time she'd ever had them... Her earlier technique was basically all improvised... It just came together so beautifully...

"I... didn't think it was possible... For me, I mean... to have them..."

What didn't make sense, though, was her saying this. She couldn't even fully discuss why it was unusual for her to possess this ability when she shouldn't have had an aptitude for it, not with him. She and her master were warrior-types, after all, like many others in the village responsible for the hunts...

Son Gohan: "What's more...I'm quite certain what you're doing here is a rarity..."

[...]

"Not unheard of...But to be done on your first day?"

Jewel: "..."

Son Gohan: "...I suppose that's it, isn't it."


"It's only because of the way you've trained and fought all your life..That you can almost instinctively use your newly awakened psychic powers like this."

Jewel: "I'm still not sure why they never awakened before today..."
[Flash, again, to Jewel's initial awakening and Man-Wolf swiping through the illusory Jewel/thin air]
"I... didn't think it was possible I'd have such a power."



--- --- --- --- ---
Within the Zenko Tribe...Only two sorts of kitsune are born.

Warrior-types...and Psychic-types

The warriors are born with powerful bodies, acute senses, and a strong ki.

While psychics are born with the physique of any normal person, but are blessed with a profound mental energy to use at their command...

---
Such abilities show up from time to time in the outside world , but are exceptionally rare and all but undocumented. They are often known as extrasensory perception..or...

[A frail looking boy is shown, but he's overflowing with psychic power...]

"ESP"

And those who utilize these abilities are known as...


--- --- --- --- ---

[Try as he might the boy couldn't quite make out what they were saying to one another with the crowd of people shouting their heads off]

Arashi ("Crud! Just what the heck does all that mean?!")

"Using your ------ to raise your own physical abilities...-------."
"Pushing your body to a higher level."

("So darn weird but it sounds like some sort of technique. IS IT A HIGHER LEVEL OF THE BUTT STRIKE!?")

--- --- ---

Son Gohan: "Though I wonder..."
[Suddenly jumps up, soaring at Jewel as an impressive blur once again...]



"How far it can take you?"
---
Son Gohan's turn!
---
Son Gohan's speed was just as it had been earlier...



But Jewel's wasn't.

[Jewel's eyes shift as her position does]

Jewel: ("I... I see it now...")

[Her stance changes, her torso getting lower, one leg poised to spring out in a kick]

("And this time... there's an opening...!")



Son Gohan attacks Jewel with a Basic Physical Attack, but she succesfully counters, inflicting 15 damage!

[He catches himself on one foot, skidding back somewhat...]

[His mask had been knocked to the side a bit, revealing a bit more of his facial hair...Before he pulled it back into place.]

[...]

HP ??? -> ??

[Jewel recovers from the kick, slowly lowering her leg back down]

Jewel: "I'm wondering that myself..."


Son Gohan: ("That smile...")

("How rare for you...")

Turn End!
Round 4, end!

Initiative Order

Jewel (23)
Son Gohan (7)
--- --- ---
Jewel (Lv. 3 / 42 HP / 119 ESP / 4 AP)
Son Gohan (Lv. ? / ?? HP / ??? KP / ? AP)
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Round 5, start!
--- --- ---

Markus: [Puts hand to chin...]
"Ever since his buzz wore off, she's been able to keep up with his moves...even predict them..."
"Its a little scary how fast she picked apart such a beast..."

--- --- ---

[Son Gohan returns to his stance...causing Jewel to contemplate something similar for just a moment.]

("It must be because both he and Howl-sensei were students of the Muten Roshi...That's why I can begin to predict him...And...")

("That's why our styles...")

[Jewel takes a stance...very reminiscent to Gohan's...]


("Are so similiar...")

[Both fighters stepped in quickly...]

[And began exchanging blows...]


[Both hit and parried, searching for an opening...]

Jewel's turn!

Jewel: ("As expected, he isn't giving me an opening...")
("I may be landing blows now, but he hits a lot harder than I can...")

[As the exchange of blows intensifies, Jewel's green eyes suddenly glimmer]

Jewel: ("I need to make my own opening!!")

[Moments pass as Jewel's arms tense, and in a flash, she throws both her arms up and outwards, a blast of air emanating from between the two, ruffling Jewel's hair, the blows having stopped entirely]

[Son Gohan's arms to were blown upwards, his reaction to which was unobtainable behind the mask....]

Jewel: ("Now!!!")
[Jewel immediately drops to one hand as her leg soars towards Son Gohan's ankles...]

[...And through them...]

Zanzoken

Jewel attacks Son Gohan with a Aimed Basic Physical Attack (AP -1 4 -> 3) , and Son Gohan reacts with his Zanzoken, causing a miss!

[Son Gohan quickly appeared behind Jewel...]

Son Gohan's turn!




[Jewel tries to raise, to get out of the way, but she just couldn't move quick enough...]



[The force on Son Gohan's blow sent Jewel straight up into the air...!!]

Announcer: "Jewel is sent flying after a fierce exchange!!"
"Just where will she land!?"

[Looks over to Gohan]

"What's this!?"


[In a powerful leap, Son Gohan takes off after her...!!]

Announcer: "Son Gohan is even chasing her into...!?"



"The sky!?"

[Jewel lets out a gasp, but before she can even get her arms in the way of the strike...]



[Jewel was struck by what was probably the hardest kick she'd ever felt...knocking her straight back towards the ground at high speeds...]

--- --- ---
[Rota watched in a silent aw, no, maybe it was a scared shock.]



Rota: Every time she seems to close the gap he just widens it again.
"Just how much of his real strength is he hiding....?"
--- --- ---

[Jewel, meanwhile, couldn't slow her descent in time. She hit the ring so hard that she bounced, the tile immediately underneath her shattering. The others immediately around it also became cracked. Jewel doesn't immediately start to rise, lying flat on her stomach.]

--- --- ---
Arashi "Ouch! This guy isn't messing around. Just how hard did he spike her?"
--- --- ---

[Son Gohan slowly falls to the ground...]



Son Gohan: "You've done well..."

Turn End!
Round 5, end!

Initiative Order

Jewel (23)
Son Gohan (7)
--- --- ---
Jewel (Lv. 3 / 11 HP / 113 ESP / 2 AP) [Powered-Up]
Son Gohan (Lv. ? / ?? HP / ??? KP / ? AP)
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Round 6, start!
--- --- ---

Son Gohan: "When it comes to opponents, you're one of the toughest around..."

"I haven't had a fight like this since..."
--- --- ---


[Shaya]
("No.. Not even then...")
("I haven't had a real fight since...")



--- --- ---
Son Gohan: "...the good old days."
"Your master in martial arts should be proud..."

Announcer: "... 1... 2....3..."


[Puts hands together and bows]

"... 4...5..."

[Jewel twitches finally, her eyes and upper face shaded, and she finally starts to get up...]
Announcer: " ... Six ... Sev--"
Jewel: "... Don't..."

[SLAM]

[Cracked tile shatters the rest of the way, a couple of adjacent tiles cracking as well]
Jewel: "Don't count me out...!"
[Jewel rises shakily, but (surprisingly) quickly to her feet the rest of the way]
"Not yet!!"

[!!!!!]

Announcer: "Jewel's miraculously back on her feet!!"
"After all that!!!"

"Can you believe it!?"

--- --- ---
Son Gohan: "Of course..."
[Jewel returns to her stance...as Son Gohan returns to his...]


[They each charged...]

Both fighters wore masks which hid their true selves...

Yet both...As they raced towards their final clash...






Smiled...

Jewel: ("No matter how this ends...")
("I'm... glad I got to test my skills against a former champion...")

As she got up, Jewel rested, regaining 6 HP, 8 ESP, and 1 AP (Jewel HP 11 -> 17; ESP 113 -> 107 -> 115; AP 2 -> 3)!!








[Jewel staggered back from the force of the blow, nearly falling over a second time, but, through dizzy eyes, she manages to right herself on unsteady feet, breathing hard...]

Son Gohan: "..."

Jewel found herself on the tiles again, but this time, her body wasn't letting her get back up... Much as she'd wanted to. Yet, it was not the agony of defeat that she was feeling as her consciousness left her, together with her newfound power. Rather, it was gratitude... Gratitude to have faced off with the best. Son Gohan had to be right... She'd done her mentor proud out here, hadn't she?

("Still... I've got... a long way to go...")

"Kitsune" Jewel...



Retires in the second round...

[...]

Announcer: "...Contestant Jewel has been rendered unable to continue fighting!!"

"The winner...Is Son Gohan !!!"

[The entire crowd cheered, no just for the victory, but for the spectacular fight that was put forth.]
[But the fighters, past and still active, were silent, in awe...]




--- --- ---
[Markus and Shaya watch silently as well, sweat dropping down their brow somewhat.]

Shaya: "His skill goes way deeper than we knew... What would even happen if one of us were to fight him?"

Markus: "Who knows..."

Announcer: "The second round has reached its climax!!"
"Let's give it up for these two!!"

[The crowd cheers]

[Gohan calmly walks up to Jewel, crouches down, and picks her up, bridal style.]



[Rota let out a small sigh and smiled]

Rota: "Hope you’re satisfied, Jewel... because that was one of the best fights I’d ever seen."

---
Rose: [Arms crossed, sweat drop] ("Even with the knowledge of his weak points, it won't beat that gap between an amateur and a pro...Even with that...")



---

[Arashi looks down at Son Gohan and the unconscious Jewel from atop the roof.]

"She... tried so hard. No matter what the stats may say, or any commentators predicted, she gave it her all. Jeez Jewel, how do you make losing look ...so freaking cool!!"

[Tears began to trickle now the Fujin's face as he clapped and watched the tournament's manliest women carried off after a truly stunning fight.]


[In the crowd Shaya looked on as her second favorite competitor got carried away. Her grip on the audience wall only getting tighter as she started to ... cry?]

Shaya "Damn it. Damn it! DAMMIT! She got so freaking far! She pushed through so much! She even pulled out even more power but...she couldn't pull it off..."

[It would appear that this fight had hit a little close too home.]


[Markus pulls her in for a hug]

Markus "It's hard isn't it? When you see so much of yourself in someone else. Just to see them end up where you were?"



Shaya "Piss off with that cheesy shit! I just really hate that old man!"

Markus "Shaya? What did we say about honesty?"

Shaya "...he fuck do-"

Markus "You don't need to worry so much. I think you can tell. That Jewel kid isn't giving up fighting after just this. This loss will sting sure, she'll struggle even more from here on out, but I'm sure Jewel will grow from it all. Just like you did. "

[Johnathan Closes his eyes, and dismounts from the wall, before leaning against it, arms crossed.....]

Johnathan: "She fought extremely well, but the gap in power was simply too great...as close as she came to overcoming it."

Arashi "Yeah... I guess that's true, but I guess what you said before was also true..."

Johnathan: "Oh?"

--- --- ---
[Flash back to Johnathan's words of advice]

"...The way the brackets are, you'll be facing Him far before i would,  Don't let the thought of his strength overwhelm you..."
"It's when faced with an overwhelming force..that one's potential can truly shine."
--- --- ---

Arashi "Jewel seemed even more amazing here than when she fought Wolf Man. Almost ... what's the word? Beautiful?"

("Can fighter's be beautiful? Whatever! Not the point!")

Johnathan: "I wouldn't go quite that far. But i'd agree to the amazing part. Her power grew once she was backed up against the wall, It's only natural...."

"It's..a shame then. That it wasn't quite the burst she needed to overcome him."

"Yeah guess so,  I wonder."
[Arashi looks down at his fist]

"If I fight him ... will the same happen with me? Will it be enough?"

[Another question appeared in his mind. One he was both scared and excited to answer]



Johnathan: "....That depends, i suppose. on you....On how much power you can draw out when things get bad."

Arashi "Johnathan, I just realized something. A couple things honestly."

Johnathan: "Hm, what would those be?"

Arashi "I thought getting to fight Abra later would make me feel better but nothings changed. I'm still hungry for a real fight! I came here to earn all my wins or go down trying! Now ? Now I can make up for the last match! I can finally get a shot at the title of champion! To top it all off things turned out pretty good for me ... and you."



[Glares at Johnathan with an excited smile]
"Don't ya see it? Next round is gonna be the smartest out thinking the smartest."


"And the toughest strikers firing at each other like it's all out war!"


"I bet almost everyone expects the two 'green horns' to get a lesson from the adults! That's today's script! But ya know what?"

"Sometimes ..."


[Johnathan looks at Arashi, eyes somewhat wide for a moment....then]

Johnathan: "There we go, there's the spirit that caught my eye..."

"I agree completely..."

Arashi "Good to see you're just as crazy as me. Try not to get taken out in two seconds."

[Starts to walk away into the hall but still in ear shot.]

[Johnathan starts to walk towards the hall as well.]

Johnathan: "Oh, I won't."

[...]
--- --- --- --- ---
[Shortly, Son Gohan arrived in the infirmary with Jewel...]

[Calmly placing her down in a bed...]

[He looks down at her for a moment, before turning to leave...]

Son Gohan: [Turns back]

[...As a little girl runs up to the bedside...]



Son Gohan: "Aren't you..."



Rika: "What happened to Jewel?"

Son Gohan:

[Son Gohan looks down at Rika...an image of her normal height appearing over her...]

Son Gohan: "Well..."

"After giving it everything she had in her second match, she was defeated...by me."

Rika:  "Oh..." [Looks back at Jewel, blank faced.]

Son Gohan: [Looks back at her...]
[And remembers seeing Rika speaking with Jewel before her first match...]

"Say, do you know Jewel?"

Rika: "Yes. She's..."


Son Gohan: "...So that's it..."

[...]


[...]

[...]

Son Gohan: "...By the way, what's happened to you body?"

Rika: "I melted some."

Son Gohan: "..."