Finals

Hours passed, the tournament continued, and Gama had to fight a few more opponents before reaching the semi-finals, all took was a few jujutsu throws and sweeps and they were knocked out. He found it odd that a culture so ingrained in combat never invented simple martial arts. Sure they how to cultivate but there was no technique to their strikes and holds. They simply didn't know how to fight.

"Anyways," Gama sighed. "I need some sleep."

******************

The time of the competition came quickly. This time, the top 8 would fight it out in the semi-finals. After drawing lots to decide their opponents, Gama walked onto the arena. Not long after that his opponent slowly came up into the arena, for what he heard from the annoying crowd this person was selected as the Headmaster - Tie Ta.

He had a suntanned complexion and wore simple clothing with a few patches over it. He towered over Gama with a height of 5.9 feet, but more so larger with bulging muscles.

'Gama.' Akatsuki's voice ran in Gama's head.

'What?'

'That boy isn't normal. Not a special physique - no - a bloodline, it's dormant but is still strong.'

'Can you explain in simple words?'

'What I mean is currently he overpowers with a considerable amount margin.'

'So Jujutsu is not an option then?'

'Not with his mass and power.'

"I understand you feel overwhelmed, Gama Kurogane," Tie Ta laughed, "most of the opponents are, you did well coming to the semi-final and reaching this stage being a ten-year-old but it all ends here.

"Save it." Gama snapped at him. "I'll not be one to lose here."

"Begin!" The announcer shouted from outside the ring.

Tie Ta dashed towards Gama, arms extended to grab him. He came close and tried to grab Gama but he dodged the grab steeping back at the last moment.

'It's time to use that.'

Gama jumped and slammed his palm onto Tie Ta's chest, twisting it at the last moment. Tie Ta suddenly choked on his breath and dropped to his knees, holding his neck gasping for air. A commotion filled the crowd at that moment.

'Time to end this.' Gama moved to the right and raised his right leg before bringing it down, hard, heel first onto the back of Tie Ta's neck. The fight hadn't lasted even a minute before Tie Ta collapsed.

"Call a Radiant Saint or Healer," Gama shouted, "I am serious, without immediate treatment this guy could die."

A commotion rose and workers from the Academy's infirmary came rushing and carried Tie Ta away. The matches were immediately halted for an indefinite time and Gama took off the stage returning to rest under a tree.

"Five hundred amethyst coins then." Elder Yun laughed at Elder Lee.

Elder Lee scoffed, "A promising student suffered deadly injuries and an elder you are laughing."

"Whatever- if the boy lives he is going to be fine," Elder Yun said, "but do not let it withhold your dues."

Reluctantly Elder Lee gave in and handed over a bag of five hundred coins.

On the otherside, the vice headmaster Bai En had a thoughtful expression on his face. "The freshmen we picked up this year are definitely jewels. One has been blessed by the heavens with high talent and strange, one with great strength and the last one with speed and precision, they could be polished in the future. Hmmm- That boy Gama Kurogane and Changyang Xiang Tian have similarities. Every single time there is a crucial point in the match, they unleash highly accurate moves with almost instantaneous reactions with some mystery behind their method. I'd better discuss this with the headmaster later."

Gama rested against a tree, his eyes closed, his ears waiting for the gong of the last Semifinal round until a voice interrupted him.

"That wasn't necessary you know."

Gama opened his eyes to see a boy who looked to be about 15 or 16 standing in his view. He had long dark hair, and sharp eyes and even though he didn't carry a sword, Gama could tell by his posture that this boy was a swordmaster.

"Who are you?" Gamma asked.

Before Akatsuki's voice in his head didn't. "He is Changyang Xiangtian, your opponent in the finale, you may have noticed that he is a swordmaster but he is also quite good at hand to hand combat."

"Anything else?"

"Also his soul reincarnated from a mortal plane like you."

"What?"

Xiangtian came forward. "I am Changyang Xiangtian, your opponent in the final round. Now answer my question. What did you do to Tie Ta?"

"Kyousen Ryu." Gama simply answered. 'An unarmed assassination style which focuses on special strikes which rupture organs.'

"Whatever it is, it wasn't necessary," Xiangtian said, "you could have easily suppressed him with your superior speed. This wasn't necessary."

Gama looked up at his face. "You know that fighting like that would greatly diminish my chances of winning, one grab and I would have thrown outside the ring - Now if you pissing your pants about that why you don't we settle this."

Gama stood up and started up into Xiangtian's eyes. "You are a swordsman, aren't you?"

"How did you ---"

"- That doesn't matter. Why don't we both go together to the Vice Headmaster right over there and with his consent settle this with swords in the finale?"

Xiangtian looked hesitant, but only for a moment.

"Very well then, I'll be waiting for you in the ring."

Saying that he turned and left.

Akatsuki appeared on Gama's shoulder, he whistled before saying, "That was a bit intense. You sure picking up conflicts this early in this foreign world is a good idea."

"Relax," Gama said. "We are in this world until I reach completion on Pulse Condensation, then we leave, until then I am not planning to take shit from anyone."

************

A small request for the permission was passed to the Vice Headmaster with the names of Gama Kurogane and Changyang Xiang Tian. He agreed to the use of swords in the finale, but of wood, not steel.

On the Elder's side, there was a different scene, Elder Yun stood, "700 coins, anybody up for that."

Elder Lee looked to ring, remembering Changyang Xiangtian's performance which was arguably better than Gama's; if there was a chance of winning his money back this was it.

"I am in." He said. Other elders backed away.

Elder Yun looked at Gama getting in the ring and thought. "Don't disappoint me, kid."

****************

Gama and Xiangtian had chosen their wooden sword among the many available for practice.

"Give up now, Xiangtian," Gama said. "I don't plan on losing to you."

Unsmiling Xiangtian drew his sword and took his stance. He stood so still some might even think he was a wax statue. But when Gama charged him he moved fast enough, Xiangtian's style was soft focusing on stabs and parry while Gama's was hard, with fast slashes and counters.

'That's enough.' Gama thought he slashed in one direction but changed the trajectory mid slash by switching the position of the upper hand with a lower one. A single changing to a double slash.

'Ogame Style, Water Dragon Form, 1st mode Gekirin.'

Xiangtian was caught off guard, but his sword got in the way and wood chips flowed from the force of the blow. Hard and fast the cuts came, with ever-changing positions and trajectory, from low and high from the right and left. Each of Xiangtian blocked but he was pushed to the border of the ring.

Xiangtian planted his feet on the ground and started countering. Gama caught one high with his sword, his counters cut and Xiangtian interposed with his sword, wood chips flew, and Gama, charged with a backslash.

Xiangtian moved to his right but Gama blocked him with a quick step and drove towards the border. Xiangtian gave ground, a glance behind showed him that his heels were near the border and it almost cost him his head when Gama took the chance.

Xiangtian had fought his way back to a safer position which a reckless counterattack, not until Gama retreated a bit he was the front side of the sword was entirely chipped.

Gama pointed his sword down, one hand gripping the sword the other pushing the wrist, he then swung and brought his sword with one hand and a whip like swing. Xiangtian tried to black, raising his sword, but the attack through the sword and cut through breastbone.

'Blazing Flame Form, 1st mode, Hibashira.'

"Somebody call the healer!" Someone shouted as Xiangtian's white clothing turned bloody. He fell onto his knees and Gama stood a victor.

[ Quest completed

Reward: Kosahou Style, Kunsabimaru ]