~Chapter 6- Elderly Combatants~

"The time has come! Emil and Tyro, come on out!" Cho announced to the crowd.

Tyro confidently walked out of the finalist's lobby towards the fighting stage, while Emil followed.

"Good luck!" Hita called out from the lobby.

"Remember your training!" Modi added.

As the two took their places on stage, Cho spoke, "Tyro was our champion of our last tournament, but Emil made it to finals last year as well. Although his tenure did end in round 1. Let's see how they fare this time!"

The crowd spoke about the fighters as they took their place on stage.

"I saw Tyro at the last tournament. He was incredible!"

"I hope the young man doesn't get hurt."

Emil was anxious. From Cho's comments and the energy of the crowd, he could tell no one expected him to win. He wasn't sure of himself either. Emil recalled his time at the Fighting Academy - Tyro was always his superior back then.

The drum was struck to signal the beginning of their fight, and Emil immediately tensed up. Tyro must've sensed his apprehension and charged, leaving cracks in the stone of the stage as he went. Emil took a defensive stance as Tyro attacked.

Tyro beat his fists against Emil's defense, he could feel bruises forming on his arms. He threw a hard side kick through Emil's guard, sending him flying back and skidding across the ring.

"Point to Tyro! 1-0! Return to your starting positions!" Cho called out.

"Poor boy doesn't stand a chance." Emil heard onlookers from the crowd say.

Emil had a hard time catching his breath, the kick winded him but he rose to his feet and sauntered over to his starting position.

"Keep your wits about you Emil!" Modi called out.

Emil sighed. she was right. He was defeating himself, he had to stay concentrated. Attack!

The drum was struck, and Emil bounded forward. Tyro was shocked by his sudden show of aggression. Emil closed in and threw a high kick which Tyro dodged, who followed up with his own strike. Emil pivoted back and avoided Tyro's counter.

The two exchanged close-range blows, both bobbing and weaving to dodge. A few strikes made contact, but none substantive enough to score with.

"They're going head-to-head."

Tyro gripped both of Emils' wrists and tried to break open his guard. He was trying to use his strength to overpower him. Emil rolled his wrists, broke free of his grip and followed it up with an elbow to Tyro's cheek. It made contact and managed to hurt him.

"Point to Emil! 1-1! Return to your starting positions."

"He got him!"

It took a moment for the crowd to react and applause, they were surprised that Emil had scored at all.

Tyro's cheek was bruised, filling Emil with pride. The match resumed and Tyro began by throwing a flurry of punches into the air. From each punch a burst of light shot out. Emil dodged the Focus Bursts and returned a few of his own.

Tyro sent Focus Bursts across the ring in hopes of getting Emil off balance. But he was conservative, overusing Focus would drain one's stamina terribly.

Emil was not the conservative type, however. He was the one to go all in, or not at all. Emil threw two punches and a kick at different angles, and Tyro was forced to block the three Focus Bursts simultaneously.

Emil bounded across the stage as fast as he could while Tyro was on the defense. The unprepared Tyro threw a sloppy punch which Emil caught and used as leverage. Emil threw him over his shoulder, slamming him onto the stone ring, cracking the ground beneath him. For safe measure, Emil threw a quick punch while he was down, securing another point.

"Point to Emil! 2-1! Return to your starting positions!"

"Could he actually beat Tyro?"

Tyro did a kip-up onto his feet, trying to keep his energy up. But Emil was filled with bravado, he knew he just needed one final push to secure the match.

As soon as the drum was beat Emil came on strong. The usually solid Tyro uncharacteristically went on the retreat, falling back from Emil's advance. Tyro punched the air in front of him and a radiant burst of light came from him. Emil was too close to dodge, he had to take it full on. Emil charged forward and took the brunt force of the attack head on, his adrenaline carrying him.

Emil closed in on Tyro near the edge of the ring and attacked relentlessly, throwing punches and kicks from every angle to overwhelm him. Tyro had his limit, and this was it. He was knocked out of the ring.

"Point to Emil! 3-1! Emil takes the match!"

"That young man actually beat Tyro!"

"The old champ has already been eliminated!"

Tyro seemed dazed while the crowd applauded the first match of the tournament. Emil extended his hand and picked Tyro from he ground.

"What have you been doing all this time kid?" Tyro asked, astounded by Emil's performance.

"Running a little shop with Modi. Training with her too," Emil hopped off the stage and the two began walking back to the finalist's lobby.

"I never imagined you'd improve this much," Tyro said, "Good job."

"What a great first match!? Without further ado, let's bring out our next challengers, Modi and Oshu," Cho shouted to the crowd.

The two elders left the finalist's lobby and headed for the ring, both walking with great confidence.

Emil knew Modi would win. Sure, Oshu was an old champion, but there were few in this world who could challenge her. It was honestly unfair for her to enter the tournament. Emil just hoped she'd get it over with fast so the more interesting fights could start.

Modi and Oshu stood across from each other on the stone stage and the drum was beat. The two turned into blurs, darting across the stage at high speed, exchanging quick blows before flying past one another. With each of their exchanges, the stone of the ring cracked from the sheer force of their strikes. Perhaps this Oshu guy was better than Emil thought.

The two jumped into the air at the same time and met each other there. They exchanged blows as they fell. Modi used a Focus Burst to propel Oshu towards the ground. Modi kicked him while he was down and unprepared.

"Point to Modi! 1-0. Return to your starting positions," Cho said, sounding disappointed that Oshu wasn't winning.

"Those old timers can really move!"

Oshu didn't seem disheartened, however. He returned to his position on stage with a genuine smile on his face. As soon as the matched started Oshu raised a hand into the air and an orb light was procured there. Emil had never seen anyone use Focus like that before. Some sort of Focus Orb.

Oshu chucked the orb at Modi and it flew across the stage. Modi casually sidestepped it before charging at Oshu, not realizing that the orb was beginning to arc back towards her. The orb rocketed towards her, colliding with her back, and knocking her onto her face. While she was down Oshu delivered a swift kick to the defenseless Modi.

"Point to Oshu! 1-1! Return to your starting positions!" Cho said with great exuberance.

Modi moved with angry energy, mad that the man had fooled her. The match resumed and Oshu charged forward, forcing Modi onto the defensive. The two old timers bounced around the stage. Oshu was always there to block her escape. He wasn't seeking to attack her, but to frustrate her.

Modi lashed out with a few Focus Bursts, Emil winced as he saw the obvious opening she left on her left. Oshu capitalized on it and delivered a quick jab to her side, briefly knocking the wind out of her.

"Point to Oshu! 2-1! Return to your starting positions!"

"Even in his old age, Oshu is still incredible."

Modi couldn't lose, could she? There's no way this old man could beat her.

Oshu began with the same strategy as before, keeping up a light offense and pushing her back, never giving her a chance to rest. His attacks were noncommittal and light, such that he would never leave himself open while pressuring her. Modi couldn't help but continue to back away.

Modi looked back as her heel touched the edge of the ring. She lunged both of her hands forward and a radiant burst of light came from them. The ring around her cracked, and Oshu was sent flying across the stage, landing just outside of it.

"Ring out! Point to Modi! 2-2! Return to your starting positions!"

Oshu clearly took damage from the attack but still managed to stand. But Modi's breathing was ragged. She used too much Focus all at once and was exhausted.

The match resumed and Oshu formed another Focus Orb. Emil noticed his breathing quicken. Oshu moved the orb through the air before chucking it at Modi, she used minimal movements to avoid it, keeping her eye on the orb as it arced back towards her. The orb flew towards Modi, but whenever she dodged it, it would simply arc back towards her at a greater speed. Oshu wasn't allowing her to get any rest, and he wasn't expending any energy maneuvering the orb.

Modi pivoted towards Oshu and charged towards him out of frustration. Oshu put a hand behind his back, and formed another Focus orb. He waited until Modi was nearly upon him before launching it at her. She had no time to react, and the orb knocked her on her back, while the other one careened into her.

Modi found herself in a small crater formed by the impact, unable to stand. Oshu nonchalantly picked her up, carried her to the edge of the ring, and tossed her out.

"Point to Oshu! 3-2! Oshu takes the match!"