Martial Arts Worlds

"Yes!"

"We did it!"

"It's tied!"

The spectators shouted in excitement. Some hugged. Some clenched their fists in victorious cheer.

Smiles appeared on the faces of humanity's representatives, and once Antigone left the ring, they welcomed her back warmly.

They didn't make her stay, as she had injuries, and Xerxus took her away to the infirmary, but there was a smile even on Xerxus' face.

It was rare to see him smile. He was very proud right now. It was like he witnessed his own daughter win a tournament.

"What the hell…?"

Zacred's expression looked ugly and dark.

It was silent on Animal Kingdom's side. Eerily silent.

With a cold look in his eyes, Beast Prince Arazimir watched as the medical staff took Percival away.

"Worthless…"

He whispered under his breath.

While no one else dared to look at Beast King, Arazimir dared and turned around to look into the eyes of his father.

Beast King Vladimir didn't have that much of a reaction. He was still lazily sitting. Yet, there was something dark brewing inside his mind.

'…This is also sort of an elimination tournament for Animal Kingdom's clans. Father doesn't think that there is space for the weak in the Animal Kingdom.

'The fox race might cease to exist after this…'

He thought with a cold look on his face.

…

Animal Kingdom, the Fox Clan.

"Impossible…"

It felt like their world had turned upside down. The foxes looked at the television, and they were still reeling from the fact that their young prince lost.

Percival was easily the best talent that their clan produced for this tournament. He was among the shining stars of Animal Kingdom's younger generation.

While he couldn't help but stay in Beast Prince Arazimir's shadow, he was still extremely formidable.

In the Fox Heart Mountain, sitting in the heart of the mountain, the Nine-Tailed Fox, the ruler of the Fox Clan, sat silently with her eyes closed.

While she didn't have a television to watch the tournament with, she heard with her keen hearing the sound of television coming from the town.

"…He lost."

The Nine-Tailed Fox opened her eyes and breathed heavily, and she was very well aware of Beast King Vladimir's cruelty.

He wanted to make Animal Kingdom the strongest in the world, no matter the cost. That obsession came a few years ago.

Beast King Vladimir travelled to Dead World. Went through the fog shrouding the shore of Dead World. And he entered that land.

Instead of dying like everyone else, he came back. He had changed. When he came back, he came to meet with the Nine-Tailed Fox.

They were two of the strongest people in Animal Kingdom, and Beast King Vladimir told her about his findings.

It shocked her.

Beast King Vladimir didn't get far in Dead World. He stayed there for about an hour. Made about a hundred kilometers before he was forced to turn around.

He was scared that he might die, and he was very close to it. There were still scars left on his body from that encounter.

Beast King Vladimir was one of the people closest to becoming this generation's Martial God, and he almost died there!

'…He doesn't want a thousand strong people in his army. All he needs is thirty really strong, that's what he said to me at least.

'I am really worried about the future of Animal Kingdom.'

…

In the infirmary in Black Rock Island, Antigone flinched as the nurse was putting some ointment on her burn wound.

When the nurse was done putting on the ointment, she wrapped Antigone's burn wound with a clean bandage and instructed her to rest for the remainder of the day.

The nurse was about to leave but then came across Kiernan in the doorway and respectfully bowed her head before leaving.

"Kiernan!"

Antigone greeted with a smile.

It was like a greeting from a little sister.

"How are your wounds?"

Kiernan asked with a smile and felt his phone buzz in his back pocket, as Martial Order was very busy currently.

The ladies of Martial Order were really proud of Antigone. They were also constantly asking whether she was doing alright with her wounds.

"I am doing alright… It quite hurts."

Antigone said as she looked at her hand.

She was trying to act tough, but it was really hurting, like there was something stabbing into her hand.

"Amara sent this to you."

Kiernan handed her a flask of healing potion. It was extra effective on burn wounds, and this was much more potent than anything these nurses gave her.

"Wow. Thanks!"

She quickly downed the flask. It felt really refreshing. In just a second, the burning sensation in her hand disappeared.

"I-I don't feel pain anymore?"

Antigone said in surprise and happiness.

The pain was already really hard to deal with, and nurses said that it would be like that for three days more.

It felt hellish, but with Amara's potion, it was already gone!

"Tell Amara my thanks… I really appreciate this."

Antigone said with a smile, then she lay on the bed and saw her phone buzzing on the bedside table.

Her classmates. Family. Relatives.

They were spamming her with messages and calls. She had truly become a hero for many, as she actually won against Animalkin.

She was lower rank, yet all she needed was skill, and it gave hope to every other young martial artist that they could also do that.

"I felt quite nervous in the match, but I embraced it, like you told me. I think it enhanced my survivability."

Antigone said with a smile.

"Good…"

Kiernan sat on the chair beside the bed, crossed his arms, and took a deep breath.

"…You nervous?"

Antigone heard that breath.

It sounded heavy, as if Kiernan was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"…Somewhat. Your win convinced others that they can win as well. It's too early to say whether I will even fight in this tournament, but I truly hope that I do."

Kiernan said.

"…I hope you do too, as I know that you will win!"

Antigone said with a bright smile.

'…What if I don't?'

Kiernan thought to himself with a wry smile, then he stood up and bid farewell to her before leaving the infirmary.

When walking down the hallway, his expression was heavy. The door of Martial King was playing games with him.

It was currently stuck.

'…It needs a strong push to open.'