Martial Arts Worlds

Lynx clan is weak.

Lynx clan is worthless.

Lynx clan is not to be trusted.

These three things have been engraved into the subconsciousness of every Animalkin, as they had been taught since they were very young that Lynxes were an embarrassment to the Animal Kingdom.

They were considered among the weakest clans in the Animal Kingdom.

When Alistark was chosen as one of Animal Kingdom's representatives, there was huge backlash, as no one could trust that he would win.

Thus, before the tournament even began, Animal Kingdom already expected to get at least one loss, and that would come from Alistark.

Today was the day that the strongest talent of Lynx clan would take the stage in the tournament, and currently, the score was tied.

It was an important match.

Hour of the Lynx was in hand.

…

The sky turned orange. The night was approaching. Everyone gathered back in the throne room with serious looks on their faces.

Yesterday, Antigone amazingly won against Percival, but there wasn't a lot of time to celebrate, as there was instantly another match the very next day.

Last night, humanity's representative had a feast to celebrate the victory. It was really nice, and everyone got to know each other.

Animal Kingdom's representatives stayed in their rooms. They didn't talk with each other. It didn't matter if they won or lost.

"Third match!"

The referee took the ring. He had his arm raised high. And then he asked for the fighter from each side.

"You better not lose… Trash Lynx."

Zacred said coldly.

In silence, Alistark stood up, jumped over the rope, and took his place in the ring with his arms crossed.

Stocky but graceful, his sandy hair had some faint tuft-like points at the temples. Eyes rimmed in dark lashes like fur markings. He was wearing a long fur coat, which was strange, given the circumstances.

At that moment, his opponent from humanity's side jumped into the ring.

Seo Donghae stood tall. The lightly tanned skin of his shone slightly in torchlight. His deep, steely brown eyes stared intently at his opponent.

His posture was straight. Like it always was. As if he were a tree.

"Are you ready?"

The referee asked both.

There was no need to wait. No one wanted to wait for the match anymore. It was time to go.

"Yes."

Alistark raised his arms. Muscular and toned.

"I am."

Seo kept his hands close to his waist. His fingers were rubbing together like sandpaper.

"FIGHT!"

The referee whipped his arm down like a sword. The match started.

It only took one breath as Alistark charged first. The pride of Lynx was resting on his shoulders.

Loss was unacceptable. He was scared of what might happen if he lost. Thus, he wasn't only fighting for the pride of the Animal Kingdom.

He was fighting for the survival of the Lynx clan!

Alistark's footwork was deceptively fast for his size. A left hook came swooshing toward Seo's jaw like a hooked sword.

Seo raised a finger and snapped—thwip!—an air bullet burst from the tip, slamming into Alistark's forearm like the sting of a hornet.

The hook punch staggered, momentum broke, but with a scream, Alistark pressed forward like a mountain of muscle.

Seo jumped backwards and fired a volley—thwip, thwip, thwip—each bullet cracked like miniature whips across Alistark's chest.

Alistark guarded his face, and he grinned, teeth bared, and he used his body as a shield to get closer as if he didn't care that he was getting hurt.

With a deep lunge, he got very close.

Then…

BOOM!

A straight right from Alistark connected with Seo's guard. The shockwave of pure muscle sent him skidding back, his foot sliding across the stone floor. His ribs aching.

Seo spun his hand and focused. This time, instead of single shots, he thrust two fingers forward.

THWOOOM!

A focused air bullet roared out, strong enough to shatter bricks.

Alistark ducked, the bullet swooshing past his ear and exploding against the wall in a cloud of dust.

He then closed the gap and unleashed a furious barrage—hooks, uppercuts, and body shots—each punch like a cannon.

Seo danced around the barrage. Fluid like a water dancer. His fingers then snapped, redirecting blows with precise air bullets, using them as a sort of shield.

In that moment, he made it past Alistark's barrage. He had a perfect route for an attack. He pointed his finger at Alistark and fired point-blank at his chest.

THWIP!

It sounded like a powerful explosion.

Yet.

Alistark tanked it like a champ, only grunted slightly, and in the same instant—his fist buried itself in Seo's gut.

Air left Seo's lungs in a violent gasp. If there was any air left in lungs, it would have been a miracle.

"Haaah!"

Alistark whipped his arm at Seo's chest with all his might, sending Seo flying backwards. It sent him flying like a cannonball.

When Seo's body landed at the rope, they creaked like they were about to snap, and with a bloody cough, Seo painfully stood back up.

"…Argh!"

Seo rubbed his hands together, then reached them to the ceiling and created a large air bubble that was the size of a hot air balloon.

'…We are not weak, King. Lynx is not weak!'

Alistark shouted, looked at Beast King Vladimir with a look of rebellion, and then he turned around and ran at Seo.

Beast King Vladimir ignored the gaze. It was almost like he didn't even notice it.

"World Bullet!"

In that moment, Seo hurled the massive air bubble at Alistark. It was so big, and anyone else would be afraid to come across it.

However, not this young prince of Lynx.

"Haah!"

Alistark clenched his fist and punched through the air bubble—his fist acted as a battering ram—and the air bubble exploded.

The air bubble exploded against Alistark's body. It wreaked havoc across his body, riddling him with bleeding wounds.

He was so bloody that one might actually mistake it for someone spilling red paint on him.

"Cough…"

With a cough of blood, Alistark lunged at Seo with a rageful scream. Seo was shaken that he could still move.

He snapped his fingers—thwip, thwip—two air bullets pierced through Alistark's chest, creating two bloody bullet wounds.

The blood spilled.

In that moment, Alistark buried his fist into shocked Seo's gut. It made his insides twist in agony, and his heart felt like it might burst.

"Ah…"

Seo's eyes rolled back to his skull, and he collapsed down to the ground.

"Haah… Haah…"

Alistark towered over unconscious Seo, and then he also collapsed right next to him. He was bleeding so much that it would be a miracle if he stayed alive.

"…Ah."

The referee was shocked, and while his lips trembled for a moment, he finally remembered to speak.

"D-Doctors, hurry!"