Inside the tunnel just under everyone who was packed into the coliseum two figures stood shoulder to shoulder. Jinhu and Ilho could feel the tension in the air. The screams and yells from all of Murim. They drowned it all out. Ilho turned to Jinhu. "Let's fight like we are sworn enemies."
Jinhu laughed. "No. Lets fight like we are brothers."
Ilho tapped Jinhu's head. "Did that monk knock some sense into you?". Ilho put his fist out. Jinhu met his fist with is own. "Brothers it is." Ilho chuckled. Both men walked out of the tunnel and onto the platform.
The tension in the arena shifted. This wasn’t just another fight. This was two unknowns, fighting to the one spot on the finals. On one side an immovable mountain. On the other, a shadow.
Above, Mu Jang leaned over the railing with a grin and threw a pouch of money into Sa Gwan's lap. "Ten says my boy craters yours before five exchanges.
Sa Gwan didn't blink. "Make it twenty."
Below Wu Jin stood with his arms crossed, his rod tapped his thigh. Wu Cheng stood beside him. Eyes locked on the platform. "These two, couldn't be more different."
"It's certainly hard to call." Wu Jin responded. "But no matter who wins, Silent Edge walks away a winner."
On the platform the elder stood between Jinhu and Ilho. He raised his hand. As he lowered it the gong rang.
Jinhu cracked his knucles. Ilho spun his butterfly swords once and let them settle. The two moved forward. No trash talk, just intent. They met st the center and clashed. Fists met blades. Jinhu's fist shot forward, Ilho deflected it with the flat of his blade. He dipped and spun, aiming his twin swords at Jinhu's ribs. Jinhu didn't budge. He caught both blades between his palms. He smiled and tensed his muscles, as if he was trying to snap the swords in half. Ilho kicked off his chest and launched backwards. He skidded across the stones with grace.
They charged again. Clang. Boom. Clang. Each strike was a collision of their master's philosophy. Jinhu didn't dodge, he absorbed. Ilho countered with angles, slipping through the cracks of Jinhu's posture. Each strike Ilho gave was met by a mountain that wouldn't budge. Eventually they locked up, shoulder to shoulder, both pushing against each other, both boys gritted their teeth.
Above Wu Jin looked at Sa Gwan. "I don't know if he can break that oaf."
"That's right. The mountain stands tall." Mu Jang laughed.
Below, Ilho stepped back, and reset.
Jinhu smirked. "What? Getting tired already?"
Ilho didn’t respond, he sank lower into his stance.
Jinhu's qi flared, heavy and dense. Both of them readied themselves to go all in. The fight was just getting started.
Ilho blurred forward again. This time faster, he weaved between Jinhu's forearm and elbow. His twin swords flashing like arcs of moonlight.
Clang. Clang. Clang.
The strikes landed. Ribs, collarbone, thigh. But each one barely cut into Jinhu's tough exterior.
Ilho leapt back, blades loose in his hands. "I see where I should hit him." He thought to himself. "But this dummies skin is so damn tough."
Jinhu chuckled across from Ilho. He cracked his necked. "That tickled."
Ilho sighed. "Figures."
He surged forward again, this time not with speed, but precision. A slash to Jinhu's thigh, a feint to the chest, a step behind. He was testing Jinhu's reactions. Breaking down his balance.
Above Wu Jin stood. "Smart boy, he's not trying to win head on."
Sa Gwan stood next to him. "No, hes trying to collapse his base. Like water slowly eroding a mountain."
Jinhu planted his feet. Ilho's next flurry of attacks struck at seemingly impossible angles. Wrist. Shoulder, behind the knee. Each strike cut Jinhu. Each on shallow, but stacking. Jinhu swung, Ilho ducked and skidded past Jinhu's left side leaving another thin cut across his back.
Jinhu roared. "You're not getting through like that." He slammed his foot into the ground. A shockwave burst from the platform. Ilhi hopped back midair, barely avoiding the blast. He touched his forehead. A stone he couldn't avoid, lodged itself into his skin. He brushed the stone off as blood trickled down his face. "If i can't break this dummy, then I'll keep cutting through...one layer at a time."
Jinhu lunged forward, his fists ready to crush him. Ilho dashed to the side, shadow step in full flow noe. His body flickered, disappeared, and reappeared behind Jinhu.
The crowd held it's breath. Even Sa Gwan was shocked. "He's doing it." Sa Gwan allowed a faint smile come across his face.
Jinhu turned too late. Two cuts, one across his hamstring, one to his bicep. Jinhu grunted, but powered through, he spun and landed an elbow to Ilho's ribs. The sound of bone meeting bone echoed through the arena.
Ilho flew, rolling across the stones until he came to a stop. His breath was heavier now, one hand on his ribcage.
Jinhu wiped a hand across his bloodied arm. "Still standing... brother?"
Ilho stood. "Of course... brother." Ilho smiled.
The crowd went wild again.
Jinhu and Ilho both bowed to each other. Mutual respect. Two men who'd been through the rod, and Silent Edge's hellish training. Two strangers who became friends, and through his battle... brothers.
Jinhu looked at Ilho. "I didn't think you'd last this long." He lowered his stance. "Guess that means this should end aoon."
Ilho's knees buckled slightly. He steadied his breath. "I suppose it is time I end this."
Jinhu slammed both fists together. The sound echoed like thunder. He exhaled deeply. Qi flooded his legs. He stomped with a force that cracked the entire stage. Ilho squinted, already moving, tracking Jinhu's cracks, and weak spots.
Jinhu was faster now. He came swinging with the power of an avalanche behind each fist. Ilho ducked one, sidestepped the next. The third grazed his ribs. The fourth he blocked with both swords, only to be sent flying again.
CRACK.
Ilho slid across the stone. He caught himself with one hand. He coughed, spitting blood across the stone. He rose, arms shaking. He looked at Jinhu. "Still not enough."
He slid into his stance. Shadow step. Qi flooded his eyes. The world slowed. The cheering from the crowd faded. The pain dulled. He disappeared again, this time not to fight, but to finish. Eight cuts. Eight angles. One after another he found Jinhu's weak spots. Each slice flowed to the next.
Jinhu's head kept moving left to right, trying to keep up. "His movements. Jinhu's eyes felt heavy. "They're too-"
Clang. Clang. Clang.
Ilhos blades carved arcs across Jinhu's chest, arms, and shoulders. Precise. Jinhu roared and then he steadied himself and launched a punch with his full weight behind it. Ilho tried to parry, but the air warped. The shockwave shattered the stage. Ilho flew twenty feet back. Dust and debris filled the air.
Everyone in the crowd leaned forward. Through the haze, two silhouettes stood. Neither moved. The crowd held it's breath.
Jinhu dropped to both knees. Blood dropped from everywhere on his body. His body leaned forward and slammed fast first into the stone.
Gasps filled the crowd.
The elder hesitated, stepped forward. Ilho stumbled forward, one sword shattered. The other was being dragged behind him.
The elder grabbed his hand. "Winner. Ilho of Silent Edge."
The crowd erupted.
As the elder went to release Ilho's hand he realized Ilho was unconscious.
Mu Jang and Sa Gwan appeared on stage in an instant. Sa Gwan caught Ilho as the elder dropped his arm. Mu Jang lifted Jinhu. Wu Jin leapt on stage between the two. He placed a hand on each boys shoulders as their masters carried them off. "That was amazing." He said softly. "You've made us all proud."
Both boys opened their eyes. Conscious just enough to hear his words. Cheers erupted from the crowd as both boys were carried to the infirmary.
In the stands a member of the Emei sect looked at one of her sisters. "Could you fight me like that?"
Above, the Sword Sainy sat in silence. Even his son and nephew didn’t fight each other with such intensity. That was a fight that would be remembered in Murim for generations.
Blue leaned forward in his seat, elbows on his knees. Chin rested on his hands. He thought to himself.
These two...They've gotten so strong, so fast. No system, no guidance. Just their own grit. And me? Am i just weak...or is there more to this system than I'm allowed to understand?
Next semifinal fight. Ryul vs. Blue.