Chapter 17: THE FOOTBALLER
The tension in the stadium was thick as the crowd roared, jeering and laughing at the Bloodhoods.
"Ah, weaklings! Hey, Metals, finish them off soon!"
Despite the taunts, the Bloodhoods stood unfazed. The announcer, his voice booming through the speakers, declared,
"The first round of the Blood Tournament begins! Each team has six members. This will be a one-on-one battle format! The team that wins the most rounds will advance to the next stage!"
Steel took a step forward, rolling his shoulders.
"Let me cook," he said, smirking.
Vex patted him on the back. "Just don't lose, alright?"
Steel entered the battlefield, his sharp gaze locked on his opponent. From the Metals team, a fighter named Jose stepped up. The crowd erupted into a frenzy, chanting his name:
"Jose! Jose! Jose!"
The air vibrated with excitement as the dust settled between the two fighters.
Jose smirked. "I'll finish you fast."
"Fight!" the announcer declared.
Jose immediately activated Death Lotus, unleashing a flurry of rapid, slicing kicks infused with sound waves. Steel barely dodged, pivoting at the last second. His arm morphed into hardened bone, and with a sharp counter, he swung his fist forward.
BAM!
Jose leaped back, evading at the last moment, and retaliated with a devastating kick to Steel's ribs.
"You're nothing but a worm," Jose sneered.
Steel scoffed. "We'll see about that."
In an instant, Steel swept Jose's legs from beneath him, sending him crashing onto the arena floor. Seizing the moment, Steel leapt into the air, his elbow glowing with energy.
"Death Elbow!"
The impact sent shockwaves across the arena.
Jose was down.
Silence.
The entire stadium, which moments ago had been filled with cheers for Jose, was now in stunned disbelief. Even the announcer was speechless. The Metal Clan members looked on in shock.
"That's my boy, Steel!" Ardyn shouted, grinning.
As the medics rushed to carry Jose away, Steel calmly walked back to his team, radiating confidence. He hadn't even used his full power—after all, killing wasn't allowed.
The second round was up.
A massive, towering fighter stepped forward, his footsteps alone causing tremors across the battlefield. His name was Rock, a warrior feared for his brute strength.
"Now the weaklings are really gonna lose! Hahaha!" the crowd mocked.
Before Ardyn or the others could step up, Zico casually juggled a football on his feet.
"I'll handle this one."
"Zico, remember, 1000 billion yen is on the line," Zion reminded him.
Zico grinned. "Got it. Now, sign the contract, big guy."
Rock narrowed his eyes. "You? A soccer player? Pathetic."
The match began. The entire world watched from massive digital screens, eyes glued to the tournament.
Meanwhile, across the country, deep within a meditation chamber, a man sat cross-legged in silence. A disciple rushed in, bowing deeply.
"Master Minamoto, look at this!"
Minamoto opened his eyes and gazed at the screen. His expression darkened. "Skull Association... Call Masako Izzo."
Back in the stadium, the battle raged on.
Rock vanished in an instant, using a terrifying speed technique—Phantom Dash. He reappeared in front of Zico and punched him square in the gut.
BAM!
Zico stumbled back, coughing.
"Damn… that hurts."
Ardyn watched from the sidelines, worry creeping into his mind. "He doesn't even know any assassination techniques or blood arts… How is he going to survive?"
Rock lunged forward to finish him, his massive fist descending like a hammer.
Zico barely dodged, sprinting to the side.
The crowd burst into laughter.
"Look at that weakling run!"
Zico's mind was racing. He wasn't strong like the others. He didn't have blood arts. What could he do?
Suddenly, Rock's hand closed around Zico's torso, lifting him effortlessly and slamming him into the ground.
BOOM!
Zion paled. "No… 1000 billion yen is gone."
Zico lay there, coughing. His body ached. He clenched his fists.
"I'm getting beaten. I need to be smart. What should I do?"
He turned his head—and saw his football lying nearby.
Everything clicked.
As Rock sneered, about to finish him off, Zico grabbed the ball and sprinted forward.
Rock scoffed. "That pathetic thing again?"
Before he could react, Zico launched the ball straight into Rock's face with immense force.
CRACK!
The ground beneath Rock shattered. Blood dripped from his nose.
Gasps filled the stadium.
Zico's mother, watching from her home, nearly dropped her tea. "Wait… why is my son there?!"
Rock staggered. Zico saw his head as nothing more than a football.
He leaped into the air—
And delivered a brutal volley kick straight to Rock's skull.
BOOM!
Rock collapsed. Blood splattered across the ground. The entire audience fell into complete silence.
Then—
"WHAT?!?!"
The announcer stammered. "A… A normal soccer player just defeated one of the strongest men in the tournament…?!"
Ardyn and the others smirked, arms crossed.
"Good job, Zico," Ardyn muttered.
Zion pumped his fist. "YES! 1000 billion yen is still ours!"
The Bloodhoods, once ridiculed, now stood tall.
Zico stood at the center of the battlefield, victorious.
He clenched his fists and let out a triumphant roar—
"AHHHHHHHH!"