Martial Arts Worlds

Sabbath reeled back his aura and smiled innocently as if he hadn't done anything just now.

"…"

Alabaster grimaced as cold sweat flowed down his back.

He couldn't understand why there was someone like him here, but his thoughts came to abrupt stop as the crowd suddenly started screaming.

The match was heating up!

With Bulwark Form activated, Zachary threw a punch that was unstoppable like a flaming meteor, and it landed perfectly at Kiernan's guard.

SMACK!

Despite having the guard up, Kiernan got sent flying back, and his feet slid close to the edge of the ring, but he quickly dashed forward to escape the danger zone.

However, he then came across Zachary's tackling attack, looking like a freight train barreling straight towards him.

"Iron Style, Car Crash!"

Kiernan smashed his body against Zachary's with full force, but the attack was effortlessly brushed off by Zachary, and the one who got sent flying was once again Kiernan.

"Urgh!"

Kiernan flipped around in the air, landed back on the ground, and looked at his left arm, which he had used for tackling.

It was bruised and throbbing with pain.

At this instance, it was clear that the freight train had defeated the car!

Swoosh!

Zachary's fist smashed against Kiernan's cheek, and his eyes bulged out in shock and pain.

The punch pushed his head to the side, looking like it was close to flying off his shoulders, and the rest of his body crumpled to the ground like a ragdoll.

"No!"

Screams resounded across the stadium.

There were many that thought that this was it—the end of the match.

"Zachary's punch finally landed!"

Jonathan cried out in shock.

It was something that Kiernan was trying to avoid since the start of the match, as everyone knew that if Zachary's punch landed, the match might be instantly over!

"The match might be over! Zachary of Montclair High is strong, unstoppable, and large like a giant. Is there anyone who can defeat him?!"

The commentators screamed into their microphones.

"Whew…"

Alabaster let out a sigh of relief and then sat back down on his chair, finally able to relax.

It took longer than expected, but in the end, the fight ended as expected with Zachary's dominant victory.

"Hah…"

Zachary cracked his knuckles as he looked at the knocked-out Kiernan with a smirk on his face.

At that moment, the referee jumped to the ring and shouted.

"1!"

The countdown started!

"Come on, Kiernan, stand up!"

Coach Jin screamed.

"2!"

"Shit, stand up!"

Julian jumped to his feet despite his broken leg and screamed so loud that his voice lost some of its volume.

"3!"

At the VIP Room, Azer's legs gave out, and he collapsed on the floor, a defeated look appearing across his face.

It was so close—so painfully close!

'No…. It can't fucking end like this!'

"4!"

Karma and his friends didn't say a word and just listened to the countdown getting higher and higher.

They were screaming inside their minds for Kiernan to stand up, but he wasn't moving as if he was completely out of it.

"5!"

…

Bella looked at the laptop with a tight-lipped expression, clenching her fists so hard that her palms were turning white.

"Little Kiernan…"

Nevaeh pursed her lips and looked worryingly at her little sister, who wasn't making a sound.

She had been eerily quiet for a moment already.

"…Bella?"

"What?"

Bella turned to look at her big sister with a confused look. She saw Nevaeh's worried look and knew what she was thinking about.

"Why are you looking like Kiernan has lost? He is still the match. He is just using that countdown to catch his breath and thoughts."

Nevaeh looked at her little sister in surprise and then back at the laptop, but it really didn't look like Kiernan was doing that.

He wasn't moving at all.

…

"Damn!"

Timothy screamed at the television.

"Is it really over?"

Klaus looked at the TV screen in shock, and since he had the remote in his hand, he thought about smashing it into pieces for a moment.

"Well, there is always next year."

Nathaniel said with a deep sigh, still extremely disappointed, as they had finally reached the finals, and for it to end there would be a real shame.

"…"

Ryan stayed quiet, frowning silently.

…

"8!"

The countdown reached its ending phases, and the crowd jumped to their feet. It was about time to announce the national champion.

"9!"

The referee shouted and then caught his breath to say the final number.

"…"

Silently, Karuza High's members looked away with their eyes moistening quickly into tears.

RUMBLE~

At that moment, the sky rumbled loudly with thunder, with dark clouds stretching across the sky like an ominous blanket.

"Finally…"

A voice sounded from the ring.

At that moment, Kiernan sprang back to his feet, looking fresh as if he wasn't just one countdown away from losing the match!

Everyone turned to Kiernan with shocked looks.

"H-he is up! Kiernan is up! That is unbelievable! He is looking like the punch didn't really do anything to him, but is he only acting tough?!"

"Did he use the countdown to catch his breath by any chance? What insane toughness we are seeing from the young man!"

The commentators screamed.

"You're still up, huh?"

Zachary scoffed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"No matter. I'll just punch you to oblivion."

"Kiernan!"

Karuza High members screamed in ecstasy as if they'd received an adrenaline boost.

"The weather apps of this world sure are great. They were able to estimate the exact moment and place where the change of weather would happen.

"Did you know that today, in this exact moment, a thunderstorm would appear over the Tiamut?"

Kiernan asked.

"Huh? What the fuck are you talking about?"

Zachary asked with a frown.

"You will see…"

Kiernan pointed two fingers towards the thundering sky—his middle and forefinger coming together in a lightning bolt gesture.

RUMBLE~~

The sky rumbled as if the gods were angry, and at that moment, through the dark thunderclouds, a bolt of silvery lightning stabbed through the sky, illuminating the horizon in a blinding flash.

It was heading straight down to the stadium like a spear thrown by the gods themselves.