The Five Kings Tournament Begins!

Nir continued to stand firm, listening to Shinji. He’d watch the punch come his way. But instead of blocking it, or avoiding it, Nir allowed it to hit him. He’d stagger, taking a few steps back. His head was turned towards the ground. ”You....You don’t know anything about me.....” He’d slowly turn to face Shinji, his eyes full of anger. ”You don’t know anything about me to make that claim! You don’t know the countless families I’ve watched get slaughtered like animals, you don’t know about the women and children I’ve watched being violated......Death is no stranger to me.....Hatred is no stranger to me....” He’d walk over to Shinji, sending a punch towards his face. If it were to connect, he’d stand there continuing with his speech. ”Don’t act like you’re the only one who has been dealt a horrible hand in life! Don’t act like you’re the only one who suffers every day! You’re just being a selfish bastard!”

Nir’d clench his fists as the crowd remained quiet. Kira had been leaning on the railing, listening to the two young men. ”You’re just a selfish bastard with no care in the world about your friends!!!! You’d put your health and life on the line to win here!? For what!? I know your friends are out there watching! I know that they care about you, but when you sacrifice yourself like this....it breaks their hearts.....Trust me....I know!” Above, The Oracle had begun tearing, grasping tightly onto her dress. ”So I beg you Shinji....please...forfeit....”

Shinji would get hit hard from Nir. It was enough to make him fall on his back. Nir would go on with his speech as well. Remi, Biggs and Anna all had a saddened expression. Virgil was silent as he watched. "Selfish, am I?" Shinji would cough a bit. He'd slowly get up to his feet while speaking this, "Of course I'm not the only one! I know this better than anyone here!" Now he was standing but just barely. "I'll throw those same words back at you... You're a selfish bastard as well considering you know nothing about me or my friends or what we went through." Shinji was walking closer to Nir slowly, in pain. "This pain is nothing... Not compared to back then." He was now face to face with Nir. Shinji would throw a fist to Nir's mid section. "We have a mission and nothing will stop me from completing it... Not even you."

’We....Why does he keep saying we? Does he mean his friends?’ Nir had thought to himself. He turned to face the crowd, trying to spot the same group that traveled with Shinji. He’d eventually fixate himself on Shinji, who was now in his face. Just what exactly drove Shinji? What exactly was it that he, and the others, had gone through? Nir couldn’t help but think about this. He’d sit there thinking, until he was punched in his mid-section, causing him to bend forward. ”You.....you leave me no choice....” Nir’d look up at Shinji, sending a straight shot at his stomach. He’d follow with an uppercut if he bent forward.

”You’re right, I don’t know what it is that you, and whoever else it was that suffered with you, went through. But your mission.....your mission won’t be accomplished with this tournament! Because I must win at all costs!”

Shinji would heave as Nir connected with a gut punch of his own. He continued with an uppercut to finish off a two hit combo. Shinji however didn't fall this time. He would use the remaining bit of strength he had to keep himself up. "DAMMIT!!!" He went in after Nir! "I CAN'T LOSE HERE!!" Shinji would swing his arms bashing Nir from the sides. He seemed desperate. It was a win at any cost scenario.

The attack didn’t seem to put Shinji down, as he made every effort to come back at Nir with thrashings. Nir had placed his arms up at his sides, taking the hits. He stared at Shinji, seeing the desperation. Deep inside, he felt pity for him. When one man wins, the other must fall. Such was the cruelty of the tournament, where both had the utter most requirement to win and proceed. ’I’m sorry Shinji....I can’t let you win....’ Nir thought in his head.

He’d quickly kick at Shinji’s ankle, hoping to topple him over. If he did, he’d quickly follow up with an uppercut to his side, sending him up higher. To finish the attack, Nir’d then jump up above Shinji and send his leg dropping down on him.

The effort Shinji put into his attack was for naught. Nir Would seemingly finish Shinji off leaving him on the ground face down. "SHINJ!!I" Remi, Anna and Biggs would all shout as they saw their friend fall to the Galatian Sword. Edge would sigh. "This was a pretty good fight. The boy has potential."

The crowd had gasped. Shinji had been put down by the combo string Nir delivered. The Galatian Sword would stand there over Shinji. There was a saddened expression on his face. This wasn’t something he wanted to resort to. He’d sigh, closing his eyes and turning around to walk away from Shinji’s body.

”Is he down?” Kira’d watch Shinji’s body, looking for any sign of movement or consciousness. The official did the same, refusing to call the match until it was certain that he was out. Kane sat there with his legs crossed. He’d snicker, ”Man...He should have just forfeited....” Those in the stands would begin chattering. Some were worried about Shinji’s well being. ”I don’t know if Shinji’s down for good!!! But if he is, this match will go to Nir!!!”

Just as it seemed, it was all over. A rock was thrown at the back of Nir's head. "Where do you think you're going?" It was Shinji! He had been struggling to reach his feet but something allowed him to stay in the fight. Edge was quite shocked to see him standing after taking all these hits. Remi, Biggs and Anna all got excited to see him rise again. Just when it seemed he had no strength left, he has surprised the crowd once again.

As Nir continued to walk away, he had felt something. A feeling deep within that alarmed him. He’d quickly bend his neck, moving his head to the side as the rock passed by his face. The crowd had began cheering soon afterward. ”NO WAY! I don’t believe it people!!!! But Shinji’s gotten back to his feet!!!!” Nir had stopped in his tracks, clenching his fists. ”.....Why....?” He questioned under his breath.

At this point, Shinji wasn’t going to simply go down so easily. He was truly here to win. There was much fire in his eyes. Nir’d slowly turn around, facing Shinji. ”....You make this hard for me....” He’d begin walking towards Shinji. This time, Nir had come to terms with what he had to do.

Shinji would chuckle for a bit as Nir commented and walked towards him. "If I can't beat someone like you then there's no way I can..." He was say under his breath. Shinji would look up to Nir as he approached. He took a deep breath.

His pace had picked up. It’d go from a slow walk to running. ”Aaaaagh!!!!!!!” Nir was no longer going to hold back against Shinji. The man’s pride and tenacity wouldn’t allow him to just win with pulled punches and kicks. No, he’d have to go all in. It had pained him to take this route. Once he was close enough to Shinji, he’d cock his arm back, sending a punch straight at Shinji’s face! Everyone would watch in anxiety, waiting to see the outcome!

"RAAHHHH" Shinji too would shout at Nir as he went in charging as well. Nir would connect with the first blow but Shinji had already went for his blow as well! He was looking to get whatever hit he could get in.

Benkei watched as this became a one sided battle as shinji was showing signs of fatigue and powerless but what began as a battle for victory turned into a battle of ideals and struggles. Benkei wanted to look away but out of respect for these fine warriors he continued to inspect "shinji has seen such trauma and pain,I may not know what exactly you all have been through but I am seeing first hand what it can do to a man and the scars they leave". Benkei squeezes his hands together "I have not seen war and I barely had started to grasps the world as it is since its my first time out of the temple walls and villages but I have only seen a small amount of what this war and pain has created ".

Nir’s punch would land, hitting Shinji’s face, as Shinji’s would hit Nir’s. The two hits had connected, but Nir remained pushing back against Shinji’s punch, staring into Shinji’s eyes. As continued to look into his eyes, the sounds of the crowd had been muffled out. There was nothing but silence.

He’d find himself floating in what appeared to be a light blue space. Some sort of aether flowing throughout the area. Before him, he could see a figure, but they were not yet visible enough to make out. ”W-What....What is this?” His voice had echoed.

Shinji’s attack were becoming less effective to the Galatian Sword. Nir would simply power throw his punches. There was a brief moment of hesitation in Nir. Shinji had caught on to this. He would take advantage of this distraction and use up the last of his Misra. He’d create one last after image, vanishing from sight. He’d reappear, behind a few meters from the same spot charging at Nir with both hands locked and cocked ready to swing. This was the last of his Misra he could muster. If the hit connected, Shinji would wobble a bit. He wouldn’t fall but he was leant over breathing heavy. He had no more.strength to move

In this space, the figure had become less and less visible. They’d suddenly whirl around, heading behind Nir. ”What’s going on?” He’d question, turning his head. The young man had no idea what was going on. He’d just follow this figure, that was emitting a faint color.

With all of this happening somewhere else, Nir had somehow been capable of reacting in real time. He stood there with his eyes close, having punched through another after-image conjured up by Shinji. The latter had appeared behind Nir, coming in for a last resort. But with Nir experiencing what he was experiencing, he had turned his head to face Shinji. There was an overflow of energy coming from him, but this wasn’t Misra. Neither was it visible to everyone like Misra. It was strange. It had enveloped his entire fist as he sent a punch into towards the attacking Shinji, as if he knew where he’d be.

Kane would lean in watching this, his eyes widening in excitement. ”Oh wow.....That’s very interesting.” Van had sat there with his arms folded, his hands gripping onto his arms ever so tightly.

“Oh... So he is able to see beyond.” Edge had noticed Nir’s unnatural movements. His fur had stood up as if he caught chills. Actually it was more so he was more so excited. Shinji had caught a glimpse of Nir’s reaction. This slowed him down as Nir would already send a counter punch.The momentum that carried Shinji’s arms wouldn’t allow him to defend himself. This would be the final attack!

Benkei watched as nir and shinji fought with both their ideals at stake. They clashed blow for blow until nir began to act out of the ordinary and shinji was barely moving "this seems to be it, as both of them are at their limit ". He would look at Virgil as he could tell how disappointed he was and benkei went back to meditation building up his misra.

Nir’s punch had connected with Shinji. Much like before, Shinji’s would also connect with Nir. By the looks of it, Nir could tell that this was Shinji’s final attack. That he’d put his all into this. ”HAAAAAH!!!!!” The powered attack would hit Shinji dead in the face, as Nir would take Shinji’s hit. From the force, he’d be sent back, landing on his back.

”WHAT!? THEY BOTH HIT EACH OTHER!!!!” Nir’d slide a few feet on his back, having taken Shinji’s final attack out of desperation. This was his way of showing respect to Shinji. To take on a full blunt attack, no dodges, no counters. Whoever hit, would hit. Now, whoever would stand, would win.

What a fight this was! Both fighters are down. Both landing devastating hits. Shinji was still conscious but barely. The side of his face was buried into the ground. He was breathing heavy. Their were multiple voices speaking, however. To Shinji nothing audible was heard. It was just a bunch of noise to him. His eyes would start lowering. Suddenly, the voices started to become clearer. His eyes would fight. “SHINJI!!” Finally, the voices were audible enough to be understood. It was his friends calling out to him! It was impressive enough to fight in his condition alone yet he appeared to still want to continue. Shinji struggles to move his arms. He’d get to a point where he could plant his hands down. He had no strength left in the the tank yet he was battling just to lift himself an inch off the ground. ”UWAAGHHHH!!!” Incredible! Shinji was on his feet! His breaths were long and deep. Remi and the others were jumping for joy as they saw Shinji standing. Could this mean that Shinji has won? Virgil, down in the barracks had smirked. He couldn’t hide it but he was extremely happy to see Shinji standing.

Nir had laid on the ground. He had been staring into the sky. Somehow, this battle didn’t matter much to him. In fact, it was the experience that he had gone through. What exactly was it? Where was he? These questions had plagued him in this current moment, where he could hear the crowd cheering for Shinji.

”Oh wow!!!! Shinji got up!!!! Nir’s still on the ground!!! Could it be!? Has Shinji won!?” She had looked quite excited. Many in the crowd could not believe what they were seeing. Just how could Shinji possibly be standing!?

They’d eventually watch Nir slowly sit up. He’d dust his pants off, looking at Shinji, who was standing. ”Wait!!!!! Nir is up!!!!” The Galatian Sword had then stood up, dusting himself off completely. ”You amaze me Shinji. I’m glad I was able to fight you.”

Nir had nothing but respect for Shinji at this point. These two warriors had such endurance and vigor. The would seemingly start up again. Or so most would think. After Nir spoke his words, giving Shinji his praise, the latter had said nothing in return. His head was down, facing the ground. He was motionless. Did Shinji not feel the same respect towards Nir? The answer to the question can not be answered at the moment. Shinji didn’t speak because he couldn’t. The young man was completely unconscious! His will and desire to win, wouldn’t allow his body to lay defeated.

Nir had lowered his head. Shinji’s lack of response was no good sign to him. He’d simply stand there as Kira ran by him. She’d run over to Shinji, ”What’s going on!? Is Shinji okay here!?” She’d reach him, bending down to peek under and look at his face. ”Shinji? Are you okay?” Kira had placed her hand on his shoulder, shaking him a bit.

There were many gasps in the crowd. Many were worried about Shinji. Kane had snickered again, patting his lap. ”Well, that was a good match!” Van, however, had stared at Shinji. There was a hint of admiration for him. ”Even now, does he still stand. That, Kane, is a true warrior.”

Kira had rushed over to the unresponsive Shinji. Even with her shaking him, he wouldn't respond. Remi would cover her mouth in sadness. Anna had tear filled eyes. Kojo even looked depressed. Biggs seemed angry yet sad for his friend. Down in the barracks, Virgil had stood up from the ground. He would walk past Benkei without saying a word. He would reach the exit to the arena. There was nothing he could do at this point.

”He’s unresponsive! Medical team, please help him!!!!” The medical team had quickly moved onto the arena platform, rushing to his aid. They’d bring in a stretcher, helping him onto it. Two medical specialist would arrive, one of them remembering him from the infirmary. “What!? Why was he out here!? This isn’t good!!!” They’d rush Shinji to the infirmary.

Tobias had rushed onto the stage, joining Kira. “Is he okay?” Kira’d look at the ground, ”I’m not sure....but....” She’d turn to Nir, reaching out to him, as if she were presenting him to the crowd. ”Nir is our winner!!!!!!” The crowd had erupted! King Palidos would stand from his seat clapping. “Nir is excellent!! I knew he’d win!!!” The Oracle would sigh in relief, smiling.