Chapter 26: Dynamic Duo

Naoya and Mute stood in the middle of the stage, their bodies drenched in sweat and blood. Naoya took a deep breath before letting out a chuckle and mocking the remaining contestants. 

" Why are you keeping your distance? It's only two of us. " 

The remaining contestants glared at Naoya angrily. Naoya and Mute stood motionless catching their breaths until a blinding light illuminated the stage. The source of the light came from a blonde girl who pointed her palm towards them with a furious look. The bright light made Mute and Naoya squint. Naoya and Mute couldn't see, they could only make out figures lunging towards them, as the blonde girl stood motionless pointing the bright light towards them. 

Mute tracked a massive silhouette before the silhouette stopped sliding his feet throwing a punch. Air warped off the punch as Mute rolled under the punch narrowly dodging it. Mute's blind eyes regain their vision as he rolls into the figure's shadow. He stares up at Panda before slashing his blade at his heel. 

The blade slices through his fur cutting his heel. Mute watches the Panda shift his heel before throwing a kick. Mute leans back feeling the air from the kick. Mute's hair blows in the wind and a chaotic grin appears on his face as he stumbles back, the bright light blinding him again. 

Mute stares at the panda's massive silhouette approaching him until suddenly the bright light fades. Mute's eyes widen as he glances at the blonde-haired girl. Mute watches as Naoya slams his right elbow into his chin. 

The blonde girl staggered. She gritted her teeth in pain. Her legs locked making her unable to move. She watches as Naoya loads back a powerful punch with a massive grin on his face. Naoya bends his knee shifting his weight, throwing an overhand. The blonde girl closes her eyes bracing herself for the pain of the punch but she doesn't feel any pain instead she hears a voice. 

" Stop "

The blonde girl snaps her eyes open and stares at Inumaki staring at Naoya a few feet away from him. Naoya angrily looks over towards Inumaki until a figure dashes towards him. A small boy with dark red hair is lunging towards him. Naoya watches as the boy lowers his shoulder before spearing Naoya's stomach. 

Naoya falls back first on the ground as the red-haired boy lands on top of him and throws a barrage of punches at his guard. Inumaki quickly runs over and starts to stomp on Naoya's head.

Mute watches this unfold with a shocked expression. He knows if Naoya loses his chances of winning this tournament are near zero. Mute charges to the pinned Naoya knife in hand until the panda dashes, cutting him off. 

" Don't worry about him. Your fight is with me. "

Yells out the panda throwing a punch that slams into the ground cracking the floor, making Mute lose his balance. Mute stumbles back before Panda slams a kick into his side sending him sliding across the stone floor. 

Mute slides across the floor before locking eyes with the pinned Nayoa. Mute nods his head at him while flicking his right wrist, throwing the knife. 

The knife slides across the stone floor creating sparks. Naoya watches the knife slide towards him as a punch slams into his face. He extends out his palm before the knife perfectly slides into his palm. A grin appears on Naoya's face as he violently slashes at the red-haired boy. 

The sharp knife stabs into his shoulder making him yell out in pain. The red-haired body falls back off Naoya as Naoya rolls dodging a stomp from Inumaki. Naoya rolls into a kneeling position before he jumps up slashing at Inumaki's jugular. Inumaki dashes back as the knife narrowly grazes his neck.

Naoya stares at the panicky Inumaki before he turns slamming a roundhouse kick into the red-haired boy's slide sending him crashing out of the ring. Naoya lets out a maniacal laugh before talking. 

" That's three. Don't tell me you losers can't beat two people. "

Naoya stares at Inumaki and the blonde girl until he hears a loud thud. He glances over towards the noise and watches Mute fend off punches from Panda and three other contestants. 

Mute crosses his arm blocking a mighty punch from Panda until he glances to his right locking eyes with Naoya. They stare at each other until Mute points up into the sky with his index finger. A grin appears on Naoya's face as he runs toward Mute holding his knife. 

Mute dashes back gaining distance from Panda before turning on a dime and running towards Naoya. They charge towards each other until abruptly Naoya flings Mute's knife up into the air. The knife starts spinning high in the air, as Naoya grabs onto his fingers bunching his hands together. Naoya comes to a sliding stop watching Mute hop into the air, placing his right foot onto Naoya's fists. 

And in a single swift motion, Naoya powerfully yanks his arms up launching Mute high into the air. Mute flips in the air extending his arm to his right, snagging onto his spinning knife. The crowd watches in awe as Mute falls through the air heading directly towards the blonde girl. In a panic, the girl overlaps her hands conjuring a bright yellow light in her right palm. The bright light reflects off Mute's blade. 

The girl watches the shiny blade approach her until it pierces through her hands. She yells out in pain as Mute lands directly in front of her tightly holding onto his knife. Mute is about to yank his knife out until he suddenly snaps his head back at Inumaki catching him in the middle of speaking. 

" Blow away- "

Inumaki's eyes widen watching Mute stare at him with a grin. Mute lets go of his knife and dashes back as an intense force narrowly misses his body. The blonde girl stands there helplessly as the force launches her off the stage, making her crash into the crowd. 

Inumaki stands there in shock. Inumaki realizes that Mute had played him into using his technique. Inumaki watches as Mute lunges towards him throwing a kick. Mute stares over Inumaki's shoulder while throwing the kick and watches Naoya and Panda exchange punches.

Panda throws a punch at Naoya but Naoya gracefully dodges the punch. Naoya's footwork is like a beautiful dance. He crosses his legs before twirling and slipping a punch. Naoya is far faster than Panda. Panda watches as Naoya spins throwing a kick that slams into his belly. 

The kick does little to no damage. Naoya pulls back his leg before ducking under a punch from a girl. Her face was bloody and covered in cuts and bruises. Naoya throws a jab that slams into her nose. Her head is rocked back before a kick slams into her jaw launching her off the stage. 

Naoya scoffs before slipping another punch from Panda. Panda's movements grow angry as he violently throws punches. Naoya causally dodges the punches until he reaches out his hand grazing his fingers across his white fur. 

" Looks like you need advice on how to move. Here are some frames for you to follow. "

Says Naoya with a grin. Panda's eyes widen in shock as his body suddenly freezes being stuck in glass. Naoya throws a powerful that shatters the glass sending Panda bouncing off the stone floor until he rolls to a stop, kneeling. 

Naoya walks toward him with a grin until he talks. 

" Hey congrats, for being a mere zoo animal you actually made me use my technique. But I think we need to wrap this up don't you think? "

The Panda gingerly stands back up, clearly tired. He starts to walk towards the Naoya until he halts after hearing the crowd roar out in excitement. He glances towards the right side of the stage and sees one of the contestants off the stage. Someone was just eliminated. Panda grits his teeth annoyed until in the corner of his right eye, he sees a bloody Inumaki hurling towards him, flying through the air. 

He reaches out catching his body with his paws. He stared at Inumaki worried until the announcer suddenly shouted out.

" The end is near for this tournament. Only four contestants remain. Will the dynamic duo from the Zenin clan succeed or will Inumaki and Panda finally put an end to their carnage? "

The crowd grew louder. Waiting for the end of the tournament. Mute and Naoya walk past each other, high-fiving...