(Spotlight 35 B): Top 11 G.O.H. fights!

#8 Dawei Han vs Priests and Mira Yu vs Ryu

Dawei and Mira don't have many times to shine, but when they do, they're like a goddamn diamond. With the raid on Nox and the climax against the King, all the nearer, Dawei, and Mira, are given the dangerous mission of securing the Noa. WIth Dawei's life fated to end at any given moment, and Mira's morality already halfway there the stakes for them couldn't be higher. Eventually, the 2 of them get separated in the carnage as Dawei decides to protect Mira for what seemingly is the last time while Mira enters what may be the hardest fight of her life.

While both battles are very different, they are two sides of the same coin. As Dawei is hopelessly outmatched by the Nox's soldiers Mira and Ryu, the psychopathic swordsman from Nox engages in one of the tensest and bloodiest duels in the entire arc. Both characters are at their absolute peak here as their training from the previous matches comes through in spades. Dawei, even with broken bones multiple stab wounds he doesn't give in for even an instant, using his resolve to power on through numerous borrowed powers without wasting a single move. It then culminates into one of the greatest techniques of the series: The Ultimate. This devastating move goes through another evolution, wreaking absolute havoc on the entire bridge above the stadium! But even that doesn't even work as Dawei is forced to rely on his strength of will to win the fight at the cost of his own life.

And Mira's fight is arguably even worse, as the deathmatch between her in Ryu becomes so laser-focused that it drains all the color of the entire control room. You almost feel the tension and tempo of the battle as every swing from their blades draw even more blood. Realizing that pure desperation would get her killed, she instead relies on everything at her disposal to win, her talent, her resolve, her skill, her patience, and even the very lessons of her deadly enemy as she inches closer and closer with every swing. Though eventually, it all comes together as through her various desperate praises her borrowed power finally recognizes her full worth as she uses it all in one final strike! But the victory doesn't come very easily as, unfortunately, to win control of Noa, our heroine has to sacrifice her arm, her morality, and even the love of her life as she realizes that while they have both one, they both lost so much more.

Like the last fight they have before they get their godly powers and the last time in a while where they were all the same side, it was a great way of showing why these characters mean so much to so many. Both characters showed off their greatest attributes and their hard-earned journey as it all pays off in these two climatic battles.

#7 Mori Hui vs Hercules

As an avid mythology buff, when I saw the set up for this fight, my hype for this series reached an all-time high. On the left, we have the infamous Mori Hui clone of the all-powerful mighty Monkey King of the monsters who time and time again turned the heavens into his playground and whose actions redefined Asian culture forever. And on the right, we have Samuel Roisante, the descendant of Hercules, the legendary hero whose strength was unrivaled in both heaven and earth, who later became the definition of heroism to many. Mubong pretty much becomes the audience as every chapter in the battle to come is just used to bring about even more hype.

The fight gives us a great indicator of what both fighters are capable of as Samuel starts by literally destroying Hui's staff (which was believed to be his Yeoui at the time) and ragdolling Hui through a six pillars, a statue, and a truck! But Hui quickly gains the upper hands once again as he instantly comes back and wrecks, Samuel, with a volley of staff attacks with the real (copy) of Yeoui. However, just when you think that it's going to be another easy win, the full power of Hercules reveals itself in full glory, completely taking over his descendants' body. Now with the full power of the monster butcher at his beck and call, the real round 2 begins. The warriors stare each other down for only a moment before they begin their battle. Every hit from the two combatants can be felt for miles as not even the Barabdium made stadium can contain their mighty battle. As Samuel draws out more of Hercules's power, Hui's stamina begins to run out, instead of forcing him to finish the fight in his base form.

With a combination of both Hallyang Style Pumba, Retawkendo, and Yeoui, Hui is able to overwhelm and outmaneuver Samuel's overwhelming power. And just when you think that he's going to finish him off with a final punch, Hui uses Yeoui and his completed variant of the Kick of Immogi. He finishes off the god Butcher himself. This is another major win for Hui as he further manages to prove his independence and his heritage as he uses the power of Wukong, the skill of jin, and his hard-earned precision to get himself one step closer to the King of Nox.

#6: Mori Jin vs IIpyo Park Round 1

While the og regional G.O.H. tournament has long since past, the ramifications it has on the series can never be understated. And while we will get to "that' fight later might as well talk about the penultimate battle right before it. With Dawei out of commission and Mori Jin now disabled from his two strongest techniques, he must count on his signature Re-Tawekendo to face off against the mysterious and terrifying IIpyo park in what soon becomes one of the most frenetic clashes in the series. Mori doesn't even give his opponent any time to strike as he uses a barrage of attacks to trip him up. However, he soon manages to get his signature composure as the clever fox uses his knowledge of Re-Tawekendo, his Ssam-Su Taekkyeon, and the sacrifices of his teammates to give Mori one of the hardest fights of his life.

The two martial arts clashed in an almost frustrating display of counters and deflections. And just when you think that the fox has one Mori's talents shine even brighter, using the strength and skills of his friends to make up for the weaknesses that held him back before. But even with that advantage, IIypo still uses his experience and cold-hearted tactics to even things out even more. But as the fight continues, we later learn that while Mori's team still needs to win, so does IIpyo as he wishes to uphold the promise he made to not only himself but to Taejin Jin as well, deciding to pull out one last ace in the hole.

And with the power of the nine-tailed guardian coursing through his body, IIpyo delivers one of the few losses that Mori has ever suffered, instead of leaving everything to Mira as she finishes the fight for her team. And like I said at the beginning of this entry, the ramifications of the fight are felt to this day. The lessons that Mori learns from this fight managed to save his butt numerous times for the fights that come over, technique replication is used almost to the point of sickness for the rest of the series, and Mori gains one of the best allies he has ever had, as well as a big lesson that I will explain once we reach number 1. And while this could be seen as a draw or cheating given Mori not being at full strength the same deal applies to IIpyo so ha.

#5:Mori Dan vs Mori Jung Round 1

There are a lot of emotional confrontations through this list, but this is the hands-down the one that tops all others. After four long months of waiting and theories, we enter the first major fight of this post Ragnorak world. With his sister Ahan Dan reaching her limit against the battle with the frustrated clone, Mori Dan decides to battle in her stead in honor of keeping his promise to her. And while we know very much now who Dan is now the fact that we now know Mori Jin makes this fight even more emotional. Because in retrospect, this is the weakest Mori has been in his entire immortal life.

Think about and look again, Dan as soon as the fight starts, can barely even put up a fight as he can't even make a kick and actively tries to settle for a pitiful double K.O. And once again, Dan feels like he is at fault that he couldn't even hold on to the money that he has probably collected over years of hard work. And even when he does reveal his true identity but even when he once again rises to not only own up to his mistakes but also not repeat them, he can't even hold on to the person he used to be, as even the loyal and reliable items of the Monkey King are nowhere to be seen. And yet even with a fractured right arm, numerous ribs and torn left femur, both men still fight to prove and fight for their right to exist, for their very identities. As the fight continues, the answer to the pressing question still becomes all the more clear Jung decides in her that he will fight for himself and make himself real, just like a certain Imoogi I know.

And just when you think that it's going to end, Jung unleashes a move so powerful that even seeing it action leaves Jin in phantom pain! But even with Jung's struggle through it all, Jin doesn't even hate him or reject him in the least bit as he admits in many ways that he is stronger than him! Because unlike him, he was able to brave through the pain of reality and gain the courage to fight for his ideals! And as the two are about to gear things up one last time, Mori paid tribute to the man that gave him so much by ending with a recoilless kick.

While many people are on the fence about chapter 6 as a whole, I can't deny this is one of the best moments in the entire series and the perfect way to begin the arc properly. This battle effectively brings Mori from his lowest point to his official comeback, as we see now that dan to me at least is what this arc is all about. People complain that Jin is weak in this arc but they don't see that dan is supposed to be a correction and reminder. This is the form where Jin not only proves that he is the dominant power through his martial arts but also a way for more to deconstruct, analyze, and even improve on all of his weakest aspects. And I don't think that the introduction to that theme couldn't have been any better.