Martial Worlds System

Late autumn, morning. A buzzing crowd was gathered around the centre square of Shengdu town, all enthusiastic; the early to mid-teens being the most, for it was their day; the day of Kargath Academy selection. The stage was set with marbles and Elder Yun; representative of the Academy was seated near a luxurious seat, with trained security on both sides which he didn't need for there wasn't much of what could threaten an Earth Saint Master in the Gensun Kingdom.

Elder Yun looked at an elderly man who stood at the edge of the stage and nodded at him. The elderly opened the journal he was holding and shouted the first name.

"Xiang Li, age 14, sword user, Saint Force 8 layer."

A fifteen-year-old boy walked out from the crowd and the buzz changed, he was tall, had short hair and was dressed in expensive gold. The crowd knew about it so did the entire town, one of the Town Lord's two sons, fed precious resources since his birth and trained by the best. Cheers rose for him as he arrived at the stage on one side with a wooden broadsword.

'Definitely has the potential to reach a Saint Master.' Elder Yun though. Xiang Li looked at him and gave a slight bow of respect, Elder Xun smirked in response.

The elderly man on stage coughed and read the other name aloud, "Gama K -uh- ga - ne. Gama Kurogane, age 10, blade user, Saint Force 8 layer."

'What kind of name is this?' The elderly man thought. 'Did I read it right? Saint Force 8 layer?'

A nine or ten-year-old boy walked out of the crowd from the side, he looked slender, frail with white hair and strange crimson eyes, dressed in foreign white clothing with a black strip tied tightly around his waist with a wooden sword inside a sheath; it was strange as the boy's features. There was no buzz of cheers for him as no one in the town knew him.

Elder Yun noticed the reaction from the crowd and then asked a guard next to him. "What's this silence about? A ten-year-old reaching Saint Force 8 layer in this small town shouldn't be a small matter."

The guard replied, "I don't know, elder, maybe because this child doesn't belong to this town."

The Elder raised his brows, "Then how did he get to this stage quickly, a rich family or someone feeding him monster cores from a young age or a natural high absorption capability. In any case, the boy is still at a disadvantage."

On the stage, the elderly man got off and the two came face to face.

"Give up, kid." Xiang Li said. "Your body couldn't hold as much Saint Force as me, beside you are still ten, wait for a few years."

Gama's expression remained calm, he looked up at the teen towering over him. "I am sorry, but I won't lose this day."

"Listen, ki-"

"-Don't worry though," Gama said, "since I'll fight you unarmed."

Xiang Li looked down at Gama, nerves bulged on his forehead and he gritted his teeth.

"This kid... is he made or..." Elder Yun muttered.

"DISTANCE!" The elderly man shouted.

Gama and Xiang Li stepped back while still maintaining eye contact. They were six meters away when the elderly man shouted, "START!"

"As your senior and my pride as the son of a noble family-" Xiang Li approached Gama with his sword down. "-I won't be using my sword."

"Eh?" Gama raised his brow, genuinely surprised. "Seriously?"

Xiang Li stepped closer and swiftly pulled up his sword for a strike. "No, just kidding."

In the next moment, no one saw what happened except Elder Yun. Gama ducked under and caught Xiang Li's hand before moving under and striking at the groin with a sharp elbow, all in one swift motion. No one else got a proper look at what happened except for the wooden broadsword dropping and Xiang Li being slumped over Gama.

"Phew, that was close." Gama murdered. "Sons of noble families would go for a dirty trick."

Xiang Li didn't respond or struggled, slumped on Gama's small shoulder.

"Already knocked out, did I hit a vital point or something?" Gama said before throwing Xiang Li to the floor

"That move that defeated him..." Elder Yun thought. "What was it? He couldn't dodge at that close distance."

He then smirked, not taking his eyes off Gama. "Interesting? NEXT!"

Both contestants left the stage, one of them walked out, the other carried away. The matches went on, and the enthusiasm in the crowd was still there but not in Elder Yun.

"Most aren't even Saint force 7 layer, they don't meet requirements either way." Elder Yun muttered, turning tired and bored. He looked to the guard and said, "Call the announcer, I want to make some changes."

The guard was taken aback for a moment but then complied with a yes. "The Elder has orders for the announcer."

**************

After another round finished, contestants walked off the stage with the look of triumph and failure, then the announcer took to the stage with a nervous look.

"By the orders of Elder Yun of Kargath Academy, I declare all but the result of two matches are nulled..."

An uproar arose in the crowd, a mix of shock and anger.

"Then what was the point of all this? I have been preparing for months."

"I spent all my savings on buying monster cores for this competition."

"This is unfair!"

"I want compensation for my time wasted."

Angry complaints after complaints filled the town square, then Elder Yun stood up from his seat.

"SILENCE!" Elder Yun shouted, as an invisible pressure enveloped the area. It was like suddenly tons of weights were placed upon the crowd including the guards and the announcer. All the angry complaints stopped.

"I DIDN'T PROMISE, ANYONE OF YOU, ANYTHING, IF ANYONE WANTS TO CRY ABOUT IT THEN LEAVE. NOW, IF HEAR ANY WHINING HERE AFTER I SIT - I AM GOING MAKE YOU ALL REGRET IT!"

With that, the Elder took his seat again, the pressure dissipated but the silence remained but then it was cut short by the Announcer.

"The final match will begin now, and the contestants selected are Gama Kurogane, age 10, Saint Force 8 layer and Xiang Xi, age 15, Saint Force 10 layer."

Gama strolled to the stage with the wooden sword in the sheath, standing on the same spot as in his earlier match. His eyes were set on the silent crowd from where a tall boy emerged.

His features were similar to Xiang Li just like his wooden sword, but he was taller with longer hair, and although no one spoke due to the Elder, Gama could see the belief on their faces. This boy was strong, stronger than his brother Xiang Li.

"What's up with this boy?" Elder Yun asked the guard next to him.

The guard replied, "Xiang Xi is the Town Lord's eldest son."

On stage, Xiang Xi took out the wooden sword and started carving, the point with his saint force covered finger making it sharper, the crowd was amazed by the display but the fear of the Elder made them remain silent.

"I am not the same as my brother, pick up your sword or you'll die." Xiang Xi said finishing his carving working.

The guard next to Elder Wun continued, "Whenever the brothers challenge multiple opponents, young master Xiang Xi took on the strongest ones. Their fame spread across regions was also because of him."

"Is that so?" Elder Yun muttered.

On stage, Gama's expression didn't change as he said, "But how is that trick going to help you in a sword fight?"

Nerves bulged on Xiang Xi's face but he didn't say anything as he stepped back taking his position.

"START!"

Xiang Xi drew his sword taking a stance, keeping the blade horizontal. One hand clasping the hilt tightly, the other was an open palm an inch behind the blade.

"I am going to crush your innards on behalf of my brother."

Gama shrugged, a pulled out his sword, it vertically leaned forward, the hilt gripped tight by the dominant hand while the other was an open palm placed under it.

"This is going to be interesting." The elder muttered.

Both looked each other in the eye and rushed forward at the same time. In a moment both were in range, Gama ducked and rushed for the swift strike to the waist but his blade was met by the sword. Gama pulled back with force but the sword didn't come free, it was stuck.

"Eh?" Gama looked at his blade. "Why can't I pull it out?"

"That boy Xiang Xi is tactical." Elder commented. "He must have grasped the white hair kid's fighting style in the previous match with his brother, going for the blind spot in the waist, a surprise attack to end the battle in one move but -"

Then Gama noticed Xiang Xi grasping his blade tightly, he pulled but the blade didn't come free.

"-He took the advantage of the blade being just blunt wood, with his superior strength and larger reserve of Saint Force the battle is now in Xiang Xi's favour."

"Now take this." Xiang Xi pushed the hand he gripped, away from Gama's defence and struck with his own sword. Gama was quick to react raising his hand to block before the impact. He left his grasp on the sword and move sideways absorbing the blow.

Gama groaned as he rolled away from Xiang Xi. 'Giving up my left arm to block an attack, I am getting too careless today.'

He tried to stand but Xiang Xi came rushing in, kicking him away on the chest. Gama clutched his stomach before coughing blood on the stage.

Elder Yun, "Had high hopes for the boy, but guess still too young. Well, there is still another year. This year belongs to Xiang Xi."

"You lose... " Xiang Xi said before throwing away the sword at Gama. Gama one clutched his belly while the other hand moved forward and grasped the flying blade.

"Not yet," Gama said slowly standing up, taking his stance again. "You want to beat me, then you have to crack my skull open."

"Give up, Kid, or die." Xiang Xi warned.

"What are you saying?" Gama stood straight; wiping the blood on his mouth. "My blood hasn't boiled like this in a while."

"Alright, I have decided," Gama said moving his sword hand over his shoulder. "I am going to end this in three blows?"

"There blow? I didn't hit you in the head, did I." Xiang Xi chuckled again taking his stance.

Elder Yun's attention got placed on Gama. "This kid what is trying to do?"

"You'll see," Gama said. "If your eyes can follow it."

Xiang Xi stood firm, sword raised then his eyes widened. 'What is that stance?'

Gama stood sideways, his knees were slightly bent dropping all weight on his feet, his left arm hung loosely in front, while his sword hand went over his shoulder and hung loosely.

'Ogame Ryu: Form of Lightning : Lighting God Form.'

Gama rushed forward, Xiang Xi raised his sword waiting for Gama to be in range. Gama entered the range, he ducked, then the Xiang Xi's sword stopped midway as Gama struck the gripping finger with an elbow, the first blow. The wooden blade hanging over the shoulder came swiftly, striking the bottom hilt first into Xiang Xi's side ribs as Gama moved around, the second blow. Gama spun on his feet moving behind Xiang Xi with the blade aiming for the back of the neck, the third blow, the killing blow.

"Completely marvellous, Gama Kurogane." The Elder's voice came.

Gama moved his eyes to see his blade striking the Elder's arm as he stood between him and Xiang Xi.

"But you were not given wooden swords for striking killing blows."

"Why did you save him?" Gama asked. "I haven't been this motivated in a while."

"I have seen your strength now, that's enough." He said. "You are now qualified to further study your craft in Kargath Academy."