Martial Arts Worlds

In front of the vending machine, Kiernan slid a coin into the slot and pressed the button for a bottle of water.

The bottle clunked down into the dispenser tray.

'There's your drink, Julian. Better not choke on it.'

Kiernan took a plastic bag from the side, stuffed the water bottle into it, and headed back to the infirmary.

However, after just a couple of steps away from the vending machine, he heard a loud crash behind him.

He turned around and saw someone shake the vending machine violently. It caused all the drinks inside to fall into the dispenser tray.

'Where did he appear? This guy looks familiar. Right, from the Punch Ball game.'

"Sorry, I was out of the coins. Please don't tell anyone."

Thorsten said, and stuffed dozens of the drinks inside his plastic bag.

One bottle rolled down the ground and stopped by Kiernan's boot. He picked it up and tossed it over to Thorsten.

Thorsten caught it and looked at what drink it was. His brows furrowed in disgust, and he tossed it back to Kiernan.

"You can have it. It's on me."

"How kind of you."

Kiernan caught it and put it inside his plastic bag, right next to the bottle of water.

"So, you're fighting me in the quarterfinals. I must admit, when I heard about it, I was excited."

Thorsten said, and pushed the vending machine back to its original position with just one shove.

Despite the vending machine looking quite heavy, he was easily able to move it with just one hand as if it didn't weigh anything.

"It seems like that is the case."

Kiernan slipped his left hand inside his pocket and carried the plastic bag with his right, next to his side.

"I've noticed that you haven't fought in these nationals yet. However, I'd like you to fight in the next match. No offense to your buddy, Julian, but I don't care about fighting him.

"I want to fight you."

Thorsten said, being very serious about his challenge.

"If you want to fight me, you must get through Julian first. I've no reason to fight someone who cannot defeat him."

Kiernan said, and then turned around to walk away.

It wasn't that he didn't want to fight, but he thought it was a waste of time to fight against someone who might lose to Julian.

In the end, he believed that there was only one person in the entire nationals that had the chance of defeating him, and that was Zachary.

"You're really putting a lot of faith in Julian, huh? Fine, what about this… I'd like to challenge Karuza High to a special match.

"One-versus-one. Me versus Julian.

"If you think that I am not strong enough to challenge your mighty self, do you dare to put the entire fate of Karuza High on the line as well?"

Kiernan stopped in his tracks and chuckled.

"Why would I accept that? You think I'll be blinded because of my pride and accept your nonsense challenge? Not a chance.

"I am sure that your school is strong. Second seed, congrats. However, you cannot defeat both Julian and me. Therefore, your challenge is made out of desperation.

"You're scared of what we'll do to you in the match, Thorsten Reed."

Thorsten's lips trembled, and his eyes narrowed.

There were a lot of things he wanted to say, but the words didn't leave his mouth.

Everything Kiernan said was the truth.

If there was only one of Julian or Kiernan, he believed that there was a chance of victory, but there were two of them.

Two monsters of the highest level.

It was like facing two Johan Yeagers!

"Very well. See you on the match then."

Thorsten turned around, and walked away.

"…"

Kiernan shook his head and walked in a different direction.

While walking, he took the strange lemon drink from his plastic bag, opened it, and took a long sip to quench his parched throat.

However, after the long sip, his face crunched in disgust, and he spat it out onto the ground.

"Disgusting… What kind of poisonous drink did he give me…?"

Kiernan noticed an open window next to him and tossed the bottle out of it.

The bottle smashed into the pavement below, its contents spilling out onto the sidewalk in a small puddle.

After a short walk, Kiernan returned to the infirmary, took the water bottle from the bag, and tossed it over to closed-eyed Julian.

Even though his eyes were closed, Julian snatched the water bottle from the air and took a long drink.

"Ah~"

He opened his eyes, closed the water bottle, and put it on the bedside table.

"What took you so long? I thought I was going to die of thirst."

"If you wanted the drink quicker, you should've gone to get it yourself."

Kiernan crushed the plastic bag in his hand and tossed it into the trash can before sitting down at the chair.

"Yes… yes…"

Julia sat near him, talking on a phone, and after a few nods, and yes, the phone call disconnected, and she pocketed the phone.

"My father called me. He congratulated the team for the success."

"It's nothing to congratulate us for, just yet. We must go farther this time around!"

Coach Jin crossed his arms and proudly said.

Julia wryly smiled and nodded.

She remembered last year as if it happened only yesterday, and back then, reaching quarterfinals was unheard of, and the whole city was celebrating that achievement.

She bet that the city of Irio was currently on cloud nine, knowing that they finally have a powerhouse school that has a chance to compete for the championship.

'Now that I think about it… it's all because of him.'

Julia looked at Kiernan shyly and remembered that the current insane success was all because of one young man.

'He also brought Julian to our school… With the two of them, I don't see anyone being able to defeat them. Could we really be champions…'

She nervously began tapping her foot against the floor and fidgeted with her hands, unable to contain her excitement.

"By the way… Kiernan… Where are you planning to go after high school? Any school you've thought of going?"

Julia asked curiously.

She believed that wherever he goes, he will be incredibly successful. Every school would be fighting tooth and nail to have him as their student.

Because wherever he goes, he will instantly become one of the favorites.

"Hmm, I don't know…"

Kiernan pondered.

He hadn't thought about that just yet. He was just going one day at a time.