(Rodova Military Academy – Circuit Team Selection Day)
The elimination matches began shortly after Yu Shen left the first-year warm-up room, as the academy's military punctuality demanded that the first fight start precisely at 8:00 a.m., neither a second early nor late.
The opening bout saw a wide-eyed first-year step nervously into the ring against a seasoned second-year, as the disparity in skill became obvious the moment the bell rang.
It wasn't even close, as the junior's dream of making it to the circuit team—or at least putting up a respectable fight to secure a summer camp recommendation—was crushed within forty seconds.
"Winner, 2nd-year cadet, Lu Jiang," the referee called out flatly, as the next match began without even a pause, the event unfolding with mechanical efficiency.
For the first hour, matches proceeded smoothly, as donors, sponsors, and merchant representatives enjoyed the spectacle from the observation decks. The rules capped each fight at two and a half minutes, as judges only interfered when neither fighter could secure a win within the limit.
Yet, rarely did anyone need a judge's call, as most bouts ended well before the timer expired.
For a while, the competition advanced without surprises, as cadets conserved their energy while slowly climbing through the brackets. However, once the pools were distilled down to the final ten contenders, the tension visibly rose, as desperation began bleeding into every strike.
"If Mu Shen somehow makes it into the top four," Su Yang said, casually stretching as he spoke to Leo, "he'll probably get that summer camp recommendation next year."
Leo gave a quiet nod, as both knew that it was easier said than done.
"But making it all the way? Not likely," Su Yang added as he gestured towards the arena. "Lu Jiang's too solid."
Mu Shen, having targeted Enzo for his challenge, now found himself grinding through match after match, as he advanced past four opponents already, battling against a sea of cadets who had also chosen Enzo, the perceived weakest of the circuit team.
However, despite the odds stacked against him, Mu Shen went as far as the final two, where he faced off against Lu Jiang—a second-year whose endurance and refined techniques gave him the edge.
As in the end, despite his commendable grit, the final outcome was all but sealed, with him falling just short of challenging a team member.
Yet, it was an admirable effort nonetheless, as both Leo and Su Yang silently acknowledged that Mu Shen had all but secured a future invitation to next year's summer camp.
As Mu Shen returned to the warm-up area, wiping the sweat from his brow, he couldn't help but sigh in defeat.
"Aghh, what a drag, guys," he said, forcing a smile. "I did my best, but I guess I won't be standing beside you two this year."
"That's alright," Su Yang replied with a smirk, placing a reassuring hand on Mu Shen's shoulder. "You're my vice-captain next year anyway. Skyshard can go finger his own ass."
Leo raised an eyebrow at the unexpected jab but said nothing, as he simply gave Mu Shen a small nod, acknowledging the valiant effort.
Then—-
In the most anticipated bout of the early morning, Enzo faced off against Lu Jiang, the winner of the brackets, as the first Circuit Team spot came into play.
However, as expected, Enzo, the actual circuit team member, easily retained his spot, as Lu Jiang failed to even graze him—highlighting to all watching just how vast the gap was between those on the team and the common academy cadets.
—--------
(10:15 AM — Rodova Combat Dome)
It was around 10:15 AM when an assistant referee finally stepped into the first-year warm-up room, clipboard in hand, calling out, "Su Yang! You're up in fifteen."
Su Yang, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, slowly opened his eyes as he pushed off and began to stretch, each motion deliberate and controlled, as he mentally prepared for his bout.
There were a total of 12 fighters who had challenged Faizan for his spot, giving a few a by-pass from the first round of fights.
And luckily, Su Yang was one of them.
He only had to fight three rounds instead of four to face Faizan, however, he did not really care about the by-pass anyways.
*Crack*
*Crack*
Cracking his knuckles, Su Yang grinned rather evilly, as he seemed like he was in one of his foulest moods, where his frustrations were about to come out on innocent opponents.
"I'll crush them all without using a single technique," Su Yang said calmly, his voice laced with quiet irritation as the earlier bracket incident still lingered in his mind. "Bare hands will be enough."
The cadets near him stiffened, as none dared to doubt him, as his words didn't carry the air of arrogance—but the certainty of someone fully capable of carrying out the claim.
With nothing more to say, Su Yang stepped into the staging area as the assistant quickly led him toward the ring.
—------------
(First Match – Against Cadet Harth, 1st Year)
The bell for Su Yang's first match rang, as the arena was met with mild curiosity from the crowd, given that Su Yang's first opponent was none other than Harth—a fellow first-year, known for being decent but far from remarkable.
Yet the moment Su Yang's golden eyes locked onto Harth's, the crowd realized this wouldn't even be a slight contest as the junior began to tremble uncontrollably.
[Domination]
Su Yang's innate bloodline trait seemed to oppress the hell out of Harth who could not handle the pressure, as the poor guy struggled to make his legs co-operate with his brain, his composure shattering like a glass beneath pressure.
*DING—*
The match officially began, yet Su Yang didn't even bother to raise his fists, as he simply walked forward, shoulders relaxed, expression unreadable.
"Move," Su Yang said calmly as Harth's instincts screamed at him to run, but his body betrayed him, as terror rooted him to the spot.
He tried to swing, desperate for any semblance of control—but the blade was caught between Su Yang's bare fingers effortlessly, as if swatting away a branch.
Before anyone could react, Su Yang delivered a casual palm strike to Harth's chest, sending him airborne as he crashed out of the ring like a ragdoll.
Thud
"First match, Su Yang advances," the referee declared after a stunned pause.
As the audience erupted—at the unbelievably dominating performance.
—-------------
(Second Match – Against Cade, 2nd Year)
Su Yang's next opponent was Cade, a hardened second-year who clenched his fists tightly as he tried to mask his nerves beneath a facade of forced bravado.
"You won't toss me around like that last kid," Cade said, stepping into the ring with flaring aura, as he entered a cautious stance.
Su Yang said nothing, as he simply adjusted his shoulders while raising his fists to waist level, his stance as relaxed as if he were simply preparing to go for a walk.
*DING—-*
Cade charged in, unleashing a barrage of tightly packed punches, each targeting Su Yang's weak points with practiced precision.
However, Su Yang merely shifted.
Each movement was minimal, as he slipped past Cade's attacks without wasting a single motion, his head tilting by mere inches, his feet barely stepping.
Frustration seeped into Cade's strikes, as desperation replaced technique, as Su Yang, without so much as blinking, caught the senior's extended wrist, twisted it, and slammed Cade headfirst into the dirt.
*BOOM*
Cade didn't even attempt to rise.
"Second match, Su Yang advances," the referee announced, eyes wide.
—-------------
(Third Match – Against Vega, 2nd Year)
Vega, Su Yang's final challenger before Fazim, looked visibly shaken as he stepped into the ring against Su Yang.
His earlier cocky grin from previous hours was nowhere to be found, as his aura flickered uncertainly.
"You think you're better than us just because you got lucky and became Grandmaster?" Vega growled, forcing himself to sound intimidating. "Breaking through doesn't make you invincible!"
Su Yang's gaze didn't waver, as he simply rolled his shoulders and raised his fists.
*DING—*
Vega wasted no time as he activated his skill—[Twenty Tilted Slashes]—filling the air with dozens of sharp strikes, as he attempted to overwhelm Su Yang with sheer speed and aggression.
However, Su Yang moved like water.
His feet shifted precisely, as his body leaned and rotated effortlessly, as every blade narrowly missed by fractions of an inch, as if Vega's entire skill had been read like an open book.
And then, it ended.
Su Yang caught Vega's blade mid-swing with his bare hand, twisted his opponent's stance open, and drove his palm directly into Vega's solar plexus.
*CRACK*
Vega's knees buckled, as air fled from his lungs.
A second later, Su Yang delivered a light shove, as Vega stumbled backward and collapsed outside the ring.
"Third match, Su Yang advances," the referee called, almost sounding tired of repeating himself.
As the arena erupted in cheers over Su Yang's performance once again, with Su Yang lightly waving to the crowd as he stepped out of the arena, with not so much as a slight change to his angry expression.
He hadn't used a single skill.
He hadn't drawn a single weapon.
And yet, he had humiliated three opponents with nothing but his bare hands, leaving the watching cadets speechless.
Even the sponsors exchanged glances, murmuring quietly, as for the first time today, some realized—
This year's Rodova team might just be more terrifying than what the rumors had them believing.
They had come here today expecting to check out the rumors of Rodova having two new Grandmaster students, however, with how dominating Su Yang was, they didn't even get a gauge on his true strength.