Zen was walking out to the ring. The crowd erupted with roars. The crowd chanted his name as he and Ao Li walked out.

“Man, they love you almost as much as I love my hair.” Li Ao said, as he ran his comb through his hair. “Too bad I’m going to have to take that away when I beat you.”

“Beat me?” Zen said, unfazed. “You are not going to beat me. If you have witnessed my power so far, you would know that.”

“We’ll see.” Ao Li said as he put away his comb.

“This is going to be interesting.” Xue Shaonu said. “So Deng Ai, you’re cheering for Ao Li correct?”

Deng Ai nodded. “Yes.”

“What do you think are his odds against my cousin?” Jao Cong said.

Deng Ai pushed his spectacles up the bridge of his nose. “Not sure. Before this tournament, I’d give the edge to Ao Li. He is stronger and has more powerful ki techniques but as things sit, Wang Zen is too much of an unknown anomaly for me to decide who has a better chance.”

Xu Hua teeth grind against each other as she looked upon the stage.

“I cannot believe these people are cheering for that Wang Trash!” she said.

“Why would they not.” City Lord Xu said. “He has taken their ears from the reprehensible boy, Lang. Their adoration is deserved, too bad he did it before your Chen Jian could.”

“Hmph! Well, Chen Jian will; put him in his place when they meet.”

Wang Zen and Ao Li stared at each other as the referee recited the rules. Then the referee began the match.

“So, Ao Li,” Zen said, showing his power and directing killing intent at Ao Li’s way.

Ao Li gulped nervously. “I made a promise to myself, Wang Zen.” He said as he raised his arms and began bouncing around. “I promised that I would give my all in this tournament no matter how hopeless it seems. This will be no different!”

“That’s… unfortunate.” Zen said.

Ao Li charged, shouting as he did.

Zen stood still and leaned to the side to dodge Ao Li’s first punch. He stepped to the side, raising his arms.

The crowd cheered Wang Zen’s name louder at this.

He threw a jab that Ao Li weaved out of the way off before trying to counter with an uppercut that Zen backed off from.

He got close and activated his ki technique.

“Blitz Punch!” Zen shouted and threw 100 punches at Ao Li’s abdomen. Ao Li, hardened his abdomen and his grunts of pain were drowned out by the crowds cheers to see him fall.

As soon as the punches ended, Ao Li countered with his own punch that had already been winded back at the beginning of Zen’s first punch. It connected with his masked face and sent him stumbling back.

Zen caught himself before he could fall. He charged forward.

“Long Fist!” Ao Li shouted as he placed his fist next to his hip, gathering ki before throwing it out and sending the energy out.

The attack collided with Zen’s face, making his head snap back before falling backwards onto the ground.

Everyone fell silent as they watched Wang Zen’s in moving body.

“Uhm… ref, how about a count?” Ao Li said, cutting through the silence.

“Uhm, yes!” the referee said, picking his mouth off the floor before counting.

The referee got to 3 before Zen stirred and sat up.

“Oh man,” Zen said, rubbing the back of his head, “I didn’t see that coming.”

“I was hoping you wouldn’t.” Ao Li said.

That was when the crowd began to boo.

“Seems the crowd is angry at you,” Zen said, getting to his feet.

“What? Oh no, they’re not booing me,” Ao Li said. “They’re booing you.”

“Why would they… oh no!” Zen said before focussing again to make his power level seem up again.

“Oh no!” Xue Shaonu said. “So his power was a lie all the time.”

“It would seem so,” Deng Ai said with a look of relief on his face.

“I can’t believe it.” Jao Cong said.

“With this change of events, I’d put Ao Li back in the running to win this.”

“I KNEW IT!” Xu Hua shouted. “I knew he was faking his power! He deserves to be punished! We should…”

She was silenced by the laughter of his father. The City Lord was laughing so hard that tears streamed from his face and he held his stomach.

“Father, wh-why are you laughing. The little trash deceived us! He is not an honourable fighter, he is a coward!”

“Oh, poor daughter, this boy could teach you so much.” The City Lord said.

“Father?” Xu Hua said in shock.

“Deception is part of combat.” City Lord Xu said.

“Aw man!” Zen said as he rose to his feet.

“What’s the point of keeping up the charade?” Li Ao said. “Everyone knows.”

Zen smirked. “I guess you’re right.” He relaxed the technique.

Zen looked at Ao Li’s fighting stance. He smiled and he raised his stance to a more boxing stance.

“Okay,” Zen smirked, “Let’s do this!”