Finally I had made it to Martial Citadel, after two years of basically being a bum in the wilderness I was finally back in civilization.

I was only a stone throws away from the City's main gate, surprisingly it was very quiet there, almost no one coming in or out.

Only a couple of bums loitering outside it, and kids and their parents coming in and out to play in the field, and the city guards who didn’t look too impressive by the main entrance.

Without even going in I could already tell the City had a very traditional design, even the town I came from Beans Village, had a more modern look.

It was obvious this wasn’t really a tourist oriented city.

Nevertheless, I didn't come here to sight see, Kemoro said that all true aspiring Martial Artists and experienced Martial Artists alike gathered here to test their metal.

If you could attain notoriety at Martial Citadel chances were you had what it took to become a Ranker.

I was nervous, I didn’t know what level of martial prowess I had attained.

A year of training might seem like a lot, but most people here had probably been training their Martial Arts for years, I was nothing more than a noob in comparison.

I caught myself doing the self doubting again and decided to stop.

I saw a couple young Martial Artists sparring in the distance in the field outside the Citadel.

I figured since I was nervous of testing my skill inside the city might as well test it while I was outside.

The young guys that were sparring seemed to be decent fighters, but nothing that was too out of my league.

At the very least I could follow and understand their movements.

If I got completely annihilated by these guys in a Martial Duel, then maybe I wasn't ready for Martial Citadel, and fortunately I had left myself a way out, avoiding the humiliation of being seen by many in the City.

A ruined reputation would be of no help to me in finding a martial instructor.

I walked over to where the youths were, making my presence known.

***

The bum outside the city walls lay there on the grass enjoying the beautiful sunny day.

Life was good, but the man's life in Martial Citadel was becoming a little stale.

“Man without Kemoro things in this place sure have become boring. Maybe I should take the old man's offer and teach over at the Practitioners Guild. But then the old man will expect things from me, how annoying.”

The guard by the gate saw the bum talking to himself and decided to poke fun at him.

“Hey LB! Stop talking to yourself, you're going to scare any traveler or visitors away! When you are going to do something with yourself and get a job? Maybe even some ugly chick might want to start a family with you then.”

The guard and his companion snickered to themselves but the Bum named LB, at least according to the guard, paid them no mind.

He only kept on looking on to the horizon without a worry.

Being ignored by the town bum made the guard feel a feeling of displeasure, but he didn’t dare strike like he felt the urge to do.

In Martial Citadel it was best to assume that everyone was a Martial Expert, besides if people found out he was dueling and bullying a bum no Martial Artist would take him seriously he'd get laughed out of town.

“Pssh I don’t understand why the Citadel Mayor allows people like this guy to roam around the City. The City economy is already struggling as it is. The last thing we need is an ugly sight like him stinking up the joint and making us look bad.”

The bum who was ignoring the guard suddenly directed his gaze over to where kids were sparring.

There seemed to be someone who looked unfamiliar walking over to their direction.

“Hmm maybe today wont be as boring as I thought.”

***

As soon as I entered their sight, and saw that I was walking in their direction, the young Martial Artists stopped what they were doing and stared at me cautiously.

I had anticipated that they would do that so I only strued forward with more confidence but still very respectfully.

Kemoro had told me that proper Martial Duels were no big deal, and actually the norm in Martial Citadel, and not seen as disrespectful as long as one does them properly.

When I reached the location they were at, and found that they still hadn’t said anything, I decided it was best for me to introduce myself first.

I did a traditional martial bow and stated my intent.

“Greetings fellow Martial Brothers my name is Guso, a Martial Artist from afar seeking to climb higher in the Martial Way, and so i've come here to Martial Citadel the birthplace of Martial Arts to achieve that goal. Would one of you Experts honor me with a Martial Duel that you may aid me in my path.”

Dang I sounded smooth, Kemoro had taught me the proper way Martial Artists address themselves, and I had been working on this spiel for a long time just for this occasion.

The young Experts at first looked perplexed but after a while and nodding at each other in understandment the look of confusion turned into one of deviousness.

I didn’t like it.

The lead youth in the middle was the first one to speak.

“Look guys we can relax now, it's just another scrub Martial Artists from the boonies looking to get his ass beat. What was your name again, Guno, or whatever okay I accept your challenge, I was just feeling the itch of punching something for reals, and sparring wasn’t scratching it, but there’s a couple conditions, it’ll be a standard duel so absolutely no weapons of any kind, if we find otherwise get ready to lose your life, and since you're the one coming here to interrupt my training time, you’ll have to sacrifice something yourself so if you lose we get to keep your stuff, how about it you still up for it.”

Damn they might as well call it daylight robbery, these guys were assholes!

Still it was too late for regrets, I was after all the one who went to them first looking for a fight.

I was naive to think I was going to get a pleasant response.

The only option was to win or else what was the point of coming here after all I was no stranger to risk.

“ Of course I'm still up for it, I agree to your conditions, shall the duel take place here.”

The main kids friend on the side cackled hysterically and said, “ Hahaha Kilod he actually accepted what a fool, where making a killing today, Kilod make sure to treat us at the market today after you wreck this kid.”

The third friend snickered as well but said nothing.

Kilod, the one who was going to duel me, stepped forward and stretched and cracked his bones while taunting.

“While I like beating up talentless bums as much as the next guy, it really is getting quite insulting to get these imbeciles from outside the city, or even worse from Will City, come here thinking they’re hot shit, simply because they’re the best in their scrub filled neighborhoods. It's time I start sending a message that Martial Citadel is no place for losers, get ready cause I'm not going easy on you.”

Damn this guy really was a jerk talk about conceited I really do know how to pick them, don't I.

I decided to ignore him and not react to his insults.

“I look forward to witnessing you and the City's skill.”

After saying that I immediately took off all my weapons, including my knees pads, elbow braces, and gloves, and put them to the side, and assumed a fluid stance as I wanted to be flexible in my stance options, as I didn't know what type of Martial Arts style my opponent had.

After assuming my stance immediately all three of them started laughing.

“What the hell is that hahahha, is that a fluid stance, this guy really is a loser, what kind of a Martial Artist uses that stance to begin with, Kilot maybe we should be careful not to kill the guy, I don't want people to think i'm a villain.”

Kilot barely managed to stop laughing as well, before he commented.

“Okay kid you really went over your shoulders coming here challenging us, but it's too late. I already said I wasn't going to go easy on you, it'll be a good lesson to you on knowing your place. Don’t worry Anipo, I won't kill him.”

I only focused on my breathing and waited for him to start.

But it would be a lie if I said, that I wasn't starting to get irritated.

After they managed to get a hold of themselves, Kilot got somewhat serious, stepped forward and took a weird stance that looked to be the combination of a long and high stance.

His leg positioning was similar to Patient Tiger Stance but upper body looked more in line with Sniping Wasp Stance.

Kemoro was right, it seemed that stances could get quite unique.

“Behold a true Stance, Soaring Hawk Stance, perhaps the most complete stance in the Martial World, today is a fortunate day for you as you will learn what true Martial Arts is.”

I wanted to roll my eyes to the back of my head and immediately had the urge to pick up a rock and throw it at his head, but I decided against it.

I wasn’t sure if they would count that as a weapon.

“I'll let you have the first move scrub, lest people say I didn’t give you a chance, common give me your best shot.”

I was planning on countering whatever strike he threw, but if he wanted me to go first I had no qualms against it.

I immediately transitioned to a Quick Game stance and darted in his direction.

His stance was indeed quite complete, his foot positioning was wide enough to where he had strong balance and a powerful stance, and his upper body gave him reach and flexibility countering the rigidity of his wide stance.

But still it wasn't perfect even though he mitigated the long stances drawbacks slightly, the weaknesses of a high stance were still there.

Mainly how exposed they left their midsection, and I was planning to take full advantage of it.

As soon as I got into striking range I decided to faint with a flying head kick, I'm sure he was aware of his weakness and was relying on his stance's excellent counter attacking capabilities.

But I wasn't going to give him the chance.

As soon as he saw me going for his head he easily positioned himself to block it and started setting up a powerful counter attack, probably a throw.

But as soon as I got the reaction I wanted, I immediately redirected all my power to my other leg in a bicycle motion and shifted my momentum downwards, turning my leg into a knee.

I also simultaneously covered his hands with my own to lock him in place.

Soon the edge of my knee landed squarely on the soft part between his belly and chest immediately sending him reeling back.

I had done it!

I had landed a blow, it went exactly as I had planned too, which surprised the heck out of me.

I wanted to dwell on the memory of seeing Kilots face go from anger and surprise at my sudden faint, to pain and bewilderment, but I remembered what Kemoro told me.

It wasn't over until it was over, and so I waited for kilot to get up.

But even after a long time, Kilot failed to get up.

Had I really knocked him out?!

It was quite a strong blow, and straight into one of the weakest parts of the human body, but I seriously expected more from a Martial Citadel Expert.

Maybe I'm better than I think I am, then again the guy was severely underestimating me and very few people could take a blow like that and be okay.

I just didn’t expect to knock him out in one blow!

I didn't even get to see any of his moves!

Kilots friends looked flabbergasted, they didn’t know what to say or do.

Only after a while did they run up to Kilot and check if he was ok.

“Phew he's ok Anipo he’s still breathing the air's just knocked out of him and he fainted. That darn bastard did a cheap blow on Kilot, knowing he underestimated him. Thats why he used that stupid Fluid shit stance, he was lulling us the whole time, hes a tricky one alright.”

Anipo, the biggest one of the bunch, stood up and stared at me like I was the most hated thing on the planet.

“ You're indeed a more formidable Martial Artist than we first thought of you, but you're still trash! Sneaks like you don't go far in Martial Citadel, this is a place where only true power rules, schemes and tricks only go so far, you seem to be fully intact therefore I Anipo of the Indomitable Bull Art Clan, challenge you to a Martial Duel.”

Drats yet another Clan guy, I hated these guys the most but I seem to always run into them.

“I only wanted a normal friendly Martial Duel. I meant no offense, it's an honor to meet you Anipo, I'm glad your friend is fine, and I accept your duel only if you promise that you will not cause me any further trouble from your Clan as a result of it.”

“My Clan doesn’t worry about little sneaks like you, they have bigger fish to fry, but you have my word this stays between us, now take your stance and defend yourself.”

Anipo wasted no time, as soon as I assumed my fluid stance again, he positioned himself for an attack, and charged straight at me.

His speed and power was tremendous.

So much so, that the grass and ground beneath his feet broke up with each one of his strides.

There was no stopping this guy, he was definitely a powerful physical specimen.

I bet you even Orcs wouldn’t grapple bare handed with him.

I wanted to dodge at first but a nostalgic memory hit me in the midst of the battle and I decided against it.

“You're not dodging?! You fool! Now you’ve definitely looked down on Martial Citadel for your final time!”

He opened his grasp to seal my movements when he reached striking range, for most people they would indeed be trapped, and be forced to deal with the incoming mass and power head on; a suicidal move.

But Kemoro indeed was a good teacher and he had taught me well.

Just as he was about to strike me I did a twisting side step and fully escaped his striking range.

In fact I was immediately positioned to the side of him.

My sudden disappearance from his field of view right at the last second of his charge, put Anipo in an overextended posture, having nothing to take down, immediately I took advantage of my position and hit him with a sidescrew kick straight on his back.

I was careful to measure my strength, as I didn't want to make him permanently disabled.

Still Anipo grunted in pain and lay flat on the ground never getting back up for a decent amount of time.

The third Friend, after some shaking in silence, finally ran up to his friend to find him knocked out and with the wind out of him, but still breathing.

I guess I didn't have as much control as I thought I did.

To have knocked out the wind out of a guy from his back, was not something I had heard of until now.

At least I didn't break his back though.

For the near future though, I would try to avoid potentially deadly back strikes until I had better control of them.

The third friend stood up and looked at me.

“ I don't know how good you really are, but I'm not about to let you walk off scot free after beating my friends. You might be formidable but I'm leagues above them. I'm going to teach you how big the world is. I Fittiger, Disciple of the Heavenly Hop School challenge you to a Martial Duel.”

Here we go again these guys sure don't give up.

From what I could tell these guys definitely weren’t bad, I was just better.

I really had improved by leaps and bounds.

I was hyped up and in the middle of an adrenaline rush, there was no way I was going to say no.

“I Guso, Martial Artist accept your challenge.”

I kept it short and sweet, but it felt so good to say I was a Martial Artist with such confidence.

We both assumed our battle stances.

My opponent took a very wide open stance, even more so than the Fierce Fort Stance so I assumed he wasn’t going to make the first strike.

But I assumed wrong.

immediately, the kid jumped into the air at an unimaginable height and landed halfway between us.

It was such a ridiculous scene I didn't know how to react.

As soon as he landed a barrage of dirt and stone flew in all directions.

For anyone else it might’ve been a problem, but for me this was light training with old man Kemoro.

I immediately maneuvered myself in between the debris, and locked on to Fittiger once more.

This time he jumped straight at me with amazing speed and power.

Except he did something I wasn't expecting.

“Heavenly Kick!!!”

He screamed with all his might in the middle of his jump.

I had experienced experts and rankers do something like that before, but it was usually after or for different reasons other than to solely just scream it.

There was usually a purpose and it wasn’t so obvious, especially not for a melee move.

This guy had just revealed his intent, and I'm pretty sure he wasn’t lying, there was no way to change his posture at the speed he was going.

I barely managed to evade his move, and use one of the principles of grappling Kemoro had taught me, and that all grapplers knew about.

To use the opponent's energy against them.

At the speed and power he was going at, I barely had to exert any force.

After slightly dodging his kick I grabbed onto his leg and slammed him to the ground.

I didn’t add any more force than necessary, because I didn't want to kill the guy, but he was flying so fast when he impacted the ground, I heard a crack and no sound after that.

He was out cold.

I checked on him and noticed a swelling arm but other than that he was still breathing.

I had done it!

I had won all three duels and with minimum effort.

Turns out I was better than I expected.

With a confident stride, and with the Guards running to pick up the fainted kids, I happily entered Martial Citadel ready to master Martial Arts.

***

The old bum looking raised his eyebrow in intrigue and surprise.

“ Not bad, not bad at all. The kids definitely got some talent, I don't know why but I get a familiar feeling from him, I’ll keep a good eye on him, who knows maybe he’s the one.”