Homura's eyes jumped wide, "Kenji... You don't have to do this."
"No..." Kenji shook his head and paused, "I won Akuma without strength."
"Tch. Try me, day dreamer," Souma smirked and walked in position. Kenji stood up, stepping in the circle. Homura followed, his arm shot forward, "But Kenji..."
Akira grabbed his shoulder, "Let him try," Akira nodded, "I trust him."
Homura exhaled hard before watching Kenji getting in the arena. Some warriors circled around. They knew Souma was worth watching. One of them stepped in between, "3... 2..."
Kenji inhaled hard. He bent his knees and raised his arms. Every muscle quivered.
"1. Fight!"
Kenji lunged at Souma instantly. His shoulders whirled, but his fist cut through empty air. A cold rush brushed his arm. Souma had already slipped off the line - just a grey blur in the edge of Kenji's vision. He already stood behind Kenji with hands stilled in his pockets.
Kenji snapped back as his breath hitched hard. He drove himself to Souma. Leg swung - only air caught his kick. Kenji's breath hitched hard as something the air drifted through him again. Kenji whipped around.
Souma dashed forward with his shoulders twisted. Elbow struck Kenji's cheek before he could track Souma.
He staggered. His vision blurred with ears ringing loudly. Who is this guy... This felt way different than Akuma. Souma moved way faster - like an arrow. Kenji dragged his face up, only to find Souma smirking, "Tch. This thing won over Akuma?"
Kenji tensed. He wiped the blood on his lips and stepped forward. Kenji closed the gap with his fist charged.
"Thud!" All the air left his lungs. Kenji's jaw dropped - his punch went lost. Souma already struck his foot to his ribcage. Organs jerked. The burning spread from chest to hip.
Kenji buckled and skidded on the ground. Dust thickened up the air. Souma walked through it and approached Kenji. He kicked the sand to Kenji's face, "You don't deserve to be here."
"Don't fool yourself with that lucky win," Souma smirked and turned away.
Kenji froze. His gaze pinned to the ground as it hit again. The laughter he wished to hear. Never again. His foot stepped forward. Kenji dragged himself up with a frown on his face. He stared at Souma, "I'm not done yet."
Souma paused. He whipped around with one brow raised up, "huh?"
"Scared...?" Kenji hovered his fists with a grin on his face.
Veins grew on Souma's face. He lunged at Kenji instantly.
Kenji's breath caught. He threw himself back - not far enough. The knuckles grazed his cheek. This speed... Souma's leg found his side. The white pain from arm to thigh. Kenji locked his jaw and Souma didn't stop attacking.
He whirled in the air with his hip driving the kick to Kenji's knee. Kenji dropped slightly.
Souma recoiled on impact and swung the same leg. Kenji folded at the ribs - liver bounced.
His right leg curled again. He inhaled sharply before tightening his abs. Full rotation. Everything. His foot finished at Kenji's left cheek.
"POW!"
The crowd gasped at once, "Three kicks in one jump?!"
"Damn..."
Kenji rolled on the ground. Air choked at his throat as he gasped hard. Three white hot areas. His knee felt locked and couldn't straighten. While the side of his body ached at every smallest move. The final kick left a long bruise on his cheekbone. Kenji inhaled as the pain started leaving. He wrenched himself up on his knees and recoiled to find Souma was not in sight. Kenji scanned back and forth. Where is he? Something urged Kenji to move. Turned around.
"You should've died out there," Souma dug his leg into Kenji's abs. His jaw dropped immediately as the kick pressed all air out of his lungs. Before Kenji could react, Souma spun in the air, "You know. They died because of you!"
His heel struck Kenji's chin with a heavy thud.
Kenji collapsed onto the sand. Crimson left his lips and soaked the sand. Kenji lay still. His eyes opened but all empty. He locked his focus on his calloused palms. Years of swinging axes. Dragging wood chunks to carry his only family. But couldn't make it on time to save the village. Everything. Why do I have to suffer?
"why..."
"WHY?!" He slammed his fists to the ground. Knuckles torn and blood rolled to his forearms. He stopped. Attention pinned to Souma.
Souma felt it. That stare was something worse than rage. He clenched his fists. The kicks - either of those should've been enough to take one man down. But this thing... Souma immediately shot his legs as he lunged at Kenji. Right arm tucked in.
Kenji threw himself to the left. His shoulders swiveled and drove the fist.
Souma's brows jumped. He dashed back from Kenji's punch. The punch wasn't aimed - it was a pivot. Kenji let the momentum carry him - body already spinning in the air. Something warm brushed on Kenji's skin - gone before he understood it.
Souma snapped behind. Too late. Kenji's foot found him first. Souma's face bounced back before he skidded on the sand.
"No way..."
"Souma got taken down?!"
"Kenji..." Akira called his name. All of them froze in place.
Souma crawled up on both of his feet. He looked at Kenji through the thick sand. Glowing blue energy ran across his muscles. His fingers jolted. One of Souma's eyes flinched as he approached Kenji. Unhurried.
The warriors tensed up. Something spread down their back as their chest pounded.
Kenji felt it harder. His feet stepped back before he could understand. That faint light on Souma's skin. The red of Akuma's fists. Tension grew on Kenji as he tightened his muscles.
Electric webs ran across his body, "Damn you."
Souma shot himself to Kenji with his fist charged. The glowing blue flickered at his knuckles. Kenji dropped his elbow to the ribs. Souma's fist found his liver first. And again. Kenji gasped hard as he couldn't see Souma's move.
Just result.
"KENJI!" Homura lunged forward but Akira stopped him again, "Wait..."
His body folded left. Bounced right. The shock jolted his muscles with the white burn. Souma drove forward with his leg swung. Kenji arched at his left ribs. Jaws dropped as Souma continuously hit the same spot. Livershot.
"Bam!" Feinted and right hook.
Kenji's feet stumbled back - losing balance. A grasp at his collar, Kenji turned to the pull. The blue electric webs spread on Souma's body and gathered at the elbow.
"KUNNK!" The ground rumbled on impact. Sand hurled up the air in a perfect ring. Kenji's back slammed onto the ground with a thud. He bounced twice before rolling on the sand. His vision blurred. Souma stood there and stared down at Kenji.
"You should never be here."
"Don't let luck fool you. Weak," Souma turned back and walked away. Kenji's breath caught in his throat as he watched Souma leaving. A brief silence hung over the area before Homura broke it.
His fingers curled and locked firmly on Souma's shoulder, "My turn."
Souma snapped forward. His heel whirled to Homura's face.
Homura spread his palm at the face as Souma's leg landed.
Souma frowned deep. He turned his body to pull himself off the grip. Both feet shot out and jumped far from Homura.
Akira ran to Kenji and dragged him up on his feet, "You're good?" Kenji nodded before shifting to Homura.
Souma threw himself forward. Foot landed. Homura didn't flinch as he raised his elbow near his ear. Souma spun and swung his arm. Homura pinned his attention on the incoming fist. Raised arms.
Souma feinted. His leg drove into the abs before dashing back.
Homura grabbed his wrist. Pulled hard and swung his sharp elbow.
Souma gasped hard. He slid down beneath Homura yet the elbow still found him.
Homura turned back. His face jerked to the right as the web ran from fist to cheek. He stumbled back and raised his guard. No one in sight. He folded his abs. He glanced down left - Souma's leg was already driving into his side. Eyes faintly glowing blue. Homura locked his jaw and stomped down to regain balance. Both arms dropped and lunged to the leg at his abs.
Too slow. Souma withdrew. Spun. Heel drove straight to Homura's face.
His head snapped back. Hand caught Souma's foot anyway. Pulled. Swept the others before slamming Souma onto the sand. The ground rumbled. The air exploded in Souma's lungs as his mouth hung open after his back hit the ground.
Lift. "Krunk!"
His breath hitched hard. Veins grew from his face to neck as he gritted his teeth. Souma pushed and slid his palms beneath Homura's thumb, "Don't... play with…Me!" He bent the finger back and Homura's grip weakened. Souma spun on Homura's arm with his heel flickering the blue webs.
"Pow!" The ground jolted. Sand hurled in a perfect circle when Souma found Homura's cheek.
Homura stumbled back. Souma rolled on the ground and got on his knees. Homura grabbed his chin as the electric webs flashed across the red spot. Rubbed and adjusted it from the left to the right. Souma stood up. Stared at Homura's pupils and cracked his fingers. Head tilted.
Homura approached first. Souma took a step forward.