The Greatest Fight [progression cultivation isekai]

X2.5.6 - Preliminaries

"That's how it's done," Nirvana roared, as she stepped off the ring, panting, covered in sweat and splatters of blood.

"We have our First Wonder! Gunhand Nirvana of Grand Market!" shouted the announcer. "She will be heading to the final battle."

"That was—impressive," said Indigo, "too bad there's too many of us and I ended up having to fight you," she said, smiling. "I'm out of the tournament already."

"I'm out too, but I don't mind. I'm just here for the entertainment, honestly," C-Saw said, "you're really strong!"

"Thanks," Nirvana said with a serious face. "The rest of you better get to the final."

She walked away, wiping the sweat off her face with a towel.

The competition continued for weeks and the fights progressed. Shiro found himself facing Elevar, who although was much stronger than he was, somehow lost to the white rabbit. Unfortunately for him, however, in the last match of Tournament 2, Shiro fought against the mysterious warrior named Hopper, losing to him when he fell out of the ring.

"The warrior with the grasshopper helmet is really strong. I am getting a reading of an auric level of around 2000," said Thero, standing in the crowd.

"You're able to read auras?" asked Roa, raising his eyebrows.

"Yes, Sunflower. I have upgraded my sensors and am able to gauge a person's energy levels," the robot answered.

"That's great news. We'll be able to use that to our advantage. We won't be running in the dark any longer thanks to your upgrade. Good job," the boy patted the android.

"Much appreciated," the robot's digital face smiled.

"The Third Wonder and finalist is—" the monk on the loud speaker paused for a moment, staring down at his paper, "Rosso Regola, of Lalh-Ah Land!"

The heretic raised his fists in the air and screamed, victorious. He had beaten every opponent, barely making it in the last fight, but winning nonetheless.

"Did you see that?" he shouted as he rejoined with his friends in the crowd.

"That was amazing! You're lucky you were able to get back up before the countdown was over," said Indigo, hugging the boy from the desert.

"Yeah, the other guy hurt his leg, so—I guess I got lucky. Looks like I'm going to the final. I'm not so weak, after all," Rosso said with a proud smirk.

"Looks like—hold on," shouted the announcer, "I just got word that we have our Fourth Wonder! Two on the same day, what a great moment! The fourth finalist is—Waddles—Quackleton!"

The crew glanced at each other, as a few smirked.

"That's a funny-sounding name. Doesn't sound so tough to me," joked Indigo.

Roa felt his sight blur, and his head began to spin. He leaned on Rosso as sweat ran down his brow.

"You alright, man?" his friend asked.

"Yeah—I'm good. I'm good," Roa said, shaking it off.

As the weeks progressed, the last finalists finally stood out. The Sunflower had fought various opponents, mostly weak Jumpers with not much fighting experience. However, as time went on, the fights became harder for the boy. Not only were the fighters stronger, but more importantly, Roa was getting weaker. His infection was now covering almost his whole body, leaving only half of his face with its normal color. The teenager from Earth stepped up onto the ring for the last match. It was now or never.

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

"I win this one—and I'm the Seventh Wonder. I'm in the final," he murmured to himself.

The cheers of the crowd were muffled, and he began to get tunnel vision. His opponent stepped onto the ring, but his eyes could not focus. He could not see him clearly. He felt weak, as if even standing was hard.

"The last match in the preliminaries is between—Roa None, and Khailas, the Blind!" shouted the announcer as the crowd went wild.

A young, skinny, shirtless man came into view. He walked up to the Sunflower and bowed. He had a white bandage on his eyes, and was holding a white cane which he tapped around, as if to figure out where he was.

Roa looked at him, tilting his head slightly.

"I won't go easy on you, just because—" the boy said.

"Because I'm blind?" interrupted Khailas. "I didn't ask you to. I want to fight you at your fullest potential, although—it seems that you are not in your peak state," he said, pointing the cane his way.

"How do you know if you can't even see me?"

"I can feel it. I can sense your aura, and I can tell that you are not well. Your flame is weak," he said. "I will not go easy on you, just because—"

"I didn't ask you to. I'm fine. Now, fight me!" Roa said, getting ready.

The wind blew as the crowd went quiet. The sun shone above, burning hot as it reflected off of the stones of the massive ring. A noise—like something falling behind the crowd, alerted the boy from Earth, causing him to move out of instinct. He leapt forth, ready to strike. To his astonishment, however, he found himself bent over, with Khailas' elbow in his stomach.

"H—how?"

He took a few steps back, stumbling as he tried to regain his breath.

"If you are going to attack me head on, at least make your aura Whisper, or you will make it too easy for me," his opponent said, waving his stick around.

The Sunflower took a deep breath and repressed his energy. He disappeared from view, causing a few gasps in the crowd as people looked around for him. He took aim and shot a ray of energy down. His opponent, however, disappeared before the hit could land.

"You use your eyes too much," Khailas taunted. "You'll never catch me off guard that way."

"Damn you! I must get to the final!"

The two exchanged blows in a dance of fists and kicks, twists and turns.

"Why? Why do you need to get to the final?" Khailas asked as they fought. "Do you fight for your ego? Or do you fight for the prize?"

"Because the revolution depends upon this!" shouted the Sunflower.

His opponent's eyebrows raised above the white cloth covering his eyes.

"What revolution?" he asked, stopping to catch his breath for a moment.

"The Greatest Fight. The fight to awaken ourselves, liberate Humanity, and save Nature from destruction," Roa said, standing tall, "the battle against the Great Death and the Old Order."

"Why do you fight?" shouted Khailas back as the barrage of blows resumed.

"I told you! For the sake of the revolution!"

"Why do you really fight?!" the blind man hit him even harder.

"I told you!"

"Why—do you—FIGHT?"

"Because I need a purpose to live," Roa blurted out, shoving him away. The two stood facing each other, without saying a word. "Because I want a reason to stay alive. Because I have no purpose without it, and I feel—lost, hopeless—alone." Roa took a deep breath. "I fight because I have felt the pain of the world, and I wish for it to end. I wish for all the people and living beings to stop suffering. But—I also fight—because I'm scared. I'm scared of not mattering—of not being good enough—of not belonging anywhere."

Khailas smiled.

"There you go, Sunflower. Just because we have freed ourselves from the shackles of religion, culture, origin and class, doesn't mean that there are no more chains still holding us down. The journey to enlightenment is a long one—one that takes the whole journey—the whole pilgrimage."

"What pilgrimage?"

"Life," Khailas said.

"How do you know who I am?"

"I've heard rumors in the sleeping quarters that the Sunflower joined the tournament. I've felt many energies while here—but none were like yours—even if you are not at your maximum state."

"I see."

"No, you do not see. You are blinder than I am. You are blinded by your own fears and insecurities, by your ego and your own self-loathing." Roa stood there, unable to say anything back. "Until you free yourself from what is holding you back, you will never achieve your potential, and you will continue chasing the shadow."

"Which Shadow? Mister Briteside?" asked the boy.

"Your own, Sunflower. The one you believe is cast by the person you think you were—or the person you think you should be."

"I don't understand."

"You will, one day. In due time. For now, consider yourself lucky. Your aura is dropping with every movement of your body. Your energy is but a fourth of mine. There is no chance to defeat me at this point."

The boy scoffed. "How would you consider that—lucky?"

Khailas smiled and turned around, facing away from the boy, walking towards the edge of the ring. "Because, you are lucky enough that I believe in change and in your—revolution."

"Where are you going? Finish the fight with me!"

"It is more important that you get to the final than I do, Sunflower. I am not sure why, however, for surely you will not win it, nonetheless—" Khailas said, raising his hand at him as he stepped off the ring, "I admit—defeat."

The crowd went wild.

"What did we just witness? Khailas has given up and has stepped off the ring! Roa is the winner of the last tournament and the Seventh Wonder! Come back tomorrow for the final battle against the seven greatest fighters on this side of the Innerverse! The Seven Wonders Tournament is coming to an end—tomorrow!" shouted the announcer.

The boy from Earth stared at the blind man as he walked into the crowd, disappearing. He collapsed onto the ground as his words echoed in his mind.