Martial Arts Worlds

"…"

Not saying a word, Aoi just stared at their injured selves and looked quite displeased because the tournament of dojos was only two weeks away.

And then they went and got injured, which was just the pinnacle of idiocy.

It was already forbidden to go to Guard Angel's cave as there had been a few casualties, but Master Arakawa still knew that his students were going there.

He still kind of allowed it only because no one was getting severely injured, but he was debating if he should put a complete end to it.

Now, even though these two didn't get injured in Guard Angel's cave, they might've now forced Master Arakawa's hand in making a decision.

"We're sorry, Miss Aoi."

Dante said and did some hand signals. It was clear that Aoi didn't pay attention to what he spoke but looked only at those hand signals.

At that moment, Aoi made some hand signals and then brought some healing liquid from her pocket.

It was small vials of different colors, and she handed Gunwoo and Dante one—then she looked at Kiernan and also tossed him one.

Kiernan caught it and looked at her silent self, finally realizing why he had never heard her speak a word.

'She is mute, and since Dante had to speak with hand signs to her, she must be deaf as well.'

Kiernan gulped the healing liquid down to his throat and felt the cool sensation spread throughout his body, numbing the pain of his wounds.

At that moment, Aoi did some hand signs and pointed towards the Guard Angel's cave.

"Are you serious, Miss Aoi? Us and him?"

Dante asked with disbelief coming to his face and happened to glance towards Kiernan with a look of uncertainty.

Aoi bobbed her head.

"What is she saying?"

Kiernan asked as he realized it was something about him.

"She wants us to challenge Guard Angel together. I don't know why, but it is her wish, and we better listen to her."

Gunwoo said and threw his arms out in front of him.

Aoi brushed past Dante and headed towards the looming cave, with the rest of the young men silently following behind her.

When they arrived at the chamber, the stone statue stood in front of the stainless steel door without moving an inch.

It was waiting for challengers.

Aoi stopped walking, turned around to look at the three young men, and waited for them to say something.

"She wants us to do the planning. When we usually go together to challenge the Guard Angel, we have our own roles.

"Such as a damage dealer, tank, or support."

Dante said.

"I've usually acted as support. Whenever one of us gets into trouble, I can use my movement speed to rescue them quickly."

Gunwoo said.

"How are your knees? Can you even use your speed?"

Kiernan asked.

"The healing medicine that Aoi gave me has very potent healing properties, so I am as good as new."

Gunwoo said, and displayed it by running a lap around them with such speed that it only looked like a wind passing by.

"I've been the primary damage dealer. My punches are strong enough to destroy Guard Angel's stone shell."

Dante said.

"Fine, I will just be the tank then. I'll attract the stone statue's aggro, and you guys can take the rest."

Kiernan said.

"Very well."

Dante nodded and hand-signaled Aoi about what they just discussed, and she nodded briefly without responding back.

"What is her role?"

Kiernan asked.

"She will be another damage dealer, but she can also be support. She will help whoever needs it. Just leave it to her. She is the ace of Yokai Dojo for a reason."

Dante said.

"Alright."

Kiernan said, cracked his knuckles, and then they all headed towards the statue, soon arriving at its combat area.

With the cracking of stone sounding, the statue came back to life, and its eyes turned back to life.

Its mouth soon opened.

"Arakawa Aoi—Threat Level: 7."

"Dante Rojas—Threat Level: 6."

"Gunwoo Park—Threat Level: 6."

"Kiernan Hunter—Threat Level: 5."

The statue closed its mouth, and its gaze shifted to Aoi, recognizing her as the greatest threat in the match, and immediately lunged towards her.

Aoi lowered her stance and placed her frail-looking hands in front of her. It didn't look like she could do anything against the statue's stone fists.

However, at that moment, black-haired young man appeared in front of her, and redirected the punches away.

"Rendering Edge…"

Kiernan calmly looked into the statue's eyes, whose pupils turned into slits.

"…"

Aoi looked silently at him and then nodded with Dante before both of them lunged forward with their techniques flying forward.

"Akaryu Soken!"

Dante punched at the statue in the chest, and a flaming spear went straight through its stone body, causing raging fires to erupt from the impact.

Aoi touched the statue's face, and with only a single touch, she brought him down to the ground, shattering its face into thousands of pieces.

However, no one relaxed as only second later, its face regenerated, and it stood right back up, throwing few kicks in Aoi's direction, but she easily dodged them all.

Crack~ Crack~ Crack~

At that moment, six more arms appeared from its back. It now had eight arms to use, and they all headed straight towards Aoi.

It was making it its sole purpose to destroy Aoi!

Swoosh!

With those arms reaching towards Aoi, Gunwoo suddenly grabbed her into a hug and moved her out of the way just in time.

At that moment, Kiernan appeared in the path of those eight arms and unleashed his Rendering Edge, moving his arms faster than ever before.

"RENDERING EDGE!"

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

Despite those arms overwhelming him, he was able to deflect them all with his black fortress walls standing tall like giants!

'He attracted all of the Guard Angel's aggro. It is time!'

Dante saw red and immediately jumped towards the statue, smashing his fist through its face, shattering it like glass.

Guard Angel stumbled back, but once again, its face regenerated, and four more arms appeared from its destroyed back.

"Whew… Can you handle that much, Kiernan?!"

Dante asked.

It wasn't a question made out of mockery, but out of concern. They had to know whether Kiernan could handle that, as he was the one trying to attract Guard Angel's aggro.

If he couldn't handle all those arms, they needed to change their plan!

"I can do it. Just keep attacking."

Kiernan stood strong, motioned for the Guard Angel to make the first attack, and clearly taunted it to come at him.