Cage of the Shattered

chapter 14

 Today was the day. It had been the fourth day of the tournament.Raijin Laid back and thought to himself. On the first day he battled a mannamed Khanshindo. The second day, he battled his older sister, Calista Kiji.On the third day, he battled his father, Deion Kiji. On the fourth day, hisrecent match, he fought a young woman named Niwa. Raijin had foughthard during these battles. He suffered much damage from Deion and hadto battle Niwa only using his basic instincts as his physical body had mostlyfallen apart. He was still ashamed of what had to be done. Earlier in theday he was told that he was the final contestant of the tournament. Thelocation of the battle would change once more. He was going to have torelocate to a nearby active volcano. "So this is it," Raijin thought to himself.The boy's phone rang. It was a call from one of the tournament organizers."Come outside the hotel, you will be battling here in a few minutes,"the voice said. Raijin understood as he hung up his phone. Raijin thengrabbed his jacket and put it on. He made his way out the building. His hairimmediately flew back. Wind blew in all directions. A large helicopter wassitting out front along with several men in business suits. They all smiledand pointed at the helicopter. Raijin paused for a moment and then steppedonto the helicopter. A few of the men stepped on as well and sat acrossfrom Raijin."Alright, this is it. Lots of people are watching, put on a good show.We will drop you off onto this platform and then from there, you will walkacross the bridge. It will be very hot. You will be on a stage hanging abovea volcano. Good luck!" one of the men in a suit explained. Raijin was silent.The helicopter took off.The island was beautiful. "Wow," Raijin said as his vision was filledwith various trees and structures. After several minutes, they wereapproaching the volcano. A small building was on the side with a largestaircase with railings leading up from the bottom of the volcano to the verytop. The helicopter hovered over a platform in front of the building."Will you be okay from here?," the man in the suit said loudly. Raijin noddedhis head and opened the helicopter door.Raijin then leaped out of it and landed onto the ground. Raijin walkedacross the bridge. He looked down and saw all the lava under him splashupwards but not enough to reach the tournament stage platform. Raijin hadseen on the list, he was fighting someone named Rose. Raijin waitedpatiently in the middle of the concrete stage that was held up by the bridgeand cables to each corner of the open hole of the volcano.A few minutes pass as Raijin waits patiently. Over the crest of the volcano,the chopping sound of a helicopter's blades bellows. The helicopter zoomsforward over the top of the stage. It begins to lower.Drew: "You ready for this?"Rose: "Not even close."Drew: (looking down on to the stage) "An active volcano, hmmmmm."(looking at Raijin) "Opponents already there."Rose looks down to see Raijin for the first time. The helicopter lowers to afew feet from the stage. Rose and Drew fist bump before Rose jumps out.Landing on his feet, Rose stares down Raijin. The helicopter flies off withDrew watching the two combatants.Drew: (to self) "This doesn't look good."Rose takes a few steps forward in the suspended stage arena. Rose andRaijin keep eyes locked.Rose: (to self) "A kid?" (quickly once over Raijin) "Weird looking kid at that."(To Raijin) "Hey."Raijin doesn't respond as he prepares his fighting stance. Rose prepareshis.Rose: (to self) "Guess not a talker. Something seems off about him."Rose examines Raijin closer.Rose: (to self) "He isn't sweating?"Around Raijin's body, lightning cracks. Instantly, Raijin disappears. Astreak of lightning flashes along the stage. Rose doubles over aas Raijin'selbow is planted in Rose's stomach. Raijin removes his elbow and standsover Rose.Rose: (to self) "He's fast."Rose looks up to Raijin, lightning still cracking around him. Rosespins trying to sweep and kick Raijin's legs. Again in a flash Raijin is gone,appearing on the other side of the arena. The heat is stifling as the lavabelow snaps and pops. Rose stands up reestablishing his posture. Raijin'slightning still covers his body. Stepping forward, Raijin zips around Rose.Rose tries following the lightning with his eyes.Rose: (to self) "He's too fast. I can't keep up."Raijin appears behind Rose, elbowing him in the back. Rosestumbles forward, he turns to swing at the position Raijin was. Confused,Rose doesn't see anyone there. Behind Rose, Raijin appears again. Raijinin mid-air kicks Rose in his back. Stumbling again, Rose falls forward.Raijin zips back a few feet away from Rose.Rose: (to self) "I have to do something about that speed of his."Raijin: (to self) "He doesn't seem to be much of a fighter. He is hidingsomething but what?"Raijin slowly walks around Rose, who is getting himself set again.Raijin: (to self) "Not many openings but as long as he can't keep up with mylightning, I should be fine."Raijin prepares his lightning and zips toward Rose.Rose: (to self) "Here he comes. NOW!"Rose releases his gravitational force field. As the force field extends out, itcatches Raijin in mid step. Raijin stops right next to Rose, prepared topunch Rose in the kidneys.Raijin: (to self) "What the..."Rose: "There you are."Rose throws a punch connecting with Raijin's lower jaw. Raijin slides back,stunned as the punch follows through. Rose releases the force field.Rose: (to self) "Got lucky with that one. I can't do this all match. My fieldeats up too much energy. There has to be a way to limit his speed but keepmyself from burning out."Raijin: (disbelief) "He stopped me. Knew there was more to him."Rose rushes into Raijin, who quickly dodges away with his lightning. Withhis lightning, Raijin zips away.Raijin: (to self) "Odd. That was too easy."Raijin rushes back in. Rose realizing what is happening, braces for impact.Raijin stops right in Rose's face. Raijin's eyes dead of emotion, Rose'ssurprised. Raijin swings at Rose, who blocks. Rose slides back slightly.Rose: (to self) "He must have been cautious with that one."Rose, sweat rolling down his face, looks at Raijin closely. Raijin isunphased by the lava boiling underneath.Rose: "How are you not sweating?"Raijin: "I'm just used to it, from my own powers".Rose: (slightly confused) "Ok then."Raijin's lightning cracks again, disappearing in a flash. Rose reflectivelyactivates his force field. Raijin stops short just out of reach of the force field,his lightning still circulating around him. Rose deactivates the force field.Raijin: (to self) "No. Can't get closer he might activate that power again. Inthat case."Raijin raises his hand, out of his oozes an orange. The ooze pours out,centralizing into a ball in his palm. The ooze ball heats up.Rose: "The hell?"Rose feels the heat coming from the orb. Raijin drops down, slamming hispalm onto the ground. From his hand, flames rise from the floor shootingtowards Rose. The closer they come, the more heat Rose feels.Rose: (to self) "Shit!"Rose pulls back to prepare a punch. Using a weaker version of planetarycrash, he slams into the ground at an angle, jetasing a piece of the arenaup. The flames hit the elevated arena floor and shoot into the air. The heatis intense, melting away a layer of the arena floor off. After the flamesdisperse, Rose looks around the edge for Raijin. Raijin is gone, he appearsnext to Rose behind the elevated floor. Rose turns to see him about to landa kick.Rose: "Caught you!"Raijin, confused for a split second, feels his body slam into the floor. Rosenails a punch into Raijin's gut, knocking the air out of him. Rose raises hisother fist preparing a Planetary Crash but jumps away once noticing moreooze from Raijin's hand spewing out.Rose: (to self) "Caught him there but can't keep using full power. Have tofigure out another means to slow him down."Raijin: (to self) "Smart, he realized I was going to close the distancebetween us once the flames dispersed."Raijin stands back up. The lightning cracking around him again. Rose rackshis brain for a means to slow Raijin's speed.Rose: (to self) Maybe this can work.Raijin flashes forward. He keeps his eyes squared solely on Rose. Raijincloses in, his body becoming heavy but not frozen. Rose activated his forcefield but at a much lower level, causing Raijin to lose much of his speed.Raijin: (to self) What is this?Rose: Guess it will. Now we can turn this into a fairer fight. (to self) If I cankeep my force field at this level, I can keep this up for a while. Hopefullyenough to end this.Raijin keeps moving toward Rose, who winds up to punch Raijin. Raijin'shand becomes engulfed with flames.Raijin: Eat this!Raijin's flame engulfed hand falls just short of Rose but the impact causesRose to move back several feet. The flames began to spiral. Raijin hadonly built up enough energy for his nuclear fission, with the small amount offood he had recently. Rose was then blown away from the explosion.Rose: Impressive.Rose gets himself off the ground, attempting to regain his balance. Roseshakes off the numb feeling in his hands from trying to shield himself fromthe impact.Rose: (to self) The force field is still up so that's good. Maybe I can try thesame with this..Rose's arms get surrounded by the Planetary Crash but a weakversion, 10x gravity. Raijin charges at him and tackles Rose to the ground.Raijin hovers over Rose and begins a flurry of punches. Rose covers hishead to shield, before taking his right hand and punching Raijin's cheek.The impact caused Raijin to fall off. Rose quickly leaped onto Raijin andpunched him in the face. Raijin headbutted Rose. Blood dripping down bothof their foreheads. Raijin expected Rose to get off but he didn't. Rose liftedhis head and then smashed his forehead back into Raijin's. Raijin managedto kick him off. The two stand. One of the cables that held the stage upsnapped apart. The two stumble slightly but are unphased. Crowds fromaround the world were cheering. A few stands were made for people to seethe battle up close but most of the battle was viewed via large Tv screensthroughout the island. Many helicopters and cameras surrounded theplatform the two were on. Raijin then ran at Rose. Rose ran towards him.The two cocked their arms and released their fists together. The clash senta shockwave, and a gust of wind blowing back the tv choppers. Raijin andRose clashed fists and then forearms and then they kicked. Each attacksent shockwaves. Rose grabbed onto Raijin's arm and then began topunch Raijin's side. Raijin then pulled Rose to the side and flipped him ontohis back. Raijin stomped onto Rose's stomach. Rose then pressed hishands against Raijin's leg but it wouldn't budge.Raijin: (to self) I have to win this.Raijin thought as shoved his foot deeper in. Rose then swiftly turnedto the side and swiftly low kicked Raijin. Raijin fell to his knees. Rose stoodup and slammed his knee into Raijin's face. Raijin rolled across the arena.Before Rose can go in for another attack, he is blasted back by a bolt oflightning. Raijin stood up. The two rapidly clashed there fists. Their handsinterlocked together. The two were trying to push as hard as they could.Rose used his gravity to make himself heavier and shove Raijin. The boytook a step back before punching the right side of Rose's face. Raijincocked back his left arm and swung his fist onto the other side of his face.Rose focused gravity onto his legs and kicked Raijin's side. The impactsent Raijin flying to the side. Raijin remained standing up. He then leapedup and punched Rose directly in his face. Raijin quickly then kicked Rose inthe chest, causing him to fall. Raijin held out his hand and pointed his palmat Rose. electricity sparked around his hand for a blast. Raijin released thelighting and it reflected back as Rose used his barrier in time. Raijin fell tohis knees as his body was being burned by his own electricity. Rosereleased the barrier and spun and kicked Raijin. Raijin flew over the edge.His hands barely caught onto the ledge as he raised himself up. Rose liftedRaijin by the arm and slammed him into the concrete. Another cableholding up the arena snapped in half. The stage slowly began to tiltdownwards. Raijin kicked Rose in the face as he attempted to get on top ofhim. Rose raised his leg high into the air and slammed it into Raijin's chest.The concrete around them cracked. Small pebbles fell into the pit of lavabelow them. Raijin grabbed Rose's leg and slammed him to the ground.The two stood up. Rose then pushed Raijin off balance. Rose began aflurry of multiple kicks to Raijin's face and chest. Raijin blocked the finalkick before rushing in quickly and upper cutting Rose. Blood spilled fromhis nose and mouth. Raijin took advantage of Rose being dazed. Raijinelbowed Rose in his left cheek before back handing him and punching himmultiple times in the stomach and then kicking him. Rose flew towards theedge. Rose slowly rolled over and looked over the edge. The lava wassplashing everywhere. A drip of lava splashed onto the platform and melteda small piece of concrete. Rose began to get up. He quickly ran andheadbutted Raijin in the stomach. Raijin slammed into the ground. Roseleaped onto him and punched him in the face and in the stomach. Raijinraised his upper body and bit the side of Rose's neck.Rose: The fuck.Raijin then pushed Rose off of him. Raijin hovered over rose and wrappedhis hands around Rose's neck. Raijin slowly began to drag him across theground.Rose: (to self) No.Rose deactivates the planetary crash on his arms and uses the force fieldto full power, stopping Raijin in his tracks. Rose grabs Raijin's arm, pulls hislegs up to wrap them around Raijin's neck and chest. Lowering the gravityback to before, he flips Raijin into an arm bar. Raijin struggled as he tried topush Rose off but failed. Raijin used all his strength to attempt to lift Roseoff the ground but they immediately fell off the ground. Raijin began to heatup his body. Rose released his grip. His clothes slowly began to burn away.Raijin lifted Rose in the air before slamming him into the ground. Rosequickly grabbed Raijin's face and used gravity on his hands to slam Raijin'shead into the ground next to him. Rose rolled over on top of Raijin andpunched his forehead. Raijin punched the side of Rose's jaw but he slowlyresisted and punched Raijin's chest to the point that it caved in. Rose wasgetting desperate. The fight needed to end soon. Rose held his armstogether in the air and clenched his hands together.Rose: (lowering his fists as a sledgehammered) Planetary Crash!The arena begins to shatter as the hit lands in Raijin. Rose continued hisassault before cocking back his arm and punching downwards. The impactcreated a shockwave and broke the arena completely. The concrete beganseparating. The two began to fall deeper into the volcano. Raijin in midairgrabbed Rose by his hood. Raijin slammed his head rapidly into Rose'sforehead. Raijin repeatedly punches Rose. Rose then kicked Raijin intoone of the falling pieces of concrete. The two had fallen nearly sixty feetdown from where the arena was. Raijin leaped from concrete piece toconcrete piece until he reached down where Rose was. The two held ontoeach other. Rose flipped over Raijin, concentrating his planetary crash intohis legs, slams his weakened crash into Raijin's stomach. The two crashlanded onto a large rock that was floating amidst the lava. Raijin's backslammed into the rock hard and tiled the upper portion of the rock into thelava causing some of it to fall apart. The helicopters moved directly abovethe volcano. They dropped rope down the hole, the rope held cameras atthe ends of them to get a better view of the fight. Raijin kicked Rose off ofhim. Rose tilted backwards and was shoulder shoved as Raijin pushedforward. Raijin punched Rose on the side of his ribs and then punched theside of his face. Rose retaliated with a kick directly onto Raijin's kneecapand nearly breaking it. As Rose rushed forward, Raijin took a step back andthen elbowed Rose. the rocks they were on were tilting back and forth. Thetwo fell backwards. The two were tired. Raijin was coughing up blood. Roseheld his neck and then rubbed his chest. Sweat continuously poured out ofRose. The lava's heat was becoming too much. Raijin stood up. As Roselooked up, all he could see was a foot that covered his vision. He was soonkicked further across the rock. Raijin stumbled over and fell. Rose stood upand kicked Raijin across the rock. The tips of Raijin's hair fell in the lavaand burned away. Raijin rolled over and got on his arms and knees. Rosestomped onto Raijin's back and slammed him onto the rock hard. Rose'svision was becoming blurry. Steam was surrounding Rose's clothes. Part ofthe rock had caught fire. Raijin lifted himself up and forced Rose to losebalance. Raijin attempted to backhand Rose but he managed to catch hisarm and flip Raijin over his back. Raijin fell and then kicked Rose's footmaking him trip as well. The two get up slowly. They quickly attempted topush each other with their shoulders but simply tripped and landed pasteach other. Both of them turned around and get up. Rose is doubled overas Raijin is on one knee.Rose: (out of breath) Hey.Raijin: (panting) What?Rose: I don't have much left. You?Raijin shakes his head no as the two try to catch their respective breaths.Rose: How's this? One last go. Winner takes all.Raijin weakly nods his head. The two slowly stand up. The two made eyecontact.Rose: On three. Three!Raijin yelled a battle roar alongside Rose as the two ran for each other withthe last bit of energy they each had left. the two cocked back their arms.Both punches landed, Raijin punched the left side of Rose's face and Rosepunched the right side of Raijin's face. Each other's fist deeply pressed intothe other's face. The two stand motionless, their bodies screaming in pain.Rose's vision begins to fade as he feels his legs give out. Raijin falls first tohis knee. Rose stands for a second before his body gives out entirely,slamming into the ground. Raijin looked up to the sky. His mind was blankand vision narrowing, unable to see his surroundings clearly. Over the blackmass of the blurry volcano walls, the shining lights from the helicoptersblinds Raijin for a moment. Raijin barely won the battle. It could have goneany other way if the situation was different. Different locations, if their battletook place in any other round. Raijin raised his arm into the air andclenched his fist. After a moment, Raijin fell over onto the rock. He wasunconscious alongside Rose. The helicopter lowers as medic hop out toretrieve the unconscious bodies. One of the medics checked each one'spulse.Medic: They are alive. (pointing to Rose) This one is barely holding on.Medic 2: Put them on the stretchers. We have an emergency.The helicopter quickly takes off to evacuate the fighters, heading to thehospital. They were in a small hospital like facility. Several hours havepassed before Raijin wakes, he looks around his empty room then at thesetting sun out the window. Holding his stomach, he walks over to his bookbag to eat the last of his meat. Turning he sees a bottle of painkillers.Taking two he walks out his room to the hallway. Across from his room isRose's, who still lays unconscious in his bed. He is attached to manymonitors as his breath is labored. In the room stands Drew with Ivannasitting by his side. The two look over Rose, tears in their eyes.Drew: (sigh) Come on man. Just wake up.The monitor's beep slowly, showing just how bad the battle was on Rose.Ivanna holds Rose's motionless hand, it's cold to the touch. From thehallway, one of the medics from the helicopter comes in.Medic: I'm sorry but visiting hours are over. We need you two to leave. Youcan come back tomorrow but we have to have all guests leave.Drew: Can we just do five more minutes?Medic: I'm sorry but we can't allow that.Drew places his hand on Ivanna's shoulder. SHe looks up to Drew beforeshe stands up. SHe kisses Rose on the cheek before walking passed Drewto the door. Drew stands next to Rose's bed, Ivanna stops at the doorturning back to Drew and Rose. He looks down at Rose's face, the blackeye and scraps all over his face.Drew: (choked up) Another good one.Drew walks to the door and follows Ivanna out. The two stop as they lockeyes with Raijin. The two don't say a word as they walk down the hallway.Raijin walks back to his bed, most of his wounds already healed. Behindhim several men in business suits entered the room and explained what allhappened. Raijin was then outside the facility. The men told him to speakon live Tv and his thoughts. A reporter stood in front of Raijin as severalcameras were placed in front of him. He was nervous but he knew what tosay. The cameraman signaled the news to be started."Hello this is Anna Portland with channel 10 news, and here I am with thewinner of the martial arts tournament. This tournament has been mindblowing, with many asking what exactly is happening in the world. A Lot ofmoney was on the line, one hundred billion dollars was prize money for therisk of death involved. This boy right here fought someone in a volcano andfrom what we saw, he is another one of these superhumans. Let's see whathe has to say," The news lady said happily. She pointed the microphonenear Raijin's mouth."My name is Raijin Kiji. I am the son of Deion Kiji. I'd like to say, I'm happyto be here. I feel like I did my job. Everything in my life led me here. It wasall worth it. I did this for my mom. I wanted to make her proud. I don't havethe best family but I loved them all. Including my dad who I defeated in thethird round. I just wanted to be happy. But most importantly, I wanted mymother to be happy. She helped me do what I needed to do, gave memotivation and gave me all I wanted in life, and now is my chance to repayher. Give her a life she should have always had," Raijin said as he lookedinto the camera with a smile."I love you mom, my sister. I hope this was the way to do everything. Mydestiny," Raijin said as his final words. The lady smiled and continued totalk. Then multiple people came out with a huge piece of paper that saidone hundred billion dollars to show off to the world. The news broadcastended. With the tournament being over, many people began to find ways toleave the island. Apollo Wrath who had watched everything go down beganmoving towards the exit of the island. After signing documents and havinghis money transferred to bank accounts and some in cash, Raijin wasready to leave. He carried his bookbag and left the area. Prepared to takeon the new world that was created.