Chapter 4 –[ Zhàn Dòu 01 ]–

March 2, 2023

The constellation of stars gathered closely tonight, marking the return of a sacred tradition. The local inhabitants eagerly anticipated the revival of this event.

Twelve years ago, this tradition was used to select the next division leader. Each head of the Chinese branches had an equal chance to obtain the position of division leader, or Zodiac. Naturally, all the branch leaders across China would come, even though this event wasn't about electing the next division leader. Media coverage would also broadcast the event to the world.

The Chinese branch heads were divided according to the twelve Chinese zodiac signs:

Dragon: Beijing, Jianying Ren.

Snake: Shanghai, An Haocun.

Ox: Chongqing, Jun Kai.

Monkey: Tianjin, Liu Xingsheng.

Goat: Chengdu, Hongli Fu.

Rooster: Guangzhou, Xue Lin.

Rat: Harbin, Ling Ling.

Dog: Wuhan, Zhang Yue.

Pig: Shenzhen, Yuze Tao.

Horse: Xi'an, Kai Zen.

Tiger: Hangzhou, Laohu Xin.

Rabbit: Nanjing, Mei Mei.

Nine men and three women in total. According to legend, the twelve zodiac animals were meant to protect the "Heavenly Emperor." Here, the emperor or empress was Luxia. The twelve zodiacs were bound to serve and remain loyal to her, even at the cost of their lives. But only one could become her permanent personal bodyguard.

Now, the twelve zodiacs had arrived. The battleground had been prepared: a hundred-meter circular field inside the Academy's building, resembling a Western colosseum. The branch leaders and Luxia had special seats, like a VIP box at a football stadium.

A large red drum began to sound, its beats echoing through the arena. A thin shield was erected around the field to prevent stray attacks from hitting the audience.

The tradition was about to begin.

"Hello, hello... Kou here, your host for this evening! The long-awaited tradition, dormant for years, is finally making a comeback!"

The young man was brimming with excitement. He wore the Academy's uniform and spoke while floating on a pentagonal stone, grinning widely and shouting out.

"Many thanks to our beloved leader, we can witness the strength of five-star Hunters battling in the arena today. They will compete for the position of Miss Luxia's personal bodyguard. But wait... What's this? Isn't Miss Luxia usually the one who chooses whoever she desires to be her guard?"

The audience began to murmur, the sound like the buzz of bees filling the air.

"Well, this is an impromptu tradition because one of the branch leaders objected to the guard chosen by Miss Luxia. There’s something special about this event—a teenage boy named Sizhu was personally selected by Miss Luxia. To prove his worth by her side, he must participate in the Zhàn dòu tradition.

"Tonight, the boy named Sizhu will challenge the twelve branch leaders. If he can withstand the battles, he will earn the right to be Miss Luxia's personal bodyguard. Please step into the arena, Mr. Sizhu."

Cheers erupted as Sizhu entered the arena.

"Wow, that boy is handsome."

"Look at him, he's so good-looking."

"He looks weak."

"Yeah, there's no way he can fight the twelve zodiacs. I bet he'll surrender in any seconds."

"He's carrying a wooden longstick. He should have brought a more powerful weapon to fight the branch leaders."

The crowd started voicing their opinions. However, the twelve branch leaders sensed something beyond Sizhu's seemingly weak appearance, especially Manager Jianying. He was the most logical thinker among them. There was no way Miss Luxia would choose a weak child as her guard.

"Heh, this will end in one round, right?" The Dog Zodiac, Zhang Yue, looked down on Sizhu.

"That boy looks sweet. If he doesn't hold up, I'll take him home." The Rabbit Zodiac, Mei Mei, looked at Sizhu with interest.

"It seems you can't see clearly, Zhang," the Ox Zodiac, Jun Kai, disagreed. That middle-aged man could sense the strong aura of a person, and he saw that Sizhu's aura was immensely powerful.

"Hah?! What did you say, old man? Are you underestimating me? Let's prove it in the arena later." Zhang Yue retorted, irritated. His pride was wounded.

"We shall see," Jun Kai replied calmly.

Zhang Yue growled.

"Let me explain the rules. Mr. Sizhu will challenge the branch leaders one by one until the end. Each round will last for five minutes. If Mr. Sizhu can survive for five minutes in each round until there are no opponents left, he will be declared as the winner. If Mr. Sizhu loses consciousness, surrenders, or is in a situation where victory is impossible, he will be declared as the loser. Any form of weapon and magic is allowed, except high-level magic. Are you ready?"

Sizhu spoke quietly, "I don't need five minutes to defeat them."

Everyone watching was shocked by the boy's audacity. Some began to shout out.

The twelve zodiacs seemed excited to face Sizhu now.

Zhang Yue scoffed. "Not bad for a kid."

"Haha, well, that's surprising. Now, honorable branch leaders, please raise your hand as the first challenger—"

"I will!" Zhang Yue shouted, cutting off the host before he could finish.

Zhang leaped into the arena, grinning. He stared intently at Sizhu.

"You've got guts, kid."

"Do you need a weapon, Mr. Zhang?" the host offered.

Zhang shook his head. "No need. I can beat him with my bare hands in less than a minute," he said confidently.

The host stepped back, floating above again.

"Alright, are both of you ready?"

Zhang and Sizhu nodded.

Up in the stands, Luxia smiled—a mysterious smile.

"Let's count down..."

"Three..."

"Two..."

"One..."

The audience shouted in unison.

"ZHÀN DÒU!!!"

Sizhu took the first step, charging forward swiftly and swinging his longstick from the side.

BAM!

Zhang was struck directly by Sizhu's longstick. His body was flung, crashing into the hard transparent shield, which trembled.

Laughing, "Hahahaha, not bad, KID!" He then stood up and immediately counterattacked, charging at Sizhu.

A right hook missed, followed by a left jab, but Sizhu elegantly stepped back, dodging Zhang's punches. Zhang's face hardened as he increased the speed of his punches.

Right, left, hook, jab, jab, uppercut—Thud!Zhang staggered back a few steps, hit by a kick to his stomach. This was starting to annoy him. Zhang roared, attacking more ferociously. He accelerated his punches, now almost too fast for the eye to follow.

Jab, jab, straight, hook, hook, uppercut, left, left, straight—all missed. None of the punches landed on Sizhu. It felt like fighting a leaf. Sizhu's movements were so nimble, dodging every punch. Zhang was known as the best boxer in his city, yet he couldn't touch Sizhu.

THUD! This time, his chin was struck by Sizhu's wooden longstick.

A minute passed.

Zhang roared in frustration, gritting his teeth. Outside, the crowd continued to chant 'ZHÀN DÒU,' heating up the atmosphere.

Straight, straight, jab, jab, jab, hook, uppercut, jab, straight, left hook, right hook. Zhang pursued Sizhu relentlessly, his fists never stopping their rapid assault. But not a single attack grazed Sizhu. He deftly avoided every punch, even as Zhang backed him toward the arena wall.

THUD!

This time, Sizhu didn't hold back. He swiftly kicked Zhang in the head when an opening appeared, landing a precise strike to the face. Zhang grew even more furious, his face red—whether from the kick or high blood pressure—his anger was about to explode.

"火焰王伊弗里特啊請賜給我力量! (King of Fire, Ifrit, grant me your power!)" Zhang chanted a high-level fire spell. Dozens of fireballs hovered above him, ready to be unleashed. The entire audience fell silent. This was beyond the limits.

"Die, KID!" With a hand gesture, Zhang signaled his fiery rain to target Sizhu.

Dozens of fireballs gonna shot toward Sizhu. He prepared himself, setting his stance.

"ZHANG!"

"虛無的化身，中止! (Embodiment of Nothingness, stop!)" Ling Ling stood up, extending her hand toward the arena. In an instant, the fireballs disappeared, her special magic canceling out Zhang's spell.

Jun Kai jumped in, grabbing Zhang Yue by the collar.

"You've really crossed the line, Zhang! You’ve tainted this sacred tradition. You're utterly unworthy as a Hunter." Jun Kai was genuinely furious, glaring at Zhang, who only sighed.

"I surrender. I acknowledge my defeat." Zhang released Jun Kai's grip and walked out of the arena, visibly frustrated.

The crowd erupted in cheers. Those who had initially underestimated Sizhu began to change their minds, some even starting to cheer for him.

"ZHÀN DÒU! ZHÀN DÒU! ZHÀN DÒU!"

Drums began to beat again, adding to the fervor.

"An unexpected event occurred. But set that aside. Mr. Sizhu won the first round! He will advance to the second round after a three-minute break. ZHÀN DÒU!!!"

Sizhu exited the arena and walked down the hallway towards the exit.

"You fought hard, Sizhu. Good job." Luxia was waiting at the end of the corridor, handing him a bottle of water. Sizhu accepted it and drank it in one go.

"Thanks, Luxia. That was refreshing."

Luxia smiled at his response.

"Sorry I couldn’t be of much help. But I’m sure Sizhu can last until the end." Luxia said with a confident smile.

Sizhu nodded.

"I’ll do my best."

The three minutes flew by. Sizhu returned to the arena. The drums and gongs were struck again, reviving the atmosphere.

"Let’s get back, viewers! The second round of Zhàn dòu is about to begin. Now it's time for the second challenger to raise his hand!"

Jun Kai, the Ox zodiac, raised his hand. The middle-aged man descended the stairs and entered the arena. He stood facing Sizhu, bowing respectfully.

From his physique, Jun Kai looked very solid. He took off his suit and white shirt, revealing a muscular, bare chest. He looked quite macho.

"Please cooperate, Mr. Sizhu." Jun Kai seemed enthusiastic, getting into a fighting stance. His right hand was in front, his left hand behind, level with his chest. He was the best martial artist in his city, having defeated an Arch Witch with just his bare hands. He was a true close-combat fighter.

Sizhu readied himself, holding his longstick behind him, his left hand extended forward with the palm open.

"Let’s begin!"

The audience started counting along.

"Three…"

"Two…"

"One…"

"ZHÀN DÒU!!!"

In an instant, both fighters launched into their attacks. Bam! The staff and hand clashed. Jun Kai managed to block Sizhu’s sudden strike. His left hand quickly reached out, Slap! Sizhu deflected it with his longstick. Before the action ended, Jun Kai’s right hand struck out. Slap! Sizhu blocked that as well. The exchange of blows continued rapidly. It was hard to follow their swift movements. Jun Kai seemed to have the upper hand.

Thud!

Sizhu attempted a kick, but it failed—Jun Kai’s body was too solid. Taking advantage of Sizhu’s momentary lapse, Jun Kai seized his opportunity, grabbing Sizhu’s leg.

"Got you!"

He lifted Sizhu’s leg and spun him around like a ragdoll, then threw him hard against the arena wall. Sizhu groaned quietly, but before he could even catch his breath, Jun Kai charged at him. A powerful punch flew toward him.

Bam!

The transparent protective barrier trembled from Jun Kai’s punch.

"身體硬化. (Body Hardening.)" Jun Kai chanted a spell. His body became harder. He used a low-level enhancement magic. His strength doubled from before.

Sizhu seemed reluctant to use his own abilities. He assumed a defensive stance, readying himself.

"You’re strong, kid. But this is where it ends." Jun Kai stomped hard. His step cracked the ground around him. He positioned his hands under his abdomen.

Sizhu prepared to receive the attack. A minute had passed.

"Hadouken!" Jun Kai charged with incredible speed in one attack. Sizhu couldn’t react in time. Jun Kai’s palm hit Sizhu’s abdomen squarely. He slammed into the transparent barrier hard, causing it to shake violently. It seemed like it might break. Fortunately, the barrier was inscribed with a high-level protective spell. The audience gasped in shock. Mei Mei too, held her breath, watching the intense fight. The atmosphere was tense.

Even worse for Sizhu. He coughed up blood after the attack. He was coughing up blood, with several internal organs damaged. It was his own fault for being careless.

Alright, I’ll use that.

"Give up, kid! You could get more seriously hurt if this continues." Jun Kai shouted, giving a warning.

Sizhu tried to stand up. He applied the blood he had coughed up to his longstick. Slowly, the blood transformed into glowing magical script.

"You’re stubborn too. Fine, I’ll raise the stakes." Jun Kai assumed his fighting stance again, chanting a medium-level enhancement spell.

"大地的創造者啊，請讓祢的僕人像鑽石一樣堅硬! (O Creator of the Earth, please make your servant as hard as diamond!) Come on! SIZHU!" Jun Kai shouted with enthusiasm. He seemed to be enjoying this. His strength increased fourfold. With each step, the ground cracked beneath him.

Sizhu also prepared. He lifted his longstick to the right side, spinning it several times before returning it to his side. Sizhu’s gaze was sharp. He was focused.

Two minutes remained, and this match would be over.

In one final attack…

Both fighters darted towards each other in a single leap.

"HADOUKEN!!!"

Boom!

...

Dust billowed in the arena. The audience wondered what had happened. The high-level barrier shattered. Thankfully, no one was injured. The cheers and roars turned to silence. Everyone was curious to see who had lost and who had won.

As the dust began to clear, Jun Kai was seen sitting at the edge of the arena, unconscious. Not only had the barrier been destroyed, but the arena walls were also damaged. In the center of the arena, Sizhu still stood tall, holding his wooden longstick.

The crowd erupted in cheers again.

"ZHÀN DÒU! ZHÀN DÒU! ZHÀN DÒU!"

"This is incredible. Mr. Sizhu wins the round decisively once again. With this, the second round ends. The next round will take place after a break for arena repairs. Stay tuned for the next epic battle!"

Medical teams quickly carried Jun Kai out of the arena on a stretcher. Sizhu also left the arena, clutching his abdomen in pain. He needed to sit down to hasten his recovery.

Sizhu walked to his resting room. Someone was waiting inside.

"Hello, Mr. Sizhu."

A cute girl with brown hair braided into two pigtails greeted Sizhu. She wore the same uniform as the twelve branch heads, with a bunny brooch. She approached Sizhu, taking his hand and lifting it.

"That was an amazing fight, Mr. Sizhu. I’m a big fan of yours." The girl said with sparkling eyes, her face close to Sizhu’s, making him instinctively pull back.

"Who are you?" Sizhu asked, pushing the girl away, trying to create some distance.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself, hehe. My name is Mei Mei, the Rabbit zodiac from Nanjing. Nice to meet you~" Mei Mei introduced herself cheerfully, her red eyes blinking. She was a head shorter than Sizhu.

"A child?" Sizhu muttered to himself.

Mei Mei’s cheeks puffed up immediately upon hearing that.

"I am. Not. A. Child! Hmph!" She said, lightly hitting Sizhu.

"Ow, ow, ow, alright, I get it. Can you stop?" Sizhu said, feeling uncomfortable with this 'child.' Mei Mei stopped after being asked to.

"So, what brings you here, Miss Mei Mei?" Sizhu continued.

"I saw you were injured earlier. I came to heal you. Hehe, even though I look like this, I’m the best healer in China, you know." Mei Mei boasted confidently about her skills.

Sizhu shook his head. He didn’t need it. And didn’t care.

Mei Mei felt insulted.

"You’re just hurt. Let me guess, fractured lower ribs, bleeding kidneys, severe liver bleeding, swollen duodenum, ruptured gallbladder, and a leaking bladder. Normally, a person with these injuries would faint immediately. You’re impressive to still endure the pain—hey, Sizhu!"

Sizhu collapsed, losing consciousness.

***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***