Chapter 302 - 302. Mirage Boxing Style

The group watched as Art started to move in to his style. They had known he was adjusting things constantly and noticed it when they were sparring. However, none of them had seen the full focused version of Art's style. When the announcer said that Art looked like he was preparing multiple moves at once like an ever changing mirage in the desert they couldn't help but agree. 

The powerless king didn't have such an evolved stance. Instead, the lines on his forehead furrowed as he started to watch Art's movements. He was not as adept in fighting as everyone was led to believe. His key was his mind. He was able to process and see the connections in the movements of another persons' body and stop them with his own actions. He was a genius in his own right that didn't need the evo shot to show off the strength he had built. 

When Art moved in it was clear that the powerless king had not caught on to the style Art was using. Instead, he ended up taking three testing jabs that showed Art that his opponent was not some weak bodied pushover. His opponent was well trained and had slim but dense muscles from constant training. It spoke volumes to the dedication powerless king had. 

The reaction to this came when Art stepped to the side. Like lightning, a leg sweep came out of nowhere from powerless king. This had appeared to be a level change to Art but instead was a sideways attack. Without the realization, Art stumbles slightly and opened up to a series of hits from powerless king. 

The trouble that the powerless king brought were very precise and hard hits to vital points. The three strike combo hit Art in the side and caused him to gasp in pain. He was lucky he had been strengthening his muscles because they had been the main reason he had not broken a rib and would only have some bruises. 

However, this was the chance to use what Art had learned from Asher. He used the force of the punches to turn and whip out a solid kick. This was not expected by anyone in the audience causing multiple gasps and a few shouts of surprise. 

Powerless king did not expect an attack from this angle and if he had ever seen Asher fight he would have expected this kind of attack. Yet, even if he had seen Asher fight he could still have been surprised by Art using the style. 

The kick landed right in the powerless kings' jaw. The sickening pop told him that he had just had his jaw dislocated and bruised. Unfortunately for Art, the powerless king had felt much worse. This was nothing in his pursuit to be the best martial artists ever and to stand above those with super powers while not having one. 

The response was instant. Powerless king moved close and used a knee to attack Art again. The attack would have landed if Art had not mimicked Jane and pushed hard with his legs and feet. He burst to the side with speed that was not befitting of his bulkier stature. This put him on the exposed side of powerless king and able to use his elbow to return the favor of bruised ribs. 

The grind of bine and flesh was met by a sharp exhale of breath and a solid spinning right hook to Art's shoulder. The two fell a few steps back from each other causing the audience and Art's friends to stand in shock. The series of attacks had only lasted seconds but it had been intense. They two had not stopped their attacks or flow of battle making everyone feel as if they were more than just martial artists. Many thought that they had to have super powers related to martial arts but knew it to be false. 

"Let's go! You are tougher than that!" Cara shouted out sounding annoyed. Her voice was boosted loud enough for most in the stadium to hear even though there was the roar of the audience cheering. The words seemed to spark an additional fore in art. "What? He didn't have the look he does when he is focused on his super powers. He always gets more intense and now he looks it." Cara had not shared that she had noticed this but Asher just nodded in agreement. 

The rest of the group let it be as it was. They all knew that Cara had been living in the same house too and worked out every single day with Asher and Cara. The two had seen Art act at his most serious and also at his weakest after a hard day. The two would most certainly be able to tell when Art was properly motivated and in the zone. 

Powerless king felt a pressure he had not felt even from the veteran martial artists he had faced. It wasn't so much a mental pressure that said he was facing an opponent smarter than him. This was a feeling that he was facing someone more driven than him. He had never felt like this before. It was almost as if the person before him was pushing for a goal above his own. Like an ant that realized they shouldn't aim to be human but to be god instead. 

Art's style changed slightly and Cara saw the sprinting position she would use. Art used it in relation to Jane's burst of speed to show up in front of powerless king as soon as possible. Meeting his opponent with a harsh right hook caused powerless king to struggle to block. Art had put his full weight behind the hit and could feel that he had dislocated two fingers. 

The damage was worth it. Powerless king had an arm hanging limply to his side. The attack had causing his elbow to bend unnaturally and become useless. The infuriated him but he remained his calm and cool outward appearance. He was facing a real opponent, not some veteran martial artist that had washed up or given up on becoming more. 

This pusher powerless king to use his serious moves. He had managed to connect many moves in what he would call a game ending combi. Something that some video gamer players would use as a cheat. The kicks and spinning punches trailed together similar to how Asher constantly used his on centripetal force to keep up a combo of attack. 

Art found himself being pushed back more and more. He was not taking heavy hits but he was gaining bruises and cuts everywhere. He felt the blood run from his nose and felt oppressed. It was just too much. However, his mind went to how solid his friends had stood behind him every step of the way and how they were waiting for him to claim victory. 

Art stomped a foot down and slammed his head forward. It was a ridiculous move that powerless king had completely put from his mind. He always thought, 'who would be stupid enough to use their head? That would end a match by knicking yourself out. The brain is the biggest benefit anyone could have.'

The crack that rang out caused fearful gasps and even a few weak willed audience members to faint. They thought that there would be ambulances and surgeries to piece skulls back together. Instead, powerless king crumpled to the ground completely unconscious. Art took small steps and raised up a hand. He was full of adrenaline and would not be passing out on his life. He was not so weak!.

A small thought in the back of his mind screamed that Garnet and coach Winters would be after him now but that didn't matter. All that mattered were the medics attending to his opponent. The referee holding his hand up. The announcer yelling about the victory. And the metal twisting around the judge's platform. 

Art held a hand to the nearby announcer who realized he wanted the microphone. "My so called brother has played his games. Now, come down here and give me my medal. Face me and allow me to show you who the head of the family is!" The words brought a deathly silence to the arena. 

Without even a blink, Laura was on the arena next to Art. Jackson lumbered up. Louis put his hood up and stood there waiting. Sammy couldn't help but let the wind ruffle her hair while moving in as well. Cara stood to Art's left. Asher and Jane stood to his right. Asher patted Art on the back, "I would expect nothing less from my family." 

The group watched as the door to the judge's platform finally opened. Two men moved out and exited the room. The third was Art's brother. He looked the same as the previous week at the mall. Nothing had changed. He had obviously concealed his true feelings so he could act as the ideal hero. But there was an air of rage around him. He had been directly challenged and mocked all day and now, someone was going to answer for it.