Martial Arts Worlds

New Rakuya, Irio, Cloudy Street.

Knock! Knock!

"Who could it be…"

Karma rose from the chair, went to the door, and opened it.

When he finished swinging the door open, a shocking surprise came before him, as there were three people standing outside in the humid summer weather.

"Dad."

Kiernan said, stepping forward with a smile.

"Kiernan… I didn't expect you to come here."

Karma gave him a brief hug and pat on the back—then Julian greeted Karma as well and entered the warmth of the house as he went to Irio on the same flight as Kiernan.

Wanting to keep him coming as a secret, Kiernan told Julian not to tell his father, and he kept the promise.

Then, Karma's fatherly gaze landed on the beautiful face of Aoi, who shyly smiled and greeted him with a polite bow.

"Welcome, welcome…"

Karma scratched the back of his head sheepishly, let the three enter, and then closed the door behind them.

With curiosity emitting from her gaze, Aoi looked at the framed photographs on the walls and giggled at the sight of child Kiernan.

He truly looked like an ordinary child—shy even—and nobody would think that he would become one of the rising stars of the martial arts circle.

"Tonight they will announce the seven representatives."

Julian said and turned on the television in the living room.

While he made it to the top 100 rankings in the selection round, he doubted that there was a chance for him to be selected.

He still kept up his hope.

Kiernan placed his bag on the table and unzipped it, and the dark-furred Fen immediately jumped out before running around the house in excitement.

"Oh!"

Karma watched as Fen ran from between his legs, almost making him lose footing, and then he turned to Aoi, who was looking around.

"Miss Aoi, was it? Would you like some help finding your way around?"

"Mhm, thanks, father, but I'll sleep in Kiernan's room, so I'll have him show me where his room is at!"

Aoi said with a bright smile.

"Aha, okay…"

Karma scratched the back of his head.

It really felt odd to have someone else call him 'father,' but he thought that he could get used to it.

It felt sweet, as it felt like he had a daughter of his own, whom he could dote on.

With the sky turning orange in hue, Karma made some food, and they all sat down for a dinner.

'…I don't think I have ever dined with so many people around the table after Kiernan's birth.'

Karma thought and happily watched as the three youngsters dined, laughing and chatting with each other.

It had always been him alone or with Kiernan, but there had been Julian lately, but it was the first time to have the presence of a woman.

It was clear to him that her feelings towards his son were deep. She couldn't help but keep staring at him. A look of deep love in her gray eyes.

With the evening turned deeper, they finished dining and gathered in the living room with the television turned on.

In five minutes, the broadcast of the Human Government would begin, where they would announce the seven representatives.

"…"

Kiernan cracked his knuckles as he looked at the television with a deep and serious look.

…

World Seas, Black Rock Island, the common room of the castle.

"Yawn~"

Zacred lay sideways on the rock floor, watching the television, with every member of the Animal Kingdom team gathered.

While they didn't believe there was even a chance they would lose, they were all nervous deep down.

None of them wanted to be the one to lose a match.

Even in total points they would beat Humanity, if they were the ones that cost them a single point, they would be laughed at eternally.

"…"

Beast Prince Arazimir looked coldly at the television and then looked out of the ajar door towards the grand hall of the castle.

On the throne, gazing out of the window towards the deep orange sky, Beast King Vladimir looked thoughtfully at the horizon.

"Grr…"

Beast Prince Arazimir growled.

…

New Rakuya, Irio, Hunter Household.

"It's starting!"

Aoi said and lay down to let her head rest on Kiernan's lap, and she was nervously biting her lip.

With serious looks on their faces, Julian and Karma watched in silence as the broadcast turned on.

In that moment, the broadcast showed a dimly lit office, showing a man holding a stack of papers, with a dark yet deep look in his eyes.

In those papers, the seven names were written down, and those names would decide the fate of humanity for generations to come.

"The first one to be selected…"

The dark-haired man started with.

"He is already going to reveal them? No foreplay or anything?"

Julian asked in shock, as he expected them to delay the revealing little bit more, but it looked like it wasn't happening.

Pretty much every television in the world had already turned on this channel, so instead of letting everyone wait, they would just start immediately!

"Karmea Reck, a young man from the country of Meredica. Congratulations, young one!"

On the television, a face of a dark-skinned young man with dark dreadlocks falling over his face appeared.

Below the picture, there were some of his statistics from the selection draft.

[Final Ranking: 4]

[Points: 28,770]

[Style: Boxing]

[Martial Rank: Middle Stage Martial Grandmaster]

[Notes: The Youth Boxing Champion]

"It's him… I think I saw him a couple of times in the selection. He really looks scary, but luckily, he is on our side, right?"

Aoi said.

"Karmea Reck. I have watched a few championship matches in boxing, and he is a very impressive young man."

Karma said as he remembered watching Karmea knock down all his opponents in one of the biggest boxing tournaments.

There was no rival for him in the world of boxing!

…

"Boxing? Hah, interesting."

Percival grinned in a silly manner.

"It must mean that his punches are quick. I wonder if they're as quick as me!"

Shafira said with a grin, her eyes flashing with excitement. She had always loved a good challenge.

"…Mediocre."

Beast Prince Arazimir said coldly.