Chapter 203 - Battle of Supporting Martial Artists (1/2)

”Now, we will move on to the next match.” Song Yazhu announced as he was in charge of keeping the tournament going. ”The next two fighters to take the field are Carolina Saez and Mario Rossi of the Rossi Family.”

The two young martial artists called to fight were a young woman with long golden hair and a young man with short black hair and thick mustaches that made him look older than he was.

The two took the stage at the same time and assumed their battle positions. The young woman, Carolina Saez spread her legs slightly, placing the right one forward of the left one; the hands, with the palms open, assumed a similar position. Apparently, the young woman had no intention of drawing any weapon for the moment, although that didn't mean that she wouldn't take it out later as it had already happened in the previous battles.

Mario Rossi, on the other hand, didn't take a stance for hand-to-hand combat. Instead, he slightly waved his right hand and pulled an unusual object out of his space ring - it wasn't a weapon but rather a musical instrument.

”Is that a musical instrument?” Hei asked Mareo. Hei knew little or nothing about music; he just recognized that the shape of that object was vaguely similar to a musical instrument he had seen in the past.

”Yes, that's right. To be precise, it is a mandolin. It is a stringed musical instrument belonging to the lute family.” Mareo explained it to Hei. He had a vast knowledge of the various musical instruments existing due to his specialization as a martial artist musician.

”So, is he a martial artist musician? If he managed to qualify in the main phase of the tournament, then he must possess special skills that differentiate him from normal martial artist musicians, right?” Hei asked another question. He appeared amazed that a support martial artist had come this far.

This amazement, however, didn't stem from Hei despising or underestimating supporting martial artists. It was just that, because they were supporting martial artists, their fighting ability would be ordinarily inferior to the other types of martial artists, precisely because they specialized in other fields. This should have been the norm, but like any existing rule, there were always exceptions.

”As usual, you have good eyes. And as you said. Mario Rossi is a martial artist musician; only, his music empowerment techniques are specialized in empowering him and not the others. He can be defined as an offensive martial artist musician.”

”It's not the only characteristic, though. That Mario Rossi comes from the Rossi Family, which has produced many talented martial artist chefs. The culinary specialty in which they specialize is Pizza. Consequently, Mario Rossi is also a martial artist chef.” Haruno added alongside Mareo.

After hearing this, everyone listening was amazed. A supporting martial artist who was able to fight face to face with other martial artists and qualify for the main phase of such a tournament was rare to find. However, this martial artist also possessed another specialization, which wasn't of the attack type but a support one.

”Maybe that's why he managed to qualify for the main phase?” Hei wondered to himself. Come to think of it, with the empowerment coming from martial artist musicians and chefs, any martial artist, even the support ones, would have their strength greatly improved, coming to bridge the gap in fighting ability with the opponent.

”He may be a supporting martial artist with dual specialization, but he won't have an easy life. The opponent he has to face is not joking at all,” commented Lilian, who had followed the conversation in silence until now.

”What do you mean?” Mareo and Haruno asked in chorus.

As martial artist musician and chef respectively, they had heard of Mario Rossi. He was an unusual existence, and yet he had demonstrated his strength with facts. Therefore, part of them couldn't help but be proud to know that someone with similar skills of theirs could fight in the main phase of the tournament as a competitor.

After all, other types of martial artists had always shown a certain contempt and air of superiority towards the category of supporting martial artists due to their inferior fighting ability. However, such episodes were only a small minority.

Anyway, inside them, Haruno and Mareo were cheering for this Mario Rossi, and they didn't think he would lose, at least not to someone as unknown as Carolina Saez, who wasn't even part of a prestigious family, contrary to Mario Rossi, who belonged to the Rossi Family.

”Carolina Saez. If Mario Rossi can be defined as an offensive martial artist chef and musician, then she can be defined as an offensive martial artist medic.” Lilian answered.

”We martial artist medics study the human body in all its characteristics, including the flow of spirit power within us. Therefore, we are trained to read and manipulate this flow to modify the human body from within. But some have wondered if this ability could be used in battle - to read and direct the flow of the enemy's spirit power so they can take control of the battle.” Mia added as she was also a martial artist medic.

”Directing the flow of spirit power of the enemy? Is such a thing possible?” Haruno asked; he couldn't believe what he had heard. Mareo also had a doubtful look but refrained from commenting, waiting for Lilian and Mia's answer.

”Yes, it is possible. It's just bloody difficult. It takes incredible reflexes and processing skills to accomplish this. Not to mention that when you add the Elemental Laws, reading and redirecting the enemy's flow of spirit power becomes even harder. The only solution would be to possess the same Elemental Law of the attack you want to influence.

And this is where Carolina Saez comes in. She owns the Multicolored Chameleon Bloodline. When she activates it, she can change the nature of her spirit power in any of the Elemental Laws for a certain period of time. Obviously, her knowledge in other Elemental Laws other than her will remain the same, and consequently, the power of her attacks will be much lower than usual. But if she refrains herself from using the elemental techniques, focusing only on redirecting the flow of spirit power, then that's another story.” Lilian explained.

”Her method of fighting is to cancel the enemy's attacks and make them weary. Once her opponent is exhausted, she finishes them off using the Hand-to-Hand Combat Techniques of the Flowing Flow Style, a combat martial art that uses medical knowledge to maximize damage.” Mia concluded the analysis.

Like Mareo and Haruno felt admiration and envy for Mario Rossi, a martial artist chef and musician capable of qualifying in the main phase of the tournament, the two young martial artist medics, Lilian and Mia, had respect and envy towards Carolina Saez.

Meanwhile, the battle between the two unusual support martial artists had begun. Between the two, Mario Rossi was the one who started the dances, attacking first.

”Intent of the Mandolin, Placid Symphony!” Mario Rossi said aloud as he began to tap on the mandolin and move the musical instrument's strings.

Immediately afterward, a sweet and serene melody poured onto the battlefield, enveloping the entire stadium. The most naïve spectators were captivated by the instrument's melody, while those with experience focused their eyes on the space in which Carolina Saez was.

Rip! Rip!

A series of noises of something being torn apart was produced where the young martial artist medic stood. The young woman could see as if the air itself was being torn apart by nothing less than the sound produced by the mandolin.

'He is using his spirit power to increase the intensity of the vibrations released by his musical instrument. In that way, he can attack from a distance and stay safe. But if it's just that, I have no reason to fear him. You will have to do a lot more to defeat me.'

”Flowing Flow Style, Deviant Palm!”