Chapter 104: The Supreme Fist King

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Zhang Zhi was furious but still maintained a smile, prioritizing the bigger picture. The championship had just concluded, and the guests had yet to leave. Tonight, he was to host Vice Mayor Lang Ping and others at a banquet on the Golden Coast. With three to four thousand spectators still around, he didn’t want to be the laughingstock and tarnish an otherwise perfect tournament.

Yet, deep inside, he was truly angry. After all, he was the owner of Hongyu Internet Café and held the highest authority as the organizer of this competition. How could a contestant mock him like this?

Zhang Zhi ignored Ma Wei, pretending not to hear him, and turned to leave.

“Zhang Zhi, do you dare to go on stage or not? So many people are watching. If you don’t have the guts, just say so. I’ll find someone else to play!” Ma Wei was relentless, even pulling out a cigarette and lighting it right on the stage.

“Xia Dong, go up and deal with him! Take back his certificate and trophy! Disqualify him from the competition!” Zhang Xiuxiu snapped, immediately ordering her bodyguard Xia Dong to handle Ma Wei.

“Wait. If the first-place winner is disqualified, and his certificate and trophy are taken away, wouldn’t this competition become a big joke?” Yang Tian hurriedly tried to stop Zhang Xiuxiu. Then he stepped forward and said to Ma Wei, “Ma Wei, how about this? I’ll represent our boss Zhang Zhi and play against you!”

“You? Are you qualified?” Ma Wei sneered disdainfully.

“Qualified or not, you’ll know after we finish!” Yang Tian smiled confidently. He couldn’t hold back any longer. He felt that if he didn’t teach Ma Wei a lesson today, the tournament would never end satisfactorily.

He was deeply frustrated that such a classic gaming event had its first place taken by someone like Ma Wei, who was now flaunting his victory.

“Fine. I’ll give you, a little network manager, some face and train you. By the way, Zhao Shilei is from First High School, right? You’re from First High too, I think? I admit First High students study well, but when it comes to gaming... you’re simply not going to surpass Second High as long as I’m here. Haha!” Ma Wei laughed arrogantly.

“Yang Tian, don’t get ahead of yourself. You’ve never even played The King of Fighters. How can you compete with him?” Yang Tian smiled without replying, but Zhao Shilei was panicking. Being defeated by Ma Wei was an insult, and he didn’t want his good friend to be humiliated further.

“Yeah, A-Tian, no need to get tangled up with someone like that. Don’t step in dog poop with good shoes!” Zhang Zhi and Zhang Xiuxiu came over one after another to persuade him. They knew Yang Tian was trying to clean up the mess, but they didn’t want him to get discouraged. After all, Ma Wei was quite good at The King of Fighters, and they had never seen Yang Tian play—assuming he probably hadn’t.

“Let’s start. Ma Wei, I’ll use Iori against your Bad Boy!” Yang Tian patted Zhao Shilei and the others on the shoulder, then strode confidently onto the stage. Actually, his favorite was Kyo, but since Zhao Shilei lost to Ma Wei using Iori, he chose Iori. The once noisy audience suddenly fell silent. Finally, someone was challenging the top-ranked King of Fighters champion. Though they didn’t know much about Yang Tian, most were worried for this little network manager. Ma Wei’s Bad Boy was formidable, but they secretly rooted for Yang Tian, hoping he could cut down Ma Wei’s arrogance.

Other performers and participants on stage also stepped aside to watch Yang Tian and Ma Wei’s battle. Ma Wei chose to play with a keyboard, and Yang Tian did the same. When the simulator announced “Ready... Fight!”, the atmosphere grew tense.

Ma Wei stuck to his usual strategy: playing slyly, not using heavy attacks, casually performing Wheel Escape with an air of disdain as he fought Yang Tian’s Iori, occasionally launching the Iron Ball Spin, hitting Iori repeatedly.

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Like Zhao Shilei, Yang Tian was straightforward and couldn’t stand such sneaky tricks. Besides, he was here to teach Ma Wei a lesson. So when Ma Wei used Wheel Escape, Yang Tian immediately countered with Ghost Flame.

Yang Tian’s move shocked the entire venue. Iori’s Ghost Flame was executed with astonishing speed and flair.

On the big screen, the handsome Iori emitted sizzling sounds, his body engulfed in azure flames. He swiftly traced three semicircles crackling with electricity in midair, striking toward Bad Boy.

Iori’s palm struck Bad Boy with a sharp slap, and the screen erupted with loud crackling noises. The ghostly blue flames invaded Bad Boy’s body.

The crowd erupted in cheers. Everyone had been holding their breath, thinking this high school network manager would be trampled by the arrogant Ma Wei. But they hadn’t expected Yang Tian to assert dominance right from the start.

Ma Wei was stunned for a moment. Though he appeared relaxed, many noticed his hands trembling slightly. Despite his defiant and contemptuous gaze, there was unmistakable nervousness—because Iori’s Ghost Flame had drained a third of Bad Boy’s health.

What amazed the crowd and troubled Ma Wei was that Yang Tian’s assault didn’t stop there. After Ghost Flame, Iori miraculously unleashed the Eight Spears.

In a frenzy, Iori lifted the bulky Bad Boy high with a fierce roar and slammed him down hard, knocking off another third of Bad Boy’s health. The audience screamed wildly.

Even Zhao Shilei couldn’t help but applaud. He realized now that Yang Tian’s mastery of Iori was definitely superior to his own. He couldn’t help but admire, “Wow, this kid seems silly and clueless, but he’s hiding his true skill!”

Still, those who had faced Ma Wei worried for Yang Tian. Ma Wei’s specialty was quick counterattacks when least expected, often turning the tide at the last moment. Zhao Shilei had been caught off guard by this tactic.

Ma Wei himself was banking on this hope, planning to wait until Yang Tian’s Iori’s energy was nearly depleted before delivering a devastating blow.

Yang Tian saw through this trick. He gave Ma Wei no chance, cornering Bad Boy. With two energy bars left, he unleashed the Eight Spears again. Iori’s roar shocked the crowd, and both on and off stage, cheers erupted.

At this moment, Ma Wei panicked and desperately used Bad Boy’s ultimate move, the Destructive Throw. This close-range attack was Ma Wei’s planned finishing move.

Bad Boy let out a wild, bull-like roar. Zhao Shilei and the others gasped, knowing that if Iori got hit, Ma Wei would unleash the Iron Ball Rampage next. These two powerful attacks in succession would end the fight. Iori, drained of energy, would stand no chance.

But Yang Tian surprised everyone again. He perfected Iori’s Ghost Step, skillfully dodging Bad Boy’s Destructive Throw. This left all The King of Fighters fans near delirium.

Iori’s Ghost Step was powerful, but no one believed it could evade Bad Boy’s ultimate move. Yet Yang Tian achieved it.

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Beside him, Zhao Shilei was now completely in awe of Yang Tian. He had thought he had mastered Iori, but after watching Yang Tian’s moves, he realized he still had a way to go.

Having successfully dodged Ma Wei’s ultimate, Ma Wei was out of options. Sweating heavily, he frantically unleashed his moves, knowing any moment Iori might use either the Berserk Iori or Ghost Flame, which would end him.

Still, Ma Wei’s technique was decent. Bad Boy struggled desperately, throwing out Iron Ball Spin and Iron Ball Smash in a chaotic flurry.

But these meant nothing to Yang Tian, who easily dodged with Ghost Step. When his energy bars were restored to two, he struck again with Eight Spears, finishing the fight seamlessly without giving Ma Wei a moment to breathe.

When Bad Boy finally fell, the crowd erupted into cheers. Ma Wei looked dazed, struggling to comprehend how he had lost—especially to someone he had never taken seriously before.

“Supreme King of Fighters!!!” voices rang out from every corner, people waving to Yang Tian, convinced the title belonged to him.

Ma Wei had long disappeared into the crowd. Though he had won the prestigious title and first place, the fighting game fans of Binhai City would likely forget him. Meanwhile, Yang Tian’s Ghost Step quickly became legendary in the fighting game community.

“Yang Tian, well done! Damn, you never show your hand, but turns out you’re a master in The King of Fighters!” Zhao Shilei rushed over, slapping Yang Tian’s shoulder more excited than him. Yang Tian’s victory not only stabilized the situation but avenged him.

“Yang Tian, you really opened my eyes today. Can you tell us how you trained your Ghost Step?” Zhang Xiaoshan, who won third place, approached with a look of admiration.

“Well… ask Zhao Shilei. We practiced together!” Yang Tian responded quietly, noticing Zhao Shilei blush at the sight of Zhang Xiaoshan. He smiled knowingly and went with the flow.

In truth, he wasn’t a prodigy. Before rebirth, he hadn’t learned much else, but he had spent endless hours gaming in internet cafés—playing The King of Fighters and Red Alert day and night without fatigue. Beating Ma Wei was expected.

“Oh really? We talked for so long just now, and you never mentioned this. Do you two often practice together?” Zhang Xiaoshan immediately turned her gaze to Zhao Shilei.

“Of course! Yang Tian and I are brothers. We eat together, sleep together, and of course play games together. Actually, you don’t know this, but the reason he’s so good at Iori is because he’s learned my true techniques…” Zhao Shilei paused, then proudly boasted with wide eyes.

Zhang Xiaoshan seemed very fond of him, listening intently and enthusiastically. Seeing this, Yang Tian smiled to himself, thinking: next semester in 11th grade, another guy’s going to fall in love!

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