The 53rd Euphoria City Youth Martial Arts Tournament!

Keiji and his friends lined up in front of Sensei Motidukïmïtuti. "All assembled and accounted for, Sense!"

"Excellent. You guys are in top form today and I know you're all eager to get out there, kick butt, take names and avenge Anthony, rightfully so, but remember we don't fight for revenge. We fight for Justice. We're going to win this but we're going to win it the right way. Fight hard but stay within the rules. Fight with honor. No cheap shots. Stay focused on your goal and do not allow anger to cloud your judgment. Release your negative energy. Cleanse your souls. Concentrate your mind and spirits and bodies as one. Be prepared for the unexpected and drive through your targets. Use the time between rounds to study your opponents, strategize and then take them down hard! Do you understand?"

"YES SENSEI!" They replied simultaneously.

"Excellent. I know you kids are going to knock it out of the park today and bring home the trophy. That will be more than enough of a victory over them. Today we will show everyone that The Champion Zone Dojo's honor and integrity and sportsmanship are stronger than any dirty tricks the Shouxing Dojo can pull out. Most importantly though I want everyone to go out there and remember to have fun. Otherwise, what's the point right?"

"RIGHT!"

"Excellent. Now I want everyone to go perform their Total Concentration Breathing Exercises and Warm-Up. You're all going to do amazing out there."

They bowed to their Sensei and he bowed in return and they left an open area in the room to perform their breathing exercises.

The students relaxed, cleared their minds, got comfortable and slowly exhaled, slowly inhaled, held their breaths for approximately four seconds and then slowly blew it back out again before repeating the process. Zen Shūchū No Kokyū! this breathing technique is called box breathing; it is widely used to boost performance by everyone from athletes to US Navy Seals. Yoga teachers use a similar breathing technique called 4-7-8 breathing. From a scientific perspective, the benefits of deep breathing go far beyond momentary stress relief. According to the Mayo Clinic, "Deep breathing helps ease symptoms of stress-related disorders and mental health conditions such as anxiety, general stress, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder."

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Anthony Carrison watched the television intently from his hospital bed. The Battle For The City was going to begin soon and here he was stuck in the hospital unable to help or cheer on his best friend from the sidelines. He could only sit in bed and pray for their victory. He wasn't going anywhere until he healed anyway. Just thinking about their surprise attack on him made him shudder. It was in his house. They attacked his damn house! Anthony was in the Living Room working on his homework with the television on in the background when they broke into his house and swarmed him all at once without even a warning! It was a small mercy that his parents were out at dinner and weren't attacked as well. He'd gotten some hits in thanks to the lessons Keiji and the others had been giving him but there was just too damn many of them! Keiji might've been able to handle them all but Anthony just wasn't on his level. They'd beaten him to the ground and pinned him while the other animals descended on him.

Anthony's parents came home to find him beaten to a pulp on the floor and called the paramedics. Unfortunately The Animals were disguised at the time so even if their cameras caught them they couldn't say it was them for certain despite everyone at Champion Zone knowing it was them. Anthony had never seen Keiji so angry before. He remembered the Burning Rage in his eyes after he found out what happened. Like there was a blazing inferno raging inside of him but his heart was cold and calm, like an ocean of darkness, just colder and colder by the minute and bottled away until he could unleash it at the tournament. They all felt that way, and it was only due to Sensei's teachings that they didn't immediately kick down the Animals' doors and rain utter hell down on them. But now the free rest period was over. Now it was time for retribution.

"How you feeling?" Alexandra O'Donnell asked him.

He looked back up at her and smiled faintly. "Ready for all of this to be over and justice delivered."

"Asses kicked?"

"Language but sure. I'd be more than happy to see them go down."

"Then don't you worry about a thing. Our guys are going to steamroll the tournament and spay and neuter the Animals."

"That's a rather vicious description but I appreciate it. Shouldn't you be with the others though?"

"My homies are at the match cheering them on together. That's more than enough. You needed a friend." She handed him an open drink to his good arm.

"Thank you."

"No prob. Now lets get ready to watch the fireworks."

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Sensei Damian Zankoku seethed with barely concealed rage as he flexed and closed his hands repeatedly until his students assembled behind him. He paused to compose himself and turned around to face them.

"You look prepared. Good. We have prepared long and hard for this day and today is our day of vengeance. We are going to dominate and slaughter our enemies this day, crush them beneath our feet and scorch and salt the Earth so that they will never recover. Those fools out there have no idea of the absolute nightmare they have walked into. I want you to go out there and take them apart. Dismantle them and leave them bleeding and crying out on the mat. They will be no match for any of you so feel free to make examples out of them. Our era of domination begins here! Show No Mercy To The Weak!"

"SIR YES SIR!" They all replied eagerly.

He nodded. "I have taught you enough about the rules that you'll know how to stay within them and bend the rules to suit you. Stay within the rules just enough to not be disqualified while you tear your enemies apart. Get in there on the mat and run them over and trample them beneath your feet. Understood?!"

"SIR YES SIR!"

"Splendid."