Martial Arts Worlds

Chapter 97 Approval

"I've heard about it." Kiernan said. "World Seas is what separates the continents from each other. Is it true that on the other side of the World Seas, there is a place called Dead World?"

"Yes." Karma nodded. "Dead World used to be the most beautiful and largest continent in the world, but now it is the land of the dead. If you step onto that land, you will be dead in a matter of hours."

"Yes, but I just want to go to the Nightingale." Kiernan said. "I've heard about the Navy also patrolling those seas. I've read that they've been putting their foot down when it comes to pirate activities."

"Yeah, right, don't believe everything you read." Karma said. "The pirating is bigger than ever before. More and more young men and women are attracted by the lawfulness and freedom of the pirate life."

"The Navy, in my eyes, hasn't done jack shit to stop them. The Navy is the dominant force of the World Seas, but still, the pirates are increasing their territory size with each passing day."

"Sigh..." Kiernan sighed heavily. "Tell me the truth. What do you think are my chances of making a name for myself in the world if I keep being stuck in Irio?"

"You only have two years left in the school." Karma said. "With your talent, I am sure you can find a school to go to in tier 2 or 3 countries."

"I am not satisfied with that shit." Kiernan said with anger. "I want to go to a top-tier school and become the strongest!"

"Listen, son." Karma sighed. "I also had similar thoughts of grandeur when I was young, but you need to be realistic. You're very talented. If you stay in New Rakuya, you will be able to go to the best college, and when you graduate, you can do anything you want."

"What happened to you, father?" Kiernan asked.

"You visited Nightingale; thus, you sailed through those dangerous waters to meet my mother. I know your and your grandparents' relationship has been broken, and I might know why.

"You ran off from home to go on that big adventure, didn't you?"

"And I regret that every single day," Karma said.

"You regret having me?" Kiernan asked.

"N-no, I didn't mean that." Karma sighed and touched his head. "I left for that grand adventure, and when I came back, my parents were already dead. I came back as a broken man. My martial spirit, and hopes, were crushed."

"What happened?" Kiernan asked.

"I..."

Karma sighed.

"Had a rival. We were both martial artists, and we were equally strong. I thought of him as my friend as well."

"We were at the peak of Martial Grandmaster rank at the time, and we tried to compete to see who would reach Martial King faster.

"In the end, he reached it faster, and I believed that I would reach it as well the next day, but before I was able to, he challenged me one more time.

"I thought the challenge was ridiculous as he was Martial King, and I wasn't. I wanted to refuse, but somehow, he was able to trick our teachers into thinking that the fight was mutual agreement.

"I-I think I am doing it." Karma said with slight hesitation.

"Now, punch into that black dot with all your strength!"

"Argh!" Karma reeled in his fist and punched at the black dot, his middle knuckle perfectly landing at the dot.

Herodes' face shattered.

Crack...

The shelled martial soul inside Karma's body started to crack, and the beautiful soul started to peek through!

"Ah!" Karma touched his chest with shaking eyes. "My martial soul is..."

Kiernan grabbed his father's shoulders and made him face him.

"Father, I will fucking crush everyone on my path." Kiernan said coldly. "You experienced Iron Style. Do you dare to say that my martial arts are not enough to reach the top?"

"No, son..." Karma looked at his trembling hand and smiled. "I trust in Iron Style."

"Good!" Kiernan patted him on the shoulders. "I will go to Nightingale, and I will meet that horrible mother of mine. I want your approval!"

"Alright then, son." Karma hugged him and patted his back. "You have my approval."

Kiernan nodded and headed to the stairs. "I'll get packing. I'll leave tomorrow."

"Wait, son." Karma looked over to his son and said, "Can you take a picture of her? I am curious... how she looks. It's been a long time since I've seen her..."

"Nn." Kiernan nodded and ran upstairs.

Find your next adventure on empire

"Sigh..." Karma collapsed on the chair, looked at his fist, and then punched forward again.

There it was, the feeling of absolute strength.

"Iron Style..." Karma whispered. "Iron Smash..."

His shelled martial soul kept breaking more and more.

'Son, who taught you this style?' Karma thought. 'No, no one taught him this. I can feel it. It's Kiernan's very own style, but how did he create something like this?'

...

The End of the First Volume - The First-Year Nationals.