“Hm? Look, Wataru. There’s a letter tied to the arrow!” Résistance astutely pointed out!
“A yabumi!” Wataru unfolded the piece of paper so he could read the contents out to the others! “I can’t read it!!!!!”
That’s right! Wataru could not read the language of this world! Then how can he speak it? I hear you ask, but there’s no time to explain that now, Dear Readers!!
“Then I’ll read it.” Aria took the letter, her face soaked in blood, and began reading it aloud!
Dear Wataru the Hero,
My name is Garland, and I’m a martial artist.
I will await you at the plaza at five, tomorrow morning.
I implore you to come.
Through combat, let us determine who is stronger.
“A challenger! All right! But... how does this Garland know about me!?” Wataru crossed his arms in contemplation!
Résistance answered! “There is a saying in this continent: ‘Rumor travels faster than the wind.’ You’ve defeated two of the Four Masters, Wataru. I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole continent knew about you.”
“I get it now... Come to think of it, I sense the people on the street staring at me! Does everyone here know who we are!?”
“I think it’s just because we look so weird,” Aria interjected with this cruel assessment!
In fact, it was only natural that a large, muscular man in a black school uniform, a woman in spike-riddled armor, and a girl with a bloodied face standing all together would draw some attention!
“Wait, Résistance! You’re an ex-Master! What’s going to happen if these people find out about that!?” Wataru had a point! What would happen to her if she were recognized!?
“I kept my skull helmet on during my entire Master career. I wouldn’t worry about anyone recognizing me without it.” ...Résistance also had a point!! No need to worry about her, then!!!
“Why were you wearing that stupid helmet, anyway?” Aria insulted Résistance’s choice of fashion with a straight face!
“Huh? That thing was epic! What are you talking about!? It was a freaking skull! I looked like a scary boss-type character!” Résistance rushed to defend her taste, which seemed akin to that of an emo preteen!
“You might have looked formidable, but Wataru defeated you in a couple of pages. Where did you get that silly helmet, anyway?”
“Tot Hopic, duh. Most everything in my closet came from there.”
“Oof. You’re the worst.” Aria’s harsh criticism of the goth-geek-hybrid chain was completely uncalled for! How did those emo-wannabe preteens hurt her!?
“In any case, I accept this challenge!” Wataru grinned!
“You got this, Wataru! I’ll be there to cheer you on, too!”
“All right, thanks!”
The Sky Kingdom was the first country Wataru had come to in this world! It didn’t look like he had to worry about being bored here!
The next day, Wataru and Aria arrived at the plaza, as instructed in the letter! It was five in the morning, very early! There was no sun in the sky nor anyone else in the plaza! Résistance, by the way, was still sleeping in her room in Aria’s parents’ clinic, having told the duo the night before that she wasn’t going to cheer on Wataru because “mornings aren’t my thing.”
“Here we are at the plaza... but no one’s here!”
“...”
“Hm? What’s wrong, Aria!?!?!?!?!?” Aria didn’t answer! Wataru turned around, frazzled, to find Aria fast asleep with her nose flat on the ground! “No, Aria! Don’t you fall asleep here! Wake up! Hey!!!”
“Erm... Shut up!!”
Slllllllllappppppp! In her sleep, Aria aggressively slapped Wataru straight across the face!
“Dammit, she’s a sleep-slapper! Why did she come with me, then...!?”
May I remind you, Dear Readers, that it was five in the morning! Aria had tagged along in hopes of cheering on Wataru during the fight, but alas, she could not defeat the Sandman’s sweet caress! ...What in the Isekai was going on!?
A booming shout echoed through the dim plaza! “You’ve come, Wataru!”
“...Hrm!” Wataru turned to the voice to find a completely bald, muscular man standing with his arms crossed facing him! His height was an unbelievable six foot four and a half! What an astonishing size! His muscles were so large that Wataru couldn’t tell if he was a man or a gorilla upon first glance, and he was wearing a tight, white shirt that did nothing but accentuate his ripped physique! The man’s face was chiseled, too! His eyes, however, were thin and gave off a gentle impression. The sheer contrast his face presented was almost alluring!
“Are you Garland, the one who challenged me!?”
“Indeed! I am Garland, the martial artist!” Garland struck a pose like a bodybuilder! With both arms raised, he bent his elbows to accentuate his upper arms! Th-There was no mistaking it! That move was none other than... the Double Biceps!!!!!
“I’m not done yet!!! Hragh!!!”
Rrrrrrrrippppppp!!!!!
As Garland flexed his muscles, the white shirt that only thinly veiled his torso practically exploded off his body, revealing the Apollo-like abs underneath!
“Y-Your muscles are incredible!!!” Wataru was amazed at Garland’s upside-down-pyramid of a bod! His abs! His biceps!!! Furthermore, Garland’s body was covered in scars, hinting at how many times he’d had brushes with death! “Garland, your muscles are the real deal! But why do you want to fight me!?” Wataru asked, as he carried the snoring Aria to a safe location.
“Hmph. Simple, Wataru! Because you took out two of the Four Masters!” Garland answered without breaking his Mr. Universe pose! “The tales of your conquest have already reached all corners of the Sky Kingdom! Which means that you’re the most famous person in this country right now!”
“All right! That’s what I like to hear!”
Apparently, the rumors hadn’t mentioned the fact that one of their trio was still sleeping in a clinic in the city, excluding Résistance from any danger! Now, Garland switched to a Lat Spread, where he put both fists at his waist!
“And now! All the fighters in town want a piece of you and the fame of being the one to take you down! I’m no exception!”
In short, Garland aimed to beat Wataru, who was now famous for having defeated two Masters, and take his place as the strongest fighter in the kingdom!
“Say no more! Let’s fight!!!” Wataru lowered his stance, primed for battle!
“I appreciate you accepting my challenge, Wataru! Face my fists!!”
“Jmp!!!” Wataru immediately jumped right over Garland’s head!
“What!?”
Upon landing, Wataru immediately went for a chop, his hand straightened like a blade! It struck Garland square on his hairless head!!
“Graghlglaragh!” It was only a few seconds into the fight, and Garland was already overwhelmed! Garland was much larger than Wataru physically, but the gross mass of one’s muscles does not always correlate to one’s prowess in combat!! “Not bad, Wataru!”
“You haven’t seen anything yet!!!” Wataru and Garland traded punches, nose-to-nose! But Wataru was clearly faster than Garland!
“Pnch!!!” Wataru’s punch, elevated to the point of artistic perfection, smashed deep into Garland’s abdomen!
“Graghfphgharghragh!!!” Garland couldn’t help but jump back! He immediately regained his fighting stance, and charged right back at Wataru! “Rrrrrrragggggghhhhh!!!”
Undaunted, Wataru squatted low! As Garland charged toward him, he countered with perfect timing with a right uppercut! Wataru’s fist found Garland’s gut again, spreading a slow but inevitable wave of pain through his body! Garland fell, speechless!!! “It’s over, Garland!!!”