Zendreyu rested up and checked for any clues about the previous tickets to the tournament here. After asking about Zendreyu found out that his father had fought here before as well and had numerous single combat awards for fist fighting and kick boxing. Looking at old newspaper clippings in various bars, taverns, and meat shacks that his father had frequented back then was very enlightening. With new memories of his father's past deeds nestled in his head Zendreyu made his way to the next round of preliminary battles. As he got dressed in traditional Sinsese fighting attire he took note of the katana left in his dressing room.

Memories from his combat assignments came rushing back as he stared at the katana in their scabbards. Unfettered thoughts of fighting to the death came to mind and though his scars had all but completely healed on his torso, face and shoulders he could still remember the scent of blood and the ache of flesh pushed beyond the limits of natural human tolerance.



The smell of burnt flesh and hair, the grime and grit of unyielding combat. The memories were ever present and vivid yet through it all Zendreyu maintained a clear mind as his mother had always told him "Follow your instincts but keep a clear heart and mind so that everyone can survive."

Zendreyu smiled briefly before tucking the swords into his sash. Zendreyu already knew he would not fight with the swords as his limbs still carried injuries that made his swordsmanship far from adequate. His personal martial arts however had come quite a long way. That would be the key to his return to physical capacity and winning his current match up.

Feng Sho was already in the ring in a meditative posture his katana already carried the scent of blood from a bull he had slain early in the morning with the rising of the sun. It was a House Tilon tradition before facing a hated enemy to quench the katana's thirst before battle so that the spirit of the sword would aid you without needing to be woken up or needing the wielder's blood because  the sword had starved between uses.

The referee returned to the center of the ring and announced the rules anew. "THE NEXT THREE ROUNDS OF COMBAT ALLOW WEAPONS, KICKING, MAGIC BLASTS, TRANSFORMATIONS, HEALING SPELLS, AND BODY REINFORCEMENT!! NO POISONS!! NO SPITTING!! NO BITING UNLESS YOU HAVE TRANSFORMED INTO SOME KIND OF BEAST!! THAT IS ALL, ANYTHING DEEMED AGAINST THESE RULES WILL RESULT IN AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATION!! FIGHTERS AT YOUR READY!!"

Feng Sho rose from meditation and stood center ring with his arms crossed a single katana at the ready. Zendreyu bowed to the referee before handing the katanas he was presented previously to the referee to be officially cleared from the ring and not be scored against Zendreyu by any tournament rules. The judges were enthusiastic to see that there would be a weapon user facing a non weapon user.

The two distant relatives faced each other at the center of the ring. The referee yelled, "FIGHT!!!" Feng Sho drew his katana in a slashing motion completely destroying Zendreyu's gi top in the process. As the katana's blade edge fell upon Zendreyu sparks flew as his internal armor fused with his skin. Feng Sho verified his suspicion that Zendreyu actually had bloodline bound internal armor.

Zendreyu's weaknesses were still easily noted. Zendreyu simply wasn't fast enough to dodge very well. He couldn't keep up with Feng Sho's swordsmanship allowing Feng Sho to seemingly humiliate Zendreyu with the slashes of his katana. Feng Sho was happily beating Zendreyu as he had slashed Zendreyu 8 times but moved out of reach so easily that Dreyu could not get a hit back.

Suddenly Feng Sho launched a lethal attack to Zendreyu's neck, he stopped going for body shots and decided striking Zendreyu's neck should end the match. Zendreyu had waited patiently for openings in the swordsmanship to get in his own hits as well. Zendreyu's hands reached in and caught Feng Sho's Gi top stopping the lethal strike inches from Zendreyu's neck.

Grab, Twist, Pull, Grab... were Zendreyu's only thoughts as he followed through with his military training as Feng Sho used magic to cause his gi to explode to escape Zendreyu's grip. Thinking there was nothing else Zendreyu could do after he lost his handholds Feng Sho slashed in a killing maneuver only to find himself at Dreyu's mercy as Zendreyu unleashed a well timed and perfectly positioned jaw line crushing smash. ((SMASH is a combination of an uppercut and a hook))

Feng Sho had his teeth knocked out as he was "KO'ed" The referee immediately stopped the match. Feng Sho collapsed to the mat with 6 front teeth beside him and the referee ran over and called the match in Zendreyu's favor. "WINNER IS ZENDREYU!! The next series of Preliminary matches will continue in 2 days. All winning contestants exit the rings and apply for your next set of matches."