Luke's opponent in this match was a formidable fighter who had battled his way through the overseas division.
One look at the fighter was enough to suggest a strong connection to Buddhism, one of the world's three major religions.
Because he was Baldy.
But not every Baldy had a connection to Buddhism, since baldness could also be caused by hair loss.
What made the connection certain were the nine ordination scars on his scalp.
Yet the tall, burly man wore a black kasaya robe, at odds with the image of a Buddhist monk.
Black signified ill fortune. In Buddhism, black robes were worn only for the most solemn ceremonies, while a kasaya was reserved for monks of high standing.
That meant this monk must hold an exceptional position in his temple.
When the camera cut to the burly Monk's face, the audience saw none of the solemn dignity they expected. Instead, his features held a faintly soft, sinister allure, far removed from the imposing image of a traditional Monk.
Paired with his black kasaya threaded with gold, it made him seem stranger still.
Whatever else he was, this man did not fit anyone's usual idea of a Buddhist monk.
Some spectators remembered Monk's earlier matches. Despite his sturdy build, he was not primarily a fighter. He relied more on Buddhist techniques to win.
Those techniques, however, had done little to distinguish themselves amid the dazzling variety of supernatural abilities in the tournament.
That did not mean his fighting skills were weak. Buddhism placed great emphasis on tempering the body, and Buddhist martial arts had long held a place in the diverse world of Eastern Martial Arts thanks to their deep-rooted tradition.
Ever since Patriarch Bodhidharma crossed the river on a reed, Buddhist practitioners had gradually developed many martial arts for