The Spice of Strife

[Participant in the Novelpie writathon.]

Hanabi Hanaya, a recent highschool graduate from Japan, crosses the sea to seek a cooking apprenticeship under the spice-master chef Goro Ohno in the American metropolis of New Medeo City.

Unknown to her, Muhamed Wangui, the world’s strongest man, and the greatest practitioner of enlightened martial arts alive, is hosting a tournament to find an apprentice to teach after being confronted by his own mortality.

When a display of Hanabi’s ki mastery catches the attention of tournament organizers, their ambitions crash together, and her life becomes inundated with eager combatants, freaky fighters, and vicious powerseekers, all with the hope of earning their place as a student of the world’s strongest.