Everest Chōyama reigned as the martial arts tournament champion for ten consecutive years before the depicted events. He faced Kizuna Todoroki in the finals, where her victory ended his long reign. Upon discovering Kizuna was underage and thus ineligible to compete, Chōyama publicly broadcast a challenge: anyone defeating Kizuna would be recognized as the true champion and claim the tournament's prize money. This declaration directly instigated a wave of challengers seeking to fight Kizuna.

Chōyama possesses a significant height advantage over Kizuna. His fighting style effectively leverages this stature during combat, employing precise and natural attacks designed to counter a much smaller opponent at close range. His techniques avoid impractical or exaggerated movements common in similar matchups, demonstrating intelligent adaptation of his physical attributes against a smaller foe. His role centers on his status as the established champion, his defeat triggering the central conflict, and his broadcast directly initiating the subsequent challenges.