The voice from the loudspeakers echoed across the arena.
"Match Three is about to begin."
Miles and Tiziamo stepped into the arena from opposite sides.
The crowd immediately grew louder.
People leaned forward in their seats, eager to see the next fight. The arena lights shone down on the circular ring in the center.
Miles walked calmly toward the middle of the ring. His eyes were focused and sharp, but his face remained calm.
Across from him stood Tiziamo.
He was tall easily over 190 centimetres with a massive build. His shoulders were wide, and his arms were thick with muscle. Several old scars covered his forearms, signs of many fights before this one.
Tiziamo cracked his knuckles slowly.
CRACK. CRACK.
He looked down at Miles and smirked.
"So you're my opponent?"
Miles didn't answer.
Instead, he studied him carefully.
Big… strong… but heavy, Miles thought. If I let him grab me, it's over.
The announcer's voice echoed again.
"Fighters ready!"
The arena slowly grew quiet.
Miles raised his guard.
Tiziamo rolled his neck once.
Then
"BEGIN!"
Tiziamo moved first.
His heavy footsteps pounded against the arena floor as he rushed forward like a charging bull.
Miles reacted instantly.
Tiziamo's fist shot forward toward his face.
WHOOSH!
Miles tilted his head to the side just in time.
The punch barely missed him.
But Tiziamo didn't stop.
His second punch came immediately after.
Miles ducked under it and slid to the side.
Then he kicked toward Tiziamo's ribs.
The impact landed cleanly.
But Tiziamo barely moved.
He looked down at Miles with a grin.
"That tickled."
Suddenly
His elbow dropped downward.
CRACK!
Miles jumped back just before it smashed into the ground.
The crowd roared.
Miles frowned slightly.
His strength is insane.
Tiziamo kept advancing.
Punch after punch flew toward Miles.
Each attack carried enormous power.
Miles dodged the first.
Then the second.
But the third brushed against his shoulder.
The impact pushed him several steps backward.
Pain shot through his arm.
Miles clenched his teeth.
If one of those lands directly… I'm finished.
Tiziamo laughed.
"What's wrong? I thought you looked stronger.
but you're a weakling."
Miles wiped a small line of blood from his lip.
Then he smiled slightly.
"You talk too much."
Miles suddenly dashed forward.
His speed surprised Tiziamo.
Before the larger fighter could react
Miles struck.
Punch to the stomach.
Elbow to the chest.
CRACK.
Then a spinning kick toward his head.
Tiziamo raised his arm and blocked it.
But the force pushed him back one step.
The crowd gasped.
For the first time, Tiziamo's smile disappeared.
Miles jumped backward again.
"You're slow," Miles said calmly.
Tiziamo stared at him.
Then he began laughing.
A deep, heavy laugh.
"Good."
He rolled his shoulders.
"Finally someone interesting."
Without warning
Tiziamo charged again.
But this time his speed was even faster.
Miles barely had time to react.
Tiziamo's fist slammed into his guard.
BOOM.
The impact sent Miles sliding backward across the arena floor.
His arms trembled from the force.
Then Tiziamo grabbed his shirt.
Miles' eyes widened.
"Got you."
Tiziamo lifted him slightly off the ground and slammed him down.
CRASH!
The arena floor shook.
Miles coughed as the air left his lungs.
The referee stepped closer, ready to count if.
The crowd shouted wildly.
"Finish him!"
"Knock him out!"
Tiziamo raised his fist high above his head.
"If this lands," he said, "you're done."
He swung downward.
But
Miles rolled to the side at the last second.
BOOM!
The punch smashed into the ground.
Miles jumped back to his feet.
Breathing heavily, he wiped blood from his chin.
Tiziamo looked annoyed.
"You're annoying."
Miles smirked.
"And you're predictable."
Both fighters stared at each other.
The tension in the arena grew heavy.
Then they moved at the same time.
Tiziamo threw a massive right punch.
Miles stepped inside the attack.
He twisted his body.
Then
CRACK!
His fist slammed directly into Tiziamo's jaw.
The giant fighter staggered backward.
Miles didn't stop.
Another punch.
Then a kick to the knee.
Tiziamo lost his balance.
Miles spun his body one last time.
And delivered a powerful roundhouse kick.
CRACK!
It struck Tiziamo across the face.
The massive fighter collapsed onto the ground.
The arena shook slightly from the impact.
Silence fell.
Then the referee began counting.
"ONE…"
Tiziamo groaned but didn't move.
"TWO…"
Miles stood silently, breathing heavily.
"THREE…"
The crowd began shouting.
"FOUR…"
Tiziamo tried to push himself up but his arms failed.
"FIVE!"
The announcer's voice boomed across the arena.
"Miles wins Match Three!"
The crowd erupted.
Cheers, screams, and applause filled the arena.
Miles turned and began walking toward the exit without celebrating.
Two men wearing white suits and white masks entered the arena and carried Tiziamo's unconscious body away.
The loudspeaker echoed again.
"Next match… Match Four."
"Corbin versus giulia."
From the arena seats
Corbin slowly stood up.
His fight was next.
The moment Corbin stepped into the light, the crowd roared.
He ignored them.
His focus sharpened as he walked toward the center of the ring.
Then
From the opposite side
She appeared.
Giulia walked into the arena calmly.
She wasn't what Corbin expected.
She looked about his age.
Her hair was long and dark, tied loosely behind her. She had a slim build—not very muscular—but her movements were smooth and controlled.
Her eyes met his.
And in that instant
Corbin felt it.
She's dangerous.
Not because of her strength.
But because of something deeper.
Something he couldn't explain.
Giulia stopped a few meters away.
She looked at him quietly.
"…So it's you."
Corbin frowned.
"You know me?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she took a slow breath.
Then
"I was hoping it wouldn't be you."
The words hit strangely.
Corbin's eyes narrowed.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Before she could answer—
The announcer interrupted.
"Fighters ready!"
The tension snapped.
Both raised their guards.
The arena fell silent.
Then
"BEGIN!"
Neither of them moved.
Not at first.
They simply stared at each other.
The crowd began to grow restless.
"Fight already!"
"What are they doing?!"
Then
Giulia moved.
Fast.
Faster than Corbin expected.
She closed the distance in an instant and struck.
A precise hit toward his face.
Corbin blocked it.
But her second attack came immediately
A low kick.
It struck his leg.
Corbin stepped back slightly.
Fast… and accurate.
Giulia didn't press forward.
Instead, she stepped back too.
Creating distance again.
Corbin frowned.
Why isn't she attacking?
"Why are you holding back?" he asked.
Giulia looked at him.
"You should forfeit."
Corbin blinked.
"What?"
Her voice was calm but serious.
"Leave the arena."
The crowd reacted with confusion.
Corbin's expression hardened.
"Yeah that's not happening."
Giulia closed her eyes briefly.
"I figured."
Then
She attacked again.
This time her movements were even sharper.
Punch.
Kick.
Step.
Everything was controlled.
Nothing wasted.
Corbin blocked two attacks
But the third slipped through.
CRACK.
Her fist struck his cheek.
His head snapped slightly to the side.
The crowd roared.
Corbin stepped back.
He wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Okay"
He raised his guard again.
"My turn."
Corbin dashed forward.
His speed caught Giulia off guard.
His fist shot toward her ribs.
The hit landed.
She stepped back.
Corbin followed.
Punch.
Kick.
Elbow.
Giulia blocked most of it—but not all.
A kick struck her side.
She slid back slightly.
The two separated again.
Both breathing heavier now.
Giulia looked at him.
"You've gotten stronger."
Corbin froze for a split second.
"What?"
But she didn't explain.
Instead
She attacked again.
The fight intensified.
Blow after blow echoed through the arena.
CRACK.
THUD.
BOOM.
The crowd was fully engaged now.
Every hit made them louder.
But something felt wrong.
Corbin noticed it.
She's not trying to win.
Her attacks were precise
But she wasn't finishing them.
Not pushing fully.
Almost like
She was holding back.
"Why?" Corbin asked mid-fight.
Their fists clashed.
"Why are you doing this?"
Giulia didn't answer.
Instead
She suddenly changed.
Her movements became sharper.
Faster.
More dangerous.
A kick slammed into Corbin's side.
Then
A punch struck his chest.
CRACK.
He was pushed back several steps.
The crowd erupted.
Giulia stood still.
Her breathing was uneven now.
"I told you to leave."
Corbin straightened up.
Pain shot through his body.
But he didn't fall.
"Yeah," he said.
"I don't listen well."
Giulia's expression changed.
For the first time
She looked conflicted.
Then she whispered
"They'll kill you."
Corbin's eyes widened slightly.
"What?"
She stepped forward slowly.
"They don't care about the tournament."
Her voice was quiet but serious.
"This is entertainment for them."
"If you win you go deeper."
"…And no one comes back from there."
The words hit hard.
Corbin's mind raced.
So that's it
This wasn't just a tournament.
It was something worse.
Much worse.
Corbin looked back at her.
"…And you?"
Giulia smiled faintly.
"I already lost a long time ago."
The crowd voice suddenly cut in.
"End this already."
The tone was different now.
Colder.
More threatening.
Giulia froze.
Then
Her expression hardened.
"I'm sorry."
Before Corbin could react
She moved.
Faster than before.
Much faster.
Her fist shot forward
But something was different.
Corbin's eyes widened.
She's aiming to knock me out.
Not hold back.
Not test.
End it.
At that moment
Corbin understood.
She was trying to protect me
But now
She had no choice.
Their fists collided.
BOOM.
The impact echoed across the arena.
Dust rose around them.
Both stood their ground.
Eyes locked.
No more holding back.
No more hesitation.
Just one truth remained
Only one of them could win.
And now
The real fight had begun.