The next day…
After the Unarmed league's finals wrapped up, the people arrived back in the same place once more. The stadium buzzed with excitement from all sides. The staff quickly handed out food and water, ensuring that all had something to eat. Mack prepared for his commentary by doing some breathing exercises. Then, he put on his headset. The speaker's connection resounded throughout the stadium.
"Welcome back, people!" Macks shouted. "To the Armed league finalllllll!!!"
The audience's excitement burst. They shook the stadium as their loud cheers resounded across the city.
"Today, on February seventeenth, we'll witness the end of the Armed league and Golden Hour tournament as whole!"
Mack jolted up from his seat as the hologram in the stadium displayed the next participants.
"Please welcome our two finalists! Cain Rodrick and Leo Vincenzo!"
As those words fell, two individuals stepped out of opposite sides. One with gray hair and green eyes held a meteor hammer. On the opposite sides, another with white hair and dark eyes wielded a longsword. Both approached the center of the arena.
In the stands, Taylor scoffed at their entrance. Adam looked towards her, raising a brow.
"You angry?" He asked.
"No…" Taylor replied. "I don't whether to hope Leo beats Cain or Cain beats Leo."
Adam sighed helplessly and focused back on the match. Halting before each other, the two finalists locked eyes.
"Get ready!" The ref shouted.
Cain assumed his stance while Leo didn't even pull his hands out of his pockets. The fans held their breath as the stadium went silent for a singular second. The ref gripped the whistled and raised his arm. Reality seemed to glitch for a heartbeat. Then, the ref's hand snapped down, his whistle shrilling through the air as he scrambled off. Cain swung his hammer – without thought. Leo reacted and dodged the strike.
"You're fun." He whistled.
Cain didn't reply – didn't think. His hammer circled around, wrapping Leo. Leo – unfazed, let it happen. Then, as Cain tried to activate his attribute, he failed? His face paled as his opponent calmly pulled off the chains.
'I thought this match was gonna be different…' Leo thought, dusted himself off.
Cain tugged at his weapon. Whistle of the meteor sounded and headed for Leo's face. But at the last second, Cain stopped it? The meteor fell onto the ground. Leo sighed and passed it, nearing his opponent. Cain pulled it back and shot it forward once more. Then, he missed? Cain's jaw dropped. He backed off panicking as his opponent approached him. He pivoted his foot and extended his chains. It circled the arena and tried to wrap Leo again.
Unfortunately, Leo ducked under as he forced Cain to slightly raised it. Suddenly, Cain's body stopped moving. The hammer fell. His opponent halted before him and touched him.
"I'm so sorry for what's about to happen nex-"
Before Leo could finish his sentence, something bizarre happened. He and Cain suddenly fell to the ground. The floor shattered under their weight. Cain smiled, again shooting throughout his body. Leo was panicking – that was exactly what he needed. Both fighter's bones began cracking under the pressure and their muscles began tearing apart.
"AHHH!!" Leo screamed.
Their mass began to increase even more. Right then, Leo realized what he was doing. He shifted his focus and deactivated Cain's attribute. Wit adrenaline rushing through his veins, he jolted up and backed off. Cain shakily stood up as his voice echoed throughout the arena.
"Enjoyed that, prince?" He inquired.
Leo collapsed to his knees. Strangely, he chuckled.
"No…I didn't…" He answered. "You're a clever man. I can only override one signal… at a time… so you used that against me?"
Cain laughed, blood pouring down his nose. Leo stood up – body broken and bleeding. He unsheathed his long sword. The blade's tip hit the floor, acting as a makeshift crutch for its owner. Leo panted and stepped forward. He felt a sharp pain in chest. He fell, clutching his chest.
"Looks like…I at least did something…" Cain grimaced.
Leo stood up again and treaded forward like an old man. His body screamed at him to not move but he didn't listen. Then, he halted near his opponent who also trembled. His sword lifted into the air and fell. He struck his opponent's torso once. Cain gasped for air and fell to his knees. Leo also paused for a moment, clutching his chest. Then, he raised it. Cain tried to crawl away, pushing his feet against the ground.
Leo stepped forward and hit him again. Then, he lost balance. He caught himself at the last moment. Cain grimaced painfully. Leo gritted his teeth and swung diagonally. He lightly struck his opponent's head. Cain recoiled, his head spinning. The blade landed on Cain's shoulder. Leo retracted it and it landed on his rival's legs. Without saying another word, Leo struck Cain's torso with trembling hands for the final time. Cain held his body up with his hands.
Blood escaping from his chest. Leo threw his sword, nearing Cain. The audience nor the commentator dared to speak. The stadium fell into a deathly silence Neither the audience nor the commentator spoke; Only Leo's heavy, ragged breathing could be heard. He halted near Cain. Then, he opened his mouth and spoke three words.
"Ten points…motherfucker…"
The referee blew the whistle – ending the match. The fans cheered for the winner. The ref approached him, grabbing his hand and raising it for the masses to see. Right then, the commentators voice shot through the stadium.
"AND THE WINNER IS LEO VINCENZOOOO!!!" Mack jolted up from his seat.
Leo curled his hand into a fist as the fans applauded his victory. In the stands, Taylor had mixed reactions.
"I don't know if I should be celebrating that Cain lost or be angry that Leo won."
"Just clap for the love of God." Adam clapped his hands.
Taylor sighed and did the same as her friend. So, did the other contestants - Kairos, Mia, Aarush, Apollo, Adira, Priscus, James, Saul – all of them applauded their future classmate's victory.
"What an amazing end to the 1000th Golden Hour tournament with Leo Vincenzo as the winner of the Armed league and Janus Gates as the winner of the Unarmed league." Mack spoke into his mic. "The prizes and trophies for the winners will be distributed tomorrow."
In that exact moment, the sun peaked at high noon and a shadow covered the entire city. In that moment, a devilish smile couldn't help but make itself apparent across his face. He clasped his trembling hands and began reciting a prayer.
"Oh my! Oh my! Great Anarch who resides in our nightmares. He, who protects us from the darkness and creatures of our own fear. Help me and shall I be your believer, help me and I shall be your messenger. Oh, lord! Make my enemies cry in fear!"
In the very instant he whispered those words, another shadow covered the stadium. Cain's smile became even more wicked. The fans were still too busy celebrating. Nobody had noticed this change…except for one man.
February 17th of the year 2984 of the Modern Age.
In the VIP room, Dante lifted his head. He peered into sky, through his glasses. Then, he muttered in a confused voice.
"What in the world is that…?"
Hearing this, Chris turned towards him.
"What are you talking abou–?"
But before he could utter another word, a red glow bloomed in the heavens. Then, before anyone or anything could react – a gargantuan laser descended, covering the entirety of the stadium.