"I DEMAND JUSTICE!!"
A man shouted as he banged his fist on a large round table. There sat five people however there were six chairs. They were all dressed in suits. The man who banged his fist had red hair that was starting to gray, along with a ring on each finger.
"Mr.Tepas the way I heard it your son Slider threatened to expose our entire organization, if it weren't for the King we would all be exposed."
A woman said with long blue hair and light blue eyes.
"So we've been told by this "King Zin" saying he had no choice but to kill my boy! Forgive me Lady Moon but I don't buy it."
He said in retaliation, as he stood up out of his chair demanding action be taken.
"Nothing can be decided until he arrives."
A larger man said with orange hair combed backed and glasses.
"Why should we care about if he's here or not, Mr.Thomas, we must retaliate against him."
He said to the large man, a woman on the left side of Mr.Tepas let out a puff of smoke.
"To challenge Zin is to challenge a nation we'd be going to war."
The woman said with short black hair and glasses.
"If war is what is needed then war is what we shall do Mrs.Vimpart."
He said as the room became silent. Suddenly the sound of the door opening and closing filled the room. Footsteps soon followed. The empty chair was pulled back and Mr.Clockwork sat down on it. He put his hands together and one leg over the other.
"It's not often I show my gratitude towards outsiders, however, Lord Zin is many things a liar is not one of them. If he says Slider threatened our existence and merely exposed us then I will take him at his word. I just got off the phone with him and thanked him and put this matter to bed. Now let us continue with this meeting."
Tepas slammed the table in frustration.
"Put to bed my son was murdered and you're saying we should take this king at his word. Unlike you, the rest of us care about our families. I'm going after him with or without the support of the Undercity."
He said the room was silent as Clockwork stood up and began to slowly walk towards him.
"If I recall it was you who had your son removed from the Undercity. You said he was not worthy and needed to prove himself if he was going to succeed you. Your son's death is on your hands."
Tepas grew angrier as Clockwork slowly approached him.
"You dare lecture me about raising a child when you haven't even given yours the time of day, I find that hypocritical Mr.Clockwork."
He said with a grin as Clockwork now stood next to him. They two-faced each other and stared each other down.
"Tell me your next heir is your son Jameson right, I hear he's quite intelligent."
Tepas scoffed as he crossed his arms.
"So what the boy couldn't throw a punch to save his life."
Mr.Clockwork began to remove the gloves he was wearing.
"What he lakes in physical strength,"
He said as he quickly grabbed Tepas by the throat and lifted him off the ground.
"I'm sure he'll make up for it with his intellect."
Tepas tried to break free gasping for air. Punching and scraping at Clockwork's arm. As his hair started to turn gray and he started to lose weight.
"Your ability to control frequency is quite impressive, however, I believe it only works when one of your rings hits a metal object. Creating a ringing sound which you can then increase to make their ears bleed."
He kept punching and kicking and scratching to break free but it wasn't working.
"I bet you're wondering why I'm explaining your power to you. You see I'm explaining so you know that your power is insignificant compared to me. You will continue to do as you're told, if you like your son threaten to expose our existence I will not let you live the next time, Mr.Tepas."
He said as he let go of him, Tepas fell to the ground on his knees gasping for air as he slowly returned to normal.
"As of right your son will be promoted to work on my staff. I look forward to working with your son Mr.Tepas."
He walks back over to his chair putting his silk black gloves on.
"I'm sure no one has any objections."
"No sir," all but Tepas said as he slowly stood back up frustrated.
"No sir."
He said sitting back down in his chair.
They all said as Clockwork pulled out a piece of paper from his coat.
"As you know a tournament is to be held very soon, all are from our country except 2 as I've been told. This tournament is a way to show the world what these cores can do and what they're capable of. The tournament is an open invitation to all those who wish to enter. However, it is much more than just that. Every 5 years we hold an international Olympic event. The nations of the world wish to gather together to hold an event. The tournament is a way to introduce the country to this power. The Olympic event is a way to show the world. This year they want to have core abilities as a separate event. As a way to see what they're capable of the Core Olympics, as they are calling it will be held. This tournament is to find the best among us and have them participate in the event."
Clockwork says as he passes out files to each of them.
"I see forgive me but why should this concern us, sir? So what if there's an event going to happen."
Said Mr.Thomas as he began to turn through the file.
"This event will bring all the leaders of the world and their most powerful combatants, there is no better time to strike."
Lady Moon opened the file and began to look through it.
"I see this would leave a power vacuum in the world one that would need filling. Do you plan to use the weapon?"
She asked him to close the file in her hands and place it on the table.
"Indeed once we are sure it is ready and determines whether or not that it works."
Lady Moon chuckles and smiles.
"This is a once and a lifetime opportunity, one we should not miss, I'm in."
"I see I must ask sir will the Kingdom
Seikatsu be participating?"
Asked Mr.Thomas as Tepas' interest grew.
"Lord Zin has shown little interest in the Olympic event. However, he told me he had dispatched a member of his guard to participate in the tournament."
Everyone's curiosity had grown. Seikatsu was a kingdom that mostly kept to itself for many years. The fact that they were sending someone to be in the tournament was most intriguing.
"Did he say who he was sending?"
Asked Mrs.Vimpart they all looked toward Clockwork awaiting his answer.
"He did the person he's sending is Kuro Zeit."
Mrs.Vimpart gasps, Tepas is shaken, Lady Moon is shocked and Mr.Thomas grows more curious.
"Kuro Zeit is the most dangerous hitman in the world. The number of his victims is unknown, the assumed number is 87 but it is most likely higher. How did Lord Zin come to recruit this man?"
They all calmed down and got back to being comfortable in their seats.
"How he came across this man or how he came to be in his service is unknown to me. I will inform you all if I need anything more. This concludes today's meeting. I expect you all back tomorrow at the same time."
"Yes sir,"
They all said however Tepas said it reluctantly and left the room in anger.
The others stood and calmly left the room.
Mr.Clockwork sat alone in the room till his butler walked up behind him.
"Sir, shall I bring the car around?"
His butler says on the left side, Clockwork looked at the hand he held Tepas in.
"Yes, and Charles bring in the bird will you?"
Charles bows,
"Of course sir."
He says as he opens a nearby curtain and pulls out a bird in a cage. He places it in front of Clockwork and leaves the room.
Clockwork takes off one of his gloves. He opens the cage and pokes the side of the bird. The bird remains the same and rubs against his finger. Clockwork smiles and begins to rub the bird's neck.
"Good boy,"
He says as the bird begins to chirp. He stopped petting the bird and took off his other glove. He reached into his coat and pulled out a silver ring. He smiles as he looks at the ring and he begins to rub the ring. The ring had two initials on it. JC + MC as he looked upon the ring with a smile but a sorrowful look. He could feel the coldness in his left hand but none in his right. He put the ring back into his pocket and put his gloves back on. As he could now feel the coldness throughout his body. He closed the bird and picked it up by the handle and walked out of the room.
~5 days until the tournament~
Somewhere in the northern kingdom warehouse.
"We got these from a ship that was heading to Seikatsu, it seems it was transporting food."
A man said opening one of the crats. A woman with an eye patch looks over the context. She smiles and looks around the room.
"Good work boys with this shipment of supplies ought to make pirating easier."
The men all cheered and began to celebrate. Two we're about to high five,
"High five."
Before they could high five one of their heads exploded. Blood splattered everywhere, as all the men stopped celebrating. They all stood there shocked. As one by one their heads exploded until only the captain was left.
She tried to catch her breath but she couldn't breathe. She fell onto her knees and threw up. A few moments passed as she sat there, suddenly she heard footsteps approaching. She looked up and saw a man standing over her. The man had long purple hair, he wore sunglasses so you couldn't see his eyes. His jacket selves only went halfway down his arm. One hand was in a pocket while the other was the side. He wore fingerless gloves and black pants. The man knelt to meet her at eye level.
"My name is Kuro Zeit. It's a pleasure to meet you."
He said, offering her a handshake. She was shaking all over and her breathing had become uneven. As sweat began to drip from her forehead. She did not accept his handshake. Kuro began to reach for her face when he suddenly his phone started to ring.
"Excuse me I have to answer this."
Kuro stood up and turned around and walked a few feet away. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a phone. The girl looked up and saw a purple rose on the back of his jacket. He put the phone to his ear and said
"Yes, your Majesty?"
He said as the girl started to pull a knife from her coat.
"Hello Kuro the tournament is in 5 days and I would like you to participate."
Zin said as he could hear Kuro chuckle.
"I'm assuming this is because Jack is participating?"
"Yes Jack will be at the tournament, I want to see if you'll trigger his memory. I didn't know then but there's vital information in his lost memories."
"Really?"
Kuro asked as his interest grew the woman slowly crept up behind Kuro.
"Really what kind of information could be so vital."
"Core abilities were a rarity in the past. However, 2 years ago, more and more people across the world began to have a core. Soon having a core will become common. In Jack's memory is the key to understanding the mass spreading of core abilities. His memories may also contain information dating back to the very first core user."
"I see lord Zin such information is very valuable I will see if I trigger anything."
"Good I will wait to hear the results of what happens."
The woman was about to stab Kuro in the back. She went for the stab but her arm blew off before she could shout in pain her head exploded.
"Of course sir, I have never failed you."
~4 days until the tournament~
Gerrit is cleaning his guns as his wife walks down into the basement.
"Hey honey dinners ready."
"Thanks dear I'll be up in a minute."
He said as he continued to clean the sniper rifle in his hands.
"Are you going to the tournament?"
She asked him as Gerrit stopped for a moment but quickly resumed cleaning the gun.
"what does it matter?"
"I know how much this means to you I just hope nothing happens."
"The only reason I'm doing this is because of the deal I made with Fighter."
"I never did like that Fighter."
"What do you think I should Becca? Do you think I should back now?"
"Well Gerrit I say do what you think is best for both of you. Now stop moping around and come eat your dinner before it gets colds."
"Yes ma'am."
He said putting the gun down on the table.
~3 days until the tournament~
Jack and Loki we're sitting in front of the gravestone, talking about whatever."
"Hey Jack?"
"What's up?"
"Why do you want to remember who you were, what if the past is too painful to face?"
"Hmmm well if there's pain there has to be good too. I have no idea who I was. The only thing that links me back to my past is this hat. I'm not even sure if it's mine Jack may not be my real name. No one knows who I am. I could have a family out there, a brother, sister, close friends. Charlie took me in and trained me. He's the closest I've got to a father. Mrs.Clockwork is the closest I've got to a mother. I have so much yet there is still this piece of me that just feels empty."
Loki looked at Jack as Jack started at the grave. Loki looked back at his sister's grave and nodded.
"Whether it makes me whole or breaks me I have to know."
Jack said looking up at the sky.
"Yeah I understand how you feel."
~2 days until the tournament~
Back at Charlie's gym he was cleaning up and putting his equipment away.
"Yo Charlie."
Charlie looked over his shoulder and saw Fighter behind him.
"What do you want?"
He said turning around.
"The tournament is getting pretty close don't you think you should give your student some encouragement?"
Charlie walked past him and started picking up weights.
"The kid will be fine, he's been training for this."
"True true but did you know? That Kuro will be there."
Charlie stopped for a moment but he quickly resumed.
"Well I hope that if they do fight I hope our boy can win."
"Well I do hope the same, but I must ask if something were to happen to Jack how many family members would you have left than Charlie."
"Well I doubt my brother is still alive so it would just be him."
"I didn't know of your past when we first met, but to think the first person Jack would run into after his memory loss was his Uncle."
"Yes how very convenient aye Fighter."
"How most convenient, why haven't you told him?"
"For the same reason, you haven't told him anything."
"Fair enough,"
Fighter says with a shrug.
"Now get out of my gym before I kill you."
"Ooooo Scary fine I'm going let's hope our boy can pull it off."
Fighter leaves the gym as Charlie continues to clean the gym.
~somewhere else~
"I'll need your assistants very soon can I count on you Mrs.Envy"
"A chance to see my sister again, of course, I will Mr.Clockwork."
~1 day until the tournament~
Back at Fighter's place, the Tournament was only 1 day away and Jack was still preparing. Jack was standing in the middle of the training area in red armor running through some punching drills.
"Good you've managed to hold Red armor for a much longer period. Geez, the time has flown by, well at least for the people reading this."
He said as he took a bite from an ice cream bar.
"Wait who's watching us?"
Fighter takes another bite and twirls it around a bit.
"Don't worry that the audience will understand."
Jack stood there confused, as he deactivated Red Armor.
"I'm so confused,"
He said as Fighter hopped off Woolfers and walked towards him. Fighter was far taller than him as he stood 9'11' inches.
"Don't worry about it"
He said, taking another bite of his ice cream.
"Hey Fighter, I've always wondered what a core looks like? and where is it?"
Fighter pulled the ice cream out of his mouth and smiled.
"A core is more than just a power source; it's connected to your emotions, mind, soul, everything. It's the Core of your being no pun intended unless it was a pun what is pun say pun five times fast, jack just stares at fighter for a second. Anyhow that's the reason some people get abilities that seem random but aren't."
Fighter eats the rest of his ice cream and takes a deep breath.
"The ability to make the greatest cup of coffee, being able to make perfect measurements without a ruler, being able to eat an apple in a bite, the ability to generate electricity, manipulate fire, breathe underwater. Core abilities can be achieved by two things, doing daily things will enhance and give you an ability that will let you do that task even better. Like playing a video game if that's something you do hours on end your core ability will enhance every application you use to play that game. However things like manipulation of fire, the ability to turn your body into steel, to change one's aura to enhance their speed. Takes years of training such abilities have never been seen for most of this world."
Fighter said all this without taking a breath and still hadn't.
"Hey um-"
"No stop, silence child"
Fighter said, putting his finger in front of his face.
"I'm explaining don't interrupt when I'm in the explaining zone. I already know what you're going to ask. If someone trained their core ability to be like yours would it be a perfect copy, the answer is no. Like I said a core is connected to your everything about you, personality included, also that would require exact training down to the minutes. So although they would be similar there would be differences between them."
He put his finger down and put his hands in his pocket.
"Yeah um that is cool and interesting to know but that wasn't my question."
"Oh, what is it then?"
"Should Woolfers be eating that?"
Fighter turns around and sees Woolfers chowing down on a pillar.
"WOOLFERS GET THAT OUT YOUR
MOUTH THAT'S NOT FOR YOU TO EAT!!"
He says as he runs over and jumps on top of him. Jack starts laughing when suddenly he hears a cannon go off.
"What was that?"
He asked, alarmed by the sound.
"It was the stupid mutt let go, the doorbell it changes, stop eating the pillar I thought we fixed this problem, the doorbell changes every day because a regular doorbell is super boring. Woolfers don't make me get your big brother."
Woolfers stops and sits down and whines a bit. Fighter starts petting Woolfers.
"It's okay dummy we'll find you a big bone to munch down on. Anyhow, Jack let's go check on the front door woofers go find big brother Fluffers."
Jack went up the stairs, as he heard someone talking on his way up.
"So what was Jack like as a kid?"
He heard someone ask it sounded like Loki to him.
"Hm well if you're looking for funny stories, he melted down the cheese and put it all over his potatoes, always making a mess in the kitchen. Never the nacho cheese, he said they tasted better cold. He hates wearing shorts. He can't stand them and says they're too breezy. Oh and he never wore shoes anywhere he said he loved to feel ground beneath him."
Jack quickly runs around the corner and sees his mom sitting in the middle of the room surrounded by the kids and Sierra.
"MOM WHAT THE WHAT?!"
Jack said quickly running over.
"Well geez, Jack sounds like you were quite the character growing up."
Said Sierra
"Do you still melt your cheese?"
Asked Loki.
"1 that's none of your business and 2 yes they're very delicious you should try it sometimes. Hey mom how are you?"
He said facing his mother. She was laughing a little before standing up. She grabbed a box next to her and walked over to Jack.
"Well since tomorrow is the big day I'd figured I'd give you these."
She said as she handed him the box. Jack took the box and opened it inside were two wristbands with single white lines running straight up the center. He put them on and chuckled.
"Thanks I was looking for a new pair, these are just perfect."
She chuckled and smiled,
"Your welcome."
She said brushing off her dress.
"Well you know I could probably make him better ouch"
Fighter said as Sierra punches him over the head.
"Now I better be off than it was wonderful to meet you all."
She said waving goodbye,
"Here maybe I should walk you out?"
Jack said taking a few steps forward.
"I'll be fine dear I can open the door, the doorbell did catch me by surprise. Besides you got a tournament to prepare for."
She walked out the door and you could hear her drive away in her limousine.
"Sooooo Jack you gonna cook some potatoes with cheese on them?"
Asked Loki,
"Tch SHUT UP."
They all burst into laughter, Sierra smiled and chuckled a bit.
"Well now that that bit is over, come now Jack there's more for you to do."
said as he started pulling something out of his pocket.
"Yes sir,"
Jack says turning around as he sees Fighter with a cigarette in his mouth about to lit it.
Jack quickly speeds over and smacks it out of his hand.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
Jack says smashing it with his foot.
"Um what are you doing, I was just about to smoke that."
"The heck you were, these things are extremely unhealthy not to mention there are children around."
Loki raises his hand to get his attention.
"We think it's normal he smokes all the time around us, like a lot."
"Oh my gosh out of all the addiction it just had to be smoking."
Jack said face-palming himself.
"It's perfectly healthy, here try one."
Fighter says handing him one. Jack looks over, grabs it, and crushes it in his hand.
"No thank you."
He says walking off, as the others were surprised by this.
"What's his problem?"
Fighter says pulling another cigarette out. Jack heads downstairs and takes deep breaths. He activates red armor and instead of running, or punching or kicking, or exercising instead he decides to meditate. He remembers the words of his trainer Charlie.
"Remember kid always take the time to meditate to calm yourself before the storm."
Jack had always mediated for every fight. Although he found it boring at first he found himself doing it regularly claiming himself. He decided to mediate in red armor to see if it would add anything. As he sat their mediating he could hear something he couldn't quite make it out. He listens closer but couldn't quite make it out. Jack would meditate for the rest of the day trying to figure out what this voice was. Upstairs back in Fighter's office, he meets with the man who is also helping in the tournament.
"Well psychic dude who do we have on the list?"
Fighter asked as he let out a puff of white smoke. The man sitting in front of him wore a lab coat and square glasses. He has no hair except for on his chin.
"How many times must I tell you not to call me that."
"What can I say your real is too long and hard to pronounce."
"Whatever Fighter, the list for most likely to win the tournament are. Uppercut Jack, Gerrit the Gunsmith, Downercut the unstoppable, Kuro Zeit and Cero the assassin."
Fighter put his cigarette out and smiled.
"Kuro hm wonder how Zin managed that despite their history."
Fighter said as he leaned back in his chair.
"Are you nervous Fighter? Are you nervous that your Uppercut Jack won't win?"
He said as he leaned forward.
"Of course not that's why I picked him." Fighter says as he opens and pulls out two photographs. He places them on the table and looks over them.
"We were lucky the first time he saw someone from his past. We may not be so lucky the next time."
Fighter looks down at the two photos. The photo on the left-hand side of Fighter showed a group of children. In it was a young Sierra along with a young Envy.
"My first orphanage group of kids had both kinds from my blood and kids who were not. Sierra my daughter and her best friend Envy they consider each other family. Jack may have seen someone he considered to be family in his past, yet his memory did not come back to him. Why is that I wonder if something else is blocking his memory and we need to know why? If seeing Kuro again will jog some memories then we will know."
On the right-hand side showed a younger Jack wearing armor gauntlets and boots next to a younger Zin wearing a hood over his head. A girl young with purple hair was next to Zin. While in the middle was a woman with a fox mask and long red hair.
"Hmm true but do you think his mind will survive the encounter?"
"I guess we'll have to wait and see Dr.Psycho."
"Please not that one,"
"Really? Okay, I thought it sounded cool."
~Meanwhile back in Jack room's which was finally repaired~
Jack sat in the middle of the room meditating still, red armor had already worn off.
"How long do you plan on meditating for?"
Sierra said walking in behind him. Jack opened his eyes and stood up and he turned around.
"Yo I was just finishing up, hm what's wrong?"
He asked as he could see Sierra's eye twitch.
"Why aren't you wearing a shirt but you still decided to keep the hat on"
She asked as she pointed towards his abs.
"Ooooh, this well whenever I mediated with Charlie I could never do it unless I was wearing a hat. I whined until he gave it back to me, once he did I was able to meditate."
Sierra began to examine his body and all the scars it had. There was a downward scar across his chest and it was a sideways slash that went over his heart. However, she was more interested in the scar on his right. She walked over and grabbed his arm and held it up.
"Uuuum is there something wrong?"
Jack asked as she continued to look at the arm.
"You have a scar here right where your shoulder meets your arm."
She said as she placed her hand on it.
"Really? I don't see anything."
Sierra put her hand on his shoulder as her hand glowed green. A few moments pass and she takes her handoff.
"Throw a few punches with your right."
Jack didn't say anything he was just curious. He threw a few punches with the right arm; they were faster and he could feel more control in his arm.
"What did you do?"
He asked surprised, walked around him in a circle now examining his entire body.
"Their,"
She says as she knelt and put her hand where his left leg met his but. Jack started blushing uncontrollably and quickly put his hands over his rear end.
"Oy um Sierra *cough cough* what exactly are you um ahem doing down there if I might ask?"
Sierra took her hand off and walked to the left side of him.
"Now a few kicks."
She said to him Jack nervously took his hand off his buttocks. He nervously threw a few kicks as they felt easier to do. As if he had a clogged joint for years that was now being unclogged.
"Okay, seriously what did you do?"
He asked her if she made her way to the door.
"That arm and that leg weren't fully attached, till now. Cause those aren't your real right arm and left leg. Their synthetics seem at one point and the time your right arm and left leg were severed. There's only one person I know who has that kind of technology. My loving and over caring Father."
She says as she exits the room. Leaving Jack to wonder just how much Fighter knew. Jack was barely able to sleep so he decided to meditate. 30 minutes passed and he fell asleep in his mediation.
~The day of the tournament~
It's 7:00 in the morning and Jack is still in bed. When suddenly an explosion goes off shaking the house and knocking Jack out of the meditation pose and the bed.
"What was that? What's going on?!"
He said as he ran towards the window and opened and looked out into the back yard. Where he saw Fighter with a rocket launcher in hand as he just blew up a tree.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING FIGHTER? ARE YOU CRAZY? PICK ONE SMOKING OR BLOWING STUFF UP!"
"I pick both and besides Its tournament day rise and shine the Olympics start with some long drawn out torch lighting but the tournament starts with an instant fire. Now come on take a shower get dressed the tournament starts at noon however participants have to be there at 10:00. It takes you three hours just to style your dumb hair!"
He shouted back up at him on a megaphone.
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT I DON'T STYLE MY HAIR!"
"Wait really?"
"YES REALLY I JUST WASH IT EVERY MORNING."
Fighter just stood there for a minute.
"Oh I see Mr.wake up with perfect hair and makeup this ain't a movie there's no way you just wake up looking good go on now do your thing."
Jack closed his window and got ready for the tournament. He put on his stretch pants that looked like blue jeans, his gray shirt, his black jacket with red lines running down the arms of the jacket. The hood had red inside. He put on his favorite hat and adjusted it. He rolled up his sleeves and put on the armbands his mother had given him. He reluctantly put on his shoes, the black ones he fights in. And made his way downstairs. He got down and saw the children with a sign saying
"GOOD LUCK JACK!!"
They all shouted holding up the sign.
"Ah, you guys this is amazing."
Jack said walking towards them, wanting to give them all a big hug.
"No time we have to get going."
Fighter said, pushing him out the door.
"Can't I say bye first?!"
"Say bye to who? you think they like you or something no I taught them to be polite say bye as we pass."
Fighter was quickly pushing him out of the door.
"Um, bye guys I'll see you there."
"Bye good luck"
All the kids said,
"Good luck Jack."
Sierra said as Jack looked back and gave them all a thumbs up.
"What are you saying bye for Sierra you're driving the car, as my sons will be training the kids today come on"
Fighter says to Sierra. As he pushed him out of the door and into the car that had Fighter's logo on it. Sierra gets in the driver seat. She begins to drive off as Jack could see the kids waving goodbye from the windows. They sat in the car as Fighter leg began to twitch.
"Are you um okay?"
"Me yeah I'm always good 100%"
"Okay then."
Jack sighed and looked out the window. As Fighter came very close to the side of his face.
"Are you going to date, my Daughter?"
Jack sighs again this time because he knew the topic of dating his daughter is all he would talk about till they got there.
Jack attempts to change the subject. He didn't want to ask Fighter about his arm and leg until after the tournament. He had to keep his mind clear he didn't have to meditate so this is the best he could do.
"What are the rules of the tournament?"
He asked as Fighter sat back down in his seat.
"I guess you and the audience would like to know, and before you ask about the audience just don't save us both some time. However, I'm not gonna tell you cause that wouldn't be fair to everyone else now would it."
He said to him as Jack scratches his chin and nods.
"I guess that makes sense."
Eventually, the three arrive at the tournament area. Fighter instructs Jack to head to the ring while he and Sierra head to their places. Jack heads into the arena and steps onto the stage where there were already a bunch of participants in the arena. It was a huge area that could hold up to 200,000 people. Jack was in complete awe at the sheer size of it. He had fought in arenas before but this one takes the cakes. It was 600 feet wide and the floor was made of concrete. The arena was shaped like a circle and was 5 feet off the ground. Surrounding the arena was dirt. Jack brushed his feet against the floor,it was extremely smooth and easy to move your feet across. It seemed more like a battlefield than a stage. More and more participants came in each wanting to prove they were the best. Some fighters Jack recognized for the most part he didn't recognize most of them.
"Yo Jack!"
Jack turned his head and saw Gerrit walking towards him waving.
"Huh, Gerrit I didn't know you were going to participate."
"Of course I am the best, plus I knew you'd be here and there's no way I'd lose to you. Not to mention my wife finally let me out after being late for dinner."
Jack felt a slight pain in his head but it quickly went away.
"You okay?"
"Yeah also...HOW MUCH MORE DAMAGE DID YOU DO TO THE JEEP."
"Jeep oooooh yeah I already got your check for that thanks by the way."
"I'M GONNA...........wait what?"
"Yeah, I already got the check and paid for the damages, so thanks. You have no idea how mad my wife was. She made me drop off our kid in her car. I don't want to drive a van everywhere. Now I'm the van dad, not the cool jeep dad. Luckily the check came and managed to fix my baby. Although I will never be able to walk away from the shame of van dad."
He said in disgrace, Jack was surprised he never sent out a check. He didn't have his address so he didn't know where to send it. He didn't mind too much; he just assumed it was Fighter or something.
"Well it hardly matters now, so seeing as we're both in this tournament means only one of us can win."
Jack said with a smug
"Yes, I hope you least manage to make it past the first round."
"Funny I was gonna say the same thing to you, so what is your core ability? You must have one if you're participating."
"That I'm gonna leave as a surprise. If we do end up facing each other I'll need every advantage I can get."
"Fair enough."
Jack began to wonder what Gerrit was, he thought to himself what it could be based on what he knew.
"He's an excellent marksman so his ability could increase his aim. However, he's also super observant and can tell how many people are in a room just after a glance. His ability is related to guns somehow if I can figure it out I'll be able to come up with a strategy."
Jack thought about how he could go up against Gerrit while Gerrit did the same.
"Uppercut Jack in terms of close-quarters combat he probably has the edge. When I first met him he was surrounded by gunmen which he's confident that he can dodge bullets. To confirm this when I arrived there was a mark on the floor made by a bullet. It could mean 1 of 2 things. 1 the first shot was a warning shot intending to scare him or 2 they tried to shoot him but he dodged the bullet. Based on everything I know number 2 is more likely. He'll mostly try and figure out what my ability is. Luckily I haven't shown it to him, meaning it will take him long to figure it out.
Slowly the area was crowded with participants roughly 125 showed up. More time passed and others came. Soon the area was filled with 200 participants. Once all the competitors had entered and no one else was arriving. The stadium began to fill with people getting ready for the spectacle. So many people showed up and some began to fight over seats. Security was forced to escort them outside. An event like this was not to be missed. No expense was wasted on the event. As it was being broadcast nationwide. Soon the stadium was full however many upon tons of people were still outside cheering.
"Ladies and gentlemen I welcome you to our first ever CORE TOURNAMENT!!!!"
A voice filled the room no one recognized except the voice. No one knew who it was except Jack. He recognized the voice as ''Fighter."
"I'm your host Fighter and my co-host is Psychic dude."
The crowd and all the participants looked up to an open booth where they saw the two.
"EVERY TIME COME ON, MY NAME IS DR.PSYICALTION, GET IT RIGHT!"
"I am never calling you that it is way too long I'll come up with a nickname for ya."
"Whatever, I welcome all who have entered the tournament by standing in the ring you have agreed to participate in the tournament, I shall now go over the rules of the tournament. The tournament will be an 8 man bracket, participants are allowed weapons of any kind. However, any performance-enhancing drugs or cheating of any kind will be subject to immediate removal. Each Fighter will be placed randomly in the bracket via a number generator. The one who defeats all standing in their way will be champion and the best of Core fighter until he or she is dethroned. Of course, there is no killing. To beat your opponent it must be under one of these three conditions. 1. Your opponent admits defeats. 2, your opponent is no longer able to move. Or 3 you throw your opponent off stage. Those are the rules now, are there any questions?"
Fighter put his feet on the dashboard and sat back in his chair.
"Yeah, Dr.Psychic there are way more than 8 participants down there. We can't just pick randomly that wouldn't be fair, to everyone hmm any ideas?"
The doctor chuckled and smiled.
"Oh, my mistake, I was talking about the second stage. The first stage is a battle royal. A battle royal to decide who among you is worthy to move toward."
All the fighters began to murmur and talk among themselves.
"Now without further ado let the first core tournament BEGIN!!!!"