Spencer and Gonzalez turned around before opening the gap between them, the spotlight spreading to cover the entire ring. With several meters separating the two, the fighters turned around to face one another, the referee walking between them before giving the fighters a few glances.
Thong's thoughts: That Spencer guy doesn't look fit for these matches at all. He's wearing even more than Jason was, and those clothes don't look mobile at all…
Gonzalez raised his hands with unclenched fists, Spencer continuing to stare him down. Instead of taking a stance, Spencer kept his hands in his coat's pockets, Gonzalez not reacting in the slightest.
Thong's thoughts: Does Gonzalez even know what his opponent is doing? He's basically telling him that he isn't even worth the trouble of using his hands.
Man: Burns never seems to fail! He's taken his usual stance already!
Thong's thoughts: Usual stance? That's a stance?
The referee spread his arms out before taking in a deep breath of air.
Referee: Fighters, the rules are simple. The match has no limitations and will only conclude once one side is either unconscious, forfeits, or in the worst case scenario, dies. These are the rules you have agreed to once entering this ring. Without any further objections… FIGHTERS! ARE YOU READY?!
Thong watched as Gonzalez's stance tightened. As the referee slowly raised his right arm, the tension in the room increased.
Referee: BEGIIIIIN!!!
The referee swung down his arm, marking the beginning of the match. To Thong's confusion, neither fighter moved forward, standing entirely still.
Gonzalez: Hey… Before we begin, you aren't hiding any weapons, are you? I know the rules don't ban weapons, but I'd rather not deal with weapons right now.
Spencer remained silent, his expression hidden behind his mask. Gonzalez let out a sigh before inching closer.
Gonzalez: I guess I have to check, don't I?
Thong watched as Gonzalez slowly moved closer and closer to Spencer, his guard remaining up. After a few moments of silence, a quick scraping noise filled the room. Thong looked closely as Gonzalez jumped back, a burn mark directly at the location he was moments from walking to.
Thong's thoughts: What the hell was that? And how did Gonzalez know to move in time?
Kusari: You still don't know?
Thong looked to his right, Kusari sipping a soda as he looked at the ring, unamused.
Kusari: I guess cause you're new, you wouldn't know. But Gonzalez isn't in the top ten just because he got lucky or he has the body of a bull. His senses are through the roof. Spencer, on the other hand, is a lot scarier.
Thong looked back at the ring, noticing that Spencer remained in the same spot he was in before, but Gonzalez dropped one of his arms to a lower position, his body having a more alert stance.
Gonzalez: I guess they weren't lying about you having some of the fastest attacks. I didn't know I'd have to be careful just getting close.
Spencer didn't make a sound, Gonzalez letting out a sigh as he spread his legs out a bit more.
Gonzalez's thoughts: I guess it's time to get serious, huh?
Gonzalez charged forward, jumping back once again as another streak on the ground appeared.
Gonzalez's thoughts: That one was also a bit faster than the last one. The fast ones are always the hardest.
Thong looked in shock at the ring, seeing another black streak along the floor.
Thong's thoughts: What the hell is going on down there?
Kusari: No one really knows. Spencer has strikes fast enough that it's nearly impossible to tell what they are. Even I can't really tell what's going on down there. But there's no doubt about it, Spencer has the potential to make it big.
Thong's thoughts: Is he reading my mind?
Gonzalez tensed up his muscles before running forward again, nearing the previous black marks. Another scraping sound filled the room, but unlike before, Gonzalez was on the opposite side of Spencer.
Gonzalez's thoughts: I got really lucky there, that was close to being bad…
A larger black streak went down the path that Gonzalez was moments from taking.
Gonzalez's thoughts: I get it now. Those streaks are from him kicking fast enough that the ground is practically burning. If he could actually use fire, I don't know if the Eclipse would disqualify him. Has anyone ever used fire before?
Gonzalez was lost in thought for a moment, as Spencer turned to face him. Gonzalez snapped to attention as blood appeared on his cheek. Gonzalez jumped back, raising a hand to his cheek.
Gonzalez: So his speed isn't only limited to his legs. It doesn't look like he can do more than one attack at a time, but this doesn't make it any less annoying…
Gonzalez raised his hands in front of his face, in a guard as Spencer tilted his head.
Gonzalez's thoughts: Why did he tilt his head like that? Not like anything was different from before… Wait, there must be something behind that.
Gonzalez charged forward, Spencer standing as still as possible. Thong's eyes opened wide as he saw it for a split second. Gonzalez stood on the opposite side of Spencer, another cut above his blindfold.
Thong's thoughts: I saw it! Even if just barely, I saw a glimpse of it. Spencer's hand shot out of his pocket. If I'm not wrong, it was possibly even bladed…
Kusari: I know, kid. No one can see those attacks. I wonder if Gonzalez stands a chance. Blind fighters can't hope to do well against such speed.
Thong's thoughts: He definitely can't read my mind…
Kusari and Thong both looked surprised as they saw Spencer stagger a bit. His usually rigid stance had broken as his torso bent to one side.
Gonzalez's thoughts: It was just a gamble, but in that quick exchange, I tried to attack him at the same time as him. He's much more focused on dealing damage to my head, probably to try to knock me out.
Gonzalez's ears twitched as he heard a small groan from Spencer. Which was quickly drowned out by…
Zachary: WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! THE MYSTERIOUS SPENCER IS STARTING TO STAGGER TO THE POPULAR HYENA.
Gonzalez's thoughts: My name is just The Hyena, though…
Gonzalez stepped back as he heard the air move, a cut appearing right below his armpit.
Gonzalez's thoughts: That attack was definitely a strike to kill, I could sense it. Spencer is speeding up his attacks again.
In that small moment, Gonzalez quickly moved from side to side as several burn marks appeared on the ground.
Kusari: What's going on? I thought he was already fast, but those burn marks are appearing in the same time frame as the ones at the beginning of the match!
Thong's thoughts: I was barely able to catch it before, but I can't see them anymore.
Spencer: You're a stronger foe than I expected, Gonzalez.
Gonzalez's thoughts: He finally spoke?
Spencer: You were able to work past my previous attacks, so I know I can't be careless anymore.
Gonzalez's thoughts: You were careless before… What does that make you now?
Gonzalez let out a sigh as he clenched his fingers together.
Thong's thoughts: Is he preparing a chop?
Kusari: Was a matter of time until he took it seriously.
Thong's thoughts: What?
Gonzalez charged in, Spencer shifting his body ever so slightly. A loud thud filled the room as Gonzalez held Spencer's arm with one of his hands.
Gonzalez's thoughts: He was able to make the movements of his body so minimal that you can hardly notice that his body is about to move. But everybody gives off some sort of sign before movement.
Spencer stared through the lenses of his mask at Gonzalez's face. In the moment, Gonzalez was sent flying back as he stopped his fall by scraping his feet against the floor.
Gonzalez's thoughts: That was fast. I guess those kicks really are fast. Maybe I'm the one being careless.
Gonzalez's attention shifted to the "nation" that had entered the ring before his match. Feeling one man's gaze staring at him harder than any other.
Gonzalez: They're expecting me to win, so I have no reason not to.