As Hugo walked to the entrance to the ring, Li and Thong ran up behind him. Hugo turned to them with a wide smile.
Hugo: You guys here to see the master at work?
Li: You're our friend, aren't you? Of course we'd want to watch up close.
Thong: I know you got this. So show them what our training has led up to.
Hugo raised up a thumb before walking towards the light of the ring.
Zachary: AND WHAT AN AMAZING MATCH THAT WAS! WITH THE TOURNAMENT FINALLY UNDERWAY, LET'S BRING OUT OUR NEXT CONTESTANTS!
Zachary's head launched back as he brought the mic closer to his mouth.
Zachary: WITH A TOTAL SHOCK TO ALL THAT KNOW HIM, THIS MAN MADE HIS WAY TO THE MAIN MATCHES OF THE TOURNAMENT! CONSIDERED A LOW TIER, THIS MAN HAS ENTERED THE REALM OF THE STRONG! STANDING IN AT 182 CENTIMETERS AND WEIGHING AT 72 KILOGRAMS, RANK 429, "THE ELDER AVENGER," HUGO FULBOOOOOOTAAAAAA!!
Part of the audience began to cheer as the rest looked on in confusion. Hugo walked into the ring, his fist in the air as he wore an opened-mouth smile on his face. In the audience, Ronald stared at Hugo, cackling to himself.
Ronald: You've made it to the big leagues. We were all supposed to support each other as low tiers, but that confidence of yours made you leave us. So show us what you're capable of, Hugo.
Hugo stared at the other entrance that opposed him, gulping as Zachary let out a cough.
Zachary: AND FOR HIS OPPONENT… THIS MAN HAS THE LONGEST HISTORY OF ALL CURRENT FIGHTERS ON THE ROSTER! HE LEADS THE COLLECTIVE TO VICTORY TIME AND TIME AGAIN, HAVING FACED NEARLY EVERY FIGHTER WE ALL KNOW! STANDING AT 192 CENTIMETERS AND WEIGHING IN AT 102 KILOGRAMS AND WITH A HISTORY OF 530 WINS AND 10 LOSSES… THE RANK NUMBER 6… "THE WANING SLASHER" MOLL SONATA!!!!
Moll entered from the entrance opposing Hugo, a smirk on his face as he held a sheathed sword over his shoulder. He slowly walked up to Hugo, staring at him as he came to a halt. Hugo tried to keep his cool, but Moll could see the worry in his eyes. Dianshi watching from the room the few sitting Arachna members were in pushed up his glasses.
Dianshi's thoughts: I hope he learned to overcome his fear. I can't tell its place of origin, but Hugo needs to have learned a way to combat it if he wishes to stand any chance against Moll…
The referee walked between the two fighters, Hugo and Moll keeping eye contact as the referee's eyes panned from side to side. The fighters stepped backward as the referee widened his stance.
Zachary: The tension truly is building in the air between these two! Who will become the victor of this match and come to face The Exiled in the following round?
Moll: Hey, kid, you don't seem so good right now.
Hugo: I don't need to seem good, I-I always am…
Li and Thong stared at Hugo from the entrance.
Li: He's nervous.
Thong: Yeah, he put so much of an act earlier, but I guess he can't hide the truth any longer.
Moll: There's nothing wrong with fear. But don't go thinking that I'll show you mercy because of it.
Hugo stayed silent, staring at Moll intently. The referee lowered his arm, staring at the ground.
Referee: FIGHTERS, TAKE YOUR STANCES!!!
Moll lowered his sword, pointing the sheath towards the ground. Hugo raised his fists, clenching his fists tightly. The wrappings around his arm were tight, but Li and Thong could see how damp they were from sweat.
Referee: BEGIIIIIN!!
The referee swung down his arm, but neither Hugo nor Moll made a move. The audience stared as Joseph let out a chuckle.
Hamadeen: What's so funny?
Joseph: Isn't it obvious? Moll still hasn't unsheathed his sword. He doesn't even view this guy as a threat. Ain't that right, Zenzo?
Joseph and Hamadeen both looked to their rights, noticing that Zenzo had disappeared.
Joseph: Not what I expected, to say the least.
Hamadeen: Is that him down there?
Joseph looked at where Hamadeen was pointing, seeing Zenzo hop over the wall dividing the audience from the announcer table. Zachary turned to his side, looking at Zenzo who hopped in the empty seat beside him.
Zachary: Hey! Who said you could sit here?
Zenzo: Trust me, you'll appreciate that I'm here.
Zenzo grabbed one of the mics sitting on the table and held it in his hand as he sat comfortably.
Zenzo: Moll has still not unsheathed his sword! Could this be him insulting Hugo or him waiting for Hugo to make a move?
Zachary heard whispers come around the audience. Moll glanced at the announcer table before laughing to himself.
Moll: Always trying to stir up something, huh? Welp, guess I have to take the initiative.
Hugo watched as Moll raised his sword, pointing the sheathed point at Hugo. Hugo raised an eyebrow as Moll tightened his grip.
Moll: I hope you don't mind me going first, then.
Moll dashed at Hugo, swinging his sword towards Hugo's shoulder. Hugo's body immediately went limp, his body leaning backward as it narrowly avoided the strike of the sword. Moll raised his eyebrows as he brought back his blade.
Moll: Looks like you're quite nimble.
Hugo stood back up, a nervous smile returning to his face. Hugo clenched his fist as he charged at Moll. Moll moved the sheathed blade over his shoulder before bringing it down on Hugo. Hugo pivoted on one foot, avoiding the incoming slash and launching a punch at Moll. Moll's other hand shot up, catching Hugo by the wrist.
Moll: You still seem like you're lacking something.
Moll looked at Hugo, noticing his eyes were filled with fear as his wrist was being held.
Moll's thoughts: Is he scared of me that much? I thought I was quite friendly.
Moll released his grip, Hugo jumping back and looking at his wrist intently.
Hugo: If I didn't have this wrapping, I would've been touched by old skin…
Moll: Hey! I know I'm old, but I keep myself clean!
Hugo gulped as he clenched his fists. Before Hugo could move, he heard a familiar shouting from the entrance.
Thong: Come on, Hugo! Didn't you say you were going to show this place what you were made of? Show them how you're the protagonist? What are you doing getting scared for!
Hugo glanced at Thong and Li, both having determined looks on their faces. Hugo bit his lip before looking back at Moll.
Hugo: As much as I'm scared of old people, I got students I need to impress. So I'm sorry I took so long.
Moll smiled as he pointed his sheathed blade at Hugo again.
Moll: Then come at me.
Hugo charged at Moll, pulling back his right fist as he entered Moll's range. Moll raised his blade upwards before bringing it down with forth aimed at Hugo's right shoulder. As the sheathed blade came in contact with Hugo's shoulder, Moll looked surprised as he felt no resistance from Hugo's body. Following that, a left hook went across his face as Hugo transferred his power in his left arm. The audience roared in confusion and shock as Hugo jumped back, a smile returning to his face.
Hugo: I-I did it…
Li: Way to go, Hugo!
Thong: Keep it up!
Hugo's victory was short-lived as Moll's free arm moved quickly, grabbing onto Hugo's wrist once again.
Moll: Maybe you have more than what the surface shows. You may be worth more effort than people thought.
Hugo's eyes filled with fear as Moll whipped the hilt of the sword into Hugo's side, Hugo letting out a scream of pain as he fell to one knee.
Zachary: M-Moll struck Hugo in the liver with a quick shot from the hilt of his blade!
Zenzo: Does this mean it's finally over for Hugo?
Hugo looked up, seeing a shadow over Moll's body.
Moll: Stand up, I won't attack if you're down. There's no point in that case.
Li and Thong stared in shock, seeing how quickly Hugo dropped after one attack.
Li: This doesn't look very good…