Veronica grabbed a remote, turning on the monitor that rested on the wall of the room. Everyone's attention was drawn to it, watching the staredown between Magnus and Daniel. Hugo turned to the screen, pointing at it.
Hugo: That's the thing that killed Jessica's boyfriend!
Carrie: Who's Jessica?
Li: This guy means Joan. But I'm scared that Daniel's out there right now…
Theodore smiled under his mask, looking fondly at the screen.
Theodore: There's nothing to worry about. If Daniel truly cares for this family, he won't make such a mistake again.
Hugo: Death is a pretty big mistake to make.
Li: That's… somehow the smartest thing I've heard you say this entire time.
Daniel gnarled his teeth at Magnus, who stared intently at his opponent. Neither made a move. Magnus kept his breathing light. His eyes shook as he watched Daniel from a distance, waiting for the moment his opportunity would come. Daniel's arm moved the slightest bit, the moment that Magnus had been waiting for. He quickly moved his left hand behind him, pulling out three throwing knives. He chucked them at Daniel, who quickly jumped away from the flying weapons. Daniel lunged at Magnus with the ferocity of a honey badger, the figure filling Magnus' eyes. Cold sweat dripped down his face as he pulled out another set of knives. He flung them with immaculate accuracy. Daniel rolled on the ground, the blades narrowly avoiding the top of his head. He jumped back as Magnus pulled out several more blades.
Magnus' thoughts: Honey badgers are resilient creatures, but you aren't one of them. You'd feel pain from a knife. So I just need to keep you afar!
Magnus moved his right arm back, sheathing his knife and pulling out several more throwing knives. Daniel noticed this, leaning forward. Magnus threw all the blades at once, each aiming directly for Daniel. The image around Daniel changed in front of Magnus' eyes. The image of a spider formed around him, but it was a spider Magnus couldn't picture right away. A tarantula? A black widow? Brown recluse? The spider wasn't one that Magnus could understand right away. That was until it became all too clear. Daniel made a great leap forward, jumping over each of the throwing knives aimed directly at him. Magnus jumped back, watching as Daniel came down to the ground in front of him.
Magnus' thoughts: He closed the distance already! It's a jumping spider!
A smile came to his face as his right arm came out from behind his back. A cloud of dust filled the air between himself and Daniel. Daniel put his fingers over his nose as he stepped back from the cloud.
Daniel: Bad air!
A knife came flying through the dust, Daniel narrowly avoiding it by jumping to his right. Magnus appeared from behind the cloud, swiping at Daniel with his knife. The cut was shallow, but it caused blood to fly into the air. Daniel jumped back as he looked down at his arm.
Daniel: Daniel got hit?!
Daniel moved his arm up and down, looking at the cut from above and below. He was filled with surprise.
Zachary: The first to land a hit was Magnus! Who could have expected this?!
Magnus entered a defensive state once more, letting out a heavy breath. His expression was stone cold, but his mind was racing.
Magnus' thoughts: I've been planning for this since the moment I finished my fight with that stupid ninja. Time to move on to the next step…
Magnus kicked off the ground, charging for Daniel. Daniel looked at Magnus, his eyes opening wide. Magnus thrust forward with his knife, Daniel moving his torso to avoid the blade. Magnus swiped his knife to the side with Daniel jumping back to avoid the attack. Magnus reached behind him with his left hand, pulling out a second knife and aiming it directly at Daniel's face. Daniel's image changed as he jumped up. Magnus' eyes viewed the image of a kangaroo's legs in the air as he got sent back, his grip staying tight around his knives. Daniel landed on his feet, letting out a heavy breath. Carrie and Angel stared at the match in shock.
Carrie: Daniel?! He's on the backfoot?!
Angel: This is a joke, right?!
Mike: This doesn't make sense… Daniel is strong for someone so… stupid…
Ziyad: Theodore, you don't think…
Theodore: I do. He's put a mental block on himself.
Hugo: What does that mean?
Theodore: Daniel took the anger I had towards him seriously. The words that Magnus opened the match with and the whispers of the audience slowly started to affect him. Because of that, he's acting slower.
Theresa: There is more to it. Magnus is refusing to give Daniel a moment to think. He threw the dust to cloud his vision, threw a knife to direct his body, and attacked quickly after both of those decisions. He's forcing Daniel to move to fit his own plan.
Angel: He's leading Daniel… So even if he's slower and weaker, even he'd be able to beat Daniel!
Mike: But luckily, he was able to kick the guy away. That should give him-
Everyone looked to the screen, watching Magnus' upper body lunge forward. Three knives curved through the air as Daniel watched in confusion. His hands moved out, knocking two blades out of the air. One flew past his face, scratching his face. Daniel stumbled back, placing a hand on his cheek. His mouth was agape, his expression full of shock. Magnus jumped back to his feet, pulling out both blades. He charged at Daniel, thrusting both blades forward. Daniel clenched his teeth as his image changed back to that of a jumping spider. He lunged at Magnus, jumping between the blade and punching his chest with both fists. Magnus was sent flying back, sliding across the ring floor. Daniel came to a stop before getting low once more. He jumped into the air, forming a shadow over Magnus. He dropped onto the grounded assassin, his nails, and sharp teeth fully exposed. He brought one hand up as he heard the speakers start up.
Zenzo: Is this the moment we've all feared?!
Zachary: Is Daniel going to end it?!
Those lines brought Daniel to a momentary pause, Magnus smiling at this moment of hesitation. He brought one knife up, cutting up Daniel's side. Daniel let out a scream as he jumped off of Magnus, one hand planted on his side. Blood leaked through his fingers, his face full of confusion. His reaction was entirely involuntary, his mind wandering to things unconcerned for his wellbeing. His mind was simple, but he could feel an emotion similar to what made Theodore angry in the previous round.
Daniel: No want… to make papa mad…
Daniel looked down as Magnus got back up to his feet. He placed one knife back, placing a hand on his chest.
Magnus' thoughts: Even though he didn't follow up… That jumping punch left its mark. This guy is strong as hell… But I came prepared for that.
Magnus placed back his knife, moving his hand up as he pulled out the sword that shone under the ring's lights. Daniel's hair covered his eyes, his mind lost in simple thoughts. Magnus posed himself for the following strike, holding his stance as he let his strength flow through him.
Magnus' thoughts: I'm weak, I know this. I'm not a fighter like the rest of you. I'll never be like you, Simon, Daymond, Shun. But I'll do what I can with what I have. I know blades will always hurt, so I'll use them to do the damage I can!
Simon wore a face of excitement as he watched the match from Bodin's infirmary.
Simon: Yeah! Get him, Magnus!
Yussuf: Is he really going to do it?!
Sudu: He has kept the advantage the entire fight.
Daymond opened his book and flicked through the pages. He looked at the page that described Daniel, an image of his sharp-toothed smile looking back at him.
Daymond: Magnus is letting his planning get to his head.
Simon: What?
Daymond: Watch and you'll understand.
Magnus kicked off the ground, seemingly soaring at Daniel. He moved his sword in a perfectly circular motion. Daniel jumped to the side, Magnus smiling.
Magnus' thoughts: I knew this was coming!
Magnus changed the course of his swing, aiming directly for Daniel's torso. His eyes shot open as Daniel's image changed once more. The appearance of a gauntlet appeared before his eyes, pushing the sword away as a fist phased through and slammed directly into his face. Magnus' head flung back as he was sent off balance.
Daniel's thoughts: Chimera Will – Theodore Style
The audience broke out into screams as they all looked at each other.
Man: I just saw Theodore in the ring!
Woman: What was that?! He didn't die with his spirit lingering in the ring, did he?!
Mike, Carrie, Angel, and Li all reacted at the screen in shock before turning back to Theodore. Ziyad let out a hearty laugh.
Ziyad: That boy is something else, I tell ya! Never would I expect Lunar Graze from him!
Mike: So that was a technique from the king!
Carrie: How was he able to do it?!
Theodore: Daniel's Chimera Will is a martial art that makes use of the user's understanding of different animals to decide what each technique is capable of. As with snakes and crocodiles, he takes characteristics of those and applies them to himself. In this case, he viewed humans as an animal and used me as the basis for that technique. Leading him to use Lunar Graze.
Li: This guy… He's insane!
Daniel's face became stoic, his eyes focusing on Magnus who tried to regain his composure. Magnus' eyes rapidly shook, stepping back slowly as he brought down his sword.
Magnus' thoughts: What the hell was that… He never showed proficiency in Theodore's techniques before… So how… how did he do that?! I… I need to rethink…
Magnus stepped back as Daniel charged forward, his image changing to that of a wild boar. He slammed his shoulder into Magnus' stomach, sending him flying backward. Magnus let out a gasp as the air was knocked out of him. He slammed his sword into the ground, catching his breath. Simon and Yussuf watched the match in shock before turning back to Daymond.
Simon: How did you know?!
Daymond: Daniel didn't get into the top ten through sheer luck. Magnus did well with the information he had available, but he was too focused on the data to notice one thing: Daniel's room for evolution.
Yussuf: Evolution?
Daymond: Yes. Daniel's entire fighting style is centered on his understanding of animals. Humans are also such animals, so if you look beyond what he has shown, what prevents him from eventually using human techniques as part of his fighting style.
Simon: Why didn't you warn Magnus…? HE MIGHT LOSE WITHOUT THAT INFORMATION!
Daymond: He has the tools to win, but he must overcome his reliance on statistics to win.
Daymond turned to the screen, watching the panting Magnus hold desperately to his sword.
Daymond: I believe in my men. I know he will pull through. We must hold faith in Magnus.
Shizu's thoughts: You believe a good amount in Magnus, but is that truly what you think?
Daniel changed his stance to mimic the one Theodore had during his match earlier in the round. His hair blew back as his smile returned to his face.
Daniel: Papa help Daniel win!