Magnus fell to one knee as Kay laid on the ground with a notable stab wound in his torso. Blood rolled down the side of his mouth as he held onto Magnus' hand, wearing a smile for his student.
Kay: Despite all my preparations, I still had my shortcomings… Let my failures… be a reminder to you, Magnus…
Magnus: Please! Yotei! Don't die!
Kay: It's okay, young one. I've done what I must… to protect you with my very life… I have taught you… everything I know… So please, keep living for me… Find the one that will… give you a new purpose… And never fall once your plan fails… or you'll be just like me…
Kay's eyes slowly closed as Magnus screamed into the air. Kay's body lost all strength as Magnus remained crying over his body. An attacker he will never come to know had killed the only person that he had ever come to care about. He stood up, the words of Kay echoing in his mind as he wandered through the forest. He wandered for days, his mind losing every plan he could have come up with. He stood in an open field as he fell to his knees, collapsing onto the ground. His eyes were empty, his body had lost all its strength. He could slowly feel death approach him as he felt a breeze run over him.
Magnus' thoughts: This is… a nice day to die… I wonder if Yotei… felt the same way…
Magnus' vision began to grow blurry as a figure moved closer and closer. To Magnus, this image was the Grim Reaper, coming to reap what he had missed those few days ago. The figure knelt beside him, reaching out its hand.
???: Another lost soul, I presume? I truly believe it was fate that I came to find you right before you reached death's door.
Magnus' eyes wavered upon hearing the voice's gentle tone. Tears welled up in his eyes as an image of Kay flashed in his mind.
Magnus: I need to… keep living…
???: Then join my group. If you were brought before me, then it was fated for this to occur.
Magnus weakly reached out, grabbing the figure's hand. The symbol on his forehead was burned into his mind before he blacked out.
…
Daniel coughed violently as he held his throat, a stinging sensation overwhelming his nervous system. Everyone in the Imperium's infirmary looked worried as they look on.
Theresa: My poor baby…
Carrie: There's no way that's fair!
Angel: He's lower scum than I thought he would be…
Li: He's doing everything he can to win! Can the same block really afford two deaths?!
Theodore's thoughts: Come on, Daniel. You wanted to be a martial artist, right? Then overcome this!
Magnus pulled back his fist before throwing it forward, slamming it across Daniel's face. Daniel stumbled, still coughing as his eyes struggled to open. Magnus landed an uppercut that sent Daniel's head flying up. Daniel's right hand flew wildly into the air as his coughing came to a stop. The audience went quiet, unsure of what they were seeing before them. Daniel's mind stopped thinking, allowing his instincts to run wild. He prepared his claws, swinging down quickly. Magnus' eyes shook as Simon looked on in horror. Deep claw marks ran across Magnus' armor, with Daniel huddled to the ground. Magnus' attention wasn't on the damage he had just taken, but on the image that Daniel had taken. The image that surrounded Daniel now was a turtle, with a mighty shell protecting him.
Magnus' thoughts: I couldn't see an image there… He attacked me wildly without there being an animal inspiration… Was his attack… pure human survival instinct?
Simon watched Magnus pull back his fist before throwing several hate-filled punches at Daniel. The boy stayed curled up as punches struck him. Gasps spread across the audience.
Woman: He's bullying him!
Man: That's no way for a man to fight!
Magnus refused to let up on his attack, the sound of his brass knuckles against Daniel's skin being the only thing he could hear. Plans and reason momentarily escaped his mind, with nothing but his sadistic desires taking the stage.
Magnus' thoughts: Pride as a fighter? I have no such thing… I simply fight to live another day. This isn't a tournament where you can lose via points. If my opponent chose to kill me, I would die, no complaints. Why does everyone need to call me a coward when this guy killed a man?
Magnus threw another punch, Daniel's hand catching it in the air. Daniel's head perked up, staring intently at Magnus. Magnus' thoughts came to a stop, his inner sadist disappearing as he noticed he couldn't move his hand an inch. Daniel's grip was unnaturally strong. There was no animal around Daniel. All Magnus could see was Daniel himself.
Magnus' thoughts: This strength… is his own…
Daniel smiled as he looked Magnus in the eye.
Daniel: Glasses man is strong. But not stronger than Daniel.
Daniel quickly spins in a circle, disorienting Magnus. He quickly releases his grasp as he jumps back. Theodore's image returns once more, Daniel's eyes burning with passion.
Daniel's thoughts: Chimera Will – Theodore Style: Raging Tempest
Daniel's charge forward was like an explosion as he swung his fists with great ferocity. Each punch sent pain across Magnus' entire body. Magnus was sent flying back from the explosive power of each punch, spitting up blood as he slid across the ground. He lay on the ground, breathing heavily. The pain was unbearable, pushing his body to the limit. An image formed over him, having his eyes open wide.
Kay: This isn't the place to fall, my boy. Show them what you're made of.
The audience let out a collective gasp as they saw Magnus push himself upward. The pain from the barrage of punches was visible on his face, but he refused to stand down.
Magnus' thoughts: Why do I keep getting back up? I don't have a fighter's spirit… But I keep getting up like I do… Could I just be selfish… Or is it…
Magnus pulled out his knife, ignoring the strain his brass knuckles placed on his hands. He widened his stance, preparing to put everything in this next attack. Daniel could sense all of Magnus' passion, a wide-toothed grin growing on his face.
Daniel: Fun!
Daniel's image changed to that of a great wasp. Zachary leaned forward with a large smile.
Zachary: Both fighters are preparing for the final showdown! Who will come out the victor?!
Magnus and Daniel's bodies tensed up, their bodies launching off the ground. Magnus' mind raced as he thrust his knife forward. Simon screamed, but it was blocked out by Magnus' mind. Magnus and Daniel's faces contorted as they gave their all into their attacks. Daniel's punch moved as fiercely as a wasp's stinger. He dodged Magnus' knife strike, landing the punch across Magnus' face. The punch broke the frames of Magnus' glasses, the pieces flying into the air as Magnus' eyes rolled back. He flew into the air before crashing into the ground one last time. Daniel let out a heavy breath, noticing the small cut on his arm. Magnus' knife had dropped behind him, but Daniel paid it no mind. He looked at his opponent with a smug smile.
Daniel: Daniel never loses!
He turned his back as the referee swung his arms.
Zachary: WE HAVE A WINNER! AND THAT WINNER IS "THE KING OF MONSTERS" DANIEL ONEIROIIIIIII!!!
Daniel walked away confidently, blood dripping from the cuts and bruises on his body. He ignored all the pain as he confidently walked into his entrance. Simon dashed towards Magnus, sliding on his knees and stopping beside his friend. He grabbed the back of Magnus' head, picking him up.
Simon: Magnus! Wake up!
Magnus laid unresponsive, Simon placing a hand over his chest. The feeling of a heartbeat let him release a sigh of relief.
Simon: You did amazing out there, man. No matter the odds, you fought your best. Thanks!
The paramedics ran into the ring, wheeling Magnus away. Daniel turned back, hearing the commotion in the ring. His ears perked up. He turned in a hurry, faced with a large fist aimed directly at him. It stopped just short of his face, the wind behind the punch blowing his hair and face back.
Ryan: Stop it. There's no reason to attack him.
Ryan held tightly onto Cero's arm. His forehead's vein seemed like it was moments from bursting.
Cero: I truly hoped that Deacon and I were wrong about you. That there was no way for you to be a Replicator. However, after you used those techniques, I have no reason to hold any doubt.
Ryan pushed Cero back, whose face was filled with rage. Mason, Vector, and Bruna held onto Cero's right arm from behind, pulling him back.
Bruna: P-P-Please Cero! This isn't th-the time for th-that!
Mason: You can settle this in the next round, c'mon!
Tico's face looked uninterested in the matter, letting out a sigh as he averted his eyes from the conflict. Ryan brought his face close to Cero, staring deep into his eyes.
Ryan: We don't know the punishment you may face if you were to attack another fighter outside of the ring. So don't try it. You'll have your chance once you win your next match.
Veronica: Actually, we do know.
Everyone turned to the feminine voice, seeing a maid stand at the end of the hall. She walked past the conflicted party, picking up Daniel as if he were a baby. He wrapped his arms around Veronica's neck, holding her tightly.
Veronica: You may be eliminated from the tournament and banned from matches for months depending on your misconduct against other fighters. So please, save your aggression for the time your match against Daniel arrives.
Veronica walked past Cero, Cero's eyes following her.
Cero: You seem to say that quite confidently. I am against one of your own, you know.
Veronica: I'm no idiot, Mr. LaMotta. I am well aware of what you're capable of, so I'll remain with my comment.
Veronica disappeared down the hall, Cero and the others standing in silence.
Vector: I seriously thought he was going to bring down the entire ring with that rage.
Bruna: Y-Yeah…
Mason turned to the place Cero was just standing, noticing the imprint of his foot he left on the ground.
Mason's thought: He might've taken down this whole building…
Ryan: Your match is soon, so let's go prepare for that.
Cero: It's as all of you say. I won't be able to deal with this anger unless I am to fight him in the next round. So I'll show no mercy to Remy.
Bruna: I f-feel so bad for him…
Vector: Don't we all.
The group moved down the hall, the sound of the audience being all that filled the silence.