All fighters in attendance watched the ring closely. Monitors on the back walls of the stadium showed the head shots of both contenders. The audience was left at the edge of their seats. Their feet stomped on the ground as Zachary spun on his heel as he swung his arm at one of the hallways.
Zachary: THE MAN OVER IN THIS CORNER HAS SHOCKED THE WORLD WITH HIS PERFORMANCE! DESPITE HIS UNNATURAL SPEECH PATTERNS, HE HAS TRULY SHOWN US THAT HE IS NO SLOUCH! HIS STRENGTH AND SKILL ARE WHAT MAKE A KNIGHT! HE DEFEATED LI AND THE CYBORG QUINTIN! HIS TWO VICTORIES ALONE ARE TELLING OF HIS CHARACTER! WILL HE ADD ANOTHER NAME TO THE LIST, OR WILL THIS BE THE END OF THE ROAD?! HE WILL SHOW IT ALL TO US NOW! HERE ENTERS "THE KNIGHT OF FLOWERS" SER LORISIAN!!!!!!
The audience grew excited as they began to chant his name. The solid sounds of his footsteps grew louder and louder as a figure emerged from the shadows. His armor glistened in the light as he walked proudly through the ring. He held his head high as he marched over to Zachary. He wore his sword at his side, his shield nowhere in sight.
Man 1: I guess he couldn't repair the thing.
Man 2: As if he needs it! That armor and his own insane strength make him stronger than a shield!
Lorisian unbuckles his sword from his side, slamming the tip of the sheath into the ground as he stares at the opposing side.
Lorisian: I am extremely excit'd f'r the present day's matcheth!
Zachary: That's great to hear, Ser Lorisian. Any worries you have about your opponent?
Lorisian: Mine own only worry is yond that gent shall not beest h're to visage me!
Zachary nodded his head as his smile becomes blank. The image of Moll's foot flying through the air flashed in his mind as he shook his head. He turned to the announcer's booth, noticing that Zenzo had yet not arrived. He cleared his throat as he raised his mic to his mouth.
Zachary: AND HIS OPPONENT NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION! HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED TO WIN THIS TOURNAMENT! HE FOUGHT A GRUELING AND BLOODY BATTLE AGAINST THE ONE AND ONLY MASKED MAN AND CAME OUT VICTORIOUS! HIS LONG HISTORY IN THIS ORGANIZATION MAKES HIM A CLEAR FAVORITE TO WIN THIS TOURNAMENT! PLEASE GIVE A WARM WELCOME TO "THE WANING SLASHER" MOLLLLLL SONATAAAAAAAAA!!
Everyone turned to the opposite entrance with bated breath. They watched closely as a pair of figures came forward. Some people in the audience had their eyes wavering as they watched what came out. Zachary gritted his teeth as he watched. Out of the shadows, Moll was strolled out in a wheelchair, his legs covered in a blanket as Zenzo strolled him inside. The ring went silent as some of the fighters closed their eyes in respect. Lorisian stood motionless, the slits of his helmet continuing to stare down Moll. Moll wore a casual smile on his face, letting out a small laugh as he approached Lorisian. At the entrance of his hallway, Kuro, Midori, and Hamadeen each looked on. Moll and Zenzo stopped right before Lorisian and Zachary.
Zachary: So… how do you feel, Moll?
Moll: Heh, as good as a guy with one less real leg could feel. But I'm here for my match.
Zachary: Here for your match…? How… How do you intend to…?
Zachary looked puzzled as Zenzo stepped away from the wheelchair. Everyone leaned forward as Moll let out a burst of joyful laughter. He came to a stop as he met Lorisian and Zachary with a smile.
Moll: With my best. No way I would avoid fighting a fellow knight.
Moll grabbed onto the blanket over his legs and flung it into the air. Everyone watched in shock as Moll stood up and kicked his wheelchair away. The foot that settled on the ground was not one of flesh and bone, but one of metal. Quintin watched his screen with huge eyes.
Quintin: No… fucking… way….
Jason crossed his arms as he and Nicholas watched the ring from another room.
Jason: I cannot say I saw that coming…
Nicholas: Cyborg, interesting.
Zenzo walked over to Moll, throwing him his sword. Moll caught it as he swiftly unsheathed it and aimed the tip of his blade at Lorisian. The knight remained unresponsive until a low cackle was heard. Zachary was flabbergasted, his eyes could not believe what he was seeing. Everyone in the audience shared the same shock. Thong, Li, Hugo, and Mike each watched with huge eyes. Lorisian's low cackle erupted into an explosive laugh that filled the ring. Moll smiled as he saw Lorisian slowly lower his head.
Lorisian: Thou art just as valorous as I rememb'r, Moll Sonata.
Moll: You know how I am. I refuse to give up a good fight. I didn't mean to copy your nephew's style, but fighting you again was something I could not back down from.
Lorisian nodded as he lifted his sword. He unbuckled his sheath and pulled out his sword. It was unlike the one he had used in the previous round. Moll seemed to recognize this one, smiling wider as he saw it swing through the air.
Moll: Sharpclaw, huh? I never thought I would see the day that would come out properly.
Lorisian: I only intendeth to visage thee with mine own most wondrous.
Moll: And I'll make sure I face you with my best.
The crowd let out a roar as they watched both fighters aim their blades at one another. The knight faced down the legend. Zachary stepped back with excitement showing on his face.
Zenzo: You look pretty happy.
Zachary: How couldn't I be?! Moll… He's still fighting! No matter how you look at it, his career should be over!
Zenzo: Well, let's say that he wants to make sure he goes out with a bang.
The referee walked past the announcers and to the fighters with tears in his eyes. He stood before them both, his stance wide as he fought back his tears.
Referee: FIGHTERS… ARE… YOU… READYYYYYY!!
He screamed with his entire chest, both Lorisian and Moll taking their stances more seriously. They eyed the other down, the space around them seemed to warp. Cero, who sat in a room with the other members that accompanied him, crossed his arms.
Cero's thoughts: Show me that you are still worth worrying about, Moll. Your will is one thing, but it is time to show your true skills.
The referee raised his right arm, shaking off the tears from his face as he saw both fighters prepared for battle. He swung his arm at full force.
Referee: BEGIIIIIIIIIIIIN!!!
Moll's eyes flared as both fighters took their charge forward. However, Moll moved even faster than the crowd had anticipated, covering the distance between himself and Lorisian in an instant. His sword collided with Lorisian's, sparks flying as their swords stood at a standstill. Moll smiled as he sidestepped, raising his sword into the air. Lorisian moved his sword to a defensive position as Moll swung his sword down in one swift motion. Lorisian's knee began to bend as he fought back against the force of Moll's swing. It was not as powerful as Quintin's kicks, yet the power behind it was unlike anything he had faced before. Moll kicked back then charged forward, swinging his sword upward. Lorisian met the attack head-on, both fighters matching swing for swing. The clanging of their swords echoed as they felt every part of their body move with each swing. The audience watched in awe as Moll and Lorisian truly looked matched.
Man 1: How strong is that knight?!
Man 2: More like how strong is Moll?
Woman: How are they keeping up with one another?!
Moll slowly took one step forward, forcing Lorisian to step back. As the knight felt his sword begin to be overpowered, he tilted his sword and moved around Moll's own. He aimed directly for the combatant's abdomen. Moll jumped back, avoiding the swing entirely. Both fighters stared the other down, Moll meeting Lorisian with a smile.
Lorisian: Thee truly art at thy most wondrous, Moll.
Moll: Nah, I wouldn't say that. But you really have evolved your swordsmanship to even greater heights. You really are a work of art, eh?
Lorisian chuckled from under his helmet before charging at Moll in full force. Despite how heavy his armor had seemed, he moved as if it had not hindered a single movement. Moll's eyes widened as he witnessed the storm of swings approach his direction. He immediately moved to block each attack, the pure quantity taking him by surprise. Hamadeen and Kuro watched on with shock as they watched how quickly Lorisian had begun to move. Behind them, Doctor A watched closely.
A's thoughts: He's doing pretty well. His movements are elevated even higher. With swordsmanship needing the legs to truly help power each swing, the leg is doing him wonders. I wonder how Lorisian will do against my upgraded version of Quintin's legs.
Moll furrowed his eyebrows as he parried each strike with his blade. His eyes watched each one closely as Lorisian moved closer and closer. Lorisian swung his foot at Moll, with Moll moving around it at a moment's notice. He let out a heavy exhale as he used his new leg to propel him forward. He tackled Lorisian the moment his swings had calmed down, bringing both fighters down to the ground. Moll brought his sword into the air, swinging it down with astonishing force. Sparks flew as Lorisian brought up Sharpclaw, blocking the attack. They struggled on the ground as neither could overpower the other. Lorisian thrusts his hips, dismounting Moll off of him and allowing him to roll over and onto his feet. Moll jumped onto his own, dashing at Lorisian at full force. Lorisian stood firm as his opponent drew near, his dark eye slits watching. As Moll moved in, Lorisian moved low, wrapping his arms around Moll's waist, and charged at the arena wall. Moll looked back in shock as his back slammed into the wall. He let out a gasp as the air was knocked out of him. Lorisian continued to push forward, releasing his grasp and using all of his body to push against Moll. Lorisian's heavier weight and the width of his armor placed Moll between a rock and a hard place. Blood began to trickle down the side of his mouth as Lorisian continued to push forward. Moll could feel his ribs begin to bend as he was being flattened against the wall.
Zachary: An unbelievable tactic! Lorisian is crushing Moll against the wall!
Zenzo: And with there being hardly any room, Moll can't even swing his sword with enough force to do anything!
The audience began to chant both fighters' names as Moll locked gazes with Lorisian. The gritting of his teeth turned into a wild smile as his mind flashed to Kuro.
Moll's thoughts: That kid is reckless and would never survive a fight with more competent fighters, but if there's anything he does well, that's moving!
Moll built up as much force as his position could muster and slammed his forehead directly into Lorisian's helmet. Lorisian was momentarily dazed as he looked at Moll. Moll smiled as he pushed Lorisian off, moving away from the wall as he swung a powerful left hook into the side of Lorisian's helmet. The impact sounded like a gong as Lorisian stumbled backward. The crowd cheered as Moll stood proudly with blood running down his forehead and the side of his mouth.
Moll: Looks like you're more troublesome than I had expected.
Lorisian: Thee aren't the easiest opponent eith'r, Moll.
Lorisian and Moll began to exchange clashes of their blades as they maneuvered around the ring. Each attack reverberated through the ring, each audience member flinching as they watched. Mason looked at the screen beside Cero, gritting his teeth.
Mason's thoughts: That old bastard is doing so well! Each of my throws hardly did enough to hinder that knight, but each of Moll's hits did what I couldn't! No wonder Cero is so wary of him. If Daymond doesn't leave his match with minimal injuries, Moll might be able to beat him!
Quintin moved himself onto a wheelchair as he wheeled out of the infirmary. He rushed to one of the entrances as his uncle flashed into his mind.
Quintin's thoughts: C'mon, pain in my ass! You were able to beat me, this old geezer is nothing! You beat my legs once, you can do it again! Show them that you're unmatched!
Moll and Lorisian came to a stop when they reached the center of the ring once more, breathing heavily as their bodies heaved. Moll smiled as he pointed his sword at Lorisian.
Moll: You know… It's a shame we never got to finish our fight back then… But now… we have no reason to hold back…
Lorisian: I… concur…
The aura around the fighters grew more intense as they gripped their weapons tightly, everyone watching on in silence.