Thong threw several quick straights as Li proceeds to block each and every one of them with a smile on his face.
Li: You're doing pretty good. For warm-up punches, they have a lot of power behind them.
Thong: Thanks… But for someone like Daymond, I can't calm my nerves.
Hugo: So what if he's the head? You've beaten me, which is basically the same.
Thong and Li stopped their sparring as they looked over at Hugo, who wore a serious expression. Mike stood up from the chair he sat on and placed a hand on Hugo's shoulder.
Mike: I don't know if anyone has told you this… but you're beyond saving.
Hugo: Huh? Why would I need saving? I'm in healthy condition.
Mike's thoughts: He's even stupider than I expected!
Thong: Thanks for the confidence boost, Hugo. I'm just really nervous because I'm up against the best in the business.
Li: Yeah, I don't blame you for being scared. Daymond is so good, he's number one in the fighter sector and reaching the top ten in the assassination sector of the organization.
Mike: Wait, he isn't in the top ten there?
Li: Nah, he's been too busy recovering since his last big fight, so he didn't want to do missions if they weren't guaranteed success.
Thong: Yeah, this proves what I knew already… Daymond is someone in another league, but I refuse to back down! All of you put your hope in me, even the King of the Virtus Imperium is supporting me!
Mike crossed his arms and nodded in agreement. Li and Hugo looked around.
Li: Speaking of him, where is he?
Hugo: Yeah, Telonny said he'd be here to support you.
Mike: He's the king of a huge country, you really think he'd be able to meet us? He'll likely be supporting us from the stands. He told me the seat numbers so the rest of us can sit there if we'd like.
Gerald: Probably not the best, you know.
Everyone turned and looked down the hall they were standing in. Gerald approached them with his hands in his pockets. Mike's expression turned sour upon seeing the Azufield approach them.
Gerald: I mean, would you really want to leave the point where you'd be able to cheer Thong from the closest?
Mike gritted his teeth as Thong walked past him and placed a hand on Gerald's shoulder. Gerald smiled as Thong looked at him.
Thong: Can you please not tease my friend like that?
Gerald: I'll try not to. But I do believe that support from this close would be best. I mean, this is your most difficult match to date. I fully believe no other match will match this one in difficulty.
Mike: You're doing anything but encouraging him.
Thong: No, this is fine. I can't trick myself into thinking I'll get by easily. I need to be prepared. Daymond isn't someone you can go in willy-nilly against. I've interacted with him and I know… He's terrifying.
Li: Yeah. He's never lost a single match. He's defeated the previous head and Cero back-to-back in the previous Grand Tournament. As much as I hate to say it… everything is against you here.
Hugo: And? So what if this guy is more talented, more skilled, more experienced, more powerful, and more terrifying? What he doesn't have is me, so that'll make all the difference. My tutelage will show him that you're not someone to be messed with.
Gerald: Honestly, I feel like if your strength was equal to your ego, you'd easily be the strongest person in the Eclipse. Sadly that isn't the case.
Hugo: You want to go, Ginny?
Gerald: You hardly know anyone's name, I have better things to do like watch Thong's match.
Thong: Enough bickering you two! I want you guys to be there for me, okay? So please, cheer me on, okay?
Everyone turned to Thong before slowly nodding. Mike placed his arm on Thong's shoulder before placing a finger in his face.
Mike: You better show the Head you're not someone to be pushed around. He may stand at the top, but he's never faced anyone like you.
Gerald: Actu-
Li immediately placed a hand over Gerald's mouth, Gerald shooting a dirty look at him.
Li: Sorry, but I think we had enough negativity for today.
…
The lights went dark in the stadium as strobe lights shone across the stage. The audience had their undivided attention at the center where one man stood with his finger in the air. He wore a wide smile as a spotlight landed on him. The audience began to stomp in coordination, making a rhythm that felt like it shook the room. Zachary raised the microphone to his mouth as his sharp teeth separated.
Zachary: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ARE YOU READYYYYYY?!
The audience let out a set of roars of excitement as Zachary took it all in.
Zachary: I'M GLAD YOU ARE BECAUSE THIS IS NO SMALL OCCASION! AS WE'RE RECEIVING ANOTHER TREAT OF A MATCH! AFTER THE AMAZING PERFORMANCES FROM BOTH SER LORISIAN AND MOLL SONATA, THESE TWO ARE ONE OF THE FEW THAT ARE CAPABLE OF FOLLOWING UP SUCH AN ACT!
Hundreds of members of the audience immediately went to their phones, finding the site-specific to the current Eclipse Grand Tournament. On their screens sat the faces of both fighters.
Zachary: THE FIRST TO ENTER THE RING IS THE ROOKIE THAT HAS TAKEN US ALL BY STORM! HIS MATCHES STARTED OUT SMALL, BUT HE DEFEATED THE UPCOMING STAR MICHAEL TAYLOR, THEN THE TERRIFYING SPEEDSTER SHUN RYUJI! HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE NOTHING SHORT OF EXTRAORDINARY!
A spotlight appeared on one side of the ring as several figures began to form. One of the figures clenched his fists as he took his first step forward.
Zachary: HE'S A BUNDLE OF TRICKS, CHANGING TACTICS EACH ROUND! HE CAN EASILY GO FROM A COWARD TO A WARRIOR TO A BEAST IN COMBAT! EACH OF HIS MATCHES LEAVES A TRAIL OF BLOOD, AND HE HAS CAUSED THE MOST UPSETTING MATCHES IN RECENT HISTORY! PLEASE WELCOME "THE SILENT POINT" THONG TRAAAAAAAAAN!!!!
The audience let out a roar of cheers as Thong made his way through the ring and to the center on one side of Zachary. Pablo, Pedro, and Silvia each swung glow sticks into the air as they watched him.
Pablo: Show him what for, joven!
Silvia: We trained all we could, now put it to use!
Thong nodded as Zachary whipped around and pointed his finger at the opposite entrance.
Zachary: AND HIS OPPONENT NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION! HE'S THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MAN IN AMERICA IN HIS POSITION! HE TOOK HIS POSITION BY FORCE AND HAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE RECORDS TO DATE! DESPITE THE INJURY HE TOOK TWO YEARS AGO, HE'S STILL STANDING WITH US HERE!
The spotlight moved from one side of the ring to the other as one figure stood before several others. Thong could feel the hairs at the back of his neck stand on end as he stared down at his opponent.
Zachary: HE'S TAKEN DOWN THE DANGEROUS KURO KAGEYAMA, A BEAST THAT BRINGS DESTRUCTION AS HE GOES! THEN HE TOOK DOWN THE STRONGEST WORLD LEADER OF THE CURRENT DAY! EACH WAS VICTORIES THAT SHOOK THIS VERY ORGANIZATION TO ITS CORE! CAN ANYONE STOP THIS MAN? OR IS HE TRULY AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE OF NATURE?! HERE COMES "THE HEAD SPIDER" DAYMOND THERAPHOSAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Daymond walked forward relaxed, his coat flowing behind him as he approached. Thong's eyes quivered as he watched Daymond approach. Both locked eyes as Daymond stood before Thong, almost twenty centimeters taller. They exchanged glances as Zachary stepped away.
Daymond: I'm glad I finally get to fight you here, Thong.
Thong: Yeah… Me too. I knew the road to victory wasn't going to be easy.
Daymond: Your reasons for fighting are very noble. I know I would do the same.
Thong: How did you-?!
Daymond: You're dealing with the underworld, kid. We're not in a place where that information is truly secretive. Your interest in the Kaisuto group and the usage of your last name make it easy to find your connections. I mean, I have the greatest behind me.
Shizu, Magnus, and Dianshi watched closely as they each wore a grin on their faces. Yussuf grabbed onto Shun's shoulder, whose face was bruised and bandaged.
Yussuf: I'm so excited! Both of these are guys that beat you, can you believe it?!
Shun: Yeah yeah… Don't need to rub it in.
Simon: It's pretty much set in stone. Daymond is of a different caliber from Thong.
Magnus: While true, Thong is extremely tough. Assuming he'll fall easily would be a massive miscalculation.
Dianshi: And we mustn't forget that he has connections with Gerald Azufield. The Azufield family as is are extremely talented, but a rogue entity could prove to be difficult.
Arthur: What about it? The boss has this in the bag.
On the opposing side, the four men stood there as they looked at the opposing side.
Hugo: Dammit, they have more men than us. How are we going to win if this turns into an all-out brawl?
Mike: We're not the ones fighting, idiot.
Hugo: You never know! He might get a good punch in and all hell will break loose.
Gerald: They're professionals, nothing like you.
The referee now stood between Thong and Daymond, who each turned their back to the other.
Daymond: I do suggest not trying to slowly build up against me. Whatever special tactics you have prepared will all crumble.
Thong: I am well aware of that. You're too strong to be fought with anything short of my best.
Thong's thoughts: But is my best really enough? …no. Thoughts like that don't matter. I need to win, for Mom and Dad!
Thong and Daymond turned back to the other as the referee widened his stance.
Referee: FIGHTERS! TAKE YOUR STANCES!
Thong placed both hands out as he took an offensive Wing Chun stance. He watched as Daymond stood across from him with his hands in his pocket, a soft smile on his face.
Thong's thoughts: This guy… He's prepared. How did… How did Theodore manage against him?
Referee: GET READY…!
Thong's body tensed up as he watched closely. Daymond's coat fluttered from the draft as the referee moved his hand into the air. Each moment felt like an eternity to him until the moment finally came. The moment when Thong would have the match of his life.
Referee: BEGIIIIIIIIIN!!