Vik's kick landed with maximum force, finding its mark right between Triple G's legs.
The timing and execution were so precise that it seemed as if Vik had been a professional at this particular move.
The crowd, who had been cheering for Triple G, fell into stunned silence as they realized what had just transpired. It took a moment for the spectators, of all ages, to fully comprehend the pain that Triple G was about to experience.
Regardless of Triple G's metahuman strength, his groin remained a vulnerable area. Furthermore, he had focused his mana defense on other parts of his body, leaving his most delicate region relatively unprotected. The pain he felt in that moment was only slightly diminished from what a regular human would have experienced.
Triple G's agony was overwhelming as he felt the crushing impact of Vik's attack on his groin. The pain receptors in his body were overloaded, leaving him unable to shout or even catch his breath. With great difficulty, he released the person he had been holding effortlessly and crumpled to the ground, curling into a defensive ball like a miserable armadillo.
His face turned red, and his expression contorted in a mix of pain and anger. It was unclear whether his flushed appearance was due to the physical torment or his fury at Vik's underhanded move. But Vik had no intention of waiting to find out.
Furthermore, Triple G's mental state had become chaotic, preventing him from maintaining his mana defense layer effectively. The time had come for Vik to strike.
"Tory, attack," Vik commanded, seizing the opportune moment. Both Vik and Tory pounced on the defenseless Triple G simultaneously, targeting the same vulnerable spot repeatedly. The crowd watched in absolute horror and silence as this relentless assault unfolded before their eyes.
Some members of the audience began to boo Vik and Tory for their low-blow attacks, viewing them as unsportsmanlike tactics. However, the duo paid no attention to the disapproval. Aware of the legends surrounding metahumans, they understood that allowing Triple G a chance to recover and utilize his magical abilities could lead to dire consequences for them.
They had made a calculated decision to strike their opponent while he was down, avoiding the potential repercussions that could arise from Triple G's magical retaliation.
"Um... young man, it was you who orchestrated that audacious plan, wasn't it?" the middle-aged announcer inquired, his voice tinged with doubt and caution as he looked at Vik. Vik simply nodded in affirmation.
The announcer let out a sigh and remarked, "When I mentioned 'by any means necessary,' I never imagined it could be taken so literally. Nevertheless, here are your rewards: 2000 New World Coins."
With a sweeping motion of the announcer's hand, a large screen materialized, displaying a golden trophy alongside the reward of 2000 NWC. The announcer selected the option to deposit the rewards, and the displayed amount swiftly decreased until it reached zero. As soon as the screen showed zero, a prompt appeared on Vik's spectral display, indicating that he had received the money.
Tory received the same amount as Vik. The announcer then inquired if the duo wished to continue their wrestling career, to which they readily agreed.
Realizing the opportune moment to build hype around Vik and Tory, the announcer understood that dramatic storytelling and emotional narratives were essential in showbiz.
"Dear viewers, please don't judge the two winners too harshly for their controversial tactics. They did what they had to do to survive. You may perceive their actions as unkind towards Triple G, but do you know why they needed to win this money? Allow us to show you."
Above the battle ring, a new spectral screen materialized, presenting Vik and Tory's struggles in a dramatic black-and-white montage. It showcased their experiences of being denied various job opportunities due to their circumstances. The scene then transitioned to depict their loved ones suffering from illness, accompanied by melancholic music.
Soon, the background music shifted to an inspirational title track, signaling the duo's discovery of the tournament hosted by the announcer. The subsequent scenes showcased Vik and Tory training diligently for this particular match.
Unexpectedly, the display abruptly switched to an entirely different scene, revealing security footage of two individuals infiltrating a heavily guarded facility. The spectators, both in the arena and those watching worldwide, were initially perplexed, but quickly became captivated as the unfolding events played out before their eyes. Some even took out their recording devices to capture the unexpected turn of events.
The announcer was dumbfounded by the footage displayed on the screen. He urgently attempted to contact the backend team through his hollo-call, ordering them to cease the broadcast. However, his request was denied by the higher authorities of the show, who recognized the record-breaking surge in viewership due to the captivating heist footage.
"That board and sign... isn't that Oasis Corp? Are they stealing something from Oasis Corp?" one viewer remarked with keen interest. Another viewer heard this statement and suddenly made a connection.
"A heist... could it be the heist that killed Remington Roy?"
Gasps rippled through the crowd as they watched two non-meta individuals execute a daring heist that had become the talk of Oasis Online and beyond. Vik and Tory had decided to become whistleblowers in retaliation for their own reasons.