Day 1 of the "Top 16" bout had arrived.
Dividing the top 16 into two groups of 8, and pairing them up into 4 battles, the events would be individually streamed, with great pomp and circumstance for each round.
Tey'un and Stitch had been extra busy working with each combatant adding extravagant personal touches and flourishes, battle effects, and showy displays to the battle arenas, all for extra entertainment and excitement value.
However, it was still up to the skills of each combatant. No more novices or journeymen were left; only the artisans of their martial craft remained.
—
"What an exhilarating tournament it has been so far!" Keten declared from within the futuristic sports newsroom, surrounded by holographic displays showcasing the tournament highlights. Seated beside him was Heluna, both attired as 24th-century sports newscasters, their holographic backdrop pulsating with the energy of the competition.
Heluna nodded in agreement, her enthusiasm evident. "And now, we find ourselves at the crux of the event, with the top 16 contenders vying for supremacy. Today, four bouts will determine the fate of eight competitors, bringing us one step closer to crowning the champion! But before we delve into the action." She said turning to Keten.
"Let's introduce today's formidable contenders!" Keten interjected eagerly, his voice charged with anticipation.
"In no particular order, here they are!" Heluna announced with excitement, as the holographic screens illuminated with the profiles of the eight competitors.
Name: Dezam, Race: Gorn, Faction: Gorn Hegemony, Weapon: Claws & Tail, Style: Gorn Hunting.
Name: P'valk, Race: Vulcan, Faction: Starfleet, Weapon: Lirpa, Style: Vulcan Martial Arts
Name: Anzyl Praxas, Race: Trill, Faction: Starfleet, Weapon: Jian Longsword, Style: Xingyi Jian Swordplay
Name: Gazon, Race: Orion, Faction: Orion Syndicate , Weapon: Cesti, Style: Orion Hand to Hand
Name: Neil O'Reilly , Race: Human, Faction: Starfleet, Weapon: Baseball Bat & Brass Knuckles, Style: Street Fighting & Baseball
Name: Karrik, Race: Hirogen, Faction: Hirogen Predara, Weapon: Falchion, Style: Hirogen Hunting
Name: Eloth Ch'Telon, Race: Andorian, Faction: Starfleet, Weapon: Ushaan-Tor, Style: Andorian Martial Arts
Name: Nituk, Race: Reman, Faction: New Romulan Republic, Weapon: Vrelnec, Style: Romulan Fencing
"And the first match of the day is!?..." Keten's voice resonated with suspense, as the 8 profile pictures swirled and danced on the screen like a whirlwind of anticipation.
Dezam, the formidable Gorn, emerged alongside a vibrant "VERSUS" that burst of orange and red, juxtaposed against Anzyl's image that finally halted amidst a flourish of trumpets and fanfare.
"Dezam versus Anzyl!" Keten's announcement echoed through the room.
"How thrilling!" Heluna's excitement was palpable, "While rank and file may not dictate outcomes in this competition, it's hard not to speculate on how Lieutenant Dezam will fare against Captain Anzyl!"
"To be perfectly honest, Heluna, I'm more concerned about the Captain!" Keten asserted, "While Anzyl has shown remarkable resilience, Dezam has been consistently dominating, both in overall performance and sheer ferocity."
"Indeed, Keten!" Heluna concurred, her tone reflecting both admiration and concern, "Dezam of the Gorn Hegemony has quite literally 'Clawed' a path of victory through this competition, and thankfully, the non-contact nature of the holodecks has spared the medical team from considerable workload!"
"But let's kick off the day by selecting the arena for this epic showdown!" Keten declared, pressing a button on his console."
And like a game show spinning wheel, 16 different arenas were sorted into the wheel.
"Care to do the honors?" Keten asked, gesturing to the wheel with a grin.
Heluna eagerly leaned forward, her eyes lighting up as she spun the wheel with a flick of her finger.
The wheel whirled and whirled, its lights flashing until it finally slowed and settled on an icy blue slot.
"The Frozen Caverns of Andor!" Keten announced with gusto, as the screens flickered to life, displaying a rectangular, edge-less ice rink nestled within an expansive, icy blue cavern on the planet Andor, home world of the Andorians.
"Hope their footing and footwork are top-notch!" Heluna winced, her expression reflecting concern. "This arena's slick, icy surface makes for easier ring outs, not to mention the sub-zero temperatures!"
"Let's head down to Holodeck 1," Keten declared, his voice resonating with excitement. "As our two combatants enter the arena!"
—
In the heart of a frozen cavern, bathed in the ethereal glow of Aenar settlements at the arena's periphery, Anzyl materialized. His form was cloaked in a traditional white and black Kung Fu robe, a symbol of focus and discipline. In his grasp, he held a sleek Chinese sword, its crimson tassel swaying gently as he lowered it by his side.
Opposite him, a formidable figure materialized into the icy arena. Towering and sinewy, the Gorn warrior exuded an intimidating presence. Its emerald scales gleamed under the dim light, while its fierce gaze fixated on Anzyl. With a menacing snarl, it flexed its massive hands, revealing rows of razor-sharp claws, and bared its formidable teeth in a primal display of dominance.
Anzyl couldn't help but acknowledge the biting chill that assaulted his senses, a stark reminder of the inhospitable environment surrounding them.
The Gorn snarled and hissed "I apologize in advance Captain, but this is as far as you go!" he stood in a stance like he was ready to pounce, claws and teeth bared.
Undeterred by the Gorn's aggressive stance, Anzyl maintained his composure. "No apology necessary, Dezam," he replied calmly, his voice echoing faintly in the icy cavern. "The match has yet to commence."
As the tension mounted, green health bars materialized above Anzyl and Dezam, signaling the beginning of their confrontation.
"Round one!" The grizzly announcer's voice echoed through the cavern, his musky tone reverberating against the icy walls. "Fight!!"
Dezam dug his claws into the ice and sprinted on all fours like stampeding buffalo, right at Anzyl. The Gorn's combat tactic was overwhelming offense, utilizing all 20 claws on their hands and feet, their 1.5-meter-long tail, and salivating teeth to overpower opponents in moments.
In stark contrast, Anzyl's style was characterized by patience and strategic counterattacks, capitalizing on his opponent's energy and movements.
As the Gorn shattered the ice and lunged towards Anzyl with bared teeth and extended claws, the Trill remained motionless, standing straight. However, just as the Gorn's claws were about to reach him, Anzyl swiftly let the ice flow beneath his Kung Fu shoes. Descending into a split position, he leaned to one side, bringing himself mere inches above the hard ice.
The Gorn leapt over Anzyl, but with only a meter of ice left in the arena, it failed to adjust its trajectory, sliding right over the edge into the oblivion below.
"Ring Out!" the male computer announcer declared triumphantly.
Anzyl executed his movements with the grace of a Tai Chi kung fu master, swinging one leg towards him and seamlessly transitioning into a handstand before swiftly returning to his feet in one fluid motion. His confidence radiated as Dezam rematerialized in his starting position, with Anzyl boasting a single gold coin above his head—a clear indicator of his victory in the first round. With two more victories, the match would be his.
"Nice trick, Captain," Dezam snarled, his resolve undeterred. "It won't work again!" He crouched into a charging stance, ready to attack.
"We'll see about that," Anzyl responded calmly, unmoving as he awaited his opponent's next move.
As the announcer declared the start of the second round, Dezam lunged forward once more, this time maintaining a low stance akin to an alligator skimming across the frozen ground. With claws digging into the ice, he charged at Anzyl with ferocious speed, aiming low to catch him off guard.
However, Anzyl remained composed. With a single somersault, he gracefully flipped over the diving Gorn, his sword still held at his side. With impeccable timing, he unleashed a vertical full moon slash, slicing through the entire back of the lizard-like creature. Using the momentum of his strike, Anzyl pushed Dezam over the icy edge, sending him tumbling into the darkness below.
"Ring Out!" the computer announcer declared, signaling Anzyl's victory in the second round.
Anzyl chuckled under his breath, thinking about Dezam's charge at him once more. "He literally just did the same exact thing, expecting a different outcome!" Another coin appeared over his head, marking his second victory out of the five-round match.
Breathing heavily and visibly frustrated, Dezam rematerialized in his starting position, his anger palpable. "If this was ANY other arena, you would be mine, Trill!" he roared in frustration.
"But it's not any other arena, we are here, at this moment," Anzyl calmly replied, still standing upright with his sword at his side.
"Round three! Fight!" the computer announcer declared.
Once again, Dezam launched himself at full speed, his claws digging into the ice as he propelled himself forward. This time, he aimed slightly to Anzyl's side, his tail sweeping toward Anzyl with the intent to grab hold of him.
Anzyl smirked as he observed the incoming attack. Reptilian tails, he knew, were typically detachable — especially when met with a thin sword. Anzyl held his sword vertically, poised for the Gorn's next move.
As the massive tail swung toward him, Anzyl's swift reflexes guided the razor-sharp blade of his Chinese sword, cleanly severing the appendage.
With a startled roar, the Gorn stumbled backward, clutching the stump where his tail once was, a mix of shock and panic evident on his reptilian features.
"My tail! You cut off my tail!" the Gorn bellowed in dismay, frantically searching for the dismembered appendage.
Meanwhile, Anzyl looked down at the squirming tail with a mixture of disgust and amusement. With a quick jab of his sword, he impaled the tail's tip and began to spin, building momentum on the slick ice.
"Hey Dezam! Found your tail!" Anzyl called out, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he released the spinning appendage.
Dezam's eyes widened in horror as the tail hurtled toward him, unable to react in time. With a sickening squelch, the tail collided with his head, sending him tumbling over the edge of the icy arena.
"Ring Out!" echoed the computer announcer, "Anzyl Wins!" A triumphant grin spread across Anzyl's face as a third coin materialized above his head, signaling his victory.
This victory felt hollow to Anzyl, too easily won for a match of such significance. Nonetheless, he mustered a hesitant smile and waved, acknowledging the win, albeit empty.
As the simulated icy cavern dissipated, Anzyl found himself standing alone in the spacious emptiness of the holodeck. Even the Jian blade he wielded was nothing but a holographic projection.
Exiting the holodeck, Anzyl encountered Dezam emerging from his own simulation, visibly distressed with his tail still intact.
"It's just a holographic game, Dezam," Anzyl offered with a shrug and a reassuring smile. "I didn't actually sever your tail. But if you're in need of assistance, you can always schedule an appointment with Diela."
Though Dezam's frown persisted, he nodded and hurried off down the hallway towards the teleporter.
However, the day still had three more bouts to go.