The day of the competition had finally arrived. Over the past two days, Jason and I spent most of our time in the gym, training and coming up with strategies. The tournament format was straightforward: we needed to win ten matches to qualify. After that, there would be an "unknown event" where we'd face a higher-ranked Ranker. If we won, we could take their spot in the hierarchy, but even if we lost, we'd still walk away with the million credits.
I'd tried digging up information about our first opponent but came up empty. There was no intel on his powers, which likely meant he kept a low profile. That alone made me uneasy—it's always the quiet ones you need to watch out for.
As we arrived at the Ranker Organization building, we showed our IDs, which were embedded in our Ranker watches. The staff led us to the back area where we were given changing rooms and a variety of costumes to choose from.
I settled on a simple judo outfit—it felt practical and comfortable. Jason, on the other hand, picked a sleek undercover-style ensemble, complete with a holster for his rubber bullet gun. As we stood in front of the mirror, the team name "Duo God" suddenly came back to me. The absurdity hit me like a brick: I was in traditional judo attire, while Jason looked like a futuristic spy. Together, we looked absolutely ridiculous.
Jason caught me laughing under my breath. "What's so funny?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Just thinking about how we're supposed to be Duo God, I said, smirking. We look more like a circus act.
Jason grinned. Ridiculous or not, we'll make it work.
We checked the match schedule and found out our first match wasn't until 2 p.m. It was only 10 a.m. now, so Jason suggested we watch the other battles. I agreed, and we made our way to the viewing area.
The arena was packed. The energy was electric, with fans cheering, shouting, and waving banners for their favorite participants. The sheer size of the crowd made my stomach turn. Cold feet crept up on me as I realized how many eyes would be on us when it was our turn.
Jason must've noticed my unease because he nudged me and said, Don't let it get to you. Remember, we've trained for this. If nothing else, we'll give them a show they'll never forget.
I nodded, trying to shake off the nerves. He was right. Win or lose, we were going to make an impression.
The first match began, a two-on-two battle that immediately drew the crowd's full attention. The announcer stepped into the spotlight, his voice booming through the arena.
"On the right, we have The Grim Reapers!" he exclaimed, earning cheers and murmurs from the audience. "And on the left, we have Frost Fang!"
Hearing the name Grim Reapers, I raised an eyebrow. It was a bold name, but when I saw the team, I understood why. As the bell rang, one of the Grim Reaper members summoned an undead creature—a skeleton clad in cracked armor that looked like it had crawled straight out of a graveyard. His partner, shrouded in dark robes, exuded an ominous aura that practically screamed dark magic.
Meanwhile, Frost Fang looked just as formidable. One member was an ice user, conjuring and manipulating shards of ice with precision. The other had beast-like powers, his muscles rippling as his body partially transformed into a WereWolf.
The crowd buzzed with excitement, and I overheard people behind us placing bets. Apparently, there was an official betting area run by the organizers, making it a fully sanctioned part of the event.
I leaned over and tapped Jason's shoulder. Who do you think is going to win? I asked.
Jason didn't hesitate. The Grim Reapers. Their attacks are long-range, and they've got great synergy. They'll keep Frost Fang at a distance and pick them off.
I frowned, thinking it over. Maybe, but if Frost Fang goes all out, they might have the edge. That ice user could dominate the field, and the beast guy looks like he's got insane durability. It'll be close.
As we debated, the arena's barrier activated, enveloping the fighters in an invisible bubble. It was a sophisticated barrier, designed to protect the audience by containing any stray attacks.
While the protective shield on the contestants was also activated though invisible, it was strong enough to withstand a full-force strike from someone at the peak of the Earth Realm before Ascension. However, it came with a catch—the shield didn't reduce pain. A hard enough hit could still kill someone from sheer agony, even if the shield held.
The announcer's voice boomed again. The protective shields are active! Fighters, take your positions!
The bell rang, signaling the start of the match. People hurried back to their seats, clutching their tickets and eagerly waiting to see if their bets would pay off. The tension in the air was palpable as the two teams stared each other down, ready to unleash their powers.
The Summoner commanded his skeleton to launch a frontal attack while the mage began chanting a spell. On the Frost Fang side, the beast dashed forward, aiming to tackle the skeleton head-on, leaving the ice user to deal with the dark mage. The teams quickly split, turning the battle into two intense one-on-one confrontations.
Boom! The beast guy landed a powerful punch on the skeleton, but it didn't shatter. Instead, the Summoner smirked dangerously. "Is that all you've got?" he taunted as the skeleton retaliated. The undead warrior began pummeling the beast guy with a series of brutal blows—punching, kicking, and even tossing him across the battlefield.
Meanwhile, the dark mage unleashed a spell he called Dark Flames. A torrent of black fire surged toward the ice user, who quickly conjured a massive wall of ice to block the attack. The two forces collided in a violent clash, and the ice wall evaporated almost instantly. The ice user's expression shifted—this wasn't going to be easy.
Realizing their current approach wasn't working, the ice user shouted to his partner, "Switch! You take the mage—I'll handle the skeleton!" Without hesitation, they swapped opponents.
The wolf guy charged at the dark mage, aiming for a powerful punch. But just as his fist was about to connect, the mage's form dissolved into a shadowy mist. Before the beast could react, the mage reappeared behind him and unleashed a burst of Dark Flames directly onto his back.
The wolf guy let out a blood-curdling scream, his agony echoing through the arena. The sheer intensity of the attack left no doubt—it hurt bad.
But the mage wasn't done yet. With a flick of his wrist, the dark flames began to swirl, aiming for a finishing blow. Boom.