20 Chapter 19 - Giants

Thong entered the furthest back hallway, noticing a single entrance that seemed to look like an elevator. He could hear what sounded like hundreds of people on the other side, as if they were all cheering and mumbling amongst themselves.

Thong's thoughts: How are there this many people in this place? Sure it looks like a large place, but it sounds like there's enough to fill a stadium with those amount of voices.

Thong reached for the button on the side, only for it to open up to a flight of stairs heading downward.

Thong's thoughts: I guess elevators are too much of a luxury…

Thong walked down the stairs, the hallway dimly lit by overhead lights. He reached another door similar to the one he had originally seen. The voices became even more apparent, some conversations being clear enough for Thong to understand.

Thong's thoughts: From the sounds of it, a match is currently going on… I wonder who's in it… Would I even know?

Thong opened the door, only to be filled with utter shock at the sight before him. What seemed to be an entire arena filled the room. The room was gigantic, something Thong could not discern from the front of the building.

Thong's thoughts: Even when I was walking here, the building didn't seem large enough to have an entire arena in it.

Flights of stairs declined downwards towards the center, where a large open area laid. What seemed to be a four meter drop into the area separated it from the front row seats of the audience. A crew of men stood in the arena, cleaning the bloodied concrete floors. Thong glanced to his right as he heard two men talking.

Man 1: Tentaro did it once again, taking down another opponent in such a quick fashion!

Man 2: That fight was bloody, but it looks like he did it in no time. And that was just the warm up show!

Man 1: The main event is gonna start soon!

Thong's thoughts: Main event? So the fight before was just a match to get the audience excited? And did they say bloody?

Thong began to sweat before a thought entered his mind.

Thong's thoughts: Oh yeah, the referee mentioned that a few times. That even death was allowed in these matches. Mr. Ginta and Jason both had weapons, so those seem allowed in these matches. But bloody enough to even coat the arena floor?

Thong looked around the room, seeing all the people talking amongst themselves. It was larger than any pep rally he had attended during his years at school. The closest he could compare it to is a public sporting event. The seats were packed, with there being no room for anyone else to sit. Except for one area on the opposite side of the entrance Thong had come from. An entire portion of seating was empty.

Thong's thoughts: What's wrong with that area? Is that a common splash zone? Or maybe those seats are cursed.

???: Yo kid, move out of the way.

Thong turned around, seeing a bandaged up Kusari Ginta standing behind him.

Thong's thoughts: That's the guy that Mike beat up…

Kusari: You looking at those seats over there? Those were entirely rented out. Not a single person can sit over there. How many people does one nation plan to bring?

Despite Kusari's angered tone, Thong looked in shock. He glanced over at the seats once again.

Thong's thoughts: A nation…?

Kusari: Goddammit kid, move it!

Kursari pushed past Thong, Thong regaining his balance before looking back at the ring.

Thong's thoughts: Today's match is big enough to bring these many people, bring people from another nation, and bring in other fighters like Mr. Ginta here?

Thong continued to walk around, getting closer and closer to the large open area before he saw a door nearby swing open. Two men held the double doors open as a large group of people walked in. Thong stared in awe as a large man led the group inward, followed by a few others. Thong's eyes shot open as one familiar face stood along that group.

Thong's thoughts: Is that… Mike?

Mike walked in with the group with his arms crossed, entering the seating area that was once vacant. The area filled up quickly as they all sat in silence. Thong noticed that nearly the entire audience had gone quiet once that group had entered the ring.

Thong's thoughts: What's with this weird tension that filled the room?

Woman: Isn't that the group with the most high ranked fighters?

Man: Yeah, I think they simply call that elite group the Brigade. But the nation of Virtus Imperium is full of freaks!

Thong's thoughts: Virtus Imperium? I heard that they were a nation from the Pacific Ocean. An island nation here? What's going on?

Before Thong could have time to make sense of everything he had just heard, the sound of speakers went off across the stadium.

???: Hello, hello? Oh, it's still working. Sorry for the wait folks, but the ring was somewhat of a mess after that last match. But there is no time to waste now that the ring is clean~!

Thong's thoughts: I never heard this voice before. This isn't Daymond, Dianshi, or the referee. This is someone else.

???: For the lovely people that have just joined us, allow me to introduce myself! I am your announcer, Zachary Flair! I already know how much you guys love me, so let's get on with the show.

Thong looked towards the center, but what caught his eyes were the monitors above.

Thong's thoughts: I guess they do have to stream it for those with unlucky seats, huh?

Thong saw the announcer standing at the center of the ring. He was a tall man with a blonde pompadour. He was adorned with a black suit with a noticeable red tie. Thong squinted closer, but his eyes were not playing tricks on him. As Zachary opened his mouth, his teeth were all sharp.

Thong's thoughts: Sharp teeth? I didn't think anything other than animals could have purely sharp teeth.

Thong ears immediately began to ring as the audience cheered as Zachary brought the mic back to his mouth. Thong covered his ears, paying attention as closely as he could to Zachary's words.

Zachary: AFTER THAT NICE STARTER MATCH, WE FINALLY BRING YOU THE MATCH THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!

The lights of the stadium darkened as spotlights lit up the center ring.

Zachary: FIRST ENTERS OUR CHALLENGER! KNOWN TO HAVE SOME OF THE FASTEST ATTACKS THAT THE ECLIPSE DUELS HAVE SEEN, THIS MAN HAS WORKED FROM THE GROUND UP TO GET HIS SPOT. BUT HE WISHES TO AIM HIGHER, CHALLENGING SOMEONE OF UNIMAGINABLE PROPORTIONS. HERE COMES OUR COMPETITOR, "THE COATED SHADOW," SPENCER BURNS!!!!

Thong watched as a man heavily clad in clothing entered the ring. He wore a long, dark brown coat, with black pants and a shirt underneath, his tall black boots blending into the color of his pants. Thong looked in worry as he looked at Spencer's face, noticing the gas mask that covered Spencer's face. Spencer had his hands in his coat pocket as he stared at the opposing entrance.

Zachary: Right on cue, good timing, Spencer. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET'S INTRODUCE HIS OPPONENT! THIS MAN IS NO STRANGER TO THESE MATCHES! HE'S A REGULAR, HE'S POPULAR, HE'S AMONG ONE OF THE STRONGEST THE ECLIPSE HAS TO OFFER! ONE OF THE ECLIPSE'S TOP TEN FIGHTERS HERE TO REMIND THE WORLD THE POWER BEHIND THEIR FISTS, WELCOME "THE HYENA," GONZALEZ MUERTOJOS!!!!

Thong watched the second opening closely. Out came a man, around 182 centimeters tall, wearing nothing but red shorts, his short brown hair blowing in the wind as he walked into the spotlight. Thong looked closer, his eyes opening in shock as he noticed the man wearing a blindfold.

Zachary: What's up with all these fighters always having things on their face?

The crowd let out a cheer as Gonzalez stood in the ring, forcing Thong to cover his ears.

Thong's thoughts: This guy is a top ten fighter? And he wears a blindfold? I can't tell if he's cocky or what…

Gonzalez scratched the back of his head, facing the floor.

Gonzalez: Uhh… I don't know if I really felt like fighting today, but because you asked me so nicely, I had to oblige.

Spencer: … Allow me to test your skills firsthand.