"Aiden Brown"

Theo went back to his seat.

"Why'd you have to keep choking the poor guy even after he surrendered?" the person sitting next to him asked, leaning back in his chair and raising an eyebrow. He had silver eyes, pitch-black hair, and ashen skin.

Theo shrugged, not particularly interested in explaining himself to a stranger. "Had to teach that arrogant guy a lesson. He was pissing me off."

"Wow, you're just a real peach, aren't ya?" The guy snorted.

Theo gave him a withering look, wondering why this stranger felt the need to comment on his behavior. "Thanks for the compliment," he replied dryly, looking unimpressed.

"Hey, my bad if I offended ya with my bluntness," he replied.

"It's all right for now. But you should choose your words wisely. Not everyone is as easygoing."

"I will take note of that. By the way, names Jack. What's yours?" Jack asked, sticking his hand out for a shake.

Theo looked at him like 'Did I ask?' but introduced himself out of common courtesy. "I am Theo." He introduced himself, reluctantly accepting the handshake.

"Pleasure to meet ya, Theo. And sorry again for the crack earlier," Jack said with a grin.

**********

On the judge's panel.

Three military officers that seemed to be high-ranking officials were sitting. They were observing the fights. Sergeant Harry was standing next to them.

"What is your assessment about number 55, sir?" Sergeant Harry politely asked a person.

"Initially, his physical test results were average, but his fight against number 82 has altered my perception of him," the judge replied. "He demonstrates remarkable analytical skills and a strong understanding of combat tactics. He must have had a fantastic coach. He won the match with ease and shows a lot of promise," the person continued, "Also, he fights like someone that I used to know."

"Who might that be, sir?" Sergeant Harry was curious.

The mysterious man didn't reply as a sign for Harry to not ask anything else. He simply looked in Theo's direction.

**********

Theo had made it to the next stage of the examination but had to wait as the second round was still ongoing. During the break, he took the opportunity to observe the fights. However, he noticed that Aiden was not among the participants for the second round, and the remaining battles were rather dull and resembled street brawls. The second round eventually ended after about an hour, and Sergeant Henry stepped up to make an announcement.

"To make things more thrilling, we've decided to allow the usage of weapons in the next round of the competition," he declared. "Don't worry, they'll be non-lethal, and for safety reasons, all fighters will have to wear protective headgear to avoid any serious injuries. Remember, under no circumstances will you be allowed to kill your opponent."

The unexpected announcement caught the contestants off guard, as they had not anticipated having to use weapons in the second stage of the examination.

'Okay. Didn't see that coming.' Theo, who lacked prior experience in wielding weapons, was also pondering on his next course of action.

The stadium's left wall began to open, eliciting attention from the onlookers, as a vast array of weapons was displayed before their eyes. Theo was amazed by the diverse range of armaments, from swords and maces to throwing axes and shields. With cautious steps, he approached the arsenal and examined the deadly tools of war.

However, as they were only permitted to use non-lethal weapons, Theo searched for a suitable option that matched his fighting style. Eventually, he chose a wooden sword and familiarized himself with its weight and balance.

The third round began, and Theo made his way to the staging area. Theo was paired against the number 508. After scanning the crowd for a while, he was able to spot his opponent. He was dark-skinned with a fairly large build. Right now, the fight between Meanwhile, Aiden and number 996 were engaged in a fierce battle in the center of the arena. They wielded their weapons with precision and skill - Aiden with his gleaming gauntlets, and number 996 with his fluidly twirling nun chucks.

The clash began with an explosive burst of energy as number 996 launched a series of ferocious strikes toward Aiden, each one intended to bring him down. However, Aiden refused to back down. His reflexes were lightning-fast, and he expertly used his gauntlets to intercept each attack, resulting in a resounding clash of steel upon steel.

The two fighters continued their intense exchange, each blow fueling the growing intensity of the battle. Aiden's gauntlets moved with the grace of a dancer, his limbs flowing in perfect harmony as he weaved and dodged. Number 996, meanwhile, was relentless, the nun chucks humming as he launched a series of crushing blows.

Aiden's gauntlets were a blur of motion, deftly weaving and bobbing to avoid each strike. Meanwhile, number 996 pivoted and twirled, his nun chucks becoming a whirlwind of death as he sought an opening in Aiden's defense.

"Do you think you are Bruce Lee or something?" Aiden taunted him. He got exactly the reaction he needed. His opponent was more ferocious now.

Aiden seized the opportunity and launched a counterattack. With a sudden burst of speed, he launched a series of powerful jabs, his gauntlets slamming into number 996's defenses with the force of a battering ram, each one connecting with a resounding thud. Number 996 staggered back, unable to keep up with the barrage of blows raining down upon him.

Aiden leaped forward, his gauntlets leading the way as he delivered a devastating uppercut that sent number 996 flying through the air. The nun chucks clattered to the ground as number 996 hit the platform.

So, with a dominant performance, Aiden progressed to the final round.