The Third-Party

Hamster slumps to the floor, drooling from the mouth. Even Toxic is caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events.

Toxic exclaims, "Well, Hamster was really strong, so to think he'd lose to E-Girls is unimaginable. Now that's a new low."

Infinity, ensuring Toxic is still focused, swings his blade in an attempt to launch an effortless slash, devoid of any ego. Toxic, displaying remarkable reflexes, swings his weapon like a bat, knocking the slash back with enhanced velocity. Infinity makes contact with the slash and drags his blade through it, deconstructing it instantly.

Attempting to swing his blade once more, Infinity is astounded and halted by the sudden appearance of four enigmatic wanderers in the arena, each emanating a mysterious and potent energy.

**Yugi, the elusive voyager.**

**Clixzu, the shadowy wayfarer.**

**Osama, the ethereal journeyman.**

**Kyz, the cosmic traveler.**

This quartet lacks a designated leader, each propelled by individual goals. Their alliance is forged based on the exceptional strength each possesses. However, upon learning of Infinity's rising leadership and unparalleled capabilities, they unite under a common purpose – to serve under Infinity. But before pledging allegiance, warriors of their caliber must assess what they are aligning themselves with.

As the clash intensifies, Sway and the man with the sledgehammer, strike simultaneously. Sway delivers an ego-reinforced punch to his forehead, and Ace's sledgehammer lands a rib-crushing blow. The man with the sledgehammer had revealed himself to be Ace, a notorious brute known for his criminal exploits, had met his match when Toxic humbled him in combat. Now he serves under him.

 "That blow had my main technique infused with it. Now you're marked with my Ego; I can start putting on a show," Ace declares with a sinister grin.

Ace's muscles grotesquely expand, and he swings his sledgehammer with surprising finesse, treating it as if it were a mere wooden staff.

Sway exclaims, "He swings it like it's a feather. How vulgar can one be."

Ace retorts, "I told you, you're garbage, nigga."

Ace continues his onslaught, swinging the sledgehammer. Sway, attempting to block with his left arm, reinforces it with as much ego as possible in the limited time he has to react.

He is knocked back, not only taking damage but also realizing a more pressing issue – his arm has become significantly heavier.

"What the hell?" Sway mutters.

Ace grins maliciously, "That's my technique. Once marked with my Ego, any contact I make on you with my sledgehammer will cause whatever I hit to grow 1.2x heavier. Don't let it stack, pussy."

Ace begins swinging his sledgehammer round again. Until, the sudden appearance of four auras threw him off his thought process. Winding down his built-up momentum.

As Ace and Sway halt in the face of the four mysterious auras, the four split away from each other. Each aura approaches a specific pair among Infinity's members: one heading for Ace and Sway, another for Lena and Kat, the third for Plotify and the man with the brass knuckles, and the last for Tsurugi and the man with the blade.

Yugi is the first to arrive at his destination, where the injured Lena and Kat stand.

Yugi questions, "Yo. You're one of Infinity's members, right?"

Before Kat can respond, Yugi interjects and shouts, "THOUGHT SO!"

He charges at Kat, leaving a trail of Ego leaking from his behind due to the sheer output he produced. Lena, without a moment of hesitation, catches Yugi with her "Attract." She sucker punches his chest and grabs his face, slamming him to the floor.

Meanwhile, Plotify and the mysterious man with brass knuckles, revealed to be Omixify, engage in a fierce battle. Their exchange is a display of equal prowess – dodging, blocking, and attacking with synchronized precision.

Omixify, announcing himself, says, "I LIKE YOU, PLOTIFY. YOU'RE COOL." his voice echoes through the arena..

Toxic sighs, "So dramatic, he needs to shut up. Anyways, whatever those auras were earlier don't seem to be approaching us. So we're fine. Right Infinity?"

Toxic smirks at Infinity, who is struggling to stand after being hit with a venom that has made him drowsy.

Cutting back to Omixify and Plotify, Omixify initiates his technique, Critical Hit. With a simple premise for a straightforward man – when in the zone, he can spot patches of ego on an opponent's body. Hitting these areas inflicts 50 percent more damage, while non-patchy areas receive 25 percent less damage than his initial punches. He can turn off Critical Hit whenever he chooses to do so.

Before Omixify can strike Plotify, they are both shocked by the unexpected arrival of Clixzu. 

Clixzu questions, "Uhhhh 🤓 So which one of you losers is under Infinity? I've got to analyze what we're dealing with here 🤓"

Plotify and Omixify attempt to strike Clixzu together, but they phase through him. Clixzu in tune, turns back into physical matter, kicking the two unexpectedly.

Plotify sceptically exclaims, "Huh, that shouldn't be physically possible. We phased through him like he wasn't existent!"

Clixzu retorts with a smile, "That's because I didn't exist in this dimension when you hit me." The two gaze at him in confusion as he stands unfazed.