*Bell Rings*
*People cheering*
*Loud noises*
A stretch of buzzing sound lingered in the fighter's ear.
He staggered as he found balance.
Everywhere blurred.
"Finish him….. Finish him…." The crowd chanted at the top of their lungs.
At the other side of the ring was Dax the Champion.
The six-foot, lean, razor-built, figure stood merciless at the corner. He tilted his two cosmic thin blades to his back as he took a new stance.
His opponent wobbled around the center of the ring, finding balance. Blood spilled everywhere, tracing to the slashes on his torso. Almost fatal.
The problem with Macrokinesis[1] is usually their endurance. For one to increase his size, his overall mass increases, so does his vitals; his veins, organs. His vital areas are more exposed, a major concern when up against someone with incredible speed and a cosmic blade.
Goliath — Thirty-two wins. Four losses.
He stood in the presence of the wicked Dax—Six hundred total kills.
It was a fighter against a killer
The odds were stacked on his Survival-Time rather than his Survival-Chances.
A safe bet was six minutes.
John bet Eight.
Five minutes into the match, Dax snapped forward, planted his blade, stepped on the steel cage for momentum—launching himself two meters high—landing clean on the Giant's neck.
We've seen this multiple times.
The twin blades pierced through opposite ends of his neck.
Dax placed both hands on each blade, twisting them until they returned to their rightful position.
'The Gutted Cross' — C-rank skill.
Blood rained down like a fountain. The Giant collapsed.
Dax stood, hands raised.
The crowd erupted in screams.
Six minutes on the dot.
Scam.
John cheered anyway.
...
Hansburg City has no police system, no government, no bureau. The Underworld runs everything.
While the city thrives on trade and production, its GDP depends majorly on illegal activities. Slave Trade, Magical Beast Trafficking, Drugs production, Demonic cults, theft and laundering. THE BLOOD ARENA is the biggest underground entertainment pit, one of the only few wrestling organisations that legally sanction 'Superhuman Combat'.
40XPs for Tickets,
Insanity.
…..
[Ladies and gentlemen… the moment you've been waiting for! The final battle, the main event of the BLOOD ARENA!!!!]
[Introducing, In the red corner: with a total of One Thousand Three Hundred Total Kills! The Champion of Nona. The Winner of the 12th Blood Tournament. KASTAN THE BRUTAL!!!]
*Loud Cheer*
A tall figure approached the ring. Muscular, with faint red smoke emitting from his skin. On paper he was B-Rank. But, the aura around him said otherwise.
He slowly made his way into the cage.
Barefooted…. Every foot trail left a burnt scar on the concrete ground.
[And in the blue corner: with Three Thousand Kills. He, the devil's own nightmare. He, the sin of god. He, the abomination. He, the walking terror. We summon. He, CANNIBAL!!!!]
*Silence*
The crowd froze in fear.
Cannibal didn't walk, He rose.
He tore through the concrete ground. He smashed his way into the ring. His skin, clustered with magic circles and engravings. Multiple high-ranking Mages followed him at a distance. Each with their arms stretched, casting a barrier on him. They waited for the cosmic-steel cage to shut and lock, before releasing the seals.
The scenery takes us back to Oldtown, where the cannibal made his arena appearance—the fatal match against Mary Yhen, a C-rank gravity manipulator.
All attacks were useless.
Cannibal ended the match in a single grab.
Grab!
He held her by the throat, dragging her to the air. We all expected a power slam. We were wrong.
In a moment, his mouth stretched wide, reaching his two ears.
*Gulp*
Sixty-six seconds.
She disappeared without a trace.
He turned to the crowd. The crowd still lost in complete shock, He flew into the stands and began to devour the spectators.
Presently, Arena Fight is completely banned in Oldtown and neighbouring cities.
...
Kastan and Cannibal stood at the centre of the ring.
From afar, these two alpha men of slightly the same height seemed equals. But, to John sitting in the fourth row, it was a bet against Xastan's survival.
A safe bet was Seven minutes. (Xastan was B-rank after all.) John bet Twelve minutes.
...
[1st Minute] Bell Rings!
Kastan lunged forward, red smoke trailing behind him. His fists moved faster than the eye could follow, each punch cracking the air, leaving fiery scorch marks where they passed. Concrete shattered beneath his blows. Cannibal raised his arms, covering his face, unshaken. Sparks flew as Kastan's fist struck—his fists fortified with aura —but Cannibal's body absorbed the impact like stone.
The entire minute was filled with continuous punches. Each one thrown from a different angle. Aura dispersed into the surrounding air, even the steel cage closest to them began to heat.
[2nd Minute]
The Second minute counted slowly. Just like Kastan's punches. Each one, getting slower than the previous.
Cannibal staggered back, his claws emerged from his fingertips scraping the cage floor. The crowd gasped as Kastan spun, his leg slicing the air, forcing Cannibal into a defensive stance. A kick to the middle of his chest. Dust and tiny shards of concrete floated around them. Cannibal held on to Kastans foot.
Kastan smirked.
Using the strength from Cannibal's grip, he lifted the other leg off the ground. Aura concentrated around his keel, as his left leg floated midair, ready to strike.
A Smack!!!! Hard on Cannibals Face, landing him hard on his back, denting the steel cage behind.
[3rd Minute]
Tick..tock…tick..
Silence filled the arena.
Cannibal's eyes snapped open, pure white, radiating malevolent intent.
He erupted forward in a flash—his fist hammered into Kastan's ribs. A sickening crack echoed, making the crowd flinch. Kastan twisted mid-air, barely avoiding a lethal swipe, leaving a trail of scorched concrete in Cannibal's wake.
Cannibal grinned, bloodlust ignited.
[4th Minute]
Crowd cheering!!
John began chewing on his fingers.
Cannibal unleashed a storm of attacks, claws tearing through the cage, fists smashing through Kastan's bones. Slam after Slam. Each strike aimed to kill.
Head, Chest, Rib, Arm, Head, Chest…Again and again. Kastan dodged, countered, and spun, but Cannibal's monstrous speed made every second lethal. Blood spattered the arena floor as minor cuts and scratches formed, painting the arena floor red.
In Sixty seconds, Kastan had lost eight teeth, a swollen eye and the entire left ribcage dented inward.
[5th Minute]
The bell rang, alarming the Fifth minute.
Kastan lay on the cold floor, seeking warmth in his own blood.
Cannibal walked menacingly from the corner, circling around Xastan's broken body.
He looked up at the VIP lounge, a hand gesture from the mysterious individuals sitting in luxury behind glass wall. A signal to 'end the match'.
A predator and his meal.
Cannibal's mouth began to widen across his face. His teeth— all razor sharp, and another two set of teeth layered at the back of his throat. He was ready to Devour.
Kastan's eyes immediately glowed crimson. Steam hissed from his veins as the "Blood Steam" skill coursed through his body. He rose from the floor, strength surged, agility skyrocketed. He became a blur, fists and feet striking at impossible angles. Cannibal stumbled slightly, caught off guard by the sudden acceleration. Sparks of impact illuminated the cage like fireworks.
[6th Minute]
Kastan and Cannibal collided mid-air, the sound of cracking bones and shattering concrete echoing like thunder. Cannibal's teeth raked across Kastan's shoulder, drawing crimson lines. Kastan spun, delivering bone-crushing kicks and punches. Blood sprayed, the floor slick and gleaming under arena lights. Both fighters moved like superhuman predators—every motion a calculated killing blow. The air itself seemed to warp with the intensity of their power.
A quick swerve against Cannibal's claws. Kastan rose for a counterattack, centering all his aura around his fist. His entire arm glowed red.
Kastan's fist collided with Cannibal's face—bone broke, a crack like a cannon blast. Impact reverberated from the other side of Cannibal's skull. Boom.
Smoke cleared. Cannibal's head tilted unnaturally; his neck was fractured, but his eyes—completely white.
"What the hell—"
The entire crowd froze.
Cannibal took an incredible amount of damage. His head was literally upside down.
The silence stretched over a minute or two.
John had completely lost count of the time.
But, definitely it was Payback time.
Cannibal pupils dilated. Slowly transitioning the entire eye completely black. He had tasted blood.
Cannibal roared!
A sound that shook the very cage. Lights lingered, glass shattered.
He descended on Kastan like a beast, tearing, breaking, devouring. Bones snapped under his grip; screams echoed, reverberating through the arena.
He held Kastan's both shoulders, twisting the arms sideways, completely decapitating them from their position.
"Fuck No!" Life flashed before Kastan's eyes.
He immediately pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth. Something popped out. Compound X.
Without hesitation, he quickly swallowed the entire bottle.
An immediate Surge.
First came a sweeping energy wave across the entire arena, pushing Cannibal away.
His eyes flared demonic red, veins glowed like lava, muscles swelling, Bat-like wings bursting from his back. Arena walls buckled. The ceiling cracked. Another wave of energy flattened the stands. Kastan had transformed into a complete Demonic Beast.
[Oh…. I smell Compound X!!!] The Commentator continued, [Everything is Legal in Hansburg!!!]
The crowd burst with hysteria. A wail of madness.
This was the first time John and Crow had seen the mutilating effect of Compound X. The smell of the drug reeked like rotten fruit.
The Entire Cage Collapsed.
Dust swept the entire hall.
Two monsters clashed. Cannibal lunged, jaws snapping, claws rending the air. The Demonic-Kastan met him head-on, claws and fire mixing in a storm of destruction. Their roars collided, shaking the entire hall. Concrete columns shattered, waves brought down beams, and the crowd could only watch in horror and awe.
Each strike threatened annihilation. Every bite, a potential death sentence. They fought like titans. They tore through one another's flesh. Slamming themselves on the floor, walls, ceiling. Breaking concrete and steel with each others body.
Cannibal roared as he finally overpowered Demonic-Kastan, piece by piece. Bones broke. Flesh was shredded. Kastan's final scream was drowned by Cannibal's victorious roar. The arena collapsed in a wave of dust, concrete, and smoke. Blood dripped from the ceiling, fountained over the arena, as Cannibal stood on the scattered remains of supposed-Kastan.
Spectators screamed!!!
The twelve mages descended from nowhere, activating their magic circles, sealing Cannibal in a glowing barrier. They immediately enchanted a teleportation spell.
The Commentator crackled from the few remaining speakers, [Scrrr…Ladies and gentlemen… after a battle of Thirteen minutes, twenty-two seconds; the winner is CANNNNNIBAL]
John erupted in complete ecstasy, his voice screaming louder than everyone.
Crow clung on his shoulders. "John, Johnny….. How much did we win?"
"10,000XPs!!! "
Crow looked down at the entire podium shattered, the arena cage deformed completely into molten steel, concrete beams displaced around the entire hall, with casualties swarming out. Blood dyed the entire hall. Complete chaos.
"Such odds."
[1] Macrokinesis - The Superpower to increase one's strength and damage-power by increasing his Size.