KIRO:"Oops. I finished him too quick. Will that be a problem?"
ANNOUNCER (loud voice on mic):"No problem at all. We ain't that cheap. We want fast fights. We get them all the time."
KIRO:"That's close one. Wait fast ones all the time?"
He pauses.
"So... not like Midas."
ANNOUNCER:"Oh, you came from that arena? You should be real fun. Bring out the Beast."
The Beast steps forward.
Eight feet tall. Half his body covered in crocodile scales. Bald head. Thick beard. Eyes like a predator who's never been hunted.
ANNOUNCER:"Put your hands together! It's the great Beast here to wreck a rookie!"
KIRO:"Who might you be? I thought one cube person, but... you don't count."
BEAST:"Who says I'm a cube user?"
He cracks his knuckles.
"I'm a beastfolk."
Kiro looks confused.
KIRO:"Wait... beastfolk?"
The Beast dashes forward. Punches.
Kiro barely dodges the wind scrapes his cheek.
Kiro goes for a punch
Right hook to the gut.
Sends him backward.
Kiro coughs blood.
Another left hook.
Kiro parries.
One-inch punch.
Hammer punch over the head.
Kick.
Sends the Beast back.
The Beast spits blood.
BEAST:"Nice. Almost damaged me."
He grins. Blood on his teeth.
"We beastfolk are stronger and more durable than humans."
KIRO:"You don't say?"
He rolls his shoulder. Cracks his neck.
"Then I don't need to hold back."
Kiro charges up.
Yellow lightning crackles around his fist. Can't get the other hand charged yet not fully healed but one is enough.
He lands a punch to the Beast's gut.
The Beast feels that one.
The Beast counters. Punch to the face.
Kiro almost unfazed. His eyes don't blink. His feet don't move.
He switches the lightning to his other hand.
Uppercut.
Sends the Beast upward.
Kiro grabs his foot. Throws him.
The Beast catches himself in a roll. Springs back up. Grins.
Boost forward.
Fake punch.
Kick to the gut.
Punch to the face.
Sends Kiro backward.
Kiro coughs blood.
KIRO:"Think you broke a rib."
He presses his side. Finds the crack.
Cracks it back in place.
His cube flickers. The bone knits.
KIRO:"All healed up."
BEAST:"Seems like my hybrid form isn't enough."
He steps back. Closes his eyes.
"Full beast mode."
His whole body transforms.
Scales cover everything. Snout pushes forward. Teeth lengthen. Eyes go gold.
Crocodile.
But still human-shaped.
BEAST:"This is called full beast mode. But just in name. It's human-like... but one you might mistake for the real thing."
His voice is deeper now. Rougher.
"True beast. True croc."
He dashes.
Much faster.
Kiro blocks
Gets sent backward.
His arms are bruised. Almost broken.
Then instant heal.
The cube mends the cracks before he hits the ground.
KIRO:"Okay..."
He lands. Shakes out his arms.
"Now we're talking."
Kiro dashes forward. Hand crackling with thunder. Straight punch.
Beast blocks.
Gets sent flying backward.
He catches himself again. Recovers. Bounces forward for another punch.
They punch each other in the face at the same time.
Lightning surges through the Beast's head.
He falls.
Kiro remains standing.
ANNOUNCER: "Kiro wins!"
Kiro cracks his neck.
KIRO: "I'm good to go. More rounds."
ANNOUNCER: "He wants more, ladies and gentlemen!"
The crowd roars.
"Okay! Next up, a rookie that's also on fire!"
Pause for effect.
"The samurai! Strange look like a woman, but is a man!"
The same samurai from Grand Electrum.
ANNOUNCER: "Put your hands together! He's from Grand Electrum... and he's top 20!"
The samurai takes out his blade.
SAMURAI: "It's an honor to fight you, warrior. Or should I say... Kiro the Super."
KIRO: "You know me?"
He cracks a grin.
"Oh, okay. This'll be fun."
FIGHT
Kiro dashes.
Dodges each slice.
Each dodge is closer than the last.
He kicks the samurai to the ground makes him lose balance
Then dashes for a gut punch.
Stops mid-way.
Saw something he shouldn't have.
KIRO: "Wait... it's true?"
A strike to the back of his neck.
Kiro doesn't fall.
He turns.
KIRO: "Train more, samurai."
ANNOUNCER: "He won again! Okay, this was a giveaway. He's a rookie, but now wait, this next one is a surprise guest. Hope he wins. Damn government scum. Army man."
He pauses.
"The Hound."
The crowd boos. A few ladies cheer.
Just as the announcer is about to say "fight" or introduce him...
The Hound appears.
Human form. Sleek brown hair pulled back. He dashes at Kiro and grabs his hands.
KIRO: "Wait who are you?"
HOUND: "You don't recall? I hunted you all the way back in Grand Electrum."
Gut punch.
Uppercut.
Sends Kiro into a daze.
Kiro snaps out of it.
Lightning punch to the gut.
The Hound grunts.
Then transforms.
Bigger. Bulkier. Bullmastiff form.
HOUND: "Now you've done it, kid. Won't take you in yet. But watch your back."
They stand at a standstill. Hound holds Kiro's hands.
Then the Hound punches.
Kiro goes flying.
Thrown out of the ring.
ANNOUNCER: "Wow! That was fast. By the rules... that's a ring out!"