Thunderous applause!
As the bright light faded the teenage boy saw levitating stands packed with people...and creatures?
"What is happening?" he frowned
"WELCOME EVERYONE!! MEET THE NEWEST BATCH TO THE TOURNAMENT!!"
The voice echoed in all directions and the crowd yelled louder. He looked around and saw different types of people, hybrids and even monsters.
"HELLO NEW ARRIVALS! WE RANDOMLY SELECTED SEVERAL PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS DIMENSIONS AND PLANETS INCLUDING NEW AREAS!!"
Thousands of screens appeared in the sky showing different scenes and battles.
"THIS IS A BATTLE ROYALE TO THE TOP AND NO WAY OUT!! DON'T WORRY THERE ARE TONS OF TREASURES THAT AWAIT.....BUT YOU'RE TOO MANY."
Some people broke down crying while another pair of reaction were: confusion and tension. The teenage boy was the former but he pieced together the information around him. It seems that he was in a dangerous situation.
He couldn't stop the corner of his lip rising into a smile.
"YOU HAVE FORTY FIVE SECONDS TO PICK A PAIR AND WE'LL BEGIN BATTLING FOR YOUR SPOT INTO THE ETERNAL REALMS!! FIGHTS NEVER-ENDING, LEGENDS IN THE MAKING WITH LIFE AND DEATH AT EVERY CORNER!!"
Many people scrambled to form teams, which were could be created with verbal agreement. The loud voice was still talking but the clock was ticking while it continued its introduction. The teen noticed everyone avoiding a tall, large and muscular man with chains bounding his hands.
He walked toward the person and looked up at him.
" Hello, I'm Daxton. Please call me Dax." he introduced as he grabbed his hand "We're now a team!"
A light enveloped their hands and the number three was displayed on their palms. The large man was flustered and stared at Dax for a moment. Dax understanding the unsaid question smiled slyly.
"You didn't say anything depending on what I say your silence can be interpreted as agreement." Dax explained
The man nodded in understanding, "That's one way to put it...I guess. Nice to meet you I'm Atlas."
When the time ran out those without a teammate screamed in agony while they slowly faded. The voice told them the rules:
The will be a 2-on-2 battles in the order of the numbers that were on their palms.
Victory will only be given when one side is completely annihilated
Each team can only enter with two weapon per person
Rewards will be given depending on performances
Dax found bolt cutters in the armory to free Atlas from his restraints. They got their equipment and went to the viewing area to watch the first battle.
"Can you fight?" Atlas asked
Dax smiled, "I can adapt...anyway, why were you chained?"
"Are we close enough for small talk?" Atlas frowned
Dax nodded, "So you don't want to talk about it...Hm? Okay, tell me when you're ready!"
Atlas looked at the smirking teenager with confusion. Pitch black hair and heterochromia eyes with his left eye being soft golden hue and right eye was dark bloody red.
"We're next!" Dax grinned with sparkling eyes.
The duo was teleported into the arena and the audience were still hyped from watching the previous battles.
Their enemy were tiger looking humans which the commentator introduced them as tiger beastkin. The tiger man and tiger woman were relaxed with undermining arrogant gazes shifted at them.
"I have a plan." Dax whispered playfully into his ears
Atlas wanted to say something but the soft words said into his ear was a concrete idea which was doable. Dax's eyes stared deeply at him.
Atlas frowned, "Are you insane?"
"It will be fun, right?" Dax snickered "So now or never."
Atlas looked into his mismatched eyes and nodded as though affected by his confidence.
"BEGIN!!"
Before Atlas could say anything the teenager flung himself forward like a spring toward the tiger woman. Dax swung his scythe, a wide grin when it clashed with the woman's claws.
She was shocked by the strength. The tiger woman was being pushed back and Dax continued his formless assaults.
"Come On!" Dax laughed "I just want to get to know you better!"
Dax's scythe was ruthless slicing into anything that was caught in its path. He didn't shy away from dealing a dangerous injury even if that meant he would be hurt in the process. Those eyes only stared at its prey and his weapon carried his will.
She slashed his right shoulder and received a deep slash on left thigh. The tiger woman slipped out of Dax's range before the blade sliced her wrist.
"You're like an eel, so slippery." Dax smiled but annoyance was visible in his eyes
The male tiger dashed forward but Atlas intercepted it with gauntlet covered fists. He targeted his vital areas and blind spots. His body swiftly dodged attacks and delivered equally threatening counters with ironclad discipline to bring his enemy down effectively.
Atlas slammed his shoulder into the male tiger to create distance from Dax's fight. The beastkin's claws sunk into his torso and Atlas dropped a blow on his jaw. Dax pushed back before the enemy could attack his vitals.
Sadly the tiger beastmen had more stamina and pushing them back. When they showed sighs of fatigue, the beastkin felt their confidence swell and delivered more blows.
Atlas and Dax were back to back and forced on the defense. The beastkins' claws slipped through their defense and more wounds appeared. Some of the audience yawned as they watched in boredom at the obvious outcome and there was no possible outcome where a normal human can win physically against beastmen.
Suddenly, Dax pushed his body backward and Atlas ducked under the incoming teenager.
BANG
What happened?! The crowd was in shock stood up from their seats for a better view. The collapsed bodies of the tiger beastkin laid in a pool of ruby liquid and the audience was speechless with the unbelievable sight. The female had a hole in her chest whereas her partner had an end of a double sided sword was sticking out of his nape.
A screen appeared in the sky replaying the scene with all angles for everyone. When Dax pushed backward, the teenager took out a tube attached to Atlas' forearm and it extended both side to become the weapon that ended the male beastkin. At the same time Atlas took out a shotgun that was strapped to Dax's leg.
"How?" a man exclaimed
The crowds erupted with cheers and screams of excitement. Dax and Atlas were panting on the ground.
"So...what now?" Atlas coughed
Dax's eyes sparkled darkly, blood dripping down his body with the crowd cherring behind them.
He smiled, "Who knows...but we're a team!"