Author Note: Sorry for not posting for a while. A lot of my exams and internship interviews have been piling up. I needed to prepare for all of those things. I should be back to normal Chapter Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
"Attention everyone, the first round of the tournament has concluded."
The announcer's voice carried across the arena.
"We will now confirm the results of the opening matches. The winner of the first match… Satoru Gojo."
Futago Kamo was laid out flat in the middle of the arena, barely conscious.
There was some applause, mostly expected.
Gojo stood off to the side, hands in his pockets.
"…That was weird," he said.
Suguru glanced at him. "What?"
"That kid, he didn't even use his cursed technique." Gojo looked toward the Kamo side. "Not just that, didn't Mei Mei say he had a domain."
Suguru shrugged. "Yeah she did, maybe there are conditions for him to use his cursed technique"
"Maybe," Gojo replied. "... Or he could have been holding back, a loser's bracket means their is another chance to fight"
___
"..."
I opened my eyes and pushed myself up.
My body felt heavy, but nothing serious.
'Blue infused punches…'
I rolled my shoulder once.
'Yeah, those hurt.'
I stood up fully and started walking back.
'Without Flowing Red Scale, I'm not keeping up with him in hand-to-hand.'
That much was obvious.
*You deserve that for trying to aura farm on Satoru Gojo like that. 'I'll show you who the real Strongest is' just to lose right after is crazy* Tomogui's voice echoed in my head, 'Damn bastard, if he fought Gojo he would be in the same scenario regardless'
__
Daizen was already waiting when I got back.
"Futago," he said. "Why didn't you use your domain expansion?"
A few others were watching.
"Or Flowing Red Scale."
I shrugged.
"No reason to."
Daizen frowned slightly. "Explain."
"If I use my domain this early, I'm just giving Satoru Gojo information about how it works," I said. "He doesn't know the sure-hit or the rules of Rubik's Space Dominion. I'd rather keep it that way."
I paused briefly.
"I'll go through the loser's bracket and fight him again later."
Daizen didn't interrupt.
"Same thing with Flowing Red Scale," I added. "If I show everything now, I lose any chance to change the pace next time."
"And you think you can get through his technique?" Daizen asked.
"That's another thing I confirmed," I said. "Satoru Gojo's passive infinity is not always active. He needs to actively turn it on, meaning if I can sneak attack him or catch him by surprise I can get past it"
That was enough for now.
Daizen nodded once. "Fine."
___
"Looks like the second match is ending!"
The announcer pulled attention back to the arena.
Tetsuo Zenin was already on the back foot.
Hibiki stepped in and landed a clean hit, then followed it up immediately. Tetsuo tried to recover, but it didn't last long.
"And that's it! Hibiki Kamo advances!"
Some applause followed.
I watched for a second, then looked away.
__
Time passed.
The rest of the first round wrapped up without much delay.
Matches continued, winners were decided, and the bracket started to take shape.
Eventually the first part of the main tournament was finished, and they had gotten their quarter finalists.
[Author Note: Sorry if you guys wanted to see all the fights, but I am not interested in writing 15 fights between fodder characters. Outside of Gojo/Naoya/Kinzoku I don't care about the others.]
"After the conclusion of the third round of fights, we will now announce the quarter finalists!"
A screen appeared, listing names.
Satoru Gojo
Naoya Zenin
Tomogui Kamo
Haruto Zenin
Unlike me Tomogui was blessed to have fodder opponents. So he managed to make it to the quarter finals
'Actually I wouldn't consider all of his opponents to be fodder, there was one guy who was special.'
It was the last fight Tomogui needed to enter the quarter finals. He has grade 1 cursed energy reserves, and his cursed technique …
As I thought that my eyes turned to the Gojo camp, where I gazed at someone.
A name I hadn't paid much attention to earlier.
Kinzoku Gojo.
'Another Gojo.'
I glanced over.
He didn't stand out at first glance. White hair like the rest, but no Six Eyes. His posture was strict, despite being only 16 he felt like one of those elders.
'His cursed technique, metal manipulation is quite a special one. In the entire Gojo clan he is easily second, and looking at his attitude he would probably be a decent clan head. Too bad he was born during a 6eyes+Limitless era. Peak grade 1 potential is nothing compared to that'
In the loser's bracket me and him are the only ones who stand a chance.
__
"We will now proceed with the next phase of the tournament!"
The announcer continued without much pause.
"Participants who have lost in the main tournament will now enter the loser's bracket. From here, you will fight for a chance to return to the main tournament!"
A few people shifted as their names started getting called.
"Eliminated participants, prepare for your matches!"
I exhaled once and stepped forward when I heard my name.
No point overthinking it.
One loss didn't change anything.
I walked toward the arena again, rolling my shoulders once as I moved.
'Let's just get through this quickly.'
I stepped onto the field.
"Futago Kamo will now enter the arena for his first loser's bracket match!"
"Futago Kamo huh, he lost his first match, but it wasn't because he was weak. He just matched up against Satoru Gojo. Not just that he was the only one to actually stay conscious after the first few hits." The crowd started to glaze me, honestly it felt pretty good, especially after being beaten by Satoru Gojo.
I didn't let that satisfaction show though, as I approached the fighting grounds.
I moved into position and watched as my opponent got ready to fight.