The crowd's roars echoed through the massive arena, each cheer sending waves of energy across the battlefield. Benny and Frank stood on opposite ends of the arena, their bodies coated in sweat, breathing heavy. Their fists were clenched, and their eyes never left each other. The atmosphere was electric, anticipation hanging in the air like a thick storm cloud, ready to burst.
"Let's do this, Benny," Frank growled, cracking his knuckles, his muscles bulging with raw strength as he began to glow with the shimmer of his steel powers. The transformation was almost terrifying, as if he was becoming the embodiment of an unstoppable force. He stomped his foot into the ground, sending ripples through the arena.
Benny narrowed his eyes, focusing on his opponent. His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He had trained so hard for this moment, and now it was here. The fear he had once felt about his powers was gone, replaced by the cool resolve of someone who had seen just how far he had come. The power of metal surged through him as he activated his own abilities, pulling the invisible strings of magnetism and bending the iron beneath him to his will.
"Don't hold back, Frank," Benny called out, his voice steady despite the tension. "I'm not the same kid I was before."
Frank smirked. "We'll see about that."
The battle erupted in a flash.
Frank lunged forward first, his body rocketing toward Benny like a missile, fists aimed at his chest. Benny barely had time to react, rolling to the side as Frank's punch slammed into the ground with a thunderous crash, sending dirt and debris flying into the air. The shockwave rattled Benny's bones, but he kept his focus.
Benny twisted his arm, manipulating the metal in the ground beneath him. With a swift motion, he formed a shield of iron just as Frank's next punch collided with it. The clang of metal against metal rang out, and Frank grunted, pushing with all his might, but Benny's shield held firm. The force sent cracks spider-webbing across the surface of the shield, but it didn't break.
Frank stepped back, cracking his neck with a smirk. "Not bad, but it's not enough."
He raised his hand, and the steel around him began to shift, forming into spikes that jutted out from the ground, aimed straight at Benny. With a roar, Frank thrust his hands forward, sending a barrage of steel shards toward him.
Benny's eyes widened, but he didn't hesitate. With a flick of his wrist, he willed the metal beneath him to shift again, forming a protective wall of thick iron. The spikes collided with the wall, creating a deafening crash, but Benny's barrier held strong. He was starting to get a feel for Frank's rhythm, but the giant's raw power was overwhelming.
"Is that all you've got, Benny?" Frank taunted, his grin wide and confident.
Benny gritted his teeth. "I'm just getting started."
He snapped his fingers, and the ground beneath Frank's feet began to churn. Metal slithered up like serpents, coiling around his legs, binding him to the spot. Frank let out a roar and tried to break free, but Benny wasn't done yet. With a swift motion, Benny twisted his hands, pulling the metal toward him.
A wave of twisted steel surged toward Frank, wrapping around him and tightening like a noose. Frank's eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, he was caught off guard. Benny moved in close, aiming a punch directly at Frank's face.
But just as Benny threw the punch, Frank broke free from the metal constriction, his body glowing with raw power. With a primal yell, he launched himself forward, and the next thing Benny knew, he was sent flying backward, slamming into the ground with a sickening thud.
Pain exploded through Benny's chest, but he gritted his teeth and sprang back to his feet. His heart was pounding in his ears, but his determination burned brighter than ever. He couldn't back down now—not with the eyes of the crowd on him.
As Benny rose, Frank charged, his body covered in jagged steel armor, his fists like sledgehammers. He swung again, each blow hitting like a freight train, but Benny danced around them, agile and precise, using his metal manipulation to deflect and redirect.
Benny closed his eyes for a split second, reaching deep inside himself. The energy in the air crackled with intensity as he tapped into the core of his powers. Metal surged up from the earth beneath him, surrounding his body like an armor of his own. He wasn't going to be outmatched.
The next strike from Frank came with the speed of a storm, but Benny was ready. He twisted his body, leaping into the air, and with a shout, he slammed his fist down into the metal at his feet, causing a giant, spiked platform to rise up, directly beneath Frank. The platform shot upward, the spikes aimed for Frank's chest.
Frank's eyes widened, but he barely managed to raise his forearm to deflect the blow, the sharp edges scraping along the steel of his armor. He grunted in pain but retaliated instantly, swinging his arm in a wide arc, sending out a blast of steel shards in all directions.
Benny barely dodged in time, the shards grazing his side and sending sparks flying. He hissed in pain but didn't stop. His body moved almost instinctively, every motion calculated and precise. He was faster now, more focused.
He needed to finish this.
The battle was wearing them both down. Their movements were slower, their breathing more ragged. Benny could feel his strength waning, but he couldn't let up. Not now.
Then, as if by instinct, Benny twisted his body into a low roll, narrowly avoiding another devastating punch from Frank. His hand brushed the ground, and he felt it—the pulse of metal, the energy he needed. Benny raised his hand high and slammed it down with all his might, pulling the metal from the arena's walls and forming it into a massive, spiked fist.
With a roar, Benny hurled the colossal fist straight toward Frank's head.
Frank barely had time to react, but he raised both arms, trying to block it. The collision was deafening. The shockwave from the impact sent a gust of wind through the stands. Frank was knocked off his feet, his steel armor cracking under the force. Benny took advantage of the momentary opening and dashed forward, unleashing a flurry of punches and kicks, each one driving Frank back.
The crowd gasped, the tension in the air palpable. Benny was pushing Frank to his limits, and the giant warrior was struggling to hold his ground.
But then, as Benny's last punch sent Frank stumbling back, Benny looked up. And there they were—the other seven flag-bearers, watching from the stands. Their expressions were unreadable, but Benny could feel their gazes. They were watching him.
"Focus, Benny!" he whispered to himself. "I'm not done yet."
Frank growled, his body glowing with the faintest trace of energy as he readied himself for another attack. Benny clenched his fists, and for the first time in a long time, he knew—he wasn't afraid.