MIDAS: (His voice regaining its slimy confidence) "Now... for the main event you didn't expect! The top two fighters in this arena! They are on a different level, not even close to the rest! This... this will be a longer fight."
The first gate groaned open. A figure stepped out, shrouded in menace. He wore a full-body hazardous materials suit and a gleaming gas mask, his breath a faint hiss through the filter.
MIDAS: "First, the number two! A man who turns the very air into a weapon... Dwayne, the Atmos-Fear!"
Before the crowd could process the new threat, the second gate opened.
MIDAS: "And now! The top-ranked fighter, the gatekeeper to King Croc himself! Stop yawning and show them, you lazy bum! I give you... Petros!"
A man strode out, stretching with an infuriating lack of urgency. He wore a form-fitting, advanced combat suit, sleek and technological. Most striking were the glowing veins of crimson liquid that pulsed through the suit's channels, circulating like artificial blood, hinting at a terrifying, internal power source.
They stood on opposite sides of the pit, their auras of chemical menace and dormant technological power creating a palpable pressure. They didn't even look at each other. Both sets of eyes were locked solely on Kiro.
Petros took a single step forward. The wind kicked up around him, and his footprint sank deep into the sand as if he weighed a ton. He lifted an arm, the crimson liquid in his suit pulsing violently towards his fist.
PETROS: "You must be the rising star."
His voice was a low hum. "Stage One."
His suit flared with a deep, crimson red light. In the next instant, he was a red blur, dashing across the pit.
Kiro saw it coming and decided to test his strength, bracing for a body blow.
BOOM.
The impact was colossal. Kiro's boots skidded several feet back through the sand, his arms stinging from the force. Okay, he hits harder than anyone else.
While Kiro was off-balance, Dwayne, the Atmos-Fear, moved. He was slow, methodical, a predator herding its prey. He lifted a hand, and a clinging, green gas hissed out, spreading into a cloud between them. He waited for it to fully obscure his form, then jet boosters on his boots flared, launching him through his own toxic mist directly at Kiro's location.
Kiro saw the green cloud and decided to risk a touch, but Dwayne was already on him, going for a throat grip. Kiro batted the hand away with a kick, but his leg brushed against Dwayne's suit.
HSSSS.
A searing pain shot up his leg. The green substance wasn't just gas; it was a contact acid, already burning through his pants and eating into his skin.
Kiro leaped back, gritting his teeth. "Ouch! Acid? I hate the silent types. They're always thinking..."
Kiro took a solid fighting stance, but the battlefield was shifting. Dwayne increased the output, and the air grew thick with a corrosive, green haze that ate at Kiro's lungs and clothes.
Seizing the distraction, Petros became a red comet, dashing in with a one-two punch. Kiro parried both, the impacts ringing against his forearms, and instantly countered with a thunderous punch to Petros's chest that sent the ranked #1 fighter skidding backward.
But the 2v1 was relentless. From the toxic mist, Dwayne threw a surprise punch at Kiro's head. Kiro ducked under it, stomped the ground hard enough to cause a minor tremor, and used the momentum to drive an uppercut into Dwayne's gut.
The force sent Dwayne flying, his jet packs flaring to stop his momentum mid-air. Hovering, he retaliated, hurling two grenades.
They landed at Kiro's feet. One erupted in a cloud of liquid nitrogen, instantly freezing the ground. The other released a volatile fire gas that ignited the very air in a searing blast.
Trapped between a flash-freeze and a firestorm, Kiro's mind worked at light speed. He spun, sacrificing his left arm and leg to the freezing mist, letting the frost crawl over his limb. Using the frozen leg as a pivot, he launched a devastating kick, slamming the half-frozen Dwayne directly into the heart of the overlapping fire and ice.
The clash of extreme temperatures created a concussive blast. Dwayne cried out, his systems overloading as he fell to the ground, stunned and smoking.
Kiro lunged forward for the knockout blow.
PETROS: "Level 2. Super."
The voice was guttural, distorted. Petros had bulked up, his muscles straining against the suit, the red liquid inside glowing like magma. He crossed the arena in a single, impossible step and drove a fist into Kiro's side.
The world vanished into a blur of pain and momentum. Kiro was launched across the pit like a cannonball, smashing through the reinforced arena wall with a deafening BOOM, vanishing into the cloud of dust and rubble.
PETROS: (His voice a distorted growl) "Good job with Dwayne. He's not much in a fight, but useful. I am stronger now... strong enough to even damage King Croc."
He tensed to dash.
But Kiro was done. The time for testing was over.
"Let's finish this."
Kiro met his charge not with a brawl, but with a single, focused motion. He put his entire body, his will, and the full, awakened power of the Evolution Cube into one super serious punch.
The impact wasn't loud; it was a concussive THUMP that sucked the air from the arena. Petros's eyes went wide an instant before he was launched across the pit like a discarded toy, smashing into the far wall with a final, definitive CRUNCH. The red light in his suit flickered and died.
A stunned silence held for a breath.
Then, Midas's voice, strained and utterly defeated, crackled over the speakers. "...Kiro... wins. We're... we're back, ladies and gentlemen?"
In the center of the pit, Kiro stood, letting out a heavy huff. His knuckles were smeared with blood that wasn't his.
KIRO: (To himself, wiping his mouth) "This guy was tougher."
Kiro exited the arena, the lobby's cold, fresh air a welcome relief. A job well done.
He found Sosiego and Neo waiting for him, looking pleased with themselves.
SOSIEGO: "See you made it. We just finished our... negotiation with Midas. Let's just say it went very well."
[FLASHBACK - MIDAS'S OFFICE]
The office was a gaudy cave of gold bars, a gold desk, and a throne-like gold chair where Midas sat.
SOSIEGO: "I need a fight. A 2v1."
MIDAS: (Leaning forward, intrigued) "That's the spirit! A real show! If you win, I'll pay 10k."
SOSIEGO: "Nice. We have an understanding."
MIDAS: "Just... don't end it quick. Give me at least a minute of action."
SOSIEGO: (An evil grin hidden under his mask) "Sure."
[PRESENT DAY]
SOSIEGO: "...So, he understands the terms."
KIRO: "Why do you still wear that mask?"
NEO: "He hides his true face. He's still a criminal, you know. It's not for the cameras." Neo paused, then added dryly, "I repeat: not for the cameras."
Kiro just nodded, not quite catching the full implication.
KIRO: "Anyway, I took out the other fighters. Don't worry, they're alive."
[FLASHBACK - A FEW MINUTES AGO]
Neo moved like a shadow through the prep area. Fwip. Fwip. Fwip. Three sleeping darts found their marks a tall bulky brawler, a short technician, and a rich man playing fighter for thrills. They slumped over, unconscious.
NEO: (To himself) "Good times."
[PRESENT DAY]
NEO: "So, how was the main event?"
KIRO: "It's tomorrow. The King Croc fight. That last one was tougher, so the crowd finally got their show."
SOSIEGO: A slow, dark chuckle escaped him. "What a shame. But... the show must go on."
MIDAS: (Trying to sound enthusiastic) "And now, a good fight! In this corner, the rookie 'Mask'! And his opponents... the twins! Dumb and Too-Dumb for this world, but very, very strong!"
The twins entered. One was a hulking brute, the other slimmer but radiating danger.
Sosiego took a loose fighting stance. The big twin dashed with surprising speed, but Sosiego was a phantom. He met the charge with a single, devastating karate kick to the ribs. The sound of cracking bone echoed as the twin was launched into the arena wall, slumping to the ground unconscious.
The slim twin stomped, creating a minor earthshake. Sosiego didn't even flinch. He flowed forward, his hand still in his pocket, and delivered a brutal uppercut with his other hand that lifted the twin off his feet.
SOSIEGO: (Walking away as the body hit the sand) "Easy money."
[SCENE: KIRO AND THE GLYPH]
As Sosiego left, Kiro was approached by The Glyph.
THE GLYPH: "You got the message."
KIRO: "I did. Why the help?"
THE GLYPH: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. An alliance, under one condition: I want this arena's management system. Consider it done. I just robbed Midas, hacked him while he was distracted watching you. Thanks for the cover."
KIRO: (A tired smirk) "No problem."
With a nod, she vanished into the shadows.
SOSIEGO: (Walking up to Kiro) "New ally?"
KIRO: (Letting out a long, weary breath) "Maybe. I'm... tired. I'm going home."
Kiro returned home as the sun set, the night air fresh on his skin. He opened his door to find Veyra already inside, waiting for him.
KIRO: "Again? How are you getting into my apartment? It's getting scary."
VEYRA: (With a playful smile) "Poor, poor Kiro. I know a little hacking. I got the code the first time, and I've just kept it."
KIRO: "So, breaking, entering, and hacking? That has to be illegal."
VEYRA: "Anyway. Raiji is doing okay. He's healing in that chamber. It's a good thing your 'Green' friend sent help they said the favor is repaid. And Doc Brown gave Raiji some cybernetic ribs and a stamina chip. Nothing too major, you know how he hates help."
KIRO: (Letting out a relieved sigh) "That's a good thing. We'll celebrate when he's back on his feet. And Veyra... thanks. For everything."
The night ended on a quiet note of solidarity. The next day arrived, gloomy and overcast. The arena felt charged with a different kind of energy.
Kiro walked out through the gate into the pit, the cloud-covered sky casting a dull light over the scene.
MIDAS: (His voice a venomous snarl, all pretense of showmanship gone) "Ladies and gentlemen... it's time to introduce these two beasts! In this corner... Kiro the 'Super'!"
He practically spat the name.
MIDAS: "And in the other... the one, the only... KING CROC! Now listen up, Croc! You kill that broke boy! He's cost me a fortune, him and those other two! Make it hurt!"
crowed was halve empty not like normal
then both stare each other down king croc takes off his hood
KIRO: (Eyes locked on his opponent) "So, I didn't see you that time. But thinking back... you were there. At Veyra's shop. Raiji caught it. I must have been too mad at her to notice. But a guy like you, in the slums... it's strange."
KING CROC: (Voice a low, dangerous growl) "None of your business, boy. You'll be finished fast. Now... come at me."
KIRO: (Standing his ground, a cold fire in his eyes) "No. You come at me."
The two titans stared each other down, the air crackling with unspent violence. Neither made a move.
MIDAS: (Screaming from his booth) "King Croc, move already!"
As if the command broke a spell, King Croc moved. He became a blur, crossing the pit in an instant. A colossal fist connected with Kiro's chest, launching him through the air to smash through the reinforced arena wall.
Dust and debris billowed. A second later, Kiro shot out of the cloud at equal, blinding speed. He delivered a thunderous punch that sent King Croc flying backward, crashing through the opposite wall with a symmetrical, deafening BOOM.
Kiro stood panting, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip. His gaze never wavered from the hole he'd just created.
KIRO: "That... was for making your sister cry."