DAY OF ROUND 2
The underground arena was packed again. Five hundred spectators. Betting windows doing heavy business. Bayangan's odds had improved to eight-to-one after round one victory. Still underdog but respectable.
Weapon Master was four-to-one. Favorite in this matchup. Real name Budi Santoso, no relation to the saboteur or Network member Budi. Level 52 A-rank, famous in underground circuits for mastery of seven different weapons. Record: thirty-one wins, two losses, both against S-ranks. Versatile. Adaptable. Dangerous.
Rama arrived early, fully masked, checking in as Bayangan. The fighter ready room buzzed with energy. Sixteen fighters remained after round one. Eight matches tonight. Eight winners advancing to semi-finals.
Hendra was there, preparing for his own match against an A-rank from Singapore. Looking confident. Arrogant. Still unaware.
Rama avoided him. Focused on his own preparation.
