Chapter 422 - The Finals (1)

By the time the judges finished their bickering, the empty arena had suddenly become far fuller. 

Every seat now had a bottom attached to it and those who could not find anywhere to sit simply stood where they could find the chance with seemingly no complaints. 

The amount of excitement generated in one room was immense—  had the sweat been swept from their palms, it may have even satiated an entire basin of water. 

"Elizabeth! And… Kai?" Hikari called out, waving at the two figures slowly approaching in the distance. 

"Hello!" Rupert waved and took a seat where his allies had been saving for him. 

"Nice to see you finally doing better…" Artorias remarked. 

"There was nothing to worry about! I shall take on any and all responsibility for my failure! But that's not my main concern right now… By the way, where's Regrit? He late or something?"

"No, he's not with us." Artorias sighed. "Not shocking following his latest showing… Still, I do believe he's still somewhere out there, spectating from the crowds."

"I see…" Rupert nodded. "Well, I don't know much about what happened last other than he lost pretty badly."

As Rupert talked, Hikari clenched her hands tightly and looked away, yet no one seemed to notice.

"That he did…" Artorias shook his head. "Hey, Kai… You're the most powerful one out of all of us here… I've been wondering… Who do you think will win? Be honest with me here…"

"..."

Around them, the volume of the cheering crowds swiftly lessened, yet that was merely an illusion in their minds. The almost casual sounding Rupert of before suddenly took a far more sombre tone, and the facade of calmness he once wore began to slowly crumble.

"To be completely honest… I think his chances are very slim. Adam Walker is far stronger than I thought…"

"..."

Although Artorias asked for an honest response, he did not actually expect to receive anything of the sort.

"However!" He abruptly continued. "Knowing him, he'll still win in the end. He's been so confident throughout. Even watching through all the matches. I'd be surprised to learn he has nothing new up his sleeve! Maybe the him in my mind I thought I knew would probably lose, but the him of reality will find a way to win! Have faith! Faith is absolute!!"

"Okay, now that's the answer I was expecting to hear!" Elizabeth laughed nervously, almost as though taking a sigh of relief. 

"I concur…" Artorias nodded. "I shall hold on to this faith as well. No matter how grim and meagre it may yet be…"

"Don't worry! Big brother will win! Just you watch!" Hikari leaned over into her seat with her fists clenched and an unknown expression behind the cloth covering her mouth. 

♦️ ♦️ ♦️

"ALRIGHTTTTT!! It seems like everyone is finally here!! The crowds are filled, and the time has come!! Thank you all for spectating! And once again a huge thank you to our faithful judges watching over us! After a long day of non-stop battles and excitement, I expect you all to be rather tired. But! I need your energy for one last battle! ARE YOU ALL READY TO DELIVER!?" The announcer raised his hands in the air, and the crowds went absolutely wild.

"That's what I wanted to hear!!" The announcer yelled. "NOW! Without further ado! It's time for the final match of the tournament!!"

"Both need little to no introduction! They've clawed their way up the ranks and proved to us all why they deserve to be here! Now the question is… Who is it!? Who is it that is more powerful and deserving of victory!? Usually, I'd announce both fighters separately! But for this match, they shall arrive at once and meet each other eye to eye!! It is with great honour that I call upon our two finalists, Moby Kane and Adam Walker to enter the stage!"

Simultaneously, the two gates set at opposite ends echoed the crunching of metal, slowly lifting and revealing the deep darkness lied within. And at once, two figures gradually entered. 

Although this was the final match, each fighter still wore the exact same standard equipment provided by them— yet, that was not where they would express themselves. No, all such things found themselves plastered upon their faces as they entered the light.

Moby seemed relaxed, almost too much so as he calmly strode across the paved path with a slight smile. It was a smile that was not disrespectful, but one that he bore as he subtly acknowledged the crowds.

On the other hand, Adam seemed stone cold. Yet upon closer inspection, one could see slight sweat build-up and a small shake in his muscles and especially in his mouth, like he was trying to hold himself back. It was not out of nervousness, but clearly something else.

The crowd erupted upon their arrival— Like two volcanos exploded to shake the ground with mere voice alone. 

Each volcano cheered for its preferred fighters with great seething passion, almost abnormally so. And, surprisingly, both volcanos were nearly equal in size and volume, clashing against one another fighting for supremacy.

"Wipe that look off his face Walker!!" 

"Don't let this phony beat you!"

"Knock him off the throne Kane!!

"Humble him down to earth will you!"

Still, these people seemed passionate, yet relatively calm compared to the hoard of fan-girls who arrived armed and dangerous, ready to defend their favourites like life or death. 

"I CAME HERE JUST TO SEE YOU!!"

"KANNNEEE!!"

"ADAM I LOVE YOU!!"

"AHHH— YOU SEE THAT!! KANE WAVED AT ME!!"

"NO ME!!"

"WHO CARES ABOUT HIM!! ADAM IS MUCH BETTER!!"

"SHUT UP!!"

"Hey, kid, calm down. What's the big deal?"

"WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL!? YOU KIDDING ME!? IT'S MOBY FUCKING KANE!!"

Beyond the incessant screaming and screeching, those were the only words some could make out. A great amount of these girls were underage and rather young, yet there was still a far greater amount of adults and fellow students who did the exact same thing— Although, they were not much in the grand scheme of things and certainly not all females participated.

In this modern time, power was everything. The music idols of the past were no longer as important as young upcoming fighters. These are the types of people who would be hard-pressed to go anywhere without paparazzi.

At the same time, they both ascended the lengthy steps to the stage. And when they reached their last, they found themselves staring eye to eye… 

*Hphm…* A small grin grew upon Adam's face, it was clear that he could no longer hold himself back. The rush of blood pumping through his veins must have been immense.

"So we finally meet… Moby Kane…"