As Hikari walked down the stairs, the almost homogenous sound of the crowds slowly began to become more separate in her ears.
Her face saddened, it was just as she expected yet she could not let it bother her too much. However, the exact same could not be said about Regrit Oswald.
He and Adam were abnormally silent, staring at each other. Both seemed rather unusual from how they last appeared, most notably Adam Walker himself who seemed to be almost smiling as he spoke.
"So… You must be Regrit Oswald… Brother of Kai Fatebringer… I have forced myself to refrain from watching any of your previous matches… I have been looking forward to our inevitable bout... It has been told to me by rumour that you are even more powerful than your older brother… Is that true?"
"..."
"For someone who's stayed quiet for the entire tournament, you sure do talk a lot. If you wanna see how strong I am then face me and see for yourself!"
As Regrit spoke, the crowd became even more vocal hurling insults and mocking him. Yet, he did not even bat an eye to their words, either because he simply ignored them or that he could not care less about them.
"Teach him some manners Adam!"
"Put this kid in his place!"
His usual expressive face was stagnant, it was almost impossible to assume what he was thinking. That was the case unless they knew him and could sense the emotions he kept hardened beyond his clenched iron fists.
"Confident… I see that you and your brother are quite different…" Adam's subconscious smile slowly began to reveal itself upon his face. "Very well, I shall see for myself then…"
The crowd now cheered at Adam's words as the announcer lifted his hands up into the sky and looked up at the approving judges.
"ALRIGHT!! It seems like both fighters are ready for battle! The second semi-final match of this great tournament is about to begin between Regrit Oswald and his flaming swords and Adam Walker with his puppets of shadows!!"
"Three!!"
"Two!!"
"One!!"
"BEGIN!"
The signal rang throughout the entire space, drowned out by the sound of the exploding crowds.
Immediately, with their blades in hand unsheathed, both fighters disappeared from place, and what followed was a clanking of metal filling the air.
Though, unlike most fights that were met in the middle, their figures clashed far more near the right end where Regrit previously stood.
In fact, it was almost as though Regrit had barely even taken two steps, such was the difference in overwhelming speed.
And in that next instant, Regrit found himself flung towards the barrier surrounding the Arena, bouncing off of it before recovering safely to the side of the ring, a smile on his face and his swords crossed like an X, preparing to strike.
Flames rekindled his body, and his breathing was steadied as he stared towards his now blank-faced opponent.
"Regrit Oswald… You disappoint me…" Adam's voice was deep, like an ocean of darkness consumed the entire arena in a thick miasma fueled by his emotions.
His eyes were narrowed, and the grip upon his two-sided spear tightened almost out of anger before it loosened, allowing him to completely unsheath his weapon, now standing still with his arms fully crossed.
The crowd stood silent, one almost inexplicable as they processed what they had witnessed... Even the canopy of judges could not help but widen their eyes and lean closer into their seats at such a display.
"What…"
"..."
"What did you say?"
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"ARE YOU TRYING TO MOCK ME!!
Still, the silence could not last long, as there was a single voice that shattered it completely… Like the roar of a demonic fox.
Regrit's eyes shined like orange stars, and his body and blade coated itself in flames that boosted him towards his unarmed opponent, almost immediately closing the distance.
And with one mighty slash aimed directly for the head, he strived to end it all. Yet what he struck was not flesh, but nothing but thin air. Adam had suddenly disappeared from place like he were never there. For a moment, he was overcome with confusion, only for that confusion to be replaced by immeasurable pain in the next…
Adam's fist found its mark on Regrit's liver, rocking his entire system. He gagged, his eyes rolled back white to the back of his head, and he felt like his spirit had exited his body. Before he could even realize, in the corner of his hazy vision, he witnessed Adam Walker's stern face, leaning closer to his ears.
"Did you not hear me the first time? I said you disappoint me… You're nothing like your brother… If I were you, I'd just give up now to save myself the embarrassment… Don't act like a lion when you're nothing but a mouse… Now… Resign or stay down… Understood?"
His voice was nothing but a soft, deadly whisper in Regrit's ears, yet to him, it was fuel for his blazing heart.
The flame in his eyes was once again lit, and with all his might, he retracted his head and headbutted his leaning opponent.
The blow took Adam by surprise and hit its mark, pushing him back to the edge almost off-balance.
"I SAID DON'T FUCKING MOCK ME!!"
Regrit promptly seized the opportunity, entering his spirit mode and rushed his rocking, recovering opponent with his dual katanas.
But sadly for him, that opportunity may have been his last…
Like second nature, Adam ducked below Regrit's slicing blades, tripping him and kicking him to the side.
Cracks filled the air from Regrit's bones as he skitted far on the tiled hard ground. Still, despite such an impact, he stood back up on his two feet and rushed ahead once more with those same eyes, like that of a demonic raging bull of flames.
"Foolish…"
Adam punched him once again, even harder than before, yet Regrit could not stay down…
It was like childs play, every attack Regrit would throw no matter what he tried missed by a casual dodge that was nearly always followed by counterattacks. However, even though all the pain, bruises, broken bones and ruptured organs, Regrit persisted.
A kick to the stomach, a jab to his nose, an elbow to the ribs, a punch in the eyes… The pain would grow, yet Regrit could not care or had simply lost himself.
Over… and over… and over… and over… and over again… Nothing changed.
In mere minutes, Regrit found himself looking like a bruised and bloated mess, barely even managing to breathe. Had there has been blood in this space, he would have undoubtedly been died scarlet. However, despite that, his attacks were still just as powerful and ferocious. It was a miracle to most that he could even stand.
Yet, to the crowds now watching, it mattered not. At first, they laughed and cheered at the display of dominance they witnessed, and some still did even now. However, for the vast majority, they grew abnormally still. Even the announcer could not bear to commentate.
What they witnessed was no fight at all. It was more like a sad massacre… At a man consumed with emotions smashing himself on a brick wall so many times, yet standing up from each one and trying again. Like a bully picking on the determined weak. It was almost too gruesome for some to watch.
Certainly, had it not been for the set rules of the match, it would have all been over long ago. But as long as Regrit stood inside the ring, there was no end in sight…
At least that was the case until now.
"DIE!!"
"I have had... enough of thissss…"
The last thing Regrit saw from those hazy, slit-like, bruised eyes of his was a shadow of darkness, its corrupted teeth of white opening wide numbing his consumed body and soul…