Morca clenched his fists, his heart pounding in rhythm with the crowd's cheers.
'I'll shake this ring. I'll tear down this barrier. And when I'm done, you'll think twice before pulling something like this again.'
---
After saying that, a crazed smile, one never seen before, appeared on his face. He was determined to leave his mark on this underground organization tonight.
An hour later, the same man with the black mask appeared once again, hovering in the air as he amplified his voice.
"Ladies and gentlemen, before the battle begins in the ring, I have an announcement to make. After the two-day ring battle concludes, we will award the most victorious contestant with a token of the Dark Avengers Club, a crimson-black mask. Any remaining contestants in the ring will have the opportunity to challenge the reigning champion for the token. However, if the token holder manages to retain it until the very end, additional rewards will be given."
He paused, allowing the crowd a moment to process his words before continuing.
In a secluded area where five mysterious Red Masked Men sat, the same man who had initiated the earlier conversation turned to No. 2 with an intrigued expression.
"No. 2, you're really pushing things far this time, establishing the rules for a two-day ring battle on your own. What exactly are you thinking? And what's with that token you introduced this time? I can feel it... It's as if it was forged by..." He stopped mid-sentence, hesitation creeping into his voice.
Another member of the group, whose figure suggested she was a woman, suddenly exclaimed in shock.
"Emmett Lee, are you insane? Are you seriously planning to gift such a treasure in this reckless, childish challenge?" Her disbelief was so overwhelming that she inadvertently revealed No. 2's identity, something she hadn't meant to do.
"Calm down, Little Five. Don't you find this entire situation odd? An unknown kid at the Awakened rank appears at the Dark Avengers Club for the first time, and he's already in the arena?" another of the five interjected with a knowing smirk.
"No. 3, are you suggesting that this was all planned for that kid in Ring 004?" The last Red Masked Man, known as No. 4, asked while shifting his gaze to No. 2...Emmett Lee.
"You're all correct. This is No. 2's plan," No. 1 confirmed, his eyes glinting with understanding. "And don't you all find the name peculiar? 'Crimson-Black' appears, and now our token of honor, the Crimson-Black Mask, is being introduced as a reward. I'm starting to suspect that Crimson-Black is No. 2's younger brother."
The others nodded, their thoughts still lingering on the token. It was simply too valuable to ignore.
Meanwhile, in Ring 004, Morca was beginning to piece everything together. First, they named him 'Crimson-Black.' Now, they had introduced a token as a reward that bore the same name. Whoever was behind this was clearly trying to establish his reputation in this two-day ring battle. From the referee's words, he also deduced the name of this underground organization: the 'Dark Avengers Club.' He mentally noted it, planning to research the organization when he had the chance.
Still hovering in the air, the referee continued, "Each ring contestant will face fifty One-Star- monsters, ten One-Star+ monsters, and, finally, must survive a five-minute attack from a Two-Star- ranked monster. You will have a ten-minute break after every ten monsters you defeat."
With that, he waved his hand, signaling the start of the battle.
In Ring 004, Morca stood still, his black blade, Avoc, firmly in his grip as he calmly awaited his opponent. It didn't take long. The ground beneath him trembled before splitting open, revealing a massive cage ascending from below. Once it settled, the cage door creaked open, and a hulking beast emerged.
Standing at an imposing 2.5 meters tall, the creature was covered in thick black fur, its muscular legs supporting a body of steel-like power. Its chest, broad and exposed, radiated sheer strength, while golden eyes glowed with an eerie intelligence. Two curved fangs jutted upward from its lower jaw, a testament to its ferocity. This was a Celestial Golden-Eyed Ape, a strength-based monster species feared for its brute force.
Morca remained unshaken, his demeanor calm and composed, as if he saw nothing more than a slab of meat waiting to be butchered. Amused, he mused to himself,
'Humans truly are remarkable creatures. They fear threats when faced with them, fighting tooth and nail to survive. Yet, somehow, they always manage to turn that very threat into a means to grow stronger. And now… they're turning it into entertainment while those threats still loom over their heads.'
At this moment, Morca felt a profound admiration for human nature, marveling at the irony of it all as he observed the formidable beast before him.
"Let the ring battle begin!" the referee declared.
With those words, the crowd erupted in excitement. However, within moments, the entire battle ring shook violently before abruptly settling. For a split second, the spectators held their breath, wondering what had transpired.
The battle had already ended.
So soon? It seemed unthinkable.
But indeed, this was merely the beginning.
Defeating fifty One-Star- monsters was not a battle of strength, but of endurance.
Morca, however, frowned as he glanced at the lifeless body of the Celestial Golden-Eyed Ape. This was a joke. Why were they sending these monsters one at a time? Why not release them all at once? At least that would be somewhat thrilling.
His gaze shifted upward as he called out in a loud, unwavering voice, ensuring he would be heard.
"Referee! Is it possible to fight all the One-Star- monsters at the same time?"
A stunned silence fell over the hall. Then, whispers and murmurs erupted among the audience.
"Arrogant fool."
"No, he's bold! I'll give him that."
"Tch! What a reckless brat."
"Hah! He should just die in the ring."
Some sneered in irritation, while others, the more chaotic ones, silently cheered in their minds, 'Say yes… Say yes…'
The referee turned his head towards the five Red Masked figures, silently seeking their approval. No. 1 and No. 2 exchanged glances before nodding their assent.
With a hum, the referee quieted the roaring audience and addressed Morca's request.
"While it is possible to face all forty-nine remaining One-Star- monsters at once, if you choose this path and manage to survive, you will also have to fight the ten One-Star+ monsters in one go, without any rest. The decision is yours."
The hall fell into an eerie silence. The anticipation was palpable, electrifying the air as all eyes locked onto Morca, waiting for his answer.
Somewhere among the audience, a few crazed individuals reveled in the potential carnage, their minds screaming, 'Say yes! Say yes!'
And at the center of it all, the one who had sparked this chaos, Morca, stood, unwavering.
The entire hall held its breath, waiting for his decision.