We stood in the amphitheater again, the same white chamber buzzing with activity. On the far platform stood the chameleon announcer, his voice ringing out through a crystal-clear megaphone held in clawed hands. Behind him, clouds drifted lazily above the open-air battleground, sunlight casting sharp shadows across the stone floor.
"Now entering, Ayush from Brothers Forever!" the chameleon shouted, his voice amplified and proud.
The massive wooden gate creaked open.
Ayush stepped into the arena, walking slowly but steadily. His expression was unreadable, but I could feel the tightness in his steps. The announcer's voice followed.
"This is one of the newcomers who disrupted the audition round a few days ago," the chameleon said. "And there are rumors that his team saved the princess during their hunt!"
A wave of murmurs broke across the crowd.
"Wait, his team saved the princess?"
"Now I understand the king's referral."
"Lucky bastards."
Rudransh clenched his fists. "Looks like they want their ass whooped," he muttered.
He was sitting to the right of Riri, then Shon, Rizu, me, and Jatin on the far end. Rudransh stood up, eyes burning.
Shon placed a calm but firm hand on Rudransh's shoulder. "Don't do anything we'll all regret later."
Rudransh swatted the hand away. "Don't tell me what to do."
"Please calm down," Riri said quickly, her voice low. "We might get disqualified."
Shon repeated with a sharper edge, "It's not the time for this. We haven't even fought yet."
Rudransh gritted his teeth. "Fine. I'll let it go — for now. But I'll get my anger out on whoever I face."
The chameleon's voice rang out again. "Now entering — Thoueris!"
Another gate opened, and this time a mountain of muscle emerged. A humanoid figure with the head of a hippo, brown tanned skin stretched over a body carved from stone. He wore a traditional Egyptian-style outfit — a beaded broad collar covering his shoulders, a golden belt with flowing white linen shendyt wrapping his waist, and sandals laced to his calves. A golden headband crowned his forehead.
Ayush's face twisted. "Wait… you're kidding me. He's my opponent? He's going to crush me."
The chameleon didn't wait.
"FIVE… FOUR… THREE… TWO… ONE — BEGIN!"
Ayush barely had time to think.
I can't win this, he thought.
The hippo-faced brute charged with a ground-shaking sprint. Ayush scanned the area. His eyes locked onto the scattered boulders.
He raised a palm.
Two massive stones soared into the air and slammed toward Thoueris like twin titans clapping. Dust surged outward with the sheer force of impact.
But the hippo stopped them. One hand per boulder — he held them.
With a roar that seemed to split the clouds, Thoueris flexed, veins bulging, and shattered both rocks into useless chunks. The debris rained harmlessly around him.
Ayush staggered. "You've gotta be kidding me…"
Thoueris grinned. "Don't worry, kid. I'm not allowed to kill you — but I'll give you some nice injuries. Something to remind you that this tournament is for the strong."
In the audience, Rizu leaned forward. "We didn't have enough time to prepare… and they clearly have more experience."
"There's still hope," I said aloud, gripping the stone rail before me. "Ayush did well against the Megarachne. And that was after fighting Jatin's monstrous form. He learns fast."
Below, Ayush wasn't done.
He spun his arms, kicking up a cyclone of fine sand. The arena swirled into a blinding dust storm around the hippo-faced warrior.
Thoueris cursed, squinting and pawing at his eyes.
Ayush raised his fists. Stones from the ground floated, orbiting him. They latched onto his hands and formed jagged rock gauntlets.
Without hesitation, he charged.
Each step thundered. His Rock Gauntlet Punch flew straight at the hippo's jaw.
The strike landed — hard.
But the hippo barely flinched. His thick hide and dense muscles absorbed the impact.
Thoueris smiled.
"Is that all you've got?"
Ayush's face dropped.
I'm screwed, he thought.