Just like always, the two contestants appeared in the center of the arena. The golden light dispersed to reveal Nova, still wearing that smug smile plastered across his face, the kind of expression that screamed he believed himself untouchable. He didn't just look confident he looked as though the idea of losing had never once crossed his mind. Across from him stood his opponent, Almighty. He was a middle-aged man with a heavy, tired gaze. The contrast between the two was almost laughable. Where Nova looked like he was already celebrating his win, Almighty looked like he had already accepted defeat. His shoulders sagged, his expression hollow, like a man walking to the gallows rather than into a fight.
As expected, Almighty's champion didn't even stand a chance. From the moment it materialized, you could see the difference in quality. It was a sturdy reptile, but compared to Nova's massive trilobite covered in jagged spikes, it was like watching a child throw punches at a brick wall. The reptile circled, testing for openings, but there was nothing to be found. Every time it tried to close the distance, it was met with a wall of sharpened spines.
Minutes passed, though they felt more like seconds. Eventually, the inevitable happened. Almighty's champion lunged one final time, desperation driving it forward. Nova's trilobite barely shifted. It only needed a single movement, a quick twist, and the reptile was caught mid-leap. The next moment, one of those long spines drove straight through the reptile's chest. The sound of flesh tearing echoed through the arena, and the fight was over.
[Winner: Nova]
I found myself unsurprised, but I did come to an interesting conclusion as I watched the poor creature dissolve into golden particles. If Pharmacist had been matched against anyone else in the top ten anyone except Nova, Fission, or myself he likely would've placed fourth without much trouble. His bird, flawed as it was, still far outclassed most of the champions we'd seen so far. It was only bad luck that had put him up against me.
Still, none of that changed the fact that Nova was quickly becoming the favorite to win the competition. The reasoning was simple: his defense was impenetrable. At this stage of evolution, with most of us barely scraping together primitive creatures, there was nothing any of us could reasonably do to break through that wall of spikes. He had chosen or perhaps lucked into the perfect champion for this point in time.
What struck me as odd was that, after his win, Nova didn't gloat. He didn't speak, didn't shout to the crowd, didn't taunt Almighty or the rest of us. Instead, he just let out a soft laugh, almost to himself, and dissolved into golden light. A moment later, he reappeared in the stands, still wearing that smug smile. It was almost like this competition was beneath him.
Next up was the match between Fission and Stardust. This one had my attention. We hadn't yet seen much of what Fission's hybrid creature could do, and I wanted to know what other tricks it might be hiding.
[Begin]
With the system's command, Stardust's champion burst forward. It was a four-legged beast, built lean and low, its body rippling with speed as it closed the gap. But before it could even reach its opponent, Fission's hybrid spread its wide, bat-like wings and launched into the sky.
For a moment, I watched with a mixture of awe and curiosity. Its form was powerful, but as I studied its flight, I began to notice something. Compared to Pharmacist's bird, Fission's champion was far less graceful. The wings beat strongly, but the movements were awkward, unrefined as if its body wasn't entirely built for the skies. It could fly, yes, but not with the elegance of a natural-born flyer.
Still, that didn't matter much for the outcome of the match. Stardust's champion leapt at the hybrid, trying to claw it out of the air, but it was too late. Fission's creature swooped down, all power and momentum, and slammed directly onto its opponent's back. The impact was brutal, pinning the beast flat against the ground.
Before the pinned creature could even react, the hybrid lowered its head and bit cleanly through its neck. The sound of the snap was sharp, final. Stardust's champion dissolved into golden particles almost immediately, leaving behind nothing but silence and the blood-stained ground where it had just been.
I stared at the gory scene in front of me, my stomach twisting slightly. The fight had been over almost before it began. But in that moment, a realization settled in my mind: if given the choice, I would much rather fight Fission than Nova.
The reasoning was simple. Against Nova, there was nothing I could do. His champion's defense was absolute, a wall I couldn't see a way past. Against Fission, though… there was a chance. Small, perhaps, but still a chance. His hybrid had relied on brute force and a direct attack strategy. If I could bait it, or if my lizard's venom found purchase, the fight might not be so one-sided.
[Round 2 Concluded]
[Congratulations on passing the second round]
[One God will be chosen at random to receive a bye]
Another familiar notification appeared above us. My pulse quickened slightly. I had gotten lucky once before surely it could happen again? Maybe fortune would smile on me twice.
[Congratulations to Nova on receiving the bye]
The letters burned brightly across the sky, mocking me. I let out a small sigh. Of course it went to him. It was only fitting, wasn't it? But I didn't let myself wallow in frustration. There was no point. What mattered now was preparation. I couldn't control the system, but I could control myself, and if I wanted to reach the end of this competition, I needed to focus.
"Alright," I muttered under my breath, "time to get ready."
[Round 3: Fission vs Nexus]
And with those words i disappeared and reappeared in the arena once again surrounded by billions of gods excited for the match to come.