Staring at the grinning giant across from me, I found myself unconsciously tensing. Fission looked far too relaxed for someone about to enter a match that could decide whether he'd make it to the finals. His wide, almost childlike smile never left his face, and his eyes shimmered with excitement rather than nerves.
"Well, well," he said cheerfully, his voice carrying easily across the arena. "Looks like it's finally our turn. I've been waiting for this one."
"Yeah?" I replied, in a flat tone "Cant say i share the same sentiment.But now that were here I may as well win."
He laughed a loud, genuine laugh that somehow made me even more uneasy. "I look forward to our fight win or lose. I just enjoy the process! Win or lose, it's all fascinating. Watching how our champions grow, adapt, tear each other apart… isn't it beautiful?"
I didn't bother responding. There was no point. Trying to talk sense into Fission felt like arguing with a lightning storm.
As the familiar light surrounded us, the ground shimmered, and our champions appeared in the center of the arena. Fission's creation stood on all fours that same unnerving mix of lizard, frog, and bat. Its green scales glistened under the light, and the bat like wings on its back twitched like they were alive, as if eager to take off.
My own champion stood opposite it, slightly larger but clearly wary. The hybrid's movements were unpredictable it bounced lightly from side to side, its frog-like legs coiled with spring-like tension, ready to pounce at a moment's notice.
For a brief second, our eyes met again. Fission gave me a wide grin and said, "Try not to blink, Nexus. You might miss the best part."
I let out a quiet sigh. "You talk too much."
He chuckled again, raising his hand dramatically. "Oh, I just like giving abit of excitement to these otherwise bland matches."
Before I could reply, the system notification appeared before us.
[Begin]
The arena fell silent, and both champions shot forward the true fight had finally begun.
Using its powerful frog legs, Fission's champion shot forward far faster than mine. The moment the system gave the signal, it was as if a spring had been released dirt erupted behind it, and its strange mixture of limbs worked in perfect unison to launch it across the arena floor. In less than three seconds the two champions reached each other, both sliding through the dust as their claws dug into the packed earth. The impact of their stop sent a spray of dust through the air as they stared each other down, muscles tensing like coiled ropes.
My champion moved first. It lunged forward, its mouth opening wide to reveal rows of serrated teeth as it aimed straight for the hybrid's throat. Fission's champion, however, was far more nimble than its awkward appearance suggested. It twisted to the side with a low croak-like hiss, its movements unpredictable almost chaotic before slashing upward with those long, gleaming nails. I recognized the motion instantly. It was the same maneuver it had used in its first match to blind its opponent.
The claws made sharp contact, a metallic ting echoing through the arena as they scraped against the bone-like armor that covered my lizard's face. The attack deflected harmlessly, leaving behind only a faint scratch. Relief flooded through me. If it hadn't evolved that thick facial plating, the match might have been over right then and there.
Both champions disengaged, jumping back to gain some distance, their eyes locked on one another. Each step kicked up dust, creating a haze between them as they circled, testing for an opening. Then, with a powerful leap, Fission's champion unfurled its wide, leathery wings. The sound they made was sharp almost like canvas tearing in the wind as it took off into the air.
A smirk crept across my face. "So, you're going to try that?" I muttered under my breath. My champion had already fought and beaten a much faster flyer before; this was nothing new. As long as it could land a single bite, victory would be ours.
The hybrid circled high above for a few seconds, its mismatched body cutting through the air in awkward bursts of speed. Its movement wasn't graceful far from it. The frog legs twitched as it adjusted midair, and its tail whipped about for balance. It was clearly powerful, but it wasn't built for flight. Eventually, its erratic path turned into a dive, and it descended toward the ground, rapidly picking up speed as it fell. The air around it shimmered from the force.
My champion crouched low, watching, waiting. Its tail flicked against the dirt in anticipation, leaving small trails. Then, just as the hybrid's claws reached striking distance, my champion rolled aside in a sudden burst of motion. The hybrid's talons slashed through empty space, missing the soft scales of its back by mere inches.
Before the flying creature could pull back into the air, my champion lunged again, seizing the moment of weakness. Its body twisted with practiced strength as it aimed to pin its opponent down, jaws snapping forward with lethal intent. But Fission's champion reacted instantly. Abandoning the idea of flight entirely, it folded its wings back and slammed down onto all fours, meeting my champion head-on.
The collision was brutal. The sound of impact echoed through the arena like thunder. Both creatures pushed against each other, claws digging into the ground for leverage, muscles trembling with strain. Dust rose around them in thick clouds, obscuring their forms. I could see the sheer force of will in both their movements neither wanted to give an inch.
From across the arena, I heard Fission laugh not mockingly, but in pure excitement. "Yes! That's it! Show me what that thing of yours can do, Nexus!" His booming voice carried easily, filled with unrestrained joy. He looked like a man watching the best moment of his life unfold, his grin wide enough to almost look unhinged.
I didn't respond. My focus was locked on the fight. This was it the deciding moment. Both champions were evenly matched in strength, but mine had one advantage: mass. The extra bulk from its bigger body and reinforced armour started to tell. Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, the hybrid's limbs began to give way. Its back legs the same frog legs that had propelled it with such speed started to tremble under the weight pressing down on them.
Fission's grin didn't fade even as his champion began to lose ground. "Come on! Don't let it end like this!" he shouted, clenching his fists as if he could will the outcome to change.
But it was already too late. With a guttural hiss, my champion pushed forward with all its strength, slamming the hybrid onto its back. The wings crumpled beneath the impact, and a sharp cry echoed through the arena. Before the hybrid could even recover or attempt to attack, my champion struck its jaws clamping down onto its opponent's side with brutal force. The hybrid writhed for a brief moment, then went still, its head falling limply to the ground.
The arena went silent for a heartbeat.
Then the system notification appeared above us.
[Winner: Nexus]
I exhaled, realizing only then how tightly I had been holding my breath. Across from me, Fission didn't look upset in the slightest. Instead, his laughter filled the air once again. "Ha! Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!" he said, shaking his head. "You've got quite the monster there, Nexus. Guess I'll have to come up with something even nastier next time."
I couldn't help but give a small nod in acknowledgment. As the light began to envelop us both, signaling the end of the match.