The king that has been battered, dripping in crimson red and has lost one arm has been a little bit better man for this round. But, his energy is running on thin ice.
Arthur collapsed to both knees, Excalibur still glowing faintly in his grasp. His chest rose and fell weakly, blood dripping, but there was no despair in his face. The King had given his all. He had won his duel, and with that, he had earned his rest.
From the Grimm side, Leo Grimm stood tall for the first time, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. His sharp eyes burned with superiority, his posture proud as though he had expected this outcome all along.
Beside him, his younger brother Hans erupted into manic laughter.
"HAHAHAHA! Do you see now, humanity?! This is the fate you cannot escape! Even your greatest kings fall before us!"
His laughter was jagged, taunting, a cruel melody that echoed across the arena.
On the human side, Noah fell to his knees, his hands clutching his face. His tears wouldn't stop.
"I failed them… Humanity… I failed them all. We… we've lost hope."
But in his sorrow, he didn't notice at first.
Lucianne was still standing. Her eyes were closed, her hand pressed firmly against her chest. She was silent, but her posture was unmistakable that she was giving respect. Not to Arthur, not to humanity's side… but to Alexander, the Conqueror.
"No…" Noah whispered as he looked up. His breath caught when he realized—
It wasn't just Lucianne.
All around the human side of the arena, men and women had risen to their feet. Some wept, some clenched their fists, but every one of them had their hands on their chest, heads bowed in solemn respect.
And beyond the arena, across the world where billions watched, humanity mirrored that same gesture. Homes, streets, cities, villages are everywhere, people stood and placed their hands over their hearts.
Not for grief. Not for despair.
But for respect.
Alexander, the enemy, had shown them the truth. Humanity could stand toe-to-toe with legends, with conquerors, with fairy tales themselves.
For the first time, a flicker of light shone in humanity's eyes. The first spark of hope.
Noah's tears fell harder, but now they were not tears of despair. Slowly, he rose and joined Lucianne, hand on his chest.
"…Thank you, Great Conqueror."
The sight enraged Hans Grimm. His laughter twisted into a furious roar.
"HOW DARE YOU!? Your champion lost to our champion! YOUR ENEMY! How DARE you humans still show him respect despite losing?!"
But the humans did not answer. Their silence was stronger than any words, their respect deeper than any victory.
And in that silence, the Grimm brothers realized something terrifying.
Humanity had lost the first round…
But they had found something far more dangerous than victory.
They had found belief.
-----------------------------------------
Somewhere in the dark, the room barely lights up, there is a silhouette of someone with a book while sitting on a fancy rocking chair. Behind the figure is a window and the cozy, rainy weather can be seen from the window. Then, he started to read the book-
Thus ended the first round of the Great Tournament.
King Arthur, the True King of Fairy Tales, stood victorious, his body broken yet unyielding. By his blade, the Excalibur, he cut through not only a fleet of golden warriors but the might of the Great Conqueror himself. His judgment was final. His victory was absolute.
And yet…
Though Arthur collapsed in dignity, it was Alexander, the Conqueror, who truly left his mark upon the world. In his final moments, cut in two, he refused to fall on his back. He stood as a warrior, a king, a commander to the very end. His final breath was not a plea, nor a curse, but a gift…
Respect.
From the Grimm side, Leo stood tall, smirking, assured of their supremacy. Hans's laughter filled the arena, a mocking hymn to humanity's failure. "Your hope is lost," he cried, "your champions cannot prevail."
But the laughter rang hollow.
For when the Conqueror's light faded, something stirred among the mortals. First, a single figure, Lucianne, handed upon her chest, eyes closed in reverence. Then another. Then another. Soon, all of humanity in the arena rose as one, hands pressed to their hearts, bowing their heads.
And far beyond the coliseum, across the world where billions watched, humanity followed. In villages, in cities, in deserts and mountains, men and women of every tongue and creed mirrored the gesture. Respect for the enemy. Respect for the man who proved that humanity could fight.
No words were spoken. None were needed. In that silence, humanity found what they thought lost: belief.
Hans roared in fury, unable to comprehend how respect could blossom where defeat had landed. Yet the truth was undeniable. Humanity had lost the round but gained the spark of hope. A dangerous, unstoppable ember now lit within their hearts.
And so it was written in the chronicles:
The First Round belonged to Fairy Tales.
But the first flame of hope… belonged to Humanity."
The mysterious figure closes the book and start looking out of the rainy window again.
--------------------------------------------
Back to the Underground Bunker Lab
After finishing round 1, the scientist pairs back to the Underground lab. Suddenly, there is a lot of sound coming from outside of the lab which shocks Noah and Lucianne. Something seems wrong…
The underground lab, usually silent except for the hum of the time machine, was now drowned in noise. Sirens, engines, and the synchronized stomp of boots echoed through the corridors. When Noah and Lucianne emerged from the bunker, they were greeted not by the night sky but by a sea of headlights.
Government cars. Military trucks. Soldiers, rifles raised.
At the front stood a decorated general, broad-shouldered and cold-eyed, under the command of President Rondell Garth himself. His voice boomed:
"Noah Ravenille. Lucifer-Anne Durandal. You are under arrest for crimes against humanity. The summoning of these so-called champions is illegal. You've endangered the entire world."
Noah and Lucianne were shocked mostly on how the government army even knew about the lab location and why the government wanted to arrest them despite them trying to save humanity.
Noah finally speaks up,
"We're not surrendering! We are doing this tournament for the sake of saving humanity! If the government wouldn't do so, let me save it in my own way!"
The General looks at them and laughs a bit at the pair. Then, he say,
"I'm here not asking for your permission to comprehend with us. GET THEM ON THE GROUND!"
Two soldiers shoved Noah and Lucianne to the ground, boots pressing against their backs. Noah struggled but the general stomped on his chest, pressing hard enough to knock the wind out of him.
The general shouted, "You think your little circus can save us? No. What you've done is spit in the face of every government. The Grimm Brothers already rule the world and we've ensured their wrath will not fall upon us!"
Noah coughed, glaring upward.
"Wrath? You mean submission. While you cower in your golden halls, humanity bleeds. Cities burn, families starve, children vanish into the mouths of fairy tale beasts. You bargained for your safety while the world suffers!"
The general sneered and kicked him in the ribs. Lucianne screamed as a gun was drawn and leveled at her head.
"Enough idealism. This ends here. The machine will be confiscated, and both of you executed for treason. Humanity needs order, not hope." says the General.
Noah screamed try to get to Lucianne but couldn't do anything while Lucianne was already closing her eyes, tears falling down from her eyes, accepting her fate.
"Noah, I want you to continue this tournament and win it." says Lucianne while smiling but tears flowing across her cheek.
Noah screamed in agony. He can't even move and the only thing he can do is to scream,
"NOOO!!!"
Before the trigger could be pulled-
A blur.
From the shadows of the trees and broken down building, a figure leapt with the ferocity of a beast. He moved on instinct, his body gliding through the night like a predator. A wooden round shield deflected bullets, a single strike of his tribal sword cut down rifles like twigs. Soldiers fell one after another, their weapons useless against his raw speed and precision.
The general barked orders, but before he could react, the hooded warrior lunged. With a roar, he slammed the general into the ground, his blade at the man's throat. The once-merciless commander froze, pinned beneath a force he couldn't comprehend.
Silence. Soldiers dared not move.
Noah slowly stood, bruised, eyes wide. He recognized the style, the feral grace, the strength of someone forged in battle against an empire.
Noah whispered, "...He's one of ours."
The figure looked to Noah, then yanked back his hood. The world saw him.
His torso bore the ink of tribal tattoos, his arms corded with strength. His black hair, tied in a long ponytail, swayed as he pulled off his wooden mask, revealing stern eyes burning with defiance. A red headband crowned him, a symbol of rebellion. His trousers were simple camouflage army pants, practical for war, yet his presence was that of a legend reborn.
Noah's voice trembled with both awe and pride. He murmured the warrior names,
"The Hero who Killed the Conqueror… Lapu-Lapu."
Lucianne gasped, clutching her chest. The soldiers around them stepped back, fear etched on their faces. For this was no ordinary man.
This was the warrior who had slain Ferdinand Magellan, the man history called the invincible conqueror and Explorer.
And now, Lapu-Lapu stood once more.
The General commands his soldiers to fall back and surrender from the underground bunker. The soldiers rushed back to their respective transportation and quickly fled from the scene.
The headlights were gone. The crunch of boots on gravel faded into silence. The government soldiers who had once surrounded the lab now limped or fled, broken by the warrior who stood like an immovable rock before Noah and Lucianne. Both Noah and Lucianne know this isn't the last time they will see the world government shenanigans against them.
Lapu-Lapu planted his wooden shield into the ground, his chest rising and falling like the tide. He glanced back at the pair, eyes sharp yet steady.
Noah while catching his breath, "Thank you… If you hadn't come, we-"
Lapu-Lapu quickly cutting him off,
"Think nothing of it. I've always hated oppressors. Those men… no different than the tyrants I've fought before."
Noah nodded, words stuck in his throat. Lucianne, however, tilted her head, studying him curiously.
"I'm sorry, I have to ask. Why with your appearance? It's… unexpected."
Lapu-Lapu blinked, then looked down at himself as though noticing for the first time. His lips curled into the faintest smirk.
"They look good, don't they? These pants have better camouflage between the trees than bare legs. Practical."
Lucianne couldn't help but laugh softly.
"That's… not exactly what I meant. I was asking why you revealed yourself so openly. Now that the government has ties to the Grimms, your existence will be reported."
The warrior straightened, his tattoos glistening faintly in the moonlight.
"Let them know. I don't hide from oppressors. I want to be the next one to fight. That Hans… his laughter reeks of the same wickedness and arrogance I've crushed before. I want to see his face twisted when I win."
His words were steel, unwavering.
Noah and Lucianne exchanged a troubled glance, then Noah stepped forward, his tone apologetic.
"Lapu-Lapu… forgive us. We already have someone chosen for the second round. You are one of humanity's strongest, one of our aces. We can't risk playing you too early."
For a moment, disappointment flickered in the warrior's eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. He exhaled slowly, crossing his arms.
"I see. A commander saves his best troops for when the battle turns. Wise. I understand… I've made the same decisions myself."
He adjusted the red headband on his forehead and gave a small, knowing nod.
"But when my turn comes… I will not fail. I'll carve victory into Hans's smirk and remind the Grimms that humanity does not kneel."
The weight of his words filled the night. Noah and Lucianne bowed their heads slightly in respect, not to their champion, but to their ally.
In that moment, the lab no longer felt like a fragile secret. It felt like the heart of humanity's rebellion.