Len set his phone down on the desk.
The room felt quieter than it should have.
Miku watched him for a moment, then walked over and sat on the edge of the bed.
"You're really not worried?" she asked.
Len leaned back in the chair and stared at the ceiling.
"Worried? A little. Scared? No."
He turned his head toward her.
"I've dealt with crowds that scream louder than this arena. The difference is, those crowds don't usually try to kill me."
Miku smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"This place feels wrong," she said softly. "Not just the fights. The whole city. Like it's watching us back."
Len nodded slowly.
"Yeah. I felt it too. When I sang against Parasoul. When Filia almost went too far with Ms. Fortune. Something's paying attention."
He sat up straighter.
"But attention isn't the same as danger. Not yet."
Miku rested her chin on her hand.
"You're still treating this like a stage performance."
Len gave a small shrug.
"Same rules. Read the audience. Don't give them what they expect. And never let them see you sweat."
He stood up and stretched, twin tails swaying lightly.
"Tomorrow's round two. I need to rest."
Miku watched him walk toward the bed.
"You know," she said, voice light but serious underneath, "if things get bad, we call the dragons."
Len paused, then nodded.
"I know. But I'd rather not drag Ilulu and Elma into whatever this is unless I have to."
He climbed into bed and pulled the blanket up.
Miku stayed sitting for a moment longer, then slid in beside him.
She curled against his side, head on his shoulder.
"Just don't be too calm," she whispered. "Even you can break if you push too hard."
Len closed his eyes.
"I won't push alone."
The room lights dimmed automatically.
Outside, New Meridian kept moving — jazz drifting through the streets, fighters preparing for the next day, unseen eyes still watching.
Len's breathing evened out quickly.
Miku stayed awake a little longer, staring at the faint glow of the city through the window.
'He says he's not scared,' she thought.
'But I am.'
Morning arrived with the sound of the tournament announcer echoing through the hotel speakers.
"Fighters, report to the arena. Round two begins in one hour."
Len opened his eyes.
He felt rested. Clear.
Miku was already up, brushing her hair in front of the mirror.
"Ready?" she asked.
Len sat up and rolled his shoulders.
"Ready."
They left the room together and headed down to the arena level.
The hallways buzzed with activity. Fighters moved past them some bandaged from yesterday, others still fresh and eager. Parasoul stood near a corner, umbrella resting against her shoulder. She caught Len's eye and gave a small nod. No words. Just acknowledgment.
Filia was further down the hall, talking quietly with Samson. She looked up when she saw Len and offered a small wave. Her nose still had a faint bruise from yesterday's match.
Len waved back.
As they walked, Miku leaned closer.
"Everyone's looking at you," she whispered.
Len kept his voice low.
"They're looking at both of us. You're Hatsune Miku. I'm just the short guy who sang Parasoul into quitting."
Miku smiled.
"You're not 'just' anything."
They reached the fighter waiting area.
The big screen showed the updated bracket.
Round 2 Matchups
Len scanned the list.
His name wasn't there yet.
Instead, the first match listed was:
**PEACOCK vs BIG BAND**
Len tilted his head.
"…That's going to be loud."
Miku nodded.
A loud voice cut through the room.
"Yo! Pixel Boy!"
Peacock marched over, cartoonish grin wide behind her mask. She had a massive cartoon mallet slung over one shoulder.
"Short King made it to round two! I'm impressed. Thought you'd get flattened by the umbrella lady."
Len smiled calmly.
"She's tougher than she looks."
Peacock laughed.
"Yeah, well, today's my turn to shine. Big Band thinks he can jazz me to death. I'm gonna turn him into a cartoon sound effect."
Big Band stood a few feet away, massive frame rumbling with a low chuckle.
"We'll see about that, kid."
Peacock pointed at Len with her free hand.
"You watch this one, okay? I want a good audience."
Len gave her a thumbs-up.
"Good luck."
Peacock spun on her heel and headed toward the arena entrance.
"Luck is for people who can't summon cartoon bombs!"
Miku watched her go, then turned to Len.
"She's… a lot."
Len chuckled.
"Yeah. But she's honest about it."
The announcer's voice boomed again.
"First match of round two Peacock versus Big Band! Fighters, take your positions!"
The crowd roared as the two stepped out.
Len and Miku found seats near the front of the fighter section.
Len leaned forward, elbows on his knees, eyes focused.
'This is where it gets real,' he thought.
'Not just skill. Not just power.'
'How they break.'
Miku rested a hand on his shoulder.
"Still calm?"
Len nodded once.
"Still calm."
But deep down, the faint hum of the Mother Network pulsed in the back of his mind.
Watching.
Waiting.
And somewhere in the VIP boxes, Vitale Medici smiled as he watched the screen.
"Interesting," he murmured.
"Let's see how the doll handles real chaos."
The bell rang.
Peacock cackled.
Big Band's saxophone case opened with a heavy click.
And the second round began.
The bell rang.
Peacock burst out of her gate with a wild cackle, cartoon mallet already spinning on her shoulder like a propeller.
Big Band walked out slowly, his massive frame rumbling with every step. The saxophone case on his back clicked open with a heavy metallic sound.
The crowd roared.
Peacock pointed her mallet straight at him.
"Ready to get turned into a sound effect, old man?!"
Big Band let out a low, rolling laugh that vibrated through the arena.
"Bring it, cartoon."
Peacock didn't wait.
She swung the mallet and slammed it into the ground. The impact exploded into a cartoonish cloud of smoke and stars. When it cleared, she was already airborne, twin tommy guns materializing in her hands.
"Eat lead, jazz hands!"
She opened fire.
Hundreds of bullets sprayed across the arena in bright yellow streaks, each one leaving a little cartoon trail.
Big Band didn't dodge.
He lifted one massive arm, and the sound of a jazz trumpet blared from his speakers. A wall of compressed air slammed forward, deflecting most of the bullets in a chaotic spray.
Peacock's grin widened.
"That all you got?!"
She tossed the guns aside. They vanished mid-air.
Then she reached behind her back and pulled out a cartoon anvil the size of a car.
The crowd lost it.
Len leaned forward in his seat, eyes narrowed.
'…That's not a robot arm,' he thought. 'That's not even tech.'
Miku noticed his expression.
"What?" she whispered.
Len didn't look away from the fight.
"Her weapons. They're not mechanical. They're not constructs. She's literally pulling cartoons out of thin air and making them real."
In the arena, Peacock hurled the anvil with a gleeful shout.
Big Band sidestepped with surprising speed for his size. The anvil crashed into the floor and exploded into stars and birds.
Peacock was already moving again.
She snapped her fingers.
A giant cartoon safe dropped from above, straight toward Big Band's head.
Big Band raised both arms. Deep bass notes thundered from his speakers, creating a shockwave that knocked the safe off course.
The safe hit the ground and bounced like rubber before vanishing in a puff of smoke.
The crowd was screaming.
Filia, sitting a few rows away, stared with wide eyes.
"She's… she's actually doing cartoon physics. That's insane."
Samson muttered from her hair, "Kid's a walking violation of natural law."
Len kept watching, calm but focused.
'She's not just strong,' he realized. 'She's rewriting the rules while she fights. Every time she pulls something new, the arena lets it happen.'
Peacock laughed louder.
"Come on, Big Band! I want a real fight!"
She reached into her coat and pulled out a comically large bomb with a lit fuse.
Big Band charged.
His saxophone case unfolded into a massive brass instrument. He blew a single, powerful note.
The sound wave hit Peacock dead on, launching her backward.
But she didn't fly helplessly.
Mid-air, she twisted, planted her feet on an invisible platform, and launched herself forward again like a cartoon character ignoring momentum.
She slammed the bomb straight into Big Band's chest.
"Boom time!"
The explosion lit up the entire arena.
Smoke and fire rolled outward.
When it cleared, Big Band stood in the crater, charred but still upright, saxophone dented but playing a low, defiant jazz riff.
Peacock landed lightly, coughing dramatically.
"Ow. Okay. That one actually hurt."
Big Band rumbled with laughter.
"You hit hard, kid. But you're too wild."
Peacock grinned, already reaching behind her back again.
"That's the point, grandpa!"
Len watched the exchange, a small frown forming.
'She's enjoying this,' he thought. 'Not just fighting. She's playing.'
Miku leaned closer.
"She's scary when she gets serious."
Len nodded slowly.
"Yeah. But she's not serious yet."
In the stands, Parasoul watched with narrowed eyes.
'That power… it doesn't follow any known Theonite pattern. It's pure chaos given form.'
Vitale Medici, high in the VIP box, smiled thinly.
"Fascinating. The cartoon girl breaks reality for fun. And the idol boy breaks minds with a song."
He tapped his fingers on the armrest.
"Keep them both alive for now. I want to see what happens when they clash."
Back on the arena floor, Peacock pulled out a giant cartoon hammer again.
Big Band readied another sonic blast.
The crowd chanted louder.
Len sat back, arms crossed, eyes sharp and calm.
'This tournament really doesn't care about limits.'
He glanced sideways at Miku.
"Get ready," he said quietly. "If I have to fight someone like her… it won't be simple."
Miku gave a small nod, her usual cheer tempered by focus.
"I'll be watching."
Down below, Peacock swung the hammer with a gleeful scream.
Big Band met it head-on with a thunderous jazz note.
The arena shook.
And the second round kept rolling, louder and wilder than the first.
The arena shook again as Big Band charged, saxophone case unfolding into a towering brass instrument. A deep, rolling bass note slammed into Peacock like a freight train.
She didn't dodge.
She laughed and spun, cartoon mallet swinging in wide arcs that created shockwaves of their own.
"Try harder, old timer!"
Peacock flicked her wrist. A giant cartoon mallet appeared in her hands again. She smashed it downward, forcing Big Band to block with the saxophone. The impact rang out like a church bell.
The crowd lost their minds.
Filia leaned forward, fists clenched.
"She's turning the whole arena into a cartoon playground!"
Samson hissed, "She's not even trying to kill him. She's just having fun."
Len stayed quiet, eyes locked on the fight.
'She's not just strong,' he thought. 'She's rewriting the physics while she fights. Every time she pulls something new, the crowd expects it.'
Peacock flipped backward and landed on an invisible platform, twin cartoon guns appearing in her hands once more.
She opened fire again.
Hundreds of bright yellow bullets sprayed across the arena in perfect arcs.
Big Band didn't block this time.
He lifted both arms and played a single, powerful chord on the saxophone. The sound wave hit the bullets and turned them into harmless cartoon doves that exploded into sparkles when they hit the ground.
The audience gasped.
Peacock's grin faltered for half a second.
"…Cute."
She snapped her fingers.
The entire ground beneath Big Band transformed into a giant cartoon road. She revved an invisible engine and drove straight at him like a cartoon racer, mallet raised high.
Big Band met her in the middle.
He played another heavy riff. The saxophone case exploded into a wall of sound that pushed Peacock back.
But she wasn't done.
Peacock reached into her coat again and pulled out a giant cartoon yo-yo.
She swung it like a lasso and wrapped the end around Big Band's waist.
"Gotcha!"
Big Band didn't fight the pull.
He simply planted his feet and played one final, earth-shaking bass note.
The yo-yo snapped like a rubber band and launched Peacock straight into the air.
She spun mid-flight, mallet already forming in her hands.
Then she twisted and slammed the mallet down onto the arena floor with everything she had.
The impact created a massive cartoon explosion of stars, smoke, and confetti.
When the dust cleared, Big Band stood in the center of the crater, dented but still playing.
Peacock landed lightly, coughing, mallet in hand.
"Okay… that one actually hurt."
Big Band rumbled with a tired laugh.
"You're a wild one, kid."
Peacock grinned, already reaching for another cartoon weapon.
"Come on, jazz hands! One more!"
The crowd was on its feet, screaming.
Len sat forward, eyes sharp.
'She's not slowing down,' he thought. 'Big Band's power is heavy and direct, but she's matching him blow for blow with pure chaos.'
Miku leaned closer.
"She's not going to stop."
Len nodded once.
"No. She never does."
Peacock swung the mallet again.
Big Band blocked.
The two giants clashed in a whirlwind of sound and cartoon violence.
The arena lights flickered.
The crowd went insane.
And in the VIP boxes, Vitale Medici smiled thinly.
"Beautiful."
The final clash lasted only thirty more seconds.
Peacock pulled out one last cartoon bomb.
She spun it on her finger, grinning wide.
"Eat this, Big Band!"
Big Band raised his saxophone.
He played one last, thunderous note.
The sound wave hit the bomb.
Instead of exploding, the bomb froze mid-air, then turned into a giant cartoon bubble.
Big Band blew the bubble away with another blast.
Peacock laughed as the bubble popped, leaving her completely unharmed.
She flipped backward and landed lightly, mallet lowered.
Big Band stood in the crater, saxophone still playing, breathing heavy.
Peacock dusted herself off.
"That was fun."
Big Band gave a slow nod.
"Best match I've had in weeks."
The announcer's voice boomed.
"Winner of the match — Peacock!"
The crowd erupted.
Peacock threw both arms up, laughing like it was the best day of her life.
Len exhaled slowly.
'She won, but she didn't break him. She just made the fight better.'
Miku sat back.
"She's going to be tough."
Len nodded.
"Yeah. She's going to be a problem."
Far above them, in the VIP box, Lorenzo Medici smiled.
"Interesting."
Vitale leaned forward, eyes gleaming.
"She held back. But the next time… she won't."
Len sat down, watching the next fighters step onto the arena floor.
He felt the faint hum of the Mother Network in the back of his mind.
Watching.
Waiting.
And somewhere in the stands, Parasoul watched him with narrowed eyes.
The tournament had just become a lot more interesting.
To be continue
Hope people like this Ch and Give me power stones and enjoy