A Spectacular Entrance - Great Encounter Battle Arc

And so finally, the Great Encounter Battle Tournament had reached its final four contestants. Tomokazu Onuki, the son of the God of Hope.

Blossoming Flower, the mysterious fighter who was in possession of an ice blade.

Hiroshi Akuma, the man determined to take on all eight Gods by himself at the same time.

And Bibi.

Hiroshi’s ears picked up when he heard that name. Out of the final four, she was the only one that he hadn’t laid eyes on yet. He was way too focused on Tomokazu and Blossoming Flower. He folded his arms and leaned against one of the stands of the arena, listening to Alexander’s next announcement.

“Thank you for your undivided attention, my beautiful audience! The Semi-Finals will now begin shortly! Can Tomokazu Onuki and Bibi please come up to the main stage!”

Hiroshi’s eyes followed Tomokazu closely. He still had that stupid smile on his face that Hiroshi was only itching to wipe off. However, he also noticed the cold nature in his eyes. As if he wasn’t as happy or content as he made it out to be. Tomokazu looked in the direction of Hiroshi, and they locked their eyes with each other. Almost simultaneously, both sets of eyes narrowed in disgust.

Hiroshi shivered and looked towards the other side of the arena, where a young woman was standing. 

She had the same brown hair as Tomokazu, but it was much longer, going down to her hips. She had blue eyes that were the color of a sapphire and accompanied that with a silly grin. She had almost no fringe also, with bangs hanging down each side of her face.

Underneath her eyes were black shadows, and Hiroshi couldn’t tell if it was makeup or if she was extremely fatigued.

The only thing that was unusual about her were her clothes. She wore a typical T-shirt and cargo pants, but she had some sort of buzzer on her hands, and a big mechanism on her chest with a hole. Hiroshi lifted an eyebrow.

“Hey, what you think her deal is?” Hiroshi asked Kuro-Yami, who was sitting back comfortably in his brain. “Is that usual attire for this world?”

“Not at all, my friend. She looks like a strange one to me,” Kuro-Yami responded with complete honesty. “I think by seeing her fighting style, you will understand.”

“What?! How do you know her fighting style and I don’t?”

“Because I am literally in your brain and soul. I can see everything all the time, even when you are not paying attention.”

“That - doesn’t exactly makes me comfortable.”

“How you think I feel?”

Tomokazu faced Bibi, took his stance, and drew his blade. He looked intensely at her. Hiroshi was surprised that Tomokazu wasn’t giving her a chance at all. He wasn’t going to hold back. It looked as if it was going to be a total slaughter. 

Alexander swung his arm downwards to signal the start of the Semi-Finals. Tomokazu went with the same tactic he used to defeat Ali the Boxer, rushing forward at a breakneck speed. The young woman, who was around Hiroshi and Wisteria’s age, pointed her right arm to the ground, her palm open, waiting for the right moment.

“What is she doing? She just going to let him kill her?” Hiroshi gasped.

It was anything but.

At the very last moment, just as Tomokazu was about to land a devastating diagonal slash from Bibi’s shoulder to her waist, her left palm shot out an explosive, launching her up in the air several feet. Hiroshi’s mouth flew open in surprise. 

Almost as if the action was in slow motion, she did a sidewards flip, aiming her opposite hand at Tomokazu, who was now facing away from her. Another explosive came from her hand, blowing Tomokazu across the arena.

Tomokazu planted his feet, trying his best to stay in bounds. His right foot fell off the edge, but using the momentum, he spun his leg around and got himself back on the platform. He fell to his hand on knees, his heart beating.

He looked up. The woman had already covered the distance, and her fist was only a few inches from punching Tomokazu out the arena. Using his reflexes swiftly, he managed to block the attack with his sword just in time. He smiled at her, looking deep into her soul.

“Oh, you’re a clever woman, aren’t you?” he smirked. “However, you will still be no match for me.”

The woman laughed at him.

“We will see about that, won’t we?” she said, unclenching his fist against his blade, revealing her palm once more. Tomokazu jumped forward over Bibi’s head just in time before another explosive let fly. He landed on his feet, with one laying outward for balance.

The woman looked behind her, giving Tomokazu a side eye, and having the biggest grin on her face.

“You’re so much fun,” she giggled. “Why don’t we make this a fight to the death, God’s child?”

Hiroshi continued spectating, absolutely dumbfounded at the spectacle taking place.

“Kuro-Yami?”

“Yes, Hiroshi?”

“What is your biggest fear?”

“Hmm...,” the Demon of Darkness thought. “I suppose I don’t really have any fears at all. Fighting for yourself and by yourself for as long as I have makes you kind of immune to any forms of fear. If I had to say one, it would be death, and not knowing what happens after you die. Why, what’s your greatest fear, Hiroshi?”

“Women.”

“Understandable.”

Alexander and the crowd couldn’t get enough of the match currently taking place in front of their very eyes.

“It seems as if this civilian has challenged the Tomokazu Onuki to a battle to the death! I hope you are just as excited as I am, my glorious spectators! Let us revel in this fun!” Alexander blasted into the microphone.

The crowd could not stop cheering.