Rematch Of Monsters

The sun hung high over the capital, bright and merciless, but the energy in the arena was even hotter. This was the day everyone had been waiting for—the finals of the Grand Tournament. Merchants had shut their shops, farmers left their fields, and nobles filled the best seats they could buy. The roar of the crowd echoed like thunder as the announcer’s voice carried through the coliseum.

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN—our final battle of the day! Two warriors who have carved their way through countless opponents now stand before you! The man known as the monster with no magic, Ren! Versus… the underground legend, the indomitable Skull Crusher!”

The ground shook with cheers.

Ren walked into the arena with steady steps, his plain clothes drenched in sweat but his eyes calm. He could feel the weight of the audience, the excitement, and something else—anticipation. The finals were here, but it didn’t feel like just another fight.

From the other side came Skull Crusher. His massive frame was just as intimidating as Ren remembered, muscles like stone, scars across his chest and arms. He cracked his neck and grinned when he spotted Ren, his booming voice cutting through the noise.

“Well, well… fate’s a funny bastard, isn’t it? Didn’t think I’d see you again, kid. Thought you’d be six feet under after our last fight.”

Ren tightened his fists. He hadn’t forgotten the underground match where Skull Crusher had beaten him bloody, where he realized his body was strong but not invincible—not yet. Seeing him here, as his opponent in the finals, made something burn in his chest.

Before either could step forward, the announcer called for silence. Trumpets blared, and the King himself appeared on a raised platform, waving to the crowd. His voice carried across the arena, grand and commanding.

“Citizens of the kingdom! Today you witness the peak of strength, the clash of two warriors who embody courage and resolve! And to honor this moment… I declare that the champion of this tournament will be granted one wish. Whatever it may be—so long as it lies within my power—it shall be fulfilled!”

The crowd exploded. A wish? The promise of anything, from gold to titles to land. People screamed in disbelief, and whispers spread like wildfire. Ren’s eyes widened. He hadn’t fought for any reward, but now… this could change everything.

As the cheers rolled, Ren noticed something odd. In the corners of the arena, glimmering metallic devices floated mid-air, humming faintly. They looked almost like glass orbs wrapped in runic metal, lenses pointed at the fighters.

“What the hell…?” Ren muttered.

A man dressed in sharp, noble-like clothes with a feathered hat appeared on the stage, holding some kind of speaking device.

“To the entire kingdom and beyond—we bring you the finals LIVE!” he declared, his voice magically amplified. “Thanks to the magic projectors, the fight will be broadcast across the lands! Citizens everywhere, witness history unfold!”

Ren froze for a moment. Broadcast? That meant the entire world would be watching him. Not just the thousands in this arena, but people far beyond—farmers, nobles, adventurers, guilds, maybe even enemies.

The noble man smiled, striding toward the center where Ren and Skull Crusher stood. “Before the match begins, may we have a moment? Stand together, finalists! Let history remember this clash of titans—capture their likeness!”

Assistants rushed out, carrying strange crystal plates that flashed brightly when pointed. One of them gestured for Ren and Skull Crusher to stand shoulder to shoulder.

Skull Crusher laughed, clapping a giant hand on Ren’s shoulder. “Don’t look so stiff, kid. Smile for the crowd—your funeral’s about to be remembered forever!”

Ren clenched his jaw, standing tall. He didn’t smile, but he didn’t flinch either. As the crystals flashed, the crowd roared again, their names being chanted in waves.

The tension was unbearable, the kind of pressure that made the air heavy. Tomorrow, one of them would walk away as champion—and with a wish powerful enough to change lives.

But for now, under the blazing sun, Ren and Skull Crusher stood together, two rivals fated to collide again.

The announcer raised his hand, his voice booming across the coliseum.

“Finals of the Grand Tournament! The stage is set—begin!”

The gong rang.

The arena erupted in cheers, but for Ren and Skull Crusher, the noise faded into the background. They locked eyes, stepping forward slowly, each gauging the other.

Ren’s voice cut through the air, calm but edged with curiosity.

“So, Skull Crusher… what’s your wish? Planning to use it to marry the princess?”

Skull Crusher barked out a laugh, his chest shaking. “Marry? Nah, I don’t need that. My wish is simple—I just want to show the world I’m the strongest. That’s it.”

Ren’s lips tugged into a faint smile. He respected that kind of resolve, but his own determination burned deeper.

The weight of their resolve clashed in the silence between them, heavier than the roar of the crowd.

The finals had begun.

Skull Crusher exploded forward, his fist flying so fast the air cracked. The punch slammed into Ren’s guard, pushing him back a step. The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly.

But then… Skull Crusher’s eyes widened.

“What—?”

Before he could process it, Ren’s fist snapped forward. Clean. Sharp. Perfect.

The punch connected with Skull Crusher’s chest, sending him flying back. His body rolled across the arena before he skidded to a stop, coughing.

He looked up from the ground, stunned, disbelief plastered on his face.

“This… this isn’t the same guy I fought in the underground club…”

Ren stood tall, smiling calmly. His posture was relaxed, but his presence was overwhelming. “You’re right. Back then, I didn’t know how to fight. Now… I do.”

Skull Crusher roared in frustration, charging again. He dove low, snatched Ren’s foot just like he had done in their first fight, and swung him like a ragdoll. Left, right, then up into the air before slamming him down into the ground. The arena trembled under the impact, dust rising.

The crowd gasped.

But as the dust cleared, Ren stood up. He brushed his clothes casually, not a scratch on him. His tone was mocking yet calm.

“Is that all you’ve got?”

A shiver ran through Skull Crusher. Ren wasn’t even fighting seriously.

The truth was simple—Ren had fought things far worse than Skull Crusher. Monsters that made men tremble, enemies who didn’t give second chances. Compared to them, this was almost… child’s play.

And now, the world was watching.

The magical camera devices captured every second, broadcasting the fight across kingdoms. People sat in taverns, homes, and inns, eyes locked on the screens.

In a smoky bar, far from the Immortals’ hidden village, the old village elder sat with a drink in hand, smiling faintly as he watched Ren. “So… you’re finally showing them, boy.”

Elsewhere, enemies who had once clashed with Ren cursed at the sight. Among them were the thugs from the pirate group he had crushed during the early voyage, their faces twisted with anger.

Raiga, the older brother of the Immortals’ chief, watched as well, his fist tightening. He said nothing, but his jaw was clenched.

And in another city, the adventurers from the dungeon raid group cheered loudly. They had seen Ren’s power firsthand, but now the world was finally witnessing it.

The match wasn’t even close. Ren wasn’t fighting to win—he was simply showing that Skull Crusher, once his wall, was no longer even a hurdle.

And the fight had only just begun.

To be continued...