Chapter 202: Bracket Chaos

Chapter 202: Bracket Chaos

Back in the stadium.

The teams that made it through the Chaos Dungeon stand in the arena and look over at Zonbi at her announcer desk.

“I’d like to have your attention,” Zonbi announces. “We can confirm that exactly 11 teams made it through the Chaos Dungeon with at least one member remaining, so 5 teams were completely wiped.”

“So, what does that mean for us if our opposing team was completely wiped?” a male participant asks.

“The bracket will undergo some changes,” Zonbi replies before grinning. “It’s all part of the chaos, bracket chaos that is.”

“I don’t like this…” Emily mumbles to herself.

Zonbi continues. “For now, we will start the next round with two teams who were already slated to fight. Team ‘Heaven’s Destiny’ and Team ‘Rockers’, you will fight first.”

The other teams begin leaving the arena, leaving only Zeth, Sasha, Emily, Keith, and two people on the opposing team. One is a humanoid male demon whose gray skin is covered with zigzagging purple face paint. His puffy blue-dyed hair extends down to his lower back. He is clothed only with a black leather vest and blue jeans.

Team “Rockers” – Golsh. Magic Rank – High C-Rank.

The other one is also a humanoid male demon with dark red skin, wearing a torn simple black T-shirt with an electric guitar designed on it. Unlike his teammate, he is significantly injured from making it through the Chaos Dungeon.

Team “Rockers” – Wok. Magic Rank – Middle C-Rank.

“Their captain didn’t make it?” Zeth asks.

Zonbi nods. “That is correct. You may now decide amongst yourselves on who will fight first.”

Golsh steps forward. “My teammate isn’t doing so hot so I guess it’s me by default.”

Emily looks at her teammates. “Let me handle this one.”

“Fine with me,” Keith replies. “I’ll take on the other one if he can even fight anymore.”

“Just don’t be afraid to surrender if it comes to it, Emily,” Zeth says. “That would be preferable to you not being available for the next round.”

“I will keep that in mind,” Emily replies.

Emily walks toward the center of the ring to meet Golsh. The rest of “Heaven’s Destiny” walks out of the arena, and so does Wok.

“The second round of the tournament shall now begin!” Zonbi announces. “The first match is Emily versus Golsh.” She smirks. “But of course, we can’t forget the chaos.”

The arena begins transforming. Slowly, a structure rises and takes shape along the outer edge, magically forming into a glass building. Within the building, numerous plants magically spawn in, leaving only a handful of walking lanes without plants.

“Is this a greenhouse?” Emily asks.

“That’s exactly what it is!” Zonbi replies. “You may now begin!”

Golsh holds out his arms, magic energy begins to form an electric guitar in his hands.

Emily stares curiously. “An electric guitar?”

“Indeed,” Golsh replies matter-of-factly. “But it’s not your ordinary electric guitar.”

He sweeps his fingers across the guitar’s strings.

Emily’s eyes widen just before she is blown back into some plants. She rubs her head as she sits up. “I didn’t see anything, yet I clearly got hit.”

Unbeknownst to her, a plant slithers around her as she keeps her focus on Golsh, who is still standing in his starting spot.

“How did you hit me?” Emily asks.

“I have no intention of telling my opponent how my power works,” Golsh replies sternly.

Emily thinks, “Duh, of course he wasn’t going to tell me. We watched their first-round matches but I didn’t see this guy use an electric guitar in it. This sucks…”

Suddenly, plant stalks fully wrap around her body, as a large plant head rises and opens its mouth like a Venus flytrap.

“What the…!” Emily shrieks.

***

Back in the stadium’s halls.

Kurt and Joe continue peeking around the corner, watching Glen continuously whip Nick.

“Come on, spill de beans!” Glen mocks as he whips Nick. “Who paid you off?!”

“For the last time, no one paid me off!!” Nick screams in agony.

Back by the corner, Joe grips the corner tightly as he whispers, “I can’t stand this. We have to act.”

“Careful, we don’t know how strong that guy is,” Kurt whispers in reply.

Joe fully turns the corner and starts slowly walking. “Then let’s get in a sneak attack.”

As they get closer to the interrogation room, Glen halts his whipping assault. He puts his cigar back between his lips as he smiles. “My, my. Dis place is full of rats. You two bozos are wasting your time.”

Joe and Kurt widen their eyes, realizing their sneak attack opportunity is dead. They rush into the room, slamming the door shut behind them, and throw punches. However, Glen quickly turns around and blocks both punches with his arm. Joe and Kurt frown in surprise while Glen grins. Glen grabs Joe by the back of his head, thrusts his knee into Joe’s gut, causing him to cough up a mix of saliva and blood, and finally kicks him back against a wall. Kurt tries to attack in the process but Glen slams his arm into Kurt’s shoulder, blowing him into a different wall.

Glen removes his cigar and blows out a puff of smoke. “Are dese acquaintances of yours, Nick? But dey seem to be tournament contestants. Dey must be here to rescue you.”

“Why risk this…?” Nick mumbles quietly in between heavy breaths.

“Hmm?” Glen hums as he turns toward Nick. “So, dat confirms it. Dey must be part of de organization paying you off.”

Joe and Kurt struggle to their feet.

“That was only a warm-up,” Joe mutters in between deep breaths.

“Yeah…” Kurt starts. “I just needed to loosen up my arm a bit.”

Glen shakes his head. “Faking confidence will get you nowhere.”

A fight deep within the forbidden halls breaks out as the second round commences.

Chapter 202 END

To be Continued in Chapter 203: Stop the Music