( The next day, Terra Nova Online )
Luke decided to take no risks in reaching the match arena after the incident yesterday as he flew all guild members to the fight location on his Griffin.
First, he dropped Cervantez to the North Arena and later flew himself and Tor to the south arena, as they were both scheduled to fight there.
For the first time ever, Luke came face to face with The Boss as he found the enigmatic player lurking in one corner of the warm-up room by himself.
"That's the boss?" Luke asked Tor, who kept glaring holes in his direction.
"Yes, that's him…. The number one player" Tor said, as Luke studied him intently.
Currently he was leaning against a wall with his arms folded and his eyes closed, however, although he seemed to be asleep, his aura felt as if he were alert.
"He doesn't look as intimidating in real life" Luke muttered, as somehow he did not feel awestruck in the presence of The Boss.
The way others talked about him, especially Cervantez and Tor, gave Luke the impression that The Boss was some sort of a mythical fighter, however, now that he actually stood in his presence, Luke did not think that he was all that special either.
**********
' *Sigh* Why is brother here?' Leo wondered, as he closed his eyes and leaned against a wall.
While he could be arrogant in front of anyone else, he could not be rude in front of his brother even if it were an act.
He was comfortable in shrinking anyone else down to size, even if that anyone was the Emperor, however, when it came to his brother and mother, Leo knew that he would fumble up his act.
However, while he silently pledged to avoid his brother, the big brainless oaf alongside his brother seemed to have other plans.
"It seems like we meet again" Tor said as he walked up to Leo and placed his hand on the same wall Leo was leaning against, trying to intimidate him.
"Your breath stinks….. move away" Leo replied, as he lightly tapped Tor on his chest.
Taken aback, Tor embarrassedly moved back, as Leo moved out of the corner he was leaning in.
"Hey I'm talking to you-" Tor said, however, true to his nature, Leo did not respond to him as he walked over to the other corner of the room and leaned against it, closing his eyes once more.
"You see that? You see that Skylion? That's why I hate him…. His attitude sucks" Tor complained to Luke, as Leo momentarily opened his eyes as if intending to say something, but then closed it back again.
"Calm down Tor….. he's just trying to get in your head" Luke said as he tried to calm down the barbarian, who seemed worked up about Leo's attitude before the fight even began.
"I'm not trying to get in his head… I already live there permanently, rent free-" Leo said, adding fuel to the fire as now Tor actually felt enraged.
"Do you even realize what a mega star you are? Do you even realize how many low level kids look up to you?
Whenever I say anything against you on the global forums, your fans come hound me in the comments.
You are the biggest star in this game, yet your attitude is not worthy of them.
I pity the weaker players who have you as your idol, because the day they actually try to talk to you, I'm sure you won't even spare them a glance" Tor said, venting his anger in front of Leo, who chuckled listening to his words.
"So that's why you hate me….. because I'm more popular than you? Hahahaha" Leo chuckled, as Tor felt on the edge of popping a vein.
"When did I ask for fans? When did I ask for fame? To me those things don't matter. Just like how you as an opponent don't matter to me.
I owe nothing to my fans, so spare your morality lecture for someone who cares" Leo said domineeringly, as before Tor could respond to his jibe, Luke did.
"Sorry to interrupt, but, you're wrong. Feel free to hide behind the mask you're wearing. Feel free to make arrogant remarks because you're strong. But do yourself a favor and don't think you're fooling anyone by your speech.
I atleast can see through you...
The way you hype up the crowd, the way you celebrate with them.
You do care about what they say.
You care a lot" Luke said, as Leo smiled under his mask when his brother said this.
He wasn't wrong at all, Leo did really care about what the crowd thought about him but not because he cared for the crowd itself.
He cared what the crowd thought of him, because his survival was linked to it, however, despite not knowing the reason, his brother's analysis was on point.
"Wow, I've never seen him so speechless, SkyLion you are awesome!" Tor said in joy as he was shocked to see The Boss having shut his mouth.
However, Luke only shook his head and patted Tor on the back asking him to calm down.
Soon, the match official entered the warm-up room as he declared the rules of the match today.
"Today's match is going to be fought in the new quicksand arena.
This arena is designed to be a five foot deep quicksand, so don't worry even if you start sinking as at worst you will be buried up to your chest in it, however, you won't drown and die" He said, as both Luke and Leo squinted their eyes when the match official declared that the arena was non lethal, knowing full well that the quicksand was not the only feature of this ground.
"At the center of the quicksand arena will be a pond, with approximately one meter thick boundary walls that are made of solid brick.
A sort of safezone that you can go to if you don't wish to fight on the quicksand, however, beware that although the edge of the pond is solid, within the pond itself lurks a dangerous crocodile monster" The match official warned as both Luke and Leo slapped their foreheads at the same time listening to this explanation.
If there is an alligator ready to jump out and eat you, then of course the pond boundary can't be considered safe, however, the dumb match officials could only follow the script they were given.
"This match cannot be won via an arena out, and can only be won by incapacitation or surrender.
There is no penalty for killing your opponent, however, restraint is advised…" The match official said, looking towards Leo in particular.
In his previous match, Leo had brutally injured his opponent, a situation that had led to the death of the Principal of the swordsmanship academy.
"Please show restraint, contestant, the whole swordsmanship academy is sitting in the stands today, ready to chop you down.
The Emperor had to deploy the Royal Guards to ensure your security.
I don't nearly get paid enough for this mess…" the match official personally requested Leo when he noticed that Leo did not adequately respond to his first subtle warning.
Nodding, Leo took note of his warning, prompting the match official to let out a deep sigh.
He had been unfortunate enough to be the one officiating Leo's previous match and had been reprimanded severely by senior government officials for his inability to find the assassin that killed the Principal.
"Anyways, the first fight is between contestants The Boss and Tor. So please make your way to the arena one at a time" The match official said, before turning to leave the warm-up tunnel.
"You're going down…." Tor said confidently as he walked out of the warm up tunnel first, amidst a mixed reaction of heavy Boo's and Cheer's from the crowd.
"All the best-" Luke said, looking at The Boss, as Leo loosened his shoulders and prepared to walk out as per his usual routine.
"Thanx-" Leo replied, as he walked out to the South Park Arena, amidst a deafening reaction from the crowd.
*Boss* *Boss* *Boss*
One section of the crowd, filled with the commoners cheered for him as usual as Leo waved towards them in acknowledgement.
"I'LL KILL YOU! PRINCIPAL GARP WAS LIKE A FATHER TO ME. I'LL KILL YOU, YOU PATHETIC PIECE OF SCUM"
"HOW DARE YOU INJURE BONUCCI, HE IS OUR ACADEMY'S GENIUS- HOW DARE YOU LOWLIFE HARM HIM?"
"BONUCCI IS MY ONE TRUE LOVE, I CURSE YOU WITH A BROKEN HEART, MAY YOU SUFFER AS MUCH AS HE IS RIGHT NOW"
An entire section of the crowd was filled with only sword academy students today, who were holding massive banners in protest of The Boss.
They wanted him to either lose humiliatingly or be disqualified from the grand tournament, as they blamed him for the death of their Principal.
Yesterday a massive delegation of Sword Academy Professor's and other nobles had requested an audience with the Emperor to convince him to disqualify The Boss, however, once the Emperor's closest advisors told him about how Leo was extremely popular with the masses and how disqualifying him when he broke no official rule would lead to backlash, the Emperor refused their request and even sent Royal Guards to ensure Leo's safety within the tournament.
This decision enraged the sword academy to no end, who decided to show their protest by filling out an entire stand with students and professors, however, while they aimed to intimidate Leo, they unfortunately failed spectacularly in doing so.
Laughing while pointing towards them and blowing kisses at people who were cursing him the loudest, Leo behaved in an unruly way as he outright mocked the sword academy.
"Madman….. even after I specifically requested him to not endanger his life and mine by taunting the crowd, he's still doing it" the match official murmured as he shook his head in dismay.
He could see the sword academy students losing their temper.
Ready to draw their swords and start a riot.
However, despite their blatant animosity, The Boss remained unaffected.