The Grand Entrance
As the Immortals stepped into the colossal Multiversal Arena, a deafening roar of excitement filled the air. The audience, made up of countless beings from across different realms, timelines, and dimensions, cheered with unmatched energy.
The sheer magnitude of the stadium left even the strongest warriors in awe. The arena stretched across what seemed like infinite space, its battlefields shifting dynamically to accommodate the immense power of its fighters.
Bolt whistled. "This is unreal… Look at all these fighters!"
Flair smirked. "Some of them look weak, but don't underestimate them. In a tournament like this, even the smallest opponent might hold terrifying power."
Lisa nodded. "We need to be careful. We don't know what kind of beings we'll be facing."
As they observed their competition, the announcer's voice suddenly echoed throughout the arena, capturing everyone's attention.
---
L's Unexpected Recognition
"WELCOME, FIGHTERS, TO THE MULTIVERSAL TOURNAMENT!"
The crowd erupted into cheers once again. The Immortals prepared themselves, expecting the usual tournament introductions. But then—
"BEFORE WE BEGIN, WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST AMONG US!"
The entire stadium fell into a stunned silence.
"PLEASE GIVE A GRAND WELCOME TO THE ONE WHO SAVED THE MULTIVERSE FROM ARCHON… L!!!"
A wave of gasps and whispers filled the arena. Even the Immortals, who already knew of L's past, were slightly surprised by the sudden announcement.
Gray turned to L. "Did you know about this?"
L, as always, remained calm, his expression unreadable. "Of course."
Lisa sighed. "Why does that not surprise me?"
The crowd erupted into applause and cheers, many warriors whispering among themselves.
"So he's the one who saved the multiverse?"
"He doesn't even look that strong."
"If he's that powerful, why isn't he fighting?"
L simply smiled as the announcer continued.
"IN HONOR OF HIS ACHIEVEMENTS, WE INVITE L TO JOIN US IN THE GRAND JUDGE'S CABIN AS A SPECIAL OBSERVER FOR THE TOURNAMENT!"
The Immortals turned to L, expecting him to refuse. But to their surprise, L nodded and accepted the role without hesitation.
"Fine. I'll watch."
With that, L calmly walked away, joining the high-ranking judges in their observation cabin above the arena.
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The Arena Reacts – Archon's Presence
As L took his seat, the crowd's energy suddenly shifted.
Gasps and murmurs spread like wildfire.
They had noticed Archon.
Fear filled the eyes of many spectators as they remembered his past destruction. Some even seemed ready to flee the stadium, believing Archon was here to resume his conquest.
One audience member shouted, "WHAT IS ARCHON DOING HERE?!"
Another panicked voice yelled, "HE'S GOING TO DESTROY US ALL!"
Sensing the unease, Gray, Oak, and Lisa stepped forward.
Oak raised his hand, silencing the growing chaos.
"Calm yourselves! Archon is not an enemy anymore!"
Lisa added, "He has changed. He is here to fight fairly, just like the rest of us."
Bolt smirked. "And if he tries anything… we'll take him down again."
The audience hesitated, but after seeing L's calm demeanor, they slowly relaxed.
Archon, standing silently, acknowledged their acceptance with a slight nod. Though he still hid the truth about L, he was relieved that his presence had been explained.
---
The First Battle: Bolt vs. Speed Star
With the tensions eased, the announcer officially began the tournament.
"AND NOW, FOR OUR FIRST MATCH…!"
The crowd cheered wildly. The battlefields began shifting, creating the first combat zone—a flat, steel-covered arena meant for speed-based combat.
"BOLT VS. SPEED STAR!"
Bolt stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "Tch. First fight already? Guess I'll give them a show."
On the opposite side, his opponent appeared—a tall, lean warrior wrapped in pure white armor, pulsating with an aura of extreme speed.
"I am Speed Star," the warrior announced. "Let's see if you can keep up."
The crowd erupted with excitement as the two speed-based fighters prepared for battle.
---
The Battle Begins!
"BEGIN!"
BOOM!
In a split second, both warriors vanished.
To the untrained eye, the battlefield appeared empty. But to those who could sense energy—a terrifying clash of power was unfolding at light-speed.
The air cracked and shattered as their movements tore through space itself. Shockwaves rippled across the stadium, sending gusts of wind blowing into the crowd.
Flair narrowed her eyes. "Damn. They're fast."
Lyra nodded. "Even I can barely keep up."
Above, in the judge's cabin, L watched silently.
"This is nothing yet."
As the battle continued, Speed Star smirked. "Not bad, but let's see how you handle this—SPEED BREAKER!"
A sudden explosion of golden energy erupted from Speed Star as he pushed his speed even further, becoming almost untouchable.
But Bolt simply grinned.
"You think you're fast? Watch this."
In an instant, Bolt's entire body surged with electricity, his movements becoming unstoppable.
"LIGHTNING SURGE – MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE!"
A devastating thunderclap exploded across the battlefield as Bolt vanished in a streak of blue lightning—reappearing behind Speed Star before he could react.
BAM!
One punch to the gut—and it was over.
Speed Star's eyes widened in shock. "W-What…?"
BOOM!
A massive shockwave sent Speed Star flying across the battlefield, slamming him into the ground with tremendous force.
The stadium fell silent for a moment.
Then—
"THE WINNER IS BOLT!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, chanting Bolt's name.
The Immortals grinned, satisfied with their first victory.
Bolt smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Too easy."
Above, L watched with interest. He had no doubt that Bolt was strong—but he knew this tournament was far from over.
The real battles had yet to begin.
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To Be Continued…