Chapter 13: Unmasking the Beast
The tournament arena was bathed in cold, artificial light, casting long shadows across the bloodstained floor. The crowd's roars were deafening, but Ryo could barely hear them. His focus was singular, his gaze locked on the figure standing before him. The fighter across from him was monstrous, a hulking silhouette that loomed larger than any opponent he had faced before. Its eyes glowed with a faint, unsettling light, and its skin was mottled with strange, patchy textures, as though it had been stitched together by something unnatural. The serum had twisted this man beyond recognition, turning him into something more beast than man.
Ryo could feel the weight of the fight ahead of him. Every fight in the tournament had been a battle for survival, but this one felt different. This was more than just physical strength—it was the darkness within him that called out to him, urging him to embrace it. It was the price of power, the toll the serum took on a person's soul. And as Ryo stared at the beast before him, he could feel it pulling at him.
The crowd's chants grew louder, their excitement reaching a fever pitch. The fight was about to begin.
The announcer's voice boomed through the speakers, but Ryo barely heard it. He only heard the thudding of his own heartbeat as he prepared to face the monster in front of him. The beast was taller than any opponent he had encountered, its muscles swollen to unnatural proportions. Its face was partially covered in a mask of mangled flesh and scars, the result of the serum's twisted effects. There was no humanity left in it. There was only hunger.
"Begin!"
The signal was given, and the beast lunged. Ryo barely had time to react. The fighter's massive arms swung at him with the force of a wrecking ball, forcing him to dodge and roll away. The air smelled of sweat, blood, and the faint metallic scent of the serum that coursed through their veins. Every move the beast made was calculated, an extension of the monstrous power granted by the serum. It wasn't just fighting—it was instinct, primal and unchecked.
Ryo's body screamed in protest as he moved, every step more painful than the last. The serum had granted him strength, but it was a double-edged sword. With each use, his body and mind were eroded, slowly becoming something less human. He had always fought to protect Ren, but now, as he stood on the edge of a fight that could break him, he wondered how much of himself he could lose before he became no better than the monster before him.
The beast's eyes locked onto him, its savage instincts fully awakened. The creature seemed to sense his hesitation, and it surged forward, a blur of rage and strength. Its claws tore through the air, aiming for Ryo's throat. Ryo barely managed to twist his body out of the way, the razor-sharp claws grazing his cheek, leaving a burning trail of pain. He stumbled back, his feet sliding against the slick floor, and for the first time in the tournament, doubt crept into his mind.
This opponent was different. It wasn't like the others. This was something that the serum had twisted beyond recognition. This was a fighter who had lost everything—his humanity, his sanity—and in his place stood an unrelenting beast.
Ryo's breath hitched as he scanned the beast's form, trying to find a weakness, a way to defeat it. But there was nothing. The serum had enhanced its strength to such an extent that Ryo wasn't sure he could win. It was too fast, too powerful. He was no longer sure if he could rely solely on his physical prowess. The real battle was against the darkness that the serum had awakened within him.
The beast lunged again, its movements a blur of speed. Ryo dodged to the side, his heart racing as he instinctively shifted his weight to avoid being caught in the creature's deadly grip. He could hear the sound of the creature's heavy breathing as it closed in, its rage building. This was no longer just a fight for survival. This was a battle of wills, of who would break first.
Ryo's muscles screamed as he pushed himself forward, meeting the beast with a flurry of strikes. His fist connected with the creature's side, the blow landing with a sickening thud. The beast staggered back, but it didn't fall. It recovered almost instantly, its eyes narrowing as it snarled in fury.
With every strike Ryo delivered, he could feel the pull of the serum's power growing stronger. It was a seductive force, urging him to push harder, to let go of any restraint. It whispered to him that strength was the only thing that mattered, that the pain and fatigue were nothing compared to the power he could possess. But Ryo knew better. He had seen firsthand what the serum could do to a person. It didn't just enhance strength—it consumed the soul.
The beast before him was proof of that.
Ryo's vision blurred with fatigue, but he forced himself to stay focused. This fight wasn't just for him—it was for Ren. He could still hear his brother's voice in his mind, a whisper that spurred him on.
"Ryo, remember our promise."
The words echoed through his thoughts, a reminder of who he was fighting for. He couldn't lose himself here. Not in this fight. Not like the others.
The beast roared in fury and swung again. Ryo ducked just in time, narrowly avoiding the monster's massive fist. He knew it was only a matter of time before the beast's unrelenting assault would wear him down. His muscles were sore, his body drained, and the serum's power was starting to take its toll. He could feel it pulling at him, gnawing at the edges of his sanity.
But he wouldn't give in.
Ryo took a deep breath and planted his feet firmly, his eyes narrowing as he prepared for his final move. The beast lunged once more, but this time, Ryo was ready. He sidestepped, using the beast's momentum against it, and landed a devastating blow to the creature's side. The force of the punch was enough to send the beast stumbling back, its monstrous form crashing to the ground.
For a moment, everything went still. The crowd's roars faded, the lights blurred into a haze. Ryo stood over the fallen fighter, his chest heaving with exhaustion. His body ached, his mind screamed at him, but he had done it. The beast was down, and he was still standing.
But as the arena erupted into deafening cheers, a sinking feeling gnawed at Ryo's stomach. The battle was won, but the victory felt hollow. The serum had cost him something—something he couldn't name. It was as though every punch he had thrown, every drop of sweat and blood he had spilled, had pulled him further from the person he used to be. There was no denying it now. The serum had changed him.
He wiped the sweat from his brow and slowly turned away from the fallen beast. The cheers of the crowd still echoed in his ears, but they felt distant, almost like they were coming from another world. His mind was already on the next fight, the next opponent, the next step in his journey.
But even as he walked off the arena floor, a deep unease lingered in his chest. The serum was more powerful than he had imagined, and with each passing moment, it became harder to tell where the serum ended and where he began.
It wasn't just the physical toll. It was the toll on his soul, the part of him that still remembered who he was, who he used to be. The power was intoxicating, but at what cost?
For now, he had won. But the real battle was still ahead of him. The serum had taken so much already. How much more could he give before there was nothing left?
He didn't know.
But he couldn't stop. Not yet. Not when Ren was still out there, waiting for him to find him.
The crowd continued to cheer, but Ryo's thoughts were already far away. The tournament was far from over, and with every fight, he could feel himself slipping further into the abyss. The price of strength was steep, and he didn't know if he could afford it.
He wiped the blood from his hands, his mind made up. The beast had fallen. But the real fight—his fight—was just beginning.