The day that those that had passed through the Qualifying Rounds would begin their one-on-one battles had arrived.
The Coliseum was packed with people, and when the countdown for the start of the tournament ended, the lights inside the Coliseum disappeared, leaving everyone in complete darkness.
However, before everyone could panic, a booming voice spread in the surroundings, and a spotlight was shot towards the floating platform that hovered at the right-side edge of the arena.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming to the Lionheart Tournament!" Bruno's voice spread across the entire Coliseum. "Are you ready to see some exciting battles?!"
""We're ready!""
"I can't hear you!"
""We're ready!!!""
Bruno smiled as he raised his hand to tell everyone to allow him to continue his speech.
"Today, we are going to witness the strongest warriors of the young generation," Bruno said. "First of all, let me introduce the referee that will facilitate today's battles. Everyone, give a round of applause to Judge Dredd!"
Suddenly, a giant fireball materialized at the center of the venue, making everyone gasp in surprise. A moment later, the fireball transformed into a phoenix that flew around the Coliseum, making the crowd cheer, and clap their hands in delight.
With a resounding screech, the Phoenix dove down at the center of the arena, exploding into a shower or sparks.
It didn't take long before a good looking, chubby man, who seemed to be in his early thirties, appeared in front of everyone. He was wearing a red robe, and yet he looked so fine, and dandy that some of the younger ladies giggled after seeing him.
"""Judge Dredd!"""
"""Judge Dredd!"""
"""Judge Dredd!"""
"""Judge Dredd!"""
Judge Dredd smiled and bowed at the audience, making them give him another thunderous round of applause.
"Everyone, it is my great honor to serve as the judge for today's contestants," Judge Dredd said in a light-hearted tone. "Well then, without further delay, let me introduce the two contestants that will fight for supremacy. On my right corner, the Barbarian Prince of the Vado Kingdom, and one of the Four Kings that represents the Young Generation, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome…
"Einar Mordosk!"
The lights of the arena then focused on the young man who was two-meters tall, and was wearing nothing on the upper part of his body, leaving the tattoo of what seemed like Tiger with its maws opened wide, bare for all to see.
Everyone saw the bulging muscles of his body and was awed by the intimidating presence he was radiating.
He was none other than Einar Mordosk. The second son of the Barbarian King, as well as one of the strongest members of the young generation. Many had tried to dethrone him from his position, and claim his title, but all of them had failed, almost losing their lives at the hands of the man who could break boulders with a single punch.
After stepping into the arena, Einar pointed at one of the VIP platforms in the Coliseum.
There, an old lady, a blue-haired beauty, and a red-headed teenager sat.
"I dedicate my first victory to you, Iris!" Einar shouted. "When this tournament is over, you will become my wife!"
Iris, who had become the center of everyone's attention, only hugged the red-headed teenager beside her, and the latter hugged her back.
Seeing the familiar Half-Elf sticking close to the young lady he had been courting for many years, Einar could only smirk in ridicule because Lux was no longer a threat to him. Since a Saint had made a declaration, he was certain that even if the red-headed teenager cried a river in protest, Alexander's words would remain firm.
"Wow! What a chad!" Bruno shouted after hearing Einar's declaration. "The Barbarian Prince had already declared that he is going to be victorious in his first match. Since that is the case, Judge Dredd, please, introduce his opponent!"
The chubby judge nodded his head and pointed his finger towards the right side of the arena and read the card in his hand that contained the information of the challenger who would fight Einar.
"Hailing from the Southern Regions of Solais, our contender has managed to pass through the Qualifying Matches with flying colors and show everyone, including me, that he is a force to reckon with.
"No matter how high the mountains, or how deep the sea, this man will cross it and gain victory! Everyone, please welcome… My Daddy!"
The crowds that were about to applaud the next contestant glanced at the referee in the arena with disdain.
All of them knew that this was a battle for the younger generation, and yet, the Judge who facilitated the match had chosen to call his daddy to fight teenagers?
How shameless!
""Boooooo!""
""Boooooo!""
""Boooooo!""
The sounds of booing spread across the Coliseum as everyone, as a flabbergasted Judge Dredd double checked the card in his hand to make sure that he didn't read wrongly.
Iris, who sat at the topmost VIP room giggled and hugged "Lux", while Vera could only shake her head helplessly.
When Lux was choosing a name that he would use for the tournament, he wanted to play a prank on everyone. Because of this, the name he chose was someone that would be remembered by anyone that heard it.
"Um, I'm not talking about My Daddy," Judge Dredd said as he tried to pacify the crowd who was booing at him. "The name of the contestant is none other than My Daddy, I am not making this up!"
Suddenly the spotlight shifted to the right side of the arena, highlighting a chubby boy that was standing with his hands behind his back.
His robes fluttered in the breeze as if he was an expert warrior who had seen the peak of the world, and had endured thousands of tribulations.
Orion, whose head appeared above the ground, was blowing air towards his Master, in order to make him look cool. Since the head of the Rock Golem was not being hit by the spotlight, it created the perfect illusion that the chubby boy was someone quite intimidating.
Bruno, Judge Dredd, as well as the other Rankers in the arena, including the powerful officials of the Six Kingdoms, couldn't stop their lips from twitching because they could clearly see the shenanigans that were happening in the background.
In the end, they didn't say anything because they were thinking that this was the chubby teenager's last hurrah. Since he wanted to show off before his defeat, they would just turn a blind eye on it for the sake of everyone's entertainment.
A minute later, Lux stepped forward, and Orion rose up from the ground to meet him. The chubby boy then sat on the shoulder of the four-meter tall Rock Golem, and allowed himself to be carried into the arena where his opponent was waiting for him.
The Rock Golem continued to walk until he was standing only a meter away from Einar, who looked up to the chubby boy that was seated on the Golem's shoulders.
"That's right, look up to me," Lux said as he looked down at the Barbarian who towered over him a day ago. "Take a good look at the true victor of this first match. When this match is over, I'll let you have the honor of calling me Daddy as well."
Lux was doing this as payback for what Einar had done to him the other day. Since the Barbarian had looked down on him, it was now his time to look down on him by sitting on the shoulder of a giant.
"""Whoa!"""
The audience cheered after hearing Lux's declaration. They didn't think that someone would be daring enough to tell Einar that he was going to lose to his face.
Einar sneered after hearing the chubby boy's words. For him, this match was already a done deal.
The only thing he needed to do was smash his fists into the chubby boy's face, teaching him that in the face of absolute strength, all tricks were meaningless.
Just like two boxers that were about to fight, both fighters sneered at each other. This faceoff made the crowd cheer in excitement because both fighters seemed hell-bent to win.
What the crowd didn't know was that Lux and Einar were thinking the same thing, and that was that, at the end of the battle, the one that would stand victorious in the arena was none other than him.
