CHAPTER 125: THE MOST ANTICIPATED MATCH

Chapter 125

The arena was livelier than ever—more electrifying than during the previous five matches combined. The reason? Simple.

This next battle wasn’t just another match. It was the match. The one everyone had been waiting for.

Aiden vs. Almighty.

Well... to be fair, it wasn’t Aiden that had the crowd buzzing—it was Almighty. The man, the myth, the walking legend. Fans weren’t here to watch a fight. They were here to watch a slaughter.

Almighty had been nothing short of mesmerizing throughout the tournament. Some spectators even argued he should already be ranked a Class S hero. His power, his presence, his name—it all carried a weight that made the atmosphere vibrate.

The announcer, grinning from ear to ear, barely held back his own excitement. He was an unabashed Almighty fanboy, and today felt like Christmas. He practically danced in place as he boomed into the mic:

"Coming up next—our sixth match of the day! Contestants, step forward!"

The first to appear was a young man with neatly combed blond hair that gleamed like it had been dunked in an entire bottle of oil. His amused smile sparkled with charm. Friendly. Handsome. Radiating confidence.

It was Aiden.

He strolled with a casual elegance, waving stylishly to the audience—especially toward the female fans. That one wave alone earned him dozens of new admirers, some of whom were already blushing furiously.

From the crowd, voices echoed:

"Aiden!"

"So handsome!"

"Marry me!"

Aiden, however, didn’t wave for their sake. Internally, he was grinning smugly. Tch, that pretty boy must be sobbing right now... Sure, he’s got a cute face, but with that dead expression of his? I’m still leagues ahead. Let’s see just how sad he looks.

With a dramatic turn, Aiden angled his wave toward the VIP section where Han and the others were seated. But the moment his eyes landed on his target, they twitched violently.

There he was.

Ronan.

Expressionless as ever.

Is he cursed? Aiden wondered, deflated. Can his face even move?

Still, he brushed it off and confidently stepped onto the stage, taking a proud athletic stance. Han, observing from above, just sighed.

"Is he here to fight... or to pick up fans?" Han muttered.

Then, just as Aiden was basking in the spotlight, the cheers took a sharp turn.

"ALMIGHTY! ALMIGHTY! ALMIGHTY! ALMIGHTY!"

Aiden flinched. Already?! He turned sharply toward the arena entrance. No one was there yet.

Wait... they’re chanting for him even before he’s shown up?

The realization hit him like a sledgehammer to the chest.

Right... Of course... It’s him after all.

His heart stung. Deeply. He forced a smile.

Forget it. Not everyone can be a crowd favorite. He told himself. Though truthfully, it sounded more like a sad attempt to self-soothe than anything else.

And then, finally, it happened.

A foot stepped onto the platform—followed by a leg, a waist, and an abdomen with a flawless six-pack carved like marble. His chest—broad, sculpted, absurdly well-defined—rose and fell with each breath.

Then the face emerged.

Sharp. Focused. Determined.

The crowd went absolutely feral.

"ALMIGHTY! ALMIGHTY! ALMIGHTY!"

The roar became a tsunami of voices. A wall of noise that drowned out every other sound.

To the crowd, this was the face of dominance. The face of someone about to obliterate his opponent.

But in Almighty’s own mind?

Don’t die. Don’t die. Don’t die. One misstep and I’m toast.

He wasn’t here to win with glory.

He was here to survive.

The moment Almighty fully stepped onto the stage, the arena exploded with noise.

"ALMIGHTY! ALMIGHTY! ALMIGHTY! ALMIGHTY! ALMIGHTY!"

The chant was relentless—thunderous, unbroken, and deafening. The name repeated like a war cry, again and again, until it was the only thing anyone could hear. The walls vibrated with the force of their devotion.

Aiden’s face darkened dangerously.

Ten minutes.

That’s how long the crowd had been shouting his opponent’s name.

Ten full minutes—and they still hadn’t stopped. He had expected a few cheers, sure. Maybe even a brief standing ovation. But this? This was a worship ceremony.

And he was the sacrifice.

Meanwhile, the announcer, utterly starstruck, had completely forgotten his role. Eyes wide, mouth hanging slightly open, he stared at Almighty like a child seeing a mythical creature. For a moment, it really did feel like Almighty wasn’t just a contestant—he was something greater, a figure more revered than even the Class S heroes.

A soft buzz in his ear snapped him out of it. A command from Lord Tech, delivered through the tech-bud.

"Do your job."

The announcer jolted upright. With an awkward smile and a slight bow toward the VIP section as if apologizing for the delay, he quickly raised his hand—

Snap!

A sharp bang echoed across the arena, cutting through the chants like a blade. The crowd fell silent, thousands of voices stifled at once.

With that, the announcer cleared his throat and began, his voice regaining its dramatic flair.

"On the right... we have Aiden! An elite rising star of the prestigious Tryst Guild! His fellow guildmates have already displayed astonishing power and pushed past expectations—will he do the same? Will he strike the untouchable, outlast the invincible, defy the impossible?"

His tone rose to a crescendo.

"Can he survive... and maybe—just maybe—win? That, dear audience, is what we’re about to find out!"

The crowd gave a polite applause, but nothing compared to what came next.

"And on the left...!" the announcer’s voice nearly cracked with excitement. "We have the unrivaled, the unstoppable, the undefeated, the Almighty!"

The stadium erupted.

People screamed. Fans jumped. Some crazed devotees were literally beating their chests and heads in ecstatic worship.

The announcer, feeding off the madness, pressed on.

"A man whose strength bends logic! Whose might shatters all limitations! Whose confidence could humble even gods! The one and only Almighty now stands across from the Tryst Guild’s elite!"

He paused, a gleam in his eyes.

"And let’s be honest... The question isn’t if Almighty will win—it’s how long Aiden will last."

A ripple of laughter and cheers followed.

"One minute? Thirty seconds? Ten? Or will it be over in a blink?"

Aiden’s clenched fist trembled at his side. His brow twitched in barely restrained fury.

This announcer... is he serious?!

Wasn’t he supposed to be neutral?!

Instead, he was basically announcing Aiden’s funeral.

I swear, if I had permission, I’d snap his neck right now, Aiden thought bitterly. He exhaled, loosening his fist with a sigh.

It’ll be over soon anyway...

Then, the announcer raised both arms theatrically and shouted:

"Ladies and gentlemen! Let the sixth match of the Tournament of Power... begin!"

Snap!

Another loud bang echoed from his fingers—and just like that, the match was on.

Almighty stared at Aiden, uncertain of what to feel. Every time his eyes met the man’s, a shiver ran down his spine.

He remembered the look Aiden wore when he fought Elexa. It had been a short fight, barely a minute—but that was more than enough. The ferocity, the wildness in Aiden’s eyes had been chilling. Aiden hadn’t looked like a warrior. He had looked like a madman.

Now, here he was... standing alone on a stage with that same madman.

Suddenly, Almighty’s heart started pounding harder, louder, like a drum of impending doom.

Why am I here?!

Why am I standing in front of this lunatic?!

Across from him, Aiden cracked his knuckles slowly, one by one, the sound echoing like bones snapping. Then he dropped into a squat—once, twice—before twisting his neck with a sickening pop.

He smiled.

Not a pleasant smile. Not even a proud one.

It was malicious.

Almighty’s brain screamed at him.

"RUN. RUN, YOU FOOL, RUN!"

He didn’t care how many fans were watching. He didn’t care about pride. He just wanted to get the hell off that stage.

But... he couldn’t move.

Unbeknownst to him, his legs had already begun to tremble.

The deafening chants of "ALMIGHTY! ALMIGHTY!" echoed all around him, but it no longer felt empowering. It felt like pressure—like invisible chains holding him in place.

Somehow, summoning the last ounce of pride he had, Almighty stood tall.

That was a mistake.

Aiden moved.

In a blink, he was already closing the distance between them.

Almighty’s mind screamed again—TURN AROUND! DODGE! ANYTHING!

But he couldn’t. His body refused to move.

Aiden’s fist was nearly at his face... and then...

It stopped.

Frozen mid-air. Just a few inches away.

Almighty blinked, confused. What... just happened?

Was he hallucinating?

Was this... a dream?

No, this has to be a coma. Maybe I collapsed before the match. Maybe this is all a nightmare.

And then, Aiden spoke.

"Hit me," he said.

His voice was low, calm. But it held a sharp edge. Only Almighty could hear him.

Almighty’s heart skipped.

"I’m definitely in a coma," he thought again, nodding to himself.

"Come on," Aiden repeated, this time with a hint of irritation. "Hit me, you fool."

Scared of what might happen if he didn’t—even in this supposed dream—Almighty obeyed. He pulled his fist back and threw it forward with all the strength he could muster, aiming directly at Aiden’s cheek.

It connected.

Tap.

Aiden had closed his eyes in anticipation, bracing for the impact. But when the hit came... it felt like being tapped by a toddler.

He opened one eye, puzzled.

Then the other.

"Wait..." he muttered. "Was that a massage?"

Almighty stood in front of him, arm still extended, face filled with effort and embarrassment.

"Don’t tell me... he’s actually this weak?" Aiden’s brow twitched in disbelief. But he didn’t forget what Han had told him the night before.

---

Flashback – One Day Earlier

The selection matches had ended, and the crowds returned to their rooms, still buzzing with excitement.

But Aiden wasn’t heading back to rest.

Instead, he walked down a quiet corridor toward Han’s room. All members of the Tryst Guild had been summoned for an emergency meeting.

When he entered, he was—of course—late. The room was already filled. Even Silver Wing, the newest addition, was present.

"Sorry I’m late," Aiden said with a sheepish grin.

"Aiden," Han greeted him with a nod, his tone unusually serious. "We have a mission for you."

Aiden’s grin widened. "You know I’ll do anything you want, buddy."

But the smile froze when Han continued.

"You’re going to lose tomorrow’s match."

---

To be continued...

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