Chapter 173 - Large vs Small

Steps were heard echoing through the halls as the members of the Virtus Imperium made their way to the ring entrance. Daniel swung his arms in joy as he sat on Theodore's shoulders.

Daniel: Daniel fight strong man and beat strong man! Daniel will be champion!

Carrie: Calm down there, doggy. That's assuming you get past Gonzalez.

Daniel: Daniel beat blindfold man!

Ziyad: Wouldn't say that so easily, kiddo. I'll have you know I personally trained the kid yesterday. Your attacks will be in slow motion to him.

Daniel: Daniel never lose!

Carrie: Don't you have two losses on your record?

Angel: One of those was because he got distracted and didn't show up to his match. He saw one food vendor and spent the whole day there.

Daniel: Daniel hungry.

Theresa: Oh dear, are you sure he had his fill before this match? He might mistake Cero for a bull and get hungry again.

Theodore let out a laugh as he lifted a phone out of his pocket. He pressed a button on his screen before looking up at Daniel.

Theodore: I want you to focus on your match. I understand you held back in the last round, but you aren't a monster, my boy. You're a powerful member of the Oneiroi family. So never feel ashamed of your strength. Just don't kill anyone else, okay?

Footsteps came quickly from around the corner, Carrie and Angel immediately turned to see Veronica appear with a tray in her hand. The largest steak they had ever seen rested on the tray. Daniel turned his entire upper body to face the source of the smell that filled his nose. Drool ran like a waterfall as he jumped from Theodore's shoulders to the tray. Veronica smiled as she threw the steak into the air, Daniel grabbing it perfectly with his sharp teeth. Like a wild animal, he devoured the steak in mere moments as sauce colored the walls. Veronica stood in front of the others, holding an umbrella to prevent the sauces from hitting anyone.

Carrie: How did you do any of that?

Veronica: I'm a professional, Carrie. Only appropriate that I came prepared for any possible scenario. Daniel isn't exactly hard to predict when it comes to food.

Theresa: Look at how cute he looks. He even has tears of joy. You two are just the most thoughtful of him, aren't you?

Theresa placed a hand on her cheek as she looked lovingly at Daniel. He finished the last of the steak, standing in his usual hunched-over way. He turned to the group with a wide smile covered in sauce.

Daniel: Thank you, papa! Daniel will win for Papa and Mama!

Ziyad: If this was an eating competition, Daniel would be an undisputed champion.

Theresa: He's actually won so many of the ones held in the capital of the Imperium that he had to be banned.

Ziyad: We had those before? Maybe I should visit the capital more often. I've been too busy to ever notice those events.

Angel: I am pretty lucky that I didn't win my match. If I had to face Daniel, I'd be too scared to get near him afterward.

Carrie: Use your weird ninja stuff to beat him, then.

Angel: As if preparation would do that good in this tournament.

Carrie: I think literally every fighter so far has proven that preparation is extremely powerful.

Angel: Shut up, will you! I'll show you in the next tournament. I'll be one of the best.

Carrie: Yeah. Maybe the next one will be in another two years so you can actually be useful. Or better yet, maybe the next Head will get antsy enough to hold it in one!

Angel: Don't joke like that! I'll need a bit more than that to hone myself properly.

Daniel waddled up to Theodore, his eyes sparkling with joy. Theodore nodded as he reached down and patted his head.

Theodore: You're going to do amazing out there. So show Mama and Papa that you'll win, okay?

Theresa scooped Daniel off the ground, squeezing him tightly as she spun him around.

Theresa: Try not to get too hurt out there. Cero is a scary man, but I know my sweet baby wouldn't do anything to scare his mommy.

Daniel: Daniel will win! Daniel knows it!

Theresa let go of Daniel, who promptly got on all fours and rushed to the entrance of the ring. Theodore and Theresa nodded as they slowly followed behind.

Ziyad: That Oneiroi family just gets weirder by the day. But I can't say I find it any less endearing.

…

Zachary: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! THAT LAST MATCH WAS SUCH AN UPSET, NOT EVEN I SAW IT COMING! BUT I KNOW EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ARE ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT FOR THIS MATCH!

The audience let out cheers of excitement as Zachary began to rally them up. Across the audience, it became very apparent that they had split into two sides. Several people began cheering Cero's name as the others cheered for Daniel.

Zachary: BOTH OF THESE FIGHTERS ARE EXTREMELY BRUTAL! SO THIS MATCH WILL BE ONE HELL OF A SPECTACLE! SO ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE THE FIRST ONE TO THE RING! HIS HUGE STATURE MAKES IT MORE THAN CLEAR THAT HIS STRENGTH IS NO LIE! HE WENT TOE-TO-TOE AGAINST THE JUGGERNAUT THAT WAS RYAN MAGNI! THEN HE DOMINATED THE FLAG WIELDER OF THE VIRTUS IMPERIUM! NOW HE STANDS BEFORE US TO SHOW THAT HE HAS NOT LOST HIS EDGE! WELCOME "THE ENDLESS VOID" CERO RAY LOMATTAAAAAAAA!!!!

His footsteps boomed as his figure appeared at the entrance of the doorway. His massive muscles glistened as he walked into the spotlight, the audience erupting into cheers as he made his way through the ring and up to Zachary. Cero's expression was nothing short of stern as he glared at the opposing side.

Cero's thoughts: Before I eliminate the main problem, I will take care of this younger Replicator. They have proven to be menaces in the world of martial arts. If they are given time to grow and evolve, they will prove to be too much of a nuisance.

Zachary: Hehe… Cero, do you mind lightening up? I feel like I might die from the anger you're letting off…

Cero: These are no longer games to me, Zachary. I have a mission, so I suggest welcoming my opponent.

Zachary: Yeah…

Zachary turned to the other entrance, raising the microphone to his mouth as he pointed at the opposing side.

Zachary: AND HIS OPPONENT IS THIS LITTLE DEVIL! HE CAUSES CHAOS AMONG THE AUDIENCE WITH EACH OF HIS MATCHES! DESPITE HOW CLOSE THEY MAY SEEM, IT IS EASY TO TELL THAT DANIEL DOMINATED EACH AND EVERY ONE OF HIS OPPONENTS! IT'S ALMOST LIKE THEY PUT A WILD TIGER IN THE RING WITH CHILDREN! AND AFTER THE DEFEAT OF REMY, COULD HE BE HERE TO ENACT REVENGE?! HE'LL SHOW US JUST HOW STRONG BEING SMALL REALLY CAN BE! HERE COMES "THE KING OF MONSTERS'' DANIEL ONEIROOOOIIIII!!!

On all fours, Daniel ran from his entrance, a wide smile covered in sauces on his face. The audience gasped as he stopped in front of Cero and Zachary. Theodore and the others stared at Daniel before looking at the top of Theresa's dress, seeing the same sauce stains there.

Theresa: Oh dear, I forgot.

She let out a giggle as Veronica offered her a robe to cover the upper half of her body. Theodore let out a loving sigh as he turned back to the fighters. Zachary pointed at his face as he looked at Daniel. Daniel sniffed the air as he smiled, using his long tongue to lick all of the sauce he could off of his face.

Cero: You hardly have the manners of a human. Yet you're here to fight me? This must be a bad joke.

Daniel: Daniel strong! Daniel beat strong man easily!

Cero: Are you hoping to die here? Your very existence is a mistake.

Daniel: Meanie!

Zachary: Calm down you two. I understand playing up for the audience, but I don't recommend name-calling.

Cero: This is no name-calling. This is a promise.

Daniel: What that mean?

Cero: I'm going to enjoy beating you to a pulp.

Daniel: Daniel like pulp in drink!

Zachary let out a sigh as he walked away from the fighters. The referee approached them as he widened his stance. He gulped as he felt the rising tensions between the fighters. Despite having been at all their matches before, he could tell there was an underlying feeling of murderous intent brewing between Cero and Daniel. He shook his head as he raises his arm.

Referee: FIGHTERS! ARE YOU READY?!

Cero and Daniel took their respective fighting stances. Cero's stance was like that of a tank. Not a single weakness was visible to the average onlooker of the match. Daniel smiled as he licked his lips. In his eyes, Cero did not seem any different from any of the large bears he had faced in the past.

Daniel's thoughts: Daniel want more steak. Daniel get more steak if win!

Cero's thoughts: Your mind is simple, that is obvious from the start. But I know better than to underestimate someone that is within the top ten. So come at me with all you have, it'll all be for naught.

The referee let out a huff of air as he swung his arm down with all his might.

Referee: BEGIIIIIIIIN!!!!!

Daniel flew off the ground, charging at Cero with his claws drawn. His face looked psychotic as he sprang at his opponent. Cero watched Daniel's movements closely as he pulled back his fist. He threw it forward with unmatched force, aimed directly at where he suspected Daniel would run. His eyes widened as Daniel's image in his eyes changed to a sparrow. His small frame became even smaller as he flew around Cero's punch and spun in a circle. Cero gritted his teeth as Daniel aimed his left foot at Cero's face, slamming into it at full speed. Cero slid back, catching the audience by surprise as Cero grabbed his face while Daniel carefully landed back on all fours.

Daniel: Daniel unbeatable!

Cero's thoughts: Let's see about that, you little punk.

Cero lunged forward, his large step shaking the ground beneath him. He interlocked his fingers as he raised both hands into the air. Daniel felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end as he saw the incoming attack. His stance changed to one of a frog as he sprang away from the spot he was just on. Cero slammed into the ground, shaking the stadium as his fists connected with the ground.

Man 1: Woah! What the hell?!

Man 2: Cero's out for blood!

Cero turned his gaze to Daniel, who took a pray mantis pose. Both fighters stared at each other before charging at each other with full force.

Carrie: What are you doing, you idiot?! Facing Cero head-on is a death wish!

Theresa: Hehe, I wouldn't be so sure.

Carrie stared in awe as Cero and Daniel's fists clashed at the center of the ring, sending vibrations that all spectators felt from their seats. They stood at a standstill as their arms struggled to overpower one another.

Carrie: How is that even possible?! Daniel isn't even close in strength to Cero!

Theresa: Daniel already has strength beyond what someone his size should be capable of. But he's a bit more special than the eye would see.

Theodore: To put it bluntly, Daniel is a true behemoth when he fights with the right mindset. And that steak pushed him just enough.

Carrie: You have got to be kidding me…