CHAPTER 17

Tate came out of his locker room and headed straight to the arena. 

"Ladies and Gentleman. Boy and girls at home. of course only boys and girls would be at home watching Apex Grove final from TV!"

"The real deals are the ones here. They are the real men and women of Apex Grove, not only Apex Grove but Aetherfield as a whole!"

A thunderous scream erupted from the crowds, showing they were excited to be here and couldn't wait to get started.

The spokesman who was standing in the middle of the arena raised his voice then.

"Ladies! and Gentlemen! The moment we have all been waiting for has arrived. I give you an underdog who has been fighting in this arena for more than three years!"

"He has never won any of his arena contests before, and he had never made it to the quarter finals of the Apex Grove tournament, but this year. THIS YEAR! He made it to the quarter finals, the semi final, and now he is in the final!!!!"

The crowd's joyful screams covered the whole arena. The spokesman waited for it to subside before he continued. He held the microphone tight.

"He is a fast kicker, a fast puncher, he is a Cheetah that has the punch of a gorilla. Ladies and Gentlemen! I give you, The Cheetah Commando!!!"

Tate made his way to the arena then. The crowd's voices were loud but he didn't put his ears to their words. His eyes were simply on the arena which was ahead of him.

The arena was an octagon-shaped space with cage-like protective walls, so the fighters doesn't end up stepping out of the arena.

The arena he had been fighting on had only a round surface, that was a little bit higher than the normal floor.

It wasn't the best arena for fighting but it was the best in a local fighting house like this.

This octagon cage arena wasn't even the best. In terms of standard, it was significantly at the bottom, compared to the arenas used in the five major leagues in the world.

Well, that was otherworldly different from this, the comparison shouldn't be made at all.

Tate raised his head to look at the arena more closely than before. Apex Grove arena only uses this particular arena for finals. 

He hadn't entered this arena before, because he had never reached the final of any contest Sir Connor hosted in his fighting house, even though he was the best fighter in the house.

Tate entered the arena and waved his hands at the crowds. He was wondering why he could hear the crowds loudly today. He only remembered why when he entered the arena.

It was because he wasn't wearing earbuds. 

Mr Bushman wouldn't be controlling him today, this would be his first serious fight for the past three years of fighting in this stage!

The crowds knew him because he had always been a wild dog in Apex Grove tournament, except he never makes it to the quarter finals.

He could tell that most people here were rooting for him to win, and he wouldn't let them down!

Tate faced the other direction his opponent would be coming from.

The noise in the premises died down when Tate entered the arena. The spokesman cleared his throat twice and was silent for a while before voicing out.

"Introducing the Cheetah Commando opponent. He is also from Apex Grove arena."

"Three times conservative champion of Apex Grove Arena contest! One time Apex Grove tournament champion!"

"He has knocked down the Cheetah Commando in all their encounters. Three times in Apex Grove arena contest, and three times in Apex Grove tournament. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the indisputable Champion of Apex Grove arena. The Dog Eater!"

The arena lights turned off then, and a blue light was seen moving to the place Tate opponent would be coming from. The blue light expanded and somebody dressed in a red outfit was seen standing at the middle of the path to the arena.

The lights turned on fully and the person was seen inside the arena.

His movements caused an uproar in the premises. They were not only screaming for Dog Eater entrance, but the outfit he was putting on was eye-opening.

Tate's eyes widened in shock when he saw what Chris was putting on. It was the AZ martial artist grade one outfit.

AZ was a company that produces martial artist uniforms and outfits for fighting. Their uniforms enhance whoever puts them on, in terms of speed, agility, punching  power, and other little attributes.

It helps to reduce damages as well.

Tate's breath started vibrating as he continued to look at Chris' uniform.

Martial artist outfits were allowed in Apex Grove tournament, in all competitions as well, but there were restrictions, so rich folks doesn't get to take advantage of it.

Every martial artist's uniform has energy flowing around it, that energy would be scaled by a machine. If it passes the maximum output that was set for the competition, it wouldn't be allowed in the competition.

Each competition had its own maximum output for martial artist uniforms. It was a mandatory thing to put on martial artist uniforms to make the fight more intense, but anybody could choose not to wear them, however, they would be at their own risk if their opponents were putting on.

It wasn't that people chose to not put on martial artist uniforms, it was just too expensive, too expensive for somebody like Tate, who barely feeds, let alone save money to buy a uniform that would enhance his fighting.

Tate's expression darkened. He squeezed his fist hard and screamed in his mind.

'Mateo Connor!!!!!'

There was commotion in the premises when Chris entered with the AZ Grade one outfit.

The people that were causing the chaos were the people that bet Tate would win.

"How is this allowed!!! This is daylight robbery!"

"The cheetah commando is not putting on any enhancement uniform. Dog Eater should do the same thing to make this fight fair!"

Just then, somebody stood up to address the crowds.

"Oh, this isn't above the rules. Apex Grove tournament allows enhancement uniforms. The energy level of the uniform must be below 50, anything more than that wouldn't be allowed. The AZ Grade one uniform is exactly 50, so no laws have been broken here!"

His words caused the complaints to reduce, but some people were still complaining.

The man that stood up was putting on a glass, he adjusted his glasses and continued.

"Putting on enhancement uniforms is a mandatory thing now, it's Tate Jaggar's choice not to put on any enhancement uniform, maybe he believes he can take down Dog Eater without any enhancement item."

"What a showboat!"

The crowds were silent then, truly no laws had been broken here.

What do they do now, almost all of them bet that Tate would win. 

Many people were seen bringing their phones out, with no idea of what they were doing.

Coming back to Tate. Tate's expression was only getting worse. His eyes were deadly as he looked straight into Chris' eyes. Chris had a little smile on his face.

"What is the matter, little cat? Are you thinking of surrendering already? You better do that if you don't want to be admitted into the hospital like your mother!"

Tate's rage exploded. He wanted to step forward to smash Chris to the ground, but he managed to hold himself because the match hadn't started yet.

'Bastard!!'

Tate screamed in his mind as he squeezed his fist hard.

Chris cheeks moved seeing Tate's angry expression. He calmly sounded.

"I see you don't want to join your mother, perhaps you want to join your father!"

Tate didn't put ears to Chris' words anymore, but his rage was burning inside him, waiting to be unleashed.

Yes, everything changes with Chris putting on enhancement uniforms, but never would he think of losing!

Never! 

The spokesman took a deep breath and held the microphone tighter.

"Gentlemen, shall we begin!"