Selection II

As the surrounding area was thrown into chaos, Finn stood calm and observant. He studied his opponent carefully. The boy across from him looked like he'd walked out of a fashion magazine tall, muscular, with a chiseled jawline and striking features that gave him a model-like quality. His piercing blue eyes glared at Finn with disdain, with blonde slicked back hair. He wore a crisp white shirt tucked into tailored black pants, pristine despite the chaos. But what caught Finn's attention the most wasn't his looks—it was the clear fury in his opponent's eyes.

Finn quietly slipped the small metal box his mother gave him into the side pocket of his cargo pants. It made a soft clink as it settled in. He would want whatever was in it getting damaged. With that taken care of, he finally addressed the glare being fired at him.

"You seem mad. Have I offended you in any way?" Finn asked, voice as plain as his appearance.

"Yeah... of course I'm mad." He took a step forward, his tone growing sharp. "Why in the world would a divine goddess, a celestial being, choose to sit beside a plain-looking peasant like you? You of all people?" The boy scoffed as he replied with a very thick Italian accent

His voice was thick with envy and disbelief. His face twisted with every word, as if speaking them aloud pained him.

It took Finn a moment to put the pieces together. His brows furrowed in confusion. "Divine goddess?" Then, like lightning, it hit him.

Jasmine.

'Damn... I knew her boldness would cause trouble for me. No running from it now, I guess.'

Finn raised his hands a little, palms out. "Look, it's not what you think. I don't even like her like that."

Leo's face darkened immediately. Fury flashed in his eyes like wildfire.

"You dare?" he growled, nostrils flaring. "Now I'm truly mad. Why would you utter such blasphemy? To say a goddess isn't worth desiring is to insult beauty itself."

He stepped forward, liked was about to deliver a speech to an interested audience... which Finn was not.

"I've spent my entire life perfecting my body, mind, and discipline to be worthy of admiration. I understand beauty. I live it. And then I see you—someone with nothing... someone with the face of a side character... being blessed by her attention? No. No, no, no. This... this is a crime."

He drew a deep breath and straightened himself continuing his monologue.

"I have taken it upon myself to cleanse this world of rejects like you. You who lack grace, You devoid of beauty,You who exist in this world not to shine but to serve. Now... prepare to face defeat at the hands of me, Leo the Great!"

Leo took a step forward, planting his feet shoulder width apart on the cold steel floor. He raised his fists in a trained manner, one hand guarded his chest while the other hovered near his chin, elbows tucked in tight. His left foot slid backplanting his feet shoulder-width apart on the cold steel floor. He raised his fists with precision, one hand guarded his chest while the other hovered near his chin, elbows tucked in tight. His left foot slid back and he lifted his heel and slightly bent his knee. Every motion was done with grace and disciplined poise.

Finn recognized the form instantly and sighed. Not because he feared it but because in order to counter this martial art he would have to close the distance as taekwondo relied heavily on kicks.

He glanced at his shirt,his favorite blue button-up, short-sleeved and a little faded from wear. It was a gift from his mother on his previous birthday

With a swift motion, he peeled it off and tossed it to the corner not want to damge it, revealing a black compression shirt that clung tightly to his lean but defined frame a reward of his training.

He adjusted his stance. Feet shoulder-width apart, knees loose. His arms raised, forming a tight guard with elbows slightly raised and his chin tucked in. His torso gently bouncing as he shifted weight between his feet.

Leo didn't hesitate. With a quick motion,he launched forward with a sweeping kick aimed at Finn's balance. The technique was clean, his heel heading toward Finn's calves like a blade.

Finn saw it coming and sprang into the air with practiced timing, evading the sweep. As he landed, he stepped in tight, placing both hands behind Leo's neck to initiate a clinch.

Leo panicked. Not wanting to enter a grappling exchangeprovided that he didn't know his opponents grappling skills, he instinctively raised his leg for a push kick to create distance to which Finn responded to. With a pivot to the side, he sent a sharp, precise roundhouse kick slamming into Leo's right temple.

*Thwack*

The contact echoed through the metal walls. Leo's vision rattled and Finn capitalized in this opportunity and whaled on him. He lunged in, landing a heavy hook to Leo's left kidney. The sound of impact was followed by a sharp gasp from Leo. Then came the finisher, a brutal uppercut surged upward, connecting clean under Leo's chin ending the fight.

*Thud*

Leo collapsed cinematically like a defeated opponent in a boxing match.

Finn stood over him, staring down at him with eyes filled with disappointment.

' Huh... I really thought he had more fight in him... At this rate I won't be able to reveal my mark..."

A robotic voice echoed overhead interrupting Finn's train of thought.

> "Candidate 456 has defeated his opponent… Evaluation complete… Candidate overpowered his opponent with technique and quick thinking... Candidate moves on to the next stage.

****

Through a screen the entirety of the chaos was being observed by the woman from earlier. The only fight that caught her attention was Finn's. She wasn't interested because he won, she was interested because she knew Leo. He was a world class taekwando practitioner one for the best of his age group even defeating some above his age, so how was he easily folded by this plain looking boy.

"Send in two opponents for candidate 456... Make sure they are capable enough."

She commandes the AI system which complied with accuracy.

>Candidate 456...Prepare for your next stage...2 vs 1.... "

Finn was stunned at what the robotic voice relayed to him, but he steadied himself and got ready.

*Creak*

The metal door to his chamber opened up revealing 2 figures. Finn looked back at where he left Leo unconscious but he wasn't found there. Quickly focusing on the task ahead of him he took a fighting stance ready for whatever ever came at him, but what he saw he couldn't be prepared for.

It was two soldiers with huge figures. Finn was now scared, there shouldn't be soldiers at the selection. Myriad of thoughts washed over his mind until one spoke calmly to him.

"Don't fret boy, we're just here on the commanders orders... Now shall we get started." He said with a malicious grin.

>"The second stage for candidate 456 begins...in 5...4...3...."

Finn wasn't sure what was happening but he gladly welcomed it knowing the fruits it will bear as it would help him reveal his mark regardless of if he triumphed or not.

"2...1...Begin!"