Doom Verse

[Duel]

The gong sounded, marking the long-awaited final round. The coliseum erupted with applause and cheers as the last battle between Ajanokoji and Kai began.

The cages vanished, and at last, the two finalists could stand face-to-face. Slowly, they walked toward each other, stopping only inches apart. The tension in the air was palpable, heavy enough to be felt by everyone watching. The crowd held their breath, waiting for the first strike.

"Hah, finally we meet again!" Kai shouted, his gravelly voice echoing through the arena. "After all this time, I will prove that I'm stronger than you!" For those seeing him for the first time, Kai was a terrifying figure—draped in a black coat, his skull-like face illuminated by the eerie blue light emanating from his eyes.

"I'll prove that nothing has changed since the day I saved you!" Ajanokoji laughed. He was smaller in stature, an alien dressed in sleek, futuristic gray armor, his helmet emitting lightning from his eyes.

Without another word, the two struck with full force. Their fists collided midair, creating an impact that shattered the ground beneath them. The crowd roared with excitement, their cheers fueling the bloody duel.

The flurry of punches between the two became faster and faster. Each time one aimed to land a hit, the opponent's fist was already there to block it. Sand swirled, and the ground cracked under the pressure of their blows. Though it seemed like an equal match at first glance, Ajanokoji's speed gave him a slight edge. Slowly but surely, Kai was pushed back.

Kai aimed a punch at Ajanokoji's face, but Ajanokoji was ready. His hand snapped forward like lightning, catching Kai's fist midair. For a brief moment, Kai was stunned by the unexpected move. Ajanokoji's grip tightened as he pulled Kai closer and slammed his free fist into Kai's chin. Kai was momentarily airborne, and with a primal roar, Ajanokoji delivered a crushing blow to his chest.

Kai's body was hurled into the wall with such force that massive cracks formed around the impact site. His form sank into the stone like it was made of clay, chunks of the wall crumbling around him. Dust clouded the arena, momentarily obscuring the view. For a heartbeat, the arena fell silent, awestruck by the display of raw power. Then, the first cheer broke the quiet, followed by a cascade of roars that shook the coliseum.

Kai groaned, planting his hands against the fractured wall. His fingers dug into the cracks as he slowly pushed himself free. Dust cascaded down as he regained his stance, his movements controlled by sheer will. He finally pulled his body from the wall, caught his breath, and laughed. "Hahaha! You haven't disappointed me. You're a worthy opponent." He wiped a trail of ghostly plasma from his lips. "Now, the real fight begins."

A massive hand emerged from the dust, its muscles swelling as Kai transformed into a giant. Rising from the haze, he towered over the battlefield, his roar shaking the coliseum. The spectators gasped, stunned by the giant's sudden appearance, before the ovations erupted once more.

Kai stomped the ground, the earth shattering like fragile glass beneath his immense weight. Rocks exploded in every direction. Ajanokoji, swift and agile, dodged each one, moving as if he could predict the future. "Take this!" he shouted. Small portals appeared around him, and the rocks were teleported directly in front of Kai's face. Sharp fragments flew out of the portals, embedding themselves in Kai's eyes. The giant let out a thunderous roar of pain.

Blinded and enraged, Kai swung his massive arms wildly, sending waves of dust and debris into the air. Ajanokoji struggled to withstand the force of the air pressure. The crowd, cheering wildly, chanted, "Kai, Kai, Kai! Crush Ajanokoji! We bet everything on your victory!"

But Kai, lost in his fury, could not hear them. He continued swinging, desperate to land a blow on his opponent.

Suddenly, a portal opened above Kai. Ajanokoji leaped onto his head. Just as he was about to stab Kai with his lightsaber, Kai unexpectedly shrank back to his normal size. Both combatants plummeted toward the ground. Caught off guard by the rapid change, Ajanokoji struggled to adjust.

Kai's hand swelled to an enormous size once more, catching Ajanokoji mid-fall. "Now what? I've won!" Kai declared triumphantly. He clutched Ajanokoji's hands and pushed them back while standing on his opponent's back, aiming to slam Ajanokoji's head into the ground. "You will die, and the wish will be mine!" Kai began to grow again, increasing his strength.

At the last moment, Ajanokoji forced himself free from Kai's grip and opened a portal. He then created another portal in front of Kai's face. Using the momentum from his fall, Ajanokoji crashed feet-first into Kai's face, causing him to stumble back.

For a split second, Kai lost his focus, his mind briefly slipping into unconsciousness. Ajanokoji seized the moment. "Let's see how you handle this! Light Portal!" he shouted. Small portals formed around Kai, and Ajanokoji strained every muscle in his body before throwing his lightsaber into the nearest one. The lightsaber vanished, only to reappear from another portal, striking Kai and causing small but accumulating damage. The saber sped up with each portal it passed through, relentlessly cutting into Kai.

The acrid smell of burning flesh filled the arena. Kai struggled to defend himself, his mind racing for a solution. 'The only way out is giantification, but it costs too much stamina. I need to save my strength for the final move.'

"I've got it!" Kai shouted, his voice filled with determination. He made one of his hands gigantic, and as the lightsaber emerged from another portal, he caught it. The pain of the burn caused him to roar in agony. "Gruh! You think this little toy can stop me?" He yanked the saber from his hand, standing tall, his heavy breathing the only sound in the coliseum.

The crowd, who had held their breath for this moment, roared in excitement now that Ajanokoji's named move had been stopped.

In the midst of the applause and cheers, the two warriors returned to the center of the arena. Kai smirked. "Hah, you're as strong as I thought." He handed the lightsaber back to Ajanokoji. "Take your weapon. I don't want you complaining that you lost because you were unarmed."

Ajanokoji took the lightsaber, smiling. "Are you sure? Don't cry when you lose because I had my weapon!" He raised his fist. "Let's go all out, no regrets!"

Kai smirked and fist-bumped Ajanokoji. "I don't need you to tell me that I'll win!" They returned to their starting positions.

"Let's finish this!" Kai suddenly turned invisible, revealing his final wild card.

"You'll need more than that to beat me!" Ajanokoji taunted, dodging Kai's invisible strikes and countering with a powerful uppercut. "Let's box!" he grinned, effortlessly dodging Kai's attacks.

Frustration built in Kai as he failed to land a single blow. "Enough!" His hands swelled to ten times their size, ensuring he wouldn't miss. But Ajanokoji opened a portal beneath his feet, teleporting to Kai's side and delivering a crushing punch to his liver.

Kai dropped to his knees, paralyzed by pain, his invisibility fading. Ajanokoji didn't hesitate, landing a punch to Kai's stomach that sent him flying into the air. Another punch to the face followed, slamming Kai into the wall. Ajanokoji opened a portal, and Kai reappeared, neck caught in Ajanokoji's iron grip as he was slammed into the ground.

Ghostly plasma leaked from Kai's mouth. Just as the audience believed the final blow had been struck, Kai roared and grew into a giant once more, pushing Ajanokoji back with his last remaining strength.

As Ajanokoji soared through the air, Kai hurled a massive rock at him. But Ajanokoji redirected it just in time.

"Where's your sword?" Kai shouted, panic creeping into his voice. His eyes widened in shock as he felt the hole burned through his chest—his orb had been pierced by the lightsaber.

Kai fell to his knees, unable to move. He coughed up ghost plasma, refusing to accept defeat. "I won't die without one last fight!"

The entire coliseum fell silent, holding its collective breath. The decisive moment was at hand. Even the sound of a heartbeat could be heard.

Enduring immense pain, Kai slowly stood. "Ajanokoji! You won't defeat me that easily. Show me your strongest move! I'll take it head-on—unless you're scared!"

Ajanokoji smirked, his eyes glowing with fierce determination. "I'll grant your last wish, Kai," he said, his voice steady yet charged with the weight of the final strike to come. "I'll show you my strongest move!"

Without hesitation, Ajanokoji raised his lightsaber high into the air. Energy began to gather at its tip, swirling faster and faster, condensing into a brilliant ball of light that crackled with unimaginable power. The coliseum fell silent as the crowd realized this would be the deciding moment. Every spectator, hologram or real, held their breath in awe of the intensity building between the two warriors.

Kai stood his ground, arms raised in defiance, his ghostly blue plasma coursing through his veins like liquid fire. "Come on! I'll take everything you've got!" he shouted, bracing himself for the impact, his massive form looming large over the battlefield.

In the sky, Ajanokoji concentrated every ounce of his strength, channeling it into his weapon. The portals around him flickered open, glowing with radiant light. "Boundless Lightsaber!" he roared, smashing the energy-infused blade into one portal with all his might.

The lightsaber vanished into the portal only to reappear from another in an instant, accelerating as it darted between them, gaining speed with each pass. Each time it exited a portal, Ajanokoji smashed it again with his fist, increasing its destructive force. The sheer heat from the blade seared the air around him, causing his own hand to burn despite the armor. But Ajanokoji didn't flinch. He knew this was the end.

"Take it, Kai!" Ajanokoji shouted as the blade became nothing more than a blur of light and sound, its energy now nearly blinding. "My final move—Boundless Lightsaber!"

With a final, thunderous strike, Ajanokoji sent the lightsaber hurtling out of the last portal, aimed directly at Kai's massive form. The speed and power of the blade were beyond anything the coliseum had ever witnessed. It tore through the air, leaving a trail of burning light in its wake.

Kai roared in defiance, his massive arms raised to block the attack. But the heat was too intense. The lightsaber struck his arms with devastating force, burning through his flesh. The smell of charred plasma and scorched stone filled the arena. Kai's defenses crumbled as the lightsaber pierced through his arms and slammed into his chest, driving deep into the core of his body.

"Hah... so this is how it ends..." Kai whispered, his voice quiet and filled with both pain and respect. The ghostly blue light in his eyes flickered as his body began to turn to ash. "The greatest battle of my life... My only regret... is that I won't be able to fight an opponent like you again."

With those final words, Kai's massive form disintegrated, turning to ash as the Boundless Lightsaber's energy consumed him completely. The roaring coliseum fell silent, the echoes of his last shout lingering in the air.

Ajanokoji landed softly on the ground, his armor singed and his hand burned from the sheer power of his final move. He looked up at the sky, the bright rays of the sun breaking through the clouds, and whispered quietly to himself, "Rest well, my friend. I won't forget you."

The entire coliseum erupted in a roar of applause, their voices thundering in approval of the final duel. They cheered for both warriors, for the battle that would be remembered for ages. Ajanokoji stood tall in the center of the arena, his body drenched in sweat, his chest heaving with each breath. But despite the cheers, his thoughts lingered on the warrior he had just defeated.

Hanz

To mark the end of the grand finale, the sky suddenly darkened, as if the entire world were taking a breath. Then, with a crack and boom, the night was set ablaze by a thousand fireworks. They lit up the heavens, casting a magnificent display of light and color, as the stars and a gigantic moon shimmered above. It was the most beautiful sky ever seen in the history of the Doom Verse.

Hanz appeared beside Ajanokoji, his face beaming with pride as he grabbed the champion's hand and raised it high for all to see. "After a long and grueling duel where mere seconds could decide your fate, the alien warrior known as Ajanokoji has emerged victorious!" Hanz's voice echoed across the coliseum. "Let's congratulate him for this incredible feat!"

The coliseum exploded in celebration. The ground itself seemed to tremble under the thunderous roar of the crowd, thousands of feet stomping in unison, shaking the arena. "Congratulations, Ajanokoji! You are the greatest warrior in the Doom!" The chants grew louder, each one filled with admiration, but Ajanokoji's mind was elsewhere.

Doom Master

After several minutes, as the celebration reached its peak, a single wave of the Doom Master's hand silenced the crowd. With another flick of his finger, every spectator disappeared from the coliseum in an instant, leaving only Ajanokoji standing in the now-empty arena.

Without warning, Ajanokoji was teleported into a vast chamber. Gold and black marble stretched as far as the eye could see, the grandeur of the room awe-inspiring. At the center of the chamber sat a towering throne made of black obsidian, and behind it loomed the enormous Doom Wheel, the symbol of the Doom Verse itself. Beside it, the legendary Doom Trident gleamed with an ominous light.

Three figures stood before Ajanokoji. In the center, sitting upon the high throne, was the Doom Master himself, his cold gaze fixated on the alien warrior. To his right stood Hanz, ever loyal, while on his left, an old man with a long white beard and tattered robes remained silent—the Historian, a figure no one had seen until now.

The Doom Master's voice boomed through the chamber, commanding and filled with an ancient authority. "So, Ajanokoji, you have won." His eyes narrowed slightly. "It is good to see you again, warrior."

"You have earned one wish," the Doom Master continued. "I can grant you anything—wealth, immortality, power beyond your wildest dreams. Or perhaps you seek love, or something even more personal. Speak now, and I shall make it so."

Ajanokoji

Ajanokoji fell to his knees, the weight of the battle and the grandeur of the moment pressing heavily upon him. For so long, he had wondered what he would ask for if he ever won. He had always thought he would wish for his lost memories to return, to finally understand the mystery of his past. But now, standing before the Doom Master, he wasn't so sure.

'If I regain my memories,' Ajanokoji thought, 'I might become someone else. I might lose who I am now. That's not a risk I'm willing to take.' His mind raced, but one thing became clear: the thrill of battle, the joy of facing worthy opponents like Kai—that was what drove him. That was what he truly desired.

Raising his head, Ajanokoji looked directly into the Doom Master's cold, unflinching eyes. "Doom Master," he began, his voice steady, "the only thing I wish for... is to continue fighting. I want to meet warriors as strong as Kai, or even stronger. That's my wish. And please... grant me your blessing to continue this path."

Doom Master

A small, rare smile tugged at the corners of the Doom Master's lips. He stood from his throne, gripping the Doom Trident in his hand. In a swift motion, he stepped forward and placed his hand on Ajanokoji's shoulder.

"Very well, Ajanokoji," the Doom Master said, his voice filled with approval. "Your wish will be granted."

With a powerful thrust of his trident, the Doom Master summoned a beam of radiant light that enveloped Ajanokoji, lifting him into the air. The Doom Master's voice echoed through the chamber. "To be honest, this is the best wish I've ever heard. I look forward to seeing you fight again. Until we meet once more."

With those words, Ajanokoji was teleported away, disappearing into the light.

The Doom Master returned to his grand throne, his expression finally softening as he leaned back with a sigh of relief. "Finally, this season is over. Now I can take a well-deserved rest," he muttered to himself, his eyes half-closed. Then, turning to his two loyal servants, he spoke with commanding authority. "Hanz! Prepare everything for the next tournament. And you, Historian, write down every detail of what happened during this one. I want every battle, every victory, every loss, documented for the ages."

He waved dismissively toward the door, his hand heavy with exhaustion. "Now, both of you leave. I need to rest... and think."

Hanz and the Historian, kneeling in unison, bowed their heads and shouted, "As you command, my lord! Everything will be done!" With that, they quickly rose and exited the vast chamber, leaving the Doom Master alone in the dark, silent hall.

Hanz

As the massive doors closed behind them, Hanz and the Historian walked through the echoing corridors of the Doom Palace. The Historian's mind was already racing with the monumental task of chronicling the events of the tournament. But Hanz's thoughts were elsewhere, his eyes narrowing as he stared ahead.

The tournament had ended, but for him, this was only the beginning. "Now that everything is over, before the new tournament starts," he whispered to himself, "the secrets of the Doom Verse must be uncovered." There were whispers of hidden knowledge, of ancient powers lurking deep within the heart of the Doom Palace itself—powers that could change everything.

As preparations for the next season would begin, Hanz knew he had to do more than just organize battles. He would search for answers, dig into the forgotten corners of the Doom Verse, and unlock the mysteries that even the Doom Master kept hidden.

Hanz clenched his fists in determination. He had served loyally for so long, but now, it was time for him to step beyond just being the master of ceremonies. The next tournament would not just be another spectacle—it would be his opportunity to reshape the very foundation of the Doom Verse, and before it starts he should understand what Historian is hiding.