Tom In The Multiverse

*First of all, the first match is about sculpture!*

In front of Tom stood a marble block as tall as a person, while Gyokko had a stone pot embryo. Neither of them was human—one was a demon, and the other, a cat from a whimsical animation. Even in a true competition of artistic skill, it would be impossible for them to follow the rules and act slowly like regular people.

Gyokko picked up two small awls, resembling fish bones, and without hesitation, began carving into the stone pot. He didn't even bother to draw any guidelines. Gyokko's movements were quick, and in a blink, two female figures began taking shape on the pot.

On the other side, Tom simply looked up and down at the marble, but showed no sign of taking action. A few minutes passed, and Gyokko's stone pot had started to take on a clearer form. It depicted the Edo period, with two women dressed in kimonos, holding umbrellas beneath a snowy sky. The women on the relief whispered to each other, their expressions full of emotion, while a dead tree covered in snow stood behind them. The entire scene evoked a sense of desolation.

"It's really well-carved," one of the onlookers remarked.

Though the townspeople didn't know much about Japanese culture, the appreciation of beauty is universal. After seeing Gyokko's impressive performance, the people of Lodz began to worry about Tom. After all, Gyokko had nearly completed his work at a remarkable speed, while Tom had yet to move. Anyone watching would think Tom was in trouble.

Gyokko certainly thought so. During a brief pause in his carving, he glanced at Tom, noticing his stillness. He sneered, "You don't know what you're doing, just pretending?"

Tom, hearing this, turned to look at Gyokko. With a calm and knowing expression, he raised his hands—chisel in his left, hammer in his right. He gave a gentle tap on the marble in front of him.

Crash! The marble shattered across the ground, and emerging from the debris was none other than a statue of Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, dressed in chainmail golden armor, wearing a phoenix-wing purple-gold crown, lotus silk shoes, and holding his iconic golden staff. The sculpture was so lifelike, it seemed as if it might leap into action at any moment.

The surrounding townspeople were in awe, marveling at the exquisiteness of Tom's creation. Many came forward to inspect his masterpiece up close. Gyokko stood there, stunned, unable to comprehend how Tom had carved such a highly detailed statue in just one second. But this was no time for him to dwell on it. Since Tom had finished his work, Gyokko had to speed up his own process.

A few minutes later, Gyokko completed his sculpture. Though he had taken more time than Tom, Gyokko remained confident in his art. However, when the townspeople finished casting their votes on the two sculptures, the mayor announced loudly:

"I declare Mr. Tom the winner of the first sculpture competition!"

"*Oh oh oh!!!*" The crowd cheered.

The townspeople didn't care much about who won—they simply wanted to celebrate. But Gyokko was far from pleased.

"How is this possible?! You know nothing of art! How can something like that compare with my masterpiece?" Gyokko was outraged, and his growing anger made him want to slaughter everyone in the town. Sensing the danger, Tom quickly handed a sign to Inosuke.

Inosuke, with his usual boisterous energy, shouted at Gyokko: "( # `O′) Hey!" while waving the sign around. The sign read: *"Do you dare to compete in painting?"*

"You're asking for it!" Gyokko's mood darkened further, and his fists clenched tightly as layers of scales emerged on his skin. He couldn't accept being bested in the realm of art, yet despite his frustration, he grudgingly agreed, "Let's continue!"

At Tom's request, the townspeople quickly set up four easels, drawing boards, and a large selection of paints and brushes. Gyokko, on the other hand, prepared his next challenge—a giant pot that was moved out from an exhibition vehicle, and he planned to paint directly on this pot. With the aid of his Blood Demon Art, every stroke he made soaked perfectly into the pot's surface, resulting in rich, natural colors.

Gyokko began by painting a striking blue background. He chose to depict a traditional ukiyo-e scene, the most popular painting style from his time period. Gyokko felt that he was in his element, performing at his absolute peak. The pleasure of painting freely washed over him—if not for Tom's presence, he might have even spared the town for the sake of this fleeting artistic joy.

But the townspeople's gasps and exclamations soon drew Gyokko's attention back to Tom. Turning to look, Gyokko was stunned once again.

Tom was sitting atop a high stool, holding multiple paintbrushes with both his hands and feet, creating art simultaneously on four different canvases!

In Tom's right hand, he painted the "Mona Lisa." His left hand produced "The Scream." His left foot worked on "Starry Night," while his right foot painted "Sunflowers." Each of these artworks was executed at a level comparable to world-renowned masterpieces—exact replicas of the originals by their respective artists.

"Is that the reincarnation of Da Vinci?" one of the townspeople whispered in disbelief.

"Tom is amazing," another person muttered, their voice filled with admiration.

People knowledgeable in art and those with an eye for great business opportunities began to sense the potential of Tom's talent. They watched with awe as Tom's work took shape—his skill was undeniable.

While Gyokko painted three ships battling the rough seas, riding the waves in a detailed ukiyo-e style, the contrast between motion and stillness made it a masterpiece in its own right. Yet when both artists completed their works, the winner was clear to all.

The mayor, without hesitation, announced, "Mr. Tom wins the painting competition!"

Gyokko was on the brink of losing control. His demon form shook with fury, his rage building to the point where he was about to attack. But just as the situation grew tense, Tom meowed loudly and flipped over his four paintings.

To everyone's shock, when the four pieces were aligned, they formed a single, cohesive image. Upon seeing it, Gyokko froze in place, his rampage forgotten as he stared in disbelief.

Because that painting...