The arena was electric. The crowd roared with anticipation as the final match of the tournament was about to begin.
Riku and Toru stood opposite each other, both warriors prepared for a showdown that would decide who would take the title and the 5 million USD reward. But for Riku, this fight was about more than money—it was about finally facing down a former middle school rival who had once bullied him.
And now, things had changed.
The match began.
Toru immediately surged forward, his Titan Essence flaring to life as his muscles bulged with power. He swung with brutal force, aiming to overwhelm Riku in the first few seconds.
But Riku didn't flinch. He stood there, calm and collected, letting Toru close the distance. His expression was serene, almost nonchalant, as if he were waiting for Toru to make the first move.
The crowd chanted wildly, especially the girls.
"We love you, Riku!"
"Oh my god, he's so fine!"
"Riku, you're amazing!"
Yumi stood on the sidelines, watching the scene unfold. She clenched her fists at her sides, her face a mixture of embarrassment and… jealousy? Her cheeks flushed bright red as she watched the crowd's flirtatious remarks toward Riku. Despite herself, she felt a pang of jealousy at how easily the girls were swooning over him.
"Ugh…" Yumi muttered under her breath, trying to hide her feelings, but it was clear that her emotions were getting the better of her.
Meanwhile, Riku, completely oblivious to Yumi's inner turmoil, faced off against Toru, who was now trying to land a decisive blow.
Toru's first strike came like a freight train, aimed directly at Riku's head. But Riku was faster. He sidestepped with a fluid motion, almost as if he weren't even trying, and Toru's fist hit nothing but air.
"Is that all you've got?" Riku asked, his tone light, almost mocking.
Toru's eyes narrowed in frustration, but the challenge only made him more determined. He swung again, faster this time, but Riku was already a step ahead. He dodged Toru's punches, his movements smooth, almost effortless. The crowd gasped in awe as Riku danced around Toru, his agility leaving the much larger fighter in the dust.
Toru gritted his teeth. "You've gotten good, Riku. But don't think you can outclass me that easily."
"Oh, I'm not trying to outclass you," Riku replied, his voice dripping with confidence. "Just enjoying the show."
Toru lunged again, this time aiming for Riku's chest, hoping to catch him off guard. But Riku—still with that same calm demeanor—caught his arm mid-swing. He twisted it, flipping Toru over his shoulder in one smooth motion.
Toru slammed into the floor with a loud thud. The audience gasped.
Riku didn't give him a second to recover. He immediately summoned one of his clones, who appeared in a flash of light. The clone rushed forward, tackling Toru with incredible force and knocking him out of the ring.
The crowd exploded in a frenzy.
Winner: Riku Hayashi
The girls went wild, chanting Riku's name.
"Riku! Riku! Riku!"
"Marry me, Riku!"
"Riku, you're perfect!"
Riku stood, a small smile crossing his face as he raised a hand in acknowledgment. Despite the excitement, he remained humble.
Toru, still recovering from the fall, stood up slowly, wiping the dirt from his clothes. He couldn't hide the grin that spread across his face. He had lost, but he knew it had been a fair fight. And something in him respected Riku for how effortlessly he had won.
"Well played, Riku," Toru said, holding out his hand.
Riku grinned and shook it. "You've grown strong too, Toru. Maybe one day, we can really go at it."
The crowd cheered louder, and Riku turned to the sidelines, looking for his friends. Yumi's gaze locked onto his, her cheeks still flushed, but now there was a softer expression in her eyes. She didn't say anything, but the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips said enough.
"Thanks for the support, everyone," Riku called out to the crowd. His voice rang with sincerity.
The guys in the crowd shouted their congratulations, clapping him on the back and giving him respectful nods.
"Good job, Riku. You're a beast!"
"Didn't think you'd make it look so easy. That was impressive!"
Yumi, still flushed from earlier, was now smiling. The jealousy she had felt earlier faded as she saw the way Riku handled everything, as if it were all just a game to him—no need to overexert himself, no need to show off. It was effortless, smooth, and undeniably impressive.
She couldn't help but admire him more.
Riku, satisfied with his victory but not one to bask in it for too long, gave one final wave to the crowd before walking off the stage.
As he walked past Yumi, he smiled at her.
"You were great, Yumi. I'll see you around."
Yumi stood there, a bit stunned. She didn't say anything, but she felt her heart skip a beat as he walked away.