The first match of the tournament was about to commence. The crowd buzzed with excitement as two legendary figures stepped into the arena: Simo Häyhä, the White Death, and Leonidas, the King of Sparta. The weight of their legacies bore down on the arena like a gathering storm.
Above the ring, a stout dwarf floated on a platform, his booming voice reverberating across the crowd. "Contestants ready? 3... 2... 1... Fight!"
Simo's lips curled into a cocky grin as he eyed Leonidas. A Spartan king, huh? He should probably take this fight seriously—but where was the fun in that? Simo twirled his sniper rifle lazily, almost mocking the gravity of the situation.
With a casual flick of his finger, he fired a single shot. The bullet pinged harmlessly off Leonidas's bronze armor, ricocheting into the ghostly audience. Specters didn't mind. The whole scene felt like a game to Simo, and his mischievous grin widened.
Leonidas's brow furrowed. His muscles coiled like a predator preparing to strike, and without warning, he charged. Simo, still leaning against the railing, gave a playful yawn.
"C'mon, big guy, is that it?" Simo's voice was light, as though Leonidas were nothing more than a passing distraction.
Then, with the ease of someone flipping a switch, Simo summoned a tear—a manifestation of Fear. A dark cloud of shadowy mist began to seep into the arena, swallowing the light. The temperature dropped. The audience hushed, anticipation thick in the air as the smoke curled, twisting into haunting shapes that encased the combatants.
Simo danced through the fog like a phantom. He didn't need to see his enemy—he felt him. Leonidas's footfalls echoed, each heavy step giving away his position. Simo aimed and fired, every bullet carefully timed to keep Leonidas guessing. He reveled in the chaos he'd created, enjoying the confusion rippling through the crowd.
But Leonidas was no fool.
Suddenly, the Spartan's roar cut through the smoke like a knife. BOOM! The ground trembled as Leonidas's sword slammed into the arena floor, the sheer force of the strike shattering stone. The smoke dissipated, and Leonidas stood amidst the rubble, his eyes burning with fury.
Simo's confidence flickered, only for a moment. He hadn't expected Leonidas to shatter the mist so easily. Still, Simo had tricks up his sleeve.
Leonidas wasted no time. With a bellow, he manifested his own tear—Bind. Chains erupted from the earth, writhing like iron serpents, their rattling echoing ominously in the arena. In seconds, they coiled around Simo, tightening their grip with ruthless efficiency.
"Chains of the earth, bind this fool!" Leonidas's voice boomed, full of authority.
Simo felt the cold, heavy metal constrict his limbs. For the first time, a flicker of frustration crossed his face. But this wasn't over yet. He focused, pulling his energy together. A tear of Fear manifested once more, wrapping the arena in suffocating darkness. The chains slackened as Leonidas hesitated—just what Simo needed.
Simo slipped free in the blink of an eye. He rolled across the ground, grabbing his rifle, and with perfect precision, fired a shot. The bullet struck a nearby boulder, ricocheting straight into Leonidas's helmet. It clattered to the ground with a metallic clang.
The King of Sparta's eyes flared. His muscles tensed with fury. His enemy had gotten lucky, but luck wouldn't save him a second time.
"Nice shot," Leonidas growled. "But enough of these games!"
A tear of Momentum flickered into existence around Leonidas. His movements became a blur of speed and power, as though the very air propelled him forward. He lunged, his sword flashing with a deadly arc.
Simo narrowly dodged, feeling the wind from Leonidas's blade graze his cheek. A quick roll to the side saved him from being cleaved in two, but this was getting dangerously close. Leonidas wasn't like the others he'd toyed with. The Spartan was relentless.
"Is that all, Leonidas?" Simo taunted, despite the bead of sweat forming on his brow. "I thought you were supposed to be a warrior!"
With a snarl, Leonidas surged forward, crashing through the remnants of the mist. His sword came down in a powerful swing, but Simo was already moving, ducking out of reach. Yet this time, Leonidas anticipated the dodge. With a roar, he brought his fist crashing into the ground, the impact sending shockwaves through the arena. Simo stumbled, caught off guard by the force.
Foosh..
The white death grabbed his sniper quickly and shot at Leonidas' head.