Chương 49: The Loud Speaker, Dippo!

Rumble!

Cheers from the crowd as it related to the ongoing match taking place in the arena were deafening. Hao, Mentos, and Yoad continued to watch a couple more fights. Each one was as brutal as the last, with competitors giving their all in the sandy battleground.

"That's another bloody one for yah!" Dippo, the announcer who hovered on his sword, provided rowdy commentary and insights into each bout. When the latest victor emerged, battered but triumphant, the raucous crowd fell silent as his voice reverberated through the massive arena.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Beasts Masters and Bastians, welcome to the Hallows, where the strongest warriors come to test their mettle and prove their worth!" The crowd responded in approval as Dippo paused for a moment to let the excitement build.

"Today, we have a special treat for you. A newcomer has entered the fray, and he goes by the name of...Hao Vee!" Dippo gestured to the blindfolded fighter standing in the crowd. "Come on down in the ring if you dare."

Hao knew it was his turn to fight. Mentos leaned in and whispered, "Be careful, Hao. Remember what we discussed."

Yoad chimed in as well, "And please, don't damage Barkcode too much!"

Feeling confident, Hao nodded in response then started heading down the stairs leading to the arena with Barkcode following closely behind him. The sandy floor crunched beneath his feet as the crowd, unfamiliar with him and curious about his blindfold, began to whisper and speculate. Some spectators booed, while others wondered if he was actually blind or just putting on an act. The negative comments piled on as the crowd took in his appearance and the small Bastian he would be fighting with.

"You're not seriously going to fight with that puny thing, are you?" someone in the audience shouted.

"Is he lost? This is no place for blind men and their pathetic pets!" another jeered.

Standing in the centre of the expansive ring, Hao felt the pressure of the crowd's mockery and doubt. He tried to tune them out, focusing on the task ahead and reminding himself that he needed to unsheathe Judgment Day no matter the risk.

Meanwhile, Dippo struggled to find words to properly introduce Hao to the eager crowd. "Some of you may be wondering what he is doing in this ring with such a puny Bastian, maybe he has a death wish!" Settling for mocking the tiny Bastian, Dippo fanned the flames of the audience's disdain.

"That bastard!" Yoad felt a pang of offence upon realizing that they were insulting his Beast Companion.

"But wait, there's more!" With the introduction done, Dippo began to announce Hao's opponent. "His opponent today is none other than the reigning champion of the Hallows, the Beast Master herself, Kiera!" His voice exploded like thunder, revealing a name that was all too familiar to those gathered in the Hallows.

"Kiera!"

"Now that's a woman I want to poke properly." Yelled a man up in age.

"Aren't you afraid that she's too much for you to handle, old man? She might break what's left of you." Said a younger man.

"Nonsense! I might be old but I can still rise to the occasion, if you know what I mean." He winked at the man and cracked a boisterous laughter.

"There she is! She's coming out now! Oh my God, she's so bad!"

The audience screamed as Kiera made her grand entrance into the arena atop her overpowered beast, Maelstrom. The positivity and excitement were tangible contrary to the dry greeting that Hao received; everyone was rooting for her to make quick work of him, who they were all claiming to have little to no chance against her.

"That blindfold youth is in for a world of pain!" Dippo made his thoughts known to the audience, stating that he believed Kiera and her enormous Bastian would undoubtedly be the winners.

Joining her opponent in the centre, Kiera glanced down at Hao, smirking as she assessed him and his Beast Companion. "You really think you can take me on?" she sneered. "I could end your pathetic life without breaking a sweat. This is a waste of my time." She added that Hao's Bastian was small and weak, just like its owner, and that she wouldn't gain much from winning such a paltry sum of Blade Tokens. Nevertheless, she resolved to finish the battle quickly and get it over with.

Kiera yawned and added, "This is going to be boring." She then looked over at Dippo and commanded him to start the match. "I don't have all day to waste." And thus the announcer complied.

Dippo attempted to hype the crowd up for a battle that they all believed would be anything but entertaining before he hollered, "Let the battle begin!"

"This is it. Show them how wrong they are to underestimate you." In the audience, Mentos leaned against the railing, watching with a knowing smile. He believed that Hao would shock them all.

Yoad, however, had a different opinion. "Damn, what was I thinking…?" He now worried that his decision to lend Barkcode to Hao was foolish; he also began to think that Hao stood no chance against Kiera.

Back in the arena, Hao took a fighting stance with his left hand holding the scabbard of Vibe Edge. While everyone else belittled him, he was secretly scanning Maelstrom for any weaknesses using his Vibe Sense. He was already prepared to cut down his formidable foe.

"Hmm, this sensation...?" Kiera suddenly felt a similar feeling to what she had experienced after claiming victory in her previous match. Someone was stripping her bear with their sight; she began to suspect that it might be the young uninteresting fellow in the ring.

"So it's you?" Anger bubbled up within Kiera, fuelling her desire to make the first move. The crowd held their breath as she tensed atop Maelstrom, ready to unleash her devastating attack.

"Here they come." Hao, sensing her intent, tightened his grip on the hilt of Vibe Edge.

Boom!

Kiera wasted no time commanding Maelstrom to rip Hao to shreds. With a deafening roar, the giant Bastian lunged towards him, massive jaws agape. Hao's instincts kicked in, and he narrowly dodged the deadly strike by rolling to the side. CHOMP! The sheer force of Maelstrom's charge, however, was enough to send him crashing against the tall confines of the arena.

As he slowly picked himself up, Hao couldn't help but covet Maelstrom even more, he thought, "It will do just fine for my experiment." If Kiera could see his expression, she would know that he wanted her beast for himself, but this greed of his would not be so easily accomplished. Steeling himself, Hao prepared for the battle that lay ahead.