Chapter 189: Cameras
As Ty took in the enormity of the arena, he was struck by its sheer scale. "It's massive... easily the size of a football field," he murmured to himself, awe coloring his voice.
The arena lights, a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors, danced across the stands, adding to the spectacle.
The buzz of the crowd swelled into a deafening roar, a testament to the excitement that filled the air.
Just then, a booming voice echoed from above, commanding the attention of everyone present.
Ty looked up to see the source of the announcement. It was the same man who had instructed him earlier, now perched atop a floating platform.
The platform, shaped like a metallic teardrop, hovered gracefully above the arena, a solid stage for the announcer.
From this distance, Ty could just make out the man's broad, exuberant smile, his presence amplifying the already electric atmosphere.
The announcer's voice thundered through the coliseum, each word resonating with theatrical flair. "GOOOOOD EVENNINNNG FOLKS!!!!! TONIGHTTTT, WE ARE ENDING IT WITH A BANGGGG!!!!"
The crowd responded with a tumultuous mixture of cheers, shouts, and interspersed boos, which Ty sensed were directed at him. Yet, he remained unfazed, focusing instead on the spectacle unfolding around him.
The announcer's enthusiasm was relentless. "FOLKS, WE ARE HERE TO BRING YOU A MOST SPECIAL EVENING AND FINAL BOUT!!! AN EARLY SPECIAL, BEFORE THE ARENA OF LIFE KICKS OFF IN LESS THAN ONE WEEK!!"
A brief hush fell over the arena, only to be shattered by an eruption of roars and applause from the crowd. Ty, absorbing the intensity of the moment, couldn't help but estimate the sheer number of spectators. "There must be at least 10,000 people here tonight," he thought, a mix of awe and resolve settling within him.
The announcer's voice boomed across the arena, each word dripping with sensationalism. "WE HAVE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME FIGHT TONIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! A FIGHT TO THE DEATH BETWEEN TWO OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS BEINGS THIS WORLD HAS EVER SEEN!!!"
The crowd's anticipation reached a fever pitch as he continued, "IN THE NORTH CORNER, THE HEINOUS, THE MURDEROUS, THE SCOURGE OF HUMANITY, FERNANDO THE LIGHTNING ASSASSIN!!! FIGHTING FOR HIS SHOT AT PARDON AND A PLACE IN THE SERVICE OF OUR GRAND KINGDOM!!!"
As the announcer's words echoed, a red light split the ground in half, casting a sinister glow across the arena. Ty's gaze shifted to the source of the light, where he saw his opponent for the first time. Fernando, his face smeared with blood, wore a continuous, sinister smile that never faltered. His eyes locked onto Ty, unblinking and filled with a chilling intensity.
The arena was a cauldron of noise as the spotlight shone on Fernando, intensifying the anticipation. However, at a loud, exaggerated huff from the announcer, the crowd instantly hushed, their attention refocusing on his every word.
"AND TO TOP SOMETHING LIKE THAT TAKES A LOT, FOLKS!" he exclaimed with a hint of sarcasm. His voice then took on a more serious tone, amplifying the drama of the moment. "AND YES, THE RUMORS YOU'VE HEARD ARE ALL TRUE! FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HALF A CENTURY, A DEMON HAS MADE THEIR PRESENCE KNOWN IN OUR REALM! They were swiftly captured by our brilliant future General, Yun-JIn!!"
The crowd erupted again, a mix of awe and excitement swirling through the stands. The mention of a demon, especially one captured by a renowned figure like Yun-Jin, added an extra layer of intrigue to the already electrifying atmosphere.
Ty, standing amidst this whirlwind of emotion, could feel the weight of every gaze upon him. The title of 'demon', a label he still grappled with understanding, now defined him in the eyes of thousands. As the red light that bathed Fernando in its sinister glow met with a single blue line, the two colors clashed and intertwined, creating a mesmerizing blend of purple hues.
This vibrant light then swept over Ty, engulfing him and the other half of the arena in a brilliant blue, placing him squarely in the spotlight for all to see.
In that moment of exposure, Ty's initial instinct was to shout out the truth, to declare the misunderstanding that had led him here. But as quickly as the thought arose, he dismissed it, knowing such a plea would be lost in the sea of anticipation and judgment surrounding him.
Instead, he decided to lean into the role he had been cast in, meeting the lens of a hovering drone with a defiant, sinister smile.
Just then, a familiar voice echoed in his mind, "Good, embrace it all. Otherwise, they will kill you anyway." Ty recognized the voice instantly, its guidance resonating with a harsh truth. He knew that in this arena, perception was as powerful as reality. His survival depended not just on his physical prowess but also on how he navigated the narrative woven around him.
The arena, alive with the roar of the crowd and the tension of the imminent battle, became a stage where Ty had to play his part convincingly, or risk losing everything in this high-stakes game.
As Ty clenched his jaw, a surge of realization hit him. "Is it possible that the creature is still lingering within me?" he wondered, a mix of concern and defiance flaring within. He pushed the thought aside, knowing that now was not the time for such reflections. His immediate focus had to remain on the unfolding spectacle.
The drone, hovering precariously close, ventured an inch nearer, prompting a swift response from Ty. In a fluid motion, he reached out and grabbed it, his black flames springing to life in his palm. A sinister grin spread across his face as his eyes began to shift into a fierce blend of red and black, and tendrils of dark flame licked at the corners of his mouth.
Addressing the captivated audience, he declared with a menacing tone, "I hope you humans are ready for a spectacle, because that's exactly what you're about to witness." His grip on the drone tightened, feeling its futile attempts to break free.
With a dramatic twist, he spun and launched the drone skyward, sending it soaring past the announcer.
The action was a bold statement, a blend of defiance and showmanship that perfectly encapsulated the role he had decided to embrace in the arena.