> The forsaken will of eternal ascendance.

Probacon and Wok hopping through various portals along with some space creatures.

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The bubble of Void energy began to encompass the majority of the battleground, an island-esque platform that floated in the middle of the Field's void.

Toxic looked around, analyzing and admiring the opponent's work.

Kai Cobra, the creator of said bubble, focused completely on stabilizing it with both his hands stilled in cupped placements, for it was of utmost importance for any progress he would want to make.

It was a strenuous task, but in time he did so completely and fully. And upon the completion, he dropped both hands to his side, initially lowering his head as well.

Moments afterwards, he looked up at the Viosi entity with laser focus.

"Void Rein, hm?" Toxic asked, still in complete optic assimilation of his surroundings.

But Kai's silence was louder than anything else upon that platform.

"You were not taught to answer questions?" Toxic inquired, left mildly annoyed.

"...I don't think it will do me any good, will it, Lord Toxic?" Kai responded,.

Toxic chuckled, amused by a daring but prompt response. "A wise answer."

"So, what do you plan?"

Kai stood silent, thinking for a while. His speed and prowess are far superior, not to mention his dominance over the temporal element….

Even still…

“…I've still got spatial control in my arsenal!" Kai voiced out as he raised skywards his opened left palm.

Suddenly, Void energy shot out from said hand into the sky at paranormal speeds.

Toxic followed the beam, keenly interested in discovering what its purpose was.

Without warning, all the energy, which had been coagulating up to that point, burst in a violent explosion, creating a meteoric sphere.

The sphere began vacuuming all the space surrounding it with no discrimination.

Toxic placed his hand in front of his body, as despite being slowly shifted by the gravity of the sphere he pushed against its effects.

A black hole…? No, compared to Uno's, this is just pure suction. Toxic prepended, whilst still pushing back against the force.

Hmm-hmm. Still, it is a tactic worthy of plaudits. Quite a many in this event would have struggled against it. However…

Toxic opened his mouth and began to suck in the environment around him via great volumes of air, at an even faster and greater rate than the sphere.

Kai, using tendrils of Void energy, anchored himself to a mountain range in the distance in an attempt to not be swept away as well.

But he was not Toxic's focus, which was placed upon the sphere, which the Viosi entity engaged in a battle of suction with.

And after a short while, and much to Kai's disbelief and dismay, the sphere ended up the losing side of that battle.

Eventually, Toxic would completely suck the sphere into his mouth, and swallowed.

Leaving Kai to watch on in absolute bewilderment.

The Viosi entity would then release a great exhale afterwards.

Realizing the battle at hand, Kai would gather himself, and change his approach, now dashing at Toxic yet again at unchained top speed.

"Ha! Had you not discarded the idea of a velocious battle!?" Toxic roared, charging straight for his opponent as well.

With both contenders clashing, they struck and barreled past themselves with insignificant control.

They swiftly recuperated and attacked again, simultaneously throwing barraging punches that colluded ever so often with brazen force, which led to a series of shockwaves that demolished the surrounding area.

Upon a short retraction, Kai emitted from his entire body sparse amounts of Void energy, creating an aura similar to the Nafiman prince in nature but not concentration.

Both forge ahead with their unrelenting barrage, sending out powerful shockwaves and gusts that consistently swept away more and more of the surrounding areas at an even greater rate.

Then both unleashed a clash of dual punches.

A clash strong enough to completely turn the sixtieth parallel of the northern end of a platform now lunarian in extent into a field of pebbles in violent fashion.

The brace then launched themselves skyward, away from the field of rubble.

And then, their proper dance of combat styles would take full swing. Beginning with Kai throwing a roundhouse kick, only for it to be swiftly blocked. The symbiotic entity would try for a quick jab. Something Kai avoided just in the nick.

And with swift and immediate action, the latter propped himself to land an uppercut.

But the ease in which Toxic had in catching his hand was exceedingly great.

And would headbutt Kai with an emphatic nod.

It was powerful enough to send Kai crashing back onto the moon's surface, creating a large crater in the previously fragmented latitude.

“Ugh…” Kai groaned as he sat up, with the back of his head hurting, and he held it so.

His time to recuperate was short, swiftly sensing another incoming threat.

For Toxic had begun darted back towards the ground at extreme velocity, and would violently crash onto it, specifically into the very same crater Kai had formed.

Fortunately for Kai, he had made haste to jump away, enacting a landing pose when he reached his destination.

Toxic would dash towards the unrested Absorbant once again.

And their clash would continue as before. Their continued exchange of hand strikes towards themselves would see no near end for the time, as the attacks would be blocked without fail on either end. Their range was close, making for fast exchanges that left no space unused, and everything opportunity accounted for with the constant throw of hands.

Eventually, Kai would find success, and an exceedingly clean strike on the Viosi's jaw would connect, though of no harm.

And Kai would not stop there, for another punch would follow up. From there a side roundhouse would be delivered. And a grappling throw would be used to fling the symbiotic entity away.

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Kai would not look to grant him distance however, and used his speed to follow behind his opponent as he traveled.

But Toxic had other plans, being completely unscathed by the attacks, landing instantly and vigorously, planting himself onto the ground.

And immediately, he released spiraling fire from his palms upwards and then omnidirectionally, and intense light permeated from his entire form, and whilst looking skywards shot giant light beams out of his eyes, and spouted a powerful blast of blue fire from his mouth into the sky as well.

Their sheer combined intensity was enough to eviscerate completely all that was near him. A phenomenon Kai noticed, and retreated from as soon as he could.

But eventually, Toxic would end all phenomena, taking a more natural stand now with his arms bent inwards, and his fists clenched.

"Well, you have entertained me…Kai Cobra of the Battler-8V Universe,” said Toxic, with an appraising beam.

"But every battle must end.”

Kai braced himself, as he knew not what was to come, nor how he could counteract. All he knew; that his survival was critical.

Suddenly, with barely any time passing, Kai was struck by a speeding Toxic.

An action which repeated itself for multiple times, as the embodying of the higher ideas of time and symbiosis, The God of Symbiotes, now locomoted much at a far higher celerity than either had taken on before.

This is insane! This is speed of likely two hundred…five hundred…no…a thousand times! A thousand times more than before!!, thought Kai, who amidst this managed to place around himself a barrier of Void energy.

Toxic did not relent however, continuously barraging the barrier, leaving Kai more things to worry for.

Calm down! Let's review our options. The Absorbant thought to himself.

Unlike David, the energy-based stuff of Void Rein is still mostly novel to me. I can't use temporal abilities 'cause of his direct counter. And considering what happened to Lugeuten…I don't think I'll have much luck with that either. Nor will the Dual Hand Shot come in handy…

Meaning…!! He transposed himself away from the location, causing Toxic to crash through and destroy the barrier.

The Viosi entity turned around, beholding Kai as he underwent some sort of transformation.

As the Absorbant became engulfed by a darkness, he concluded unshakingly in his mind. This is…my last bet!!

The darkness dispersed, revealing a large darkness like a cloak over Kai's right side as well as his upper head and eyes, with many pure white spots riddled all over.

"The Clairvoyance of the Lord…" The symbiotic entity uttered in instant recognition.

"Yes. It is my last resort. Prepare, Legendary Sword!,” stated Kai.

He sprinted at Toxic, who had molded one of his arms into a great warhammer.

Toxic attempted to smash Kai into the ground.

《The Lord's Clairvoyance…》

But via this ability of his, Kai simply made it so that Toxic's hammer simply missed him, and that the Viosi entity had taken a few hundred steps more than initially believed.

《A power to see and alter futures and fates as one deems fit.》

And the pattern would repeat. Even when Toxic threw a punch, or trapped him in a cage of his spaghettified hand, or outright attempted to chomp his head off, Kai would simply change the outcomes. For they were futures he could see, and therefore, futures he could change.

《Even when attacked.》 《Or even entrapped》 《With it, Kai can secure a needed stronghold…》

And it appeared to have gotten to Toxic, who for a moment longer than ever before, remained in complete silence.

《And a chance at victory can be guaranteed…》

But in time, he simply chuckled, throwing Kai off.

All of a sudden, with no warning or indicative, everything would fade to black.

And in action beyond the linear, the battle ended, with Toxic standing victorious, and Kai on the floor, panting and wheezing.

And of course, Kai was left visibly perplexed by the strange turn. W-what? Did l…lose?

"BEINGS OF THE OMNIVERSE. THIS BATTLE'S VICTOR IS…TOXIC!!!" Dgiag announced.

The emotions of high were in a balanced blend as well. For the cheers of enjoyment and those of confusion would both ring from the masses.

"Hmph. So much for not harming them too much…,” voiced an exasperated Dgiag, as Tōmii sighed.

"Poor Kai…,” stated an unhappily frowning Wok. "Yeah. Never really a winning battle, that one. And despite his opponent not really using that pandimensional might..." Noot added.

"I applaud his efforts though,” appraised Fighter, now amongst the individuals who had sat together in the Second Round's space.

Kai…, thought Probacon, saddened at the thought of his peer's exit.

In the Field, Toxic turned to look at Kai, who still lay upon the floor in great discomfort.

I really did lose, huh? He began to meditate. Well, no surprise. It was a Grandmaster Entity I drew. And I still kicked ass. I should be at least proud. But…why…

Tears began streaming from his eyes.

Why does this loss…hurt so much? Damn it!

《The pain of defeat, the sorrow of failure.》

Young man…wallow not in this singular defeat. Instead, mold it into a stepping stone of future greatnesses. That is my wish, of and for you, thought the great symbiotic entity, as the Jmlehvu surrounded and prepared to take Kai, and Toxic was transposed to the Third Round Seating.

《But even still, the divinity smiles upon mortal frailty.》

***

Meanwhile, within the confines of the Bounded Coliseum, a revitalized and freshened David had begun to stride towards the Third Round Seating.

《But elsewhere…》

"Hey!" Someone would call to him. To which he turned to, to view whoever had acted as so.

"Wells…"

The Spirit Shinigami walked towards him.

"Just wanna know…if you wonder why I didn't use every precise weakness despite knowing them all…" Wells said. "I have a…bit of an idea. Void energy, is it not?" David responded.

"About right. With everything else, I know the lower and upper limits, what would've made you tick and all.”

“But…Void energy was the variable in that equation I just couldn't get around…"

"And I know that due to current stuff, you feel as though our match was not up to standard. Don't. I quite enjoyed myself, even despite the loss.”

“I also respect you a lot, young heir. So disregarding our fight is a tad disrespectful towards me. Don't go doing that, okay?"

David looked at him, initially perplexed by his brazen approach.

But then he simply chuckled, taking those words to heart. "Hm, I shan't. Thank you for the reassurance, Wells.”

"No biggie. Though to be honest…I had been doing my own investigations on the current state of things as well.” Wells stated, drawing the Nafiman's surprise. “Is that so?”

“Yeah. Wonder if I can work with you guys, and provide any help I can.” "That is very much appreciated."

"Nice! Gonna need one of them special seats." Wells joked. "That's not my role here…,” laughed David, as the two jested on as they walked along.

Suddenly, David stopped, feeling something sinister near him.

This is–! He thought, as he quickly spun his head only to spot a silhouette.

A silhouette which shot raw energy right at him at point-blank range.

But the prince easily diverted his head from the blast's path, but the energy chiseled into a wall.

It would destabilize the wall and cause it and the ceiling it supported to begin to fall down, right above many of an unaware collective.

And amongst them was a young humanoid girl with green hair, black sclera and white irides outlined with red, in a flowery dress and with a stuffed animal. And she was the prime eye-catcher for David.

“Wells!” He would yell. “On it!” Wells would respond, with both now looking to act sharply.

Proceeding to use their speed and their abilities, David and Wells worked together to simultaneously save the people and stop the rubble.

“What was that?!” Wells questioned, as David communed with the girl, seemingly inquiring of her wellbeing, which she just nodded in response to.

When David turned to look back, the silhouette was gone, with the only trace of it being a small piece of some gem, which seemed to glow with energy. His eyes widened as it came to memory.

"That's a–!,” said Wells with a face gaping of shock as they both moved towards it. "A fraction of a Brsyet Jewel…an amplifier of destabilizing and power-negating energy. And here, it was used to attack me…" David interjected.

"Hmm. Then they're aware of your awareness." Wells said, looking at a kneeling David who looked into the distance as he picked the jewel.

"And not just that…that they mean business…and will not let us act a thorn in their side.” David said, clutching the piece, with a raised awareness greater than before of the looming threat, and their intent for him and his allies…

《An attempt on him, the enemy's frugality heightens…》

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