MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

High above the tumultuous battlefield, the champions floated in their ethereal chairs, suspended in the sky, each a figure of stoic attention and quiet anticipation.

The sky above was thick with clouds, as if the heavens themselves were holding their breath in silence, waiting for the next clash of combatants.

From the high vantage points, the fights could be seen in their entirety, with no obstacle to block the view.

The champions floated in perfect stillness, their chairs gliding through the air as if guided by some invisible force.

Among them was Anthony, who sat back in his chair with a relaxed air, his arms casually crossed and his gaze lazily drifting from one battle to the next.

'Watching live battles is indeed better than those animes'

Anthony mused to himself, a slight grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

A small bag of popcorn materialized in his lap, as if by command, and he began eating it, one kernel at a time.

He leaned back, his legs stretched out before him, eyes occasionally flicking over the chaos below, but his body remaining still, a stark contrast to the explosive violence unfolding just beneath them.

Beside him, Lucian, a fellow champion, confident in his own ability, mirrored Anthony's casual demeanor.

His eyes were sharp, and his gaze never lingered for too long on one fight.

Instead, it darted from one opponent to another, calculating their moves, gauging their strengths and weaknesses.

It wasn't until after several rounds of battles that he finally turned to Anthony with a slight frown.

"I can't believe we're still waiting. The screen hasn't selected us yet"

Lucian murmured, though it wasn't frustration that colored his tone, just an idle observation.

His hand reached for the bag of popcorn that Anthony had casually placed beside him, which he requested.

"You know, this is starting to feel a little ridiculous"

Anthony grinned, offering Lucian the bag.

"You're not the only one who feels that way. But I'm enjoying the view"

Lucian accepted the popcorn with a small nod, casually tossing a handful into his mouth as he looked down at the arena.

His eyes flicked across the ground below, narrowing slightly when he saw a fighter performing a particularly deadly move, his opponent had narrowly avoided decapitation but still crumpled to the ground in agony.

Lucian's eyes glinted.

"Some of them really are something else, huh?"

"Indeed"

Anthony said, his voice cool and even.

"Some are strong, others have potential. But most? Well, they're just...passing through"

The battle below grew more chaotic, more intense.

A sudden blast of energy shattered a nearby platform, sending debris flying into the air as one of the fighters detonated their spell to gain an advantage.

Some were looting the fallen corpses, rifling through their weapons or armor as they disposed of their opponents with ruthless efficiency.

Others walked away, allowing their enemies to live but leaving them broken and defeated on the ground.

In the midst of it all, there were a few who practiced honor, who fought not just for victory but for the respect of their opponents.

But these were the minority.

The majority were here to survive, to show dominance.

Victory by any means necessary.

Anthony's eyes remained on the battles, yet his mind seemed elsewhere, focused on the strange rhythm that the tournament had taken.

While the screen had selected many, it had not yet selected him, Lucian, or several other champions.

Even Aaaninja remained in the wings, it was a curious thing, this delay.

Something about it seemed too deliberate, too calculated.

Almost as if the screen, that ancient technology, was waiting for something, or someone.

Aaaninja, who had been silently watching from his own floating chair, glanced over at the two of them.

His voice cut through the air with a wry tone.

"You two have been waiting, what, three days now? This is ridiculous. The tension's killing me"

Lucian's eyes flicked over to him, a small smile tugging at his lips.

"Tell me about it. We've been stuck in this purgatory while the show goes on below us. What's your take on all this? Same as ours?"

Aaaninja leaned back in his chair, folding his arms with a chuckle.

"Exactly. I've seen some impressive fights, but this waiting game is becoming... boring. We're supposed to be in the thick of it, not just watching. This screen is clearly waiting for something"

Anthony, never one to take life too seriously, simply shrugged, tossing another handful of popcorn into his mouth.
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"I'm fine with waiting. More fun to watch the chaos down there than to be in the thick of it"

Lucian snorted.

"Yeah, because it's not like the waiting is giving us too much time to think about the inevitable when it's our turn"

"I think it's more about control"

Aaaninja offered thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing as he observed the fights below.

"Whoever's controlling this tournament has their reasons for delaying us. But who knows what they're planning?"

Anthony raised an eyebrow at that.

"I'm not in any rush. Let the others burn themselves out, and when my turn comes, I'll be ready. Besides"

He added with a grin.

"If I'm lucky, I might get the popcorn situation sorted before it's too late"

Lucian chuckled, his earlier frustration momentarily forgotten.

"I see. Well, I'll take a seat and enjoy this 'show' while it lasts. But when it's my turn, I'm ending this farce quickly"

Anthony grinned at the idea.

"Always the optimist"

Aaaninja leaned forward slightly, looking over the battles more intently.

"Speaking of which, have you guys noticed that one fighter? The dark horse, I mean"

Anthony looked down to where Aaaninja gestured.

The battle was intense, two combatants were locked in a vicious exchange, but it wasn't the ferocity that caught Anthony's attention.

It was the fighter's style.

There was something different about them, an elegance and precision in their strikes.

While many of the champions fought with brute force or chaotic attacks, this individual seemed to glide through their moves, almost dancing with their opponent.

Lucian's eyes narrowed.

"Yeah, I've seen them. It's... impressive. A new player on the field. Who would've thought someone so unassuming could gain such attention?"

"They've been making waves for sure"

Aaaninja said, his eyes reflecting the same quiet admiration.

"Some of the top fighters are starting to take notice, and they've taken down a few heavy hitters already. Whoever they are, they're dangerous"

"Could be a problem down the line"

Anthony mused, watching with a faint smile.

"But I'm not worried. My turn will come, and when it does, I'll deal with it"

Lucian glanced at Anthony, his lips curling into a smirk.

"You're really enjoying this, aren't you?"

Anthony gave a nonchalant shrug.

"Why not? It's a show, and I'm just here for the entertainment. The way I see it, the more people who burn out, the more fun it'll be when it's my time"

Lucian laughed.

"You're a real piece of work, you know that?"

Aaaninja chuckled, shaking his head.

"The problem is, everyone's assuming they'll have the last laugh. You never know who the real threat is until they step into the ring"

The conversation shifted as they all fell silent for a moment, the atmosphere thick with the tension of waiting.

The battles below raged on, but the champions above knew that their time would come.

The screen would select them, and when it did, the arena would feel the weight of their strength.

The days dragged on, and still, Anthony's turn did not come.

Nor did Lucian's.

Nor did Aaaninja's.

The strange delay continued, and the longer it lasted, the more the champions around them began to grow curious.

Through the haze of combat, a whisper spread among the spectators, a dark horse had emerged in the tournament.

At first, no one had paid much attention to the fighter.

Their presence was subtle, almost unremarkable at first glance.

But slowly, with each victory, the fighter began to carve a name for themselves.

Their skill was unmatched, their speed deadly, their ability to exploit the smallest opening leaving their opponents in tatters before they even had a chance to react.

Some of the most renowned champions, who had long been considered favorites, had already fallen before this new contender.

Some said the dark horse's strength was otherworldly, and some even wondered if they had mastered a form of combat that had never been seen before.

Regardless of the rumors, one thing was certain: this fighter was one to watch.

"Looks like we're not the only ones drawing attention"

Anthony observed, his eyes flicking to the ground below, where the dark horse was now engaging in a duel with a well known combatant.

Lucian, his curiosity piqued, leaned forward slightly in his seat.

"They're impressive, that's for sure. I'm curious to see how far they go"

Aaaninja's eyes gleamed.

"Could be the one to shake things up in this tournament. Or they could be another pretender"

But even as the dark horse rose to prominence, there was something else that gnawed at the back of Anthony's mind.

He knew his time would come.

The screen had to select him eventually, and when it did, the arena would feel the weight of his presence.

For now, though, Anthony leaned back once more, popping another piece of popcorn into his mouth, his eyes scanning the arena with a mixture of interest and impatience.

"If this keeps up, I might just start enjoying the chaos"

He said, a wry smile crossing his face.

"After all, the longer I wait, the more fun it'll be when I finally get my turn"

And as the battles below raged on, the champions above waited, patient, watching, and waiting for the moment when they would be called into the fray.

The tournament was far from over, and only time would reveal who would emerge victorious in the end.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

Now we shall enter the battle of the awaited character.

Strap in your seat belts, it's gonna be a fun ride.