The seats around the white marble ring were filled with avatars, no filler NPCs to be seen. People wanted to be here, in the seats, even though they could watch from anywhere else in The Oasis like they did in the first two rounds of this tournament. No, this round was no longer just the players invited to fight; these were the ones who had earned the right to keep fighting. They wanted to see as 'live' as possible how these contenders kept going.
And Damagi loved it.
She stands beside her opponent at the fighter entrance watching the time clock on her HUD countdown to the moment the match was going to start. She was one of the hundred and twenty-five fighters for today's round. Not bad, considering there were thousands in the first. At Level 18, the Saiyan woman was the 'weakest' avatar in the brackets right now, and the highest was 40. But that doesn't matter for her. Those were just numbers trying to quantify what could only be decided in the moments two players really came to blows.
And hers was here as the countdown hit zero and in the middle of the ring The Announcer spawned.
"Welcome ladies, gentlemen, vagabonds and heroes of all identities tooooo the Tezuka Invitational Tournament!" The crowd erupted in applause and cheers that sent a ripple of excitement all across Damagi's real body. "Our first contender is a pirate of the high seas come to show his skills are just as potent on land! Meeeeet Captain L30!"
Captain L30 pounces out of the entrance onto the ring in his beast form, and transformed into his humanoid to let loose a thunderous roar. An avatar with a Zoan Type Devil Fruit power. Dangerous at any level, more so with the three level difference between them. The prospect only makes Damagi smile wider.
"And in this corner: a true Saiyan warrior if I've ever seen one….Damagi!"
Damagi jumps out and the moment her feet touch the ring floor she powers up. Her aura is red and flame-like, and causes The Announcer to step back. Her eyes meet the those of her opponent, who huffs and growls as he crosses his arms over his chest. Damagi smirks and stops.
The Announcer steps between them. "Rules are same as the other rounds: No weapons aside from claws, teeth, and others part of your avatar. No flying. Should any part of you touch the ground, you lose. Deplete your opponent's HP, you are disqualified. Do both parties agree to these terms?"
"I'll try my best not to get her to zero. So yes, I agree." Captain L30 says in a voice that is low and rumbling.
"Agreed. " Damagi replies while her avatar mirrors her actual act of cracking her knuckles.
"Then without further ado," The Announcer raises his hands up "Fight!" He then disappears.
Captain L30 brings up his clawed hands, and takes a stance as he circles around Damagi; who assumes a Hung Gar stance of legs spread wide apart, and arms out. Not very intimidating given Damagi is almost a head shorter than most, but is two shorter than her opponent. You wouldn't know that looking at her though. Her eyes are fixed on him, still smiling.
"Are you ready?" asks Captain L30.
"Aye aye, Captain." Damagi answers and L30 pounces on her, casting a shadow down on her form.