HxH: I Will Be Supreme

The fighters in the preparation room turned to study Oboro as he entered.

Several smirked at his appearance.

The large space contained various areas - rest zones, training equipment, and monitors displaying ongoing matches.

All seats were taken, and the training equipment was monopolized by several burly fighters. Someone like him, looking so ordinary, could only find a corner to lean against the wall.

The twenty or thirty fighters had already established their hierarchy.

These people might become rivals... no point in false pleasantries. Everyone maintained their distance.

Oboro found an empty spot and sat. People came and went as staff called names, but the division between strong and weak remained constant.

Oboro stood apart from both groups.

Heaven's Arena operated multiple rings per floor - necessary given the daily flood of new challengers.

Spectators could freely move between rings to watch fights that interested them. Lower floor matches received minimal promotion. Only above Floor 50 did promising fighters start getting publicity from management.

"Number 957, please report to Hall 7, Floor 1 for your match." After nearly two hours of waiting, the announcement finally came through the room's speakers.

957 - that was him.

Oboro stood lazily, rubbed his eyes, and walked out with hands in his pockets.

Staff led him to Hall 7's competitor entrance. The arena held thousands but was barely at one-tenth capacity, maybe a few hundred spectators scattered through the seats.

Clearly, few bothered watching novice matches.

"Our next match features two newcomers... Oboro, number 957, versus Camby, number 1398!"

Under the ring lights, the announcer's voice boomed as both fighters emerged from opposite corridors.

"According to our information... Contestant 957, Oboro, isn't a professional fighter... He registered purely for prize money! Admirable courage for a rookie!"

"As for 1398, some veterans may remember Camby! He's returning after being eliminated at Floor 37, starting over from Floor 1 as per Arena rules! Camby's known for exceptional defense thanks to his size, combined with devastating offensive power... Tough luck for Oboro, facing such an opponent in his first match! Will Camby teach our newcomer a harsh lesson, or can Oboro surprise us? Let's find out!"

Oboro studied his opponent - a mountain of a man, over two meters tall and easily 300 kilograms.

The contrast between them couldn't be starker.

"Rare to see a rookie in business wear! Looks like our Oboro might be an office worker... Those sunglasses hiding his face from embarrassed colleagues perhaps?"

The announcer continued his commentary with clear bias.

"..."

Oboro glanced at the bespectacled announcer. Rather unprofessional.

Camby slapped his massive hands together with a thunderous clap, grinning maliciously. "Lucky!"

"Kid, just forfeit... Even experienced fighters struggle against me! I'm fresh from the upper floors and frustrated... I don't want to hurt a rookie too badly... One hit from me means months in the hospital. You won't make it to work tomorrow."

"Ohhh! Camby warns our rookie! How will Oboro respond? Will fear overcome him..."

The announcer's enthusiasm grew more grating.

Annoyed by the constant commentary, Oboro scratched his ear and looked to the referee. "Can we start?"

"Incredible! Oboro remains calm despite Camby's threats, even showing impatience! He has no idea what's coming... And Camby's expression shows rage at being dismissed by a rookie! Yes! He's ready to unleash his fury..."

The announcer's excitement suggested impending ecstasy.

Was such passion necessary for low-level matches?

Really...

"Go rookie!"

"Last ten seconds and you win!"

The announcer's words stirred the crowd. Hundreds cheered for Oboro - though he sensed their encouragement came from pity.

They anticipated his imminent destruction.

Fighting events attracted those who craved violence.

The more brutally he was beaten, the more they'd enjoy it.

"Begin!"

The referee signaled start.

"Rookie! I'll crush your skull! Make you regret your..."

"And Camby charges forward with killing intent!"

The massive fighter rushed Oboro like a locomotive, making the ring tremble.

The announcer leapt up, adding drama.

Neither finished their sentences.

Something unexpected happened.

Camby saw his target vanish.

Bang!

A foot materialized, driving into his stomach like a missile.

Ripples spread across his fat as explosive force transferred through his body. His eyes rolled back, consciousness fleeing before he was launched away.

His massive frame flew from the ring in a perfect arc, crashing through the wall below the spectator seats.

Oboro landed softly, hands still in his pockets.

One fluid motion - jump, kick, land.

That was all.

Camby never had a chance to react.

"Uhhh..."

Feedback squealed through the speakers as the stunned announcer forgot to commentate.

Too fast!

Camby was airborne almost the instant the match began.

No one saw what happened.

This wasn't the expected script.

Silence gripped the arena.

"Time to announce the result."

Oboro prompted the dazed referee.

"Ah... Winner is Oboro!"

"Incredible!"

"Something amazing just happened!"

"Unbelievable! Camby defeated in an instant..."

The announcer's excitement peaked, but he froze as Oboro approached his desk instead of exiting.

The announcer's heart skipped seeing Oboro's cold expression.

"Your name?"

"Dan... call me Dan." His voice trembled.

"Your enthusiasm for commentary is commendable, but your bias needs work." Oboro smiled, patted Dan's shoulder, and walked away.

Dan's mind blanked.

When he recovered, he missed the critique entirely, taking it as praise.

His voice grew even more energetic!

"Number 957, Oboro! Remember this name... A dark horse! A rising star set to shake Heaven's Arena!"

"So powerful..."

"Terrifying strength... He beat Camby! How far can he go? Floor 50? Floor 100?"

"Keep watching!"

The crowd buzzed with speculation.

Several took notes - casino scouts gathering early intelligence on promising fighters, hoping to profit from favorable odds before a fighter became widely known.