Ethan stepped into the ring, not clad in polished battle gear like many of the others, but wearing only a black hoodie and trousers, casual and unassuming.
He hadn't come prepared—he'd been teleported without warning, after all. And unlike most contestants who stored battle armor in rings or wristbands, Ethan had none.
But he didn't care.
"I can manage," he thought, rolling his neck. "My body's tough enough."
Across the ring stood his opponent.
A massive, barrel-chested man, towering over Ethan. No armor. No shirt. Just bare flesh—most notably a bulging belly that seemed to sag with weight yet radiated menace. His knuckles cracked and His eyes didn't blink.
Ethan stared, amused.
"Topless? Alright then. What kind of ability does this guy have?"
Before he could guess, the announcer's voice boomed:
"BEGIN!"
Ethan didn't hesitate.
With a surge of Meta Essence, he invoked {Force Might}, launching himself forward like a human bullet.
