Aaron and Zach approach the center of the arena.

Jace: Man, this one should be good.

Gus: Yeah, they both look eager to get started.

Kevin: Maybe a little too much from Zach…

Zach:

Aaron: (The fuck?)

Wes is visibly bored.

Wes: Aaron should have this one in the bag.

Gus: You think so?

Wes: Look, I’ve known Aaron a lot longer than any of you; his quirk’s destructive capabilities are no joke. Zach doesn’t stand a chance against him.

Kevin: I don’t know, Wes; Zach’s bones are much more durable than a normal human being’s. He was even able to absorb a single one of Colossus’ weakened punches.

Wes stares at Kevin.

Wes: I kind of forgot he did that…

Hayze: (A battle between a ranged fighter and a hand-to-hand combat specialist… and they’re both tough as nails. This battle is gonna be about who can keep the fight in their element… this should be interesting.)

Aaron cracks his neck.

Aaron: Ready to lose?

Zach: You too.

Aaron: (Jesus Christ…)

Madame Mummy raises her hand in the air.

Madame Mummy: Begin.

Aaron: I’m gonna end this in one blast!

Aaron transforms his arms into M249 machine guns and immediately starts to unload rounds at Zach.

Zach: A fight against me is never that easy!

Zach extends his claws and blocks; the barrage of bullets collides with the claws, pushing him back as he defends.

Zach: *grunts* (Holy cow! Every single one of Aaron’s bullets backs a major punch!)

Aaron continues his attack as Zach continues to get pushed back until he hits a tree; heavy sawdust starts to fill the air around Zach, blocking Aaron’s sightline.

Aaron: (It doesn’t matter if I can’t see him, as long as I keep firing, I’ll know exactly where he is!)

Aaron sees the barrel of his machine guns are turning red.

Aaron: (Shit!)

Aaron immediately stops his barrage and reverts his hands to normal.

Aaron: (Whatever I’m sure I got him.)

The dust clears, and Zach is gone.

Aaron: (I guess I got a little ahead of myself. Now, where could he be?)

Aaron starts scanning the forest with his eyes.

Aaron: (I have to be careful… one stab in the chest from his claws, and Madame Mummy is gonna have to call the match for my safety… I can’t let that happen.)

Suddenly Aaron starts to feel the ground beneath him shaking.

Aaron: (What the hell? Is that an Earthquake?)

He looks down, and Zach bursts out of the earth.

Aaron: (Holy shit!)

Aaron reacts quickly and leaps back; Zach lunges towards him. Aaron transforms his arm into a grenade launcher, catching Zach by surprise; he fires a grenade and Zach blocks.

Zach: You’re not taking me out with an explosion if I can help it!

Aaron: Who said that grenade would explode?

Zach: Huh?

The grenade was actually a smoke grenade; a thick cloud of smoke covers them both… after a few seconds, Aaron emerges and runs towards the tree line.

Aaron: (He’s trying to keep me close to him, where he knows he has the edge.)

Aaron fires a few more smoke grenades into the sky. Zach emerges from the smokescreen, spots Aaron, and starts running after him.

Zach: Don’t run from me, Aaron!

The grenades Aaron fired in the air land create a massive cloud of smoke that cuts off Zach’s sightline; Aaron escapes into the forest.

Zach: (If I stay in this clearing, he’ll be able to take potshots at me like Hayze did to Silver, I gotta head for the forest as well.)

Zach runs to the opposite side of the forest. Both take cover behind trees.

Aaron: (I gotta play this smart… one shot, and I’m done, and he’s already shown that my basic attacks aren’t gonna work… I need to hit him with the howitzer… it’s my only chance at knocking him out in one fell swoop.)

Zach: (Aaron isn’t messing around… his quirk has some mad versatility to it… he knows he can win if he keeps his distance.)

Zach winces in pain; he looks down at a set of gunshot wounds he sustained from Aaron’s initial barrage.

Zach: (I guess I should be happy I walked away without taking more shots… I can take much more of a beating than a normal person… but that doesn’t mean I can withstand Aaron’s attacks 100%. It was a good move for him to start the battle by hitting me with everything he’s got… it created distance between the two of us, and it inflicted a couple wounds on me that I’m gonna have to deal with for the rest of the match… good thing I’m no wimp.)

Jace, Gus, and Wes are on the edge of their seats.

Jace: Holy crap, this has been the most intense match yet!

Gus: They’re really going at each other. It’s like two wolves fighting to lead their pack.

Wes: (Zach’s giving Aaron more of a challenge than I expected. His skeletal quirk is insane.)

Aaron takes a deep breath.

Aaron: (Okay… one thing I know about Zach… he has two weak points… Colossus and Walker showed me those. Walker got him in the head, and Colossus got him in the stomach. The head must be a natural weak point, and the stomach doesn’t have any bones protecting it. So I have to hit him in one of those spots.)

Aaron transforms his right arm into a sniper rifle, peaks around the tree, and starts looking at the opposite tree line for Zach.

Zach: (Okay… what do I know about Aaron? His strongest attack is Howitzer Burst; considering he didn’t dodge the reflected version of his own attack, I assume that after firing it, he can’t move or use his hands for a few seconds… He’s probably planning on using that to wipe me out… I can’t let him do that… I need to start moving towards his position and bring this battle back to short range.)

Zach starts to move to leave the tree, but suddenly a bullet smashes into the side of the tree he’s behind. He retreats back.

Zach: (Crud… I guess he’s got good eyesight...)

Aaron: (Shit! I should practice my sniper aim more. That was my chance to clinch the match, now he’s gonna move more carefully.)

Zach extends his claws and starts climbing the tree; once he reaches the top, he starts jumping from tree to tree, moving away from where Aaron believes he is.

Zach: (Okay, I have a pretty good idea of where Aaron is… if I’m fast, then I might be able to catch him off guard.)

Zach keeps jumping from branch to branch; Aaron notices the rustling of the leaves.

Aaron: (He’s on the move. If I couldn’t hit him when he was almost still, then I’m definitely not gonna get him now.)

Aaron changes his arm back to normal and runs back out into the clearing. Zach notices this and stops.

Zach: (Huh? What’s he doing?)

Wes looks intrigued.

Wes: Man, I’ve hardly ever seen Aaron resort to using a sniper...

Kevin: Yeah, it looks like Aaron’s realized he needs to reach into his bag of tricks if he wants to beat Zach.

Wes: I’ve never seen Aaron like this… running, hiding, attacking from a cover that isn’t me. It’s all different.

Hayze: Aaron is avoiding letting Zach fight where he’s most comfortable, close range. Aaron would love to resort to his usual tactics, but Zach isn’t going to let him do that. And Zach is using his speed and agility to try and get closer to Aaron, but Aaron isn’t going to let that happen.

Wes: Okay, I get that, but then how are they going to win? It’s not like Zach is going to come up with a way to hit Aaron from a distance on the spot, and it’s also not like Aaron will be able to take down Zach in a fistfight.

Kevin: Think about it this way, Wes, who wins a game of rock, paper, scissors, but both sides know what the other is gonna throw.

Wes: Nobody, the game would have no end. The two players will just keep countering each other forever and ever.

Kevin: No, the winner is whoever cuts the other person’s fingers off, then they can only throw a rock.

Wes: Okay, first of all, that’s fucked up, second of all, what?

Hayze: I think Kevin’s trying to say that the winner is whoever takes away the other’s ability to counter.

Wes: Why didn’t you just say that?

Kevin: To confuse you.

Wes: Well, it worked.

Back to Aaron.

Aaron: (He’s going to keep hiding in the trees and formulate a plan. He might try digging under me again, but I’ll be expecting it, and I’ve already countered that plan once, so he’ll have to do something different. But I’m not gonna give him the chance!) It’s time for me to take a page out of Blair and Silver’s book!

Zach: (Huh? Oh no!)

Aaron transforms both of his arms into flamethrowers and starts torching the section of the forest that’s closest to him.

Aaron: ♫ I definitely started the fire, the forest burning while Zach is churning. I fucking started the fire. ♫

Zach starts to sweat.

Zach: (He’s trying to take the forest away to make this battlefield into a flat plane. Man, he has too many tricks up his sleeve… literally. Good thing for me that I have some tricks I haven’t shown off.)

Aaron returns his arms to normal and sees they are a slight shade of red.

Aaron: (I’ve barely even injured Zach, and I’m already pushing my quirk to the edge. I’m not going to be able to do rapid-fire assaults soon… It’s alright though, the forest fire should force Zach out, and then I’ll unleash the Howitzer on him and end this.)

Zach jumps out from his position and starts charging at Aaron; his claws are fully extended.

Aaron: (Hm, I wasn’t expecting him to give up that quickly. I guess I don’t have to use the howitzer if he’s giving me a free shot.)

Aaron transforms his left arm into an RPG and fires a rocket at Zach. Zach doesn’t try to dodge it as it flies towards him.

Zach: (Alright, time for my secret move!)

Suddenly a tail made out of bone spurts out of Zach’s tailbone area and catches the rocket in mid-flight, surprising and grossing everyone out at the same time.

Aaron: (Woah, since when could he do that!)

Zach: Sorry, Aaron, but I’m taking this fight to the next level!

Zach uses his tail to redirect the rocket back at Aaron. Aaron attempts to run away, but the missile connects with the ground behind him, sending him flying and tumbling against the ground.

Aaron: (He’s been hiding a second portion of his quirk just for this tournament...)

Aaron looks up to see Zach lunging towards him.

Aaron: (Shit! Think fast!)

Aaron blocks with his right arm. Zach pierces through the metallic alloy, but his claws can’t stab all the way through. Zach tries to pull his claw out, but he’s stuck.

Zach: Dang it! Guess I’ll just have to use the other one!

Zach raises his other fist, but Aaron transforms his right arm into a C4 charge.

Zach: Oh…

The C4 detonates, creating a massive explosion and sending Aaron and Zach flying in opposite directions.

Aaron and Zach: *groan*

Zach looks at his left hand to see the claws are entirely destroyed. Aaron looks at his right arm and sees it is blood-red, indicating it's overheated. Both get up, breathing heavily.

Aaron: (Luckily, I’m immune to my own explosions… when they’re not reflected back at me, Wes! With only one arm, I can’t use Howitzer Burst; I’m gonna have to find another way to beat Zach.)

Zach: (One set of claws is down for the rest of this fight. Good thing I’m ambidextrous. But I’m still gonna have to be careful. Aaron started to panic there… he didn’t react quick enough to stop my attack that time, and it cost him the use of his right arm. So I should try to get him back into a situation like that… I’m gonna have to do it quickly, though… it’s only a matter of time before Aaron figures out the weakness of my bone tail.)

Zach starts charging at Aaron again. Aaron looks over his shoulder at the burning forest.

Aaron: (Nowhere to run, so I might as well fight.)

Aaron transforms his arm into a machine gun again and starts firing at Zach.

Zach: That didn’t work before, and it won’t work n-

Zach goes to block with his claws again but remembers that his left claws are destroyed, so he decides to retreat and take cover inside the crater of the C4 explosion. Aaron stops firing to conserve the use of his quirk.

Aaron: (That was weird… we’re both down one arm, so his single set of claws should have been enough to stop my attack. And why wouldn’t he use his-)

Aaron has a look of realization on his face. He transforms his arm into a grenade launcher and starts lobbing grenades in Zach’s direction.

Zach: (Dang it!)

Zach attempts to avoid the grenade blasts, but the shrapnel slices into his skin.

Zach: (I’ve gotta get out of this pit!)

Zach leaps out of the hole.

Aaron: Surprise Motherfucker!

Zach looks down to see Aaron standing beneath him.

Zach: (He must have ran over here while I was distracted!)

Aaron transforms his single arm into a Howitzer cannon. Zach is stuck in midair and has no ability to dodge.

Aaron: Half-Howitzer!

Aaron fires the cannon, but he aims it specifically for Zach’s tail. The blast sends Zach flying through the air.

Zach: AHHHHHHHH!

The recoil forces Aaron flying backward. He lands and falls to his knees; his left arm is now the same red color as his right.

Aaron: (Did I get him?)

The smoke clears, Zach lying on the ground, his bone tail completely cracked. Zach is still conscious.

Zach: *laughs* Ah man… So you figured it out, huh?

Aaron walks over to Zach.

Aaron: I couldn’t figure out why you waited so long to bust out something that seems so powerful; it stopped one of my rockets after all. Then when you decided not to block my machine gun barrage… it clicked; you weren’t afraid of taking damage. You were afraid of your tail getting hit. The tailbone is one of the most sensitive areas of the human body because of the number of nerves around it, so I realized if you were that desperate to avoid letting your tail get hit, it meant I should target it. Your tail gives you a ton of versatility and basically a third arm, but it also becomes your biggest weak point.

Zach: Ha yeah, I knew I couldn’t beat you without it, but I’m not that experienced using it in a fight; you sure got me.

Madame Mummy walks over and examines Zach.

Madame Mummy: The winner is Aaron Zamora.

The crowd cheers, a stretcher is brought out for Zach, and Aaron is helped by the medics down the tunnel.

Kevin: Well, that was definitely entertaining, nice to see two pretty powerful fighters go at it for a while.

Jace: Hell yeah, that got me pumped up for our match!

Gus: Hey, who is next?

Wes is pale.

Wes: Nobody...

Alexis stands up from her seat and starts stretching.

Alexis: Alright, I’ll make it quick.

Alexis starts walking down the steps.

Blair: Uh Alexis, shouldn’t you be heading up the stairs-

Alexis jumps over the railing and into the arena.

Blair: Or that…

Jace: Yeah, who is she fighting? I forgot the bracket.

Kevin: Gus? Is it you?

Wes is sweating bullets.

Gus: No, I’m up against Ash.

Kevin: Well, I’m fighting Jace, so that leaves...

Everyone looks at Wes.

Madame Mummy: Wes Zunino, please enter the arena.

Wes is shaking.

Wes: (Maybe I should just forfeit; it was just bad luck to have to fight the strongest chick here, and even if I win, I might have to fight Aaron in the second round and-)

Hayze places his hand on Wes’ shoulder.

Wes: Huh?

Hayze: If you’re thinking of forfeiting, just remember Aaron will kick your ass.

Wes stands up.

Wes: Alright, I’m off to battle!

Hayze: That’s the spirit!

Wes leaves.

Gus: He’s doomed, isn’t he?

Hayze: He’s going up against a chick who is calm, cool, and collected, alongside having a killer instinct that would make predatory animals quiver in fear, you tell me.

Jace: Well, hopefully, she goes easy for the first bit.

Kevin: She said she’ll make it quick, so…

Jace: Yeah, he’s screwed.

Hayze: (It’s not that I don’t believe in Wes, it’s just that his quirk isn’t built for one on one combat, he works well in teams. This just isn’t where he shines. On top of that, his opponent is Alexis, she’s a brilliant strategist, and her quirk gives her a ton of power and versatility. So if Wes wants to win this, he’s gonna have to figure out how to use his quirk to shut down hers. Which is much easier said than done.)

Wes walks down the hallway, sweating profusely.

Wes: (Dammit! Hayze is right! If I forfeit, then that means Aaron will kick my ass! And if I don’t forfeit, then that means Alexis will kick my ass! EITHER WAY I’M GETTING BEATEN TO A PULP!.)

Aaron and the medic helping him to the stands approach Wes.

Aaron: Oh shit, you’re next?

Wes: Yeah, I’m up against Alexis.

Aaron: Oh… well, I’ll check on you in the infirmary later.

Wes gets on his knees and begs.

Wes: Please give me some form of advice!

Aaron: *sighs* Wes, you know why a poker player would rather play against another poker player than someone who has never played cards before?

Wes: No…

Aaron: Because if they’re playing against another poker player, they can predict what they’re going to do because they’ll know how to play the game logically, you can’t predict what someone new to the game is gonna do, and they might do illogical things because they don’t understand. That’s your edge against Alexis.

Wes: Only you could give advice that is still an insult...

Aaron: Alright, well, enjoy getting beaten to death.

Wes: No, wait! I still have questions!

Aaron and the medic continue toward the stands.

Wes: (WHY IS HE MY FRIEND!)

Wes heads down the tunnel into the arena where Alexis and Madame Mummy await.

Wes: (Okay, Wes… let’s try not to humiliate yourself.)