"Now, for our third match, we're going to need a change of scenery. Follow me," Baba announced, floating away on her crystal ball.
Alex and Mellon followed her into the massive, dome-shaped structure.
"Whoa, this place is huge," Mellon said, looking around in awe.
"This way, please," Baba instructed as they climbed a long, spiraling staircase. Skulls and eerie decorations lined the path.
"A-Alex, this place is way too creepy," Mellon muttered, hugging her arms.
Alex chuckled. "Relax, it's just for show."
At the top of the stairs, they reached a large, heavy door with two staircases leading left and right. Baba pointed at the door. "The fighters must enter through here."
"Got it," Alex said, stepping inside.
Baba turned to Mellon. "You, on the other hand, will take the stairs. There are seats at the top where you can watch."
"W-Wait for me!" Mellon called as she hurried after Baba, climbing the stairs.
Entering the Arena
As soon as Alex stepped through the door, he found himself surrounded by walls of bones. The dim lighting made the shadows dance eerily around him. As he climbed another set of stairs, he muttered to himself, This place is so creepy. A cemetery would look cozier compared to this.
Finally, he emerged into a dark, cavernous room. The air was thick and putrid. Two enormous stone statues of demons sat facing each other—on toilets. Between them was a giant roll of stone toilet paper, and below, a churning pool of thick, green, acidic liquid.
A long, narrow bridge extended between the demon statues, made from their outstretched tongues.
Alex wrinkled his nose. "Man, this smells worse than it looks."
Above, Mellon and Baba had already reached the spectator's area. Baba floated down into the room, smirking.
"Hey, Baba," Alex called. "What is this place?"
"This," Baba declared, gesturing grandly, "is the Devil's Toilet. This is your next arena. The tongues are your boundaries, but the rest of the rules remain the same." She let out a sinister chuckle as she reached into her robe, pulled out a slab of meat, and dropped it into the acid below.
Sizzle!
The meat dissolved instantly.
"Of course," she continued, "if you fall into the toilet, nothing can save you. Hehehe. A single drop of that toxic soup on your skin means instant death."
Mellon paled. "W-Wait, you can't be serious!" she exclaimed from the viewing window.
Baba cackled. "Oh, I'm very serious. Your fear is understandable. But if you want to surrender now, I won't think any less of you… than I already do."
Alex clenched his fists. "I didn't come this far to give up."
"Hahaha! That's the spirit!" Baba laughed. "Now, I present to you the third challenger!"
The Awakening
Baba stretched out her hands, drawing a glowing green triangle in the air with one, and a yellow triangle with the other. She brought her hands together and began chanting:
"Rise again and be restored once more… Rise again and be restored once more… Rise again and be restored once more!"
A deep rumbling echoed through the room. Smoke began billowing out of the mouth of one of the demon statues.
Baba chanted faster. The thick smoke swirled, enveloping half the bridge in a ghostly mist. Then, suddenly, the smoke was drawn back into the demon's mouth.
When it cleared, a coffin lay on the tongue-bridge.
Baba raised her hands dramatically. "Arise, my mummified warrior! Come forth, I beseech you!"
With a loud creak, the coffin lid slid open. The mummy inside slowly opened his glowing eyes. Grinning, he sat up, crossing his arms over his chest before stepping out of the coffin.
Thump… Thump…
The ground trembled beneath his massive footsteps. He turned to face Alex, then, without a word, kicked the coffin back into the demon's mouth.
Finally, he laughed. "This little twerp is the reason I was awakened? Hahaha!"
Alex smirked. "I'll make sure you go right back to sleep."
The mummy's grin twisted into a snarl. "Grr… Just you wait. Pain and suffering are all you have to look forward to now!"
"That's enough chit-chat," Baba cut in. "Save it for the fight. The battle will continue until one of you gives up… or is destroyed! Let the match begin!"
The Fight
Alex and the mummy charged at each other. At the last second, the mummy—Bandages—leapt over Alex, landing behind him with a powerful backhand strike.
Swish!
Alex ducked just in time. He swept Bandages' legs out from under him—Whack!—then launched a mid-air kick—Pow!—sending him crashing across the bridge.
Bandages groaned as he pushed himself up. "Ngh… Y-You'll pay for that!"
With a furious roar, the mummy charged again, swinging wildly. Alex dodged each punch and kick effortlessly. Then, in one swift motion, he leapt forward—
BAM!
—a brutal knee to the face sent Bandages staggering back. He barely stopped himself from falling off the bridge.
Panting, Bandages wiped his face. "I admit, you're strong. But this ends now!"
He raised his hands. The bandages around his arms began writhing like snakes before launching toward Alex.
Before Alex could react, the bandages wrapped around him, binding his arms and legs.
"Hey! What the heck?! Get this thing off me!" Alex struggled, but the bandages only tightened.
Bandages laughed. "Hahaha! Relax! It's not every day you get to wear the cloth of an emperor! Thousands of years ago, I controlled the world…"
He smirked. "And now, it seems I control you."
As if on cue, the bandages constricted even tighter.
"Stop struggling! It's useless to resist. My bandages are stronger than steel. Give up!"
Alex gritted his teeth. "Ahhh… I… won't… give up!"
The bandages tightened further.
"Two words," Bandages sneered. "I surrender. Say it, and this will all be over. Otherwise, the more you resist, the tighter my grip gets!"
Alex clenched his fists. "Ngh… Not… yet…"
Then, he smirked. "Time to use my HEEEAAAD!"
With a mighty push, Alex launched himself forward—like a human missile—straight at Bandages.
BASH!
His forehead slammed into the mummy's gut with explosive force.
Bandages' eyes bulged as he was sent flying backward, slamming face-first into the demon statue. He crumpled to the ground, motionless.
Alex, meanwhile, tumbled back from the momentum but landed safely. The bandages loosened. He quickly unwrapped himself and walked toward his fallen opponent.
He grabbed Bandages by the collar and lifted him effortlessly. Turning to Baba, he said, "Hey, Baba, I think he's unconscious. That means I win, right?"
Baba sighed. "Yes… unfortunately, you won the match."
Alex gently set the mummy down somewhere safe before stepping back onto the bridge.
"Alright," he said, rolling his shoulders. "I'm ready for my next opponent."
power levels
Bandages the mummy : 90
Alex :125