Night Raid Revolution

Chapter 12: Najenda's Resolve

"I can't believe mom and dad are going to fight in the first round." TJ said.

"Yeah, no kidding." Mya said.

Chelsea was up next and drew number "13".

"Najenda, you're up next." The ring announcer said.

Najenda drew number "4" which put her up against Lex in the second match.

"Against him?"  Najenda thought. "Fine. I'll see if I can learn more about him."

"Next is the reigning champion, Mr. Hogan." The ring announcer said. "I'll draw on his behalf."

"Number ten it is." The ring announcer said.

"Haha. That idiot is going to get clobbered by Esdeath." Wave said.

"Oh wow, sucks to be you." Talia said. "My dad won't be an easy fight."

"Yeah... I don't know about all that." Chelsea said.

"Last but not least, Lukka." The ring announcer said.

Lukka drew number "15" which put him in the eighth match against Bulat.

"And of course, you're fifteen because there's nothing left." The ring announcer said. "Now everyone! Here's your official tournament bracket."

The first match is Lubbock vs Penix.

The second match is Najenda vs Lex.

The third match is Talia vs Doncic.

The fourth match is Sheele vs Kubo.

The fifth match is Esdeath vs Mr. Hogan.

The sixth match is Tatsumi vs Mine.

The seventh match is Chelsea vs Ilja.

The eighth match is Bulat vs Lukka.

The ninth match is Akame vs Juju.

The tenth match is Leone vs Willow.

"Let's get this show on the road." The ring announcer said.

"So, does your leader always get like this?" Talia asked.

"She's probably just meditating." Sheele said. "But I wonder, what's really going on Boss?"

"Hey, love birds, you two have been staring at each other for a while now." Lubbock said.

"Well, Tatsumi and Mine are facing off in the sixth match." Leone said. "They're pretty excited to say the least."

Tatsumi looked over at Najenda.

Lex and Kubo walked past Najenda and smiled at her.

Najenda avoided eye contact with him as he kept walking.

"Now let the games begin!" The ring announcer exclaimed.

"Talia is in the third match, right?" Aika said. "This'll be awesome."

"The only one stronger than her is her dad." Bilal said. "I can't wait for that match."

"Oh, look there's the Masked Vigilante." Aika said. "I wonder if they'll go against each too."

"That goof will get flattened." Bilal said.

AT THE IMPERIAL CAPITAL:

"I heard Tatsumi and Mine are facing off in the first round." Cosmina said.

"That's right." Dorothea said.

"That's crazy." Cosmina said. "I wonder why the rest of the Jaegers opted out."

"They probably wanted to gage Night Raid's power after a long time with no threats to the planet." Merraid said.

"Yeah, that makes sense." Cosmina shrugged.

AT THE TOURNAMENT:

"Up first, Lubbock versus Penix!" The ring announcer said.

"Good luck, Lub." Tatsumi said.

"Thanks man." Lubbock said. "But I won't need it against this guy."

Penix was showing off as Lubbock rolled his eyes.

"Begin!" The ring announcer said.

Lubbock punched Penix in the stomach and kicked Penix out of the ring.

"We have a ring out! The win goes to Lubbock!" The ring announcer said.

"Nice work, dude." Tatsumi said.

"Yeah, thanks." Lubbock said. 

"Well Boss, you're up next." Leone said.

"Next match, Najenda vs Lex!" The ring announcer said.

"Excellent. I think I'll enjoy myself." Lex said.

Najenda and Lex made their way to the ring and stood facing each other.

"What's wrong with the Boss?" Chelsea asked. "This Lex guy can't be all that intimating to her. The Boss is way too stoic for that."

"Yeah." Tatsumi said.

"Okay, then. I guess looks can be deceiving." Chelsea said.

"You of all people should know that." Mine chuckled.

"This will be instructive."  Bulat thought. "To study his power at least."

"Begin!" The ring announcer said.

Najenda begin tense up.

"What's wrong with me?" Najenda thought. "There's no way I can be nervous."

"That's not possible!"  Najenda thought. "Who are you?"

"You will know very soon." Lex said.

"Boss?" Akame said.

"I forfeit the match." Najenda said as she walked off the stage to the lobby.

"Najenda is the more informed one of Night Raid."  Lex thought. "She must have a feeling of who I really am."

"Najenda forfeits! Lex wins by default!" The ring announcer said.

"Boss?" Akame said.

"Are you okay?" Chelsea said.

"This is serious, isn't it?" Tatsumi asked.

"Yes. He's in his own class." Najenda said.

"What do you mean?" Esdeath said.

"Next up, match three." The ring announcer said. "Talia against Doncic!"

The crowd erupted at the announcement of Talia's name.

"They really like you, huh?" TJ said.

"You got that right." Talia said.

"Hey. You're up next." Ilja said.

Doncic was seething in anger.

Ilja placed a hand on Doncic only to be burned by him.

"Ah shit!" Ilja hissed as he jumped back in pain.

"It's time." Lukka said. "Go out there."

Talia and Doncic made their way to the ring.

Lex side-eyed Doncic as he walked past him.