The Greatest in the Multiverse

Semifinals 2: Red vs Blue

"NOW THEN, DEAR AUDIENCE, HERE THEY ARE: OUR SECOND PAIR OF SEMIFINALISTS! LET'S SHOW THEM BOTH SOME LOVE!"

After Goh'ji and Prime's explosive showdown, the excitement across the crowd had reached its peak. Their repeated roaring, fist-pumping and screaming had even left some of them physically drained, but that wasn't going to stop them from taking in the upcoming event. So when the first fighter made her entrance, she was met by the usual adoring reception. Along with a few somewhat disturbing whistles; apparently, her looks had become as admired as her fighting ability among some.

"IN THE BLUE CORNER, THE RED FIEND MAKES HER GRAND RETURN! THE YOUNG TIEFLING OF UNIVERSE 7 HAS MADE A REMARKABLE IMPRESSION, WITH NEITHER A WALKING WASTELAND OR THE ULTIMATE FUSION OF BRAINS AND BRAWN BEING ABLE TO OVERCOME HER SHEER GRIT! BUT NOW TO SEE IF THAT GRIT CAN TAKE HER ALL THE WAY TO THE END! WILL HER OPPONENT BE FORCED TO REACH FOR THE SKY, OR WILL SHE BE THE ONE TO RIDE OFF INTO THE SUNSET? GET READY FOR: CONTESTAAAANT ASHES!"

The hat-wearing Tiefling could never really get used to suddenly having a huge fanbase. Even now, here in the semifinals, she merely responded to the adoring cheers by awkwardly waving towards the audience. But unlike the first couple of rounds, she wasn't smiling. Her steadily growing desire to win was beginning to show itself.

"AND IN THE RED CORNER, THE PRODIGAL INVENTOR MAKES HERSELF KNOWN! THE SMARTEST DROW OF UNIVERSE 1 HAS BECOME THE RISING STAR OF THIS TOURNAMENT FOLLOWING NOT ONLY HER SHOCKING BATTLE WITH MUSCLE PERSONIFIED, BUT ALSO THE SURPRISINGLY TOUCHING CONCLUSION TO HER BOUT WITH HER PASSED FATHER! BUT INTELLECT ALONE CAN ONLY TAKE YOU SO FAR! WILL HER BRILLIANT MIND PROVE TOO MUCH FOR HER FARM-BORN FOE, OR WILL SHE REACH HER WITS END? SHOW US WHAT YOU'VE GOT: CONTESTAAAANT PULSE!"

Unlike her opponent, Pulse very much enjoyed all the cheers and chants that her entrance brought. They only got louder as she actually answered them for once with some two-handed waving. Because this time, she was actually in good spirits. No fear of being literally squashed and no anxieties about meeting a long-lost relative; just a regular ol' fight with somebody she'd had ample time to analyse. So when the two contestants were face to face in the middle of the arena, Pulse was the first one to reach out for the usual handshake.

"Hiya, I don't think we've properly met? Pleased to meet you and let's make this a good one, shall we?" the Drow chirped.

Ashes took a few seconds to answer the gesture, but eventually she did. She even formed a genuine smile as she held Pulse's hand in a firm grip - her own unusually serious thoughts weren't enough to hamper her camaraderie, after all.

"Same to you, shakester! May the best scrapper win, as they used to say!" Ashes cheerfully responded.

Pulse had no idea who "they" were and what exactly a scrapper was, but instead of hooking herself up on it she simply smiled and nodded; it seemed not even the possibly most gifted mind of the tournament was capable of understanding the enigma that was Ashes' phrasing. Nevertheless, the two women turned around to go get into position. As they did, both of their smiles dropped to give room for a serious expression. The time for preparations and planning was over - now was the time to get serious. To truly prove why they deserved to face - and hopefully beat - Prime in the finals.

As they both turned around, both Ashes and Pulse had one hand hovering above their respective firearms. Their breathing slowed down and their gazes narrowed; as soon as that explosion occurred, the one who drew first would be the one to begin with the advantage. As they both turned silent and focused, so did the audience around them. A silence that was broken by a certain Plasmoid, officially kicking off what everyone was waiting for with bated breaths.

"3!"

"2!"

"1!"

"BEGIN!"