Hyperdimension Neptunia | The Bound Warrior

Ch.24 Contest of the Goddesses Final

3rd person

As the final contestant of the tournament arrived and revealed himself to everyone, max gritted his teeth. This is something he feared. Of course, it was more of a side thought, but it did stay in the back of his head. But even that thought wasn't even close to the man in-front of him. The king of the void, out of the void and maliciously grinning at seeing his rival beaten and exhausted. He steps forward, stepping to be a couple feet away from Max.

"Well, well, it has been a while, hasn't it, Max?" The King of the void says with a frown.

"Y-You, why did you come here?!" Max spat the words out, clutching his gut and trying to stay conscious.

"Because I thought it wouldn't hurt to check up on you, after all, you have proven stubborn to my constant assaults. So I decided, on a possible deal." The king of the void announces to his opponent. The goddesses, candidates, and friends, all except goku, are now a bit on edge as they can easily tell that this is no mere fighter.

"Hey, neptune, how many people signed up to fight in the tournament?" IF asks, now wondering why there was only one person who have beaten the requirements.

"Oh, well, histoire told me that about 1,000 people signed up. Odd." Purple heart says as the goddesses realize that something is severely wrong.

"I-Im going to check on compa." IF says worryingly as she rushes off.

"What deal do you have in mind?" Max asks, teeth still gritted, blazefury held tight and vision blurry.

"I have received word that you have grown quite drawn to this dimension, and a specified person." The King hints as he conspicuously glances up to the viewing gallery.

"And?" Max says as starts to regain a sliver of strength.

"My deal is simple, I require of you to remain and solely remain in this dimension. If you do, I will leave you and this entire dimension to be free for as long as I reign. And believe me, I'll never been dethroned, well, except if its by you." The King of the void admits, a poisonous tone snaking into his words.

"Thats an odd thing for you to admit." Max says, and shortly gives a cough that rakes him.

"Do not take me for a fool, Max. I have learned the heard way that when it comes to willpower and strength. You dominate that field." The King says, shaking his head in memory of the only time that max has ever fought him, it resulted in a near loss of the war for the void.

"Well, how do I know that after this 'deal' you wont just build up your strength and launch an attack." Max says, looking at his hand as he also remembers his fight with the king of the void. Max blinks, and in that split second, thinks back when his hands were slathered in a black blood before blinking that memory away. He looks up, a determined look on his face.

"You can't, and you know that you have nothing but my word. But~ I am good on keeping on my deals." He starts, and max can practically tell what he is about to say. "Just like the deal I made with your brother."

Max winces at hearing about his brother. The goddesses, particularly neptune and noire, look confused at this, neptune thinking that his was dead and noire, realizing what he meant by failing him after a few moments of thinking.

The King of the void snaps his fingers and from the bleachers where everyone else was watching the fights unfold, a boy jumps down, and looks up at max, a frown on his face. He walks up onto the grounds and stops behind the king of the void.