Javier Build:

  ATK: 00

  DEF:

  SPD: 0

  Grizzly claws

  Extra health

  Wall

  Desmond Build:

  ATK: 0

  DEF: 00

  SPD:

  White death

  Speed boost

  Wall

  Location: Colosseum

  Javier stood at the center of the colosseum, his brown poncho swaying in the scorching heat, the green tassels along its edge dancing with every breeze. A skull-and-bones necklace rested against his chest, and his cowboy boots kicked up sand as he hopped from foot to foot. His Grizzly Claw gauntlets gleamed, already activated and primed.

  Across from him, Desmond was still as stone. Draped in a desert-styled ghillie suit, he gripped the White Death sniper rifle, the barrel aimed downward. The blistering sun beat down on both combatants, the heat distorting the air between them.

  Javier grinned. "I heard about your 2-on-2 against Nora and Jin. Just wasn’t your day, was it?"

  Desmond didn’t respond. Instead, he raised his rifle and fired.

  Javier lunged to the side, narrowly dodging the bullet and sprinting diagonally across the arena. Another shot rang out. This time, the bullet slammed into his back, dropping him into the sand. Javier rolled, recovered, and kept moving, closing the distance.

  Desmond reloaded with practiced ease, raising the rifle from his hip and firing instinctively. Javier dodged again—barely—and finally reached him.

  Without hesitation, Javier grabbed the barrel of the sniper rifle, pushing it aside and delivering a crushing overhead kick to Desmond’s head. Desmond staggered but didn’t let go. Javier followed with a two-hit combo, then a three-hit flurry, and ended with a devastating uppercut that launched Desmond into the air.

  Javier leapt up to follow—

  "Perfect."

  Desmond activated his Speed Boost mid-air, reloaded, and aimed in one fluid motion. Javier, airborne and exposed, couldn’t dodge the shot.

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  CRACK!

  The bullet pierced through Javier’s head, hurling him back to the ground.

  **

  "Amazing!" Ray shouted. "I don’t know if Desmond planned that or not, but he used that mid-air clash to his advantage. This is what I love to see in VBL!"

  "No doubt," Derrick agreed. "Both of these guys know what’s at stake. This match is gonna come down to who adapts first."

  In the crowd, Faith noticed Nora fidgeting beside her.

  "He’s got this," Faith reassured.

  "Not looking like it," Maximillion muttered.

  Faith shot him a sharp look.

  "…Sorry," Maximillion murmured.

  "Javier’s already been hit twice by the White Death," Nora said. "One more and it’s over. That sniper’s damage is brutal."

  "He still has his Wall ability," Faith pointed out.

  "True, but Desmond hasn’t used any of White Death’s special abilities yet. Those ricochet bullets? On a map like this? That could get nasty," Nora replied.

  "Javier can clutch it," Maximillion added. "But how he does it—that’s everything. Desmond’s definitely been grinding since your 2v2."

  Ray’s voice echoed through the arena speakers. "Looks like Javier’s got his back against the wall! No doubt, the White Death packs the highest damage in all of VBL and Desmond’s not shy about taking full advantage."

  "And let’s not forget Javier’s fixation on gauntlets," Derrick chimed in. "Always the underdog, always sticking to his gimmick. I’ve followed his matches for a while now—kid doesn’t stray."

  "Gauntlets did get a buff before this tournament," Ray added, "but even with that, most players wouldn’t call them top-tier. Can Javier punch his way out of this one? We’ll see."

  Faith stared at the big screen. "Come on, Javier…"

  **

  Desmond landed on his feet as Javier pulled himself from the dirt. A gust of wind swept through the colosseum, lifting Javier’s poncho slightly and revealing his abs. Desmond reloaded, calm and calculated.

  Javier’s thoughts:

  I get it now. He’s using Speed Boost not just for dodging, but for quick reloads. That covers White Death’s biggest weakness—the reload lag. He picked that up from the 2v2 with Nora. And now he’s got the upper hand. Damn it.

  BAM!

  Javier dove sideways, dodging the shot by inches. Desmond ejected the casing and reloaded smoothly. Javier got to his feet, sprinting parallel to Desmond’s position.

  Desmond wasn’t going to let him close in. Activating Speed Boost again, he backpedaled, firing with each step. Javier leapt onto the stands, weaving side to side—right, left, left, right, right, right, left—keeping Desmond guessing.

  As Javier drew closer, Desmond’s Speed Boost finally faded. Javier noticed the change—Desmond’s reloads weren’t as fast. Now was the time.

  Javier sprinted, closing the gap. Desmond aimed—

  "Wall!"

  Javier’s blue checkered wall materialized, shielding him. Desmond fired twice but couldn’t penetrate it. Javier was nearly on top of him when—

  "Wall!"

  Desmond’s green wall appeared to his left. Javier hesitated, confused—until—

  BAM!

  The bullet ricocheted off Desmond’s wall and hit Javier in the cheek, twisting his head sideways. Stunned, Javier froze as the realization hit him.

  Desmond reloaded and raised his weapon.

  "Looks like this isn’t your day," Desmond said.