“This match is over!” the lion man bellowed.
The crowd roared with delight. This was exactly the kind of theatrics that sold tickets. Another contestant rushed onto the mat and charged straight at the newcomer.
With a heavy roar, the lion man grabbed the attacker, spun, and hurled him over the ropes — nearly into the stands. A bubble of purple magic formed around the man mid-air, gently floating him down to a safe landing.
EB zipped onto the stage. “Hey! No hurting people. This isn’t that kind of fight!”
The lion man roared and lunged for the bunny. EB darted around his feet, easily evading the grab.
Gar stepped in, seizing the lion man’s arm and twisting it behind his back. He wrapped his other arm around the intruder’s chest, holding him firmly. “This is over,” Gar said calmly. “No more fighting.”
To everyone’s surprise, the lion man grabbed Gar’s arm, tumbled forward, and flipped the stone hero over his shoulder, slamming him hard into the mat. He rolled clear and sprang up, claws extended and ready for more.
No new contestants entered. Mustang Pilot huddled in a corner, trying not to look terrified. Gar climbed back to his feet.
“I seek the strongest!” the lion man roared.
Gar stood ready on one side of the ring while EB hovered on the other, purple magic flickering around his paws. “You will come with us and answer questions,” Gar said.
“I WILL DO WHAT I WANT!” The lion man reached for him.
Gar dodged and caught the man’s arm. A glowing magical tether from EB locked onto the other. The streamers were still rambling excitedly, treating the whole thing as an elaborate stunt.
The lion man struggled wildly, dragging both Gar and EB across the mat. They held firm. EB gasped. “Wow, this dude is pure morphon energy. I can sense it. He’s incredibly powerful.”
Gar demanded, “Who are you?”
The lion man finally stopped fighting. He snarled, then turned directly toward the nearest camera. “I AM THE AVATAR OF STRENGTH! I SEEK A WORTHY HUMAN TO BECOME MY ORACLE!”
EB and Gar exchanged shocked glances. Robert Layton hurried onto the stage with two of his largest wrestlers as bodyguards.
“What are you doing?” Robert shouted. “You can’t just take over my match!”
EB warned, “Watch out. This guy is serious and really strong.”
“Let me go, you little furball!” the Avatar roared.
EB yanked on the magical tether, pulling the Avatar slightly off balance. “Watch it, kitty cat. I’m not to be messed with.”
Gar spoke gently. “Calm down, EB. Mister Avatar, please calm down. We’re from BADGE. We can help you if you stop hurting people.”
The Avatar shot EB another snarl, then relaxed. “I will stop fighting. I trust BADGE.”
Gar carefully released his grip. EB let the tether vanish, deliberately letting it unbalance the Avatar so he stumbled. “Oops. Sorry.” He wasn’t sorry.
Robert gestured toward the exit. “Let’s take this backstage. I still have a show to run. This sounds like official business.”
Gar nodded. “Good. I’ll escort the Avatar back to the station.”
“I WILL STAY HERE!” the Avatar demanded.
Robert held out a hand. “Come. We can talk backstage. Please.”
The Avatar thought for a moment, then nodded. “Acceptable.”
Gar followed the Avatar while the crowd booed their departure. EB hopped over to the only other person still on the mat — Mustang Pilot, who looked completely rattled.
“Hey, do I know you?” EB asked.
“Dunno. What the hell was that?” the man replied.
“Long story. Let’s just say he isn’t human. Here, this will help. Good luck.” EB handed him an enchanted chocolate egg.
Gar walked beside the Avatar, watching him closely. Robert led them back down the same hallway they had entered earlier.
“You, man of stone,” the Avatar said. “You fight well.”
“Oh, uh, thanks,” Gar replied. “I don’t feel pain, so it’s easier for me.”
The Avatar let out a hearty laugh. “Strength isn’t how much pain you can endure. It is the fortitude of the soul! You have great fortitude. It is a sorrow that you cannot be the Oracle.”
Gar was about to ask what he meant when they stepped into the arena manager’s office. Two men were already waiting. Theodor Zeus stepped forward, a shorter man in a suit behind him. Zeus had a cigar clenched in his teeth.
“My, my. Son, you're quite the act,” Zeus boomed. “You stopped the show again. I like that boldness. Guts — that’s what you’ve got. I’m Theodor Zeus, owner of Confederate Brawlers, and I want to make you a star.”
“Zeus, this isn’t the time…” Robert tried to push him aside.
Zeus refused to budge. “You said I could be here, and I followed your orders. Our friend showed up, so now I get my shot.”
Robert sighed. “The situation isn’t what you think. We need to talk.”
Zeus jabbed a finger into Robert’s chest. “Oh, I get it. Now that you see he might be worth money, you want to snatch him first. This is my chance to get a star and make some real cash.”
The Avatar grabbed Zeus’s hand and yanked him close to his snarling feline face. “I AM NOT FOR SALE!”
Zeus flinched for only a moment before recovering his swagger. “I’m not trying to buy you, son. I’m trying to make you rich — and I’ll take my cut, of course. I can make you famous, the star of your own arena. What do you say?”
“I am not your son!” The Avatar threw Zeus backward. The shorter man caught him before he hit the ground.
“Don’t throw me around!” Zeus brushed himself off and straightened his bolo tie.
The man in the suit stepped forward. He was short, with dark hair and a shadowy look in his eyes. “I apologize for my boss’s brashness. I’m a talent agent, Ken Mal. We would like to sign you.”
“I do not understand,” the Avatar said.
Robert explained, “He wants to make you part of his show.”
EB suddenly appeared, hopping onto the desk. “Wow, Zeus the Moose! Best wrestler in the local leagues back in the 80s. Cool. What are you doing here?”
“Gettin’ some new talent.”
Suddenly, Director Nova and a holographic projection of the Oracle of Tech appeared in the room. Dr. Hermes sat on his tech throne while Nova stood beside him.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Dr. Hermes said. “This is only a hologram. We are not actually here.”
The Avatar folded his arms and muttered, “Oracle of Tech.”
Dr. Hermes nodded politely. “Avatar of Physical—”
“STRENGTH!” the Avatar corrected loudly.
Nova blinked. “I’m sorry, what?”
“You humans call my power ‘physical.’ That is foolish! I represent Strength! Power! Fortitude! I am the Avatar of Strength!”
“Tell us how you really feel,” EB joked. Almost no one laughed — especially not the growling Avatar.
Robert spoke diplomatically. “We have a situation. This Avatar of Strength has now interrupted my event twice, and he says he is seeking someone.”
Nova asked, “Who are you seeking?”
“An Oracle,” Dr. Hermes answered.
The Avatar nodded. “It is time I find one to accept my power and bond with my essence.”
Nova pressed, “How do you plan to find this person?”
The Avatar smiled, showing sharp teeth. “A contest of strength. One worthy of my power must prove their strength to me. These contests of strength here have drawn my attention. I want to have one to find the worthy.”
Nova started to speak, but Zeus jumped in loudly. “Sounds like you need a venue for this contest of yours, and I just happen to have a world-class arena ready. Sign with us and we’ll manage everything—”
“I WILL MANAGE MY OWN CONTEST, PUNY HUMAN!” the Avatar roared.
The agent with Zeus spoke smoothly. “I’m sure you can manage. But we have some excellent specimens for you to choose from. Why not come with us?”
Robert added, “I have an arena and plenty of strong fighters who might be interested.”
Nova tried to intervene. “This is a delicate situation. You don’t understand the full scope. This isn’t just a pro-wrestling match. Oracles are—”
The Avatar walked straight through the hologram and slammed the door open so hard the glass shattered.
EB pointed at a television in the corner that was still broadcasting the live event. “Hey, the official wrestling show has started… and there’s Mr. Cat.”
Robert groaned. “What is he doing? My sponsors are going to kill me if he keeps messing up the broadcasts.” Zeus only chuckled.
On the screen, the Avatar of Strength ripped a microphone from the announcer’s hand and stepped in front of the camera.
“I, THE AVATAR OF STRENGTH, WILL GRANT ONE WORTHY HUMAN ALL MY POWER AND KNOWLEDGE IF THEY CAN PROVE THEIR STRENGTH TO ME. COME TO THIS ARENA AND FIGHT. SHOW ME YOUR SKILL. PROVE YOURSELF, AND YOU WILL BECOME MY ORACLE! ONLY THE STRONGEST!”
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