Of all the matches in the second round, only Metal Bat versus Superalloy Darkshine could be called a clash between strong contenders. The others either held little suspense or pitted two unremarkable fighters against each other. Even a close match between them was unlikely to produce many memorable moments.
The match between Metal Bat and Superalloy Darkshine was worth looking forward to, but the public did not expect Metal Bat to win. They only hoped he could force Superalloy Darkshine to show more of his strength.
Some saw Superalloy Darkshine as an obstacle on Golden Flash's path to the championship. They favored Golden Flash, of course, but none of them could say with much confidence which of the two was stronger.
Some of Golden Flash's most rabid fans even posted comments like this on social media.
"Metal Bat definitely can't beat Superalloy Darkshine. I just hope he gives it everything he's got and forces Superalloy Darkshine to reveal more of his abilities. Then, if Golden Flash beats Superalloy Darkshine in the final and wins the championship, Metal Bat will have played a part."
Metal Bat knew nothing about those comments. Given his temper, though, he would never have accepted being treated as a tool for scouting Golden Flash's opponent on the road to the championship.
While everyone waited for the match, the intervening fights produced little worth remembering. After more than a dozen bouts, it was finally time for Metal Bat and Superalloy Darkshine to take the stage.
The moment viewers saw the two waiting near the competitors' entrance, they gave the broadcast their full attention.
Metal Bat's rise had been much like Greedy Wolf's. Neither had been favored at first, but both had delivered unforgettable performances in the arena. That was how the audience had come to remember two