Different people reacted differently to the outcome of the match.
The result was what most people had expected, but the way it unfolded caught many by surprise.
The battered arena showed just how fierce the fight had been.
No one had expected Metal Bat to clash with Superalloy Darkshine on that level. Superalloy Darkshine had won, but the defeated Metal Bat had undoubtedly risen in the audience's estimation.
After the match, the live broadcast cut back to the Studio.
The Host and both guests were visibly excited. All three looked as though they still wanted more.
"Stunning," Hawkeye said, unable to hold back his praise. "The next generation really is overtaking the old."
Fights with that level of destructive power had been exceptionally rare even in Hawkeye's decades-long career.
Measured by a superhero's professional standing, both contestants had already shown enough strength to rank among the top tier, perhaps even above it.
Before the tournament began, many had predicted that whoever emerged from the Rising Star Tournament would possess power on par with The Seven. Now, that prediction no longer seemed like an exaggeration.
After all, an Esper's abilities were a matter of talent more than hard work. Someone who gained overwhelmingly powerful Psychic Powers could become a figure most people would never surpass in their lifetimes.
When there had been fewer than a thousand Espers, The Seven had stood out among those Supes. Now that the number of Espers was approaching ten thousand, it was entirely possible for that much larger group to produce prodigies whose strength surpassed even The Seven.
Fortunately, The Seven still had someone capable of serving as the face of Vought International.
Homelander.
As long as he held that position, Vought International had no need to worry about losing its dominance in the superhero industry.