Rein, after noting that there was an odd number of people for the tournament, glanced to Riritsu. Riritsu shook his head slightly at Rein's gaze, answering the question on whether Riritsu was going to participate in the tournament. He turned, heading towards Eronous and Rysdan on the stands. Eronous looked up at him, losing focus on the crystal he was trying to change. "Aren't you going to fight?"
Rein shook his head. "No, our number is uneven. That and it could be potentially dangerous if Onsehr decides to show up. He is particularly insistent in battle, so it can be more difficult to suppress him, even though he tends to work with me more often these days." His matter-of fact tone was off-putting, as if it was just another thing to deal with.
"Umm...Onsehr?" Eronous asked, this being the first time the name was used.
"Oh, the name of the demon that occasionally possesses me." Rein said, giving Eronous a small smile.
"O...Oh. That makes sense." Honestly, Eronous had forgotten about the demon. Rein had been so nice to him this entire time that it was hard to imagine him getting possessed.
"Just pay attention to the tournament. Your practice is important, but understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your opponents is just as important as learning your own skills." Nudging Eronous, he pointed to the Colosseum.
Riritsu picked some more sand up from the ground, forming a strange cone-like structure. At the top of his lungs, he yelled through it, his voice echoing throughout the area. "And the match-ups are: Dalor and Liast, Alden and Ember, Susurri and Rin! Further match-ups will be determined by the winners of previous rounds! And a big thanks to Rysdan for preparing an arena where you cannot die!" Disintegrating the cone structure, he joined the group in the stands.
Dalor and Liast approached the center of the Colosseum while the rest of them got to the side-lines. Many knew of the skill of Dwarves, and Liast was no exception. He knew he would have to be careful, though he had a distinct advantage that Dalor did not - his natural abilities, as well as his proficiency with black magic. No death meant he did not have to hold back.
A loud gong sounded, and immediately Dalor charged, axe overhead. He wasn't like the berserkers - no, but a charge to start a battle was never a bad idea. Knowing the force behind the swing would be great, Liast stepped out of the way, the axe nicking the bandages he kept on his hands. He had a sword at his waist, but Liast didn't draw it. Eronous wondered why when it would give him more reach and an advantage? Instead, one of his hands hovered above the blade, the other thrown up to be used defensively. As he defended, Liast began to chant, a black mist beginning to sprout from his feet. The mist slowly extended towards Dalor, trailing his movements. He went in for another strike, unabashed by the mist.
His axe swung and Liast held out his hand, directly in front of the axe. Eronous winced as he was certain the axe would simply split the arm in two...only it was stopped dead in its tracks. Liast held onto the axe, a smirk on his face. "You see, fully metal hands, enchanted to be moving and indestructible, are very useful." he said casually, as if he didn't need to focus on his spell any longer. One final word and it was as if a shadow sprouted from the ground, enveloping Dalor. Liast knew he had the dwarf, only a few more moments and the mist would knock the dwarf unconscious. He let his arms down.
Charging out of the mist, unphased, Dalor quickly swung his axe horizontally, with great power. It crashed into Liast's side, sending him flying when normally it would have severed his body in two. "Never think ye've won when yeh can' see your enemy's lifeless eyes." he warned dangerously. He was about to charge again when he heard a gong.
"A fatal blow that would have been to Liast - the victor is Dalor!" Riritsu called, his voice louder than it should be once again.
Liast stood, bowing to Dalor. "That spell should have made you unconscious." He said, shaking his head as if amazed.
"Ahh, ye didn't know that Dwarves be immune to magic?" Dalor asked, approaching Liast. They continued their conversation to the side of the stadium, as if they hadn't just tried to kill each other.
"That was...quick." Eronous commented, squinting. He had expected a fight to take longer than only a few seconds.
"Most fights are that way, young Eron." Rysdan responded, glancing over to him. "Can you tell me what Liast's mistake was?"
"Umm...He didn't use his sword?"
Shaking his head, Rein piped up. "He assumed that the victory was his too early. Dwarves aren't harmed by magic; Liast didn't know that and used his magic instead of his combat skills. The moment he let his guard down, the battle was lost."
"So that black stuff didn't do anything to Dalor? Nothing at all?" Eronous asked tentatively.
"Nothing at all. Even enveloped in darkness, Dwarves can see clearly. The next match is coming; watch closely." Rysdan responded.
"Next up, Alden and Ember, center stage!" Riritsu called. Ember and Alden walked to the center of the field, bowing to each other. Ember pulled out her twin Elven short swords, smiling as she sized Alden up. Alden, she knew, had no special abilities - save for the curse on his family. Though he was agile and exceptionally skilled at foresight, that would not be enough to guarantee victory.
The gong sounded once more, and Alden chose this moment to draw his dagger. He also had a fencer's sword on him, but without a proper rapier, it wouldn't hold up well in a real fight. Fencing used the same style as rapiers, but he mainly kept it up for sport, anyway. He began running at Ember, watching her very closely to see how she would move. He had not yet seen her summon her flame, and he wasn't sure how it worked with her.
Ember parried the direct attack from Alden almost effortlessly, in a pirouette that mixed dancing and fighting. It was a very elvish style, though she was obviously human, and less graceful than an Elf might be. Following the parry, she ignited a flame with her opposite sword, slashing it out like a flaming whip that tailed Alden quickly.
Alden felt the heat from behind him before he saw it. Immediately, he dived, the fire narrowly missing him, though it did singe his hair, which gave off a putrid smell as it burned. 'How rude!' he thought, doubling back as he rushed Ember once more. Before he got close enough to her, he saw a flash in her eye - the same one he had seen with her intent to attack. Instead of attacking her, he tumbled sideways as a pillar of flame leapt from the ground where he would have been.
'This brat is anticipating my moves.' Ember thought steadily, stepping out towards him in an attack of her own, her blades sheathed in flame. She kept her face expressionless now, as she guessed that it was her expression that gave away her flame pillar. Body language was the difference between winning and losing in a battle such as this. Surprisingly, with the dagger he had, Alden was able to parry both of her swords as she spun, though Alden grimaced as if the heat had hurt him.
Alden flipped backwards, springing off of his hands and landing a few feet away. Reaching in his pocket, he pulled something out with his left hand, keeping it from Ember's view as he closed in on her again. As he had more distance to cover, he'd have more fire to dodge. This is what he was counting on. As a flame whip tailed him, he ducked, raising his off hand ever so slightly as for the flame to just touch whatever it was in his hand. He closed the distance quickly, dropping the item at Ember's feet as he tried to tumble out of the way.
[BOOM.] A large explosion sounded and echoed off of the arena walls. Both Ember and Alden lay on the ground now, blackened soot covering their clothing. The gong sounded once more, and both of them inhaled sharply. "Gosh darn it, that fuse was supposed to last one second longer!" Alden exclaimed, being the first to his feet, he offered a hand to Ember, who took it. to help herself up. "You didn't have to blow me up!" She yelled furiously at him. "You have any idea how much that hurts!?"
"Yes, it hit me too." Alden responded dryly. Her rage wasn't uncharacteristic of her, but she could certainly have better sportsmanship. "It was battle. If I had pulled that off, I would've won. Unfortunately, looks like we ended in a draw." Making their way to the stands, the last group to fight stepped forward. Susurri and Rin met at center field.
"You really have an unfair advantage." Susurri whispered, the sound carrying over so only Rin could hear it. "I typically fight from the shadows."
"Do not assume you've lost just yet." Rin responded in a whisper, though he knew Susurri could hear it. "I'm more of an errand boy than a fighter."