We finally reach the arena, the large metal area unchanged from when I was last here. The nostalgia of training Winter floods back as I remember the stupid arena match, and how those two were unfair in their treatment of her.
I shove those older memories aside as we walk in, when we suddenly hear a voice. "Hello there! What would you like to do today?"
I look over to see the same attendant I saw a few years ago still attending the same booth. I approach her with a smile on my face as I ask, "Can we rent a fighting arena? Preferably a larger one?" She nods and holds out her hand towards me, "ID?"
'Crap.' I think as I look over at Winter who luckily pulls out a card.
"Here." She says as she holds up an ID card to me. I grab it and look it over as I realize it's the same one she had when she left, her young face smiling cutely towards whatever camera they used.
I hand the card to the booth user as I say, "It's 5 years old."
She nods as she takes the card only for her eyes to go wide in realization. She looks back up at Winter and me as who we are clicks with her, like the missing puzzle piece falling into place.
She turns towards the hologram by her side and types swiftly, as if her life depended on it. Moments later, she kindly holds out the card as I take it and give it back to Winter who is still attached to my arm.
She puts it away as the Clerk talks to us kindly, her smile so large it could put toothpaste commercials to shame.
"I'm sorry it took so long sir. You have arena A5. Please be careful and enjoy!"
I nod as I turn and walk to the arena, the floors still as spotless as ever. There are a lot more people here than I last remember, guys and girls sparing with body's of all different shapes. From slightly overweight, to some people that probably work out for a living. I take the purple blob off my head after using some force and put him on Winter's, thinking of a stupid joke. 'It's a winter on a winter, might as well get a blizzard.'
I snicker inwardly as the two Winters take Jack to the bleachers to watch what is about to go down. I look up and down at Dreag, who is still wearing his black suit, and as I ask him, "Are you going to actually fight wearing that? You sure you don't want me to make you some armor or something?"
Dreag looks down and shakes his head, "Your strength is something more important right now. Plus, this suit makes using my abilities easier since I am not worried about destroying it."
I nod as I crouch down, my cat like eyes staring at Dreag. 'Shadow Armor.' My shadow comes to life, crawling over me like a sea of hands trying to drag me down.
'I should give him these, I won't be using them and they have just gathered dust.' I think as I wave my hand. Two black rods appear in my hands and I toss them towards Dreag as I yell, "Use these!"
He has a look of confusion but grabs the set from the air. As he turns them around in his hands I yell again, "They are handles, I messed with them slightly so they connect to the hand holder's wristband! Say activate!"
He looks at them and says, "Activate." The handles quiver slightly as the metal inside the poles melts over his hands. Suddenly, two pairs of holographic claws about a foot each grow from the metal, causing Dreag to look at them with curiosity and shock.
"These claws, they look like a set my ancestors used during the Divine War. I have only heard of them....how?" Dreag murmurs in disbelief as he looks at the claws.
'Those look like Venka claws. It will definitely be horrifying if they tear into me, thank gosh for the constant pain I felt in the robot memory or else I would probably be afraid to face them.' I think as I activate my Dragonborn form, a black muzzle appearing through the shadows as my fingers grow claws. I make my last preparation as I equip my scythe, the white blade and black whisps gathering everyone's attention if we didn't have it already.
I grip the scythe with both hands as my muscles tighten. It's dead silent as me and Dreag stare eachother down, knowing that this fight is going to be intense. Suddenly, we both seemingly disappear for a moment before appearing in the middle, sparks flying as the blades and scythe handle hit eachother in a dance of swings. Everyone watches in awe as the sparks dance about, lighting up the already bright arena even more.
Every hit has the intention to beat the other opponents as I realize. 'Dreag's going all out.'
His face is stone as he attacks swiftly and constantly, not giving me much time to breath in between hits. I look behind him as the sparks fly again, 'Shadow Transportation!'
I suddenly fall into my shadow as I jump behind him and breath pitch black fire. Dreag grunts as he swings behind him, fire burning in his eyes, but I quickly dodge backwards as I wait plan my next move. This is a Divine Beast, not a Grade A or Grade S, a Beast with a title.
A few moments later, Winter's father enters the room with sweat on his forehead. As he enters, he is confused what everyone is staring at until he sees me and Dreag, the black fire burning Dreag's back as a yellow light glows between the flickering flames.