In the aftermath of the celebrations between Goblins and Cyclopes, Jorael and his group walked to reach the coliseum for the round of 16.
The streets like other days were full of Demons, both in the sky and on the ground, and many passersby at the sight of the Goblin Champion began to comment:
"He's going to die, isn't he?"
"it was fun, but now it's up to the real Champions..."
"He has proven to be very agile and possesses powerful Magic, it may not be over yet!"
Cyn'Thia however, contrary to the comments flying through the air, whispered:
"Sigh... take it easy on your rival, please!"
"This time I don't know if I'll be able to take it easy." Jorael commented.
"You have already used two different spells, there is no need to use a third!" suggested the worried Elf.
"It will be difficult considering the enemy." he replied.
"But Salgh'krag told me that most Demons know at most one to three spells!
The elites may know more spells but...
You will continue to raise questions!" Cyn'Thia warned.
"The Queen already knows I'm not a Goblin, like most Demons I suppose..." he said.
"Yes, but have you heard the story of the Orc chief?
Everyone knows it was the Succubus clan's fault for the King's death.
"Of course, I heard.
That would be the last thing I would reveal..." Jorael said.
"Or not to be revealed at all!
Too many Demons already know and I don't feel safe." she whispered worriedly.
"It appears both Borkan and Kiran kept their mouths shut.
So, for the moment being, everything's good..." Jorael was saying before Kimora interrupted them and said:
"Will ya finally do something in the arena or play dumb?"
As Cyn'Thia glared at her, Jorael replied:
"I'll have to if I don't want to get crushed ..."
...
Later in the coliseum the round of 16 was about to begin and there was a lot of excitement in the air for the first match of the day, which was precisely that of Jorael vs Thrarn. In the underground, it could be barely heard the Princess announcing the start of the match as usual.
"Good luck. May Atremis lend you her strength." a colossal figure said in a deep voice to Jorael as they both prepared to enter the arena.
Both contestants stepped into the ring as the crowd cheered them at the top of their lungs. Princess Drahnemys was introducing them:
"...from Osbillach, the Goblin Champion who defeated two fearsome opponents. His name is:
Jorael, the Krypster-slayer!
...and from Nefarious Hills, the Giant Champion who effortlessly crushed his opponents. His name is:
Thrarn, the Bonecrusher!"
While Jorael's companions and the Goblins stared at the mighty Giant with some concern, the Goblin Champion tried to stay calm despite being overshadowed by Thrarn. The colossus was taller than the Cyclopes and even more massive, with grayish skin and thin light blond hair. His gaze could have terrified any living being not ready to resist those fierce glacial eyes. As a weapon, he simply had a bare tree trunk.
"...if you die, you die!
May Atremis lend you Her strength.
3... 2... 1... FIGHT!" Drahnemys shouted announcing the start of the match.
Thrarn wasted no time and began his charge by swinging his weapon in the air and approaching Jorael menacingly, making the ring tremble with every step he took to the excitement of the audience.
"WAAAAAA!!!" the Giant shouted fiercely as he smashed the wood against Jorael, but instead found only the white stone ground of the ring.
"I perfectly understand your epithet now." Jorael whispered as he dodged the blow.
"Escape like a rat, now I crush you." Thrarn threatened as he raised the weapon.
The Giant began chasing his rival while inflicting powerful blows that only hit the air or the ground, as Jorael dodged everything nimbly.
Meanwhile, as the contenders played cat and mouse, the Queen whispered to her daughter:
"I thought I had spurred him more.
He's still holding back a lot I think..."
"W-what?! Is he holding back?" Drahnemys exclaimed in confusion.
"Everyone knows he's not a Goblin.
So why hold back?
What are you hiding, Jorael?" Shaneh whispered wrapped in a thousand thoughts.
"He is running away like yesterday.
He will make the Giant consume his energy, then attack…" Drahnemys commented.
Back in the ring, Thrarn was tired from all the running and wriggling of that huge log, and he paused to catch his breath. Jorael was on the other side of the ring, and this time he took the opportunity to attack by enchanting:
"I summon Thee strength, of Her who awakened us, Firebolt go!"
The spell of Arcane Magic sent a huge ball of fire out of the heptagram launched immediately in the direction of the Giant, moving from one side of the ring to the other. But just as it was about to hit Thrarn, he yelled:
"WAAAAAA !!!"
The Giant suddenly hit the fireball with the trunk, in an explosion that did not hit him in the least and which only served to ignite the upper part of the trunk. The audience cheered the Giant's mighty defense from the Magic attack, and he, invigorated by the clamor of the crowd, launched into attack again, this time with a flaming weapon.
While he resumed the game of cat and mouse, Jorael's companions watched the game in silence, or almost.
"GOOO JORAEEEL!
SHOOT THE BEEEAM!" Kimora shouted enthusiastically as Cyn'Thia urged her to sit in her place.
"Ah ah ah! Brother will finally have to do something to knock out that thing." Bromur commented.
"Tché... The strength and endurance of the Giants are well known.
But I already know who will win. "Sulth'krag said.
Back in the ring, Thrarn paused again to catch his breath, realizing his tactic wasn't working. Jorael on the other side was convinced he had a winning tactic, and finally started with his first move by enchanting:
"That fire is annoying...
I summon Thee strength, of Her who awakened us, Hydro go!"
This time a sphere of water was created by the spell of Arcane Magic and was promptly directed at the Giant who, like the previous time, slashed the sphere of water with his weapon, extinguishing the flame on the trunk and getting completely wet.
"Wah ha ha ha!
I really needed a bath because of this heat!" Thrarn shouted laughing.
When the audience began to laugh with the Giant, Jorael was not intimidated and continued with his plan enchanting:
"If you are wet, it is easier to freeze you.
I summon Thee strength, of Her who awakened us, Freeze go!"
A cold cloud emerged from the purple glowing heptagram, which quickly engulfed the target, instantly freezing him.
The crowd was left speechless at the Goblin Champion's maneuver and slowly started rooting for him again. The Demons were murmuring:
"How many spells does he know?!"
"Did he just freeze... a Giant?!"
"So... is it over?"
Jorael slowly approached his frozen foe as the audience cheered for the apparent victory, but his companion Bromur from the Goblin stands made a sudden realization. The Dwarf whispered to the others:
"Ah! I forgot to tell him something..."
"What is that?" Cyn'Thia asked confused.
"While it is true that the Giants live in the Nefarious Hills, it is not strange to see them on the cold, snow-covered wall of Mount Svardyr of the Steel Mountains." Bromur explained.
"What are you trying to say?" Cyn'Thia asked worriedly.
"They are able to withstand a harsh, cold climate, so..." Bromur said calmly before the Elf screamed:
"Ice is their friend!
Kimora, yell at Jorael to back off!"
The black-haired woman turned and immediately shouted without further questions:
"Huh?!
JORAEEEL, GO BAAACK!!!"
On the ring, the Goblin Champion was right in front of the frozen Giant as he suddenly heard his companion yelling, and turned his head towards her.
On the ring, the Goblin Champion was right in front of the frozen Giant as he suddenly heard his companion yelling, and turned his head towards her.
In the ring, the Goblin Champion was right in front of the frozen Giant when he suddenly heard his mate scream and turned his head towards her.
Just then, Jorael's Sixth Sense warned something was wrong as the ice suddenly broke apart, freeing Thrarn from the grip of the cold. The Giant immediately violently kicked the enemy with his huge foot right in the chest, sending him flying to the other side of the ring.
"Damn, what a fool of me...
Cough…" Jorael said in pain as he landed on the ground, checking his chest.
"Wah ha ha ha!
Thanks for making me feel at home!
The heat here is unbearable…" Thrarn said mocking his enemy.
The audience went insane, cheering for both Thrarn and Jorael because the match wasn't over yet, and now they could no longer predict who would be the winner.
'Shit... how many ribs did he break?!
It hurts so much...
I was so naive.
The Queen was right.
I have to put an end to this...' Jorael thought as he prepared to cast a spell.
"Another go with some water or ice?" Thrarn said mockingly as he charged full speed against him.
"I summon Thee strength, of Her who awakened us, Blast go!" Jorael recited, enchanting one of the most powerful spells in Arcane Magic.
As the heptagram of the advanced Magic spell rapidly formed, all who watched the show stood in awe at the edge of their seats. The multicolored sphere the size of two mels appeared and began its short journey to end right in the Giant's upper body, violently exploding in his face and chest.
The loud explosion left smoke that obscured everything inside the little cloud, and the breathless audience whispered:
"Thrarn is still standing!"
"Shh! Wait let me see, let me see!"
"What the fuck was that?!"
When the smoke cleared, the Giant appeared to have remained unharmed because he was still standing, but soon he collapsed unconscious in the ring, emitting a huge rumble that echoed throughout the silent coliseum.
"...JORAEL WON!" Drahnemys screamed in excitement as she leapt to the edge of the royal balcony as the entire audience cheered for the unexpected victory.
"He's finally released his true power, but how much more is he hiding? ..." Shaneh commented.
"Wasn't that his ace up his sleeve?!" the Princess whispered in confusion, turning to her mother.
"We'll see..." the Queen answered cryptically.
From these last words of Shaneh, Drahnemys began to understand her mother's interest in the Goblin Champion, and as she smiled, she announced:
"Jorael goes to the quarter-finals, you can go.
Attendants, try to take away the Giant please..."
They quickly left the stage amid an incessant roar of applause to make way for the next round. Jorael first secretly healed using White Magic where no one could see him, and then quickly ran to the Goblin stands. When he came unexpectedly in such a rush, Cyn'Thia asked in surprise:
"Why are you in such a hurry?!"
"I want to see the match..." he replied sitting next to her.
"Ah! Congratulations Brother on the match...
I'm sorry I didn't warn you about his high cold resistance." Bromur said apologizing.
"Don't worry, I still won..." Jorael replied.
"...but you are exposing yourself more and more, game after game." Cyn'Thia whispered worriedly.
"It will be impossible to hide it sooner or later..." Jorael answered.
"We still don't know if we can trust anyone here." the Elf said seriously.
"I know, Thia." he replied.
"Shut up!
The match is startin'!" Kimora exclaimed from the edge of the stands.
Two figures arrived in the ring as the black-haired woman provided colorful commentary for the Goblins and her companions:
"Here they are!
One is a tall, horned dude with brown hair. Does he have no weapons?! Weirdo.
Is the other a horse with a bow?!
No... his mother got fucked by one?!
Is he half horse, half... humanoid?!"
"Sigh... he's a Centaur, Kimora.
As for the other... a Minos.
So, he is Erkann's brother…" Jorael pointed out, recalling Kiran words.
"Who the fuck is Erkann?" Kimora exclaimed.
"An old acquaintance of mine..." he answered while staring at the stands of the Minos clan.
On the Queen's balcony, Drahnemys began her speech:
"From Krahyr, the bull Demon who demolished many opponents under his powerful fists. Heir to an ancient dynasty of Kings, for the Minos clan:
Krenkann, the Demolisher!"
As the crowd cheered his name, the Minos champion struttered in the ring slamming his fists and grinning. The Princess resumed with the introduction:
"...and on the other side, directly from the Dragon Plateau, the Demon horse who elegantly won his game by flaunting grace and precision. The fast and highly skilled Centaur:
Florentz, of the Suave Gallops!"
The audience, mainly the she-Demons, screamed in admiration for the Centaur as he waved his thick, lush black hair as reply.
"Ah! Son of a Brutynrnmandyrm!
He wants all the girls for him…" Bromur said harshly.
"You should ask him for some lessons in fixing your hair and beard." Cyn'Thia advised.
"What?! Sister, my hair is fine, it's the females who don't understand." Bromur whispered.
"Sure..." the Elf just commented.
"Shush! It's startin'!" Kimora exclaimed excitedly as Drahnemys announced:
"...if you die, you die!
May Atremis lend you Her strength.
3... 2... 1... FIGHT! "
As soon as the match began, Florentz began to gallop around the ring, and with his bow in hand he initiated throwing arrows at his enemy.
Krenkann did not move.
The Minos unexpectedly proudly displayed his muscular chest and, with his arms at his waist, flaunted a pose of strength. The arrows landed on his bare chest, sticking and wounding him, as he was not in the least worried by such attacks.
"This brute is all muscle...
Then I'll take your head!" the Centaur exclaimed as he shot an arrow straight at the enemy's head.
Krenkann still didn't move his body to evade the arrow, but instead defended himself by covering his head with his forearm, where the arrow stuck.
While the entire audience was amazed at the bull Demon's behavior, he eventually took action, removing first the arrow from his arm. Then, with his right hand, he slashed the arrows stuck in his chest, slicing them clean, and shouted:
"SNORT!!!
YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE, NOW I HAVE MINE!"
"What the hell was that ?!" Jorael commented from his seat as he watched the Minos load his foot before setting off to charge.
Krenkann began his bull charge by aiming straight at the Centaur who in defense shot again arrows to wound the Minos again.
Once again, the arrows did not scare Krenkann who instead of dodging them, confronted them directly, smashing the flying metal pointed arrows with his fists, destroying them completely with bare fists.
"W-what!?" exclaimed both the opponent and Jorael who watched the match from his seat. Sulth'krag explained briefly:
"Tché... Minos and few other clans use some ancient strange techniques..."
"You are mine!" Krenkann yelled as he approached the enemy, who reacted by turning his back on him, trying to kick with his rear hooves.
"Pow!" was heard through the coliseum as suddenly both of Florentz's hind legs were dismembered and flew away from his body.
"Neighaahhhh!" the Centaur screamed in pain as he fell to the ground in a pool of blood.
Audiences began celebrating the gruesome show as Jorael and his companions were stunned. The Goblin Champion whispered:
"How is that possible?!
Why did his punches cause like micro-explosions that severed the Centaur's legs!?"
"Tchà... you are witnessing the power of the elites.
If you are surprised by this, if you ever see the Queen in action, you will be terrified…" Salgh'krag explained.
"I can say that the Queen is already terrifying the way she is..." Cyn'Thia whispered.
"MOOOOOW!" Krenkann cheered with his arms in the air, welcoming the screams of the crowd as Florentz was agonizing on the ground.
"The winner is Krenk..." Drahnemys was announcing before the Champion of Minos clan suddenly screamed again:
"NOT OVER!"
As he screamed, he suddenly smashed Florentz's head with his foot, splattering blood and brain material all over the ring.
"That was disgusting and out of place..." Cyn'Thia said in disgust.
"What an idiot." Jorael commented.
"...and he will be your next opponent." Kimora pointed out.
"Sigh... the winner is Krenkann." the Princess said solemnly, cutting it short, while half the audience was disgusted and the other half cheered the winner.
Thus, the match for the next day had been decided, while the other matches continued. At the end of the day all the matches for the quarter-finals were decided, and on the billboard posted at the entrance to the coliseum, everyone could read the names of the opponents:
"# 1 Jorael, the Krypster-slayer vs Krenkann, the Demolisher
# 2 Fenrith, the Last Shadow vs Bysmeh, the Deadly Hiss
# 3 Drak, Tongue of Fire vs Polyanthus, the Diamond-Head
# 4 Bhaal, of the Sword Dance against Krait'var, the Loon"
After reading the matches, the Goblin clan and the Four returned to the inn to freshen up, and celebrate the victory.
...
After eating and drinking with the Cyclopes celebrating their successes, the Goblins and the four returned to their room.
During the evening when many of the Goblins were drunk and sleeping, those who were awake heard a knock on the door.
"Not another time..." Kimora whispered annoyed.
Jorael went to the door and asked:
"Who is?"
"It's me... please open the door, there's someone you know who wants to talk to you." Kiran said from the other side of the door.
"It's not Borkan, is it?" Jorael asked.
"No, she is an old acquaintance of yours ..." Kiran answered.
Jorael opened the door and found two cat girls watching him. He greeted them saying:
"Oh... Good evening, tchè..."
Yolin showed a faint smile, but Jorael easily realized that something was wrong. Both girls entered the room and made sure to close the door, then Yolin started talking:
"Jorael, I know it's you.
It's nice to see you again, especially after you've helped me escape Rivella.
Thank you very much...
...but I'm here to ask you for another favor:
In tomorrow's match you will face Krenkann and please, I beg you...
Kill him."