Jim stood his place not knowing how he should react to what Pol just said. He watched the old paper in the hand of Pol burn and turn into ash while the capped master stepped again as he put his hand over Pol's shoulder while saying:
"You used your right, and now it's time for you to step down."
"Armando," Pol glanced at the capped master before adding, "don't try anything stupid," he threatened.
"You aren't the only one with a master, y'know that better than others," Armando refused to budge as he replied to the threat with another.
"Humph," Pol just harrumphed before giving Jim a mocking glance making Jim want to go and punch him in the face.
"Jim's team will have time to discuss and choose the members they will participate," Armando said, while he gave the retreating Pol a long glance before adding, "and I authorize you to select one more item to be used."
The words of Armando made Pol pause in his steps, yet Pol only sneered and went to an empty seat among masters and sat on it.
"Let's see how you'll try to save a dead meat," he laughed and his tone was heard by most of the audience here, making Armando just sneer.
"Come," Jim said to his team, as he turned towards the back of the arena where the items were there, "we need to think properly about this," he added as he went towards the back first followed by everyone else.
"This is… my fault!" Deno was the first to speak while others just gave him a silent glance, while Gorden just patted his back.
"Don't say that," Jim said, "you are part of my team and I knew the stakes when I accepted you," he added, before glancing at everyone here, "I won't let anyone help me down, let that be engraved in your memories."
He paused before turning to Lan as he added, "and in fact I haven't used my trump card yet, and I plan to keep it hidden till the final battle."
"Can we beat them?" Pat asked and Jim smiled as he said:
"We can, but we have to know these youths better," he turned to glance over the Kroaks as he added, "tell me again everything you know about them."
Rick, who was extremely pissed at his clan, said:
"Water breath, water shockwave, water prison, and water swamp."
"Water shockwave and water breath are considered basic skills, while water prison is a slightly unique skill that would require two to perform, while the water swamp is very rare, but I believe one of those eight will have it," Deno said while his tone told much about his guilt.
"Good," Jim smiled as he added, "they use basic water, right? With nothing added to it."
"Sure, only water carried along their bodies," Rick said, before adding, "they should select water based ores to use."
"Good," Jim smiled before looking at Lan as he added, "go and check the items, if there is something that could absorb or evaporate water."
"Good idea," Lan jumped at once towards the place filled with opened boxes while Pat joined him. "I'll help," he said while the two started to check everything looking for anything useful.
"What's the plan?" Deno asked, "can we really beat them? This?"
"Don't worry," Jim smiled, "I'm here and if I had to use all my tricks, I wouldn't hesitate to do that to secure our win."
"I hope…so," Deno was dejected and that made Jim decide not to select him in the next match. "I will go with Jenny, Pat, and Rick," he said before adding, "gather up now."
The three glanced at each other while Pat left Lan and went to stand with the other two around Jim. "They are outnumbering us," Jim started his words by this, "and they are much stronger, far experienced, and they have the advantage of being confident in their win."
The three, and everyone else of the team nodded in agreement, while Jim added, "so we will aim to start our fight first with a loud bang," he evilly smiled while he started to tell them what they would do.
"I found something," Lan suddenly jumped off the boxes, carrying an old water flask in his hand, waving it. "This can absorb and store water," he said while throwing it towards Jim.
"Good," he laughed before giving it to Jenny, "it's your responsibility, and I believe you know when you should use it, right?" he added and Jenny just nodded.
"Are you sure these would do?" Deno was worried and skeptical, while Jim only smiled and said nothing to him. "Let's go," he entered the arena and the moment he did, everyone was speechless of the team members he selected.
"A human, a Leivy, and one werewolf… is this what you will use to stop the Kroaks? That's hilarious," Pol was already seeing the death of Jim and the other three on the hands on the Kroaks. "It seems I won't need my team to warm up," he laughed while everyone just glanced shortly at him with mixed emotions.
As for Armando, he only focused on Jim and no one else. "Show me how stunning you will shine in the academy, kid," he muttered before saying out loud, "the two teams get ready… start fighting!"