Jamal woke up to a loud banging on his door. Grumbling to himself, he rolled out of the bed and got up. At least I don't feel weak anymore, he thought, as he walked to the door, seeing Ula. She looked quite upset.
"Did I miss anything?" he asked before she hugged him.
"I was so worried! You haven't answered in two days!"
Two days! It couldn't have been that long. But then, that would mean that I missed some of the fights, he realized quickly.
"Oh, my powers! I missed Brat's fight! And that means we're fighting today! I don't even know what I've missed."
"You missed a lot. But no time to prepare. We got to get ready. It begins in three hours." she replied back.
He nodded and went back into his room, closing the door, and searched for his fighting outfit. He then patted himself, realizing that he was still wearing it from last time. He noticed the seams had begun to tear at his sleeves. After the fight, I'll get it fixed, it really helped me show off my skills. He washed himself, feeling refreshed, and walked towards the food area.
As he moved towards the direction, a long march of Saputa soldiers filed past him flashing their elemental swords they were given, a few onlookers staring at them as well. I wonder where they were going, he questioned, as a few moments later, he finally reached his destination.
Grabbing a normal-sized breakfast, he saw Hops sitting down where Ula would have sat grinning, and Ula nowhere in sight.
"Looks like you've finally come back into this world, huh? You missed Brat getting third place."
"He got that far? I'm glad for him. Hope he's doing good."
"We shouldn't be worrying about him. Especially you, since you're the only fighter here able to deal with Leon unless we work as a team. That man is someone you don't want to get into a fight to unless it's you."
"And Jamal will definitely finish him, or we all risk ourselves doing so." Ula arrived, kissing Jamal's cheek before sitting across from him.
"I can't hold back on anyone. This is it right here." Jamal told them, "It's all or nothing right here."
"You should've seen what they added. New reinforcements on the walls, protective glass, even cover over the stands. They've added so much after your fight, I don't think all those additions would be possible without powers." Hops added.
Jamal nodded at those words as he began to eat his meal. He was slightly nervous, knowing Leon probably never had actual experience with an opponent that could hold off against him. But he'll give him that opportunity.
"So, any plans? Stick together? Every person for themselves? Two people against a person? We got to have something." Jamal asked.
"I say we stick together. We don't know exactly what will face against." Ula replied.
"If we split up though, we might last longer, but we'll be weaker. I just want to win, that's it." Hops said.
Jamal continued eating, deep in thought. Maybe they were thinking too hard. All we have to do is be the last team surviving and we win, he pondered.
"Okay, I got a plan. You two fight together, and I'll go take out Leon. If I can do that, then everyone else shouldn't be a problem."
"Are you sure? You do realize that's probably the strongest fighter out of everyone competing." Hops asked.
"You don't have to take him out yourself. We are a team after all." Ula also added, lightly touching his arm.
He exhaled, and looked at both of them, finishing his food.
"This is the only way. If I get out, then at least you guys might have a chance, instead of us all grouped together. Plus, it's for the best, and I'm our best shot. The final round will start in two hours and we need to be ready. I'll be there early again, probably when it will start in twenty minutes."
He got up and dumped his food, waving goodbye at both of them. If there was a time to show everyone what he knew, the time would be now. Exiting the area, he walked back to his room. He needed to come up with anything to combat Leon. He remembered Ula telling him about his powers. He didn't know how high he could go and that would be a problem, but he knew that he would have to get into that form that turned his body into the fire. His "sparking" form wouldn't cut it. It might give him some time, but he needed something to trigger his emotions. His love for Ula couldn't be used in every scenario, and neither would rage. I'll have to figure how to trigger it, one way or the other, he questioned himself, as he neared his building.
Reaching his room, he opened the door and closed it behind him. He brushed his teeth and opened up his bag once he had finished. Inside he fished out an old book and sat it on the table. Flipping through the pages, were a variety of moves that he had created or planned out while training in the woods. He diligently read through the notes he had scribbled out there, from his fire sword to create a temporary wall of fire. Some of these, he knew, would require a bit more practice, while others would need him to be in certain forms, which he flipped a few more pages deeper.
Here he had written the various forms he had been told or known about, from him simply igniting his hand on fire to just recently with his entire body engulfed in flames. Didn't Hops say something about me being on fire last year, but for a second? He was puzzled. That was from pure excitement and from a final minute of despair. That's another way to trigger that final form. If Leon beats me that bad, then that will be my final option.
Finishing the study, he heard a light knock on the door. He figured it was Ula, and sure enough, it was her, and Hops surprisingly, both in their outfits.
"Heh, looks like someone is taking the tournament seriously now." Jamal teased at Hops.
"Oh shut up. It's only because this is the real deal now." Hops shrugged.
He laughed at him, as he closed the door.
"You ready, Jamal. This is what you've been training for." Ula smiled at him.
"Definitely. You guys called me just in time. I didn't even know how much time had passed." he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
Jamal believed he was ready, and he knew what had to be done.