Honestly i was quite surprised by the strenght of Eros. I saw his Round 2 match where he defeated his opponent easily, but to think he was that much stronger. I was prepared to save as much stamina as possible, but screw that now. I had to go almost all out to even defeat him, gladly i managed to defeat him while he got careless, if that fight would have lasted even minute longer then i would have spent almost all of my stamina.. I mean i increased my stamina as much as possible in those 4 years, but it clearly still not enough, since my magma was getting stronger alongside with me, that meant the stamina consumption was greater than it was when i first awakened.
My Round of 32 opponent has been decided and it was someone called Rao Edgesword. Darcel was getting information of him and sent to me in text about his ability, it was something called Physical Type Mode: Golden Touch or something, apparently he has ability to make things as hard as gold, since gold is harder than steel then its very difficult to break through his defences, but it seems to have a lot limitations, i haven't seen any of his matches, but apparently he is shield and sword user. People are allowed to use weapons in the tournament, but most of the fighters wont use it, because they don't have any weapon mastery or their ability won't be useful with weapons, like my magma would be very useless to try to fight with any weapons, at least i haven't found any useful weapon so far for me.
I looked at clock in the wall and i noticed that it was almost start of the match, this will be the first round of the tournament which will be shown on the TV, so if you ask am i nervous, then answer is absolutely. In my first fight against Damien, i didn't seem nervous, but once i thought about all the people who were watching the match, my legs almost gave away, but after the fight started and i started fighting against Damien i was slowly getting rid of that useless nervousness, but then when i fought against Cyros, i wasn't nervous at all (Because i thought i lose) i didn't have any expectations in that fight, i wanted to see my limit and somehow won because mistake Cyros made, but i was still happy about my victory.
I started walking towards the platform where fight will be held, i noticed there standing young man with height of 175cm who held shield in his left hand and greatsword in his right hand looking very menacing and strong..
...
Commentators Booth
''It is time for the Match Nr.8 in the Round of 32!'' said Commentator A
''This is quite special match with the only town representative left and the one who has been named as Prodigy Candidate.'' said Commentator B
''Indeed, Raizo Sulfide. Fought against Eros in the most exciting match so far in the tournament.'' said Commentator B
''That's right, we showed few of the clips in the start of the show about that match, it delayed little bit of the Round of 32, because it took sometime to fix the broken platforms from the aftermath of that match.'' said Commentator A
''Let's talk about now about his opponent. Rao Edgesword, user who can make things as hard as gold, what do you say about this ability?'' asked Commentator B
''It doesn't sound that powerful ability, but he has shown in this tournament so far that he is no pushover.'' Commentator A said
''That's right, well it's about time for the match!''
...
''Round of 32, Match Nr.8 Raizo Sulfide from the Town of Arc VS Rao Edgesword from City of Erypos!''
''Are you both ready?!''
''''Yes!''''
''FIGHT!''
...
Town of Arc
''Dad, Mom, its starting!'' yelled Ruby
''Coming!'' said Raizo's mother
...
Mount of Achalea
''Well show me what you got brat.'' smirked Larox while watching the upcoming match starting
...
In certain pub in Arc
''Oh shit, its already the time, gotta go!'' yelled one of the customer
''Eh, August why such hurry?'' yelled bartender
''Oh it's time for that Middle School tournament, apparently the representative of Arc is about to fight soon.'' August said and left back to his home
...
''FIGHT!'' yelled Referee
Both Raizo and Rao started closing on each other, then Raizo coated his arm in magma and punched towards Rao!
Golden Touch
Shield and Sword which were held by Rao suddenly started turning towards color of Gold!
*Bam*
Raizo's arm of magma hit Rao's shield, but Rao didn't even budge, he was standing there like a mountain which won't be broken, but then Rao swing his greatsword on Raizo!
*Swish*
Magma Chamber! (Tiny Version)
But then Raizo put a small magma wall in front of Rao's incoming greatsword and successfully blocking it, they both were now in standstill! Raizo's magma wall stopping Rao's greatsword and Rao's shield stopping Raizo's magma fist.
But then Rao's shield started glowing on color of gold and the gold started spreading towards Raizo's magma and started turning it gold!
'?!' Raizo was shocked, because he wasn't aware that if Rao's ability touched something and that item touched something else it can also be turned as hard as gold and the magma was getting heavier and heavier.
*Bam*
Raizo's fist was only little bit lowered because the weight increase, but that was enough for Rao to back up 1 meter and raising his shield to strike towards Raizo's head.
Raizo then as fast as he can turned his left arm as mass of magma stopping the upcoming shield just barely, but Rao was not done yet, he sidestepped to right, dodging the small magma wall and went to left side of Raizo and striking his greatsword towards his side!
Magma Tremor!
But then Raizo suddenly turned as pillar of magma which shot towards sky! Rao didn't have any other choice but back off from the magma, he doesn't have enough offensive capability to destroy the huge magma pillar.
Radius of 5m around Raizo suddenly turned to flaming hell!
This all happened in span of 10 seconds!
...
Commentators Booth.
''...''
*Ahem*
''Sorry about that, but great defensive decision by Raizo to suddenly use his ability like that, he knew that Rao doesn't have offensive capabilities to contend with his magma.'' said Commentator A after being shocked from the intense start of the fight
''Indeed, Rao's abilities are so called 'Weak type, but in good hands can turn someone into powerhouse', but too bad that Rao is still only 14 years old, its already miracle he has turned his somewhat weak ability to contend with top powers.'' said Commentator B
...
In the arena
Magma pillar finally disappeared, Raizo and Rao was standing facing each other with distance of 15m.
'I should probably use long-range attacks, but it will cost stamina more..' thought Raizo and backed up to get more distance, but Rao didn't let that happen and sprinted towards Raizo like his life depended on it!
'Not happening! My greatest weakness is that i have to be in close fighting all the time otherwise my ability is useless!' thought Rao while running towards Raizo
'Ah, i guess he doesn't let me win that easily huh.' thought Raizo and gave up on long-range attacks and prepared to fight in close range.
'Too bad for you, Larox was close range fighter and taught everything he knows about it.' thought Raizo
Rao raised his greatsword and slashed it towards Raizo, but Raizo dodged it by backing off with single step.
Hellhound!
Raizo's magma fist took shape of a dog and shot it straight towards Rao, but Rao quickly stopped it with his shield and made the magma turn golden again, but Raizo didn't care he simply took step forwards to very close of Rao so Rao can't use his sword.
''!'' Rao was shocked and tried to back off, but of course Raizo wouldn't allow that and his almost golden Hellhound striked towards Rao's shield which pushed the shield out of the way and Rao's torso was wide open without any defences!
Biggest mistake Rao did was to ignore the Hellhound, he can make things golden to make it harder and heavier, but you can still use it! In this case Rao made the Hellhound even more powerful and so it was easy to push the shield out of the way.
'Mistake!' thought Rao anxiously after he noticed his blunder, but it was too late.
Raizo's magma coated fist was about to hit Rao's throat but stopped just before he was about to hit him.
''I-i give up.'' said Rao after seeing that he didn't have any chance of winning anymore
''Good match!'' said Raizo and turned to walk out of the arena
''Match over! Winner is Raizo Sulfide!''
...
Town of Arc
''He won!!! He is now in top of 16!!'' said Ruby while having tears in corners of her eyes
''Whew..'' Raizo's father finally relaxed after holding his breath during the break out of anxiousness.
''Thats my son!!!'' yelled Raizo's mother while having proud smile
...
Mount of Achalea
''Mmh, could have won few moves earlier, but otherwise fine performance, you are still young Raizo.. never stop improving, your current strenght is not even close what you can accomplish in the future..'' thought Larox aloud
...
(Raizo POV)
Whew, finally finished. I was quite impressed the way Rao fought, at first i didn't think much about his ability, but he proofed me wrong that even weak ability, can be sometimes strong if you know how to use it, but unfortunately Rao had way too many weaknesses which can be exploited, but if he can overcome those.. he would be strong opponent in the future.
Since my match was over for today, i didn't bother to watch other matches, because Darcel will send me information about everything i need, so i just started walking back to the hotel, but before i could exit the stadium i met him..
''Yo, you are Raizo right?'' asked Mor Flarewind
Yes, that's right, one of the prodigies.
''Yes, you are Mor Flarewind right?'' I said and wondering why one of the prodigies talked to me
''Hehe, you are good, very strong even, but too bad that you waste your potential.'' said Mor
''What do you mean?'' I asked
''You focus on your ability too much, what if someone manages to counter your ability then what? You would be like injured lion waiting to be slaughtered.'' said Mor
''Like your ability?'' I asked with some unhappiness, because i know he is right, i improved my physical ability as much as i could when i was training Larox, but i didn't have enough talent in that category to be even remotely good. Just like Larox said i have great talent in fighting, but that's only when i use magma, but if i would fight with only physical body.. i would get destroyed.
''Haha! Actually our ability is quite same, Magma VS Fire! You are close being one of us prodigies, but i wonder how far you will reach with only your magma. Darc, Luna, Amelia, Rook and me can easily counter your ability, Lion and Rei might have few difficulties, but that's it.'' said Mor
''Then what do you suggest?'' I asked from Mor
''Come to the High School of Combat in Ignite, they will teach you best ways to use your power.'' said Mor
''High School of Combat? You mean there is multiple High Schools focused on fighting in Ignite?'' I asked because i did not know
''Oh i forgot you were from small town, apologies, but no they are in the same High School but with different departments, like Combat, Elementals, Physical, Spirit, Hybrid, Martial Arts etc. Combat fully focuses on the fighting, those other departments fully focus on the improving their abilities, but combat fully focuses on fighting ability.'' said Mor
''Interesting..'' I mumbled
''Indeed it is, all of the prodigies will come to Ignite to learn after all its the best High School in the Country of Sulfur and i am sure you won't have any difficulties to join it, but anyway, See ya my match is about to start and i hope we get to face against each other in this tournament.'' said Mor with smile and then turned to leave.
While i watched Mor leaving towards the arena, i started thinking about Mor and i knew everything he said was right, while my ability to use magma might be at the level of prodigies, my actual combat ability might actually not be. I haven't used yet all i have in this tournament, but i don't know will it be even enough if i used everything i got.
With these thought i started walking towards hotel to prepare for tomorrow matches!
Round of 16 and Quarterfinals will be held tomorrow!