Beside Roran, Nul was fidgeting. It was the first time Roran had seen Nul fidget. Tapping their foot, folding their arms and drumming their fingers on their arm.
Swallowing, Roran said, "Well, at least she stopped the orb from going to the red team."
Nul exhaled and continued to fidget.
"And she took out half of their team. She's clearly the strongest on the field."
"No-one doubts her strength," said Nul, their voice tight.
"She still has time to go get the red orb. Things aren't that bad."
"Her head is a bloody mess, there is a hole in her arm, she has nothing but a knife, and I would be very surprised if her hand isn't broken from shattering stone with her bare fist. And while yes, she is in fact the strongest person on the field, she still let them bait her into a pointless fight that's left her injured and unarmed. This is the best case scenario for them. Things are that bad."
Roran said nothing. This was the first time Nul had scolded him and he wasn't sure how to respond.
"This is why you should stay in the Crucible," said Morena, crossing his legs and leaning back in his seat. "It's a hell of a lot better than fighting in this mess if you ask me."
"Nobody asked you!" Nul snapped.
Morena put his hands up and said nothing more.
"Sorry," Nul said to Roran. "It's just that this isn't the first time this has happened. Kell is impulsive, she let's people piss her off too easily and plays right into their hands. It's almost gotten her killed a few times."
Roran nodded.
"Your plan was good, it probably would have worked, but now we have to sit here and hope she can figure the rest out on her own." Nul kicked the ground in front of them. "I hate it when she does this."
"Is she good with a knife?" asked Roran.
"Yeah, she's good with every weapon. She just prefers the spear because she's short and it makes up for her reach."
"Do you think she can beat Jorgen? Even with her injuries?"
Nul stopped fidgeting and stared down into the arena. Though she was moving more slowly, Kell was still climbing towards the red team's tower, jumping from roof to roof. Jorgen continued to pace back and forth, waiting for the oncoming storm.
"Yes," said Nul, "She will beat Jorgen."
"Then she can at least have another weapon."
"What?"
"Jorgen is wielding a bo staff, it's about the same length as her spear. It doesn't have a blade but it will make up for her reach. Once she has that, there will only be one effective fighter left on the red team."
Nul nodded, "And they're currently fighting Bolero. This could work out."
"See," said Roran, smiling, "Things aren't so bad."
Nul rolled their eyes, but pressed two fingers to their neck. "Kell, take Jorgen's staff. It's better than a knife. Once you get the red orb, head straight for Kameron. Bolero is tying up the other champion. Beat Kameron and you win."
Down in the arena, Kell paused for a moment to rest and listen. She nodded. "I hate bo staves," she said, "they're like castrated spears. A tease at best."
Nul knew better to respond and Kell didn't expect an answer. Instead she hustled up the last few rooftops, coming to land on the red team's tower. Jorgen planted himself between Kell and the orb.
"Come on, Jorgen. I'm tired, I hurt, and I want to take a bath. Get out of my way."
Jorgen stood fast and shook his head.
"I'll give you Barron's knife," said Kell, offering up the shining blade. "It even has my blood on it. You could sell it to some crazy fans for a handful of coin."
Jorgen readjusted his grip on his staff. Beads of sweat marked where his hands had gripped it earlier.
"I don't want to fight anymore than you do, just move aside and you can walk away unscathed."
"You talk too much," said Jorgen and he took a step forward, closing the distance and trying to bring Kell within range of his staff.
Kell shrugged. "Worth a shot." She hefted the knife and jumped towards Jorgen.
Jorgen spun, swinging his staff hard the moment Kell was in range. Kell didn't even try to dodge. She folded her arm against her body, taking the brunt of the blow. Then, with her free hand, she threw the knife, lodging it in Jorgen's shoulder.
Jorgen snarled and staggered back, gripping the knife sticking out of his arm.
"Sucks, doesn't it?"
Showing her normal amount of mercy, Kell plowed into Jorgen, knocking him to the ground. She straddled him and began raining blows down his face and head. Jorgen tried to fend her off but the knife made his arm half useless and the other could only do so much. After taking several blows, Jorgen crossed both arms across his face and stopped fighting back.
Snatching his bo staff, Kell stepped off of Jorgen. She backed away a few paces and waited to see if he would get back up. When he didn't, Kell went for the orb. As she touched it, the orb flared and began to shrink. The more it shrank, the brighter it glowed, becoming a beacon that announced her position to the world.
With a final glance at Jorgen, who still hadn't moved, Kell started the trek back to her team's tower, to where Kameron was waiting. Pressing a couple fingers to her neck, Kell asked, "What happened to the rest of my team?"
"Kameron beat Jameson and ripped your defender apart. Bolero was Ellen, the blond fresh title. She got beaten by Toma who's currently fighting Bolero. I think your last teammate, a fresh title I don't know, is lost somewhere in the arena."
"That's why you stay on the rooftops. Oh well, they'll learn or they'll die."
"Not everyone is as good at combat as you are."
Kell grinned, she liked being strong.
With no one to harass her, she made it to Kameron with ease. Kameron, tall and muscular and tan, was working her way down Kell's spear, every inch of the handle slowly being forced through the wound. A bright blue glow emanated from between her breasts. The orb, now acting as a beacon, was tucked away in her cleavage.
"That looks painful," said Kell.
"So does your face." Kameron finally pulled herself free of the spear. Turning, she grabbed the haft with both hands and pulled the spear out of the wall. "You have a good spear, I think I'll keep it."
"You do realize I'm about to beat you unconscious and take the orb back, right?"
Kameron drew herself up to her full height and leaned over Kell. She had full lips and a full body with soft curves. Her face was decorated with bits of paint and rose blush. She grinned. "Do you think I'm scared of a little girl like you? Especially now that you are beaten and broken. Your hand looks like something my chef cooks over a fire pit."
Kell scowled at her. Kameron was beautiful in every way Kell wasn't. Even her focus markings added to her beauty, swirling along her breasts and hips and thighs. A few tendrils swirled around her naval in a pattern that could only have been decorative.
"Maybe if you looked like a woman you wouldn't have to fight on your own all the time. Run along little girl and I won't have to-"
Kell jammed the butt of the bo staff into Kameron's stomach. Kameron doubled over, coughing and gagging.
"Your etcher missed a spot," said Kell, coming around for another swing. She bashed Kameron's knee in, sending her to the ground. "Your marks look pretty but you should really have practical markings over your organs, otherwise it leaves you open."
Kameron groaned and tried to stand again. "You're an expert etcher now?"
"No, mine just lectures me constantly."
Kameron snarled and lunged at Kell. Kell snapped the staff around, using its length to keep Kameron at bay. When Kameron picked up Kell's bloodied spear, Kell smacked her in the wrist with the staff and sent it clattering back to the ground.
"Just give me the orb so we can be done with this."
"I'd rather die," said Kameron and she spit on the ground.
Kell shrugged. "Okay." She raised the staff high, aiming for Kameron's head.
Kameron cowered and pulled the glowing blue orb out of her cleavage, letting it roll across the ground. Free of Kameron's grip, the orb expanded and the light faded. Kell stopped it with her foot. She tossed the bo staff aside and retrieved her spear, relaxing a little now that her preferred weapon was back in her hands.
Picking up the blue orb, Kell watched it shrink then tucked it into her pants with the red one. A few minutes of leapfrogging and she was back where she started, standing on the blue tower. She returned the blue orb, letting it grow and resume its place floating atop the tower. Then, she pulled out the red orb. Carefully, she tapped it against the blue orb and it shattered in an explosion of red light and mist.
Coughing and waving the mist out of her face, Kell groaned and turned to the audience cheering up above.
"There it is folks!" The announcer's voice, as annoying as ever, rang through the arena. "Kell, the living storm, the unstoppable menace, has annihilated the red team and claimed victory. I hope nobody was dumb enough to bet against her."
The bell rang and the blue orb shattered of its own accord. The match was over.