As I lay in bed, I couldn't help but visualize the upcoming tournament. I pictured the grand Colosseum in all its glory, filled with spectators cheering and jeering as warriors my age (14) battled it out for glory and honor. I could feel the excitement building up inside me as I imagined stepping into the arena, fists clenched tight, ready to face my opponents.
The next morning, I woke up early, feeling well-rested and ready to tackle the day ahead. I quickly got dressed and packed my bags for the journey to the island.
The sage and I made our way to the docks, where a large wooden boat was waiting for us. As we sailed further away from the mainland, the salty breeze grew stronger, whipping my light blue hair around my face. The sun was now high in the sky, its warm rays shining down on us as we glided across the tranquil sea. The water was crystal clear, and I could see colorful schools of fish darting beneath the surface. Seagulls circled overhead, their raucous cries adding to the symphony of sounds that filled the air. The old sage pulled me aside as we stood on the deck of the boat, watching the waves roll by.
"Hana, I feel I must explain to you the concept of ELO," he began, his voice carrying a weight of importance.
"ELO?" I asked, confused.
"Yes, ELO. It is a measure of a fighter's skill level, determined by their performances in combat. It is used to determine the ranking of fighters, and is a vital component of tournaments such as the one you will be participating in. Currently, based on my observations of your fighting style, I'd say you have an ELO of around 26."
I nodded, indicating I understood. "So how is ELO calculated?" I asked.
"The ELO system takes into account a combination of factors, such as agility, speed, precision, battle IQ, and mentality. These are all things that can be assessed by watching a fighter in combat and analyzing their performance. By evaluating these factors, we can determine a fighter's skill level and assign them an ELO value. It allows for an accurate assessment of your opponent's ability." the sage replied.
"What are the different ELO levels?" I inquired.
The sage cleared his throat before replying, "A fighter with an ELO of 0 to 7 is considered an average citizen to a decent fighter. A fighter with an ELO of 10 is a skilled fighter with experience in martial arts or combat sports. An ELO of 20 signifies a highly skilled fighter with a good understanding of core fighting mechanics and their nature. A fighter with an ELO of 30 to 40 is a powerful fighter with advanced manipulation over their nature and proficiency in the art of fighting. An ELO of 50 to 55 represents an extremely powerful fighter with dominant core attributes and mastery or near-mastery over their nature. An ELO of 60 to 69 indicates an elite fighter with total mastery over their nature, possibly a second nature, and exceptional efficiency in combat."
I listened intently, absorbing the information. "I see. How did you determine that my ELO is 26?" I asked.
The sage stroked his long white beard thoughtfully before replying, "Well, as I mentioned before, the ELO system takes into account various factors, and I was able to observe these traits during our training sessions. Your agility and speed are impressive, but your precision and battle IQ could use some improvement. Your mentality is also pretty solid, but there is room for growth."
He continued, "After assessing all of these factors and comparing them to the ELO system's scale, I determined that your skill level currently falls at about 26. However, this is not a fixed number and could be ever so slightly off."
As we approached the island, I could see its rugged coastline jutting out of the water, and my excitement began to mount.
The closer we got, the more the Colosseum towered over the island, visible even from afar. It was an impressive sight, with its elevated marble pillars and detailed carvings depicting ancient battles and heroes. As we docked at the port, I stepped off the boat and took in my surroundings. The island was bustling with activity, with vendors selling food and souvenirs to the crowds of people arriving for the tournament.
I followed the sage as we made our way towards the Colosseum. The streets were lined with buildings made of white stone, and as we walked, I could hear the sound of music and laughter. The air was filled with the scent of cooking food, and I couldn't resist the temptation to stop and sample some of the local delicacies.
As we approached the Colosseum, I could hear the sound of cheers and shouts coming from within. My heart began to race with excitement as I realized that the tournament was already underway. The sage led me through the crowds of people, and we finally reached the entrance to the arena.
"Are you ready, Hana?" The sage asked, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I took a deep breath, feeling a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins. "I'm ready," I replied, my voice steady despite the butterflies in my stomach.
We made our way through the entrance and I was struck by the sheer size of the Colosseum. The stands were filled with people from all over the world, shouting and cheering as the fighters battled it out in the arena. The noise was overwhelming, and I had to concentrate to block it out and focus on the task ahead.
As I entered the waiting area, the sights and sounds of the fighters invigorated me. I could feel the energy of the room pulsating through my veins, and my heart began to race with excitement. I surveyed the room, sizing up my opponents and assessing their strengths and weaknesses. Some were small and wiry, their bodies built for speed and agility, while others were bulky and muscular, their brawn and power undeniable. But as I watched them stretch and warm up, I felt a sense of confidence wash over me.
I moved through the crowd with the sage, noticing that some fighters were glancing up at us. I could feel their eyes on me, studying my movements and trying to gauge my level of skill. One even approached me, trying to engage me in conversation, perhaps to throw me off my game. But I remained vigilant, or perhaps arrogant, regardless, I wasn't interested in conversation. I wasn't the same Hana. I was here to win.
My attention was drawn to a figure heading in my direction, and as they got closer, I recognized it was none other than Alexandro...
As Alexandro approached, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness. Despite his size, he had always been a formidable opponent. His chiseled muscles and sharp features gave him an intimidating edge, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration mixed with envy. It was clear that he had been training hard since our last encounter, and his aura radiated with a newfound confidence.
"Hello, Hana," Alexandro said, his voice low and measured. "It's been a while."
I gave him a nod, my heart racing with excitement. "Yeah, it has. You look like you've been busy training."
Alexandro smirked. "You could say that. But so have you, it seems. I've heard rumors about your progress."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What have you heard?"
"That supposedly you're pretty powerful now. You've also learned how to harness your nature." Alexandro said, his tone laced with a hint of challenge.
"I have," I said, meeting his gaze with a steely determination. "But so have you, Alexandro. I can sense your power, as well as the fact you too wield a nature. It will make for an interesting match."
Alexandro's face softened as he looked at me with a small smile. "I suppose it will," he replied. "But don't underestimate your opponents. You may have the power, but without strategy and technique, ultimately you will falter."
I nodded. I knew I had much to learn, and this tournament would be a great opportunity to gain experience and hone my skills. As we parted ways, I continued to mentally prepare myself for the upcoming matches.
The fights went on and the crowds grew thicker, and the sounds of cheering, booing and clashing weapons filled the air. I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement as each new fighter entered the arena, eager to see their skills on display.
The sun begun its descent, and I saw Alexandro step into the ring, his broad shoulders and confident stance a testament to his skill.
As Alexandro entered the arena, I noticed the changes in him since the last time we fought. His body was leaner, more muscular, and his movements were sharper and more precise. It was clear that he had put in a lot of work and dedication to his training.
The whole fight, I remained on the edge of my seat, watching intently as he faced off against his opponent. It was a fierce battle, with both fighters exchanging powerful blows and showing off their impressive skills. But in the end, Alexandro emerged victorious, his hand raised in triumph as the crowd erupted into cheers.
He walked off into the stand, and I approached him with a smile, congratulating him on his win. "You were amazing out there, Alexandro. You've improved so much since we last trained together," I said.
He grinned, clearly proud of his performance. "Thanks, Hana. I've been working hard to get to this level. But you're up next, good luck."
As I waited for my turn, I observed the other fighters, studying their movements and techniques. I noticed that many of them relied on brute force rather than finesse, which gave me some confidence in my own abilities.
Finally, it was my turn to step into the ring. My opponent was supposedly a wiry young girl named Eleni, who wielded a bow. I could sense her power wasn't too high, but not too low either, however I didn't let myself get complacent.
I walked into the arena, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. As I stepped forward, I caught a glimpse of my opponent, Eleni, standing on the other side of the ring. Eleni was a tall, muscular woman with piercing eyes and a fierce look on her face. Despite her imposing appearance, I felt no fear. None at all.
The bell rang.
Eleni stepped back from me and drew her bow, an arrow notched and ready to fly. I saw her eyes focus intently on my movements, and I knew that she was going to rely on her ranged fighting style to take me down.
She quickly let the arrow fly, but I easily sidestepped the attack and closed the distance between us in a single bound. Eleni's eyes widened in surprise as I suddenly appeared right in front of her. I struck out with a powerful punch, but she was quick to dodge, leaping backwards to create some distance between us.
Eleni continued to fire arrows at me, but I easily avoided them, quickly closing the gap between us with each movement.
I could sense Eleni's panic as I closed in on her, my movements fluid and calculated. She tried to use her agility to her advantage, darting around me and peppering me with arrows. But I was faster, effortlessly dodging her attacks and closing the distance with ease. I saw a flicker of desperation in her eyes, and I knew that the fight was already over.
I decided to have a little fun with her. I feinted left, then right, then left again, each time watching as Eleni scrambled to keep up with my movements. I could see the sweat beading on her forehead as she frantically tried to keep me at bay. But it was all for naught. With a sudden burst of speed, I lunged forward, my hand snaking out to grab Eleni's wrist.
She tried to pull away, but I was too strong. With a swift twist of my wrist, I disarmed her, sending the bow clattering to the ground. Eleni stumbled backwards, her eyes wide with shock and fear.
But I wasn't done yet. With a grin, I stepped forward and delivered a swift kick to her midsection, sending her sprawling to the ground. She gasped for breath, her body wracked with pain. I could see the tears in her eyes as she struggled to get up, her spirit broken.
I decided to end the fight quickly, before she could suffer any more humiliation. I advanced on her, my fists at the ready. But then, something unexpected happened. Eleni's eyes began to glow with a faint blue light, and I could feel a strange energy emanating from her.
I watched her carefully, unsure of what to expect. As she unleashed her attack, I felt a powerful gust of wind push against me, but I quickly realized it did little to affect my movements. Eleni's air magic was no threat to me, and I easily closed the distance between us once again.
I could sense her defeat, but also her determination to keep fighting until the very end.
However, 𝕴 𝖍𝖆𝖉 𝖌𝖗𝖔𝖜𝖓 𝖇𝖔𝖗𝖊𝖉... I feigned a retreat, letting her believe that she had a chance to retrieve her bow. But as she advanced towards the bow, I closed the distance between us in an instant.
With a burst of speed, I darted behind her and delivered a swift blow to the back of her head. She crumpled to the ground in a heap, unconscious and defeated.
I stood over Eleni's unconscious form, as a twinge of guilt crept into my mind. Perhaps I had taken things a little too far in my desire to showcase my superiority.
I replayed the fight in my mind, realizing that I had toyed with Eleni, enjoying the thrill of being in control. Despite her efforts, she was no match for me, and I had taken advantage of that fact. As much as I prided myself on my fighting abilities, I couldn't help but feel a sense of shame at the way I had treated her.
I wondered if I could have ended the fight in a more humane way. Perhaps I could have found a way to knock her out without causing her harm, or maybe I could have simply subdued her and ended the fight that way.
As I stood there, lost in thought, the crowd around me erupted into cheers and applause, clearly impressed with my skills. But for me, the victory felt hollow and unsatisfying, tainted by my own sense of guilt and shame.
Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I reminded myself of the tournament ahead and the need to stay focused. However, my thoughts were interrupted by a sudden burst of aura that pierced through the air.
In that moment, time seemed to slow down as a palpable wave of menace enveloped the arena. The once vibrant atmosphere turned heavy with a foreboding presence, and a sense of impending doom hung in the air.
I could feel the intensity of the sage's anger before I even laid eyes on him. The sheer power of his aura was suffocating, causing my heart to race and my breath to catch in my throat. This was no ordinary anger; it was a wrath that resonated deep within the very essence of my being.
As I turned around, my eyes met the piercing gaze of the Sage, but there was no trace of the calm and composed figure I had grown accustomed to. His normally serene face was twisted into a contorted mask of fury, and his eyes blazed with an infernal fire that seemed to consume everything in its path.
His voice, when it finally emerged, echoed with a menacing intensity that sent shivers down my spine. "Hana," he growled, his words laced with a chilling menace. "What in the realms do you think you were doing?"
I could barely find my voice, my words trembling as they left my lips. "I... I didn't mean to... I'm sorry," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.
Meridian's rage only seemed to intensify at my feeble apology. His voice grew thunderous, booming through the arena, reverberating in the depths of my soul. "Sorry? Sorry is not enough, Hana. You crossed a line today, a line that should never be crossed."
His steps toward me were deliberate and filled with an overwhelming aura that seemed to choke the very air around us. Each move he made sent shivers down my spine, as if the ground itself trembled beneath his wrathful presence.
"𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫... 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐈𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐲 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐰 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥."
His voice thundered, drowning out all other sounds. The intensity of his anger was suffocating, weighing down on me like an impenetrable darkness. In that moment, I felt smaller than ever before, a mere speck in the presence of his wrath.
Every word he spoke pierced my conscience like a burning brand, leaving an indelible mark of his disappointment and the severity of my transgression. I knew that I had underestimated the consequences of my actions, and now I had to face the full wrath of Meridian's fury.
"Promise me," he demanded, his voice dropping to a low, chilling whisper. "Promise me that you will never show such disrespect again. Promise me that you will carry yourself with honour and integrity, or face the consequences of your folly."
His piercing gaze bore into my soul, demanding my unwavering commitment to change. In that moment, I knew that this was not an empty request; it was a mandate that would define my future as a warrior.
With a quivering voice, I mustered all the strength I had left and replied, "I... I promise, Meridian. I will never show such disrespect again. I will carry myself with honour and integrity, no matter the circumstances."