As the trio took the stage, an opposing team rivaled their side of the circle. Although, they looked a bit different. No, they were just completely different people. Most children were confused by this, but upon glancing over at the teacher's expression, everything was confirmed.
"I guess he did something to the teacher… probably to counter all of us," Silas pointed out as their teacher was sweating profusely.
The Terragrafter, a sturdy figure named Petra von Stoneheart, possessed an earthy resilience that emanated from her every pore. Her moss-green eyes mirrored the steadfast determination etched into her angular features. Petra's deep auburn hair cascaded in loose waves down her shoulders, framing a face marked by freckles, a testament to her connection with the earth. The practicality of her attire, adorned with earth-toned accessories, hinted at a grounded nature, a fitting quality for a Terragrafter.
Beside Petra stood the Disruptionist, a wiry and enigmatic figure named Aric zol Shadowstep. His presence carried an air of mystery, enhanced by the dark shadows that seemed to cling to him. Aric's piercing silver eyes gleamed with an inner spark, capturing the essence of his unpredictable abilities. His sleek midnight-black hair framed a face marked by sharp angles and a perpetual smirk that hinted at a penchant for mischief. Clad in attire that seamlessly blended into the shadows, Aric's aura spoke of a disruptor poised to weave chaos into the fabric of the battlefield.
Together, Petra and Aric formed a dynamic duo, each contributing a unique set of skills to complement Victor's formidable prowess. As they prepared to face their opponents, the trio emanated an aura of confidence, the melding of earth, disruption, and strength forming a harmonious alliance on the stage of their impending challenge.
"Never forget that Victor is still there," Silas added before the countdown started.
"Brace yourselves! 5! 4! 3! 2! 1! And… start!"
Immediately, the two new teammates burst forward, taking their mark on who they were meant to fight against. Petra burst towards Calix while Aric immediately rushed towards Marlene, hoping to counter any golems she might possibly create.
Startled by her impressive speed, Calix just narrowly dodged while on the other side of the ring, Aric's forearms burst open with vibrational sounds. The two had clearly studied their opponents and pulled off the first move-
FWOOSH… BOOM
"Who the hell do you think you are?" A voice ripped through the collected dust.
Both Petra and Aric, blinked profusely, attempting to figure out what had just happened. They rubbed their sore backs and quickly got up, taking a ready stance once more. Yet, they hesitated to rush forward once again as a pair of glowing salmon eyes pierced through the surrounding cloud of dirt.
"Impressive…" Victor clapped, and each time his hands hit each other, a cacophonous burst of intimidation rushed through the room.
"Tch… she almost got me," Calix clicked his tongue.
"Yeah, I almost forgot they were recruited by Victor," Marlene muttered under her breath.
"Do you really think you can beat us with such a puny attack pattern?" Silas smirked a gust of air ejecting from his system connector before swirling around him.
Victor grinned back, unfolding his arms for the first time in this tournament. Both of his hands opened up, palms facing both of his teammates. Yet, just as there was a whirl of machinery, the gust of wind swirling around Silas burst forward.
Silas could tell, he was going to unleash some kind of boost that would heal his teammates, so he got ready to blow it away. Although, Victor was still one step ahead of him.
"Too late," Victor muttered, a spray of green liquid spurting from his hands like a hose, before sealing it onto both of his teammate's heads.
Fwip
The room went silent as Victor's two teammates felt their lips flip open, revealing their double rows of teeth. And just for a split second, their teeth lifted unclenched from each other and well, everybody knows the rest.
"Ugh… *gasp*... ugh… ugh… ack…"
"Ack… *gasp*... ack…"
The two fainted instantly as their windpipe was rushed with air, suffocating the two children in an instant. The boy, Aric, immediately started to convulse, but with Victor right there he was fine… right?
"Useless pieces of shit," The boy grits his teeth before darting his eyes at Silas. "You read me like a book. Impressive."
Trying to disperse the medicine ejecting from Victor's hands was just bait. Silas had read so far into the field that he even out beat the genius of geniuses of his age for a split second: Victor. It was an incredible feat that caused even the most uninvested of children in the classroom to bite their nails with anticipation.
The teacher swooped into the match, taking the two unconscious children out before letting the rest of the match unfold. A tantalizing amount of tension sparked between Silas and Victor, two beasts of youth clashing without even getting near each other.
"Don't leave us out," Calix smiled, feeling a bit less nervous now that his biggest opponents were taken out.
"Why didn't you aim for the mastermind, stupid?" Marlene clicked her tongue.
"He was still wary of that attack. He gives me more credit than I was due for. Unlike his two teammates, he hadn't let his guard down in the slightest. Not only was he holding his breath, but his teeth were clenched shut and his nostrils were pushing out air. I need little to no restraint in order to pull that move off."
"For real?" A drop of sweat dripped down Marlene's cheek. "Wait, how'd you even see that?"
"Huh? Oh… I can see everything."
The boy's eyes glistened with a royal verdant sheen.