The tournament already began? Groggily I jump from my bed to my clothes as fast as I can, almost tripping. Counting the minutes I ran out of the door. How did I wake up so late! The arenas inside are even grander than the outside. Miniature fountains flowing at every glance. Swaying my way through the crowds I make my way into the locker rooms.
"We are still missing our next contestant."
The ticking of the clock fills the room. I need to get there, now! Running out the announcer finally calls my name,
"Lare! It seems our next contestant has finally arrived!"
"Sorry I'm so late, everyone! I'll be sure to make this fight the most entertaining you'll see all day!" A screen drops down that shows both my opponent and me. My hand extrudes from my body trying to make a handshake. "Are you ready?" He slaps my hand leaving a stinging sensation. "No time for games." The crowd cheers louder.
"They're already at it before the bell even rings!"
The bell rings.
My opponent lunges at me. A pop released from my jaw. Before I'd even noticed it, the man was throwing another punch. I ducked to avoid it this time. The air he'd punched into had scattered to avoid the attack. Pushing my feet off the ground I charge at the man putting my weight into me should and toppling him over. My body begins attempting to recover new oxygen. "What's your name?" Ignoring the question, he stands back up. The crowds voice increases. Lights begin to dim around me as I attempt to focus on the fight. "No more surprises!" I shouted. Taking a step back I raise my hands and clasp them together then slam my palms into the ground. A wall erupts separating me from the man. The crowd's voice claws back into my mind. Running forward I slam my hand on the wall. The area slammed crumbles leaving a small hole.
"Magic? Is that even allowed! Yes, of course it's allowed! This fight has taken a drastic turn! Completely one sided now! Pun intended."
My hands clasp together once again and aim my fingers towards the man. "What's your name?" In horror the man stands still. He doesn't make a move; he's accepted defeat at my hands. "Drawl."
"Drawl's Bolt!" Faster than anyone could see a bolt of electricity flew out of my hands striking the man in the chest. The rest of the wall crumbles as a medical team arrives at the ring. "I apologize, Drawl. I'll keep you in my mind for as long as I live. This skill is in memory of you." My hand is raised unprompted by the announcer.
"Here he is, folks! The winner of this interaction! Would you be willing to announce your name to everyone?"
"Lare! My name is Lare, and I'm here to absolutely destroy everyone I encounter!"
"There he is!"
The crowd erupts.
"Lare, I wish you the best in this competition!"
Arriving back at the locker room I see a familiar face. "Rayne?"
"I saw that you finally got here."
"What are you doing in here?" Rayne walks towards me from the bench. "Peck knew magic? You know magic? Nobody told me magic exists!"
"Well, it was a bit spiritic. Learning magic wasn't exactly planned during my stay at his house when you arrived with Jae."
"It was as early as that?" He shouted. "Well, no..?" I wince. "We got into a scuffle with a group of people that day and he explained what he remembered about this continent and taught me a couple spells. The spelled I attuned to best."
"After this tournament, you're teaching me what you know." I nod. "How'd your match go?"
"I whooped the guy easily." Rayne pulls out an axe bearing a silver handle and gold etching where the blades meet. "Fancy."
"Expensive." He responds.
Part 2
The admins gave us two days of rest and preparation for part two of the tournament. I spent both days practicing my incantations.
"The hand signs you make don't matter other than accuracy and remembrance of the spell."
A wall and a lightning bolt. Even though my magic scaling is incredibly high, the bolt isn't anywhere near the speed of an actual lightning bolt. My wall isn't near being impenetrable either, any force makes it crumble. How do you reinforce something that's already as packed as it could be?
Back at the arena they're calling names for round two. Once again, Rayne and I aren't opponents. "Ready yourself, Lare, I'm gonna kick your ass in round four."
"You believe you're gonna make it to the finals?" I ask releasing a chuckle. "Yeah, and then I'll show you that your magic is obsolete to me."
"Good luck with this battle first. I've heard some rumors that this guy slams cinder blocks into his head!"
"Ha-ha." He doesn't laugh. Rayne walks out into the ring. There are displays that show the arena in the locker rooms. This will be the first time I've seen Rayne fight.
"Round two of the tournaments begins today! Who's excited!"
The crowd shouts.
"That's what I expected! Let's hope today is just as exciting as yesterday!"
Rayne immediately pulls out his axe. No introduction? Rayne stomps then lunge with his axe at his side and strikes his opponent. His opponent flies to the other side of the arena. He stays still for a moment before getting back up. "Good. I have a challenge now!" The air pops around him. "Is that...lightning?" The man lifts his brawly arms up and points his fingers at Rayne. "Rayne!" Within the time it takes to blink, Rayne is at the other side of the arena. He swings his axe directly into the face of the magician knocking him out. "Idiot." When did he get so fast...?
"Holy smokes! What a battle. This fight lasted a mere 9 seconds! The fights have been incredible so far. I only hope they get better as our contestant's backs are up against the wall!"
Some time passes by before It's finally my turn.
"Remember, play fair! Make this entertain-innggggg"
I bow to my opponent. "You heard him." My hands immediately clasp together preparing my lightning bolt. The challenger rushes towards me but It's too late, I'm ready to fire. "Drawl's Bolt!" I was hit. He managed to sidestep my shot and land a blow directly into my side. "AGH!" Before I understood the pain my challenger had already dealt to me, he slammed his fist into my chin for an uppercut. Blood flies out of my mouth. Gasping for air my mind finally caught up to my body. Holding my side, I can see another attack incoming. I slam my palms into the ground creating a barricade. Still clenching my side, I slide down the wall that will crumble at any moment.
"Oh no! It seems some dirty shots have been taken by Ta!"
While attempting to stand my wall receives a blow and crumbles immediately. As it crumbles, I clasp my hands together "Drawl's..." The lightning shoots from my fingers then my lungs give in.
Part 3
"He's awake? Let me in."
"We can't, we're not sure how he'll react to others."
"He knows me, I'll be fine, look!"
"Hey, Rayne..." The medical staff let him through. "You got whooped bad. How'd you let him do that to you?"
"I wasn't paying attention." A blast of light appears in the room creating a loud crackling. Rayne and I look toward the figure that's been transported. "Who the hell are you?" Rayne asks. "Do not speak to me, not you." The voice is distorted. There's no recollection of the voice. "Lemur, once you leave this-" A medical staff cuts him off, "Who are you?" She shouts. The door slams shut, and the surrounding area goes black. "Once you leave this hospital, continue that tournament. Beat your next opponent and any after."
"Who are you?" I ask. "Nobody is important now. I just need you to listen and trust me. Once you've completed my task I will speak to you again. Understood?" Nobody moves. We all stay silent in the dark room. "Why?"
"When you have completed my task, you will have your explanation." After finishing his dialogue, the man is surrounded again by light and disappears leaving the room back to how it was beside a black streak on the ground. Rayne has a grim expression. "Am I free to leave?"
We return to the room that's all but familiar to us. "Lare."
"Yeah?"
"Do you intend to complete this man's wish?" I must, right? There's no way I can just throw the match for Rayne. "Yeah." Rayne places his soft hands onto my shoulder. He's not a large man. Staring at him now, I realize his features for the first time. His dark brown eyes stare at me, telling me to try everything. "Ready up. You'll be in real trouble if you don't get stronger. Don't let me down, Lare!" His arm drops to mine and he pulls it, forcing me to shake his hand. Raynes grip is rough. It's a firm and demanding handshake. "Prepare for your hardest battle, Rayne. Don't make me drop you."
We laugh "Tomorrow is the next round. Round three. Let's hope we're not against each other."
I awake to my alarm this time. No more late starts. In two days, we'll be fighting each other for victory.
Hello, everyone! Today is round three of our four round tournament.
"Round three!!!" The crowd shouts.
"That's right! We're nearing the end! only two more days and we'll know our definitive winner." In five minutes our first round of the day will begin!
I'm the first fight of today. I must set an example of today's. My opponent and I walked into the ring. "Ta and Drawl. They're nothing to me, you won't scrape by this time."
"I guess we forgot to mention!"
Klunk! Cages surround us.
"That there will be cages in all matches today! Yesterday we had a contestant FLY out of the ring. We can't have that going on now, can we?"
I'm in trouble if this guy is much stronger than Ta.
Three, two, one...! BEGIN!
"Ta's Ball!" After erecting a wall, I climb over it, "Drawl's Bolt!" A bolt of lightning flies out of my fingers and strikes my opponent. Damnit, I only got his arm. The man presses on the wound. "You're no fun, you know that?" The man says. "What's your name?"
"I'll tell you if you win." The wall I'd created crumbles after I place my palm on it again. Maybe... "Ta's Wall!" The wall shoots the man at the cage. "Drawl's Bolt!" My fingers tingle as the bolt flies out. The bolt connects with the cage while the man is still holding onto it. He shouts whilst being electrocuted in the cage. "What was that about being stronger? I don't think I need such a weakling's name." When the man falls over the match is announced as over. "I... have.. not.. yielded!" What is this guy made of!
"It seems he's not down just yet! Incredibly resilient."
The clothes on the man fall off revealing his incredible body. I barely dodged his attack. Then, he grabs me in his ginormous arms. squeezing me. "Mmf. Let me go." His body feels like steel, unbendable, and unbreakable. How do I escape this. My breath begins to shorten as he squeezes my body. C'mon, let me...touch the ground. I must channel my power into my feet. A wall erupts from the ground pushing me up. I rest at the top for a moment before I fall on the wall. "Oh. Drawl's Bolt!" My fingers point directly at the man's temple. Everything slows. A voice call.
Again.
"Drawl's Bolt!"
Again.
"Drawl's Bolt!"
Again! Again, again, again! Do not stop! Keep striking your foe until they're finished!
As my feet slam against the mat as I run towards the man to deliver one final attack. The bolts follow behind and hit him as I land my final blow on the man. As my fist connects, I feel every bolt flow inside me as well. Singing my arm. The burn is so rough it spreads to my clothes and sets them ablaze. " Gritting my teeth I release a shout. While burning, I collapse.