Kyle and Nate approached the registration booth where matches were fixed. The arena matches were divided into two categories; the elemental fights and the weapon fights.
The elemental fights allowed the freedom to use one's elements and go all out, while the weapon fights were normally a test of skill and raw strength.
The booth was a wooden structure. Behind it sat a dark-skinned boy with glasses.
"Alias?" the boy asked, pulling out a notebook and a pen.
"Hmm," Kyle thought for a while before responding with a smile. "Omni lord."
"Okay, cool name. Your fight is number 18," the boy informed before handing him a token with the number 18 on it. "We're currently at number 13. Head over to the armory for your weapon."
Kyle looked at the token before waiting for Nate to book a match of his. Unlike Kyle, he booked an elemental match. Kyle was expectant to watch it and thankfully, it took place after his.
They went on to the armory where Kyle took a katana for his match. He examined the bladed weapon he held in his hand.
He slowly ran his fingers through its blade and discovered it to be blunt, it looked like it was designed to hit a target rather than cut it.
'Explains how they had the nerves to exchange weapons without guidance.' Kyle muttered. It was still a weapon nevertheless, one that could deal a lot of damage in the right hands.
After acquiring their weapons, they went over to the gambling booth, where they both bet on their matches. Kyle placed his remaining sum of 14 credits as he already expected the allowance before the end of the day.
The odds for Kyle's match weren't available yet as much people haven't placed ln the match. Nate also placed his before they both went along to watch the matches.
They both went along to watch the matches.
"Looks like this one's about to start," Nate said, pointing at the stage.
The announcer, a tall burly boy with a booming voice, stepped into the center of the arena, raising his hands for silence. The crowd stopped their noise as they prepared for the next match.
"Our next fighters are Bladewind and Ironclaw. Once again, the rules are simple: no killing, no maiming, no outside interference, no magic and no external weapon, magic artifact, potions or armor.
Victory is achieved by either forcing your opponent to forfeit or go unconscious. If you do not forfeit but you're declared unable to continue, It's your loss. Let the match begin."
The crowd erupted into cheers as the fighters squared off. Bladewind, a flexible and agile girl, wielded a pair of scimitars, their curved blades catching the light with each movement. Ironclaw, in contrast, was a brawny boy. He brandished a massive warhammer that seemed almost too heavy to lift.
The two were well-known fighters from the third year as they were ranked ninth and thirteenth respectively. With forty-five and thirty-one glory points in the same order.
Glory points were the manner combatants were ranked in the arena. You get 2 glory points when you defeat an opponent ranked 41 - 50, 3 for the upper ten, and eventually six for defeating the top ten. Every other win outside the top fifty granted 1 glory point. With a defeat removing a point!
The two combatants faced off.
The initial clash was explosive. Bladewind darted forward with incredible speed, her scimitars a blur as she struck at Ironclaw from multiple angles.
Ironclaw met the assault with brute strength, his warhammer swinging in wide arcs that forced Bladewind to dance back, narrowly avoiding each crushing blow.
"They're good," Nate murmured, eyes wide with admiration. "Bladewind's fast, but Ironclaw's strength is something else."
Kyle nodded, studying their techniques. "Bladewind is using her speed to outmaneuver Ironclaw, but if she gets caught by that hammer, it's over. It's a classic match of agility versus power."
Bladewind leaped into the air, her scimitars spinning in a dazzling display of skill. She aimed a flurry of strikes at Ironclaw's shoulders and arms, trying to find a weak spot in his defenses. Ironclaw grunted, the weapons not being able to deal him much damage.
"Bladewind needs to tire him out," Kyle observed. "Keep dodging, make him miss, and then strike when she's slower."
The crowd was on their feet, cheering with every exchange. Bladewind's speed and agility were mesmerizing, but Ironclaw's sheer power and resilience were equally impressive.
Finally, after a particularly intense exchange, Bladewind managed to slip past Ironclaw's defenses, delivering a series of rapid strikes on his wrist that knocked the warhammer from his grasp.
Ironclaw stumbled, momentarily disarmed, and Bladewind capitalized on the opening.
She pointed one of his scimitars at Ironclaw's throat, her breath increasing rapidly. "Forfeit!" she demanded.
Ironclaw, already tired, raised his hands in surrender. "I forfeit."
The crowd erupted into applause, the sound echoing off the cavern walls. The announcer stepped forward, raising Bladewind's arm in victory. "The winner, Bladewind!"
Kyle and Nate joined the applause, both impressed by the match. "That was incredible," Nate said, turning to Kyle. "Are you gonna back off?"
Kyle smiled. "No. Don't worry; I'll win."
As Bladewind and Ironclaw exited the pit, the announcer came to announce the next match.
They didn't have the time to enjoy this match, as some minutes in, it was Nate's turn for his elemental match.
The announcer's voice boomed across the elemental arena, drawing the crowd's attention. "Ladies and gentlemen, the next match is between Fallen angel and Marina! The rules are simple No weapons, no physical attacks—only magic. No killing, no maiming, no outside interference and no external weapon, magic artifact, potions or armor.
Victory is achieved by either forcing your opponent to forfeit or go unconscious. If you do not forfeit but you're declared unable to continue, It's your loss. Let the match begin.
The crowd cheered as Nate stepped into the pit, his confidence evident in his stride. His eyes scanned the arena, taking in the sight of Marina, who stood opposite him. She was a pretty girl with a calm aura, her hands already glowing with a faint blue light.
'Ah,' he sighed. "Why do I have to fight such a damsel?'
Nate's own hands ignited with flickering flames as he raised them, the heat radiating off him in waves. He took a deep breath, centering himself.
"Water waves!"
Marina moved first, summoning a torrent of water that surged toward Nate like a living wave. Nate responded swiftly, throwing out a fireball that won out against her attack.
Nate smiled, his confidence growing. He could see Marina's strategy: overwhelm him with a sheer volume of water, hoping to extinguish his flames. But he had other plans.
"Fireball!"
Nate summoned another tier-1 fireball, a simple yet effective spell. The orb of fire hovered above his palm, growing brighter and hotter with each passing second. He hurled it towards Marina, who countered with a shield of water, the fireball exploding into a shower of steam upon impact.
Undeterred, Nate conjured another fireball, and then another, each one larger and more intense than the last. Marina was forced to split her attention between offense and defense, her water shields barely holding up against the relentless assault of fireballs.
Nate's experience was evident in the way he controlled his magic. His movements were fluid and precise, each fireball launched with deadly accuracy.
Marina attempted to regain control, summoning a whirlpool to engulf Nate. But Nate anticipated her move, disorienting her with another fireball.
Sensing victory, Nate decided to end the match with a final, powerful fireball before he ran out of mana.
He gathered his energy, the air around him crackling with heat. The fireball grew to an enormous size, radiating intense heat. With a shout, he hurled it towards Marina.
"Fireball!"
She tried to counter with a deluge of water, but it was too late. The fireball blasted through her defenses, erupting in a spectacular explosion of steam and light. Marina was knocked back, landing hard on the sandy floor of the arena.
The announcer's voice cut through the fading steam. "The winner, Fallen angel!"
The crowd erupted in applause, cheering for the confident, skillful display. Nate walked over to Marina, extending a hand to help her up. She took it, smiling despite her defeat.
"Good fight," Nate said, his voice warm and genuine.
"You too," Marina replied, brushing sand off her clothes. "You've got some serious skills."
Nate proceeded to heal his yearmate with his last remaining mana. It was easy for him to do so as he had made sure to hold back on his final attack.
He turned to the crowd, raising his hands in victory. The cheers grew louder, a wave of approval washing over him. He spotted Kyle in the crowd, who gave him a thumbs-up, a proud grin on his face.
It was already time for Kyle's match, and Nate was eager to see his friend in action.
The night was far from over, and the underground arena was alive with the promise of more thrilling battles.