The next day…

  The stadium was even more packed today. The same could be said for all the bars, pubs and taverns throughout the city, with everyone glued to the projector screens as the ceremonies concluded and the matches about to be announced and head underway.

  Today’s matches would determine which four teams would continue on, and two teams would be eliminated.

  The betting halls even more so flooded with everyone putting down what they could on who would win and who would walk away. All trying to cram in last minute wagers and pray it would be their chosen team would be the one to go on.

  As the six teams being escorted out to their respective pitches the crowds roared with almost deafening cheers of excitement and anticipation.

  The arena attendants bringing out the aura projector as the remaining teams and their scores were projected. With names generated they began organizing the day’s matches. The first up was Garden of Ligeria against Castle Tsukuyomi.

  The crowd going wild as Aquaria entered the field now, walking gracefully as her Maquahuitl rested on her shoulder. Reaching the center of the field she lowered it from her shoulder, stabbing it into the ground as both palms rested on its pommel, a small leather loop attached to her wrist and the pommel.

  The Lord Vladar now entering the field the crowd cheered for him in turn just as equally excited to see how his second time around would fair. He inturn rested a hand on the sword on his waist, it’s its hilt wrapped in dark leather with a spiked pommel and skull worked into the crux of the blade and hilt.

  “Lady Delgado, you do me honor joining me on this hallowed ground of battle. Getting to go up against someone with as ruthless as a reputation as yours is a privilege.” Vladar said, bowing a little now.

  “My reputation is not one I flaunt for the sake of looking down on others. I would never desire such praise, Lord Vladar.” Aquaria said, her tone growing more cold.

  “I meant no disrespect towards you malady. Only pleasantries and introductions if we are to truly uphold the honor each of our Guild’s.” He said, bowing slightly and extending an arm out to the side.

  “Draw your weapon, ready yourself for combat, Lord Vladar. Enough toying with words.” Aquaria said, her tone more forward, able to feel his aura radiating out already.

  The vampiric human smiled a little more as he obliged her. Drawing his sword now, it was the true source of this dark aura. The buzzer sounded for the match to begin as they both moved rapidly. Faster than the crowd could perceive but immediately feeling the blowback from the force of them striking one another. Both locking weapons, each generating a hue of their own aura strengthening the material of their blades, either struggling to overtake the other.

  “Hmmm, I am quite impressed. Your ability to keep up is something I’ve greatly wanted to see for myself.” He said pressing harder

  Aquaria remained stoic as she calmly held her ground against him, showing no sign of fatigue. Both could start feel the shifting of aura around them and above them. The sky darkened rapidly as thunder roared. Rain began to fall and bounce gently off an invisible barrier that covered the crowd.

  “Can you drown out the darkness, Lady Delgado? Especially the one in your own heart?” Vladar taunted now

  Aquaria’s gaze only grew more cold as she broke and rapidly slashed at Vladar who merely dodged and weaved out of the way of her attacks showing no expression or reaction to her club.

  A whip of water immediately formed out of thin air in her offhand, swinging her arm down the whip rapidly pulled with.

  “You fight very well but is dodging all you can do? Can you keep it up?” Vladar asked still quicker and able to dodge this surprise attack. Spinning and rotating out of the way of her new flurry of strikes.

  “Can you smell it in the air, Lord Vladar?” Aquaria asked

  The rain gently falling now and only increasing at a rapid pace, quickly rising to their ankles. The crowd started to show signs of distress as the water level only increased, none of the other team’s dugouts were being flooded, the water seeming to retain the shape of the arena and only the arena.

  “You ask if I can drown out the darkness. I ask if you survive the depths.” She said inturn as she fell back into the increasing water level and seemingly disappeared

  The water reaching his chest and still rapidly rising before fully submerging him now. Alone in the depths he could feel only silence threatening to drive him insane if he did not did not act quickly.

  They were evenly matched in every sense. The depths of the water she conjured matched what he could generate in shadows and darkness. His words would not sway her and their skills with blades would only wear them both out pointlessly.

  All three judges watching nodded in agreement as the horn was sounded ending the match in a draw. Aquaria’s pool dissipated and dried up at her command as Vladar coughed from being submerged for that long. Even with his own enhanced biology he still had his limits. Yet Aquaria showed now sign of fatigue from the waters. The crowd roared with cheers for both combatants and the magnificent display of power that was shown.

  “Perhaps we find out who can overcome the other, another time Lord Vladar.” Aquaria said her club resting on her shoulder once more

  “Be careful what you wish for Lady Delagdo. A fair and fine match, I wish you luck in tomorrow’s match then.” He said inturn before giving a bow and returning his team’s pitch

  Aquaria looked at his direction a little longer before turning returning her own team who were happy she did so well, allowing a rare a smile she assured them it was still a stalemate but Serena and Rosa assured her she still put them far ahead in the lead as the scores were added up and the next match was soon to be underway.

  ———————————————

  As the each combatant of Juno Tower and Manaan Legio made their way onto the field. Seryn took note of her opponent. A woman only just a hair shorter than herself, her dark tan skin, piercing yellow eyes and Raven-like hair concealed by a long simple sheet of dark robes. Her bare feet leaving only the hint of a smoldering footprint with each step she took.

  “You seem to be quite the exceptional individual. I’ve met quite a few fire mages, and only a handful among the swordmasters.” Seryn said observing the one who was her opponent “Never met an individual like you, what do they call you?” She asked scornfully inturn

  “The Salamander… that’s what they call me. It’s all I’ve ever known. They even say I crawled out of the dungeons themselves. Or so with the magic I control.” Emberith said bringing her blade in close now as it seemed to spark with flames now

  Seryn drew her own sword, a long katana with a subtle curve in the blade. Nothing interesting in terms of adornments or trinkets affixed to the hilt, it’s wrap a simple material as its guard was nothing ornate beyond mere bronze or gold color. Yet it was the care and manner for which she held this sword said the most, this weapon belonged to someone she loved and lost.

  “Well I never exactly did ask for my title, just something my guild mates took to calling me.” She said inturn as she took her weapon in both hands now, keeping the blade pointed out and one foot resting back while her arms were tense

  “And what do those of your guild call you, swordmaster?” Emberith asked tauntingly, yet the look in her eyes was one of curiosity

  “The Wraith.” Seryn responded meeting her piercing gaze

  “Then show me you are like one then, swordmaster.” Emberith said letting lose a torrent of aura

  Seryn momentarily closing her eyes from the blast of heat unleashed by her opponent. The blade she held was steaming from the heat it generated, turning black and emitting smoke even showing small fractures in the length of the blade. The only thing to serve or function as a hilt was that of the torn and wrapped fabric of the sword’s tang.

  Seryn steeled herself once more. Calling on her own internal well of aura, she met Emberith’s burning eyes as the timer buzzed starting the match. Hurtling immediately at Emberith, Seryn came to an instant halt clashing the fiery blade with her own sword shocking her. Emberith herself was unimpressed yet still maintained that void like stare.

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  “I am impressed. Most would be reduced to cinders by now.” Emberith said barely pressing against her opponent’s blade

  “I tend, to surprise others.. with how resilient I can be.” Seryn retorted straining against Emberith inturn

  Seryn forced them to break off as she seemingly disappeared from Emberith’s sight before just faintly catching the singing of a blade swinging at her, but she was faster. With a swift well timed upper strike a torrent of fire shot up followed by a trail of smog. Yet Seryn had just as rapidly vanished, her aura almost impossible to determine, like it was in a constant state of calm or just barely present.

  “What is this aura I smell on you?” Emberith asked curiously with a viscous swing of her sword, unleashing another swath of the toxic flames

  The way the fire burnt, was threatening to choke Seryn. They made her eyes burn and turn red, growing agitated and disoriented from the fumes of the smog that the flames seemed to give off.

  “Something my mentor passed down to me, a lesson I continue as I draw breath.” Seryn said her tone dangerously low

  Emberith still could not see what it was Seryn was referring to, only able to still see the constant state her aura was in. For no matter how she seemed to move, for however many strikes she delivered or blocked, her aura never wavered nor diminished.

  This was only aggravating the Salamander more. The fact she could not discern how this deception was beginning to get under her skin.

  “ENOUGH OF THIS!” Emberith screamed bring her sword in a single violent slash

  The blade exploded in a shower of flames upon splitting the ground as it spat flames without any form or control. The kind of fire that that thoroughly devastated and didn’t stop until there was nothing left to burn. The thick ashy smog threatened to choke Seryn once more, even starting to feel the heat threaten to blister her skin if she kept this going for much longer. The flames continued to spread and take on a life of their own, it hungered to consume all in the area.

  ‘So this is why they call her, the Salamander…’

  Seryn steeled herself for one last attack. She could only maintain her aura in such a state for much longer and she was tapped for the day and she’d be running on fumes. Feeling it ever so slightly starting to run out she focused all could spare into the blade of her sword, locking eyes with her opponent for one last strike to decide the match, the timer itself just about halfway through the countdown now.

  Emberith returned the gesture by shifting her footing and holding her weapon with both hands now.

  Seryn disappeared in another flash only for Emberith to see her at the last second as she was always bring her sword down in a downward swing as a trail of flames followed. The Wraith herself couldn’t react properly in time, their blades connecting with a piercing *CLINK* that immediately sent her flying back in an explosion of flames.

  As Seryn slammed into the dirt, her vest and arm guards were the most burnt, her arms showing signs of burns and her face covered in black soot, the sword she’d been using flew from her grasp and landed stabbing into the ground, a broken blade now. For all her willpower to get back up and keep going, her body refused her desire.

  She could feel the noxious heat coming from Emberith’s weapon getting closer as she approached Seryn now.

  “I will admit that you have gained my attention, however you managed such a feat with your aura as well as your skill with a sword. It was not enough, and my attention is drawn to other things. You hardly impressed me this day, Wraith.” Emberith said her blade resting in her hand and down at her side

  Seryn groaned and strained to bring herself to rise, but still could not command her body to respond.

  “Look at you, a disgraced Swordmaster. Reduced to a brute wallowing in the dirt. How this must bring back memories, how many times have you found yourself being the one tossed to the ground?” Emberith stated belittling her opponent even more “Well?! Anything to say? Or will I have to force an answer out of you?” She asked raising her blade ever so slightly and pointing the tip at Seryn

  Seryn gritted her teeth as she once more locked eyes with Emberith. Her desire to make her pay for those words was even greater, but still her body would not move. The heat from the sword only stinging her even more and would only grow more intense at the mere thought of it by Emberith’s will, she merely had to imagine it and apply more aura to this blade.

  Before either could take this any further, the buzzer went off as the match was over now. Emberith smiled as she slowly stepped away as medical personnel rushed into the arena to take care of Seryn and get her to the infirmary.

  The crowd booed Emberith for her conduct and how she battled. The smog and flames still burn and only started to die out at last. Her methods and techniques would not doubt be heavily monitored going forward, she could feel the eyes of one of the judge’s in particular boring into her. The same guard who gave them that rousing speech when they were all first gathered. Just as well she could feel the nasty stares of those of Juno Tower, but not giving them the satisfaction of looking their way as they were guaranteed to be knocked out of the tournament now.

  Emberith chuckled a little to herself as she turned and returned to her team’s pitch, pleased with her score regardless. And if any of the judges had any doubts they would have stopped by now. These tournaments were not the faint of heart, dying was always a possibility…

  ———————————————

  As the final match was now ready to get underway. Juni looked back at both her teammates.

  “This was your idea from the start, Juni. I say you take this one.” Taiga said making her own thoughts apparent

  “Whatever happens, we actually competed. That’s what counts, not just the desire to win. We learn a hell of lot more from losing than from winning.” Eugene added being the realist he was

  Juni was even more confused by the siblings words and encouragement to take the match for herself. But all the same she felt the very same desire to take this. She wanted answers. But this was her only chance to continue on and get to the bottom of what was truly going on behind the veil of the one who had organized so much chaos.

  The fleeting images and lingering memories of a lifetime ago still burnt at where she’d been injected with countless drugs and elixirs, those green lanterns lighting the endless stone corridors of doors that occasionally echoed screams, the massive tanks and vials of green liquid he concocted.

  A time she had buried deep in the recesses of her mind. Something her father knew was not completely gone and constantly stressed over, her mother would worry about the stress she was putting on herself with overtraining and staying up late to study.

  She couldn’t allow this to come out during the fight.

  “Alright, if you’re both certain.” Juni finally said after sighing to herself

  Feeling her heart hammering in her chest as she entered the arena. The overwhelming roaring of cheers from the crowd still made her breath hitch in her throat even now. Her eyes momentarily following the traces of aura she knew well and spotted her family in crowd, sitting with the princess her own skybox, as were the other guild masters.

  She represented her father’s clan and the mage’s academy. That much was still present in her mind. But her opponent before her seemed to diminish this sense of grandeur and scale of all she felt for being here. Cole being here meant so much more was happening, and only knew the answers, yet to an extent she knew as well. But she couldn’t face such a truth of her own. But she would refuse to back down now. She had to see this through, she wanted answers.

  “I’m not going to make this easy. If you think you know better, then prove it and knock me on my ass.” Cole said sternly as the mechanical clicking and whirling of his shield folding out sounded and a spear materialized in his opposing hand

  “To be honest I haven’t quite resolved myself that much… but I’m not going back down.” Juni said being honest as she moved and gently waved her hand as the gourd of sand on her hip came to life flowing around her

  The buzzer went off as the match started.

  “Then you are foolish, and that’s coming from me.” He countered pointing his spear out and keeping his shield close “You got your chance, you took it. But now you want to step back into what you left behind.” He added

  Immediately throwing his shield infront of himself and pushing away a blast of sand she sent hurtling at him, as he inturn launched his spear at her. Juni dodging it by just a hair, just enough to break the shell of her sand armor. A secret she had kept well hidden in training and something only Krayt had ever documented.

  She could feel it now, Cole’s intentions. He wasn’t going to go easy, he wouldn’t kill her, but he let her feel the breath of death was very present here. What he said was true, she ran away from her past and yet here she was walking into dangers she had no understanding of.

  The sound of Cole’s fast approaching footsteps snapped her out of her thoughts, immediately throwing up a wall of sand as his shield slammed into it with such force only to let it collapse and push him away using the very arena to her advantage now to keep him trapped and away.

  Letting out a groan of frustration, he drew his sword as he stabbed into the sand as an explosion of three pillars of fire shot up into the sky, shocking and slightly frightening the crowd now as they had never seen such a display of fire before. Juni’s eyes the widest, unable to comprehend how he managed this.

  In one single motion Cole refastened the sword to his back and his shield closed as he now had his bow at the ready.

  Juni sent another blast of sand sweeping his way. Cole launched himself into the air with an explosion of fire beneath his feet as he fired three ash-made arrows one after the other each exploded against the sand.

  Juni could only go on the defensive as she simultaneously threw up walls of tightly compacted metal grains and sand. She had spent years studying metals and properly mixing and melding them with sand. She could easily combine or separate them at her command. Yet she was still lacking in experience and the ability to keep up. She could feel that same sensation clawing at the back of her mind.

  *’You have the power you seek, you’re just a coward, slithering away from what you really are.’ A voice whispered.

  The words intruding on her own thoughts, they unnerved her, a wanting that disgusted her. She would not let this have her again. The echoing of her mother’s screams seemed to shatter such desires to give into this malicious persona.*

  The pillars of flames that Cole had manifested were completely in his control, the level of power he possessed was far greater. As he touched back down on the ground he returned his bow to his back as his spear rematerialized in his hand.

  “Try to keep up.” Cole cautioned, his stance ready for another attack.

  Juni watched with a trace of annoyance as her sand moved in a wave, its own will momentarily overtaking her own before she reasserted her will and control. A flurry of sand dunes flew Cole’s way, an explosion of flames and glass with smelted metal ensued.

  But the sound of the buzzer ended the match before either was satisfied or a true victor could be declared, though the Judge’s final score‘s said otherwise.

  Juni could not believe it, she’d made this far in the tournament only to come up short. The crowd cheered her on and even her parents and little brother still showed their support for her, her awaiting teammates embraced her as she cried but either sibling would not allow her to needlessly apologize for her performance.

  1. Garden of Ligeria - 210 points

  2. Castle Tsukuyomi - 180 points

  3. Manaan Legio - 170 points

  4. Freelance team C.A.T. - 160 points