Game Time

'The ball fires out of the kick-off canon, and its Red team on the receiving end. Avrae swoops up, with one wing folded, and the other ready to claim it.'

'He's not trying to catch the thing, though, Rasia, what's he doing?'

Avrae's right side wing bent backwards and let loose at the opportune moment, clipping the ball with so much force that a ripple of void magic flashed out, almost blinding every onlooker in the stadium.

'I don't believe it! He's going for goal!'

'What a shot, Frozna, from the halfway line no less. But will it go in?'

'Nagar is far enough back, but the worm has been caught unawares. I can't believe this is happening!'

'GOOOOOOAAAAAAL!'

'That's the Red team leading one goal to nil.'

I laughed, punching Sameth in his padded chest. 'That's my dragon.'

He just looked back at me, not understanding my meaning. I stood up again, cheering. At that moment, I didn't care what those bastards behind me were going to do.

Being the only standing person on the Blue team's side, Avrae noticed me right away and flew up to take a closer look.

'Jayk?'

I grinned. 'Damn it's good to see you... Watch out.'

Velaris moved behind the red dragon with stealth, not making a single noise until she got close enough to bite into his scaly flesh.

Avrae's roar shook the ground, and the metal support beams holding the lights in this section of the stadium began to warp under pressure. Fortunately, the light fixings themselves along with their coverings were made from a durable material. At least I assumed that was why we hadn't yet been showered with glass.

One half of the stadium was pitch-black now, but the turf itself remained lit up, with the gory struggle being spotlighted in sufficient detail.

Being focussed on this tiny part of the field; I hadn't even noticed that Blue Team were already on the move upfield.

'Nagar swallows the ball; we're never getting that one back Frozna.'

The giant worm was curling up, shivering and frothing at the mouth when the ball flew out, trickling bile and other vulgar fluids across the field. 'Well, I'll be. We have a long pass to Blazelich. He's galloping, look at him go, and, he catches it, Rasia. What a play!'

The Minotaur's whips of fire were spinning around above his head now. They were moving unimaginably fast, and when the ball fell in front of his face, he whacked the thing with so much force that it began to curve.

'Looks like it's going wide; such a shame as there's no one there to block it...'

Both commentators jumped up, howling and raising their fists in the air. 'GOOOOOOAAAAAAL.'

'Who saw that coming? I know I didn't, Frozna. The score is now tied at one goal apiece.'

The referee blew on his whistle again. 'Break it up you two, or you'll both be sent off!'

Velaris laughed, but turned away without protest, leaving Avrae to catch his breath.

'I'd help you big guy, but I don't think it's allowed.'

'It's not.' He agreed with a sigh, before flying off to rejoin the game as well.

Stormfall took charge this time, taking the ball under her wing and heading straight for Blue team's goal.

'Not gonna happen!' Velaris promised, glancing side to side as she acknowledged her gathering support.

Niren was even there, standing on Nagar's back, as though he were about to ride the great worm into battle. The three of them were leaving no way through, but still, Stormfall didn't slow down.

Avrae was a little ways behind Stormfall but hesitated in his flight path as something ripped through one side of her body and out the other, before coming around again.

'Blight!' Avrae shrieked.

The odd-looking player wasn't even trying to claim the ball; if anything, it seemed more interested in causing pain. It was a weapon, and nothing more. Yet they let it on the team anyway.

The dagger sprang for Avrae next, seeking to repeat the same tactic when he abruptly flew up, with Blight following behind and picking up speed despite the mounting atmospheric pressure.

They were so high now that we'd lost sight of them both, until Avrae lit up the sky with fire, no doubt trying to melt the weapon.

Next, the fire dissipated, and there was no sign of either player.

'She's not out yet, Rasia!' Unlike everyone else, Frozna still had his eye on the game.

Stormfall was crawling along the ground, with only one wing digging into the turf as she held onto the ball with the other. The dragon had climbed up when everyone thought she was dead, and the commentators may well have just ruined her chances at making it past Nagar and Niren.

The Rune troll grinned; I remembered that sadistic smile. The one he'd show right before delivering some form of harsh punishment. But before they could reach her, Stormfall kicked the ball, then collapsed back to the ground.

'Unbelievable, Frozna!'

'GOOOOOOAAAAAAL,' The ecstatic game host replied. 'The Red team now lead two goals to one.'

There was a faint echo of thunder in the sky; only it was a relatively cloudless night. The few that were there happened to be white and wispy as opposed to thick and grey. The sound was growing louder as the object plummeted back to the surface, encased in ice. Its water rune only seemed to be making matters worse as well.

When Blight struck the ground, the tip of its blade pierced the turf, while the rest shattered like weakened glass.

'The Blue team are down to just four players now, and it's only the first half, Rasia. What will they do?'

'I don't know, Frozna but it seems like the Red team may be down a player as well. Look at Avrae; he's furious!'