Fantastic Duels

After a night of meditation and lounging around with Zakira, the squad, along with Opal and Elijah, joined the sea of students and migrated to the hub to funnel inside the doors leading into the arena.

As before, we entered the antechamber but continued past Zook's Armory. Aiming for the line of elevators straddling with walls of the corridor beyond.

The lifts, wider than your average bedroom, brought us in large groups to a round corridor skirting the outside of the arena proper. An egg-shaped building that sat gently inside the Bodhi Tree's crown as if it were a bird's nest. Broken into four sections, the smooth walls were interrupted by rows upon rows of spacious balconies or terraces. Accessed via the exterior corridors by an archway that provided private seats in groups of five for any would-be spectators.

Quite unbelievably, each section- one for each class and another for the staff, was filled to the brim with roaring spectators. All leaning over the small railings of the balconies to probe the event into starting already.

It took us a while, but the five of us eventually found a place of our own and quickly settled atop the plush seats. Like the gym, they were fashioned with consoles that would not only allow us to spectate with greater clarity. But could serve us drinks and snacks as well.

A feature Els took advantage of at once. Ordering a mug of mead that was nearly as large as he was.

The ring itself was a space of varying topographies measured to be just over two hundred meters long and half the distance wide. A relatively large ring with a hole in the center dominated the middle, while the cardinal directions contained crude renderings of different biomes. A sparse forest to the east, a sand pit to the west, a large lake to the north, and some grasslands to the south. All protected by a near-transparent wall of enchanted glass.

For once I managed to see Toril, Jaimess, and Ed in the same room as me. But I left our interactions to an exchange of nods for now and took a moment to study their assumed teammates before turning my attention elsewhere.

Surprisingly, Toril and Lucia seemed to be on the same team. Or they were becoming an item. Either way, there was also a Goliath named Amethyst, who was kindly pointed out to me by Slate. As well as the two tieflings. Zarzok and Phelaia.

On the other hand, Jaimess sat with Bazzric, the angry dwarf from Phaegrath, a Triton girl, and Issac Galliard. Winston's knight and another object of ire for Peter.

Ed was with Mary, the Epethian commoner, a Nonusian dwarf girl, and the halfling girl from Phaegrath. Though that was all I saw near him or socializing with him.

"Good morning, Bodhi Tree!" Zeff's voice boomed. Prompting a sudden wave of cheers to permeate the air of the arena. "I, Zeff Yurich, bring to you the first duel of Class 999!"

Another wave of cheer followed his announcement. At which time I checked the 'screen' to see a platform rising to fill in the missing gap in the center. Bringing a hulking goliath and a grin-skinned girl into view.

"Fighting for the position of Baker Party leader, we have the challenger. The goliath, Corundum!"

Unprompted the screen focused on the goliath girl holding her axe overhead like a gladiator champion. Like Slate, her body seemed to consist of half flesh and half sculpted stone. Like a living statue dressed in fur pelts. Angry and ready for war.

"And the challenged! The half-high orc, Elurial!" Zeff shouted. Prompting the screen to shift to the other body in the ring.

Elurial looked like your run-of-the-mill human. If one were to ignore the pointed ears, red skin, and sharp tusks protruding from her lower jaw. And her size wasn't inconsiderable either. But still small when compared to her opponent's stature.

"Here are the rules!" Zeff resounded again. "Taking your opponent's life is forbidden. And continuing to fight after the match has been called or leaving the arena shall count as an immediate defeat. That includes Plane Shifting! Besides that, there are no rules. The match will be called when one of you faces or accepts defeat.

"You have ten seconds to prepare or reposition!" Zeff suddenly announced.

And without delay, the two darted to reposition themselves while Zeff began his countdown. Corundum simply moved to the outcroppings of stone and faced Elurial with a calm demeanor while the latter raced for the trees. Repositioning herself just before the woodline to begin pooling mana from her Well.

Which I saw through the screen, surprisingly. As clearly as if I saw it through my own eyes.

"Fight!"

Elurial snapped into action at once with a thrust of her arms. Sending a cone of vines rocket from the treetops in Corundum's direction. Who simply waited and maintained her position until the last moment to sidestep and slice into the vines with her axe. Over and over with a shocking deftness for someone of her stature.

With her initial volley ripped to shreds, Elurial swung her arms down to bring another shower of vines down on the goliath's head. Corundum, ever calm, dove to her right at the last moment and rolled over her shoulder to right herself into a pitcher's stance in the same motion. And with a guttural roar, she slung her giant fist full of stones in Elurial's direction.

Elurial seemed to panic at that moment. Her eyes darting to each side in search of some cover before giving up entirely. Choosing instead to stream her body around the incoming stones with little success.

In her shoulder and hip, she was pelted and thus stunned for a few tide-turning moments.

Seeing her chance, Corundum tossed her weapon aside and took up a sprinter's stance. Then kicked off the ground. Closing the distance in just a few surprisingly quick steps to deliver a stone-cracking lariat to Elurial's neck.

Yet, Elurial quickly righted herself after cartwheeling through the air and let out a blood-curdling roar. As if in response to her rage, the tree behind her began to spawn an unnatural growth that soon took the shape of a crude club.

With another guttural scream, Elurial reached behind her to clamp her hand around the club and brought it down overhead. And almost without trying Corundum sidestepped and plugged her face with a swift straight.

And then the slugfest ensued.

In her rage, Elurial was fighting sloppily. Swinging wildly. Making it easy for Corundum to bob and weave and plug her face and body with more of her heavy punches.

Followed by more. And more. Until the half-high orc eventually fell stone cold.

"See." Slate nudged Els and I with a wide grin settled on his face.

"She has good tactics." I shrugged. "But I can't say throwing her weapon away was a wise choice."

***

Following the duel, we did as everyone else did and lounged around until the next set started. For me, that consisted of smoking in the courtyard while I picked apart Corundum and Elurial's battle to glean any information I could.

In terms of endurance, it was clear the goliaths would almost always come out on top. Almost. Other than that, they had no discernible features besides their innate strength and defense. And a surprising amount of speed.

Elurial, on the other hand, could've been a problem for Corundum given the right environment. In an area like the Wilds, she'd be at the biggest advantage imaginable. That, however, was equalized by her hotheadedness. At least until she could learn to use her rage.

A few hours later and I was back in the arena. Fighting back from jeering along with the rest of the crowd to try and probe the match into starting.

Luckily, however, I had something to distract myself. Namely the ring. Which had been elevated and changed to resemble a beach. Half sand and half a deep pool of dark blue water.

"Attention! Attention!" Came Zeff's clapping. "We will now begin the second event of the night! A challenge for the rights to lead Alpha Party."

As before, the central lift ascended to reveal the two competitors in tune with Zeff's words. Prompting yet another thunderous roar to pour down from the stands.

"We have the challenger, Zohnos Lagunath!" He gestured to the Triton. A blue-scaled individual with flowing green hair. Much like Opal described. Holding his trident high, he rotated in a full circle upon hearing his name declared. Smiling ear-to-ear while his opponent was the polar opposite.

"And the challenged, Roheisa Deapou!"

Ignoring the cheers aimed at her, Roheisa stared- scowled at her opponent in a way that made one assume the worst.

In a way, it was unsettling. I've seen her upset and I've seen her angry. But never like this. She didn't even react to Zeff explaining the rules. She just kept staring. Flexing her hand over the hilt of her sword.

"Ten seconds! Get ready!"

The moment Zeff spoke, Roheisa began withdrawing mana from her Cores and drew her short sword. Before the count of eight, a strong magnetic field had been formed around her body- encased in a thick layer of steel and crystals.

As if she weren't done, she flexed her free hand. Conjuring a steel hand axe tipped with a blunted crystal blade.

"Fight!"

The still-smiling Zohnos leapt into action before she did. Rushing forth to meet her and halt his momentum with a powerful stomp before thrusting his trident in front of him.

Roheisa, however, kept advancing. She kept sprinting. Letting the trident twang off of her skin while closing the distance to swing her weapons down from overhead with a guttural roar.

And without relent, she kept swinging. Kept advancing. Kept Zohnos on the retreat almost effortlessly. But Zohnos matched her in turn.

They were evenly matched for more than a few moments. Zohnos, deflecting against Roheisa's assault with an almost graceful flair. And Roheisa, pressing forward like a wingless Valkyrie.

The passing of those moments brought about a change in Roheisa. Her constant assault resulted in a buildup of electricity within her. Sending small arcs streaking in the wake of her attacks and augmenting her speed to a level that Zohnos struggled with.

For a time.

Shocking the entire crowd, Zohnos parried Roheisa and leapt back to gain some distance, and raised his trident overhead. Seemingly invoking a surge of mana that began condensing into crackling blue energy. Then he lunged forward again. Matching Roheisa's electricity with arcs of his own.

Again, they were evenly matched. Up until Roheisa's magma began working in the same manner as her magnetism. Making her hotter. Angrier. More enraged with each second that passed until she was eventually glowing red-orange.

The tide came when Roheisa lunged to take a swing at Zohnos' ribs. Though he dodged, the charged steel slag spraying in the wake of her attacks served to singe the Triton across his chest.

Seemingly enraged, Zohnos thrust his hand forward. Ejecting a pillar of charged water in Roheisa's face.

And with a roar, Roheisa countered Zohnos' water with a stream of magma. Vaporizing his attack and most of the small pool behind him into a rapidly expanding cloud of steam.

Unrelenting, Roheisa rushed through the mist to close the distance. Bringing her blunted edges down on Zohnos' shoulders with crowd-wrenching cracks before winding back her axe to deliver a devastating uppercut to Zohnos' face. Knocking him out cold.

In short, it was more of the magic fight I expected. Looking from the outside in, it was nothing less than spectacular.

Especially considering she applied what I taught her to the techniques given to her by her father.

***

"Oh? I'm surprised you showed up." Peter commented upon seeing me return.

It was clear why Peter wanted to see it. There was probably no drug in the Planes that'd give Peter a better high than watching Winston's knight get mopped by a fiend.

"I'm curious to see what everyone's powers are." I amiably shrugged and took up the seat next to him. Then remained silent until Zeff's clapping resounded through the room.

"Our first duel for disrespect for the night! We have the challenger, Edgar Lope!"

"Oh." I looked over the edge with a snort to see a young boy similar in appearance to Winston. Standing in plated armor across from a nonchalant tiefling. "So he's either strong or dumb. I'd bet my entire life savings I know which one it was."

"And how much is that?" Els muttered into his mug.

"Enough to fund a guild." I snorted. Almost causing him and Peter to choke on different things.

I knew this match would go one of two ways. Either it would end absurdly fast, or Zarzok would take his time with his prey. Based on the papers from Olga, Zarzok wasn't just a tiefling. But half-human with the blood of a pride Oni running through him. Making him stronger than the average tiefling. But giving him the ability to manipulate fire and some earth in addition to using his emotional affinity. And having a Pride Demon Core rather than an affinity core made him the worst possible opponent for anyone who affiliated themselves with Winston Epeth.

Zarzok had buff after buff just by standing right in front of him. And he knew it. As his eyes were flicking between Winston and a few other faces in the crowd as if they were standing out like torches in the Shadowfell.

"Fight!"

With but a flick of the finger, Zarzok conjured a wall of flame that nearly touched the ceilings. Causing the enchanted 'windows' to spur into overdrive in an attempt to absorb the spillover.

Edgar countered by splitting the flame apart and leaping back to gain some distance. Just in time too. As Zarzok had leapt meters forward through the flames and came down with his fist where Edgar was standing. Dimpling and cracking the rough stone beneath him.

With a heavy sigh, Zarzok rose to his full height and turned to face Edgar. "Where'd all your pride go?" I heard him ask. "You had so much. Now, there's so little. But no matter." He shrugged. "There's plenty of pride to go around."

Curiously, he looked at the staff seating and let out a soft chuckle before lunging forth with enough speed to permit the use of the Chrono Dial to see it. But even then, he moved fluidly through the slowed world.

His nails- black and extended into centimeters-long razors, unmercifully dug under Edgar's armor to settle above his hip.

Upon accelerating the flow of time to its normal rate, a bloodcurdling scream echoed through the arena just before a loud 'ooh' rang from the crowd.

Followed by an almost endless period of silence. Interrupted only by the sounds of wet flesh dropping onto the ground.

Suddenly, a flash of light burst in the arena, and the blonde woman found by the Headmaster's side was kneeling over Edgar while the teachers were found standing between a disemboweled Edgar and Zarzok. Retreating with his hands up and a demonic smile spread across his face.

Instead of moving him, Felicity simply held her finger above the wound. Then a radiant light filled the space. One so bright that even I almost had to shield my eyes.

When it faded, Edgar could be seen being pulled to his feet.

Interestingly though, Edgar seemed to be at ease while he was being healed. Like he was in heaven. Straddled in the arms of an angel. Unlike with my necromantic healing. Which was so horrendously painful that I was sure a mortal couldn't take it.

Even if they were otherwise healthy.