Chapter 8 – Pyrite Colosseum Round One

"Ladies and Gentleman, Spirits and Shades, beasts and robots, welcome to the first round of the Dungeon Selection Tournament! I am your announcer, Jasper, and this is my co-host, Ruby!"

As soon as Jasper finished, Ruby started to say, "Hello everyone! Jasper and I are your Ryko Corporation sponsored announcers of the Pyrite Colosseum."

"We have quite the lineup for you today, don't we Ruby?" Exclaimed Jasper.

"You've got that right Jasper. We have wizards, adventurers, sages, Shades, ex-Kings, and civilians as well. I'm sure a dark horse or two will slip through the tournament. Who're you rooting for Jasper?"

"You're always playing it safe Ruby. I'm rooting for the dark horses, the three Dungeon Shades. Their performance in the previous two rounds were inspiring for many. Three Shades, the unlikeliest of creatures, are trying to undo the damage done by the criminal Lavilin."

"Well, I've got to say Jasper, the safest bet for me would be the ex-Guildmaster of the Adventurer's Guild Abel. I would also say the ex-Kings Dregey from Pyrite and Job from Agate are widely accepted as the top favorites."

"Ruby, I've always rooted for the underdog, and I expect to see some crazy upsets this tournament! The Wizard Association branches represent an overwhelming majority of the 256, but they have the weakest average aura compared to the dark horses.

Institutional mages associated with both countries and the Wizard's Association are patriotically representing their home country. The famous Pyrite Faction is making a huge fuss right now, and with 128 matches in the colosseum today, we are sure to have more than a few Pyrite mages advance."

"We are fifteen minutes away from the first round of the tournament Jasper. Can you explain how the matches were set up?"

"Yes Jasper, the lots to determine the matches were all random, but I'm sure the council rigged a few of the more exciting matches don't you think?"

"Looking at the matchups, the Council appears to have grouped matches by aura realm. Until later in the tournament, I think we will have fairly even matchups. I'm most excited for the match between the two famous adventurers Anaxmai and Beryl. Both of them played key roles in the Shade War, and I'm sure it'll be a banger."

"A few things to keep in mind is that there will be consolidation matches is anyone decides they won't join the final party. The Council is hosting this prestigious event, and from the matchups to the final roster, they have the right to change the rules if something happens. Let's go to a commercial break, and when we return, the first day of the Dungeon Selection Tournament will begin!"

***

With 48 average matches per day over three days, the Dungeon Selection Tournament began.

The first anticipated match was Adventurer Anaxmai versus Adventurer Beryl.

Beryl's party was a famous veteran party like Clico's. Her determination was parallel to the other professional parties and groups in the tournament. The damage the Shade War caused was insurmountable and entering the Dungeon Party Selection was a duty to her fallen comrades.

Anaxmai and Beryl stared at each other without speaking, but within a second, the match was over. The audience was confused. Beryl was on the ground, bloodied and unable to move. Anyone below the Sage Realm was unable to see what had happened. Anaxmai's specialty was speed while Beryl's was in power. By using all of his aura all at once, Anaxmai bet the relatively even match on one punch. His gamble had paid off.

"Winner! Adventurer Anaxmai!"

***

"Our next match, 'Number Three' versus Pyrite Wizard Malachi!"

The sneaky figure with a number three on their mask lurched at the Pyrite Wizard. Three's vicious assault used a mechanical style of fighting. Mechanical fighting was a Phanec style of battle. Unlike the other Three Powers, Phanec was founded on science and the lost technologies of a former era. The VR technology from the second and third round of the Selection was just one example of the lost technologies Phanec held.

Number Three was using an Artifact. Utilizing aura through an object is a common way to use Artifacts. As one's aura capacity increases, stronger artifacts can be used. Just like people, artifacts are categorized by the same ranking and realm system.

Mechanical weapons utilize science and aura to operate and are used by most mechanical style fighters. Number Three's mechanical spear glowed with intense aura while Malachi desperately tried to fight him off with his earth magic. The battle was much easier to follow and more exciting to watch compared to the high-Sage battle between Anaxmai and Beryl.

After seven minutes, the fight came to an end, and Number Three defeated his foe.

"Winner! Number Three!"

***

Unsurprisingly, Omira, the two other Shades, Samson and Ahab, as well as the other frontrunners including Dregey and Job, swept their first opponents. All of their opponents were institutional mages of the Four Powers. The unfair matchups warranted some criticism, but since there weren't a lot of Royalty Realm candidates among the 256 to begin with, these kinds of matches were inevitable.

The rest of Clico's party however, had a difficult time. Cheptah and David were among the weakest in the party at the Rank F Sage and Rank C Mortal realms respectively. David faced a Pyrite mage of the C Rank Mortal realm. Although they were even, David's fire magic was a bad matchup against a water mage.

"Give up adventurer! There's no way I can lose," the arrogant mage laughed at David's weak offense. David could only grit his teeth and use all he had. Although he was the weakest of Clico's party in terms of aura, David was smart. Pretending to use an all-out fire blast, David collapsed on the ground as if his aura was depleted.

Aura depletion led to extreme exhaustion, as if overexerting the body itself. Seeing his opportunity, the Pyrite mage attacked recklessly, and a counter engage opportunity arose. With an actual all out attempt, David caught the mage off guard. The two blasts of water and fire blew steam into the air. On the ground, the Pyrite Mage was out cold. David had won!

Cheptah's match went similarly. As a tank, Cheptah could take a lot of damage, but not deal it back. To work around his weakness, Cheptah invented a skill to store a portion of the damage received and reflect that aura back at his opponent. Even though his match seemed to be going poorly, he quickly turned the tables on the institutional Agate Mage.

Despite the calls for transparency, it seemed at first glance that the first round of the tournament was placing evenly matched opponents against each other in overwhelming proportions. Clico, Aventi, and Stern all faced others at similar ranks and realms to them. Unlike the rest of their party, their first matched went smoothly and in their favor. Spectators assumed that the Council wanted the first batch of matches to all seem close and exciting before shaving off some of the lower realms.

***

Wandering Sage Mite and his party had an advantage: Mite was a famous prophet. His prophecies gave his party unfair prior knowledge, but interestingly enough, other prophets made their ways into the tournament.

Opal, the healer for Mite's party and a C Rank Sage was up against another prophet. Wandering Sage Do was a bounty hunter and prophet who used his prophetic skill to catch criminals in the Pyrite desert. His twin brother Mo was slightly stronger than him but nearly identical in looks. They loved to use sand magic in combat as a duo but Do did not have his companion in this situation and could only rely on himself. Mite gave specific instructions on how to fight Do, but it appeared that he had met his prophetic match.

Do used sand defensively and offensively. Swirling around the colosseum, sand continually fought off the weak wind magic Opal harnessed. Neither of them had their party, and since Opal didn't specialize in combat while Do couldn't fight to his fullest without Mo, the battle was lower quality than the usual battles of their realm. Still fun to watch, the audience watched intensely.

In the end, Do prevailed. Coincidentally, Do's twin brother, Mo, was up against Scapol, the fire mage and A rank Sage of Mite's party. Mo was at an advantage in the matchup: fire was weak to earth-based magic. Scapol was a hotheaded and aggressive individual and was slightly stronger than Mo, so there was more to the matchup than met the eye.

Yet, the match played out similarly. Expertly dodging the fiery onslaught, Mo captured Scapol in sand and forced his surrender. Mo and Do had taken down two of the six members of Mite's party in the first round.

***

An oddball and dark horse was the beautiful middle-aged woman, Vice-Headmaster Love of the Agate Academy. Despite Headmaster Githl and a few others being offered positions with the preselected 50, Love was not one of these people. Her greying blonde hair, gentle features, and name reflected her famous aura skill: Love, Love, Love!

Instead of fighting with fire, sand, wind, or water, Love used her skill to temporarily induce feelings of love onto herself or others. Her battle was a popular rewatch.

"I am the Warlord Snarlac. Tremble, and surrender!" Snarlac snarled at Vice-Headmaster Love. Because the two were both S Rank Sages, the match could be decided in an instant. Snarlac was hoping to scare Love in order to save aura for the next round.

"Ah yes, I've heard of you. You're one of the crime lords in the Pyrite deserts. I wonder how you feel about me?"

"How I feel? What? I will destroy you!" Snarlac responded threateningly.

Love then whispered, "Love, Love, Love!" and posed for the camera.

Instantly, the expression on Snarlac's face changed.

"Miss Love, will you accept my surrender if you go out on a date with me?" Snarlac got on one knee.

"What just happened?" The crowd wondered.

"Of course, just surrender!" Love smiled at the hideous crime boss.

"Winner! Vice-Headmaster Love!"

***

Meanwhile, Mite and his companions were plotting. They were against remnants of the beast nations destroyed in the Shade War. It was a deeply personal battle. Prejudice against the beast races was almost as bad as the prejudice against the Shades. Some of the more racist people even thought it wasn't that bad that the Shade War had killed so many beast people and demi-humans. Mite and his friends didn't think like that, and they too had lost many friends. Going into the battlefield, Mite addressed the former Princess,

"Hello Serpentine, former Lizard Princess of the fallen kingdom Tanzanite, I am Mite, your opponent."

"Hmm, I don't care for pleasantries. I don't care how you learned who I am. Let's fight." Serpentine made the first move and swiped at Mite with two daggers, as if using claws.

Mite closed his eyes. Dodging each swipe nonchalantly, he opened his eyes again and pushed her back with a single palm. Closing his eyes again, he waited.

"Impossible! Who… who are you?" Serpentine was shocked at the extreme power Mite was showing. It was far above the S Rank Sage realm. It wasn't characteristic of most of the battles thus far.

"You're wondering if I'm stronger than you, but I am a S Rank Sage, just like you. I am a prophet, and I've witnessed our battle together many times."

"How unfair is that!" Exclaimed Serpentine.

"She's right!" Omira whispered to Clico in the crowd. "How can you beat someone who knows every move before you make it?"

Clico laughed. He knew Mite well. Mite was his mentor and teacher. Before the Shade War, Clico studied under Mite, learning the Runic Arts. The Mite he knew had a deep knowledge of the Seven Magical Paths, but he rarely fought all out; he didn't need to. Mite was likely one of the few mages in the world who could fight above his own actual aura realm because of his extraordinary skills. Just by dodging alone, Mite outplayed the dagger master Serpentine without opening his eyes. Why would Mite need to use runes, or even his main weapons for that matter?

"Mite may be strong, but I know his fighting style well. His aura capacity is at the realm he claims. In terms of strength, you could still beat him," Clico explained to Omira.

On stage, Mite put his hand behind his back. Dodging every swipe, he lifted his leg and kicked. Serpentine flew backwards.

"Do you surrender yet?" Asked Mite with his eyes still closed.

"How can I surrender? Lavilin took everything from me!" Serpentine cried out. She furiously gave all she had. Afterimages of Mite and Serpentine astonished the crowd, but Mite was not hit by the daggers at all.

Mite opened his eyes and spoke while backing away, "Lavilin will get what he deserves, but it is not your destiny to face him." Mite looked into the crowd directly at Clico before speaking again.

"He even knows where I'm sitting." Clico thought while shaking his head.

"For the sake of the world, I must defeat you here today." Mite apologetically told Serpentine before swiftly striking her vitals with his palms.

"Winner! Wandering Sage Mite!"

With Mite's victory, the first day of the Dungeon Selection Tournament concluded.