The arena as a whole went pitch black, nothing but a void of color, perhaps black is not the correct word where there was a stage there was nothing, no color at all just emptiness.
Within the void the battle didn't slow, each side fought for their lives. Vines cover each and every step. The embodiment of the fairy of the north Kane hovers over his plagued garden. Within the weeds a monk swats and bats at every movement, his skill with his hidden bowstaff is nothing to scoff at. But he knew his magic would not hold much longer, so he decided to take an opportunity and release his magic. In just a moment where there was no stage came a stage once more. In that decisive moment Jackle shot forward aiming his staff filled with the last magic he had at his opponents head.
For a second there was surprise on Kane's face, but just for a second. What seemed like his infinite wellspring of magic shot up forming a flower blossom to protect him.
BOOM. The blossom vanished into smoke and Jackal's staff found its mark. Kane is shot towards the floor. Catching himself before impact.
'Tigers leaping strike.' Jackal performed a flying back kick colliding with Kane's face. 'Tigers claw.' Two palm strikes hit into Kane's stomach, and then Jackal flowed into a falling flip. Kane's resistance was futile as Jackal held him into a tight headlock. 'Night, night, pretty boy.'
If only it were so easy but within a moment Jackal found himself tied into a knot of vines.
"The winner of round one is Izaca Industries."
Kane let Jackal fall to the floor. And with his hand he signed, "My sister is deaf like you, I'm very impressed how well you fought."
Jackal did not spare him a reply as he stomped off the stage.
'I have failed you Lynx.'
Kane's face slowly returned to normal as he found his seat.
"Now please send up your next combatants."
Halk stepped up onto the stage.
. . . .
"It's okay sweetie, never fear the lights." Those were meaningful words that never left me. Father never was the sweet talker but when he went onto the stage he became a new man.
Will was never around, either hanging with his no good friends or off to suck up to the bitch I call mom. She held a lofty title, head of military preparation or some other meaningless title like that. She always had a superiority complex, I think that's what drew dad away. He lived a more simple life, that of a famed acrobat. Dad met my mom in one of his acts so I'm told, his line snapped and he was sent plummeting into the crowd, lucky a strong military woman was there to catch him. Somehow what still confuses me is dad got custody in the divorce, don't get me wrong I couldn't be happier, but it's wild. Not that Will cared he treated both houses like a stop on his never ending ride for more thrills, more drugs, and more women. Still he was there, when I got into fights in school, when dad got mad and threw me out of the house for a night, hell even when mom tried to kidnap me. Maybe it was all that protecting me that made him choose to become a doctor. I however chose my father to the end. The first time I set foot on that line was the scariest day of my life, and the last time was the day my father fell with no strong soldier to catch him. He splattered like a pancake with nothing left but bones and teeth. His image still haunts my nightmares. I did wish Will was there that he would come and sweep me up and tell me it would be okay, but I was alone standing on wire dangling dozens of feet in the air. No one came to pick me up, mother was stationed in the UK and Will was doing his finals before getting into med school. I can't tell you how long I sat there until a newly issued hero offered to drive me home.