-2-
Edited by Slightly Dazed Bystander
The fight between Kai and Akira had begun and both canines were quick to take cover from each other. They fire fiercely at each other with near perfect precision, but neither is injured. Akira gains the advantage over Kai as she stations herself atop one of the towering stone prisms. Equipped with her own sniper rifle, she waits for Kai to emerge away from her blind spot.
Akira's position gives her control of the battlefield. She can cover the whole arena, forcing Kai into a corner. He contemplates his next course of action knowing that if he comes into her field of vision, he will be shot in an instant.
"What's wrong sweetie? Already having cold feet?" Akira beckons. She speaks in a firm and loud voice, as though trying to embarrass Kai.
Kai snaps his tongue in frustration, What an annoying bitch she is…
I guess I should be more serious.
"Hey, don't you know how to shut up? I'm trying to think." Kai responds in his usual monotone voice.
"Who do you think you are?!"
"Smarter than you."
Akira simply stays quiet. Infuriated, she immediately opens fire upon the husky as he briefly peeks out. Kai is quick to avoid the shot, but now he had earned the wolf's wrath and she was determined to see him defeated. "You have some nerve to show yourself again Xin!" Akira barks, in a stern, almost militaristic tone.
Kai immediately takes notice of how he is addressed. His mind goes blank for a moment as he processes what he heard. No one referred to me by my last name in that kind of tone since...
The husky bolts out of his cover with both pistols drawn and charges towards his assailant. Akira begins to laugh to herself. She takes aim without any hesitation and fires at the seemingly defenseless husky. However, Kai swiftly avoids all of her shots with surprising agility, as though he was several steps ahead of her. He jumps from blind spot to blind spot, frustrating Akira as he forces her to move from her position.
Kai notices the wolf's attempt to find a better position. He takes advantage of her frustration and goes onto the offensive, rapidly firing his dual pistols to force Akira to react. Instead, Akira takes cover behind a tree and returns fire with her rifle. Kai continues to charge the wolf. The closer he gets to the markswoman, the more likely it is he will get hit. Kai takes the risk.
Akira becomes noticeably worried as her opponent gets closer to her. "Do you honestly think that will actually work?" She challenges. She carefully aims directly at the husky and fires. "No hurt feelings, Xin."
Kai remains unmoved, his face as lifeless as a machine. He aims his pistol directly at the energy bullet hurtling towards him and fires. The bullet shell flies from Kai's pistol, directly hitting the energy bullet and causing an explosion that screens the area in smoke. While trying to see through the smoke Akira hears a sharp artificial sound. It was the bullet the husky fired at her projectile. She quickly dodges the bullet, but the moment she weakens her grip on her rifle Kai appears in front of her past the smoke. With all his strength, he kicks the rifle out of her hands.
Akira is shocked by Kai's rash action, however shock quickly turns to frustration and anger, as he points his own sniper rifle at her. What truly angered her wasn't the action itself but Kai's monotonous face, as though he didn't care much for his opponent. This brat, he used the smoke as cover and his counterattack as a distraction, just so he can disarm me!
"An amazing comeback from Kai Xin, even when he was at a disadvantage he managed to use the environment to his aid!" Pliny recaps as the crowd roars in amazement, impressed by both canines' marksmanship and Kai's strategic combat style. The fighters remain serious but can't ignore the husky's prowess. Kai's teammates in particular are surprised at the husky's agility and skill.
Norah snaps her tongue, "He's been holding out on us."
"I don't think so, I think he's actually been training hard." Chan concludes.
Milla only makes a worrisome expression. Don't push yourself too hard, I can tell you're already exhausted.
"He's tired, isn't he?"
"Yes." Milla responds.
"He's not as physically strong as the rest of us, it makes sense, but it's an improvement."
"It's not over yet." The youths hear Zhen behind them. "Keep watching".
In the arena Kai had successfully pinned Akira down. "Who are you exactly?" he demands, trying to maintain his monotonic expression and tone through his short breathing.
Akira responds, still irritated by the husky's apathy. "I should be asking the same question, I remember when you actually had a heart."
"So you are from Shàobīng…"
"Of course, I was quite surprised to see you here of all places, Kai Xin."
"Why did you join this tournament?"
"Hm? If you think I was sent here, you're wrong. I went here on my own accord. You realise that you have our chieftain all worked up after you ran away?"
"I should care because…"
"Why you ungrateful…" Akira spat, outraged by Kai's apathy. She takes out what appears to be a combat knife and attacks the youth, "What gives you the right to disrespect your family and kin like that?!"
Caught off guard by Akira's outburst, Kai quickly draws his hunter's knife in defense. The fight had quickly switched into melee range. She precisely jabs and swings at him. Kai is once again at a disadvantage, she was too close for him to try to reload his pistols nor aim with his rifle. He is obviously outmatched in melee, he needs to keep his distance. Kai takes several steps back to reload his pistols, however Akira charges at him. Without much time to think he uses his pistols as a defense. In response to the husky's improvisation, Akira takes the opportunity to disarm her opponent. Kai is lost in his thoughts, but he doesn't get time to think anyways. Akira kicks him directly in the face.
"You stupid arrogant boy." Akira scolds the husky. Kai is fortunately still conscious, but blood is clearly coming from his mouth. Akira makes sure the husky doesn't take advantage of his agility, so she grabs the reloaded pistols.
Kai clenches his teeth, mostly trying to resist the pain from the older and stronger canine's attack, Damn, I got distracted, I should've just shot her… that's the second time I hesitated...
"Tell me…" Akira demands.
Kai remains silent, though the wolf knows he is listening.
"Do you hate your father because of what happened to your mother?"
Kai stops moving. His mind suddenly becomes clear as day.
"You honestly think she would be proud of what you've become?"
The injured husky slowly gets up, "Just shut up already." Kai demands. He maintains his monotonous voice, but Milla hears a shred of emotion as she watches.
Kai begins to slowly walks closer to the beckoning wolf, wearing the same emotionless face that Akira hated.
"W-what is Kai Xin doing?! He seems to just be walking towards his opponent."
"Fine, you asked for it." Akira accepts. She fires at Kai. Kai doesn't try to dodge. He takes the bullet to his right shoulder and continues to walk, unbowed by her attack. Frustrated, the wolf continues to fire at the husky. Kai avoids all of her bullets without much effort. Akira's frustration quickly becomes panic as her aim becomes increasingly worse. It isn't until Kai is only a couple of feet away from her that she switches to her knife. Kai doesn't let her use it. He grabs her hand and disarms her, throwing the knife several feet away from them. Kai punches the woman in the face. The punch is rather weak due to the wound on his right shoulder but is enough to knock her back. Kai held his rifle at point blank range and prepares to shoot her. It was a physical bullet and would prove lethal.
"Is someone going to stop him?!"
The crowd gets increasingly worried, Even though there's always one or two casualties in these tournaments, murder is still illegal. Kai didn't seem to care. Akira can only close her eyes in horror, awaiting her fate…
"KAI STOP!"
Kai hears a familiar voice, time seems to slow down, what are you doing, just take the shot…
"KAI!"
Why am I hesitating…
"KAI PLEASE!"
Kai fires but misses the shot. He turns his head slightly, noticing Milla calling out to him from the spectators. The husky unequips his rifle. "Hey, open your eyes already." he demands.
Akira opens them to see Kai walking away, having retrieved his pistols from her. "W-what's the big idea?!"
"I'm forfeiting."
"You're just going to do that to your faction?!"
Kai ignores the wolf and focuses his attention on the hound. "You three will do fine yourselves."
"Kai!" Milla and Akira cries.
"Can both of you shut up? I'm fine, I was going to forfeit anyways."
With that the husky exits the premises.
"Okay… I guess… The first match goes to Akira Seido!"
The crowd cheers for the victorious wolf but she is unsatisfied with her victory, What happened to you?
"Let start our next match!"
Milla had returned to the fighter lounge. She can't stop thinking about what happened with Kai, I hope he's okay. That was the first time I've heard emotion from his voice…
The hound then remembers what Akira revealed to the audience, "Wait, didn't she say that the Shàobīng leader is…"
"Kai's father," Norah finishes, showing clear intolerance of the husky. "Yes, she did. Honestly I should sympathize, but it doesn't matter. What he did was selfish!"
"I think he has a good reason for forfeiting."
"I hope so, if only because I'd prefer not to be screwed over because of him."
Milla looks over at the arena, "So Chan is fighting?"
In the arena Chan appears to have been focussing more on the audience as he does his usual routine. His skill impresses the fighters and his goofy attitude charms the viewers. He is yet to use his WIND affinity, but even then he is the superior fighter.
Meanwhile, Jai is casually sitting on a couch as he views the fights through one of the televisions in the fighter lounge. In front of him is a coffee table with a chess board on top. Approaching him is Zhen Sheshou, who initiates a conversation. "I see you have an interest in board games."
"Mostly chess. I personally consider strategy to be an important part of a fight," Jai responds, staring into the board and the arranged pieces. After a couple seconds, the dragon notices whom he was speaking with. "My bad, it's an honor to meet you Zhen Sheshou. I've heard many great things about you and your father."
"So I've been told," Zhen's tone becomes more serious. "I'll be blunt. What do you intend to gain from participating in this tournament?"
"What a rather peculiar question. If I knew any better, I'd say you're suspicious of me."
"I'm not a fool, a Red Scarf Leader wouldn't just join any tournament without reason."
"Oh?" Jai says, intrigued. A mildly sinister smile forms on his face. The expression sends chills down the rat's back.
"Whatever you're planning, it's not for the better."
"I assure you that I'm here solely for my enjoyment."
"I'm sure you are. Though that depends on your definition of 'enjoyment'."
"For all you know I could just enjoy fighting."
"You don't strike me as a person who would take unnecessary fights. Which also begs the question, what did you do to those four kids?"
"They infiltrated the Red Scarves base, so I took the only appropriate course of action."
"You're not telling me everything." Zhen accuses, audibly frustrated.
"How come you just don't assume I'm lying." Jai asks, maintaining his bravado.
Zhen calms down before examining the dragon's cold smile and responds. "Because even though I can tell that you have a twisted personality, you're still honest."
"Clever boy. I would like for you to aid me with my analysis on these fights, perhaps we both may use the information we gathered to our advantage. I warn you though, think carefully about of how you use your knowledge."
"I'll take you on that offer," Zhen accepts, before changing the topic. "Looking for someone to play against?"
"I thought you'd never ask. Take a seat," Jai offers. His intimidating smile calms as he rearranges the chess pieces. "I'm not the only one who can see that vulpine's true personality, am I?"
"You mean Chan Fokkusu, I agree, there's something off about him." Zhen agrees with concern.
"You know, a wise person once told me that foxes like to wear masks."
"Interesting, does that apply to all foxes then?"
"Are you suggesting that I don't even trust my own comrade?"
Zhen simply replies with a serious face. "No. I think you just don't trust the mask itself."
"Interesting observation, I wonder... who would that mask be?" Jai quizzes. The chess board is set up now and the dragon awaits an answer but Zhen refuses. Jai disregards the topic and prompts the rodent to make his move. "The first move is yours."
"It's been quite the day today! As you all know, we have two more fights left before the end of the first qualifier round. The first one is Milla Basset versus Tsuki Hikari!"
After waiting all day the crowd fiercely cheers. They have been anticipating a fight featuring the young heroine.
"For our final match for round one we have Red Scarf Leader Jai versus General Shin of Shang Mu, our runner up from last year's tournament!"
The crowd cheers once again. The fighters take notice of the particular pairing. An assassin leader versus a military leader is guaranteed to bring interesting results.
"Anyways, let's start our match between Milla and Tsuki!"
In the arena, Milla stands across from her opponent. Tsuki is a shy and rather strange kylin who appears to be only a few years older than Milla. Milla notices the black ninja outfit the young girl wears, which confuses her. Kylins are usually energy manipulators or soldiers, and the Qilin clan is known for their focus on energy manipulation.
"Hi!" Milla introduces herself cheerfully.
"Oh… uh… hi…" Tsuki shyly responds, looking away from her opponent before snapping her head directly at Milla. "Oh! Sorry! I-I mean, it's my first time fighting a more experienced fighter."
"Really, me too!"
"Really?! Even after fighting an alien warlord?!" Tsuki asks. Her voice somehow doesn't match her face.
"I thought I explained that's not exactly what happened." Milla refutes, scratching the back of her head in embarrassment.
Tsuki's tone suddenly calms, and her voice shows clear resolve. "Well we should both try our best… and fairly…"
"Sounds good!" Milla naively responds.
Lies.
Suddenly she feels a sharp pain in her head. Tsuki notices the hound holding her head tightly, "You're alright?"
"Just… a mild headache." The hound assures; however the pain worries her. Who was that…
Tsuki is first to attack. She dashes directly at Milla with a kunai in hand. In response, Milla draws her sword quickly and with proficiency, preparing to parry the incoming attack. To her surprise, the kylin swings her kunai at thin air, which momentarily confuses the hound. Milla quickly realizes her opponent's true intentions, and in an instant blocks the projectiles created by Tsuki's energy manipulation with her sword. The projectiles disperse into smaller attacks which scratch multiple parts of the hound's body.
Tsuki is quick to side step to her left, predicting an immediate counterattack from Milla. However, the hound creates a projectile from her katana, barely hitting Tsuki but still dealing minor damage. This girl's attacks hurt like hell, they both think.
Despite this, Tsuki merely smiles as she points directly at Milla's feet. An arrangement of barbed vines dig into Milla's legs, rendering her stationary. The kunai that Tsuki uses is made from a WOOD energy crystal, which enables her to fire kunai-shaped projectiles that can not be normally dispelled. Instead, they disperse into smaller needle-like attacks that when in contact with soil grow barbed vines that attack any foe in range.
Milla is forced onto the defensive. She creates a large energy shield surrounding her.
Why do you resist, you can do better than this…
Again, Milla feels a sharp pain in her head.
Reveal your true strength!
Milla begins to clench her teeth in pain, which breaks her focus. The shield, she had created to give her time to think, is broken granting her opponent the opportunity to attack. Without much time to think, Milla uses her sword to cut through the barbs and barely dodges.
Tsuki goes onto the defensive and retreats. As Milla pursues her, she enters a nearby group of trees to conceal her location.
"It seems Tsuki is retreating to the forest."
The instant Mila enters the small, artificial forest, several projectiles dart past her. The projectiles graze her, inflicting several slices. Her reflexes are noticeably slower.
Think really hard about this…
Milla is used to the pain by this point. She remains focused. Think really hard…
She inspects the vines wrapped around her legs. "These are poisonous!" At that moment, a barrage of energy projectiles surrounds her. I can't let her attack me anymore, and I need to get these barbs off of me!
She sprints out of the projectile's targeted area. Like before, vines begin to materialize from the ground and spring towards her. She cuts through them with her sword.
"So you recognize my plants?"
"Of course I do, I've spent most of my childhood in the woods," Milla explains. Her tone becomes harsh. "You meanie, you took advantage of my kindness!"
"I'm sorry but I absolutely have to win this tournament, through any means necessary."
"That doesn't mean you had to lie to me!"
"You can't possibly be that naive, what makes you think the other contestants would be any better? I'm just defending myself!"
Milla ignores the kylins last statement. "Why don't you show yourself!" She cries.
"That's not an option." Tsuki uses her energy manipulation to attack Milla with several barbs and poison darts, forcing the canine onto the defensive again.
This coward took advantage of you, why don't you make her pay?
Milla takes a deep breath and begins to focus, It doesn't matter if she's hidden, I can always sense her…
Immediately, the hound aims at one of the trees and fires several psychic pulses, forcing Tsuki to reveal herself. The kylin descends from her hiding spot and charges at Milla. Deducing that the kunai itself was poisoned through energy manipulation, Milla keeps her distance, relying on her ranged attacks instead. As the hound fires multiple pulses with one hand, the other hand slowly produces a phantom block. Tsuki avoids most of Milla's attack and charges at her. Instead of using a melee attack, Tsuki uses a ranged attack. Recognizing the similar pattern from the start of the fight, Milla strafes juxtaposed to Tsuki. The hound's seemingly foolish action puts her in close proximity to Tsuki, surprising the kylin. Tsuki takes advantage of the hound's sudden proximity. She attacks.
By the time Tsuki was a few feet from Milla the hound's phantom block had been completed. Milla performs a super shield burst. The force of the attack catapults the Tsuki several feet away from Milla and outside the forest, knocking her unconscious. Milla limps her way towards the kylin, the poison was starting to affect her nervous system, making it increasingly hard to move.
"The winner is Milla Basset!"
The crowd cheers Milla's name as the Battlesphere workers retrieves the unconscious kylin and aids the hound to the fighter lounge to recover from the poison. Milla starts to think to herself. Who was that… I actually wanted to hurt Tsuki really bad for that, maybe it really wasn't her fault.
"Now we're approaching the final fight for the day, Leader Jai versus General Shin"
As Milla recovers from her fight, she rests on top one of the couches, viewing Jai's fight on the television. Next to her was Norah, who appears to be attempting to heal Milla faster with her energy manipulation.
In the arena is Jai and Shin, a panda who stood sternly wearing red armor and wielding a large hammer. "What an interesting pairing, it's almost as though the kingdoms want me dead." Jai crudely jokes.
"How dare you insult our homeland! Red Scarf! You and your kind shouldn't be allowed in this tournament in the first place!" Shin scowls.
"Depends on what you mean by 'kind', as a Red Scarf or as a Dragon?"
"Both!"
"Oh? Despite the fact a dragon, who used to be a red scarf, saved our world?" Jai coyly counters. His expression appears serious but mocking.
"Nonsense, they merely helped, it was General Gong who saved our world!"
"Surely you jest."
"Enough talk." Shin immediately charges at Jai and swings his hammer directly on top of the dragon. The force of the attack is so strong that dust clouds the surrounding area. After the dust clears, the dragon is seen unharmed, with his assailant's weapon only a few inches away from him.
Jai simply responds with a small personal laugh. "You're not very bright aren't you?" He ponders.
Shin loses his patience and continuously swings his hammer. Jai avoids every attack. The general attempts to attack Jai from the side, but the dragon ducks and takes the opportunity to punch the general at the stomach, breaking through the man's armor. Small fragments scatter throughout the arena. Jai picks up one of the fragments and examines it.
"Hmph, you'll think that they would give better quality armor to their military. Normally it would take much more than two punches to break through such armor, at least that's what I gathered from fighting Shuigang's soldiers. Strangely it makes sense, after all Shang Mu is rather large, so you'd need a way to mass produce the material used to create this armor for your larger military. Unfortunately that also means the armor is weaker and more malleable"
"What are you talking about?" Shin demands.
"I'm saying this is armor designed to protect you from a child."
"I meant what did you just do!"
"It's simple, I performed a dragon boost."
"Don't taunt me, I know what a dragon boost i-"
"You saw a standard non-modified dragon boost, and frankly that one was still not modified to match my affinity. As a wood dragon my dragon boost is noticeably shorter, so as a simple solution, I found a way to develop my dragon boost so that I can dragon boost certain parts of my body," Jai explains. The explanation only makes the general lost. "Perhaps you need a demonstration."
Jai immediately appears behind Shin and uses his dragon boost to increase the power of his side kick. He hits the panda on the side of the head, causing great injury. The panda tastes blood in his mouth. He tries to spit it out. Jai denies Shin the liberty to do so. "I'd prefer that you don't make a mess, whether I kicked you on the side of your head or not is irrelevant. Just swallow it, if you have any dignity."
Shin does so, despite this he is not beaten. He continues to attack, but it always ends in failure and Jai counterattacking.
"I expected better from the 'Great General Shin'."
The panda swings to the side, so the dragon ducks and jabs him on the stomach.
"All I see is a broken old man without purpose."
The panda attacks head on but the dragon dodges and kicks him in the face.
"To think you have the audacity to spit insults towards people who achieved more than you."
Each time the dragon punishes the panda, Jai taunts Shin, questioning his honor and drive, forcing the cycle to repeat and the audience to watch in horror as the supposed second place winner of the previous tournament is beaten to near death.
Finally, after sustaining enough damage, Shin reaches his limit and falls down. The general is profusely coughing up blood.
"He's in no condition to fight." Jai acknowledges.
"I-I… I suppose so… uh… Jai wins!" Pliny doesn't say anything afterwards.
The crowd remains silent as paramedics come to Shin's aid. The white dragon simply walks out of the arena. "I hope you people will provide me with a better opponent. Not only did he lack skill, he lacked respect and he lacked drive." Jai advices.
In the fighter lounge, the fighters themselves grew pale. They were now certain that whoever is paired with Jai will meet a horrible fate. Milla and her team, along with a select few, remain unmoved. For the first time, Milla feels a sudden burst of confidence and purpose.
I'm going to stop him… no matter what!