Chapter 2: Just Getting Warmed Up...

The Next Day 10 minutes before gym class.

"Hey guys wait up!!"

Mantar and Adrian both turned around to see the 4 Shimas running towards them.

Adrian rolled his eyes and said to Mantar, "I'll meet you at the gym"

"Cool" Mantar said

The Shimas caught up with Mantar and Kuro said, "Hey Mantar, ready to get your butt handed to you today by our sis?"

"Ya, we made a bet with Kailaya that you're gunna lose in less than 5 minutes" said her sister Rumiku

Mantar's look brightened, "so she's rooting for me?"

Akiro laughed," rooting for you? We're rooting for you more than she is! She bet you'll be out in 3 minutes! Ha!"

Rikku punched Akiro in the shoulder, "shut-up Akiro, you know she's rooting for Mantar, why would you say that?"

"Aw, you're no fun Rikku."

"See ya at the gym Mantar." Rikku smirked.

--------At the school gym---------------

A muscular man with a white tank top and sport pants stood at the middle of the gym floor.

"Now students, today we're going to exercise our powers by dueling. As you are well aware, each contender is outfitted with a duel necklace. If their power drops below survivable conditions, the necklace will automatically give energy to the wearer and sound a bell giving the opponent a point. Now the first to get a point is the victor, understand?"

"Ya ya ya." said Rikku. "Let's do this"

"Mantar, Rikku, get in fighting stance. Lower your center of gravity; clear your mind, that's right. Now...COMENCE!!"

Rikku wasted no time. She lobbed six small shots in an arc nearly touching the 70 foot high ceiling. This was too easy for Mantar. He created a sort of energy arc with the energy level set to that of Rikku. When the lobs hit the arc in his hands they spun around and fired directly back at her. After this he sent a low-level beam aimed at her. This beam connected with her previous shots and only sped it up.

Rikku quickly dodged the attack and spun sideways to kick off the wall and fly straight at Mantar. She caught him off guard and sent him reeling to the corner of the gym. With annoyance he got to his knees and wiped the blood from his face. He charged right back at her.

They engaged in a furious fist fight and neither could gain ground. Rikku would punch, Mantar would block. Mantar then decided to take a chance. This would either hurt him or help him. He encased his hand in pure energy and sent a haymaker towards her stomach. She blocked it with her hand but couldn't hold it. Mantar heard a sickening crack emanate from her wrist. He continued with the attack none the less and connected with her middle to send her speeding backwards.

With a twist of his wrist an energy ball formed and hovered in mid-air. He closed his eyes, visualized the ball in his mind, and levitated off the ground.

Rikku struggled to her knees and saw Mantar forming one of his finisher moves.

"Well, desperate times call for desperate attacks." she whispered.

She had to move fast in order to beat his speed. She stood up, put her palms facing the sky and screamed to the heavens, "Lightning Hail!!"

Multitudes of energy beams shot from her fingertips and flew to the ceiling. They circled there like excited snakes, waiting for prey. Hundreds of these beams flew from her until the ceiling was covered in a mass of writhing blue energy beams.

-----

Mantar stood charging his energy ball and noticed that the air had an electric feel to it. At that moment Rikku shouted, "lightning hail!!"

Mantar's body froze. He knew this attack. She had only used it once before and it was over a year ago. These beams on the ceiling were attracted to movement like ants to sugar. He had to find a way through…

-----

Rikku just had to wait now. All he had to do was move and he was gone. Unless...

She saw Mantar smirk at her and wave. The energy snakes all turned toward him and shot like their named pronounced; lightning. Then Mantar hit the ball with his hand and sent it in her direction. Immediately the snakes shifted their hungry gaze to the mass of energy.

Just then Rikku felt strong hands on her back and she heard a voice whisper in her ear, "Nice game Rikku, but as usual, I have a way out."

"Dang it Mantar, you scared me. And how will you get out of this now? The beams are coming for us! You know well they aren't attracted to me."

"Very true, but what about what's inside of you?"

"WHAT?!" she screamed.

At that moment the energy ball made contact with Rikku's stomach. However, instead of exploding, it sank into her body, still eager for the attention of the blue beams.

"Mantar you little-"

Mantar pushed hard on her back and sent her right into the mass of the blue snakes. On contact with her body they all combusted into a gigantic explosion.

Suddenly a sharp bell rang and all of the remaining snakes were sucked into an energy storage tank on the ceiling.

"Those were some pretty fancy moves Mantar, where'd you think of something like that?" Mr. Raven the gym supervisor said.

"Well I don't sleep very well at night sir; I have a lot of time to think."

"Good enough." he said "Miss. Shima? Do you need to go to the infirmary?"

"No, I'm alright I think. Only my pride is hurt." Rikku said while lifting herself from the floor holding her wrist.

"Well that's good then. Now Mantar, proceed to the re-energizing room, you will have to be ready in 30 minutes to confront Adrian in battle."