Welcome to the Tournament

Author note: I'm sorry how short this chapter is. It was more of a 'get it over with' chapter. I apologise.

"Welcome one, Welcome all, to the first ever Magus Tournament, hosted by the Tokunaga Company! We ask that you all stay in a single line! There's enough room for everyone!"

There was a hug crowd of kids, teens, and young adults at the tournament, many spectating but others set on winning the entrance Battles and getting an opening slot. There were only eight open spots in this tournament so there were many long battles. Kazuki arrived with his brother and Usagi, entering his name into the roster. He sat with the two and watched battles take place, many people trying their hardests to get a spot. Kazuki saw very powerful monsters and decks but not many of them got to enter. The Entrance Battles work a certain way: 10 Casters are put against each other and the winner of the battles gains entry into the Tournament. Many Caster were practicing, going over strategies, and trash talking to other casters. It was like a battlefield out here.

"Can you introduce yourself and tell the crowd who your Guardian is?"

"Yes! I am Konchou Shin!" The boy on the screen was short, green haired and wore a green jacket that's sleeves were too long for his arms. He also had big round glasses with feint swirls on them, "I use Insects in my deck!"

He swung his arm out as his body had a green energy around it, "And my Guardian is the Hornet Queen!"

A giant hornet appeared on his arm and fluttered its wings as the camera woman squeaked in fear. The hornet made a loud buzz as the short boy chuckled and adjusted his glasses, snickering to the camera.

Kaito was playing against some students from his school, who had challenged him so they would enter the tournament. Out of the four, three had already been defeated. Kaito was showing no mercy as he used his deck to the fullest.

"Arcanis. Destroy his Goblin Roughrider." The wizard swung his arms around, creating an orb of water. He shot the orb at the Goblin and its monstrous steed… which were instantly destroyed, "Battle Sphere, end the battle."

The orb shot toward the student and knocked him off his feet, making his life 0. Kaito made a scoff for he had not lost a single point of Life that battle, "Pathetic. Don't you dare show your faces at the tournament or I will personally destroy your decks!"

The students fled the scene, taking their cards with them. Arcanis appeared behind Kaito and put a hand on his shoulder, "Kaito. Calm down. You're taking it pretty far on the other students. Lighten up, will you?"

"I need to win this tournament. If it means I get to battle Niza again, I will use my full power." He clenched his fist and grabbed his collar, "I won't let him mock me a second time!"

"Can you introduce yourself and tell the crowd who your Guardian is?"

"I am Houjou-"

"You're Houjou the Beast, aren't you?!"

"….. Yes. I use a mixture of Mountain and Swamp Mana with my Minotaurs." The young adult, about Trent's age. He had long black hair and had a glare that seems to never leave. He looked very… gritty. He wore a black vest with tears and long grey pants.

"My guardian is the mighty Lord of Shatterskull Pass." Houjou had a red energy around him as a tall figure appeared behind him with its arms crossed. It was a tall Minotaur with a giant wood club on its back. It grunted, a puff of steam coming from his snout. By the look of the two, they were a powerful duo.

"Your Guardian looks very strong!"

"He is. My opponents don't stand a chance." The Minotaur took a deep breath and made a roar, causing the camera to shake.

Misa watched the battles from the audience. He wore a white hoodie with a big hood so shade was on his side. He smiled and witnessed a young man summon a wall of ice to block an incoming attack, "Hmm… He looks good. Using a wall as defense, while a monster on the side deals all the damage- Oh."

The opponent was just beaten… in the third turn, "Clever. Only three turns and he dealt twenty damage already."

"Do you think you can defeat him?"

Misa chuckled and sat back, watching as Kaito awaited for his next opponent, "Only time will tell, my friend."

"Can you introduce yourself and tell the crowd who your Guardian is?"

"My name is Udo and my deck is all around Silver cards!" The kid had short silver hair and a black long coat grinned with charisma as a strange liquid formed around his arm, "And my Guardian is Silver Essence; living Silver basically. Look! He's become a plate! Now a telescope! Now a bust of our lovely camera woman's face."

The camera woman smiled and showed the camera that the liquid formed around her hand to make what resembled a gauntlet, "Amazing! Good luck in the tournament!"

"I have no need. The grand prize is practically mine!"

Kazuki and Usagi watched more matches from the walkway above the stands, "Kazuki…?

"Hmm? What's up?"

"Don't you think this tournament is kind of sudden?" Usagi asked worried, "I mean come on… A tournament for only those with Guardians? Doesn't seem too common."

Kazuki turned his head back to the battle, thinking this over as well. Tournaments happened often, but they never narrowed down to just owners of Guardians.

"I see what you mean."

"And they never even said what the grand prize is! Why would they do that?"

Kazuki scratched his chin as he pondered as well. It was a big mystery in fact. Every tournament usually says what the grand prize is. They never even mentioned a prize for the second place Caster. What was this tournament hiding?

"Can you introduce yourself and tell the crowd who your Guardian is?"

"I am Kaito Umoi. My deck is based on Walls and Defense. My Guardian is Arcanis the Omnipotent."

The wizard appeared behind him as the woman squeeled like a fangirl, "Oh! It's THE Arcanis! The great wizard!"

"Aye. It is an honor to meet a fan." The wizard said in a calm voice as he made a polite bow to the camera.

Kaito pointed at the camera and nearly shouted, "I plan to plow my way to the top of this tournament and proved that I deserve my title as Champion of the Third Year!"

"Siege Dragon! Attack!" Kazuki shouted as the mighty beast blew fire on all the monsters with his No-Wall ability. The students Ogre and Goblins were destroyed as Kazuki raised his hand and pointed at a dragon on his side, "Hellkite! Strike him directly and finish this battle."

The large dragon roared and charged at the Caster, ramming its body into him and depleting his life to zero. The crowd cheered as a man walked up to Kazuki and gave him a ticket, "Congratulations, you are entered into the Magus Tournament. I wish you luck."

He shook the man's hand and smiled as a camera woman ran over to him, "Excuse me! Can we get an introduction of you and your Guardian!?"

"Yeah! I'm Kazuki Niza and this is my Guradian!" The mighty dragon appeared behind Kazuki and bowed its head, "The Almighty Siege Dragon!"

"Wow! Its looks so powerful! That name must be a mouthful though."

Kazuki blinked a few times. He never realized that but… He couldn't keep calling Siege Dragon that name. He smiled and made a thumbs up to the camera, "That's because his name is really… … Igen!"

"Igen?"

"Oh! The word for Majesty! That fits him better!" The camera woman said with a smile. Kazuki looked up at his dragon and gave him a thumbs up. The dragon stared before he chuckled at the remark.

"Yes… I am Igen. Igen the Siege Dragon!" The dragon spread it wings and roared fiercely, causing the crowd to cheer wildly again. Kazuki smiled at Igen and jumped up, fist pumping the air.

"I'M IN THE TOURNAMENT!"

"Oh! Miss! Miss?!" The camera woman ran up to a young woman with long white hair and a kendo outfit, "You are one of the challengers! May we get an introduction?"

"Hmm?" Trent lifted his head from his hands and looked at the television. He placed his cup down onto the coffee table and raised an eyebrow. The girl… was very familiar.

"Very well. If I must. I am the Caster for the Yawgmoth Zombie Deck." The girl spoke, turning to the camera, her emerald eyes nearly shining, "My guardian is the indestructible Order of Yawgmoth."

From behind her, a tall mass of armor appeared. It had a large scythe, rusty black armor, and no head, from inside the hole where a head would reside, two glowing red eyes appeared. The woman squealed in fear before asking, "M-may we have your name?"

"…. Tsukiko Oromeshi."

Trent immediately stood up, making his mother jump, "T-trent! What's wrong? You split your drink."

He stared at the television, multiple emotions in his mind but one over took them all… Surprise, "Tsukiko… I-is alive?"

Day Thirty of the Summer Month

Along my journey, I came across a tribal village, full of Minotaur's. They were brutish creatures that lived by their ancient ways. Upon entering, I had encountered their leader, the Lord of Shatterskull Path. He was a powerful creature, but upon offering him a drink of sake, he sat with me and told me about their ways. Minotaur's work together to become fierce monsters on the battle field. They showed me their fighting styles, war techniques, and even try their cuisine. The food was meat cooked over fire. It was amazing, even though it had no seasonings. I bid them farewell, after being given a mighty horn for when I was in need of help.

~Planewalker