Chapter seven:
The weight of the Overworld was on Tom's shoulders. This battle would determine if LightningBlitz told him anything, and considering what had happened recently, anything was better than nothing. Everything had to be perfect; Tom couldn't risk LightningBlitz gaining the upperhand.
He put Maxxor up front, fully trusting in his favorite scan. He placed Intress next to her leader, knowing his new scan of her would be more than ready to destroy any Mipedian she saw. He finished the frontline with Tangath and placed Aivenna behind them. Intress's apprentice would be perfect for this match now that she knew the dangers of fighting the Mipedians. She wouldn't let her guard down.
Tom had managed to get a new scan of her this morning. He would have gotten there sooner if he had known she would be eating when he stopped by to check on her.
Now it was time to place the big surprise next to Aivenna; an Underworlder named Nivenna. Tom still didn't know much about who she was, other than that she looked like an Underworlder version of Aivenna. Their coloring was switched, with Nivenna having blue skin that was almost the same shade as Aivenna's hair and Aivenna's pink skin and Nivenna's red hair making the similarities in their faces all the more peculiar. Despite their colors being switched, the biggest difference between them was in their eyes. They were the same beautiful green that seemed to shine like stars in the sky, yet, like their coloring, the similarity somehow contrasted them.
Aivenna's eyes seemed innocent and slightly unaware, yet somewhat protective at the same time, as though everyone she met was important to her and she was silently promising that, as long as she was around, nobody would ever hurt them. Tom had to wonder how the Mipedians could have brought themselves to hurt her so badly.
Nivenna's, on the other hand, had a more intriguing feeling in them. When he had first taken the time to look at the scan Kaz had sent him after he got home, Tom had to take another look at Aivenna and compare the two faces. That was when he noticed the switched coloring, but he had a hard time looking away once he looked into the Underworlder's eyes. Even just in the scan, Tom could see so much fear and protectiveness that was almost unheard of in Underworlders. It seemed like a glimpse into a sea of emotion before a wave of fierceness crashed upon him to cover her insecurities, which were hidden behind everything else. How could one pair of eyes contain so much? Grief, anger, pain, fear, hints of empathy and hate, and still, behind all that, there was something Tom couldn't name yet.
He shook his head, trying to clear it. He would have plenty of time to help her later, but for now he had to focus on helping his tribe. Tom finished by placing Najerin in the back. Now it was time to equip them.
Unlike Tom, Lightningblitz didn't put a lot of thought into how to equip his team. Titanix would fare well with residual lightning dust, which would deal five damage points to the attacker every time Titanix takes twenty from a single attack and grant him an extra five energy. Sobtjek would work great with the wind whip, giving hive another five energy and making sure his Warbeasts lose five recklessness. He let himself grin mischievously as he gave Dift, one of his personal favorites, an indigo sash, upping his energy by five and his speed by forty. With that much speed they would have no need for invisibility. Na-inna's ravita flower would give her five more energy points, and sacrificing it would give any conjuror two more mugicians. Khybon's mech-blade, which grants the equipped creature forty power and five energy, was handed over to Balykian. The handle hides a trigger that instantly doubles the length of the blade. Caloban was equipped with a new battlegear, one that had never been used before. This would be the perfect opportunity to test it out, to make sure it was as deadly as they wanted.
Dift, Titanix, and Caloban were place in the front row. Sobtjek and Na-inna were right behind them, with Byakian in the back. Lightningblitz knew Maxxor would be place upfront, and since Tom had challenged him, Caloban would get to attack first. Once Maxxor was coded, Tom's confidence would go down dramatically. And if the battelgear worked the way he hoped it would, Tom would get another disadvantage on top of that.
Tom let Tangath use his Sword of Khy'at and hooked Intress up with the Riverland Star. He could only give a spectral viewer to one creature, so he gave it to Maxxor. He also gave Maxxor a skeletal steed, mainly for the sake of looking heroic. Najarin was going to need all the help he could get. Tom decided the Mugicians Lyre would be best for him, if only to boost the Muge's confidence by giving him his favotire battlegear. Tom gave Aivenna a pyroblaster and equiped Nivenna with a Torwegg.
I sure hope Nivenna knows how to use one of these things. Tom thought.
Because Tom had challenged LightningBlitz, LightningBlitz would be attacking first. He spun his location randomizer.
"The first match will take place in Kiru City." The said the hologram in the center of the room.
"Calloban will slaughter Maxxor." LightningBlitz said with a sickening grin. "He is so predictable." Tom was starting to get scared, almost as though he was being dragged to the Pitts.
I can't let him weird me out now. Tom thought as he placed his hand over his Maxxor scan. The match hasn't even started yet.
As Tom became Maxxor, he felt a peace of his mind change along with his body. He felt Maxxor's experience and training flowing through his veins. His insecurity was replaced with a feeling of being a hero. But what mattered more was what didn't change. He still felt that he was an Overworlder, but now more so than ever. He felt that need to serve and protect, and now he felt like he could handle it. When he changed into Maxxor, it wasn't like Kaz becoming Chaor. He didn't become a heartless, power-hungry jerk who enjoyed torturing those who got in his way, even if they were harmless. He didn't just feel empowered, he felt needed. He felt like Maxxor was very much like himself, loyal, kind, soft centered, and willing to put himself in harm's way to help those in need. And that was what made Maxxor his hero, because he saw what he wanted to be, and, in a sense, what he could become. And this was it. Now he was Maxxor, and his tribe was depending on him.
He wouldn't let them down.
He couldn't.
That was Maxxor's main concern as Tom walked down the streets of Kiru City.
That's odd. He thought Why would LigthningBlitz have this location in his deck?
