Chapter 7: Qualification, Part 1: DARK VS GROW
The first match up was scheduled for 1:00pm to give the audience time to get settled. The stadium was alive with all sorts of noise and cheer from the other countries, but Atlas itself were quiet in comparison, and only spoke in hushed whispering tones to each other. "Just whining and gossiping about everyone else I bet." Blanc said from behind her as they walked out onto the platform as they had a few days earlier, only now they were put on display in front of thousands of onlookers. The instructor they had met was also standing in the exact same place, to the inch. This all felt so dreadfully planned. She had a sad smile on her face as she wondered if all that gossip in the crowd was just them talking about pre-determined victors. It didn't really matter, even if the game was rigged, team EBON had plans of their own.
(Perspective change)
He watched the other teams go up to the fens to watch the first match: Team GROW of Vale, consisting of Ivy Green, an archer who seemed full of herself, Rowan Murk, an odd boy who appeared to be having a confusing conversation with himself, Oakley Burn, a sickle wielder who was rearing to jump into the fray, and Aela Wight, a pale girl who nearly looked like a statue. None of these people worried Aero, he would ensure his team's victory with aerial superiority. An announcer blared through the arena, the abrupt loudness putting all combatants on edge. "First Bout: Team GROW, pitted against Team DARK. The environment that you will be staged in is...Vale Grassland." The signature Vytal arena style allowed all but the center of the platform fall away and be replaced by a random country's landscape. Aero resented GROW for having the advantage. The PA rang out again. "Let the Battle begin!"
All of them moved at once, Oakley of GROW jumped forward towards Aero, but was intercepted by Dew Flax, a duel dagger specialist from DARK, who pushed him back. Oakley didn't seem all that concerned about the interception, and just smiled at the thrill of the fight. Ivy had ran away from the centre and behind a boulder for cover, and Breve Respite, DARK's pistol wielder did the same. Breve was perhaps the most valuable member of their team, as his semblance served as an amplifier for the aura's of those he had attuned to, so long as they were in range. Aela still hadn't moved from her position, her pose even. Aero took to the air and received delicious gasps of the audience's wonder that only served to boost his confidence. Once at an acceptable height he took aim and started firing. Kale Yucca was frantically searching for his foe, the remaining member of GROW: Rowan. His next thought was interrupted when a hand burst from the ground and wrapped around his ankle. "Woah there, looks like DARK were so worried about the above, they neglected to consider the below." Kale tried to jab his spear into his assailant's hand but couldn't attack with full force for fear that he'd end up stabbing himself. His struggles were for naught anyway with Rowan's next move. His semblance softening the dirt made it only a simple motion to pull him down into the ground and submerge him up to his chin in earth. After re-emerging from the ground with ease, Rowan quipped with "I didn't know that Kale sprouted this time of year." before getting shot in the shoulder by Aero with enough force to knock him down and out of commission. Ivy and Breve had been taking shots at each other, but the distance between them made it hard to land a shot and neither one wanted to bridge the gap. Dew and Oakley were caught in an all out slash war. The sickle swung round and Dew felt it trim his hair as he ducked down. He went for a stab to the stomach while he was low and Oakley leapt back and brought his crude blade down onto Dew's shoulder. He still winced in pain though his aura took the majority of the force and prevented it from piercing his clothing. He took this close quarters moment to try for the stomach again. He dropped one dagger and used the free hand to hold his opponent's weapon and thrust upwards with his remaining dagger. Oakley didn't dodge that that time and took the end of Dew's blade an inch into the skin. He fell and didn't get up.
Aero had almost given up on trying to shoot Aela, he seemed to keep missing even though her movements were minimal, almost lazy. Probably just mind games, to throw him off he thought. Besides, she didn't seem like much a threat and Dew was heading towards her. Breve was struggling. He was confident when he'd managed to shoot Ivy in the thigh, then he took an arrow in the knee. He was on his last clip, and his gun was feeling pretty light. Three shots later he was empty, and he heard audible profanity to give away that she was also dry. She peered out and saw that Breve was holding his hands up with his pistol hanging from one finger. Ivy looked at him with unbelieving eyes, to which Breve responded to by dropping his gun and gesturing to her, taunting. She broke into a run, limping at first but letting the rhythm of her stride carry her through the pain. She threw her bow aside and grabbed a knife from her jacket and started sprinting at him. He was as prepared as he could be as Ivy shouted a battle cry and leapt into the air for a powerful strike, before she was shot by Aero and thrown backwards. Breve looked up at him with conflicted feelings, then moving to take down the final member. Aela was dodging all of Dew's attacks with ease, and none of Aero's shots seemed to make contact with her either. Then Dew made a sudden dive for her, fell through her, and landed hard on the ground behind her. His shock left her time to grab the nape of his collar and pull him back through her and pummel him into the ground. He had enough energy to crawl away, but his aura was exhausted, and he was out. "Three remain in this heated battle and things are getting worrisome for team DARK as they face a seemingly untouchable foe who has mocked them for the duration of the match by not moving from her starting position. Can Aero and Breve hope to defeat an enemy they can't even touch?"
Breve hadn't attacked, and was thinking it over. He shouted up to Aero "I don't think we can beat her, it's even more of a wild card than your semblance." Aero didn't care what he thought, he wanted to win. He dived down hard, and flew through her at top speed. The wind seemed to catch her, and she had to catch herself, but stayed ethereal. He flew though again and again, thinking that each pass he made would diminish her energy and remove her incorporeal form. As he flew he only managed to wither his own energy reserves. Sweating, he stopped over by Breve. "What do we do?" he asked. "I don't know, but we should do something. The crowd is getting restless." Aero looked into the stands. Other than Vale who seemed contented to watch them struggle, the audience was beginning to lose interest in the rapidly cooling fight. "Do something, Ghost girl!" Aela just laughed at them "I'm fine over here if you don't mind." Breve leant over to Aero and whispered. "I have a theory."
Aero went airborne once again and repeated what he had done, swiping though her, and back. Aela was mildly annoyed, but otherwise unphased by their futile attempts of disruption. Then rather than stopping, Aero just continued to fly through at a gradually slower pace with his encroaching exhaustion. As he came through at a dawdling speed, his expression blank and strained, he made his pass through her and she suddenly wrapped her hand around his ankle and pulled down. As soon as he felt her grip upon him he burst into motion again, pulling her from her position and letting his false tiredness fade. As her feet moved from the ground her whole body solidified and she screamed. The crowd lit back up at this unexpected development. Aero was smiling as he flew up and felt Aela cling on for dear life. "Concede and I'll take you back down. If you want to continue, I can go higher." After squeezing her eyes shut for the longest time she reluctantly submitted and shouted "I concede on behalf of team GROW!" The arena lit up with the sound of the conclusion sirens.
