Author's Note: Wow, I received some really lovely reviews and it inspired me to write lots more! Thank you so much for your kind words! I just want to add though, that I have been reading the Shaman King manga a lot lately, so I apologize if I have flopped the English names with the manga names. I think in think chapter I have already used "Ren" instead of "Len" which is what I started with. I don't mind hearing about my flops in reviews, so I can fix it if need be! :3 I also want to let you all know that I will be changing the title of the story with the release of the next chapter to "Legend of the Ishikara" since I know have a clear path that I want the story to go in! Thanks again readers!


Len:

The others were all keeping their eye on Sung and me. I knew they were. Those fools with the oversized boulders of furyoku were toying with me, and just their very presence was beginning to anger me. There were certain parts of my past, and myself in general that I would rather leave behind forever, and all those goons were doing was dangling it in my face once more. Some nerve they had… challenging me like that after the world has seen what I can do…

I felt guilty enough as it was that Sung had been unfortunately dragged into this mess, and now the others too. Of course I knew that they would be there should I ever need their support, but I was never one to ask for help, and I believed that my fights should remain my own. Nothing would pain me more than to see my friends in danger for something that had nothing to do with them.

As the morning drew later, more and more shamans entered the arena for a chance to display their skills. Trey was the only one who had taken a weapon with him, and once confronted by a bloated windbag of a fighter, he had no hesitation in bounding into the arena after him. I didn't think he would have been able to do it, but Trey wiped the floor with his opponent in only 10 minutes.

"Ha! I'd like to see any of you beat that record!" he boasted as he replaced his snowboard on his back.

"Oh please!" Rio exclaimed, waving his hand arrogantly. "Tokageroh and I could have taken him in 9 minutes!"

"Ah, Amidamaru and I could have finished him in 5!" Yoh stepped in.

"They'd be no problem for Chloe and me!" Lyserg added smugly.

I sat there silently, staring at the arena walls and listened to my comrades argue about who was the better shaman: something that wasn't uncommon.

"Come on, Len, what's got your shorts in such a knot that you're not even gonna stick your nose in with some 'I would have done it better!' comment?" Trey interrogated, mimicking my accent.

I snapped out of my contemplative state momentarily to remark with, "well I could have…"

"Chyeah right!" Jocco scoffed, turning to Sung. "What about you?"

The girl raised her eyebrow at him bemusedly. "Mei Shao and I could show you all how it's done, if only I had my swords," she replied.

"Well then, that settles it!" Jocco stated. "We'll come back tomorrow and see who can beat their opponents the fastest!"

At first the proposition seemed so ludicrous to me that I almost rolled my eyes at it, but once I gave it more thought, it seemed like a great idea, and a prime opportunity for me to show all of them up, including the stone flunkies.

I fell silent once more as the other boys started babbling rambunctiously about Jocco's suggestion, and how each of them were stronger than the other. Normally that was a conversation I would have all too well participated in, but I was too focussed on my plans to be rid of Zeke's followers. Even Sung pitched into that verbal fight, although I suspected she was provoked.

"Alright guys! Let's go get some grub!" Morty said loudly over the squawking shamans.

Consent was imminent, and immediately we all marched out of the stadium and began the search for a place to eat. The remainder of the day went much the same, with each of us thinking of something to look for in this vast shaman town. Yoh wanted to scout all the cheeseburger stands he could, Trey was looking for a craft vendor to support, Rio was in search of a relaxing lounge, and Jocco just wanted a place to display his so-called "comedy," while Faust was itching for any sign of a pharmacy, and Lyserg wished to hit all the book shops. Of course there was no way we could scavenge the entire town for all our desires in one day, but a valiant effort was put forth.

As I should have expected, Sung stayed quiet the whole time, merely taking in what was going on around her with something one might consider curiosity. Her eyes weren't glued the ground like they had been the first day or two, and she was indulging us with conversation more than usual. It was a nice change, really, but alongside all that, I could feel her sideways glances on me as if she was worried that I would suddenly implode.

"Okay guys…" Yoh groaned as we made way through the town. "I'm tired of all this walking! What's say we call it a day and head back to the hotel?"

Night was beginning to set across the establishment, and already the swarms of shamans that had been present in the morning were thinned out, and the sun was making its nest in the craggy canyon horizon, casting shadow across the buildings. There was something about the cool, still air of the evening that beckoned to me to keep going, even though I knew it was a terrible idea.

"I agree. There's still a lot to see tomorrow, so we should get some rest," Faust added thoughtfully.

With the help of the map, we navigated our way back to the hotel. Anna, Jun, Tamara, and Pilika were all waiting for us, and it seemed they had gone off on an adventure of their own, for they each had multiple, colorful shopping bags in their hands. They still had enough energy left to tell us all about the bags and dresses and shoes they saw while shopping, the rest of us wanted nothing more than to hit the pillows.

Before we all fell asleep, it was agreed by all that first thing's first, we head to the arena where the selected victim would have their first fight in our little contest. The victim was chosen the next morning once we arrived at the stadium.

"Me?" Sung grimaced, folding her arms across her chest.

"Well yeah! Since Len's the only one who's seen you fight, you get to go first!" Trey smirked, pushing her towards the edge of the enclosure. Her eyes darted anxiously to mine as if to beg for back up.

"Yes, good idea," I agreed with a remorseless grin. "You can further prove my point that you're just as potent as the rest of us."

Her wide eyes narrowed into a glare, and she knew she was over ruled. "Fine," she snapped, turning her back to us and placing her hand on the gate. "May as well set the bar high early on."

"So kids," a large, booming voice rumbled from the other side of the arena closest to us. "If my ears don't deceive me, it seems you're looking for an opponent!"

The man opposite Sung was indeed a suitable challenger. He stood nearly 7 feet tall, and must have weighed over 300 pounds. The spirit accompanying this giant was also appropriately placed. It resembled a colossal deformed reptile of sinister sorts.

Suitable challenger or not, there was something about him that gave me a bad vibe. My gaze happened to stray across the rows of spectators behind him, and they all bore the same brutish build, almost like a gang. I wasn't going to stop Sung from fighting, but I immediately began to question the virtue in which this battle would be carried out.

"Yes, I am," Sung replied firmly, and her unwavering confidence in front of this opponent shocked me greatly.

"Well, you got one now! Name's Gills. And who might you be?" The man's slippery voice was further reinforcing the already bad notion given off by him.

"My name is Sung," she answered, drawing her swords elegantly. "And I'm sure you won't be smiling like that when you're defeated by this 'kid.'"

Mei Shao, the magnificent Chinese general that could give Bason a good run for his money appeared in full form behind her then. If one didn't know any better, it would be painfully apparent that Mei Shao, no matter how ferocious and extravagant looking he was, was no match for the monster opposite him; however, I did know better, and felt confident that Sung would come out victorious in this fight.

The last verbal exchanges were lost in the sound of each side creating their Oversoul. Sung's Oversoul comprised of her two swords, but it wasn't like Yoh's double medium. The spiritual power engulfed both swords and transformed them into longer ones, and if the need arose, she would combine them with her furyoku to make one giant one. Gills' Oversoul was bound to the steel claws on his hands, and surrounded him completely with spiritual energy, which solidified my theory that Sung would be the winner. His Oversoul was nothing but show and no bite.

The fight started immediately, with Sung daringly launching herself to make the first strike. Gills was able to block it, but his oversoul was causing him to be much slower in movement than Sung, so her comeback was much more successful. She'd struck through his furyoku shield and sent him flying.

The next plays of the battle unfolded, and the more I observed the more I came to realize that this would be a fight of speed and brute strength. It was true that if circumstances allowed it, that Gills could crush Sung in one go, that is, if he could move fast enough to catch her. Sung was significantly smaller than he, and her Oversoul didn't weigh her down, therefore she had the advantage. Gills would charge at her full force from a rather large distance, and she would dart to the side and dodge it, and finish off her play by coming around from the side and swiping him into the enclosure.

From what I could see, Sung had broken Gills' Oversoul twice in the first 5 minutes of battle. I had to assume from the large for it took that he used a lot of furyoku to make it, and consequently had a lot. Still, I was not concerned about it.

"So Ren, who's your money on?" I jumped slightly as Trey spoke loudly in my ear.

The others had moved into the bleachers behind me, while I stayed at the edge of the enclosure so I could better watch the moves of the fight.

"Well Sung of course," I retorted, refraining from elbowing him in the ribs.

"Hehe, you've got the hubbas for her, don't you?" The sly grin spread across his ridiculous face.

" Sit down and watch the fight…" I snapped at him.

I returned my attention to the brawl just in time to see Sung get smacked out of the air by Gills' giant clawed fist. She rolled backwards about 20 feet, but still sprung right back up. It must have just been a really good fluke, but he'd severed her Oversoul.

"Whoa, he got her!" I breathed incredulously.

"Still think she's gonna win?" Trey questioned, that sly grin still stuck on his face.

"Have you not been paying attention?" My temper was being to rise at his stupidity. "He may have gotten in a lucky shot on Sung, but he's much too slow to defeat her. He only looks formidable because of that balloon of furyoku he's hiding behind…"

The stadium rumbled as a loud explosion erupted from the center of the arena. A huge, black dust cloud had risen which shrouded Sung and Gills. From our side, we couldn't see anything that was going on, but the creepy gang of spectators on the other side were all whooping and cheering obnoxiously. Flashes of light emitted sporadically from the dust cloud, and from the sudden silence of Gills' supporters I could only assume that Sung had won another clash of Oversoul.

There came a sudden burst of blue-white light, and Sung streaked through the air with her Giant Sword Oversoul bared. She landed gracefully 30 feet away from our side of the enclosure, but did not release it. The dust soon settled to reveal Gills face down on the ground, his Oversoul and his furyoku completely depleted.

"Hm. What did I tell you?" I said smugly to Trey as the others cheered her victory.

Unfortunately, it didn't end there. A raucous commotion could be heard from the other side of the arena as the opposing supported poured out from the stands and into the arena.