Chapter 11
''Good morning to you all,'' master Atoch greeted, as he walked into the X-caper, the following morning. Ky, Maya and Boomer sat at the breakfast table, along with Gia, Apex, Balistar, and Ekeyon, eating blueberry pancakes. Mookee, wearing his pajamas, stood at the stove, making another badge. ''Hey there master Atoch,'' Ekeyon greeted, his mouth full, ''what's shakin?''
''Nothing is shaking, young warrior,'' master Atoch replied, raising one eyebrow, ''I am here to inform you that a kairu-tournament has been anounced, and will take place this day.'' The eyes of all in attendance went wide with excitement. ''A tournament!'' Boomer exclaimed, ''awesome! I've been waiting for another chance to bag one of these things, since the tournament of the Kairu-Cube.''
''What prize will the winner get?'' Ky asked, his voice ripe with excitement. ''The winner of today's tournament will advance one rank,'' master Atoch replied, ''and also receive a rare and valuable x-drive to add to their collection.'' Ky, Maya, Boomer and Ekeyon exchanged high-fives.
''We will depart for the arena as soon as you have all finished eating your breakfast,'' master Atoch said, turning about and walking out of the X-caper, leaving four very excited warriors, attacking their pancakes with unbridled ferocity.
When they were done, they went out of the X-caper, and found master Atoch, where he was conversing with master Boddai, who now had a new cane; an elegantly carved, wooden affair, with inlaid strands of platinum to enhance its strength. ''Okay, we're ready,'' Ky said. ''Very well then,'' master Atoch said, lifting his staff into the air, his x-reader fastened to its end, ''off we go.''
A small ball of white light enveloped the x-reader. The ball expanded, then, gradually encompassing everyone, student and master alike, and when the light dissipated, they were no longer standing in master Atoch's monastery, but before the gates of a great battle-arena. Ky, Maya, Boomer and Ekeyon stared open-mouthed at the truly magnificent structure, as did Gia, Apex and Balistar.
Its walls were made of yellow sandstone, and a gray and red banner, emblazoned with the insignia of the Redakai, hung above its huge, stone-gate. On either side of that gate stood guards, wearing blue and white uniforms, and armed with gleaming white tridents. ''Welcome to the Kairu-Colosseum,'' master Atoch exclaimed, arms uplifted, ''here it will be decided who wins and who loses.''
The Kairu-Colosseum! Maya had read so much about this place. It had been built, many thousands of years ago, by human-slaves, back when the evil gihox – the giants of legend – ruled the world as kings. The structure was later taken into use by the Redakai, after the human-slaves rebelled against and overthrew their gihox masters, and many tournaments had been held here since.
The gate opened a few moments later, and a man, wearing the trappings of the Redakai, strode through, taking up a position before them. He was a short man, not much taller than Maya, with a slender build, dark hair and darker eyes. Aside from the sprinkling of gray at his temples, and the crow's feet that ran out from the corners of his eyes, he showed very little age to him.
''Who's that guy?'' Ky asked. ''That is master Baphamel, a former student of master Quantus','' master Boddai answered, ''he ascended to the rank of Redakai just a few weeks ago, back when we were still looking for a new home.''
''It does my heart good to see that you are alright, master Boddai,'' master Baphamel said, ''it would have been a grievous blow to the world, indeed, had you perished at the hands of the blight that is Malice.'' ''Thank you,'' master Boddai replied, ''your concern is appreciated.''
''The Redakai are already gathered inside,'' master Baphamel said to master Atoch and master Boddai, motioning towards the huge gate with one hand, ''I shall take you to them. As for those warriors who want to compete; go to the center of the arena.''
Suddenly, a ball of brilliant white light appeared behind them, and as it began to dissipate, seven humanoid shapes could be seen within; one of which had a glowing scar, diagonally across its face. ''Lokar,'' master Boddai growled disdainfully, as his arch enemy, along with his two remaining e-teen teams: Team Radikor and Team Imperiaz, came into clear view.
''Believe me, the feeling is mutual,'' the dark master retorted, in his deep, resonating voice, his amber-colored eyes narrowing dangerously. ''What are you doing here Lokar?'' master Baphamel demanded. ''I am only here to watch my students compete,'' Lokar replied, though all could guess that he was up to something else. Master Baphamel sighed. ''It is not within my power to deny you entrance,'' he said in a resigned tone, ''but you will not be seated next to the Redakai; you forfeited that right a long time ago.''
''You seem to think that I want to be seated next to these simple-minded fools,'' Lokar retorted, ''guess again. I'll stay with my students, that I might keep a better eye on them.''
Meanwhile, Ky and Zane exchanged disdainful glances. ''I can't wait to mop the floor with you in front of an audience,'' the green-skinned e-teen said, rubbing his gloved hands together excitedly, ''and let you experience the bitter taste of defeat, first hand.'' Ky struck a pensive pose. ''I'll have to take your word on what defeat tastes like, Zane,'' he retorted, a sly grin stretched across his angular face.
Zane looked as if he were going to explode. ''Whatever,'' he snapped, waving a hand dismissively towards Ky. The young Stax noted to some satisfaction that the green-skinned e-teen did not meet his gaze.
''We should go inside,'' master Baphamel said at length, ''the tournament will begin shortly, and the competitors will be wanting to prepare themselves mentally, as well as physically.'' That said, he turned about and strode back in through the gate; past the armed guards. The others followed, the huge gate slamming closed behind them.
xxxxx
A few seconds later, there came a third flash of light, and another figure stood before the Kairu-Colosseum's huge gates. Malice eyed its x-reader, seeming pleased. Shortly after the destruction of the monastery, the dark spirit had gone back into the forest, to where the corpses of Vexus and Nexus lay, and retrieved from them their teleporter-units, which it had then installed into its x-reader, allowing it to cross vast distances in the blink of an eye.
Malice turned its thoughts from its x-reader, and to the magnificent structure that stood before it. ''Not bad,'' the dark spirit muttered to itself, eying the thick stone-walls, and the huge, ornate gate, ''not bad at all.'' Malice strode towards the two guards.
''Didn't ye just pass through here?'' one of the guards asked, scratching his head, a perplexed look on his face, ''and weren't ye dressed differently?''
Malice considered its clothes. It now wore a black tank-top and black pants, black boots that reached its calves, and a black cloak, fastened about its shoulders via a gold chain. The dark spirit's armbands and bracers two were made of gold, as was its neck-cuff.
''You seem to have me confused with someone else,'' Malice said, a look of feigned innocence on its angular, yet delicate face. It took a step towards the gate, thinking to walk through, but the two guards crossed their tridents before the portal, blocking the way. ''What is the meaning of this,'' the dark spirit demanded.
''Ye passed through here earlier,'' the guard, who had spoken before, said, ''or rather, someone who looks just like ye.'' Malice studied the man. He was a man of about forty winters, short but stocky, with red hair and gray eyes, and meticulously trimmed sideburns, goatee and mustache.
Malice's gaze went over to the other man, who seemed to be in his mid-thirties. He was tall – a foot or so taller than his companion – with spindly limbs, blonde hair and dark-brown eyes.
''My name is Maya, and I am a student of master Boddai's,'' the dark spirit lied, ''and the woman you saw must have been Malice, my evil look-alike. Admit me at once, you fools, before the Redakai are destroyed by this imposter.''
Even as Malice spoke, the stocky guard was shaking his head. ''Nah,'' he said, ''ye're not Maya. Maya's got eyes o' gold, like a wolf, but as for yerself, ye've got purple eyes. So ye're Malice, I say.'' As he finished, the stocky guard leveled his trident the dark spirit's way, its three sharp points gleaming in the morning-light. His companion also leveled his trident.
Malice smiled evilly, all pretense of innocence gone from its face. ''You know my name,'' it stated, ''yet you do not seem to know of the reputation that comes with that name.''
''Aa, but we do,'' the stocky man said, ''and I'm thinking that the Redakai will offer a handsome reward to the one who brings them the lass who destroyed master Boddai's monastery, and left him without a home.''
Malice laughed mockingly. ''And I suppose you think you'll be the one to do it,'' it said, ''guess again. You'll never contain me.''
The stocky guard came on with a roar, suddenly, trident jabbing for Malice's belly. The weapon hit nothing but air, however, for the dark spirit had anticipated the move, launching itself into a forward somersault, right over the extended trident, touching down lightly behind its wielder.
The stocky guard, his features twisted with rage, spun about, picking off a jab from Malice, and countering with a jab of his own. The dark spirit brought its forearm up to block, the attack, then moved its arm out, as the weapon connected on its golden bracer, sending the head of the trident out wide. Out shot Malice's free hand, connecting on the man's muscular belly with a thunderous jab.
The guard didn't even flinch.
Roaring with laughter, the stocky guard retracted his trident, then came on with a sudden thrust. Malice sidestepped, but realized too late that the man's move had only been a feint, for he retracted his weapon before it could gain any real momentum, and then he slapped the dark spirit on the shoulder with the butt of his trident.
Malice, its shoulder thrumming from the hit, backed away from the stocky man. ''I think its safe to say that I underestimated you,'' the dark spirit said. The stocky man puffed out his muscular chest, his free hand resting on his hip, a smug expression on his square-chinned face. ''However,'' Malice said, ''I've been holding back.''
The stocky man's smug expression transformed into a deep scowl, and with a snarl, he launched himself at Malice, trident leading. The dark spirit sidestepped the thrust, and its hand shot out, clamping about the tridents shaft.
The stocky guard tore his trident free of the dark spirit's grasp, and backed away. ''What was that?'' he demanded, but Malice did not answer, rather it smiled an evil smile, that sent a shudder up and down the man's spine, ''what did ye do?'' Then the head of the trident began to vibrate slightly, and a ghastly purple light began to emanate from it. The stocky guard looked from his weapon to the dark spirit, a perplexed look on his face, ''what're ye about?''
Suddenly, the head of the trident broke clean off, and, faster than the eye could follow, it shot back, two of its three prongs digging deep into the stocky man's throat; piercing his windpipe. He slumped down to his knees, hands gone numb from shock and blood-loss; trying desperately to pull the head of the trident out, but to no avail. His companion rushed to his side, and he managed to pull the embedded trident-head out of his throat, though the stream of blood only intensified, forming a large, red pool around the man's slumped form.
Then, he died.
Malice, a wide and wicked smile stretched across its beautiful face, watched as the blonde guard tried futily to bring his friend back to life. The dark spirit wanted to kill that one too, but it refrained, only because it had other, more pressing business to attend to. Malice turned, then, and strode through the huge gates of the Kairu-Colosseum, its black cloak trailing it.
The tournament would begin soon, and it did not want to be late.
To be continued...