MetroMass POV
"Welcome to the Island of Battles!" A voice boomed, almost scaring me into falling off the bridge. A bronze lion hopped onto a beautifully-carved rock in the middle of the island and stared down at us. I hid behind Hakime instinctively; that gaze seemed to bore down into my mind, searching for my weakness. I whimpered and buried my face in his back.
"You should've known the rules," The lion continued. "Anyone who'd participated in previous challenges is not allowed to take part in the remaining ones. Clear?"
"Yeah," Duncan nodded. "What are we doing here?"
"Battle," It answered. "You are to battle a colosseum of zombies. Win this and you pass,"
"It's a fight, guys," Aquarius turned to us. Most of the team is older than her, but we listened to her somehow whenever she talked. "I suggest putting five people into this challenge. Any teammate suggestions?"
"Jerome and Mitch," I said. "They are good at PvP,"
"In game," Jerome reminded. "I say we put Meta and James on the list first,"
The two agreed, meaning there are three spaces to be filled. "I think Jason should go too," Simon tapped Jason's helmet. "This thing can protect his head from the zombies,"
"I think the zombies would most likely attack my body," Jason must've rolled his eyes. "Unless they do go for the brain like in PvZ. Okay, count me in,"
"What's PvZ?" Meta asked.
Metro took him aside and explained it to him. "Two spaces left," I counted my fingers. "I still think we should have Jerome and Mitch in as well,"
"Are you two okay with this?" Aquarius turned towards the two. "You guys are the only other ones that we think can fight well. If you don't like it we can always find someone else,"
"I guess we have no choice. Right, Mitch?" Jerome elbowed his friend, who nodded in response. They're in.
"Competitors chosen?" The lion asked. "Please stand around this pillar. The others please back away,"
We did as we're told. The lion stamped its foot and we found ourselves on the seats of an ancient-looking stadium; the original Colosseum in Rome, according to Hakime. The five chosen ones stood in the middle of the fighting zone, backs facing each other. Our host sat on a balcony which looks like a spot for royal subjects.
"Ready?" The lion seemed to be grinning. Let the games begin!"
The gates on the four cardinal points opened, and soon the arena is filled with zombies of all shapes and size with different gear. It's a spectacular sight: James' sword lighting up the mobs, Meta twirling around like a killer ballet dancer, Mitch and Jerome fighting in an indestructible pair, and Jason slicing enemies with his sword and whacking zombies with his tail. He lost his 'jetpack' somewhere through the fight. If he got enough training he could start withering those mobs as well.
A few seats to my right, Aquarius did not cheer for the others. Her eyes radiated fear, which seems kind of unnecessary. Our friends were practically dominating. There is no need to worry for them. I was going to tell her to drop that expression when someone yelled. Mitch was hit in the head with a shovel. He collapsed on the ground, out cold.
The zombies nearby shuffled towards him immediately for unconscious fighters are an easier target. Jerome tried fending the mobs away from Mitch, but the force is too overwhelming. Desperate, he chucked his sword away and threw himself over Mitch as a human shield.
Skydoesminecraft POV
I was shocked when I saw Jerome did that. Rob and Deadlox tried jumping into the battle field, but they were pushed back by an invisible barrier. Metro and Mass called for the other three competitors' attention, and they started making their way towards Jerome and Mitch, who'd both disappeared under the layers of zombies.
"Jerome! Mitch! Hold on! We are coming!" Jason made his way through the swarm of zombies, whacking away the undead in the process. Now that the arena is pretty much cleared, our friends can see each other. James froze when he saw Jason's Wither tail. He moved his sword a little, then advanced.
Jason was almost at where Merome was when a force knocks everything back, kicking up a cloud of dust. When it'd cleared, Jerome stood there, covered in scratches. He is carrying Mitch over his left shoulder. Eight greyish-white tentacles grew out of his back, waving slowly in the air. His eyes were glowing red.
"Uhm, guys?" Baki said slowly. "Is that bad?"
The zombies that hadn't been knocked dead got up and continued shuffled forward, but before they could get close enough to Jerome to do damage he snatched them up with those tentacles and flung them against the sides of the arena. That force would have smash all the bones in a human's body into pieces, and possibly making a bloody mess. In the zombies' case, they just disintegrate as soon as they hit the wall.
"Oh my god, Jerome," Jason's mouth is hanging open. "How did you do that?"
Jerome turned to Jason. He raised his hand and ribbons of fire started forming into a ball. Judging from the rate of forming, I predicted that it would take him exactly three seconds to fully summon one.
"Jason!" I yelled. "Duck!"
Before Jerome could shoot the fireball, Mitch lifted his head. "What happened?" He asked, looking around.
Jerome jumped, and the fireball extinguished itself. His glowing red eyes had turned back to its normal colors. "Mitch? You okay?"
"The challengers had won!" The bronze lion roared. The coliseum scene turned back to the grassy floating island, and the lion grinned at us before dissolving into a cloud of bronze smoke. "You passed!"
"Mitch you okay?" Jerome asked, setting the Canadian down. Mitch collapsed as soon as his feet touched the ground, so Jerome had to support him. Jerome hadn't changed back to normal, though.
"Yeah, I guess," Mitch rubbed the back of his head. "OW! On second thought, no I wasn't,"
"How did you do that, Jerome?" Rex asked. "How did you get your powers back and all?"
"I don't know," He admitted. "I just think that I can't let the zombies hurt Mitch. Then it happened,"
I saw a fiery mirage out of the corner of my eye, and I turned to see James standing behind me. The battle has ended, but he did not sheathe his sword. "What's up, James?" I asked.
"You are not supposed to have hybrids in your team," He said coldly. "I think I should know the reason,"