Chapter 18: The Mythril Cup: Round 1
A group of people were gathered around the little satyr, Phil, as he explained how the tournament was going to function. Kairi and her group were in the crowd listening avidly, but they didn't notice that Ansem's mercenaries and Seryl were there too.
"So this is how it works," Phil explained, standing atop a pile of crates. Next to him was Hercules, who needed no introduction to most of the people there. They knew of the half-god, half-human, and his many adventures. "You all enter the tournament in teams of two. What you probably don't know, is that you'll also be fighting monsters that we caught, too."
At this people in the crowd began talking to each other about the new development. Sora turned to Kairi, saying, "I wonder what kind of monsters they're going to have?"
Kairi shrugged. "I don't know, but do you think we'll be able to handle them, Sora?"
Sora grinned and scratched the back of his head. "Sure we will, Kairi. You just gotta remember everything I taught you."
"But Sora, you didn't teach-"
"Hey want kinda monsters are you gonna have in there?!" yelled a voice from the crowd.
Kairi looked around for the familiar voice. She spotted silver hair and knew it could only be one person. He was standing a few people down, next to Fayne. They're getting mighty friendly, she thought with a smile.
"Riku," Sora smiled. "I was just gonna ask that, too."
"That's a mystery," Phil answered with a scowl. "You'll see when you get in there. Right now, just get to your assigned rooms. You're provided with water, food, weapons and all of the other essentials."
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"Stupid pig thing," Riku muttered. "He should've just answered the question…" Fayne giggled as they walked into their preparation room. They looked around and saw that it did have everything they needed. It had two beds, a cupboard stacked with food, and even the rules of the tournament. Fayne picked them up and began to read them aloud.
"Number one," she read. "No magic…"
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No magic, Jessed thought to himself as he read the rules of the Mythril Cup. No worries. I can win this thing without my magic, as long as I have this…
Rule number two, he read. No item usage…
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Yuyami was taking out all of the items he had in his jacket pockets while Cloud watched, amused. Potions, ethers, phoenix downs, and elixirs were all put on his bed as he shook his head.
"So no magic and no items means no healing," Yuyami stated. "That's fine with me."
"Yeah but, how did you get so much stuff in your pockets?"
Yuyami smiled as he opened his jacket. Pockets were sewn in everyplace where there was room. Cloud just chuckled as Yuyami noticed more items in his pocket and began taking them out too.
"Rule three," Cloud read aloud. "No special abilities or attacks…"
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Both Sora and Kairi groaned at the same time when they read the third rule of the tournament. "No special abilities?" Kairi pouted. "That means I can't use Ragnarok…"
"Yeah and I can't use Ars Arcanum, Sonic Blade, Blitz, uh," Sora paused counting on his fingers. "Oh yeah, Strike Raid, Vortex…what else?"
"Shutup," Kairi suggested. She turned to the rules and began reading. "Rule number four. In the games, the only thing you can hurt is your pride. Fight hard…"
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"Hmph, foolish humans and their pride," Seryl sneered. He turned to his companion. "Even though you're human, you must realize that your brethren always seem to fall before pride or the strong."
"That's why I've tried to be as much of a monster as I can," the man replied. "I told you I used to have a friend, remember?"
Seryl nodded, interested in who this fiend considered his friend. The man continued, "His name was Vincent Valentine, and he had the ability to change into demons whenever he pleased."
"You were friends with the demon Valentine?"
"Yes, I even tried to find a way to transform like he does after he told me what happened to him," the man said. "I searched far and wide, but the only person who knew how change a person is long dead."
Seryl smiled. "I can change you into that you have been dreaming of…"
The man nodded. "I know, that's why I sought you out. So that you could grant me this request."
"I will change you, but first let us finish reading these accursed rules that we must follow," Seryl suggested. "Five. You can forfeit at any time. Fight as much as you like…"
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"Forfeit?" Heyral was looking at Dariel with a smirk. "The day we forfeit will be the day we pull a job for free."
Dariel laughed. "And I'm guessing that will be never."
"Damn straight."
"I wonder if Jessed will be okay without his magic," Dariel asked, concern apparent in her voice.
Heyral nodded. "Sure he will. Remember, I practiced with him and he uses that spear like a seasoned pro."
"I guess…" She still sounded uncertain. "We'll see when we get out there…"
Heyral grinned as he read the sixth rule. "No summoning allowed. Fight with your own strength…"
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"That's the way I like it," Orlandu said taking off his cloak. "Those fools that need monsters, fairies, and God knows what else to do their fighting for them are weaklings."
Sephiroth nodded in agreement. "True, although it takes plenty of magic ability to summon a creature, magic isn't what is being tested today."
"Yeah, its strength, speed, defense. Pretty much fighting ability altogether."
Sephiroth nodded again. "Exactly which is why we will emerge victorious from this tournament."
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"Excuse me, Mr. Jessed?" An attendant for the tournament knocked on the young mage's door. "You're up first."
Jessed got up from the bed with a smile and picked up his spear. He followed the attendant out of his room and down a long dark corridor with a metal gate at the end. The attendant turned to him with a smile.
"When they call your name, walk forward," she instructed. "Good luck." She walked back down the corridor.
Jessed's waited in the darkness, heart pounding. He was sure that he could take on anybody out there, or at least hold his own. However standing there in the dark, waiting to fight, the crowd cheering in the distance… It just made him a little nervous. His head snapped up when he heard a voice booming over the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, if I could have your attention!!" The crowd kept cheering and yelling, in spite of the appeal to quiet. "Shutup!!" the voice commanded. The crowd quieted down at this and the announcer continued. "I am pleased to welcome you to the first Mythril Cup Tournament!! Here you will see all manner of fighting styles, every different type of person, and strength unimaginable!! Are you ready?!" The crowd roared at this and the announcer waited until they calmed down before speaking again.
"Our first contestant is a young boy with strong fighting abilities and even stronger magic!! Too bad magic is forbidden in this tournament, though!! Please welcome, Jessed!!"
Jessed took a deep breath and walked through the opening gate with a big grin to hide his anxiety. He waved to the crowd and took his place on the battleground.
"And here in the other corner, we have two of the most feared pirates of the S.S. Black Gummi Ship!! Many people have heard of their ruthless behavior when it came to taking out other ships in their territory, well they're here today to show that they're just as powerful on the ground as they are in space. Welcome Graybeard and Hawkins!!"
As the two burly pirates walked out, brandishing massive axes, the crowd booed and hissed at them. The crowd always wanted the underdog to win and Jessed was the ultimate underdog. He heard people betting in the crowd and was dismayed that most of it was against him. He didn't blame them, though. Some, however, was put in heavy favor of him and he smiled when he heard one person's remark. "He's gotta have somthin up his sleeve, goin in the tournament alone!"
The two pirates looked down on him and sneered. One was at least seven feet and the other was about 6'5''. Jessed, being about 5'11' was dwarfed by the two beasts. He swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to smile.
"Now the opponents will shake hands to signify that there are no hard feelings!!" the announcer explained.
The taller pirate, Graybeard, took his Jessed's hand in his own massive one and squeezed. Jessed gritted his teeth to keep from crying out. The pain was more intense than he thought was possible. Finally, Graybeard released his hand and walked to the other side of the arena. Hawkins grabbed his hand, and Jessed tensed, expecting another bone crushing. Instead, the pirate pulled Jessed close and whispered in his ear, "We're gonna grind you to dust…" Jessed smirked and pulled his hand away. They both walked to their respective sides of the arena and got ready.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls!! Let the Mythril Cup begin!!"
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Seryl smiled as he listened to the announcer. The rooms were supposed to be too far away from the arena to hear the action, but Seryl picked up just fine. He looked over at his companion who was in a corner struggling with an unseen force.
"Having trouble?" Seryl asked, amused.
The man's eyes opened wide as intense pain bolted through his entire body. "Aarrghh!! No, I can…handle it!" The man whipped his head from side to side and sweat poured down his face.
Seryl watched with interest as his hair turned, back to its natural color, black. His skin changed from its pallid, whitish color to a bronze tan. Seryl looked into his eyes to see if anything changed there too, but he only saw a deep, blood red color, with a few gold specks scattered. "The power of darkness, demons, and me," he said with a grin and turned his attention back to the fight.
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Jessed watched as the two pirates came running at him with their axes raised and he shook his head. Why was I so nervous, he thought with a smile. These guys can't fight, I can tell. Look at the way they hold their axes, and their stances were pitiful. He watched as a barrier rose around the arena to protect the crowd and keep the fighters in. Well I might as well give the crowd what they came for. He threw his spear to the side and smiled at the voiced surprise of the crowd.
"What are you doing, kid?!" a male voice yelled. "I got money on you!!"
"You're really done for now!" a female voice taunted.
"I'll put a thousand gil on the kid! He's got a plan!" another male voice shouted.
Graybeard reached Jessed, who hadn't moved, first and brought his axe down in a mighty swing. So slow, Jessed thought as he stepped to his left. The axe harmlessly swung by him and crashed into the ground. Jessed couldn't help but laugh at the look on Graybeard's face when he dodged the attack. Hawkins jumped over his teammate and swung his axe diagonally, hoping to deal a finishing blow. Jessed just ducked and waited. As he thought, the pirate's momentum sent him flying overhead and Jessed rose with and snatched the axe out of his hand, simultaneously throwing him into the barrier. He then turned to Graybeard with the axe bared and waited.
Graybeard saw his friend, upside-down and leaning against the barrier, and grew cautious. This wasn't some ordinary kid and he had to fight smart. He swung his axe tentatively at Jessed only to have his attack countered by a viciously strong slash. He blocked it with difficulty and swung again, this time with more strength. Jessed just used his new weapon to knock the axe out of the pirate's hand. He then threw his axe to the side too and held his fists up. The pirate grinned at this. The kid may be good with weapons, he thought. But we pirates are the fighters.
Jessed got ready to fight Graybeard and was about to rush at him when Hawkins wrapped his arms around him and held him back. Smiling evilly, Graybeard sidled up and gave Jessed powerful punch to the jaw. Jessed shook his head to stop the ringing sound in his ears and spat out blood. He felt Hawkins squeezing him even harder than before and his breath became restricted. The crowd was on its feet, screaming with outrage. He received another blow, this time to the stomach, from the pirate and involuntary tears welled in his eyes.
"Aww look," Graybeard taunted. "The baby's cryin!"
Hawkins laughed at this. "Maybe he needs his diaper changed."
"Ha-ha-ha! You're just a punk kid and you shoulda never entered this tournament." Graybeard cocked his face back for the finishing blow and brought it forward. Jessed, seeing his incoming doom, let his reflexes take over. He stopped struggling and let his body go limp. Dead weight. Hawkins grunted in surprise as the boy slipped out of his hands and dropped on his foot. The dead weight behind Jessed's knee broke the pirate's foot and he screamed in pain. He was then punched in the nose by his teammate and dropped to the ground, bleeding profusely.
Jessed got up and saw that Graybeard was frantically trying to awaken his teammate from unconsciousness but to no avail. He turned to his opponent with a glimmer of fear that didn't match the burning fury in Jessed's eyes. He then jumped toward Jessed and threw a punch, but it was easily dodged by Jessed. The younger man threw his own punch that landed in Graybeard's neck. Coughing, the pirate tried to back up but was impeded by the barrier around them. Jessed then let loose a volley of punches and kicks that left the pirate battered and bruised. Graybeard took a step toward Jessed, and he tensed waiting for another attack. The pirate, however, just collapsed on the ground.
A cheer arose from the crowd as Jessed raised his fist in victory. Even the people that betted against him cheered as he picked up his spear and walked back to his room. He felt good, even though his jaw felt rubbery and his stomach ached. I hope they'll all be that easy, he thought with a grin as he collapsed into his bed.
