Disclaimer: I don't own .Hack or Soul Calibur. Don't sue me.
Chapter 7: Heavy Class Tournament
While David and Kelly were off learning their new skills, Jon checked the board and noticed that a new thread had appeared on the board titled, "Heavy Class Tournament". The opening post read:
"To all Heavy Blade and Heavy Axeman players. Test your skills against other players to see who the best heavy class player is around. If you wish to compete for this title, come to the field of Theta Silent Deadly Battlefield. Makes teams of only two if you wish to have a partner, but no more. If wish to know more come to the field, and the event will begin at 8PM."
Jon called Lan and told her of the tournament. He thought they had a good chance of winning, because they had a lot of experience from searching for Balmung. Combined they had a total level of 108. Jon had many attack skills at his disposal, but many of them were strengthening and weakening skills. When he logged in, Jon saw that Lan was waiting for him and ready to go. They each had prepared a little for what might happen at this tournament. Theta Silent Deadly Battlefield was a field that was very strange at first. It was a little dark with scattered torches on pillars, but it was raining too, which in this game was common, but still strange. As they walked around, Lan spotted a structure in the distance, it seemed to look like an arena. As they got closer, Jon could tell that it was an arena, and that few people were going to it.
"Strange that even though a tournament being held here, not many people are showing up," Jon sounding confused.
"Maybe most of the contestants got here early to scope out their competition," Lan cheering him up.
As they walked inside, they noticed that, not many people had showed up at all. At first glance, there seemed to be only about 15 or so players. Some looked like pairs and others not. Jon and Lan sat in an area on the stadium, and looked around. Most players were checking their equipment, to be sure that they were ready. At this point though, if they weren't ready then, they would never win, and Jon knew that. During their wait, someone came by and asked if they were a pair or two solo players. The person took down there names and told them the event would begin soon. When it got to be 8, a man in a green tunic, and long brown pants appeared in the center of the fighting ring. He called everyone to attention.
"Greetings to you all. This tournament is about proving to yourselves that you the best Heavy classed character of all. Or in some cases, the best team of heavy classed characters. I shall now explain the rules and how the brackets will work out. As you came into the arena, the order in which you came was recorded. The first person to come in shall fight the last to show, the second person against the second to last and so on. There are only 16 groups here today, some are solo players, and others are groups. There will be no handicap set for someone fighting a pair by themselves. The rules stands as such: Your mission in each fight is to render your opponent(s) unable to continue fighting that includes killing your opponent if you wish. No skills other than attack skills may be used, that includes strengthening, weakening, and magic skills. All items except scrolls and strengthening items may be used, the point of this tournament is to see how well you as a fighter are, not enhancing yourself to beat anyone. If anyone is caught breaking these rules, that person and their partner will be disqualified. Does anyone have any questions, if not let the tournament begin."
"Hey what do we win anyway," a player called out from the crowd.
"You shall win a free weapon that is level 99, and has the best attack strength in the whole game. A prize fit for the best."
The brackets had Jon and Lan fighting people in pairs, and wouldn't fight any solo players until late in the tournament. One pair that Jon had found surprising, was one that included BlackRose, and an axeman named Piros. Lan and he would have to fight them in the second round if they both won.
The first round match was simple enough for Jon and Lan. Their opponents were new players that were hoping to get some quick experience and thought they were better than they really were. Jon easily killed his opponents, even when he didn't mean to kill. Lan used the blunt side of her ax and KO'ed the other person in one hit. They were declared the winners, but to them it felt like they hadn't won.
"Guess it luck of the draw," Jon sounding disappointed.
"I guess," Lan sounded confused, "If this is supposed to be a tournament for the greatest players, why would noobs come?"
"Who knows and who cares at this point?"
Ten minutes later, an announcement was made saying that the first round had ended and to check the new standings. When Jon saw who he and Lan were up against he got anxious to get back into the ring. Blackrose had won, and they would be the next opponents. On the way to tell Lan, he ran into he next opponent, the giant bodied Piros.
"Hark, how fair you he of glowing eyes," Piros had the voice of a wimp.
"Huh," Jon puzzled at first," Who are you talking to."
"To thou, glowing eyes. I wish you good luck in your next contest."
"Don't you know, my friend and I are your next opponents."
"Then I shall fight thee on the battlefield, may fortune come to us all."
"Yeah, whatever, dude," as Jon walked away, "Psycho."
Jon and Lan went to the fighting ground, and Blackrose was waiting for them.
"Ahh, you guys again," Blackrose annoyed," How come no matter where I seem to go, you seem to keep popping up. I came to this tournament to get away from you guys."
"Nice to see you too Blackrose," Jon said.
"Where's your partner anyway," Lan asked, "It's almost time to begin."
"Damn that idiot, I leave him alone for one second and he takes off," Blackrose yelling at herself, "Hey ref, you mind if I go get my partner."
"Very well, but you have only 5 minutes before I consider him out and you a solo player."
"Fine," Blackrose running, "I'll be back to kick your asses."
After about two minutes, Blackrose returned with Piros. She seemed pissed off and ready to get this fight over with.
The ref started the battle and Blackrose charged wildly at Lan. She had her sword high in the air and ready to strike. She missed with her first slash and the second Lan blocked easily. All the mental preparation made for this fight went away, because Blackrose just started swinging wildly. Lan blocked or avoided all of Blackrose's attacks, and after about 3 minutes saw her opening and hit Blackrose clean in the side. Blackrose stopped and clenched side. Blood started coming out from the wound, but she kept up her assault. Without thinking what she was doing, Blackrose just swinging, hoping she would hit someone. Piros charged at Jon, but Jon was simply to fast for the giant. Before Piros could even make a move toward swinging his ax, Jon slashed at his armor five times. For having such a child like face, Piros had the strength of many people, and Jon felt it as he blocked Piros' attack. Jon was sent backward all the way back to the wall of the arena. Jon kept up his attack and eventually broke off Piros' chest plate. Jon moved back and held his sword in front of him, and the blade started to glow. After the blade became a solid white, Jon thrust the sword straight at Piros' chest. Piros was shocked by the electricity charged in the blade, and collapsed, paralyzed from the attack. Blackrose was still swinging her sword with no real accuracy, and was lucky if Lan had to guard herself. Lan swung her ax in an upward and suddenly there was a loud clang. The next moment Lan spun her ax around and cutting Blackrose in two.
"Winners, Enigma and Lina."
The third round wasn't as hard as it was made out to be, because their opponents hadn't had much time to recover. Jon took out one of them with one punch to his opponent's wounds. Lan only needed to swing her ax at the guy she was fighting, and the strike broke the guy's sword, and killed him instantly. After the battle, Jon checked the standings, only to find that it was the final round already. Lan and his opponents had won his matches as easily as they had. The strangest thing about this guy is that he was a solo player. He had to be powerful to beat certain teams that Jon knew were good. He started to worry if Lan and he could stand a chance against this guy. He hadn't received any kind of injury, and in fact had not been hit once. The only thing Jon did know about this guy was his name, Nightmare.
After 10 minutes of rest the final match began, and the guy they were fighting, was completely covered in silver and black armor. There was no place on the guy's body that there was no armor. The only things could be seen was an eerie red glow coming from his eyes. He was a heavy blade character whose sword looked like it was alive. Lan charged forward along with Jon, and when they tried to attack the strange man, but when their blades came close to him, Jon was unable to move his sword any farther, and was frozen in place. Lan had blown back by the guys swinging his strange sword. Nightmare turned to face Jon and the glow in his eyes became much brighter and more sinister. From what could be seen in the face, it seemed like he was grinning. He swung his sword at Jon's head, and there was a loud clang. Jon had somehow moved again and blocked the attack, but it sent him into the wall of the arena. There was a hole in the wall where Jon had hit it, and when he emerged, his right arm seemed broken and badly injured. Nightmare had stood still after the attack, and waited while Jon healed himself and stood next to Lan.
"I think the only way we're going to hurt or even hit this guy is if we use attack skills," Jon said.
"I gotcha," Lan said.
Jon sword started to glow white as he charged Nightmare and Lan's ax started glowing black. They both charged Nightmare again this time when Jon swung his sword the blade went through, and struck Nightmare in the side and shocking him at that spot. At the very same time, Lan's axe struck him in the shoulder, causing a strange shadow to ripple throughout Nightmare's body. He howled in pain and staggered backward a little. He swung his sword at Jon again, causing Jon to skid backward toward the wall again. Jon could tell Nightmare was weaker by the force of his blow. Jon charged at Nightmare again but time his sword glowed a very light blue while Lan distracted Nightmare. Jon stabbed Nightmare in his sword and it instantly froze and ice surrounded the entire arm up to the shoulder. Lan took swipes at Nightmare's neck to quickly end the fight, but the armor plating there was harder than the other armor. Jon used his ice attack on the helmet of Nightmare and froze it along with the neck armor. Nightmare started to become enraged and tore off all the frozen pieces of armor on the ground. He even smashed his frozen arm into the ground just to get the ice off it, but to no avail, because the ice was too thick. Nightmare's sword arm remained frozen in ice, and was unable to bend it. He threw the frozen arm about hitting Lan in the stomach and using it as a shield from Jon's sword. His face was normal except for the bloodshot eyes that seemed to glow when he had his helmet on. Lan used her Ani Tornado attack and struck Nightmare right in the neck. One could see the darkness flow from the ax into Nightmare's body and he kicked her away leaving the ax still in his neck. Blood began to ooze out of the wound and Night mare began to stagger and lose his balance. Nightmare made one final lunge at Jon by swinging his frozen arm at him. Jon easily avoided the attack and watched as Nightmare laid there and died. Jon shook the ax free from Nightmare's neck and handed it back to Lan.
Minutes later, the administrator walked up to Jon and presented him with a sword that looked vaguely familiar to the one he was using already, but this one was much more powerful and it had strange markings on the blade. Lan was given a larger ax than what she was used to using, but this one had stronger skills and more power behind each swing. They logged off and when Lan checked her mail she noticed one from David and she told Jon to meet her at Dun Lorieag.
Chapter 7 End
A/N: I know I used Soul Calibur's Nitemare to make the villain of this chapter but I think it was a good thing to do. That and I hate Piros so that's why I gave him his corny dialog but with even more corny lines. Next chapter is my chapter with Jasmine being I'm making a chapter for all my characters. I will be done with it by Monday now that school is over for me.
