Chapter 13 - Struggle to the top

I was challenged... by a girl! Today is the big day. Will I win the tournament? Will I be defeated by some random opponent? Will I get my ass kicked by a cute girl? I trained very hard, all I can do is do my best. I see Seria tries to sneak away, just as I am about to leave my room. I thought she was with Amy and Jody who were already at the dome? "Weren't you going to the tournament?" I ask. She's startled, because she didn't notice me.

Seria: "I ah... I still have some business to take care off?"

Me: "Shouldn't you support Jody? Something really bad happened to her brother."

Seria: "I'm not her friend, so it's not my job. Summers was my job, and now I gotta report exactly what happened."

Me: "To the government? Hah, governments won't do anything about it until it's too late."

Seria: "... ... ... I'm only doing my job."

Me: "Were you really a guy in another world? Or did you just make that up?"

Seria: "I told you the truth. I used to be a guy. I've been here for 14 years already."

Me: "Hmmm... just go report to the government. It's your job, I won't stop you. I gotta tell you that I could really use your help though."

Seria: "I'll ask if I should aid you after I've delivered my report. You're one of the few people that The Malicious refused to kill. That might be an advantage."

She leaves. I hadn't eaten anything, and grab a bite before I leave. I can't help but feeling a bit nervous. I don't know how powerful I am compared to others in this world.

When I arrive at the preparation room in the arena, Jody is busy winning her first fight. I'm the last one to fight, and there are still 5 fights before it's my turn. Jody's opponent is very big, about 5 feet tall. And he's very strong, and pretty fast too. But Jody is totally owning him with her superior speed and fighting technique. No, it's not just superior. Her skills are simply awesome. I have no better words for it. She moves elegant like a dancer, using her weight perfectly. It's so precise that she manages to kick the opponent into the air, jumps, and kicks him up a few times before placing a kick so that she ends up above the opponent. Then she kicks him down, and the big guy is knocked out.

Jody walks out of the arena, into the preparation room. "So what do you think of Sky Reaper? The ultimate airborne fighting style?" She's very confident. Of course she is! Her style is perfect in every way. But... I still stand a chance. "Very Impressive." She's about to walk away. "But... If that's all you won't win from me." She stops for several seconds. "I'm going to join Amy in the audience for a while. Don't disappoint me and lose before we get to fight each other." Hmmm... seems she has some faith in me. Several fights later, it's finally my turn. I wasn't impressed by any of them, except for the fight of that pink male hedgehog. Or was he purple? I wouldn't know. Even if he got a wimpy color, he most certainly has skills. People call him Bounty Hunter... so that's probably what he is. He most certainly has that look.

I walk into the arena. The light is pretty bright. So that's what it feels like to stand on the stage. My opponent also walks in. He's a pretty big and muscled hedgehog, like most fighters here. The bell goes, and the fight starts. He rushes immediately at me. He's a slow one alright. Nearly feels like watching it in slow-motion. Then he throws a straight punch, like the muscled buffoon that he is. I could dodge it, but... I take it like a man! It doesn't floor me, nor does it hurt much. What the? So little training and I became this strong already? Or... maybe he's just all looks and is actually a wimp. He's amazed that I don't have anything. I decide he doesn't even deserve the honor to hit me anymore. He throws another punch, I step to him, dodge it by ducking, and give him and uppercut. He flies about 10 feet into the air. Wow, I really am strong! Before he lands I kick him and he flies against the wall. He's knocked out. I raise my arm the crowd goes wild. Then I walk out of the arena, into the preparation room. Jody is there again.

Jody: "You're... no normal hedgehog, are you? Not like the other ones from another world. You're not even much like my brother. What are you anyway?"

Me: "Beats me. I have no idea. Just admit it, I kick ass."

Jody: "Yes you do, but certainly not mine. If that's all you can do you won't beat me."

Me: "Yeah, sure. Whatever you say. I'll watch the fights with Amy. It's your turn soon. Good luck!"

I walk away. I don't know where Amy exactly is in the audience... but i'll find her. And... Jody was mocking me! After I mocked her! She's a toughie alright, in both character and skills. It takes me about 10 minutes to find Amy. I'm just in time for Jody's next fight. "Is Jody still mad at you?" Amy asks. "Not really. But I need to prove i'm better than her if I want her to calm down." The bell goes, and Jody fights again. She shows no mercy to the opponent, just as her first fight. And her Air Reaper style owned the opponent again. It's over within 30 seconds. It seems to have a small weakness though. Ha, I already know exactly how i'm going to counter it. Hopefully i'm able to pull it off. It requires immense precision. "Aha!" I was thinking out loud. "What?" Amy asks. "Uh... nothing. Something just crossed my mind. Nothing special."

I go back to the preparation room. Jody doesn't cross my path this time. I must've missed her. Wait, I didn't. She's standing at the entrance, talking to that pink hedgehog! I decide to check out what's going on.

Bounty hunter: "That brother of yours is mine!"

Jody: "If you even touch him, you're dead!"

Bounty hunter: "Hmpf, I've got a fight now. I'll see you in the next round, cutie."

Jody: "Bastard!"

The bounty hunter walks into the arena. Jody turns around, and sees me. "I can't believe how many people are lurking on my brother. And he even has the nerve to call me a cutie? Who the hell does he think he is! Shadnik?" Obviously, she doesn't like him. So... "His name is Shadnik?" I ask. "Bass Shadnik, a well known bounty hunter. Now that my brother has a bounty on his head, he's chasing him. I have to make sure he won't get him, by beating him in the next round." She walks away, and returns to Amy. Bass beats his opponent very easily. He doesn't show any mercy, and goes on even after the opponent is KO 'd. Hopefully Jody can beat that guy. After a few fights it's my turn again. I beat my opponent easily too. In this tournament, there are 3 fighters that shine. Jody shines most. She's a pretty hedgehog girl with supreme fighting skills. Then there's Bass. His fights a brutal, no one likes what he does to his opponents. His badass attitude makes him shine. Then there's me... the silent red hedgehog that doesn't hold back, no matter who the opponent is.

After a while, Jody has to fight again. It's the last fight she has to do today. It's against Bass. While she walks past me... "Good luck Jody. Kick his ass!" She just walks on without saying anything. A few seconds later Bass comes by. "Kick my ass you said? Huh, i'll beat you to a pulp after i'm done with the girl." Arrogant attitude he got. But just an arrogant attitude ain't enough to scare me. I'm sure Jody will beat him, one way or another... I hope...

End of chapter

New character

Name: Bass Shadnik
Age: 23
Gamefaqs member name: Shadnik
Color: Pink (looks close to purple)
Spike style: Short like old school Sonic
Others: Utility vest, broad battle scarred sword and shield.
Side: Neutral
Time in Hedgehog Mania world: About 6 years before he gets introduced into the story
First appearance: Chapter 13
Role: Bounty hunter that occasionally makes some trouble for Hero's group
Personality: He fought a lot, and has seen a lot of death ever since he came into the Hedgehog Mania world. So he has a merciless and very arrogant attitude. He jokes around about, and against his enemies and bounties too.
Backround: Just when he was transfered into the Hedgehog Mania world, he landed in a war between 2 cities. So he had nowhere to go, but to fight. Both sides attacked him. In the end... both of those cities were annihilated, but Bass managed to get away before they were destroyed. Right after that, he decided to become a bounty hunter, and became a bounty himself too. Due to this, he encountered many bounty hunters that wouldn't stop fighting until death. He used to be a kind young man... but all those battles have scarred him for life.
Special power: Compression and control of sand. Most of the time he makes pillars out of it to crush his opponents.

Status growth:
Power: 10/10
Battle speed: 7/10
Endurance: 6/10
Melee fighting: 10/10
Strategy: 7/10
Running speed: 6/10