A/N: Okay, this is it! The chapter you've all been waiting for! You all know what this is, so I won't bother wasting any of your time with my rubbish. Let's just get straight into it, shall we?

WARNING! (DANGER WIL ROBINSON!) This is a two chap update, if you haven't read the previous chapter (Number twenty, Interesting Discoveries) then do so now! If you have, then you may proceed.

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

A TEST OF SKILL

Isaac's party had slept very comfortably that night in a luxurious room in Babi's Palace. After a delicious breakfast which was served in their room, one of Babi's highest aides entered the room to speak with them.

"Hello, my name if Iodem," the man introduced himself. "I am Lord Babi's second-in-command." Isaac and the rest introduced themselves. "I am here to speak with you concerning your reward," he continued. "In honour of your rescue of Lord Babi, he has granted you the right to enter the Colosso tournament."

"Really?" Isaac asked. "Colosso? …gee, I don't know…"

"We really have a quest to continue on…" Ivan started.

"I don't believe it fighting for sport," Mia replied.

"Hey, that's great!" Garet exclaimed! "I'd love to fight in the Colosso tournament!"

"Actually, Lord Babi has extended this offer to Isaac of Vale only," Iodem informed them.

"What!" they all exclaimed. Why would Babi pick him especially?

"That's not fair!" Garet whined. "I want to enter!"

"Why me?" Isaac asked.

"Lord Babi picked you because he felt you were the best warrior as leader of the group," Iodem explained. "And he wants to see your Psynergy abilities in action. He wants to see what a fighting Adept is capable of."

Isaac frowned. "We can't do this. There's this group we are following and we have to stop them before it's too late."

"Besides, aren't we supposed to clear the trials or something?" Ivan queried. "I thought that they all took place yesterday. Today is supposed to be the start of the actual tournament!"

"That is true…" Iodem nodded. "However, Lord Babi has decreed that you needn't participate in the trials. He believes that having saved his life qualifies as trial enough."

Isaac thought about this a moment, then he suddenly realized something. "Wait, you just talked about our Psynergy as though it were normal! How do you know all about that?"

"Lord Babi has briefed me previously regarding all such knowledge," Iodem explained with infinite patience. "In truth, I only know the bare minimum, and even that I had trouble understanding, let alone believing…" For the first time, the man appeared to have lost some of his normally reserved composure.

"So why doesn't Babi come down here and explain it all to us?" Garet interrupted, forgetting to add the honorary 'Lord' before Babi's name. "He promised us a few answers."

"My Lord," Iodem emphasized the word as though a reminder to Garet, "has taken ill, and will be unable to speak with you until he has recovered."

"Sounds a bit convenient…" Garet muttered, fortunately not loudly enough for Iodem to hear. It was remarkable, Isaac thought, how much Iodem's clear, precise yet formal and polite way of speaking reminded him of Kraden.

"So," Iodem said, "what say you, Isaac? Will you enter Colosso?"

"I can't," Isaac shook his head. "Like I said, there's a group we're following and we have to catch them, because…" Isaac was about to say 'the fate of the world hands in the balance,' but decided that entailed too much explanation, so settled for, "it's very important."

"I see…" Iodem mused, not really understanding. "Important enough to pass up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?" Isaac nodded. "But there is a substantial cash prize for a victory." Isaac pondered this. Their coin was getting low… but this? "Also – and Lord Babi promised this for you only, should you win – he will grant you any request you ask, provided it is reasonable and within his means. Lord Babi will decide weather or not to accept your request."

Isaac was silent for a moment. "I need to think about this," he said. Iodem nodded. Babi certainly seemed eager to entice him into this tournament… but why?

"Isaac, you're not seriously thinking of doing this, are you?" Mia whispered.

"Hey, if you don't want to do this, I'll gladly take your place!" Garet offered.

Regardless of why Babi wanted this, Isaac began to form an idea in his head. Perhaps this tournament would turn out for the better.

"Iodem, could you please excuse us for a moment" he asked. "I wan to talk with my friends."

"Of course," Iodem nodded, and left the room.

"I have an idea," Isaac told the others once they were alone.

"What?" Garet urged.

"Aside from the fact that we're short on money," he explained, "this reward could really help us."

"You mean about the request part?" Ivan asked. The Earth Adept nodded.

"How?" Mia asked.

"Well, we sailed across the Karagol Sea while Saturos and Menardi went around, right?" The others nodded. "So, we must be at least a day ahead of them now towards Venus Lighthouse."

"Right," Ivan nodded. "Which is precisely why we can't waste any time with Colosso!"

"But," Isaac interrupted, "if I win, I can ask Babi to order all his soldiers from here to Suhulla to even Lalivero to capture of even kill the four of them if they see them and return Jenna and Kraden safely back to us!"

"Isaac, that's a brilliant idea!" Garet exclaimed. "See, that's why you're our leader!"

"But we'd still follow them, right?" Ivan asked. "Just to make sure and to get the Elemental Stars back."

"Of course," Isaac admitted. "Besides, even ignoring Felix and Alex, Saturos and Menardi are powerful Adepts. Likely, they'll need our help to beat them, but at the very least, this'll slow them down. Besides, thanks to the Karagol trip, we'll be right on their tails, if not ahead of them."

"We'll probably need all the help we van get," Mia said. "After all, remember Mercury Lighthouse? Even weakened by its power, Saturos put up a good fight. Both of them together, at full power, will require more than just the four of us, even if we are more powerful now."

"Another reason I want to fight in Colosso," Isaac said. "If I can do all that, I'm sure I'll be ready for Saturos again." Then, it'll be time for revenge.

"You're pretty serious about this, huh?" Garet asked. "But you have to win. Otherwise, your plan's ruined and we're back to where we started."

"I know," Isaac sighed. "That's why I mustn't fail."

"Hey, with your Psynergy, you'll be fine!" Garet assured him.

"That reminds me!" Ivan exclaimed. "How are you going to fight? I mean, if people see you throwing rocks around, making earthquakes and healing yourself, what are they going to do? They'll probably think you're some kind of demon!"

"I know," Isaac nodded. "I'll have to be very low key about it. But, I promise I'll win, mo matter what."

"So, it's decided then?" Mia asked and Isaac nodded once more. They called Iodem in, and he patiently awaited his answer.

"I'll do it." Isaac told him, determination in his voice. "I'll fight in Colosso."

XXX

After agreeing to the fight, Iodem led Isaac down to the palace basement where, he explained, there was a secret underground passage to the colosseum. Along the way, Garet, Ivan and Mia left to go to the Colosseum via the front entrance. They promised to be right in the front row seats and cheering Isaac along the way.

The underground tunnel was made of stone and only dimly lit with candles at regular intervals. At the end, a flight of stairs took them a few feet up where Isaac found himself in a large square room with several large warriors and a few of the Tolbi guard.

"It is here that I must leave you, Isaac," Iodem informed him. "Though frail, Lord Babi will watch your performance and will require me at his side. Best of luck."

"Thanks," Isaac replied, and Iodem was off, back through the tunnel they'd entered together.

"You must be Isaac, Lord Babi's champion, I presume?" the captain of the guard approached him.

"That's me."

"The rules state that a warrior may not fight with any armour or weapon of their own, save what they find in the arena," he articulated dryly. "Please remove any such items that you may be carrying." None of his own fighting gear? Iodem hadn't mentioned that!

It's too late to back out now. He removed his leather gloves, steel chest plate and the sheath with his sword in it, and handed them to one of the soldiers, who placed the items in a chest.

"You may retrieve them after the match," the guard recited monotonously. "If you survive," he then added as a grave reminder as to what could happen out there.

"The contest will start shortly!" another soldier declared loudly. "Please wait."

Isaac decided to wander around and look at his opponents. Iodem had already explained the rules to him on the way down. Eight contestants started round one. They ran some sort of obstacle course as a show of fitness, collecting bits of armour and other items along the way, then reached the fighting ring, where the two warriors facing each other would find two swords each, one better than the other. Whoever got there first had an advantage. After the four battles were done, there were only four warriors left. Then round two was a repetition of round one, with a different course and only two separate fights. The two victors then went to round three, different course again, and only one final duel. Whoever won that was declared "Champion of Colosso." Simple really.

There were a variety of different warriors in the waiting room, all with their unique look. And all of them looked dangerous to pick on. Most of them regarded Isaac disdainfully, as though they couldn't believe that someone so pathetic looking could be chosen to be Lord Babi's Champion.

"So, you're the kid Babi chose, huh?" a loud, deep voice said. A huge man, with dark skin who looked like seven foot of pure muscle looked at him. His head was shaven all over and he looked well built enough for any three men. "I heard a rumour that you were a huge, hulking warrior. Guess it was wrong."

"Guess so," Isaac agreed with a shrug, not really how sure to respond.

"Well, I'm Navampa from Gondowan, and let me tell you, I'm going to win Colosso!"

"Don't bet on it!" another warrior scoffed. This one was of a more regular size, but still well muscled, and had many scars across his pale Angaran body.

"Shut it, Azart!" Navampa replied. "You haven't got a hope." The scarred warrior, Azartr, simply smirked, then turned and ignored him.

"Save it for the ring, Navampa," he called out over his shoulder. Isaac looked around at the others and noticed that there was one guy that looked different from the others. Judging by his appearance, Isaac guessed that he was from Xian, probably trained in the Martial Arts Academy by Master Feh. He was sitting cross legged on the floor, hands on his knees and eyes closed in deep concentration.

"That's Satrage," Navamp informed him, noticing his look. "Apparently, he's trying to focus himself before battle, or some such."

"I see," Isaac nodded. He might have said more, but right then, one of the Tolbi soldiers called out the beginning of the match.

"Places, everyone!" The battle will begin shortly!"

"About time!" someone, Isaac didn't know who, agreed.

"All warriors will be paired off, and led to the obstacle course which you must complete before facing your foe. The first round, you will be paired off as follows… Isaac and Azart…"

The scarred warrior called Azart looked at Isaac, and he ceased to listen to the announcer. "Looks like I've got me and easy first victory," he sneered.

"We'll see," Isaac shrugged. He ignored the rest of what they announcer said. When he was done, Isaac was led through the corridors of the Colosseum, and out into the arena.

XXX

Lord Babi sat in his chair that was in a position separated from the rest of the seats which stretched far out below him, full of people eager to see blood shed. Further out, in the centre of the Colosseum, was the arena. The first match of the first round was just finished, sending Galahad limping home to nurse his wounds and shattered dreams. But that didn't matter; this whole event was no longer of much interest to him. He had been watching it for too long, for too many years. It was just a scheme, really, to obtain large amounts of money and good warriors for his army.

But the next match would be very different. Because Isaac was fighting and he was looking forward to it. If all went well, then he could set his plans into motion…

"Here is your tea, my Lord," Iodem said, interrupting his thoughts. He set the cup on the small table beside Babi's chair.

"Iodem?"

"Yes?"

"About the Sheba girl." Babi took a small sip of tea, and then set it down again. "Have her sent back to Lalivero."

"Really?" Iodem asked with a tone of disbelief in his voice. Babi nodded. "That's good. Personally, I never like the idea of kidnapping her in the first place."

"So you've said," Babi noted dryly.

"This will improve your image with the Laliverans, who may even work on Babi Lighthouse faster. My Lord, may I ask you something?"

"What is it, Iodem?" Babi was paying close attention to Isaac running the obstacle course.

"What provoked you to change your mind? Not one week ago, you were adamant about keeping her under lock and key until your Lighthouse was finished."

"Let us just say circumstances have changed." Babi replied off-hand. "She is no longer a part of my plan." Isaac had almost finished the course, and he was beating Azart, too. "I've found a newer, more useful pawn to use. One that can offer me far greater rewards, if I'm not very much mistaken."

XXX

Isaac ran into the duelling ring, which was still empty. He'd beaten Azart! He immediately ran for one of the two swords, both of which were on opposite ends of the ring. The one he grabbed was the longer, better looking of the two.

Azart ran in only moments later, looked about quickly and grabbed the other, shorter sword. Isaac was slightly out of breath from running the course, but otherwise fine. He had a good advantage over his foe, now.

They circled one another slowly, assessing each other for strengths and weaknesses, openings and likely methods of attack. Azart attacked first.

Azart made a lunge for Isaac, who was quick to react, and parried the blow. The audience cheered in excitement, but neither warrior heard them. They were too focused on each other.

They attacked and defended with their swords, twirling and striking and dodging. Isaac drew on every last reserve of his sword skills. If this had been all that there was to it, Isaac probably would have lost.

But he had a secret weapon. Isaac focused his mind, summoned his Psynergy, and prepared to cast an earthquake…

A sudden, careless opening in his defence from his Psynergy concentration was immediately exploited by Azart, and a sharp stinging pain in his gut told him that his enemy's blade had gotten through. Isaac staggered back in pain, fell to one knee, and clutched his side where the blade had cut. He immediately felt Azart's sword at his neck.

"Surrender, whelp." Isaac groped his side. The cut was deep, nothing life threatening, but bad enough to hurt. A lot. He could heal it later, for now, he let it bleed profusely.

"Well?" Isaac used his Psynergy to create a strong tremor in the earth beneath Azart's feet. He stumbled back and looked down in shock. Isaac used the opportunity to knock Azart's sword away from his neck with his own, and followed through with a strike of his own to Azart's arm. The audience cheered in excitement. They loved this.

Isaac immediately raised his sword in one hand above his head, and brought it down against Azart, who saw this, and easily blocked it. But he had fallen for Isaac's feint.
With his other hand free, Isaac shattered the ground beneath his opponent's feet, who stumbled and fell, twisting his ankle in a large crack in the ground that wasn't there before, and fell heavily to the ground. The audience, who couldn't see properly why Azart fell from their distance, just assumed it was a mistake, and cheered for Isaac.

The Earth Adept swiped his sword and put a large deep gash in the Colosso warrior's sword arm and he dropped his weapon in response. Isaac then placed his boot on Azart's chest and held his sword at his neck.

"Do you surrender?"

"I-impossible! You cheated, you must have!"

"Do you?" he asked again. Azart looked around wildly, for a means of escape, but found none. His situation was hopeless.

"Fine, then. I surrender." Isaac removed his sword, stepped off, and let Azart stand.

"Azart has surrendered!" an announcer cried. "Isaac is the winner!" The crowd went wild.

XXX

"He did it!" Ivan crowed. "Isaac won!"

"Yeah, go Isaac!" Garet shouted. Mia just smiled and said nothing.

"The kid just got lucky!" someone grumbled from behind Garet. The Fire Adept turned to see a man reluctantly handing over some gold coins to his grinning friend. "If he hadn't tripped like that he would have won!"

"Lord Babi didn't send in his champion for nothing!" the other retorted. "I knew he'd be a good bet!"

"He'll lose next time, you watch!" Garet, who had seen Isaac's Psynergy, knew better, but thought it wise to say nothing.

The winning better walked of with his takings, and the loser sat down behind Garet seemingly unconcerned.

"You seem alright for someone who just lost a lot of money," Garet noted.

"Not to worry, I'll make it back next round," the man said self-assuredly. "There's no way that kid'll win a second time. That's a safe bet to make my money back on."

Garet smiled. "Oh, yeah? Just how much you willing to bet?"

XXX

Lord Babi sat in his chair, sipped the last of his tea and then set the empty cup aside. Round two was about to begin. After young Isaac's victory, the rest of the matches passed by without eliciting much of his interest. Below him, his subjects of Tolbi and visitors from afar milled about noisily as refreshments were purchased, bets were paid and made and people moved to get back to their seats in time.

"Get ready, people!" a nearby herald shouted loudly. "Round two starts soon!" The push of people returning to their seats increased as they hurried to get ready for the action. Iodem approached his side. "My Lord?"

"Hmm?"

"The Sheba girl… I've informed her that she is to be escorted back to Lalivero as you ordered." Iodem's tone was all formal seriousness, but underlying it was a hint of wanting to ask something.

"Excellent… but, why are you telling me this?" Babi wanted to know why Iodem had bothered to report something so innocuous.

"My Lord…" Iodem cleared his throat before continuing. "When I talked to her… she insisted that she meet with you and hear it herself."

"And you came to me asking this because she asked you too?" Babi asked in a condescending tone.

"Well, I…"

"Never mind, I'm sure she would have trouble believing it." Babi waved his hand, dismissing Iodem's feeling insulted. "I should say goodbye to her myself, personally. Bring her to me."

Iodem nodded and left. The second round had begun, and Babi focused his full attention on the arena. The first two warriors ran their obstacle course and then fought fiercely with one another until one felled the other with a deep cut to the gut, but didn't kill him. Babi didn't catch their names; he wasn't all that particularly interested.

Then Isaac entered the arena, with his new opponent, Satrage. The disciplined warrior from Xian.

They had just begun running the course when Iodem, followed by Sheba and a two guard escort, entered the private pavilion. He felt mildly irritated that he was being bothered during the one match he had any interest in.

"My Lord? Sheba is here." Iodem said. Isaac was halfway through the course now. Babi turned briefly away from the marathon - this wasn't the best bit anyway - and faced the strange Laliveran girl now standing next to him.

"Ahh, Sheba." Babi said in a voice of false warmth. "What brings you here?" Sheba wore valuable Laliveran robes that reminded Babi somewhat of that boy, Ivan's clothes. She was short, even for a fourteen year old girl, and her straight blonde hair was cut short to just below her earlobes making a sort of smooth blonde bowl shape atop her head. She looked at him with calm purple eyes that seemed to see into his mind. Now that Babi thought about it, she certainly looked not all that dissimilar from Ivan of Kalay.

Child of the Gods the Laliverans had called her, because she had purportedly fallen from the sky as a child – Babi didn't believe that one himself – and possessed 'strange powers'. Babi knew what those powers were. Psynergy, because she was nothing more than a wild Adept, like those Lemurians he'd met, oh so long ago.

"You said you're setting me free," Sheba said softly, disbelievingly. "Is this true?"

"Of course it is, girl," Babi replied. "Would I lie to you?"

Sheba didn't bother to answer the question. "Does this mean everyone in Lalivero is free now? That they can stop building you your stupid Lighthouse?"

"No, my dear," Babi chuckled, "just that they get you back. If they keep working hard, they get to keep you."

"I knew it was too good to be true," she muttered.

"See how generous I am?"

"Oh, yes, very," she replied sarcastically. "Well, it's been such a pleasure staying here," she said this especially sarcastically, "but I'd rather be going now."

"Fine, then." Babi waved his hand dismissively. Isaac was almost done, the fight would start soon. "Be gone. Iodem, see to it she is escorted back by our finest, we don't want any harm to come to our special child, now."

"Oh, yes, I can see how that would really traumatise you," she remarked, rolling her purple eyes. That girl had a naturally sarcastic tongue.

"It shall be done, my Lord." Iodem nodded, and then left quickly with the Sheba girl and the two guards.

They were quickly forgotten, however, as Babi turned to the arena, and saw that the fight was about to begin.

XXX

Isaac burst into the battle ring and, much to his delight, again got the longer, sharper of the two swords available. He was almost out of breath from running that obstacle course at full speed. His wounds from the previous fight were aching from his exertion, but he didn't have time to heal them as Satrage of Xian immediately entered and seized the other blade without hardly looking for the other one. Or realising it was gone so fast that Isaac didn't notice.

The Satrage turned on Isaac, held his blade ready in a native Xian stance, and focused on his enemy with a ferocious intensity. The man didn't seem in the least fazed by his weaker weapon, distracted by the cheers of the crowd, or exhausted in any way by the obstacle course.

This one's going to be harder to beat, Isaac noted.

Then Satrage leaped for Isaac and the battle commenced. With incredible speed and skill that Isaac could barely fathom, Satrage attacked relentlessly. It took everything Isaac had just to keep himself alive. He fell back under the rain of blows, blocking, dodging and parrying with everything he had.

Isaac desperately tried to get some distance between them, but failed. Satrage was too fast. With cold determination, the Xian warrior kept as close as possible. Isaac couldn't use any Psynergy while every ounce of his concentration was focused on using his sword just to stay alive.

I need to slow him down somehow… he thought.

As Isaac blocked another strike, Satrage raised his sword for a downward slash and the Earth Adept quickly rolled away. As Satrage tried to ready himself again, Isaac found himself a moment to focus himself.

Growth.

Thick, strong vines-like weeds suddenly grew up around Satrage's feet, holding him down. The warrior, not noticing this, lunged at Isaac while he was seemingly leaving himself open. Satrage's body suddenly jerked to a stop, and he fell down on his face, snapping the plants at his feet as they crumbled to dust.

The crowd booed and hissed in disappointment, thinking that he'd tripped. They weren't able to see that something unnatural had held him down. Satrage dropped his sword in surprise, and as it clattered to the ground, Isaac used his Psynergy to shape the earth beneath it so that it was held down.

After he did this, Isaac suddenly realised how many minor cuts Satrage had inflicted to his arms and sides, all bleeding freely. He'd been so intensely focused on fighting that he hadn't even noticed.

Too many to heal just now.

At that moment Satrage was on his feet. He groped for his sword, found it stuck, then stood and looked at Isaac with rage and realisation dawning on his face.

"You're cheating!' he hissed accusingly. Isaac let his sword hand by his side. With Satrage disarmed, he'd effectively won.

"No, I just did something that you couldn't." Satrage noted how Isaac had let his guard right down. Without any warning, he lunged at Isaac with a high kick for the head. The Earth Adept raised his sword instinctively with a speed Satrage hadn't expected. The blade pierced his belly, spilling blood out, while Satrage's boot collided with Isaac's head, causing him to fall back and pull his sword back out. Satrage fell to the ground in pain, seemingly unable to get up again, while Isaac staggered and managed to remain standing, albeit barely. There was large bruise on the side of his head and his neck ached after it had been violently jerked, but he stayed conscious. He'd blacked out for a second after the initial blow, but he was fine. For now.

"Isaac of Vale is the winner! Satrage of Xian is unable to get up!"

The crowd let out a loud roar of approval.

"…impossible…" Satrage muttered to himself. "… cheated…"

I feel kind of light headed after that… But he didn't think about it too hard. Rubbing his sore neck, and ignoring the bleeding wounds, healing them would have been too suspicious anyway, Isaac allowed himself to be led away by the guards that then appeared.

XXX

"I… I don't believe it!" the skinny gambler scoffed.

"Pay up!" Garet encouraged, holding out his hand for the money. The man grumbled indignantly for a moment, the dropped the bag of gold coins into Garet's open hand and then stomped off without so much as a farewell.

"Hmm… not bad…" Garet grinned as he weighed the money with no small amount of satisfaction. "I could easily get rich like this…"

"Hey, Mia… Isaac didn't… kill Satrage did he?"

"No, Ivan, it was just a flesh wound. If they get it properly stitched and bandaged, then I'm sure he'll be fine in a couple of weeks."

"Hey, Mia, Ivan," Garet called out, "I'm just going to go… get some refreshments." Instead, he went to the betting venue, where he found someone eager to gamble.

"I'll bet everything on Isaac of Vale to win round three," the Fire Adept declared proudly to one willing gambler, holding out his bulging leather bag of coins.

"Are you crazy!" The man's eyes practically jumped out of their sockets. "Do you have any idea who he's up against?"

"Does it matter?"

"Navampa of Gondowan!" the man said almost fearfully.

"Doesn't mean anything to me," Garet shrugged. "I'll still put it all on Isaac." He held out his now much increased coin sack to the man, who eyed it greedily.

"Okay then, it's a bet!" the man grinned, and licked his lips in anticipation. "Easy money is good money!"

XXX

Isaac ran into the arena, out of puff. That obstacle course had been the hardest one of all! And not helped by his many injuries – which he was yet to heal – and his aching neck, giving him the most horrendous of migraine headaches.

Navampa, a hulking seven foot giant of pure muscle, his dark Gondowan skin a stark contrast to Isaac's pale Angaran complexion, already stood there, holding the longer sword triumphantly.

"Go on, kid, take the other sword," he said almost tauntingly. "I want you to be at least a bit of a challenge!" Isaac immediately picked up the other sword blade; shorter than and not as sharp as Navampa's own, and held it ready. Navampa grinned enthusiastically. "Your dead meat, kid."

Navampa swung his sword and Isaac raised his to block, but the force of the blow was enough to drive him back. Navampa made several more strikes, and each time Isaac blocked it and each time he was driven back.

Navampa's very strong, he noted mentally, and I'm getting very weak. Isaac staggered back, momentarily unable to fight. Rather than take the opportunity that the Earth Adept's opening presented, Navampa gestured for roars of approval from the crowd, basking in the glory of the moment.

He's taunting me! He thinks I'm no challenge! Isaac leapt for Navamps, sword poised for a killing blow, but the Colosso warrior spun and parried quickly, before Isaac even had a chance to register what was happening. Then, a powerful punch from Navampa's clenched fist pounded into his jaw, feeling like a rock had struck. Isaac stumbled and reeled back, somewhat dazed from the blow. Navampa could have easily taken him down then, but instead he taunted Isaac and let the crowd shout their approval.

I should get him now, while he's not attacking. He tried to focus, to summon his Psynergy but found his mind was too dazed to bring into focus properly. Forget it. Instead, he lunged at Navampa with his sword again. And again, Navampa spun and parried the blow with ease, this time swinging the sword so strongly that Isaac's blade flew out of his hand and landed a few feet away, out of his reach.

I'm done for! He took a step back, completely defenceless. I should just surrender now.

"You shouldn't play in a man's game, kid," Navampa sneered, and Isaac realised he wasn't even going to get the chance to surrender, as Navampa raised his sword. Isaac took another step back. His head had cleared a bit now. I should try some Psynergy, now.

Isaac raised his hand, and thick vines tore out from the ground beneath Navampa's feet, which wrapped themselves tightly about the warrior's feet. Vines with large, sharp thorns. As they dug into this flesh, drawing out blood, Navampa screamed in agony and dropped his sword. It landed point first on the ground, and Isaac immediately grabbed the handle, letting the thorny growth about Navampa's feet crumble back into dirt. Isaac began to raise the sword at the same time as Navampa fell down to his knees and landed right on top of his own blade, piercing right through his belly.

As Navampa collapsed into a heap, Isaac tore the sword out and threw it away. I hope I didn't kill him! Navampa coughed up some of his blood, and Isaac was relieved to discover that the warrior was alive. But he was dying.

"Navampa of Gondowan has been defeated!" the announcer cried out. "Isaac of Vale is the winner!"

I can't kill him! I'm not a murderer! Isaac raised a bloodied hand and summoned that last of his strength to heal Navampa. When he was done, the warrior was no longer bleeding, and breathing easily. But he still glowered balefully at Isaac.

"…impossible… you musta cheated…"

"Isaac of Vale is Champion of Colosso!" There was a deafening cheer from the crowd but Isaac barely heard it, it all seemed so distant. He was only vaguely aware of two people carrying off Navampa's limp body. Of the crowd chanting his name.

He saw his three friends standing on the edge of the arena to greet him, but he saw them as though in a dream.

"Good on you, Isaac! I knew you'd show 'em what you're made off!" That was from Garet.

"Congratulations, Isaac!" Ivan said.

"I'm so glad you survived!" Mia exclaimed.

"How do you feel?" Ivan asked.

"I'll be fine," Isaac said, smiling weakly as his hold on consciousness faded. Then it vanished altogether as his knees buckled under him and everything went black. He was unconscious before he even hit the ground.

A/N: Ahh… I was pretty pleased with how this chapter turned out. It was one of my better chapters, in my opinion; I hope you liked it as much as I did. Well, all thoughts and opinions are appreciated, so you know what must be done. Until next time, Adios Amigos.