Chapter 103: The Process
"Frozen Sky Dragon's... Flash Frozen Fist!"
To start their epic bout, Waiston took the initiative by taking one large step forward, swinging his right fist forward in the process. The momentum behind his punch came with a powerful gust of wind that not only blew with immaculate strength, but carried a deathly low temperature with it, freezing everything in its path as it traveled. Correll didn't have anywhere to run or evade, so he did what anyone would instinctively do, and that was cover himself up as best as he could as the powerful blast of arctic wind threatened to lift him off his feet while simultaneously freezing him. As the spell calmed into a dispersion, the arena was now a frozen wasteland — but, a small flicker of light was seen in the middle of the arena. It caused Waiston to smirk. "Impressive. You're still standing." He said, baring his dragon like fangs.
"No no. Don't twist the narrative. Say it correctly." Said Correll, now taking a readied stance with both his feet and fists in flames. "You meant to say; impressive... you weren't even scathed by my strongest attack."
Waiston laughed. "Now look who's twisting the narrator!"
"...narrative, you thick headed dunce."
"Anyways, enough chatter-boxing! We're the main event so let's act like it! Here! I! Come!"
As Waiston shouted, he rushed towards Correll with amazing speed, appearing by the captain's right side. "Tch! He's fast!" Correll thought to himself, raising both arms to defend against an icy kick from the Dragon Slayer. Waiston kick held a trail of arctic wind behind it, and Correll could feel the chills running through his arms from the collision despite his defenses. The impact caused him to step back, but by no means was he about to back down. Gritting his teeth, Correll flashed a smirk as he ducked beneath Waiston's incoming claw like strike, only to score the first official strike — a flaming right uppercut to his opponent's sternum.
"G-Gch!" Waiston's audible grunt of pain accompanied the blow, but he didn't plan on slowing down. The flames weren't any effect either, causing him even more encouragement to move forward. "Not not enough!" Waiston shouted, lunging forward with a powerful right fist. Once again Correll blocked with both arms, feeling that unbearable cold chill again. "Dummy." He said to himself though addressing Waiston. "They aren't to burn you.. These flames are to keep my hands and feet from going numb! I'm at a real disadvantage here! I really picked the short straw going one on one against a White Eclipse Mage, but I won't be going down like a loser! Not in front of Kairi like that!"
Suddenly Kairi received a cold chill down her spine. "Hm? His magic getting you from here?" Aubrey asked. Kairi then sunk into her seat, eyes just peering over the railing as she kept a disgusted visage. "No...I don't think it was Waiston.."
"...Talons!" Waiston yelled, spinning in mid air to throw down an axe kick aimed for Correll's crown. "Can't defend that one straight up!" Correll noted to himself as his eyes widened, noticing the icy wind trailing behind that incoming kick. Quickly, the captain rolled out the way, causing Waiston to slam his leg into the ground. Once impact was made, another trial was created, but this time it was of glaciers, making their way all the way to the arena wall before finally crashing and breaking apart once they reached.
Erza looked on, watching with impressed eyes before turning to a struggling Wendy who couldn't help but make faces as the fight went on. "Wendy? Are you okay?" Erza's question caused Cynthia and the others to turn to her as well. Wendy looked as if she was about to either keel over or just plain vomit. "That's my magic...! He's using my magic along with his! Why is he so adept at it already?!"
Erza blinked, then looked back to watch the two's latest back and forth.
"Well, I'm sure with such a dedicated training method over a year, there isn't much you can't master.."
Correll slid away from the latest blow by Waiston; a kick aimed for his sternum yet blocked by his arms. As he gained space however, the blonde looked up to see part of his forearm freezing over. It was small, but the toll on his actions were now showing. Instinctively he grabbed it, but that just caused Waiston to smile a toothy smile. "Come on now! Don't tell me the cocky captain is running out of steam already!?"
Correll grimaced, baring his teeth an annoyance. "That's the pot calling the kettle black."
"That's racist."
"I'm NOT losing to an idiot! I refuse!" Correll shouted at Waiston's latest low IQ comment.
"Then you should stop fighting so defensively if you want to stand a chance at this point. Though it might be too late." Correll turned to the voice who shouted such audacious instructions. Looking back, it was his own team captain, the blonde haired bombshell of a council captain herself, Crisdelin Shepard. Her words made him grind his teeth, but she wasn't done belittling him either.
"You've already made us look lesser than we actually are. Now you can either play safe until time runs out, or fight back and hope for a miracle win. What sucks is that the latter is your best option, because it doesn't look like he's going to let you play keep away for that long."
"She's right." Correll was so busy being berated by Crisdelin that he forgot all about Waiston for a split second. That was all the time he needed, appearing just above Correll with an comically inflated stomach and jaw. "Roar..."
"Oh shi—"
"Of the Frozen Sky Dragon!"
Waiston fired the point blank dragon roar, the attack swallowing Correll whole as the funnel dipped down, then back into the air, bringing the captain with it. As it dispersed, Correll was seen hovering high above — bruised, scratched, and frozen in different places. "Who was I kidding?" He asked himself. "Why didn't I leave when I had the chance? Oh yeah...because The Magic Council is all I have. I had to beg Kemuri to let me keep my job...I should have just took the firing like Odin did. What would he tell me right now? Who knows..I never listened to the old man to begin with. Now here I am, waiting for a damn Eclipse member to finish me off and embarrass me. In front of Kairi no doubt."
Just as he predicted, Waiston was ready to launch — crouching as low as possible as his aura swirled around him. "Iron Horn of the Frozen Sky Dragon!" At the top of his exclamation, Waiston launched himself upward, aiming a head butt for Correll like a rocket.
"I knew I wasn't going to win. But I didn't want to get embarrassed either. I didn't want it to be one sided, but then I was volunteered for the first day...against a guild that does nothing but grow stronger. The outcome was clear, and there was nothing I could do to change that. But there's one thing I can do. I might not be able to change the outcome...but I can show some damn pride and fight until the end, right Old Man Odin!?"
Slowly, Correll flipped over to face his incoming demise. As he did, he relinquished the flames that wrapped around his fists and feet, only to cover them once more with titanium. "Lets see how hard that head of yours is!" He spoke in a malicious, foreboding tone. "Fist Combination: Titanium-Titan!"
Just before Waiston could reach Correll, he instead was met with a giant, titanium fist that slammed directly against his cranium. The only defense he had was his own offensive momentum which caught the captain with surprise, but he refused to let up. Finally, after powering through, Correll managed to win the exchange, causing Waiston to painfully plummet back towards the ground where he would crash land. The blonde was right behind him, diving back towards the arena floor where he would softly land, instantly taking off towards Waiston despite knowing the results of his counterattack.
"Keep up the pressure!" He told himself. "The second you let up, he wins!"
At that time, Waiston climbed out of the hole his body created, coughing in pain as he did. "Whoa...I was caught off guard with that one..."
He looked up with his peripherals, noticing the incoming Correll. "Once more! Fist Combination: Titanium-Titan!"
"Not so fast!" Waiston shouted as the enlarged fist was thrown. Stomping hard into the ground, the Frozen Dragon created a large glacier that covered Correll's path and soon, the enhanced fist crashed hard into that glacier, causing it to break into pieces. As the glacier shattered however, Correll's eyes widened as he realized that Waiston was no longer before him...but behind. "But...when?!" He couldn't find an answer to his meaningless question, and as Waiston reared back his ice covered fist, coupled by a powerful wind, the roaring punch slammed into Correll's opposing jawline, sending him flying, falling, and then tumbling into the ground painfully before ending up on his back, unable to continue.
"Welp, the little puppy tried." Crisdelin said with a grin on her face. The latest punch caused both Kairi and Asuka to cringe and from there Mato made it clear.
"Captain Correll is unable to continue! Waiston is the winner!"
The audience's volume maxed out in a mixture of cheers, jeers and disbelief. "A council member was beaten!?" One shouted over everyone. "Not only that, he dominated!"
"Well it is White Eclipse! He's probably their strongest member or something!"
The randomness of their loud gossips didn't faze Waiston as he walked off, back to his guild as they celebrated with him.
"He...that wasn't even a challenge for Waiston." Reiss noted in amazement, recapping everything that went down in his mind. "Even after taking that punch from Correll, he shook it off like it was nothing." That's when he turned to the veteran team, noticing how they were all smiles as they wrapped up the first day in White Eclipse fashion. "I've known it forever, but being this close to it...they really are levels above us."
"But!" Tyson began, causing Reiss to turn to his team. They were all smiles and confidence in their own way, huddled together as they pointed to the board. "We have our own greatness, Captain. We don't have to be as good as them. Just as good as we can be, right?"
"Yeah, Reiss-kun." Ilaria interjected. "Beating the seniors is something we can't do, but how amazing would it be to come in both first and second? I know it's a long shot, but after watching Lluvi, and even Lance...we can do this! I believe in us!"
He took a few seconds to look at his team...his peers, and finally, a smile would spread across his face as he nodded in agreement. "You're right! Lets do this, guys!"
Chapati: Ladies and Gentlemen! That's a wrap for the first day! Please take a look at the updated standings!
White Eclipse: 20
Twilight Zone: 18
Sabertooth: 15
Fairy Tail: 13
White Eclipse B: 11
Empyrean Dawn/ The Council: 9
Black Phoenix: 7
Mermaid Heel: 2
Quatro Cerberus: 0
"Thank you everyone for a successful first day! The festivities will open again tomorrow morning, and then day two of the games will commence in the afternoon!"
Chapati's announcement caused the dispersion of the crowd, every spectator leaving their seats and walking towards the exit while enjoying each other's company. The mages headed in the opposite direction, back to their inns. Once White Eclipse arrived in their own inn, everyone found a place to lounge around. Waiston threw off his jacket and shirt, already unbuckling his pants. "Whew! That crash landing hurt! I'm going to hop on the bathhouse and enjoy the rest of my victorious day!"
"Wait on me." Jaxon said, trailing behind with a yawn. "Don't undress in the hallways you pigs!" Aira yelled, red faced. Luke laughed, plopping down into the couch and lounging about himself as the rookies walked in.
"Ah...my body is in real pain." Lluvi admitted, relieving herself from her outer attire. As she did, she revealed the plenty of scars and scratches along with bruises across her frame. "That Julia woman is dangerous. Aira-san, can you—"
"I'm sorry..." Reve spoke, causing the atmosphere to dumb down. "...Were my instructions not clear?"
"Huh?" Reiss and the other turned to him confused. "What do you mean?" He asked.
"I'm sure we set the law for you troublemakers earlier, correct? That since you guys entered yourselves in this, and that you even made it through, that you were on your own until the games were over, right?"
They were speechless. They couldn't believe the route Reve was about to go down, but Reve commenced. "That includes everything, Reiss. I'd actually feel somewhat a jerk if I kicked you out the inn, but when it comes to food, medical, and support of any kind? Well...good luck. That's on you guys to find."
"But she's really hurt!" Saraya exclaimed, pointing to lluvi's injuries. Reve looked over towards Lluvi. "I know. Look what you did to one of my most hopeful rookies, throwing her into the fire like this. But honestly, I expected more from you. Didn't you want to be called The Great Wall of White Eclipse?"
Lluvi visibly trembled in anger. Quietly, she kept her her down, tightly clenched fists as she bared her teeth. "...That was private." She whispered. All eyes were on her, empathy and concern radiating from everyone, even the veterans. All, except for Reve. He sat down in a chair at the front of the room, right leg crossed over the left while spreading his arms across the seat's headrest to cover it all. "Or, The Blue Barrier, was it?"
"Stop..." She whimpered again.
"And I said these were all great nicknames because they weren't shallow names. They were names you could earn here, with your magic, as you grew from the soils of White Eclipse. You remember those exact words I said to you, don't you, Lluvi?"
"Stop it." She spoke a little louder, still visibly shaking. "Hey, she gets it. Leave her alone." Tyson was able to speak out.
"Like a rose. The Blue Rose." Reve finished. "But you actually went along with Reiss's stupid plan. You and Micaiah. I expected the other three stooges to pull something this stupid, simply because Tyson can't stand losing to Reiss, and Ilaria will follow anything that sounds like an adventure, even if it sounds bad. But you two, and especially you, Lluvi, have been the biggest let downs. How do you want to be called The Great Wall when you crumble under pressure so easily—"
"Enough!" She shouted, lifting her head to show tears running from her eyes. The entire room grew to a hush. Lluvi couldn't move, even after her outburst, but Reiss and Tyson both stepped forward, simultaneously shouting. "Fine!"
Reve and the others raised a brow as Tyson and Reiss looked at each other, first surprised that they shouted the same thing, followed by a head nod, as if they could read each other's mind.
"We'll stick by your rules." Reiss stated.
"But in order to do so, we need free reign as our own guild. White Eclipse B is a sufficient name, but if we're on our own..."
The two then stated together again. "Then we'll also be our own!"
"...Oh..?" Reve gave them a condescending glare, looking down on them though he was seated. "Is that all it takes to get you out of my hair? You want to be dependent from us?"
"Isn't that what you wanted from us to begin with?" Tyson fired back. Reve could only grin that cocky, borderline evil grin of his at that comment. "Fine. From now until further say, you are your own guild. Good luck to you all, and may the gods have mercy on you all when you face against us."
It was a two on one stare down for the passing seconds until finally, Reiss called for his team. "Come on guys. Lets go get Lluvi a doctor."
Patting her on the shoulder, he walked off as the others followed. As they left, Aira turned to Reve with puffed cheeks and visible anger. "Reve, I think you're going a bit too hard on them." Said Jack before nonchalantly throwing back a bottle of alcohol.
"Not hard enough, actually. They still have a place to stay here." He reminded, shifting in his seat to get more comfortable. "They dug this grave, so they could become buried in it, or they can climb out of it. It's their choice, not ours."
"I'm too tired for any of this, so I'm going to bed." Luke announces, stretching to the ceiling as he began walking off. "Just don't make them resent you...word of advice."
"Don't worry." He said as everyone began leaving the main room to get ready for tomorrow. "By the end of this, they'll be thanking me."
Reiss was seen walking down the street, in front of the others in a comical manner — fists clenched tightly and fuming. All that was heard from him was a repeated "I hate him, I hate him, I hate him" coming from his mumbling. The others looked on, raised brows and concern. "Uh, Reiss?" Micaiah called out, but she received no answer. That's when Lluvi tried next. "Reiss, are you okay?" No answer.
"Hey, stupid! We're talking to you!" Insults were the fuse for Reiss at this moment, and Tyson's caught his attention. "What!?" He turned and shouted towards the other male. Suddenly, a splash of water hit him in the face. He blinked, and Lance slid before everyone as the culprit, draping a hand around his shoulders. "You looked hot. How do you feel now, bucko? Much better, right?"
Reiss could only turn to glare at the slayer, baring his teeth, causing Lance to slide away again.
"Stop pouting. You look weak." Ramman said, garnering everyone's attention since he usually doesn't speak. It was a surprise to everyone, and especially to Reiss, to receive such cold hard advice from him. "You're supposed to be captain. You did the right thing standing up to that asshole and making your own rules, but acting like you lost just makes it seem like we're the losers here. We're independent now, so act like a leader. You're basically an Ace right now. Do Ace things."
"...You're right." Reiss admitted, now sticking his chest out.
"Oh no.." Tyson stated, but it was too late. Reiss pounded his chest and grinned from ear to ear. "I'm the Ace of this guild! I'll lead us to victory!"
"Oh Reiss-kun..." Evelyn sighed with a small smile.
"But first, we have to get Lluvi some treatment, as well as buy supplies!" Ilaria reminded everyone. Reiss nodded in agreement. "Right! So let's check out the clinic and see if anyone is available. Competitors get free service anyways!"
...
"What do you mean we can't get any service!?" Reiss shouted, slamming his hands on the service desk, causing a stir within the clinic. "We're competitors! We're White Eclipse! We have our badges right here!"
"Sorry..." The woman at the desk fearfully replied after jumping from Reiss's outburst. "We've received a call from your guild...saying that you're no longer on the list of potential patients, and since you didn't subscribe here yourself before the games started..."
"Reve..." Reiss was pissed off. They all were, and it was evident in their faces. "He really went this far!?" Tyson asked, tightening his fists. "...This is becoming too much." Saraya admitted, and no one could blame her for her words. "Is this how he treats his guild members? I don't know if I'd even want to stick around after this, if there was even a chance to."
"Skull Milione ran me away dozen of times, but this treatment is definitely on par, if not worse." Lance sighed, but it was Lluvi who was the most concern at this moment — sitting off to the side with her injuries still showing. Burns and scratches all over her body with no one to treat them, the blue haired female could only continuously grimace as she tried to think of an alternative plan.
"Look I'm really sorry. I wish there was something I could do for you, but the rules are the rules..."
After a long sigh of frustration and defeat, Reiss walked out with Lluvi, the others right behind him. As they left, someone watched them from the back hallway, now following them out from a distance.
"Maybe we should just admit that we can't do it, and just return to White Eclipse's team. If we get kicked out, then we knew it would be a longshot anyways, right? But at least Lluvi won't keep these scars, and you guys can get your home back." Evelyn's explanation gave no one any insight, everyone refusing to agree with her standing. "I know you're just looking out for us, Ev." Reiss began. "...but we have to finish, no matter what."
"I'll be fine, don't worry. Scars are unique and cool." Lluvi said, smiling through the pain she was feeling. The redheaded female dropped her visage, knowing that she wasn't being honest just to make her feel better. But as the group walked off, the person watching them earlier made their appearance.
"Um, excuse me!" She shouted, causing the group to turn around. "Miss, do you still need medical aid?"
They'd turn to each other, then back to the girl with navy blue hair and light greenish-blue eyes. Her skin was lightly tanned and beneath her left eye was a beauty mark. She smiled towards Lluvi, and seconds later, Lluvi nodded. "I can treat you. I may be young, but I've dedicated my life to medicine...among other things!"
"Really?! For free!?" Reiss asked, stars in his eyes. She nodded. "My name is Elizabeth, by the way! Elizabeth Belmont!"
"Do you work at that hospital, Elizabeth?" Tyson asked. She nodded again. "Mhm! Well...I volunteer, cleaning up after the doctors and what not, but I watch and study them closely as well! Of course because of my age I'm no certified doctor, but that's just a name on a piece of paper." She held up a small suitcase. "Anything you need, I can fix up for you! I heard what happened and no one should be without a medical professional, and since I need the practice and you're without one, let me be that help you need!"
"This is a miracle." Reiss whispered. That's when he grabbed everyone and forced them into a huddle. "First thing! Where's Riley...?"
The crew looked around, noticing that the other redhead of the group was missing. "Has she been missing this whole time? We'll find her later! Anyways, guys, we're our own guild until the games are over, right!?"
"Oh no..." Tyson began.
"I don't like where this is going. Don't throw her into the fire with us." Said Micaiah with a sweatdrop down her head. Ilaria on the other hand nodded frantically with a wide smile. "Are you going to say what I think you are!?"
"You know it. Lets make her our guild doctor! We have no one else to rely on right now, and she sounds confident! First we'll test her with Lluvi and...Lluvi?"
Reiss and the others looked around to see Lluvi was no longer in the circle. Looking up, she was spotted with Elizabeth, already bandaged up. "There you are, Lluvi! Your burns and cuts are cleaned, and everything should be healed with a goodnight's rest"
Lluvi took a deep sigh of relief. "Thank you, Elizabeth Belmont. I feel so much better."
"Liz is fine!" She bowed to the praise. That's when Reiss turned back to the huddle, grinned, then broke it off to walk over towards Elizabeth.
"Alright, Liz! It's official then. How would you like to join our guild, and be our guild's doctor slash healer?"
Her eyes lit up, surveying everyone who gave her a smile back, except for Ramman who always remained stoic. She couldn't help but nod happily, taking the job offer. "Hai! I'd love to be apart of your guild! Thank you for having me!"
As the others celebrated her arrival to their team, Tyson slid next to Reiss, keeping a low voice to him. "You sure this is okay? I get she knows her medicine, but you sure she's a member type?"
Reiss only smiled, placing his hands on his hips as he watched everyone welcome her into the family that is White Eclipse B. "Of course. I mean look at her." And as Tyson did, Reiss explained. "Yeah, she's a doctor-type, but look at her arms. That doesn't come from lifting needles. I think there's more to her than just fixing people up." Tyson's brow raised as he now just noticed what Reiss was talking about. "You noticed all of that when you saw her?" He asked. "Of course." Reiss replied, patting Tyson on the shoulder. "Just believe in this process, Tyson. We're White Eclipse's future after all!" The fusion make looked over towards Reiss who was smiling goofily. "...Don't touch me. You're still to blame if all this blows up." He said, walking off to join the others. That's when Reiss shouted behind him, running after him. "You're always a shit to me! Listen to your captain sometimes!"
—
"Fourth place huh!? Not bad start!" Warren shouted as everyone else cheered, drinking along to their celebrations. "Two years ago we were in last, and we won it all!"
"Hey, last year we had an amazing start and we won that too!" Max added in, holding up a broom as if he was a witch riding it. "So now its time to start in the middle of the pack and win again!"
"WOOO!" They all cheered, causing Lucy to give a smile along with a sweat-drop. "They sure are cheerful..."
That's when Cana wrapped an arm around Lucy, smiling. "I think they're just happy everyone's back together! Well, almost everyone."
"Yeah, we're still missing Laxus and the Raijinshu. And Natsu." Cynthia claimed before placing a juice box straw into her mouth. That's when Romeo snatched it away with angry eyes. "Stop stealing these!" He shouted, only for Cynthia to pounce on him without warning, beating on the poor kid as he attempted to fight back in that cloud of a scuffle. "Cynthia! Romeo-san! Stop that!" Wendy shouted to deaf ears, Charla shaking her head in the back.
Still, Lucy sighed at the mention of a certain name, but not for long as Mirajane came over with some good news as she handed Cana another drink. "I just got a call from Ichiya-san actually. It seems Laxus and the others...will be here tonight!"
Eyes lit up all around the guild. "Laxus!?" Lucy and Cana shouted together, met with a Mirajane smile. "I was told to let you guys know, to leave the battle portion of tomorrow to him."
"Wooo!" Laxus is back! The peanut gallery shouted. "Now there's no way we lose!" Nab added, dancing along with the others.
"We're in high spirits! Makarov will be happy once we return with a third trophy!" Laki added.
"Will you guys shut up and stop dancing!" Gajeel shouted. That's when Laki, Max, Warren and Nab slid away from him with mischievous visages covered by their own hands. "Looks like someone's still upset about his performance." Laki took a verbal jab.
"I mean he did rank lower than that newbie at our most rival guild." Nab with the verbal uppercut, and Gajeel was steaming. Max jumped in. "We'd be even higher right now if he would have used his nose or something. He is a Dragon Slayer after all." And finally, Warren came with the verbal death blow. "Maybe we should sub him out for Freed or Bickslow when they get here—"
"SHUT YER DAMN TRAPS BEFORE I KILL YA!" Gajeel yelled in their direction, then instantly slumping over as Levy and Lily patted his back in pity.
"Alright...!" Lucy clenched both of her petite fists. "We can do this! Especially with Laxus!"
"Right." Erza nodded, pushing herself off the wall she remained posted on during the entire time. "Laxus will definitely give us the boost we need to win. Despite how Gajeel feels, we are in a very great spot. Lets keep up the good showing and work our way to a comfortable spot while shooting for the top of the rankings. It's on that final day that really decides who is the strongest guild, so let's make that Fairy Tail for a third time!"
"YEAHHHH!" The entire guild shouted happily, and more celebration ensued. Lucy watched from afar as the others danced around, and she kept a small smile upon her face, but she couldn't help but think of the one person officially missing from their family of rambunctious misfits.
"I hope everything is going well...
...Wherever you are."
