Tasuku and Jackknife rejoined their friends after their victory during their match, "We have another victory Jack."
Jackknife nodded, "I will benefit of this training Tasuku. I have to get stronger against the criminals after the tournament," Jackknife frowned, And show Demios that I am the one who shall protect Tasuku, not him.
Tasuku smiled, not noticing Jackknife frowning when he was in his thought.
"Tasuku!" Gao yelled, waving toward his friend.
Tasuku joined Gao and clapped his hand.
"Another victory for you Tasuku. There was nothing to worry about," Gao said with a smile.
"For now. We haven't encounter anyone really powerful or as experienced as I," Jackknife replied.
"That will change when you'll fight be Jackknife. I'm going to defeat you and win," Drum declared.
Jackknife chuckled, "You weren't winning last time we fought."
Drum glared at the green dragon, "I almost defeat you Jackknife. It was Halberd who saved you at the last second."
Jackknife face was serious and replied, "Or he saved you..." he scratched his jaw and sighed, "I'm not even sure myself anymore. Maybe you're right or not."
"No matter what, I'm going to win thanks to my training and Gao's support by my side," Drum declared with a smile and pointing his claw toward the ceiling.
Jackknife chuckled, "Not a chance. I've trained for a long time now and I'm ready to defeat you. Also, Tasuku is the best spellcaster of this world."
The two dragons were pumped up for the possible future challenge.
"Drum. You will have to overcome me and Hanako first," Halberd warned Drum.
Drum chuckled, "No problem. We will defeat you fair and square."
"It won't be that easy. It's Halberd we are talking about," Ironchain warned Drum.
Halberd scratched his jaw, Which form will he take when we fight? Wait... Did Ironchain just praised me? He turned toward the blue dragon, but he wasn't looking at him.
They then heard Paruko yelling: "It's time to begin the next match. It will be Shido and Gallows against Kazane Fujimiya and Bladewing Phoenix!"
Chapter 73: Darkness vs Dungeon
Kazane walked forward, her deck ready. She was a girl with peach skin, orange hair and pink eyes. She wore a white t-shirt with green sleeves, a blue shirt, long white socks and a blue scarf around her neck. She held her deck in her hand, a large smile on her face.
By her side was Bladewing Phoenix in his mini form. He was a ball of green feather with wings, yellow eyes and a yellow beak. He wore a golden helmet with a green blade at the top and a red object looking like a necklace.
Her buddy flew forward in the ring and he turned into his real form. He was now a long bird with green and silver feather with red, green and silver wings and yellow eyes with his golden and green helmet looking like his mini form helmet.
Gallows stood in front of her and played with his claw, "Well... Sha. Sha. Sha. Looks like I'll have to fight a turkey."
Phoenix frowned and replied, "How dare you call me a turkey? I am a powerful warrior from Dungeon World!"
Shido didn't comment, but prepared his deck, unsure what was the style of the Dungeon world decks.
Gallows chuckled and thought it won't be a difficult battle.
Kazane smiled and said, "Shido. Let's have fun in this match. There is no reason to feel bad if we lose."
Shido sighed, but lightly smiled. Although, he knew Gallows wanted to win and if they lost because of him, he didn't know how Gallows would react.
"Fun? This is a battle little girl. There is no fun in such things. Sha. Fighting is something serious and not laughable," Gallows replied.
Kazane wasn't affected by his harsh replies, "I didn't say it was laughable. It's always better to have fun. I'll do my best."
Suddenly, her deck turned into a sphere and was now floating around her. Two wings appeared on her brown shoes and the girl was now floating in the air.
Tasuku gasped and said, "That's a buddyskill. She just activated it."
Gao eyes shined, "This is awesome. I hope we'll be able to do it one day Drum."
Drum turned toward Gao and nodded. He wasn't sure how Tasuku and that girl succeeded, But it will be great if we could already do it.
"Buddyfight!" Paruko yelled.
Gallows charged toward Phoenix, but the bird quickly flew between the claws and took altitude. The arena was small and limited, so they couldn't reach the sky for their battle.
Phoenix crossed his wings and energy feather appeared in front of him. He swung his wings and they flew toward Gallows. The dark dragon used his vine to protect himself from the feathers, but some of them passed and struck in his chest and his bones.
Dammit! Those feathers came so fast that it can be stuck in my bones sha! This turkey is dangerous, more than I expected. Gallows frowned and had a malicious smile on his eyes; I need to fight with everything I have right now. I have more power than they think.
Gallows charged once again at his adversary and slashed, but Phoenix flew away. He chased him in the air while everyone watched the flight.
"This is awesome! We have a sky fight!" Paruko commented, "This will make some difference than before."
Gallows grumbled as he couldn't reach Phoenix and suddenly bifurcated when the green giant bird turned at the same direction than the dark dragon predicted. Gallows head-butt Phoenix and sent him in the air. He stopped before he reached the spectators and grabbed his enemy tails. He spun around himself and threw him toward the ground.
Phoenix opened his wings and slowed down his fall and returned by his buddy side.
"The battle isn't over yet," Paruko said.
Kazane asked, "Are you alright Phoenix? You took a bad hit."
Phoenix replied, "Do not worry my lady. I'm alright."
"Good. And it's time to draw the first spellcard," Kazane smiled as she drew a card.
Shido did the same and wondered if it was the right card. He wasn't sure if she picked an offensive card or a defensive one.
"The two monsters are currently gazing each other's. It was an intense air battle, but who's going to win it? We will know it at the end of the fight," Paruko said.
Gallows frowned, thinking, Did she pick an offensive spells, or a protective one if I attack? And what about Shido, did he pick one to counter her? Dammit. I have to fight and be vigilant about it.
Gallows moved his hands forward and concentrate darkness energy in his claws. It formed a small ball of energy, but he never expanded it, I need to focus my power in this small ball. He thought.
Phoenix took a safe distance, ready to dodge it while he summoned blades looking like his feathers, ready to throw it at the darkness dragon.
Gallows threw his dark energy ball and Phoenix did the same with his feathers. Both wondered if a shield will appear to protect each other's, but nothing occurred and they were both hit as they lacked time to dodge it. Phoenix exploded while Gallows covered his eyes and felt the blade piercing his skin and bones.
The two panted painfully, but were still ready to fight. Shido and Kazane reacted at the same time.
"I cast! Guillotine Gutter!" Shido yelled. A green spinning blade appeared and tackles Phoenix chest and sent him away.
"I cast! Pillar Of Fire!" Kazane yelled. A pillar of fire burned Gallows and his body was completely black.
Phoenix broke the spells and returned in the match with a deep wound on his chest and some blood falling on the ring.
As for Gallows, his body was burned and his bones had a few cracks where the feather blades pierced him. A black liquid felt from his chest.
The two monsters glared at each other's, knowing the end of the match will be soon.
"The match seems already in the end. This one is father than I expected, but they are really fighting with everything they have," Paruko said. She commented, "It's also the first match when a monster is bleeding."
Gallows tried guessing what the next course of actions should be, I don't know. Sha. Sha. Dungeon World isn't a world with predicable monsters... Just like Darkness Dragon world. I think I have to use everything I have for this last strike.
Phoenix also thought of his next course of actions, I think he's going to give everything he has left, so do I then.
Shido and Kazane checked the time remaining to pick their next card, 45 seconds left.
Gallows charged toward Phoenix and was close to him when the giant bird flew away. He tried hitting Phoenix with dark balls, but Phoenix dodged them. Gallows remained behind Phoenix to make sure he wouldn't have an opportunity to attack.
He's behind me. I cannot turn around and attack or he's going to defeat me. Phoenix thought.
The chase continued and the time was going down before time to draw the next spellcard came.
Kazane yelled, "Phoenix! Do a barrel roll!"
"Sha?" Gallows asked.
Phoenix did a large barrel roll and was now behind Gallows. Gallows gasped when he realised he was now the one being chased. Phoenix summoned feather blades and threw them at Gallows. The dark dragon was hit on his back and lost altitude. He grumbled painfully as he landed on the ground. He saw he was going to fall outside of the ring.
Dammit. Gallows thought. I cannot lost that way. That wound is... too deep. Can't focus on flying. Gallows landed outside of the ring, a small pool of his dark blood spread on the ground.
"The match is over! The victorious are Kazane and Phoenix!" Paruko announced.
Everyone cheered while Shido healed his buddy of his wounds, just like Kazane did.
Gallows turned back in his mini form and flew higher. He then flew away, if only I could have fought with my full power, but no. I can't because of Azi's order. He turned toward Shido, At least I could have fought. Before looking forward with a smile on his eyes, I needed that. Sha. Sha. Sha.
Kazane grabbed Phoenix who turned back in his mini form, "We did it!"
"That was thanks to you my lady," her buddy replied.
The two walked outside the ring after she waved at everyone.
Gao and Drum watched the battle as their time was coming closer. Hanako and Halbert did the same thing as they grew more nervous. The matches continued and continued until it was finally their turn.
The siblings looked at each other's with a smile. Both were nervous as it was against each other's, but gave a small nod.
"You four. Do your best," their mother said in encouragement.
"No matter who wins, it's not important as long as no one is hurt," their father said.
Tenbu added, "This will be a good way to see who you both progress."
The four nodded and walked toward the arena. Eventually, they split apart.
"Gao," Hanako said. Gao turned around and saw his sister giving him a thumb up, "Let's do our best."
"Okay. Show me how good you are sis," Gao replied.
AC: This is the end of the chapter 73.
Next chapter: Sibling Duel.