We're Back!
Creativity: It is good to be back at work.
Author: Not that they know what we're talking about. Heh heh heh.
In all seriousness, we're working on the Godzilla project primarily as of this writing. By the time this story comes out, we might already be finished that, or at least close to it. Heck, KH III will be out by then, so we might have more material to work with in future chapters. Anyway, we just finished the Halloween special and thought we'd add a fourth chapter to this little side project. It isn't the only side project we've been working on, but it has received the least attention for a while.
I like to have a backlog of at least five chapters before I start uploading, minimum. This one will likely have more than that, but what can I say? Writing takes time and energy, which the human animal does not have an infinite supply of, and I like to be able to pace myself and keep a consistent update schedule.
Wow this has been a long opening bit. It's really more of me talking about my writing process and possible upcoming stories than anything else. Please don't get too hyped.
Creativity: Yeah, just enjoy our other stuff until then!
Author: Ok, that was pretty shameless.
Creativity: NO REGRETS!
Ryo sat in his seat eagerly. Shiori's fight was next and he couldn't wait. She was fighting another girl by the name of Dawn. She was Dusk's twin sister and fought with a staff. Staff wielders fought primarily with ranged, elemental attacks over melee combat, though there were exceptions. The Water Elder fought with a staff and was regarded as one of the finest close-quarter fighters in history.
Ryo had enough confidence in Shiori's abilities that she would claim victory, but he knew she would be hard pressed for it. He had fought Dawn in a practice session once and she had been no pushover. She was exceptionally talented at constructs, which Ryo struggled with. At best, he could create a basic broadsword if he had time to prepare himself, but Dawn could erect a miniature fortress around herself if she was pushed to it.
Shiori summoned her katana and settled into a crouching stance. Sunlight glinted off the flat of her blade. Opposite to her, Dawn summoned her staff, which was white and gold and had a sky-blue orb set on top of it. She let it float a few inches away from her hand, spinning it slowly before she grabbed it and caused the gem to start glowing. She then held it horizontally in front of her while reaching her other hand behind her.
"Begin!"
Dawn immediately leapt backwards, launching a volley of light spheres at Shiori. Shiori simply sidestepped them before launching a blast from her katana before surging forward, launching darts of golden energy from her empty palm. Dawn spun her staff in front of her, batting away the darts before slamming her staff into the ground, causing pillars of light to erupt from the ground, heading straight towards Shiori. Shiori didn't look worried in the slightest. She held her katana in front of her, swiping it to the side and launching forward at a breakneck pace, surrounded by golden energy! She zig-zagged between the pillars before slamming her sword against Dawn's staff. Ryō was surprised that Dawn had reacted in time to block, though that wouldn't do her much good. Shiori was exactly where she wanted to be.
Dawn shoved Shiori back before creating two sword constructs that began to orbit around her. Shiori merely levelled her blade at Dawn before drawing it to the side and surging forward again! Dawn brought both constructs in front of her, as well as summoning more, all pointed at Shiori. Seeing this, Shiori stabbed her blade into the ground and let go, using the drag to launch herself over the constructs. She resummoned her katana before slamming into Dawn and knocking her to the ground. She levelled her blade at Dawn's throat, claiming victory.
"Shiori claims victory! Incredible precision on display!"
Shiori bowed to the crowd and helped Dawn to her feet before they left the stadium. Next up was the water match. Into the arena stepped two boys. One was significantly taller than the other, and much beefier. In addition to this, his clothing was comprised over more silver and icy blue than the usual darker blue. His opponent was of average build and wore a more… standard color pallet, though his choice of clothing looked more similar to Tempest. His feet were wrapped with bandages, as were his forearms and calves. He wore a sleeveless tunic and a silver circlet around his forehead. The larger of the two summoned his weapon, which was a massive, two-handed axe-hammer hybrid that looked encrusted with ice. His opponent summoned a strange pair of weapons that looked like someone had mounted symmetrical axe-blades on a shaft as they would a spear. The blades themselves were silver, though the rest of the weapon was a deep, ocean blue. Ryo could also see small indents along the shaft of the weapon, as well as a chain patterning along the sides, but it appeared only decorative. The smaller one spun the blades a few times to loosen up before falling into a ready position. His opponent hefted the axe-hammer over his shoulder and gripped the weapon in one hand before hunching over, free arm lowered to the ground.
"Fight!"
Immediately, the larger one leapt into the air, heaving the axe-hammer around and slamming the axe end into the ground, sending a wave of ice towards his opponent! Said opponent charged forward, weapons held to his side before drawing them back and thrusting them forward! As soon as they pierced the ice wave, he swung them diagonally in front of him from the thrust and carved away the ice in his path! As soon his feet touched the ground, he swung his weapons around in a circle. Ryo could see the ice behind the boy turn into water before and surge back around, following the blades in an arc. Ryo could see that the water was compressing into a blade and frosting at the edges. The larger one slammed the shaft of his axe-hammer into the ground, causing a wall of ice to rise in front of him. The frosting water struck the wall and broke upon it before the larger one leapt from behind the wall and slammed the hammer-end of his weapon into the ground, causing a shockwave, as well as creating a sheet of ice over the ground behind the shockwave! The smaller of the two leapt over the shockwave, only to land on a much slicker surface than before. By the time he had his bearings again, the axe-hammer was already at his throat.
"Victory to Glacieor! Stunning use of brain and brawn!"
Ryo applauded the victor and waited eagerly for the next pair. He grinned as he saw Phoenix walk onto the field, Halberd slung over her shoulder. Her opponent was significantly larger than her, wielding a one-handed battle-axe that looked like it hadn't been carved out of an active volcano. Ryo suddenly remembered fighting this guy before. He was Volcan's nephew, Ero and he was no pushover, courtesy of his unrelenting training regimen. People used to wonder whether or not he was the first to be born with the ability to control two elements, since he was one of few who were capable of causing artificial eruptions, and he was said to be the most talented in history at the technique. Ryo was now very concerned. He believed that Phoenix had a shot, but she'd have to take control of the fight fast, otherwise Ero would have the reigns from beginning to end. In his favour.
"Fight!"
Immediately, Phoenix charged forward, launching wave after wave of flame from her halberd. Ero slammed his axe into the ground, sending a wave of magma hurtling towards Phoenix! She leapt over it and surrounded herself with fire before turning herself parallel to the ground and spinning like a log as she hurtled towards Ero. The glowing portions of Ero's axe began to glow ever brighter as he leapt out of the way of Phoenix, who slammed her halberd where he had just been standing. As he was airborne, Ero hurled his axe towards Phoenix, who leapt away, using a jet of flame to propel her further. As the axe struck the ground, it released a pulse of fire magic so powerful, it turned the surrounding area into a blackened, cracked magma pit! The axe vanished and reappeared in Ero's hand as he landed and charged towards Phoenix, who was also charging, her halberd a fiery blur as she performed another whirling leap towards Ero! However, just as she was about to strike, he leapt over her and prepared to throw his axe again. However, Phoenix had been baiting him to do this. As she swiped her halberd in what many had anticipated, she kept going in a circle, knocking the axe away and performing one last spin before throwing her halberd at Ero, leaping after him as she did! Ero hurriedly resummoned his axe to guard against the rapidly approaching, spinning halberd, but as he knocked it away, a jet of flame struck him in the face, blurring his vision! Phoenix smirked as she spun and planted her boot on his chest as they slammed into the ground before resummoning her halberd and leveling it at his throat.
"Victory to Phoenix! What a feint!"
Phoenix looked very pleased with herself, but Ero seemed to take this loss well. Next up was an air match. This was between a boy and a girl. Ryo winced when he saw them. Their names were Cylo and Braes, respectively. They also hated each other's guts. Ryo didn't really know why, but he'd seen enough shouting matches and a fair few actual all out brawls between them. The matches had to have been random because no one in their right mind would want them fighting each other. He just hoped that those on hand for if the match got out of control were quick, because he had little doubt that, with the excuse of this match, they would out for blood.
Cylo summoned a pair of sickles attached to chains that wrapped around his arm. The sickles sparked threateningly as he raised the in preparation. Braes summoned a spear with a tip made of intertwined lightning bolts. In the center of the bolts was a small sphere containing a miniature electric storm. Ryo shrank back in his seat, preparing for it to get ugly.
"Fight!"
Immediately, Braes unleashed a powerful bolt of lightning towards Cylo, who sidestepped it and created a storm cloud around Braes. She began spinning her spear above her head, creating a controlled cyclone to push the cloud away. However, Cylo was already where he wanted to be. He was perched on top of one of the pillars near Braes. He leapt off the pillar and threw one of his sickles at Braes as be began spinning the other one, a small cyclone appearing around it that crackled with electricity. Braes leapt sideways to avoid the sickle and unleashed a torrent of electricity from her spear in response! Cylo threw his second sickle forward, unleashing the cyclone ahead of him as a barrier to stop Braes' attack. He used the air to maneuver down to the ground and threw one of his sickles again before charging up a wheel of electricity using his other sickle. Ryo leaned forward. It seemed that Cylo had taken control of the fight.
Braes however, had a look of cold determination as she batted away the sickle. She charged forward, the sphere in her spear beginning to glow a vivid electric blue. Ryo prepared to shield his eyes. He'd seen this before when Tempest had dragged him to an air wielder demonstration. If it connected, it wasn't going to be pretty.
Cylo launched the electric wheel forward, only to be gobsmacked as Braes drew that electricity into her spear. Once she felt she was close enough, she thrust her spear forward and a terrific bolt of lighting erupted from her spear! Cylo was sent hurtling backwards, into a large boulder, creating a massive crack in it. Ryo had a feeling there was a couple of bone fractures present in his shoulders, ribs and possibly his spine. In an instant, Braes was in front of him, spear levelled at his throat.
"Victory to Braes! A shocking turnaround!"
Ryo had a feeling that Braes was about to get a talking to from someone regarding excessive force, but it looked like Cylo wasn't that hurt. Braes hadn't done anything particularly illegal, but she had skirted the edge of it. Hopefully this match would take some of the edge off of both of them, but he somehow doubted it.
Next up was the earth battle. Ryo grinned like a madman when Terrek walked onto the field, his club-axe held on his shoulder. His opponent walked out next, a girl named Teca. Her weapon was a broadsword that seemed composed of a mish-mash of ores and unrefined gemstones. Ryo had fought her before and had won handily, but that was when they were both beginners. He had a feeling that she had a few new tricks up her sleeve now.
"Fight!"
Teka immediately sank her sword into the ground, causing spires of rock to erupt around Terrek, who swung his weapon in a circle around himself, smashing the spires apart and rushing forward, weapon dragging behind him. He then leapt into the air and performed a similar move to Teka's opener, thrusting his weapon into the ground! However, it was massive roots that erupted from the ground and began to wrap around Teka instead of stone. Teka leapt away before the roots could snag her and charged towards Terrek. As she did, pieces of stone began to float in the air and fly towards her sword. By the time she reached Terrek, her sword had doubled in length and width, though it looked incredibly fragile. She leapt into the air and swung her sword down at Terrek, who clutched his own weapon in both hands and performed an uppercut swing, meeting Teka's attack head-on! The result was the upgrade to Teka's blade being utterly destroyed and Teka being sent flying back. Terrek leapt into the air after her, weapon held high. Teka saw him coming and spun around, throwing her sword towards the ground. As soon as it struck, a massive stone blade erupted from the ground, heading straight for them! Teka turned and avoided the blade, rotating so that she could slide down the blade, summoning her sword back to herself before leaping away from the blade. Meanwhile, Terrek was preparing for one hell of a swing. Rearing his weapon back, he swung the weapon around and hit the blade right on the point, sending a shockwave out that destroyed the rest of the blade!
As he landed, he saw Teka bearing down on him. Smirking, he braced the flat of his weapon on his arm deflected the blow around him, causing Teka to lose her balanced, a result of overcommitting her strike. Terrek stomped his foot on the ground, causing a mini tremor, throwing Teka's balanced off more before moving in for the winning blow. Teka finally regained her footing when she looked up, only to find the axe blade of Terrek's weapon resting on her shoulder.
"Victory goes to Terrek! Ground-shaking and level-headed!"
Ryo clapped vigorously as Terrek bowed and helped Teka to her feet before leaving the stadium. Next up was the darkness match.
Ryo watched as two girls walked into the arena. He recognized both of them. Their names were Shade and Eclipse, respectively.
Shade was rather short and thin for her age and fought with two slim, elegant blades that were a bit shorter than machetes. Eclipse was about standard height, but much more buff than Shade. Her weapon was a standard broadsword and a shield. Her shield wasn't like Magnus', in that it could absorb strikes to charge it for an attack, but it was able to increase in radius and transform into other forms of shield, be it a small buckler or a miniature wall between herself and her opponent. Ryo had never fought Eclipse before, but he had fought Shade and he knew that she was a very tricky opponent. However, the seemingly limitless ways the Eclipse could use her shield were going to force Shade to get creative, even for her.
The two of them took up ready positions and waited.
"Fight!"
Surprisingly, Eclipse made the first move; launching a horizontal arc of dark energy from her sword. Shade did a simple leap over the arc before unleashing a barrage of her own blasts from her blades, advancing step by step as she did. Eclipse had her shield morph into a large, boxy shield and moved sideways, waiting until she felt the arcs stop striking her shield. Then she spun and swiped her sword, launching another arc. However, Shade had vanished! Eclipse started looking around, morphing her shield into a large, round shape and constantly keeping it covering a blind spot. Then she heard a noise and saw an arc of dark energy hurtling towards her! She dodged sideways, only to realize that the blast wasn't meant for her. The arc cut clean through a large section of rock, causing it to tumble into one of the elevated pools of water. The water rushed over the sides of the pool and into a magma pit, causing an eruption of steam. Ryo leaned forward. Seeing as Leith had won using that tactic earlier, Eclipse would likely not fall prey to it as easily. And that aside, Eclipse would be expecting this sort of tactic from Shade.
Ryo could see Shade leaping from one elevated position to another, looking for the right angle of attack. Eclipse wasn't making it easy. She had started projecting a small shield around herself that, while rather easy to break through, would immediately inform Eclipse of where Shade was attacking from, and would rob Shade of some of her momentum.
Shade leapt around until she was right behind Eclipse and threw one of her blades towards Eclipse's back as she leapt clean over her and slung around a post to rocket back towards Eclipse, blade poised to strike. Eclipse batted the blade away and turned to see Shade hurtling towards her! She raised her shield to block, but Shade had anticipated this and angled her attack accordingly. Instead of slamming into the shield, Shade hit the ground and rolled before leaping up and angling the blade for an uppercut strike! However, Eclipse realized what Shade was about to do and spun sideways to avoid the strike and slammed her shield into Shade, throwing her away before Eclipse charged after her for a follow-up.
Shade resummoned her other blade and redirected Eclipse's slash around her before rolling like a log around and performing a roundhouse kick to throw Eclipse further off. Shade rushed forward and swept both of her blades up to Eclipse's neck.
"Victory to Shade! Impressive misdirection and improvisation on display!"
Ryo applauded as Shade bowed and departed from the arena with Eclipse.
"There will be another twenty-minute break before the next set of matches!"
Ryo hurried out of the arena to the same meeting place as before. Terrek was already there, and with Teka as well! Ryo hurried over and saw Phoenix on her way over as well.
"Hey, nice match!" Ryo called to Terrek once he was close enough. Terrek nodded.
"That last trick with the giant sword caught me off guard." He responded, lightly cuffing Teka in the shoulder. She pushed him in response, a light grin on her face.
"So, I take it you know each other outside of training?" Ryo asked politely. Terrek nodded.
"We're cousins." Teka responded. Now Ryo could see some resemblance, especially with the short responses.
By now, the rest of the group had shown up. Shiori still had a grin on her face from her victory, as did Phoenix. They spent the majority of the break congratulating each other on making it through round one, as well as musing on who their opponents in the next round were going to be. There were two more rounds until the round two, and then the championship match would be the third round. Those who made it to round three were automatically qualified to study at the Sanctum, but that still left the opportunity to claim the bragging rights.
Soon enough, it was time to return to seats and prepare for the third set of battles. Ryo settled in, eagerly awaiting the opening match.
Well, that wraps up chapter 4! We're gonna be jumping to second round next chapter, because I don't want to write an excessive number of fight chapters, and I don't think you want to read them either.
Creativity: By this point, previous readers are just waiting for us to try and yank the carpet out from under them. And I doubt we can get another carpet yank after the last ones.
Author: True, but I'll still go for it anyway!
Also, for a visual reference as to how Glacieor's opponent's weapon appears, look up Bionicle Nokama. I modelled the weapons after her hydroblades. Glacieor's weapon is modelled after Infinity War's Stormbreaker, though it's bigger.
Well, that's enough for this week! See ya in the next!