Seles and Mithos walked to the coliseum. Seles heart was heavy with what she had to do, but glad that Mithos was doing it with her.
When they got there, a maid went up to them. "Excuse me, are you, by any chance, Miss Seles Wilder and her companion?"
"Yep, that's us!"
"Oh, good! Mr. Zelos Wilder asked me to give you two something. Now, if you'll please follow me..."
Mithos looked and Seles, who shrugged. They followed her.
She lend them to a room full of weapons.
"Mr. Wilder requested that you fight with the weapons he has prepared for you. For you, Miss Seles."
She held out a weapon that looked like a handbag at the first look. But as she looked harder, she saw that it was actually a very light, but very powerful, magic controller.
She picked it up and spotted a zipper. She opened it and a lot of different things spilled out of it. So it was a handbag! Trust Zelos to come up a weapon that also had a practical use.
She studied the stuff that was now on the floor. She saw a small knife, no, make that two small knives, each in their own color: Orange and lite green. With these came a note: Anyone that ever been a part of the group owns a knife like this. You have been part of this group, so here are yours.
Seles then saw a string with eight large stones on it. The stones were in eight different colors, and each stone matched its color to the summon spirit symbol it resembled. This came with the note: Give this to Mithos. He'll understand. Congrats on getting him, Seles. You're lucky to have him.
The maid found the next item. "And for you, Mr. Wilder asked me to give you this."
She held a very large hilt for a very large sword. Mithos smiled and tied the hilt to his belt.
The maid got out a very large piece of paper. "Now, here is how the tournament is organized. Thirty-two people have entered this tournament. Two people face off at a time. Are you following me?"
They nodded their heads. She went on. "After the first round is over, only sixteen people will remain. Then these sixteen will face off two at time. Understand?"
"I think so." said Mithos. "People will continue to face off two at a time until they have semi-finalists, then finalists, then a winner. Right?"
"Yes, that's it. Ready?"
"Yep."
"Yes."
The tournament started.
Seles thought her first match was very simple, even easy. Mithos would go as far as to say that his first battle was boring. They won with ease.
The next fight was harder, but not by much. They passed through that, too.
At a break in the fighting, Mithos said, "This is so stupid. I thought Symphonia had better fighters that this."
"Don't let your guard down." reminded Seles. "The toughest worriers are yet to come. Zelos is still in the running."
They went through the next battle easily. Than came the semi-finals. Seles went up to the stands to watch her friend battle.
Mithos came out. Apparently, he thought he could win this battle with his eyes closed, because his eyes were shut tight.
Then Mithos opponent appeared. Her had the same confidence that Mithos had. His eyes were closed to.
Then Seles saw something familiar in Mithos opponent. She had seen his confidence, his determination, his genius. She had seen those pointed ears, that silvery hair, those magic abilities.
The battle started. Mithos charged at his opponent with his sword out. His opponent was casting a spell. An earth spell.
Then it struck her. And it her theory was correct, than Mithos was in a heap trouble.
Mithos opponent finished casting. Stalagmite appeared right under Mithos's feet, launching him into the air.
Unfortunately for the caster, the spell launched Mithos in his direction. Mithos got into position for striking.
Then, right before they collided, Mithos's opponent casted Force Field.
Mithos was held in mid-air right above his opponent for a few seconds. But those few seconds were enough. The two fighters got their first good look at each other.
Mithos was more surprised than anyone in the stadium. Except his opponent.
"Mithos?"
"Genis!!"
That's right. Mithos's opponent was Genis Sage.
Mithos was thrown across the area. Genis was scared, until he saw Mithos's face. His eyes held a look of excitement as well as joy. He was grinning from ear to ear.
Genis saw that he was fighting for fun.
Genis smiled back. Mithos got the message. Go for the gold, and may the best man win.
Mithos charged again, this time with passion and with heart.
Genis started casted a different spell. This time it was Spread.
Mithos jumped back to avoid the water, then resumed his charge. This time he got to Genis before Genis finished his spell.
"Rushing Ring!" Mithos spun in a circle, making his sword hit Genis several times.
"Go Mithos! You Rock!" Yelled Seles.
Then he got a surprise. "Eruption!"
Three powerful, fiery blasts shot up from under Mithos, causing him to fall behind.
The crowd was going wild. The two were fighting an unplanned, unpredictable battle. No one could read their next move. This was especially true for Genis and Mithos. They were fighting with instinct, instead of with judgment. They were pouring their hearts and souls into this fight.
Then they came to a point in the battle where Mithos and Genis were on opposite sides of the battlefield. This tipped the scale in Genis's favor, because by the time Mithos ran the full 500 meters of the field, Genis will have had time to cast a level 2 spell, if not a level 3 spell, before Mithos even got close to Genis.
Genis began casting. But then, Mithos began casting as well.
It was all a matter of who could finish casting first. Mithos was the slower mage, so it would take longer to get the spell out. But if Genis picked a level 3 spell, then Mithos could interrupt with a weaker, but faster spell.
Then the words began coming.
Genis started first. "Gentle winds-"
"Mystic Lightning! Thunder Blade!!"
A huge sword made of lightning cashed down.
"Bull's Eye!!" shouted Seles.
Genis got up, and began to cast another spell. Mithos charged.
But something was off about this spell. The casting circle was white.
Then came the words.
"Infinite powers, grant me thy strength... Meteor Storm!!!"
It was a spell Seles didn't recognize. She saw Mithos's face get pail. In a moment, she found out why.
Several huge rocks were falling from the sky. And each rock was on fire!
Boulder after flaming boulder hit the battlefield. Mithos tried to dodge, but there were some that he couldn't dodge, and some he walked right into, so by the time the rocks stopped falling, Mithos was in bad shape.
Seles had counted 9 boulders that hit the field, 5 boulders that hit Mithos, and one boulder that hit the referee. That was 15 boulders total.
But Mithos, with bruises all over, leaped toward Genis. This time, Genis had no mana left for Force Field, and he was just as tired as Mithos.
"Sky Crasher!" Mithos made contact.
When the dust cleared, They were both still standing, but they were breathing heavily, and each had a large amount of cuts, scrapes and bruises all over their bodies.
One...
Two...
Three...
Four...
Five...
Six...
Seven...
Eight...
Nine...
Ten!
Genis dropped his Kendema, his legs gave way.
"The winner is... MITHOS!!!"
The crowd erupted into cheers and screams.
"Way-ta-go, Mithos! Woo Hoo!!" Yelled Seles.
The crowd was now in chant. "Mithos! Mithos! Mithos!"
Mithos was shouting, as well. "Alright!!"
Then he went over to Genis. Genis faced him.
Then Mithos offered Genis his hand.
Genis smiled, then took it. Then they walked out the arena.
Seles quickly left the stands.
She found Mithos and Genis in the nursing area.
"Hey Mithos!"
"Seles!"
Seles sat down next to them. "That was a terrific battle! It was awesome!"
"Who are you?" asked Genis.
"Genis, this is Seles. The girl I love."
"Hi. It's great to finally meet you!"
"Yeah, me too!"
Seles studied Genis."Wow, you look a lot like Raine."
"You think?"
"Yeah. And you look a lot like Virginia, too."
"You know my mother?"
"Virginia was the one who taught me magic."
"Oh."
The loudspeaker cracked, "Will the next two semi-finalists please report to the arena. I repeat, will Seles Wilder and Zelos Wilder please report to the arena. Thank you."
Genis turned to her. "Your Zelos's sister?"
"Yep..."
"...You ready for this?" asked Mithos.
"If your cheering me on, I can do it."
