This chapter's song is Take Me To Church by Hozier.
Nightshade stands ready, dressed in the same outfit as yesterday, examining her black nails, sharpened to a point. Rogue, on the other side, has his eyes narrowed and looks like he could rip the arms off of her.
I wonder who will win?
Considering what Nightshade did to Minerva, he's got to be pretty pissed, as well as horrified. That's always a fun combination. Nightshade, however, looks pretty cool, even though Rogue defeated Racer last round.
That is his only accomplishment right now that matters.
"Start!" Jason announces, and Rogue flies into action, the shadows of the arena pulling towards him and congregating around him and Nightshade, who yawns and whips around just as he reaches her, sending him flying backwards into the wall of the arena with a powerful kick to his stomach. She lands on her feet, steady as a cat, and her hands form into fists, magic glowing around them as her hair swirls around, already the pigtails are becoming undone with her magic. Tentacles flare up around Rogue, trapping him, until he calls up shadows near Nightshade, trapping her likewise.
Smiling, Nightshade starts to manipulate her hands like pulling on puppet strings, and the tentacles around Rogue start to grow hard and rough, tearing through his clothes and scratching his skin, deep enough to draw blood. He opens his mouth to either scream or roar out a spell, but tentacle slaps over his mouth, clamping his jaw shut and shutting his mouth hard enough to make him groan in pain.
With bruises starting to form on his body where the tentacles are restraining him, the light scratches on his arms are making him writhe in discomfort, and I spy a couple of people in the audience who look uncomfortable as all hell.
My eyes move back to the battle, and I pointedly look at Nightshade, who finally meets my gaze (106), and refocuses back on Rogue, hitting a point in his back with a tentacle that makes him gasp (107) and pass out.
Everyone in the crowd is shocked by the quick ending, especially since it isn't nearly as brutal as what they saw last time against Minerva, or even against Erza with Morrigan, or Noctus with Mirajane.
Huh, so we can surprise people. That's good to know.
Nightshade exits the field, and Rogue is attended by a dwindling number of concerned teammates.
Another victory for us.
Vidaldus hits the floor of the arena with a distinguished grunt, Levy crushing him with both a Solid Script: Silent and Iron.
I look at the girl, whose panting, but unharmed, and nod my head. She's good.
I'm a bit surprised, but still. That's good work, right there. Although I doubt Vidaldus will be happy about this, being beaten by a girl who looks like she's still a teenager.
Oh well, his problem, not mine.
I send a small slip of paper, magically enchanted to flap like a little bird, to Jason, as I run down to the arena, pulling out the same crystal from yesterday, reciting the same incantation and, instead of Jackal appearing, it is the demon Ezel, all four arms accounted for.
"What would you have me do so that I may return to Zeref?" the demon asks, and I point across the way to Obra.
"Defeat that man, and I will release you." I state, and the demon takes one glance at me, then looks back at his opponent. He grins, and cracks his knuckles.
Okay then…
I hurry up to the box, and look on as the little puppet that is Obra, somehow, manages to hit the mighty demon with a power, draining his magical power. I smile, and raise a goblet of blood, draining it with a single gulp. Looking back at the scene, Obra's lying on the ground, for his power does nothing to negate any physical advantage they have. The tiny creature attempts to get up again, but Ezel slams him back down and slices it in half using his curse power.
Oh, he killed him. What a shame. (108)
Jason, unhappy with how quickly that match ended, announces with no enthusiasm beyond what is required, that Ezel has won.
I release the hold I have on him, and wait for the stadium to clear for the day, walking slowly down to the field.
There, the puppet that is Obra is trying to piece itself together. I pick it up, Bickslow following me, probably confused, and hear it's weak cries to try and make me spare it.
I bring up a flame spell in the hand holding it, igniting the stupid thing and burning the other on the ground where it lies. Scooping up the ashes in separate hands, I incinerate them further, using the same spell, until there is literally nothing left of the puppet's ashes. With another spell, of lightning this time, I cleanse my hands of anything left over, and leave, leading Bickslow out of the arena.
I really hate that stupid puppet. People with that kind of magic and outlook on life are a danger to my Family, and I cannot have that. Ever.
The next morning, Bickslow and I climb up to the private box like we've become accustomed to doing. Luckily, I don't have to do anything besides watch today, if the people actually do well, then yes, it'll be fine. And if no one goes overboard, I shouldn't have to intervene anymore this games.
A Magic Power Finder challenge is set up.
The remaining contestants, Nightshade, Noctus, Morrigan, Midnight, Hibiki, Wendy, Sherria and Levy all gather here, ready to determine the order of their battles and their opponents.
The duo of Sky Slayers move to the MPF, Wendy doing Sky Dragon Roar, and Sherria doing Sky God's Bellow.
Both score very highly, Wendy getting a 3100, and Sherria receiving a 3200 rating.
Hibiki and Levy go after them, Levy generating a Solid Script: Blast to hit the MPF, giving her a rating of a respectable 2725. Hibiki takes a deep breath, and makes a few movements with his hands, before sending the spell on it's way, crushing down on the MPF, getting a score of 3700, shocking everyone, especially since his last time with something like this resulted in a score of 94.
Midnight steps up, after the muttering of the crowd dissipates, allowing him to concentrate, hitting the MPF with Dark Rondo, generating a good score of 3450.
"Huh. Must have a cold." Noctus comments, and then steps up to the plate. "Allow me."
Noctus approaches, squaring her shoulders and narrowing her eyes at the target, generating a dark spell called Soul Enclosure in one hand, hitting the MPF with a powerful force and getting a lovely 8900.
Nightshade, cocky as ever, pushes her team mate back while Morrigan looks on, content to leave the bickering children to it.
"This is how you do it." Nightshade states, gathering up magic in her hands and releasing it at the construct, a tentacle explosion grants her a nice 4200.
"Stand back, pipsqueaks. I've got this." Morrigan states, as Noctus laughs in her cute outfit of the day and Nightshade looks defeated.
Morrigan stands with Hugo on one shoulder, while the mage uses both hands to channel her power.
"RAVEN BLAST!" She calls out, hitting the MPF and gaining a score of 9450.
She dusts her hands, looking back at the others, standing there dumbfounded, and says, "See? That's how it's done."
Hibiki, Wendy, Sherria, and Levy all look miserable, with Wendy giving off a vibe somewhat close to doom.
This is going to be fun.
"The contestants will be matched up according to how they ranked on the Magical Power Finder, the highest to the highest, and so on. But, to determine the order, we are going to have a beast slaying contest!" Jason announces, and I don't even react. (109)
"For the matches, they are matched up Midnight vs. Levy, Nightshade vs. Wendy, Noctus vs. Sherria, and last but not least in any way, Morrigan vs. Hibiki! The matches order will be decided in just a few minutes!"
Morrigan groans in annoyance, and all contestants, still on the field, turn to look at the other side, where a huge corral is.
"It's similar to Pandemonium, but instead of one at a time, you all go! The person with the most monsters taken care of when the challenge is over, and we will be keeping track, will go first against their opponent, and so on and so forth. On your mark, get set, GO!"
The gate to the corral open, and Noctus almost immediately shrieks in horror. Those things are horrible for messing up dresses, and she particularly likes this one. (110)
She runs screaming as far away from them as she can, terrified that they'll mess up her clothing.
Midnight takes a more practical approach, reflecting two into each other, taking them both down. A hovering light pen construction keeps track of the beasts taken out by each competitor.
Wendy, using Sky Dragon's Roar, gets 7 at once, and Levy is more trying to keep them away from her, pushing them back and somehow getting some to her name.
Morrigan sighs, using her magic to create tiny tornados, whirling them around the stadium and picking up beasts left and right. Hibiki, not to be outdone, uses his Gravity Magic (111) to squish enough of them to get him up there in the running. However, after that, he doesn't use his magic, wisely choosing to conserve it in favor of using it against his opponent.
Nightshade, on the other hand, seems determined to make up for that embarrassment in the MPF challenge. The tentacles spring up from the ground, taking up as many of the magical beasts as they could, branching off and stopping tornados from Morrigan and actually merging with each other, creating a support system. The sunlight on the field is becoming blocked, and the view for the stands is practically null already.
"Nightshade is the undisputed winner!" Jason announces, trying to make her recede the tentacles. (112)
"Overkill much?" Noctus mutters to Morrigan, who chuckles and all but Nightshade and Wendy move away. The beasts are cleared away and the corral dismantled in minutes, allowing the others to get to their teammates and look on.
Wendy looks understandably worried, but sets a determined look on her face. She isn't backing down.
"Match begin!" Jason announces, and Nightshade grins.
It's time for a battle.
Wendy, five minutes in, has already activated Dragon Force, her still petite frame holding up against a barrage of assaults from Nightshade.
"I've always wanted to defeat a Dragon Slayer." Nightshade says, grinning sinisterly at her opponent, who quickly lashes out and uses a Secret Spell.
It hits Nightshade, whose defense of tentacles is ripped apart, sending her into the wall of the arena, and the Sky Dragon Slayer sends a Sky Dragon's Roar towards her opponent again.
The dust stirs itself up, and a raw power outburst is felt by everyone with the slightest hint of magical power.
Nightshade, once the dust clears, appears to have gone into Shadow, noticeable by the new outfit and dramatic increase in magical power and output.
Shadow is similar to Dragon Force, and is a much talked about and rumored power up in the Family. I can grant it, with Sithis' blessing of course, to certain people in the guild, those who've earned it, or perhaps heard Sithis' voice whisper in their ear during a contract. Nexus, for example, is one of them, though he is not a Speaker or a Silencer.
As well as giving a boost in magical power, the specific transformations are different for everyone, and Noctus has already triggered hers. It grants access to any magic that they have a rudimentary knowledge of, or magic and skills they have locked away, buried in subconscious thought or something along those lines.
For example, Nightshade's main magic is actually Moonlight magic, but, since it's a new moon, she hasn't been able to use it. Shadow will allow her to use it, the same way that it would allow Noctus to use dark magic in any light.
Her hair is up in a complicated fashion, circles, tightly wound, on the back of her head. Her face, normally makeup free, now has red lipstick adorning an arrogant smirk and black eyeshadow dramatizing her glares. She has silver rings on her neck, silver bracers, a single silver adornment on her right upper arm circling her biceps and triceps, a dancer's silver anklet extending to her foot on her right foot and enchanted silver metal accessorizing her outfit on her chest and encircling her waist. A simple black top and black shorts keep the rest of her outfit free from snags and possible singing. A white hot chain is in her hands, and the wicked grin on her face could scare off a bear. (113)
Wendy's done for.
The girl is barely moving, and Nightshade's green eyes flash around as the crowd cheers her on, some for her outfit, some for her skill, but most for her power and the fear that if they don't, they'll face her wrath.
"Up next is Morrigan vs. Hibiki! A nail biter!" Jason states, sass almost evident in his voice.
I watch with interest as the Shadow force wears off, and Morrigan comes onto the field to help her off and take her place. Another thing catches my eye, though, and I turn my attention to Kurohebi, in his new outfit, being welcomed by his new Family, Orion giving him a gentle hug while the rest wait to greet him. Morrigan offers a wave, as she can't exactly give him the same greeting right now.
Thank Sithis Decimus told them, I completely forgot.
The other side is taking notice, and have immediately gotten angry, some yelling "TRAITOR!" at Kurohebi.
I narrow my eyes at them, and stand up, just as Noctus turns to them, yelling back, "ANYONE CAN CALL ANOTHER NAMES, BUT WHO CAN BLAME HIM WHEN YOU TREAT PEOPLE LIKE SCUM FOR MAKING A DECISION THAT THEY ARE DESTINED TO DO."
That shuts the others up, and reaching through the black link, as I call it, to the guards within my power, ordering them to supply more people, to guard the public should a fight break out. Obviously, I wouldn't stop it, as we would win, but if someone dies, especially a civilian, it wouldn't do good, probably tainting this forever and slanting a view on the government. (114)
If a fight does break out, I would much prefer it tomorrow, with a lot of guards to protect any civilians, or the city cleared out and that being the battleground. Maybe underground would work.
Who knows. I'm not included in the planning process.
Morrigan is up against Hibiki, and I'm not going to say this is easy, because no one should ever underestimate a person who has Gravity Magic at their disposal. Despite his apparent disadvantage against Morrigan, I don't doubt that he could win. He's extremely smart, as evidenced by his use of Archive magic.
This is going to be interesting.
Morrigan and Hibiki square off, waiting for the go ahead. Jason calls out, "Go!"
Immediately, Morrigan gathers some wind with her, hitting the Archive mage with it from all sides, only for him to not even be moved.
Confused, Morrigan tries it again, and still nothing happens.
By that, though, she's figured it out.
"Telekinesis. Smart." she comments, and whirls her fingers around in a spiral motion, pulling air up around Hibiki, making him spiral through the air uncontrollably. Grinning, Morrigan flies close to him, slashing him with her longsword. He gasps, and with his intake of breath, he gives it back to the air in the form of words.
"Your raven Hugo is actually your younger brother."
Morrigan's eyes go wide, and she hits Hibiki again with her longsword, knocking him to the ground.
"He was a dove before you put his soul in the bird." Hibiki continues, getting up from the slash.
I lean forward in my seat. I didn't know that about Morrigan.
What else did Hibiki uncover in her mind?
"You can bind souls to living beings!" he calls out, his eyes shut in concentration.
I raise my eyebrow. That I most certainly did not know. I just thought that Hugo was an exceptionally well trained pet. I lean back, looking at the battle with a critical eye. I'm fine with people keeping secrets from me, but that ability… besides being rare, it could explain her power of foresight, among other things. (115)
Morrigan, enraged now, hurls a Storm Shred at him, and as many gusts of wind as she can.
His telekinesis stops them, surprising everyone here (116), and Morrigan just grows angrier.
Finally, she summons a giant tornado, sucking up the oxygen in the arena, blocking the area from view, long enough for Hibiki to lose any control he has over oxygen, and definitely longer than enough for him to pass out.
I'm about to try and stop this when the tornado clears up, Morrigan setting herself down and glaring at the body of Hibiki. Hugo comes over with her cloak, and she accepts it, walking back confidently to the team's quarters so she could rest, at least a little bit.
"That was a climactic battle between Morrigan and Hibiki, wasn't it folks? Morrigan is the winner!" Jason says, trying to get the crowd back. "Up next is Midnight vs. Levy!"
"Midnight is down! I repeat, Midnight is down!" Jason says, confused but still devoted to his job.
"What the hell happened?" asks Bickslow, looking at the ground.
"I think she used the word Mirror, and it used his Reflector magic against him. Is that what happened?" I say, trying to sort out what I saw.
Bickslow starts giggling at that, and myself, I'm fighting a laugh as well.
"That's almost as stupid as Noctus falling down in the second challenge!" Bickslow says, his giggling growing to laughter.
I try to hide a smile, not wanting to hurt Midnight's feelings.
Vidaldus, however, has no qualms against this, pointing at the unconscious Reflection mage, and laughing. "That was the stupidest thing I've ever seen!"
Cobra takes offense to this, and tackles the hair mage to the ground, demanding that he take it back.
I start laughing at their antics, and both Bickslow and I can't stop, becoming hysterical at the sight of the two mages wrestling on the ground like children.
"There seems to be a… disturbance in the stands among the Dark Brotherhood contestants… Can I ask them to settle down… please…." Jason seems to stop trying, just preferring to collapse in tears.
"We should do something about that." I say to Bickslow when I have the breath.
"Nah. Oh, look, Vidaldus is trying to pry Cobra off with his hair."
"There should be something wrong with that sentence."
106- Although I can't tell, the visor's in the way. I figured because she did this.
107- You can hear it, even though he's being muffled by a tentacle still.
108- Sarcasm, in case you didn't notice.
109- I did think that there is only one challenge per day, but I suppose this is better than letting someone just decide the order. The audience wants to be surprised.
110- It's a corset top, black ribbon lacing it up the front, and a black skirt with red rimming the bottom. Black ribbon straps on her sandals wrap them around her ankles, and her umbrella is a nice purple and red. Her hair's still in it's pigtails, by the way.
111- That no one knew he had, or even knew.
112- Next with the most caught is Morrigan, then Midnight, then Noctus. Mostly it was Morrigan and Nightshade.
113- If it was a smart bear.
114- That's why this Games is so important. As well as establishing ourselves as the dominant power here in Fiore as both the government and, basically what the mages will view as a private army, we need to prove to the public, where the popular opinion lies, that we are both powerful and merciful, bold and brash while being courageous, kind hearted and open to public relations. It's not easy, especially since I came up with this plan while partially crazy.
115- Other things being the fact that most people who can do that are not going to go far in life without being accused of murdering people whenever a homicide is declared. I can see why she hid that fact, but, really, we're a Family of murderers, did she really think that that would have any effect on how we think of her?
116- Telekinesis is not often a main form of magic, and definitely someone as skilled as Hibiki apparently is, is a rarity. I mean, not even having to think about it, just reacting, is both incredibly useful and rare. Hmm.