Chapter Seven: The Storm
The doors closed behind the Heroes, sealed by a massive steel plate to ensure there was no escape. The four formed a protective circle to prevent anything from sneaking up from behind and attacking them. Each Hero watched a gate that was positioned along the walls of the Arena.
"Remember, no magic. Not yet. We can't let the Mayor catch on and sick his entire army on us for entering illegally," Willow advised.
"That's all well and good, but this Arena has been designed for normal people to lose. How are we supposed to survive without magic?" Speer asked.
"We're Heroes. We'll find a way." Michael said and he drew his sword, a straight sword he found on the walls of the armory. He kept his father's sword sheathed on his back, he knew he would be unable to draw it lest he be found out by Wilson, but merely having it with him made him feel stronger.
Finally a gate began to open and all four Heroes faced it together. Slowly it rose up and a mischievous and eerie laughter filled the Arena's echoing walls. Willow aimed her crossbow at the door and fired inside without even seeing her target. The crowd gasped in surprise, and everyone looked on at the gate to see what could have been hit. After several long moments of on looking, a small bulbous body fell out with an arrow sticking out from its chest.
"Hobbes…" Willow said when she identified the creature.
Soon after a horde of other Hobbes charged out over the body of their fallen comrade. First five, then a dozen, two dozen, three and four dozen, too many to count. The little monsters stampeded towards the Heroes, weapons drawn and ready to spill blood. Michael readied his new sword, Shunt is hammer, Speer is twin sickles and Willow her crossbow. Willow fired off a few more rounds and the other three ran into the fray, swinging their weapons wildly at their pray. Shunt's brute strength allowed him to hit one Hobbe with is hammer and send it careening into five others, instantly shattering each of their ribcages. Speer's tremendous speed and astounding precision assisted him in running through the stampeding army of Hobbes to the other side, slitting the throats of ten more in the process as they fell instantly. Michael stood his ground in front of Willow, slashing and cutting down eight Hobbes that were unfortunate enough to be in the immediate proximity of his blade. He formed an effective human shield as Willow fired into the crowd and shot down a six more Hobbes, reloading and taking down six more.
In mere moments there were only a dozen poorly organized Hobbes left, and the Mayor had a distraught look on his face as the audience cheered the challengers with all their might. The Heroes look powerful, more so than any other challenger they had ever witnessed before. Maybe this would be the day they would be freed from Mayor Wilson's tyranny. Soon they had the remaining Hobbes cornered, and they shook with fear.
"Willow, go gather your arrows. We're going to need the ammo, and we can handle these little Hobbes by ourselves," Michael ordered as Willow walked the ground, pulling the arrows that were unbroken from the bodies of her victims. By the time she was finished and reloaded her stock, the remaining Hobbes had been killed. Round one had been completed and the bell sounded to signal their success.
"Is that all Mayor? Is that the biggest challenge you have for us?" the masked Michael called out to the Mayor, who was shaking with anger. He had never so thoroughly underestimated a challenger.
"Impressive challengers...I must admit. I usually only send out a dozen Hobbes and they swarm over the challengers, killing them in round one. I though throwing in a dozen for each competitor would be too much for anyone, but bravo for proving me wrong. However you challenge is far from over: welcome to Round Two!" Mayor Wilson shouted and pulled a lever, causing a second gate to open up. Out marched a plethora of menacing looking men bearing rifles and swords, dressed in stolen mix-and-match military attire.
"Feh, Highwaymen. No more of a challenge than the Hobbes," Speer said confidently. He began charging a Time Control spell that he often used when facing opponents with firearms such as this, but Shunt placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Remember," Shunt whispered, "no magic. If we do we blow our cover." Speer grunted and ceased charging the spell.
"So, we're targets at a shooting range now are we? Fantastic, I've always wanted to be one of those little ducks," Speer shot back sarcastically as the Highwaymen formed ranks and collectively drew their rifles.
"Any last words challengers?" Wilson called out as the crowd grew deathly silent. It seemed their hopes of freedom would be dashed right before their eyes in a bloody display.
"Yeah, we might. But our last words are coming long after yours Wilson," Michael spat out through his mask. This only succeeded in infuriating Wilson, and he ordered their execution.
"FIRE!" He shouted and the air was filled with bullets. All four ranks of highwaymen opened fire with their rifles, causing smoke to cloud the Arena.
The audience coughed on the smoke from the guns, shielding their eyes while at the same time trying to find out exactly what happened to the Heroes. Slowly the smoke in the center where the Heroes stood began to clear, and to the surprise of everyone…they had vanished! The smoke built up around the perimeter of the Arena floor thanks to the vents, and as it did it seemed as if the challengers had vanished into thin air as no evidence of their presence could be seen anywhere!
"YEAAAAAAAAHHH!" A fan cheered, followed by more and more until the entire crowd was on its feet. It was surreal, and Mayor Wilson couldn't make heads or tails of it. Until he too determined what his people were so happy about. The Heroes had wound up behind the highwaymen!
The Heroes drew their weapons and cut, beat and shot down the highwaymen from behind. The poor mercenaries never had a chance to draw their swords after they dropped their guns. Within seconds all four ranks of highwaymen had been dealt with, and the four Heroes stood atop their bodies victorious to another thunderous ovation from the people of Westcliff.
"Two down Wilson, what else do you have? Because if this is the extent of your challenges then I suggest you save your resources and pay up right now." Michael shouted out to him once again.
"I don't know how you four did that," Wilson began, "but rest assured, you will not survive the next round. And even if you do, the fourth round will surely destroy you! And by some miracle you win again, which no one has yet, the final round will crush every bone, organ, and piece of resilience in your body. That…I swear…"