The Secret of the Idol

by PokeMaster64

Wes Ravenfield, an Umbreon who wishes to become the world's greatest treasure hunter, has been failing in trying to find anything to prove his worth. But, upon discovering a sacred idol that could bring about chaos on the world, he will journey throughout Mysto with his brother and ex-girlfriend, along with new friends along the way. As they get closer, secrets will unfold.

117. Gelid Peak Tournament 13

Ch.117: Time for an All-Out Attack! Wes vs. Benedict the Titan!

"Concentrate, Wes."

"I'm concentrating."

"This isn't a battle of just brawns. It's also a battle of wits."

The thirteen-year-old Umbreon huffed as he circled cautiously around his father, who held a golden chalice on his back. Garret was blindfolded, facing the far wall of the living room and seemingly unaware to Wes' current position.

"I'm just saying, Dad, you're going to taking me out to eat because I'm getting that chalice."

Garret smirked. "I could've betted all my hard-earned fortune instead, yet it would have resulted the same."

"In me winning?"

"In you learning a lesson on patience."

Wes laughed. "That's funny, Dad. You're a funny man. A real funny guy who always seems to think he knows what he's-" Wes, in the midst of his rambles, circled in the other direction and lunged at the Jolteon. "-talking about!"

Garret bumped the chalice into the air and ducked under his son. Garret swiped under Wes' chin and struck him so hard, he flipped onto his back. Garret extended his paw out and caught the chalice.

"Yes, I suppose I know how to get a good laugh out."

"Ooowww…" Wes groaned, holding his dizzy head.

Garret removed his blindfold. "You have an unfortunate habit of doing that."

"I could've sworn you were counting how fast I was circling you, so I thought talking would distract you long enough to change my position," Wes admitted.

Garret pulled him to his feet. "And it might have worked, but you revealed your hand too quickly. I understand it's a habit to make a witty comment before getting the jump on someone, but you showed off too early. That inflexion in your tone indicated triumph, along with an expression of force, like you were about to perform a sudden action. I fault myself for doing the same, but your timing was off. I had half a second to react, and that's plenty of time to counterattack."

Wes rubbed his chin. "Did you really need to hit so hard?"

Garret laughed. "It builds character. And, because you lost the bet, you get to do the dishes tonight." He threw the chalice onto the couch.

Wes pouted. "Jerk."

"You made the wager, not me." Garret stretched his legs out and yawned.

"Hey Dad."

"Yeah, sport?"

"Will I ever become as great as you when I become a treasure hunter?"

Garret narrowed his eyes. "Son, why would you want that?"

"Well, you're just so cool and stuff, so why wouldn't-?"

"Not that." He poked Wes in the forehead. "Your brother takes after my love of history and digging, but you don't here him saying he wants to do as great as me. Wes, as a father, I don't want to see you become as great as me. I want to see you become greater than me."

Wes laughed. "C-Come on, that's impossible."

"Swelling my ego, I see."

"Dad, you are so cool. I could never match up to your career." Wes rubbed the back of his head, laughing quietly. "Sure, I want to follow in your footsteps, but let's be real. There's no way I could ever match-"

"Wes." The Umbreon froze midsentence. Garret whacked Wes on the head with his hat, giving him a stern glare. "Is this my dream? Or is it your dream?"

"I…I, uh…"

Garret sighed. "It's normal for a son or daughter to see their parent as some hero, a personal role model, and so on. However, my dream isn't your dream. Doing what I do to make it as big as I did won't make you great. You're only limiting yourself if you let expectations like that be your guide."

Wes frowned. "But-" Garret held his paw up and stopped him.

"I raised dreamers." He tapped Wes in the chest. "You and your brother will excel in whatever you pursue, but the obstacles of life, whether natural or self-made, stop those dreams. Don't fret over the future and focus on what you want to become along the way. Your journey shapes you. With that journey, you can break the sky's limit."

"R-Really?"

Garret nodded, then grinned. "Just remember this motto my dad told me when I was your age. The Ravenfield family has always been good at doing one thing.

"Ravenfields…will always defy Fate."

---

Wes growled as the blinding light inside the arena assaulted his eyes, kicking up dust against the barrier. "Ella!" he cried out again. The chaos drowned out his voice. All he could hear was the rumbling shockwaves and the faint cries of the audience.

The rumbling gradually came to a stop and returned to calm, settling down the frazzled crowd. Wooden debris from Gwyn's trees were scattered into a ring by the arena walls, along with tons of loose stone and rock. In the center of all of it was a plume of dust where the initial impact took place.

Wes squinted as the dust faded. His eyes dilated in shock. "E-Ella…"

The Espeon panted heavily with her knees buckling under her weight. Blood dripped from her mouth. Her eyes were glazed. She couldn't see anything, only darkness.

"You…You done…yet?" Ella gasped wearily, struggling to keep her eyes open. Chips of teal glass fell over her, part of the barrier that surrounded her.

Benedict's fist was firmly planted into the barrier with cracks running all across the dome shape. It was by a hair, but the barrier was just strong enough to stop his attack. Any weaker and it would've been a clean strike to her back. Benedict glared down on her before pulling his fist away, the final nail in the dome's stability.

It collapsed over Ella and vanished into nothingness. The Espeon staggered forward in small steps, unsure where she was going. "I'm not…done with you yet, you…bastard," she grumbled weakly. Each step was like walking with fragile bones made of glass. Searing pain shot through her each time she exerted force.

Wes gaped at her in horror. That final attack took all her concentration to stop. The impact alone must've done her in. Her mental state might not be any better.

Ella kept moving forward with stubborn determination, but Benedict grabbed her tail and stopped her. "That's far enough, Cipher," he said gently.

Ella turned her head, then scoffed. "Big…mistake. I know where…you are now." She limped up to his side and pressed her head into him. "Take…this. I'll…I'll…send you flying across the…the…"

Her right foreleg gave out. Benedict kneeled and caught her before she hit the ground. He examined her for a moment before sighing in relief as her chest rose up and down. "She's asleep," he mumbled.

---

"I don't believe it, ladies and gentlemen! Ella Cipher managed to withstand the champion's final attack, but it appears the shock was too great for her mind! Ella Cipher is out of the match-!"

"That brute!" Elise tossed a pillow into the crystal ball. Vivian dove and caught it before it rolled off the coffee table. "Look at what he did to my daughter! Has he no shame?! He could've killed her!"

"Elise, calm down," Owen pleaded.

"I will sue him for any permanent damages done on my daughter!" she roared.

Vivian set the crystal ball back on the table. "Elise, please calm down. This tournament wouldn't allow something like that to happen. Ella will be fine."

Elise scoffed. "I'll believe it when I see it. Grr, this is exactly why I forbade participation in this barbaric sport. Honestly!" She covered her eyes and shuddered. Owen gently rubbed her back to soothe her.

Vivian sighed, then looked back at the crystal ball. "With Ella out, that means the only one left is…"

---

Wes swallowed a hard lump as Benedict handed off Ella to him. "She fought well. Better than I expected."

Wes sighed. "Y-Yeah. She's really great."

Benedict glared. "This is the final stretch, Wes Ravenfield. What do you plan on doing?"

Give me a minute, I don't know this test question! Wes panicked. "I'll, uh…give you an answer on the field." Benedict huffed, accepting the answer, and returned to the arena. Wes sighed, then lay Ella on the bench. "I'm going to get my ass handed to me hard. I'm doomed."

"You're not quitting on us already, are you?" Wes gasped as Ella opened her eyes and smirked at him, albeit weakly. "Some team leader you are."

"E-Ella! You're awake!"

"She's not the only one." Wes looked around and saw his other teammates getting up, mending their various wounds. Tony cracked his back and winced. "Ooh! Yep, that one's not going away on its own."

Griffin sat up and rubbed his head. "I feel like I was steamrolled by a train."

Gwyn didn't have the strength to sit up. She rested on the bench with her arms hanging down. "This guy…he's invincible. We can't hurt him."

"He's not invincible," Ella surmised. "I hope so, at least. He hasn't healed his injuries. He's just been numbing the pain."

"A body can't handle that much stress before collapsing on itself," Tony added, coughing into his fist. "Ugh. Wes, you need to deal the final blow."

Wes bit his lip. "I'm going to get punted halfway across the city if I try that."

"You just need to get a few lucky hits off," Griffin droned. "You have this under control. This was your plan, after all. You're our last hope."

"Guys, I couldn't beat him last time. What'll be different now?" Wes asked worriedly. "All of you excel in other fields I'm only average at. I've got nothing."

"But you're the most magically gifted," Ella reminded, forcing herself to sit up, much to her immediate regret. She flinched and bit back a yell. "Agh! Stupid…!" She cleared her throat. "Ugh. Wes, we've been working up to this. We have total faith in you. Flint's rooting for you back at the hotel. Do it for him."

Wes frowned. "I have my limits that I can't overcome."

"And who decided that?" Tony joked. "Just because that jacked-up Beartic is stronger doesn't mean you're weak. Quit it with the pity party and get out there."

Wes looked around at all their encouraging faces. Underneath their pain and hurt pride, they gave their full support for Wes. He had to lead by example. Cowering out now, after everything he has been through and endured, was the final path to total isolation.

Wes raised his paw, mulling over their encouragement, then balled it up. "I'll try…no, I am going to win this! Just you watch!" he exclaimed, brimming with self-confidence. "I'll lead us to victory and get that key!"

"That's the ticket!" Tony cheered.

"Kick his butt, Big Bro!" Gwyn cheered.

"Right!" Wes jumped out of the stands and onto the field. He took a deep breath, then glared at his awaiting opponent. Ravenfields never back down. We always keep getting up, no matter how any times you break us. Flint won't let himself fall to Zaros, and I won't let myself fall to the Shadow King. Right now, this is where I take my next step forward.

"And the final combatant for Team Ravenfield has taken the field. Team leader, Wes Ravenfield!" The crowd cheered his name as the Umbreon took his place near the center.

---

Up in the private box seats, the three mages stood by the window with observant eyes. "Now we'll see what Garret's youngest is capable of," Cicely said.

Seth snapped his fingers, summoning dark wisps from his sleeves and shaping them into a panel. He wrote 'Wes Ravenfield' on the top with the smoke. "A firsthand account of a Ravenfield in action. I'm excited."

Cielo narrowed his eyes. "Show us why we should put our hope in you, Wes Ravenfield."

---

Wes spread his stance out and set his gaze on Benedict, who stood with a casual stance, yet a fierce demeanor. "I'm ready whenever you are."

Benedict glared. "A word before the match starts."

"What?"

"What will you do when you fall in defeat? What is your plan after I take my leave with the key?"

Wes bit his lip. "That's harsh." He shook his head and puffed his chest out. "Isn't it obvious? I'm not going to lose to you. I'll defeat you. I'll go beyond where others have failed and knock the Invincible Titan onto his back. That's my promise!"

Benedict huffed. "You speak with passion." Magic flowed from his eyes. "Now, speak through your actions."

"Let the final battle…BEGIN!"

Wes activated his amulet and charged at the Beartic. "Warp Pad!" He bounced into Benedict with a swift headbutt to the stomach.

"Potentia Wall." Wes gasped and bounced off the Beartic like he was a rubber ball fired into an iron wall. His head ached from the impact. "Potentia Reach." He fired the projectile fist.

Wes angled out his flight and bounced off a Warp Pad circle while the fist chased him down. "Infernius!" Wes fired the white fireball, but the fist smashed through it unharmed. "Aquos Mist!" He exhaled mist from his nostrils and vanished into it. The fist barreled through with no Umbreon inside.

Benedict glared. He disappeared?

"HA!" Benedict got a flash of purple light before taking a high speed kick to the cheek. He glared at the smirking Umbreon. "How do you like that?"

I had my eyes on the sky the whole time. He must've used Warp Pad to spring down and get around me while my attention was on the mist. Clever, but ineffective. He grabbed Wes' leg and swung him at the ground.

"Warp Pad!" Wes bounced off the ground completely unharmed and slipped from Benedict's grip. "Terra Slash!"

A purple ring flashed around Benedict, then sharps of earth fired from below. Benedict crossed his arms and activated Potentia Wall, destroying the shards as they struck his skin.

Wes freefell with a fire building in his throat. "Infernius!" He hiccupped the flames and scored a direct hit on Benedict's head.

Benedict whipped his head and dispersed the flames, then pulled both fists back. "Potentia Reach: One Hundred Flow Step." He rapidly punched the air and fired dozens of teal fists at Wes.

Wes weaved through them with acrobatic skill, but couldn't find a safe way out without getting nicked. This power. This pressure. I need to tread lightly, or I'm screwed!

"Potentia Assault." Wes felt whiplash from Benedict suddenly appearing behind him. He shrieked and dodged the downward barrage of fists.

"Mystic Burst!" Magic exploded from Wes' body. "Warp Pad!" He bounced off the magic circle and rammed into Benedict's head.

Benedict staggered back, but strengthened his legs and anchored himself down. He met eyes with Wes, flashing an intimidating scowl, then struck Wes with a hard uppercut. Wes felt like the bottom of his face flattened in before flying into the sky.

"Potentia Reach." Benedict fired the fist and shot Wes higher into the air.

Wes only barely blocked the attack with his forelegs, but now faced the impeding trouble of flying above the stadium. "Oh, this is going to suck. Warp Pad!" He stopped himself on a circle and catapulted straight down. The air resistance flapped his lips like a sail in a hurricane.

Benedict watched the falling Umbreon carefully, then sprinted to where he should land. He'll likely change his direction when he gets closer to the ground. I'll be ready for it.

Wes was rapidly approaching the earth. He flicked his digits and summoned a circle, bouncing off in the direction Benedict was running towards, or rather flying away from him.

I knew it. Benedict stopped and aimed his palm. "Lacero."

The spell wasn't for the ground, but for the magic circle that summoned a second before Wes reached it. The Lacero struck and shattered the spell to pieces. Wes crashed through the construct shards and slammed into the arena wall. Wes fell onto his wobbly legs, panting from the shock, then dodged a flying kick from Benedict.

The audience cried out as the impact rippled over the protective barrier with cracks. It quickly mended itself. Ella glared at it. "He could easily shatter the barrier if he wanted."

"That's…That's bad," Gwyn groaned.

Wes took off running alongside the walls with Benedict hot on his trail. "You can't run from me forever," Benedict called out.

Wes panted quickly, then shouted back, "Can, will, and have to! Lumios Storm!" He flipped and spun forward, then released light arrows from behind.

Benedict stopped and countered with Potentia Wall. He continued to follow Wes' movements before extending his arm and fingers. "Incendo."

Wes heard a loud snap from behind, then yelped as an explosion threw him off his feet. He rolled upon landing, but continued running away. Benedict clicked his fingers and fired off more Incendos, getting closer with each shot taken.

Wes tried not to focus on them, more interested in something else on the field. His eyes spotted the mound of dirt that Gwyn made when she planted some seeds. He felt her magic humming inside as life slowly sprang from the seeds.

I can't let him destroy that plant before it's done growing. Might be my only hope of getting any real damage off on him. He glared back at one of the explosions before stopping and running back at Benedict.

"Wrong move." Benedict clicked his fingers and shot Wes right in the face. The fiery smoke billowed towards the sky. "Had enough, Ravenfield?"

"Not quite!" Benedict spun around and stopped a dive kick from above. He grabbed Wes' ankle, pulled him down, and slammed his palm right in his chest. Wes coughed up spit and flew towards the fiery smoke.

Benedict narrowed his eyes at the smoke, sensing remnants of Wes' magic. He saw the outlines of the magic crackling and breaking like glass before fading into nothing. He huffed, then rubbed his wrist. "You have a spell to make duplicates of yourself. You changed positions right as the explosion occurred. Same trick as before, different execution."

Wes stood up and coughed at the ground, trying to get ahold of his lungs. "Arceus, that hurt a lot…" He lifted his head and huffed at the Beartic. "This is nothing. I can take it."

Benedict glared. "At least you came in with a better attitude than before. Potentia…Rush!" His foot sunk down with a hard stomp, then he flew across the field in a faint veil of magic like air pressure pushing against him.

He came flying at Wes so fast that the Umbreon's ear got caught in the attack as he dodged. Wes grunted and tumbled onto his side. The damage wasn't bad, but his fur looked messed up and blood dripped from the top. He cradled it gently, then spun around.

"Mystic Beam!" He fired a quick blast into Benedict, shoving him against the wall. "Rapid-fire Mystic Beam!" He fired in quick succession low powered blasts of his signature spell.

Benedit crossed his arms. "Potentia Wall." The blasts bounced or exploded harmlessly against his skin. "Weakening your own attack? You know that won't do anything to me."

Wes, regardless, kept firing. "Yeah, I know! How else am I going to distract you?"

"Distract-?"

"Aquos Mist!" Wes switched things up and sprayed the thick mist around himself.

Benedict darted for the mist. "Potentia Ascent." He spun through like a top and dispersed the mist, but once again with no Umbreon inside. "And I thought Sapienti was the shifty one."

"Hey Benedict!" It came from above. He whipped his head up and caught Wes high in the sky. However, he wasn't alone, flying side-by-side with one of his Magi Effingo clones. It was charging up a huge, condensed ball of magic. "You didn't like my Mystic Beam back there? Get a load of this one!"

Wes absorbed the clone and passed the magic into himself. The orb of magic doubled in radiancy, shining brighter and bursting with richer power. Benedict held his arm over his eyes to get a better look. It looked absolutely massive compared to what was documented in previous fights.

He used one of his clones to charge that spell, then absorbed it to boost the output. He's learning.

Wes pulled his head back. "Let's see if you can survive this one, ol' mighty Invincible Titan! Mystic Beam!" He fired a massive and wide beam straight at the ground. Ripples of distorted air boomed from the initial blast.

Benedict kicked off backwards towards the far end of the arena. "Tch. Your attack is bigger, but not big enough to cover the whole stadium. I can easily avoid-" Something rammed into his back and stopped him. He turned and saw another one of Wes' crystal clones pushing back on him. "Another one?" He backhanded the clone and shattered its face off.

The decapitated clone flew back and crumbled to dust, but not before flicking its paw and firing off a sword construct. Benedict caught it between his hands, but underestimated the strength behind it. It knocked him back towards the center of the arena and in direct path with the Mystic Beam.

Shit. Benedict broke the construct, then immediately covered his head. "Potentia Wall: Maximum!"

The field lit up in a blaze of magic with Wes hovering over it. The rising pressure slammed into and blew him farther into the air. Wes caught himself early on a Warp Pad and gripped onto it until the wind pressure died down. The wind irritated his injured ear with dust particles, so he tucked it under his hat.

One look back down at the arena after the light cleared and everyone could see everything was torched, from the ground to the wooden remains scattered around.

Wes looked around, then sighed in relief. "Oh good, it's still there."

Wes had summoned numerous clones beforehand before he launched himself into the air. Those clones were piled over the mound of dirt and shielded the plant from the explosion. It took all their strength to endure the blast, now crumbling into particles.

Wes jumped down and landed in the center. "One crisis averted. Now, where is Benedict?"

"What are you up to, Ravenfield?"

Wes' eyes widened. A cold shiver went up his spine and he couldn't tell if it was from nerves or an outside force. Regardless, he sensed the Beartic's composed presence right behind him. The chilling air around him was much colder than before.

Wes examined the consequences of his attack and was disappointed to see Benedict has yet to start limping. However, like all the injuries he sustained, they were showing over his body. What's more, Benedict's robe was torn to ribbons, barely hanging off his body in strands.

Benedict flexed his claws at Wes. "I actually felt that one. Hmph. Maybe you have been getting stronger."

Wes backed away and crouched into position. "Plenty more left to offer."

"Hmph." A smirk crawled over his face. "Good." He grabbed the remains of his robe and tore them off. Underneath it all, he only had two articles of clothing—though, one of them Wes questioned if it was really normal clothing.

A simple pair of black shorts fitting to his lower half and a crimson heavy duty vest with charms sewn into the front, back, and sides. Wes squinted and sensed something off about the vest. It looked like it was drawing in Benedict's magic, sort of like Griffin's Endless Regret.

Except, it didn't appear to be nullifying his magic. It was…suppressing it.

Wes felt his heart sank to that theory. "Oh shit."

Benedict seemed to know what Wes was thinking and huffed. "Sharp eye, Ravenfield. I've been going all out on you, but only as much as this vest will allow me to. I wear this to test my limits and give myself a challenge. I prefer the challenge over an honest fight."

Wes gritted his teeth. "You mean…this whole time, even back when I first fought you, you've been using that to limit your magic?!"

Benedict nodded. "I rarely take it off in a fight. With you, however, I might just actually let you sample some of my true strength."

Wes kept glancing at Gwyn's plant, which only now begin to sprout. If I can get my paws on that, I might be able to match him. Ugh, I'm pretty sure Gwyn said I shouldn't eat more than I can handle, but I'm desperate after learning about this.

"Let's rumble." Benedict kicked off and destroyed the ground in a single leap, channeling magic through his fists.

Wes sidestepped, just an inch from being hit. However, the magic pressure of the attack was so strong, it punched and sent him flying to the left. I don't have any defensive spells to counter him. I need to be careful with how I approach this.

Wes dragged his paws and caught the ground. He barely registered the fist that immediately flew into his field of vision, raising his forelegs and blocking it. Wes sputtered and flew back, skidding through the ground.

"Incendo." Not letting up, Benedict snapped his fingers and detonated the Umbreon.

"AAAAHHH!" Wes screamed, shooting into the air.

"Potentia Reach." He fired the fist and made it fly over and dive down on Wes, driving him back into the ground. "Potentia Reach: One Hundred Flow Step." He flailed his fists and fired off dozens of fist constructs.

Wes struggled to his feet, but with no time to dodge the onslaught of attacks. They pounded him into the wall, digging him an inch deeper with every impact. He was putting all his energy into keeping his aura stable. It was the only thing keeping him in the battle.

His team couldn't watch. It was too painful. "He's going to get killed if he keeps at this," Griffin growled.

"Gwyn, how long do we have until that plant of yours blooms?" Tony asked.

Gwyn bit her lip. "Five minutes. I used a delayed version of my Accelerated Growth on it. While it takes longer, the results will mature my plant and make it stronger. Not practical in battle. I only ever used it when we stop to camp so I can get quality ingredients for potions."

Ella took a deep breath and sighed, gripping tightly to the wall. "Come on, Wes. Hang in there for us."

If he could hear them, Wes would've assured them he had everything under control, a bold lie given he had no idea how he was going to get through the next five minutes of his life without passing out. The onslaught of fists kept coming and it didn't look like Benedict would be stopping anytime soon.

I should've been learning more spells, but I don't have anything else. I practically used up my most convenient arsenal. His jaw tightened. That's not what I'm good at, though. I've been moping around for far too long. I need to show my team that I can handle the responsibilities of being a leader. I trust their efforts, and they trust me to get that key!

"Potentia Assault." Benedict finally stopped and charged at Wes. His fists crackled wildly with his magic. "I'm wrapping this up now, boy. You lose." He swung a powerful, straight punch for the Umbreon's head.

I've got no other choice but to reveal this hand! Wes kicked off a Warp Pad and threw himself across the smoother part of the walls, avoiding Benedict's crushing punch. Wes slid against the wall like a soap bar riding around in the sink, though with the added friction burns grinding against his aura.

Benedict pulled his fist out and fired off a Potentia Reach. What is that boy up to?

Wes saw the fist tracking him down, then looked ahead and saw the object in his path. He smirked. Jackpot! He bit down on the object and dislodged it from the wall. The fist came within reach of Wes. Wes turned his head and slashed through the fist like a hot knife through ice.

Benedict narrowed his eyes in confusion before squinting at the object in Wes' mouth. "That's the…"

Wes stamped his foot down and waved Endless Regret around, rather clumsily though. He smirked and said with some difficulty, "I'm going to show you what I'm capable of, Benedict. You better be prepared."

Benedict glared, then raised his arms in a defensive posture. Ravenfield doesn't even wield a sword. This might either be impractical for him or wildly unpredictable for me.

Wes concentrated and channeled his Mystic Beam through the sword. He gasped as the magic was instantly negated from the blade. Yeesh, does Griffin have to constantly pump magic through this thing to keep it lit up? Dang. Wes channeled and sustained a flow of his Mystic Beam through the sword. "HA!" He bounced off Warp Pad and rocketed into Benedict.

"Potentia Wall: Armor Style!" Armor constructs appeared over his arms. He blocked the sword which was nowhere near as strong in Wes' possession. However, due to its unique properties, it was eating away at his magic armor with prolonged contact. "Ha!" He palm-struck Wes and knocked him back.

"Mystic Beam!" Wes spun with the momentum of the hit and slashed Benedict down the middle with the sword. Benedict skidded back from the hit and shook it off. "Mystic Beam!" He carefully angled the sword and fired through it.

Benedict pulled his arm back, waiting for the beam, then slammed his palm into it. The magic splashed out vertically as he marched through it. Wes sensed him approaching and pulled off on the attack. He chucked the sword into the air. "Magi Effingo!" A clone spawned from his body and grabbed the sword's hilt. "Get in close and strike! Mystic Burst!" Wes erupted with magic and rammed into Benedict.

Benedict stopped him by his head and slammed his elbow on top of him. "Critical Revolt!"

Wes used Warp Pad and repelled Benedict's fist, springing it over his head. The whiplash to his arm nearly pulled it out of socket. Benedict growled and clutched his arm. Just then, the crystal clone came spinning down and slashed Benedict in the back.

"AAAGH!" Benedict roared.

Wes activated Mystic Burst again and rammed Benedict in the stomach. Benedict lost his footing and flew backwards with blood trickling from his back. Wes smirked and shouted, "Your legacy ends here! Now fall!"

Benedict's back was parallel to the ground. He faced the sky with a shocked dullness. His eyes didn't express any liveliness, only surprise. I haven't had this much fun…in ages.

Benedict…finally decided to fight back.

Just when it seemed like Benedict was about to hit the ground, the Beartic vanished into thin air. Everyone from the audience to Team Ravenfield gasped, especially Wes, who was now freaking out.

"W-Where did he go?! What was that?!" Wes scanned his surroundings frantically. "Crap, what did he-?!"

"You've proven yourself to be resilient, Ravenfield." Wes went stiff from the dominating aura hovering over him. "I will fight back. Be warned for your defeat won't be an easy one."

Wes spun around. "Mystic Bur-!" Benedict rammed his knee into Wes' stomach, making him cough up blood, then kicked him straight into the air like a missile.

"Wes!" his team cried out.

Wes gripped tightly to his hat. His stomach throbbed with pain. "Agh! Dammit, how hard did he-?" Wes slammed into something in the sky. Horror filled his eyes when he saw it was the city dome. The heat of the dome burned from direct touch. "Ow, ow, ow!" He kicked off and freefell back to the stadium.

"Going somewhere?" Wes' eyes widened at Benedict's sudden presence. Before he could respond, Benedict punched Wes across the face and knocked him out of the stadium bounds. "We're doing this my way now. Rapid Fly Kick!" He kicked off the air like it was solid matter and glided after Wes.

The crowd was in an uproar of shock and confusion. DJ Chance, just as nervous, tried to calm the crowd. "Uh, ladies and gentlemen! It appears are champion has decided to take matters outside the arena! We will have crystal orbs tracking them down and recording their actions. It is worth reminding everyone, according to tournament rules, the battle is over if anyone falls out of tournament grounds. This is a battle of wits and pressure, folks!"

Tony growled. "Meaning, as long as you don't touch the ground, basically the entire freakin' airspace of the city is fair game."

"That's crazy!" Gwyn cried.

"Benedict must've been expecting something like this to happen," Ella noted aloud. "He looks like he's adept at aerial combat, too."

"This tournament is insane," Griffin grumbled as he watched the clone that held his sword crumble to pieces.

---

"AAAHHH!" Wes screamed as he careened towards the streets of Gelid Peak. "What is wrong with this guy?!" He glared. "Wait, didn't he say I couldn't hit the ground or I'm disqualified? Ah shit!"

He summoned a Warp Pad just above the ground and bounced off it. He catapulted into the sky and took a gander over the buildings and streets. Too wrapped in the scale of his height, crystals orbs floated to his position and broadcasted the scene.

"Huh, it's actually kind of nice up here," Wes commented with a little smile. "I could get used to-" From the corner of his eye, he saw the teal magic blazing at him. "WAH!" He ducked his head back, but his hat got caught in the pressure and flew off. "NO!" Wes formed a Warp Pad to go after it, but Benedict caught his leg.

"You're not escaping, Ravenfield." He dragged Wes in and spiked him down.

Wes was paralyzed from the blow, but worked up the concentration to form a Warp Pad and avoid hitting the ground. Once he could move his head, he looked frantically in the air for his hat, but no sign of it popped up. "D-Dad's hat! No! Where is it?!"

He became obsessed with finding the hat, forgetting he was in the middle of a battle. Benedict skipped around in the air and came up behind Wes. "Critical Revolt!"

"Wha-AAAHHH!" Wes used Warp Pad to catapult himself away and repel Benedict's attack. Wes dove for the streets and formed a chain of magic circles to bounced around in the streets. "I've been thrown through a blizzard, fought an ancient king, and took dozens of beatings I can't even begin to count, and this is how I lose my hat?!"

Wes wanted to land and look for it, but regained some clarity to remember he couldn't do that now. He looked up and spotted Benedict chasing after him. Wes blinked, then narrowed his eyes fiercely. "M-Maybe I'll find it soon." He shook his head, then bounced into the air.

"Potentia Reach." Benedict fired off a fist.

"Mystic Burst!" Wes rammed his head through the fist and crashed his skull into Benedict's.

Benedict held out against it and clutched Wes' foreleg, swinging him around and tossing him through the air. "Incendo!" He rapidly clicked his fingers.

Wes straightened out and bounced around the sky, barely flying out of reach of the explosions. "Magi Effingo!" He summoned his clones. "Mystic Burst and Warp Pad!" He and his six clones pressed against the circles and rocketed in random directions towards Benedict.

Benedict stopped and skipped in place to watch the clones flying around. His eyes flickered rapidly between them. "Potentia-Oof!" One flew past him and scraped up his side. He felt them all coming at once and tackling repeatedly into him at hypersonic speed.

"Time for an all-out attack!" Wes announced from above while his clones did the heavy hitting. He used his Warp Pad to fire himself down with a spinning axe kick. He slammed his leg down on Benedict's head and shot him at the ground.

Benedict glared at the Umbreon with his back aimed at the ground. "Seems your persistence is something to be praised. However, Wes Ravenfield, why do you act as leader? Is it truly your role or the one you were given?" He kicked off the air and darted through the alleys and streets without once grazing the ground.

Wes landed on a Warp Pad and scanned the ground, but caught no sign of Benedict. He must know this city like the back of his hand. He's using the streets and alleys to confuse me. Where the heck is he going to pop up from? I can't risk with guesses. One hit and I'm paste!

"Magi Effingo!" Wes summoned his crystal clones and sent them through the streets. He bounced after them and guided his way around the city. He checked every pathway he flew by and kept his eyes peeled for an ambush. At the very least, this will work as a distraction for now.

His ears perked up at distant popping sounds, like air cracking from sonic booms. "Benedict!" he gasped. He bounced into the air and scanned the site of the noise, commanding one of his clones to converge on the area. "Where is he? I know I heard a noise over there-"

He felt the clone he sent out shattering from a heavy blow. Wes couldn't see the sight, but something really fast obliterated it in one shot. He gasped and turned around as another in the streets shattered, then another, and another. Something blitzed through all his clones and shattered them before they could counterattack.

"He's faster than I thought. I need to get back to the-!" Right as he turned back to the stadium, Benedict appeared in his face with a crackling fist. "Oh shit-!" Wes barely blocked the fist and went flying away from the stadium. He screamed internally. His forelegs throbbed and felt like they were bruised. "C-Crap!"

Benedict hopped through the air and chased Wes down. "It's over, Ravenfield. I have you beat in skill and power. There's nowhere left to run."

Wes bared his teeth. "Y-You say that, but we both know you're hurting! You may have numbed your pain, but how long can you last before your body gives up?!" Wes glared over his shoulder and saw he was rapidly approaching the city dome. They didn't disqualify me for hitting the top, so the dome is fair game.

Wes turned himself around so that his paws aimed at the dome. He pulled up Warp Pad, but rewrote the runes inscribed on the edges. I hope I'm doing this right. He finished his edits and slammed his paw into it. "Now, Speed Pad!"

A magic circle appeared on the side of the dome. Wes crashed into it with a hard thud. It didn't possess the same properties as Warp Pad to break his fall, but he'll live. He shook his head and stood up, sticking to the dome. A pathway of magic circles appeared ahead, leading all the way back above the stadium.

"Either this works or I'm going to die." He kicked off and sped down the pathway.

Benedict landed against the dome and watched Wes escape for a second before flying after him. "Potentia Exhale!" He inhaled deeply, then blew a powerful stream of air.

Wes laughed as he ran along the pathway. "Haha! Guess I know a thing or two about editing rune spells! All I had to do was change a few-WHOA!" Wes nearly fell off track from a sharp stream of air. It cut through his skin and drew blood. Wes tumbled along the top of the dome, kept in place by the magic circles, and landed on his face.

Benedict flew toward the dome, charging both his fists. "Potentia Assault!"

Wes sat up and cradled his paw, then glared ahead. "I'm not giving up yet." He stood up and kept on running.

Benedict glared. "What is he up to? It almost looks like he's not just aiming for the stadium." He narrowed his eyes. "Wait a second, Everfall left his sword in the stadium, and Belladonna planted something in the ground. Didn't Sapienti…?" His eyes widened, snapping towards the stadium.

He forgot about Thunder God's Wrath.

He didn't notice it when he kicked Wes out of bounds. Right before Tony was knocked out, he must've manipulated the cloud so that it would fly out of view. It wouldn't have been completely visible from inside the arena. From his current position, it was hanging right behind the stadium.

Benedict flew around the stadium and spotted the target. A crackling storm cloud that was growing bigger and bigger by the second. He looked up and saw Wes was definitely after it.

"What does he plan to do with this cloud?" Benedict wondered. "Grr. I can't let him get to it." He kicked off the air and launched straight after Wes. "I don't know what you're up to, Ravenfield, but I won't allow you to execute your plan!"

Wes gritted his teeth. He got here before me. Oh well. When life gives you lemons, you squirt them in the other guy's eye! He kicked off the dome and dived towards the crackling storm cloud. "Mystic Burst!" He wrapped himself in his magic, which seemed to accelerate his fall.

"Critical Revolt!" Benedict pulled his fist back, charging it to the brim with magic.

Wes didn't want to bother with a clash. He only needed that storm cloud. "Septem Gladii Virtutis!" He summoned six of the swords and slammed them against Benedict's fist. Wes had to use a Warp Pad above his head to keep from flying back from the pressure. "Gah!"

The Critical Revolt pushed into the blades, slowly cracking them. Benedict narrowed his eyes. "What's your next move, Ravenfield? Choose wisely."

Wes bared his teeth into a nervous smirk. "W-Well, if that's the case, then I have some bad news for you! I'm not exactly wise, nor do I think things through! But I do know how to create a diversion! Magi Effingo!"

A clone overlapped with Wes and ejected him out of the stalemate. Benedict gasped and reached out, but Wes bounced off a Warp Pad and dove into the awaiting storm cloud. "Crap!" Benedict tried to fire off Incendo, but with his attention off the clone, it summoned the seventh sword and slashed into him. "Agh!"

Wes balled himself up and spun. "Mystic Burst!" He erupted with magic and disappeared into the cloud.

The collection of Storm Magic building up inside gravitated towards Wes and mixed with his Mystic Burst. Wes held himself in place with a Warp Pad and sucked up all the Storm Magic, turning his aura electric blue. He sparked wildly inside the dissipating cloud.

Benedict, meanwhile, grabbed the clone and crushed its head in his hand. He looked down and realized he was too late as the cloud vanished into nothing. All that remained was the ball of electricity suspended in the air. "This isn't good." He crossed his arms. "Potentia Wall!"

He made the right call as Wes ricocheted off the Warp Pad and rammed his hindleg into Benedict's stomach. Despite his increased defenses, the blow dug deeper than he imagined. Electricity broke through his defenses and lit up his body while blood spewed from his mouth.

"Well, looks like I got you coughing up your defeat! Allow me to guide you back into the stadium. Your defeat isn't worthy of a simple out of bounds elimination!" He rammed his other leg in and kicked Benedict over the stadium.

Benedict grabbed his stomach, growling internally. The boy is stronger than I anticipated. Leave it to a Ravenfield to be unpredictable.

"Hey Benedict!" He felt Wes bounce farther up and met him at the apex of his flight. "Remember when you said my defeat won't be an easy one? Yeah, neither did I!" He pressed his back paws into a Warp Pad, revving up his sparking magic. "Now fall!" He launched, rammed hard into Benedict, and flew towards the arena.

The crowds looked up and gasped as the two came down in a blue streak. Benedict tried to pry Wes off, but the Umbreon kept hitting and stunning him with his electrified paws. Benedict could barely move a muscle.

"There's Wes!" Tony exclaimed.

"Alright! Take him down, Wes!" Ella yelled.

"Go, go, go!" Gwyn cheered. Griffin just huffed, not as eager to join in their celebration yet.

Wes saw they were approaching the ground and pressed his paws into Benedict. "Take…THIS!" He kicked Benedict the rest of the way down, shooting him hard into the ground. The ground overturned in the center and sent blocks of earth flying up.

Wes spun and perfectly landed out of harm's way. Blocks of earth rained around him, but not directly at him. The ground, however, shook from the fresh vibrations. The whole stadium could feel them.

The vibrations and falling earth ceased, with only a stack of dust billowing over the point of impact. Wes staggered back and finally breathed. His legs shook weakly. He missed solid ground so much. Never, ever fighting like that ever again. Man, that was tense.

A looming silence befell the crowd, left wondering what became of Benedict. DJ Chance broke their silence. "It appears, after an intense display of aerial combat, Wes Ravenfield was able to get one over on our champion. Is he still able to continue, or has our champion finally fallen?"

Wes sighed and wiped his forehead. For my sake, he better be finished. I'm just so glad he never took off his vest. That was a big mistake on his part. I can't imagine how I would be able to-

Something came flying out of the dust and plopped right in front of Wes. He blinked twice at him, then rubbed his eyes to make sure they weren't blurry. The second he got a better look, the color drained from his face.

"No…oh no, no, no, no." Wes tripped over his hindlegs and fell on his rear. His eyes stared at the dust cloud in horror as an immense and ominous pressure filled the air.

The presence reached out to the crowd, unnerving those who could sense magic. Ava even backed away in her seat, clenching her teeth. "Ava?" Angel acknowledged in concern. "Are you alright?" She felt Cheri shivering in her seat. "Cheri, what's wrong?"

Holly shielded her eyes. "This power…it's intense."

Mack clenched his teeth into a tight smirk. "Oooh, I'm getting chills."

Krystal's teeth chattered in fear of Wes' safety. "Benedict has never taken his vest off in one of these matches before. I-I've never felt anything like this before."

Team Ravenfield, if they were with them, couldn't agree more. Griffin clutched the seats firmly. "I knew it. I freakin' knew he would pull that card."

Tony's expression darkened. "Wes is nearly out of counterattacks now."

Gwyn clutched onto Ella for support. "I-I'm scared!"

Ella bared her teeth. "Even from over here, I can feel that powerful presence, too. Wes can't fool around from here on out."

Back inside the arena, Wes continued to gawk in horror as the dust cleared up. Standing motionlessly in his crater, Benedict locked eyes with Wes. The scratches on his legs indicated to Wes that Benedict never even fell on the ground. He landed on his feet, which took the brunt of his impact. Wes wouldn't have believed just anyone could take a landing like that, but this Beartic was another story.

Freed from his vest, an overwhelming flow of magic coursed outward from his body. It waved like an intense flame, but moved with the gentle grace of a stream. His muscular body became more defined as the magic pumped through his fibers.

What really struck Wes was the unnerving grin on Benedict's face. While it was still as cool and collected as his normal expression, it carried a powerful desire to win. Much to Wes' fear, he realized his mistake: he pushed Benedict into letting out his fighting spirit.

What was his response to this?

"I…am screwed."

Benedict exhaled a deep, icy breath, then glared at the petrified Umbreon. "I must thank you, Wes Ravenfield. I haven't had this much difficulty in a long time. You and your friends, your combined efforts, have pushed me this far. You're stubbornly persistent."

Wes' legs took a step back against his will. His eyes shook, reflecting the image of godhood right before him. It wasn't anywhere near as intimidating as the Shadow King's aura, but it resonated with a power akin to it. He clutched his Star Amulet for support.

He turned his attention to the ground and gasped. Stems were sprouting from the broken earth, blooming into a matured plant. Little pods grew out of the stem, containing the source of Wes' final plan.

Gwyn's magicans. That's my ticket out of this mess. If I can grab them and eat as many as I can, I should be able to turn this thing around. Ugh, but she said I shouldn't eat more than three. That'd suck, but I don't have much choice. Wes glared apprehensively at Benedict. If I'm fast enough, maybe I can grab them in time.

Benedict saw the plant blooming out of the ground. He narrowed his eyes at it for a moment, then looked back at Wes. "I see." He lifted his hand and pointed his finger at Wes.

Wes squinted. "Wait, what are you-?"

BANG!

Wes stumbled back and gasped as blood exploded from his shoulder. His left foreleg lost strength and took him to the ground. "AAHH!" he screamed as he put pressure on it. He looked up and saw Benedict's finger smoking with wisps of his magic.

"Critical Bullet." Benedict blew the wisps off. "I compressed the air into the tip of my claw and fired it like a bullet. Think of it as a long range poke…with a pike."

Wes clenched one eye shut, then looked at his shoulder would. The impact wound wasn't nearly as bad as it felt, probably a millimeter wide at most. The blood that exploded out was probably from the impact pushing it out. He grunted and tried to stand up.

My aura's getting weaker. I could probably compress it all into parts of my body to take a few more of those.

"Critical Bullet." Benedict poked the air and fired a second shot.

Wes summoned a Warp Pad and deflected the shot into the crowd barrier. He summoned another and bounced around the arena with his eyes set on the magican plant.

Benedict fired off shot after shot, taking his time with Wes. He narrowed his eyes after his fifth shot. He's going to turn…there! He turned and fired at an upward angle.

Wes dove toward the plant, but Benedict's prediction scored a direct hit on him. He gasped and clutched his side, losing control of his Warp Pad and crashing into the ground.

"Agh! Son of a-!" Benedict suddenly appeared before him in a blur and rammed his knee into his chin. Wes pulled his aura there to sponge the hit. He flew onto his back with an aching, but uninjured jaw. "Ow, ow, ow-" Benedict grabbed him by the head, threw him up, and punched him in the stomach. Wes coughed up blood before being taken by the ankle and slammed against the ground.

"Critical Onslaught!" Wes saw the face of true horror as Benedict performed a full-out assault against him. Wes tried desperately to keep his aura fortified, through the pain and migraines he was facing, pleading to some higher power by now to give him the strength to live.

Benedict finished it with a roundhouse kick to the side, sending Wes into the far wall. Wes gripped onto consciousness and fired a Mystic Beam. Benedict backhanded the beam into the crowd barrier and instantly dashed into him with a well-placed knee to the head.

"WES!" his team cried out.

Benedict threw Wes into the air and rapidly pummeled him. Wes pulled his aura into his forelegs, but Benedict broke through it and dealt heavy blows all over his body. He pulled his hand back, waited for Wes to fall in front of him, and ended his attack with a powerful palm strike.

"AAAAAHHHH!" Wes bounced and tumbled across the ground and crashed through a block of earth. He went wimp into the self-made indent and panted heavily, still forcing himself to stay conscious.

"Wes, get out of there!" Tony screamed. "That's enough!"

Wes bared his teeth. "Not…yet…" He sat up and rubbed his head. He tried to look straight, but his vision was out of focus. He could just barely make out Benedict. "Grr. Mystic Burst!" he roared, summoning up his magic.

…At least, that's what he tried.

Wes blinked, feeling no magic appear around him. Fear struck as he immediately felt around his chest, then his heart sank to discover it was gone.

"Looking for this?" Wes squinted at Benedict, vaguely seeing him hold a shiny object. It had to be his Star Amulet. "You can't use your magic without it, can you?" He tossed it over his shoulder. It bounced and landed next to the matured magican plant. "No magic. No defensive magic. There's no point in me fighting you any further. You can't defend yourself against me."

Wes bared his teeth, then yelled, "Shut up! I'm not finished yet!" He took off running and rammed his head into Benedict. His body twitched in response, then he fell back and clutched his aching head. "Oooow!" He growled, then proceeded to kick him.

Benedict took a deep breath and relaxed himself. "This is sad." He flicked Wes in the nose with just enough force to knock him onto his back. "You can't beat me with or without your amulet. I declare myself the victor of this battle. The fact you're still able to move at top speed shows impressive stamina, but there's no sense in going on."

Wes growled. "Shut up. Just…shut up." He pressed his paw down and tried to stand. "I…won't lose…to you again."

Benedict crossed his arms. He asked in a low voice, "If you can't beat me at full power, what chance do you have of defeating the Shadow King?"

"Y-You…d-don't know…how far I'm willing to go…to win," Wes panted. "This…This damage won't stop me."

Benedict glared. "You're powerless. Done in by your own limitations. There's nothing left for you to fight with." He flicked Wes again, sending him farther across the arena.

Wes groaned and rubbed his aching nose. "Ooowww…" He turned his head and saw Endless Regret nearby. He pulled himself towards the sword and got his teeth around the hilt. "As if a little loss of magic…will stop me." He stood up and tried to lift the sword. It was a struggle.

Benedict kicked the ground and knocked Wes onto his face with the shockwave. The sword flew out of his mouth and clattered against the ground. "Wes Ravenfield. I applaud you for making it this far, but that is quite enough."

Wes bared his teeth. "I…can still…" Benedict grabbed his collar and lifted him to eye level.

"Your own team says you've had enough. Your own body is screaming in pain. That is quite enough." Benedict glared. "You have my respect for overcoming your grief, but this is as far as you will go. This was inevitable."

Wes growled. "I'm not weak and powerless…just because I don't have my magic." He whacked Benedict's face, but his paws did nothing to his hardened skin. "I won't stop, not until I defeat the Shadow King. All the suffering he caused to the world hundreds of years ago, to my father and everyone around him, for using Professor Geno; I won't let him get away with it."

Benedict narrowed his eyes, almost sympathetically. "You are indeed a noble warrior, Wes Ravenfield. But now it is time to stop this foolishness. You can't go on any longer like this. It's time for you to surrender."

Wes clenched his teeth tighter, trying to work up some fight in himself, but lost it like a fleeting steam from the kettle. His legs drooped limps. His downcast gaze filled with failure, almost like he wanted to cry.

"I'm sorry, Wes Ravenfield, but this is where you and your team come to an end of your mission. You are not ready to hold responsibility for the keys."

Wes' jaw tightened. The memory of losing three of the keys they collected rushed back to the surface. He never felt more hopeless in his life, losing the very items he swore to protect. He needed to get stronger, to protect everyone he loved. All of this because he wanted one last great adventure before…it was time to move onto something else in his life.

What life was there without adventure?

Was his last great journey truly going to be his last? One riddled with failure?

Wes closed his eyes and sighed in defeat. Guess Dad was wrong. Ravenfields are just as bound to fate as any other. I'm sorry, Dad-

"WES!"

Wes' eyes flew open. "H-Huh, what?!" He looked around frantically, then craned his neck at the seating booth. His eyes widened. "F-Flint?"

The Flareon came rolling in on a wheelchair, guided by Morgan. He had his leg still wrapped in a hard cast, along with the bandages around his face. Morgan helped him down the steps while the team gawked at the Flareon. Morgan rolled Flint to the edge of the wall, where Flint slammed his paws down and growled angrily at his brother.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Wes, even Benedict, were taken aback by this. "C-Come again?"

"Why are you giving up?! We've come so far to get here, and this is how you want to end the fight?! After all that progress we've made together, you want to end it all like this?! What is the matter with you?!"

"B-Bro, you don't have to shout," Wes whimpered.

Flint huffed, then lightened his expression. "We've gone through so much as a team, as a family. No matter the danger, no matter the obstacle, we've always gotten to the end of our journey. That's the way you've always gone about securing your treasure. It doesn't matter how strong someone is or how low you feel. You've always bounced back from it, no matter the odds.

"I don't like seeing my younger brother give up on everything! That's not who you are! You're the team leader for one reason only! You're the only one of us too stubborn and greedy to give up on a mission! You see it through, no matter how much we try to stop you! That's why we follow you! We need someone like that to lead us to victory!"

"F-Flint…" Tears welled up in Wes' eyes.

Flint reached behind his wheelchair. "I told you, I would be here to support you. A promise is a promise. Even if you lose, don't give up until the end. After all, we Ravenfields-"

Wes gasped as Flint whipped out the Umbreon's hat from his wheelchair, displaying it for all to see.

"-will always defy Fate! Now and forever, nothing will stop us from reaching our goal!" Flint smirked. "Now, get out there and win!"

Tears of joy welled up in the Umbreon's eyes. "He found Dad's hat…" He clenched them tightly and rubbed them into his foreleg. "H-Heh…what was I thinking? Giving up so soon just because I don't have my amulet? Ridiculous."

Benedict glared. "Hmm?"

Wes moved his foreleg away and grinned confidently at him. "I'm sick and tired of feeling sorry for myself. It was never a good look for me. All the moods I've been in, all the loathing; everything came rolling down on me and crushing my hopes and dreams. You know something? That just isn't me.

"I won't allow myself to become swallowed in my own self-doubt. Flint's right. I'm too stubborn to give up on something I have my sights on." He grinned excitedly. "That's why…I won't let this stop me. Nothing will get in my way ever again. I'll overcome all of it to reach my goals."

Benedict was about to knock Wes out, sensing something wrong with all this. He finally hit him as he sensed an energy building up in the pit of Wes' chest. Wait…what is he…? How is he…?

"I'll break all my limits. My doubts, my strength, and most of all…!" Wes raised his paw and shouted, "I'll break the barrier that has kept me down all these years!"

Benedict gasped as a purple blaze shot up the Umbreon's foreleg and wrapped it into a pair of large claws. Wes took a swing and slashed the mage across the face. "Gah!" Benedict covered his eyes and tossed Wes over his shoulder.

Wes landed on his back and felt the magic disappear off his foreleg. He didn't dwell on it and lunged for his Star Amulet, getting it around his neck and turning his fur the iconic purple again. "Yes!" He set his sights on the magicans and dove on top of them.

Meanwhile, his team was in shock. "Did…Did Wes just use…magic?!" Ella gasped.

"Without his amulet?!" Gwyn added in equal surprise.

"I thought Wes couldn't bring out his magic naturally!" Tony yelled.

"Why now?" Griffin mumbled.

"He's maturing." The team turned to Morgan, who watched with a wry smirk. "Not in the sense that he has become mature in personality. Wes has finally found a point where his limits needed to be tested. The magic he always had inside him was never strong enough to come out on its own. But now that Wes is at his brink of desperation, he broke through the first layer of his restrictions. It's still weak, very weak, but Wes finally got a taste of his magic on his own."

Gwyn covered her mouth. "Wes' greatest weakness…"

Ella smirked. "He really has grown up."

Benedict rubbed his eyes and glared at the Umbreon, catching him just as he finished eating five or six magicans. He chewed them quickly right as Benedict lunged at him. "Critical Revolt!"

Wes faced the titan head on and roared as magic exploded out from his body. Benedict stopped and jumped back from a pair of claws reaching out for him. They dug into the ground and tore out a huge hole. Benedict bounced in the air and glared at the shapeshifting magic.

"The power…"

A creature took shape from the magic and rose to full height. A towering beast standing at twenty-feet tall. It bared a resemblance to Wes' Magi Effingo, except for being purely made up of magical energy rather than crystal. Standing in the center of the beast was Wes, mirroring the monster's movements.

"Cor Bestia!" Wes stepped forward with his beast-self mirroring his actions and stomping forward. The magic flowing off the monster was incredible, like a blanket of fog flowing in the wind.

Benedict narrowed his eyes. Those pecans or whatever they were dramatically boosted his magic. I can't tell for how long, but it's far stronger than earlier.

"Hey, Benedict!" The Beartic raised his brow curiously at the smiling Umbreon. "Thank you."

Now Benedict was confused. "For what?"

"For pushing out my doubts. If I'm going to be a team leader to my friends, I need to start acting like one." He closed his eyes and grinned. "No matter the adversity, I can't give up on hope. Isn't that what makes the world go around anyway? I want to be as great as my dad one day, to surpass the legacy that he left behind. And, no matter who speaks of the Ravenfield name in opposition, we'll always come fighting back. That's a promise on my family name!"

Benedict stared in awe at the Umbreon, then closed his eyes and smirked. "Wes Ravenfield, you truly are a foolish young man with big dreams." He chuckled. "Just like your father."

Benedict slammed his fists together and lit them up in his magic. "Very well! Come at me with everything you've got! This is the final battle! Only the true victor will stand on top!"

"Then let's end this!" Wes roared and kicked off into the air. His monster fox roared and mirrored his swiping motion.

Benedict blocked the monster's claws and struck down the foreleg, sending a shock down the tail and blasting it off. The tail reformed itself, then the monster roared and spiked Benedict into the ground.

"Potentia Reach: Maximum Power!" A massive fist erupted from the ground and delivered an uppercut to the monster's chin. Wes' own head whipped back, but he powered through and jabbed down, punching a hole through the ground.

"Rapid Fly Kick!" Benedict bounced around the stadium in a manner similar to Wes' Warp Pad. He zipped around Wes and punched the monster's back.

Wes held his ground and inhaled deeply. "Aquos Mist!"

The monster exhaled a large quantity of mist that fill the entire arena. Benedict jumped high into the air to avoid it and fired down with Potentia Reach: One Hundred Flow Step. He couldn't tell what effect it was having against the monster fox until a massive fireball shot through the mist and engulfed Benedict. He endured the white flames and blew them away with Potentia Ascent.

"Incendo!" Benedict rapidly clicked his fingers and detonated the entire arena with explosions.

The monster fox leaped from the mist and hovered directly over Benedict. "Lumios Storm!" The monster curled up with the back of its fur prickling. Rather than the usual spinning, hundreds of light arrows shot into the sky and aimed down in Benedict's direction via a slight homing effect.

"Potentia Wall!" Benedict crossed his arms and defended against the exploding light arrows. He broke his fall on his legs while the arrows dug him deeper into the ground.

Wes dove and slammed his monster paw down on Benedict. A brief moment after the shock, Benedict counterattacked with a powerful uppercut that forced the paw off. Wes stumbled back, trying to regain his balance inside the monster avatar, then exhaled another massive Infernius.

"Incendo!" Benedict countered with a click of his fingers, blowing the flame up into embers. "Lacero!" He emitted a trembling force at the avatar's leg and ripped it to shreds.

Wes stumbled onto his left, but quickly regrew the arm and caught himself. He panted heavily as fatigue and a nasty stomachache started to set in. Oh, so this is what Gwyn meant about nasty side effects. Oh shit, I'm not feeling so hot. He clenched his teeth and reined in his heavy breathing. I don't have much longer before the backlash on this stuff kicks in.

"Mystic Burst!" The avatar roared and lit up in a burst of magic. Wes lunged and pummeled the ground viciously, but Benedict hopped right over the monster's head.

"Critical Revolt!" He kicked the air and launched himself down on the avatar's back. He punched the avatar so hard that the magic shell split opened an entrance to Wes. The energy traveled down to the legs and distorted them into unusable twigs.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Wes cried, stumbling around to keep the avatar standing.

Benedict grabbed him by the shirt and tossed him out, causing the shell to crumble into wisps. He jumped after Wes with another Critical Revolt powered up. Wes glared at the approaching Beartic and clapped his paws.

"Septem Gladii Virtutis!" He summoned the seven swords, each glowing in a powerful blaze, and slashed into the polar bear's attack. They met at another stalemate, but Benedict was ready for it.

"Potentia Reach!" He shot the fist out to the side and had it curve back right into Wes. Wes felt bones cracking as he flew off with his swords in tow. "Lacero!" He fired the shredding force.

Wes sacrificed one of his swords to take the Lacero, then activated a Warp Pad. "Here's a fun one!" He separated the swords and loaded them into their own Warp Pads. "Take this! Warp Chain Attack!" The swords fired out in streaks of light.

Benedict dodged them, but more Warp Pads formed and bounced the swords around until they came at Benedict from all sides. "Potentia Wall: Maximum!" He crossed his arms and took the sword attacks, instantly shattering them against his skin.

Wes climbed higher into the air with his Warp Pads. "Magi Effingo!" He spawned a dozen clones and commanded, "Keep him busy! Mystic Burst!" The clones lit up with magic and divebombed the Beartic.

Benedict saw their ambush and jumped out of the way. "Critical Bullet!" He rapidly thrusted the air with his finger and shot six of them in the head. The rest got through and struck him hard in the stomach. Benedict felt blood spitting through his teeth.

"Potentia Ascent!" He spun and clotheslined the clones, scattering them with chunks taken out across the arena. "Critical Revolt!" He punched the ground and overturned the ground in a giant wave. The wave whipped the clones into the air and shattered them to pieces.

Benedict took a knee and covered his mouth. Blood stained into his white fur. He looked at the blood in disbelief. "How long has it been since I've last bled this much?" he asked himself.

He didn't dwell for too long and turned his attention back to the sky. Wes hovered in the air as he charged up for his final attack. A Mystic Beam that was taking in all the excess magic pouring out of his body and converting it into one final, finishing blow. He had Mystic Burst activated to add to the power.

"I'm taking victory for Team Ravenfield! This is the final clash!" Wes shouted, wincing against the crackling of his own attack.

Benedict glared sternly at the swirling magic, then smirked confidently. "Wes Ravenfield…" He looked toward the private box seats and raised his hand. He could see Cielo return the gesture. Benedict nodded, then glared back at Wes. "Very well." He clenched his fist and lit it up in magic. "One last clash. Winner takes all."

The crowd could sense that this next collision will decide it all. Silence filled the seats in anxious anticipation. The circus troupe clung to their seats. Team Ravenfield leaned in, chanting encouragement to Wes under their breaths. Morgan kept one eye open while he focused on his whiskey.

Power built up in Wes' Warp Pad as he tensed his hind muscles. He drew what he felt like would be his final breath, then kicked off. "Mystic Beam!" Falling at a fast rate, he fired the beam along the way down.

"Critical Revolt: Maximum Output!" The muscles grew in his arm as he took one huge leap and intercepted the attack.

He roared and slammed his fist into the beam, growling as the magic slowly burned his arm. Wes screamed all the way down, increasing his speed with the Speed Pad this time. He ran down the magic circles, sprinting until his legs started to burn.

The energy in the beam built up the closer Wes got to Benedict until he aimed his head and collided with the Critical Revolt. The backlash of their colliding forces sent out a powerful, explosive wave that truly tested the limits of the crowd barriers.

The audience screamed as the barriers gave out in the stress and shattered, releasing a powerful gust of pressure up the stands. Everyone clung to their seats, nearly flying out of them.

"This wind is insane!" Wilbur yelled over the pressure.

"HA! This is nothing for Gene!" Gene proudly stated, standing up in his seat. "Come and face Gene, wind-!" A book flew into his face and knocked him down. "Agh! Who brings a book to a fighting tournament?! Rude!"

Angel covered Cheri and ducked under the seats. Holly and Mack gripped into their seats while digging a foot into the floor to anchor themselves. Team Shatter Star held onto each other and ducked their heads. Ava shield her eyes while trying to get a good look at the arena, but all she could see was distorted air.

Team Ravenfield, who were far closer to the arena, blew out of their seats. They were saved the ringing head injuries when Morgan, who had himself anchored down, casted a wide net of his string and caught all five of them. He kept Flint extra secured since he was still recovering. He covered his eyes and glared at the arena, getting only a minor glimpse of what happened.

DJ Chance had no words for this, even as the pressure cracked the window of the announcer's booth. "L-L-Ladies and gentlemen, this is…this is…WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON ANYMORE?!"

After what felt like an eternity of chaos, the winds ceased, and the crowd finally eased back into their seats, no doubt some soiling themselves after getting the scare of their lives. Some even passed out from the shock.

Everyone slowly got over their disorientation and confusion before turning their sights onto the aftermath of the insane collision. With the dust settled, they saw the results.

They couldn't believe their eyes.

In their final clash, both Wes and Benedict landed and dug themselves into their own craters. They were both sprawled out on the ground, laying flat on their backs with severe burns going across their bodies. Wes' clothes were ripped to shreds, save for most of his pants. His Star Amulet lay by his head in a faint glow.

Benedict was in just as bad of shape. Between his previous injuries and suppressing them all so much, everything came crawling back and delivered one of the most agonizing pains in the Beartic's life. It felt like his skin was one fire and being prodded with needles freshly coated in only the finest of stinging alcohols.

The crowd was in shock.

"Benedict is down."

"He's on his back!"

"That kid actually knocked Benedict down!"

"Is that even possible?"

The rumbling of the crowd stirred Wes from his brief limbo with unconsciousness. He grunted and tried to push himself up. His forelegs ached and screamed with an intense burning. "G-Got to…get up…and wait for them…to announce me as the winner…"

Wes rolled onto his paws and carefully stood up, panting from the extreme effort it was taking not to pass out on the spot. He wiped his brow and took a moment to breathe.

"Did I…actually win?"

"Not quite."

Wes' blood turned ice cold. His head may be hanging low, but he felt the polar bear's shadow looming over him. He could sense the Beartic was in just as much pain as he was, yet he managed to stand up and approach the Umbreon without alerting him. It was scary how tough he was.

Wes finally looked up, showing his disbelieving frown. "You've…got to be kidding me." Any will to keep his legs stable was giving out on him.

Benedict didn't say anything for a moment, take deep, long breaths. He wiped his face, smearing more blood onto his arm, then sighed. "Wes Ravenfield. You've finally reached your limit."

Wes' shock drooped into sadness. "I…lost, didn't I?"

"In my professional opinion, yes. You're still clinging to stay awake, but we both know this fight can't continue any longer."

Wes closed his eyes and sighed. "You're strong. Really, really strong. I shouldn't be sur…surprised- ugh…" He held his stomach and groaned. It rumbled loudly. "Ugh, shouldn't have downed all those magicans. Feeling sick…"

Benedict narrowed his eyes. "Wes Ravenfield. Do you understand what you've accomplished today?"

"W-What do you mean?"

Benedict kneeled down, resting his arms on his knees. "I've done these championship fights for some time now. I've never been pushed this far before. It was exhilarating to finally find a worthy opponent. No one can get back up from that many beatings and still give it their all. That's real power right there. I'd say it's stronger than anything I could ever hope to dish out."

Wes chuckled weakly. "Doubtful. You hit like a train." He snickered, then groaned from another sore. He blinked as Benedict lowered something into his vision. "What is…?" His eyes widened.

It was the Key of Power.

"Do us proud further into your journey, Wes Ravenfield. Your quest is far from over." He held the key to Wes, but he didn't take it. He was more confused than honored.

"Why…Why are you giving me this? I lost. I…can't beat you."

Benedict shook his head. "Are you familiar with the saying 'lost the battle, but won the war?' You've proven yourself to be a capable young man who can go far and beyond for the sake of his home. You were at a disadvantage from the beginning, but you and your friends made efforts to help each other even if the fight wasn't as a unit. You were looking out for each other, even when on the sidelines or incapacitated.

"And you, Wes Ravenfield, have demonstrated power, both in strength and in spirit. I sense your growth. You still have a long way to go before your time comes, but I place my trust in you to protect this key."

"Mr. Benedict, sir…" Wes mumbled in awe.

Benedict smiled. "You're the first one to ever knock me down. I see that as a win in my book. Keep training, keep improving yourself, and always hold onto hope. It's a Pokémon's greatest weapon."

Wes took the Key of Power in his paws and gazed at it, feeling tears well up in his eyes. Pride swelled in his chest.

"I can't let someone like you or your team be postponed in your quest. You are strong enough to continue on this journey, but only when you have the will of your friends by your side." Benedict winked. "Perhaps in the future, we'll have a rematch. I might actually have to start upping my workout routine."

Wes sniffled and clutched the key to his chest. He inhaled deeply, then smiled proudly. "I promise. I won't let you or my team down. Never again."

"We never lost faith in you, boy. We never lost faith."

Wes chuckled, slowly losing his voice, and collapsed onto his back. The last of his strength finally fled his body with the key clutched securely to his chest. Even in defeat, his relieved smile never left him.

The crowd was silent, mostly confused by the transaction that took place. DJ Chance cleared his throat and spoke, "Um…I have no idea what happened in the last two minutes there, but…ladies and gentlemen, it appears Wes Ravenfield has finally collapsed for good. Therefore, Benedict Stonefist has one the match, retaining his status as the Gelid Peak Champion!"

The crowd roared with cheer and applause, both for the champion and Team Ravenfield for a wonderful battle. Team Ravenfield carefully got out of their seats and ran over to Wes just as the medical staff came out.

"Wes!" Wes' eyes shot open as Ella, Tony, and Gwyn dogpiled onto him with hugs. Ella laughed and nuzzled his cheek. "You big idiot! You had us worried!"

"Are you okay?" Gwyn asked.

Wes beamed and laughed. "Everything's broken, except for my pride."

"Too bad you lost," Tony mentioned. "Would've been cool to be named Gelid Peak's champions."

Wes grinned. "I'm perfectly fine just getting this far. Besides, we didn't lose." He presented the key to them. "We got what we came for!"

Griffin crossed his arms and smirked. "Not how I wanted to get the key, but I'll take what we can get."

Morgan wheeled Flint over to the fun, where the Flareon smirked and raised his forelegs. "Don't I get a hug, too?"

Tony and Ella helped Wes up and guided him to his brother, where the two Ravenfields embraced each other tightly. Wes laughed with tears coming out of his eyes into Flint's shoulder. "Thanks for the support, bro. You're the best."

"Well, I couldn't lay in bed all day without being there myself." Flint pushed Wes back, then settled his trademark fedora back on his head. "Next time, you better not lose that or else," he joked.

Wes pulled on the brim and grinned. "I'll think about putting a string in it."

Flint smiled warmly. "Feeling better? No more doubts or self-loathing?"

"When was I self-loathing?" Wes asked with a laugh. He shook his head. "Eh, they're still there, but…having you guys around really helps me along. I wouldn't have gotten through this without you guys cheering me on."

"We are a team, right?" The brothers embraced each other once more.

Gwyn bounced on her toes until she couldn't contain herself. "Don't be selfish! I want hugs, too!" She joined in the sibling hug, nuzzling herself against them.

"Don't count me out, sister!" Ella embraced them from the other side.

Tony shrugged and walked over. "Free hugs. Who am I to deny?" He hooked his arms around Flint and Ella. He looked over his shoulder and smirked as Griffin retrieved both his sword and the Star Amulet, storing the sword in his personal void. "Hey, get in here, Hothead!"

Griffin rolled his eyes. "How many times must I say I don't do group-" Gwyn got her whip around his waist and dragged him into the group, trapping him against Wes and her with a tight squeeze. "Agh! Let me go!" The team laughed and hugged him tighter. "This is torture!"

Morgan chuckled behind his hand before having his attention brought to the medical staff. "Excuse me," said the Azumarill nurse, "but we need to have them checked in for their injuries."

"Oh, of course." He snapped his fingers at them. "Alright everyone, that's enough. Go with the nurses and get those injuries treated."

"Ah, and before I forget," Benedict suddenly brought up. "There will be an afterparty held at the hotel you all are staying at. All participating teams are invited, of course. At least feel free to stick around for tomorrow as a reward for your hard work."

Wes shrugged. "I'm down for that. You guys?"

"Like I have a choice," Flint half-joked. "Besides, I could use the rest myself."

"Yay! Party!" Gwyn cheered.

"Hurry along, you all," the Azumarill beckoned, helping them out of the damaged arena with the other nurses. "Mr. Stonefist, do you require-?" But when she turned around, the champion was already gone. "Ugh. I can't get him to stay around for one second. Those injuries looked terrible."

---

The three mages watched Team Ravenfield depart from the arena right as Benedict let himself in. He dragged himself into a chair and collapsed with a hard groan. Seth smirked over his shoulder. "Well, I never thought I would say this in reference to you. Dang Benedict, you got knocked flat on your ass!"

Cicely smacked his head. "Be more tact in your language, Seth."

"Sorry, Mom!" Seth joked with an obnoxious groan. She rolled her eyes and sipped her wine.

Cielo approached Benedict and handed him a glass of wine. "You did well in bringing out Ravenfield's own fighting spirit. The boy is finally taking the first steps to breaking his personal barriers, mental and mystical."

Benedict sipped the wine, sighed, and leaned back. "I never thought I would have to fight that hard in my life. He takes after his old man, definitely." He glared into his glass. "Their next stop is obviously Vernon. The Swamp Zone would be a straight shot from the city."

"And after that, they'll contend with us," Seth added. He wrapped up his shadows and tucked them into his sleeve. "How will they go about their paths when the time comes?"

"It is hard to say," Cicely stated, sipping her wine. "The distant future is never clear, yet I sense more hardship for Team Ravenfield to overcome. How long before those times come is a mystery to even me."

Cielo nodded. "By then, they'll hopefully be strong enough to contend with the Shadow King."

Benedict pressed his fist against his cheek. "When do you think the boy will come to discover his family history?"

Cielo closed his eyes. "In time. For now, it's best we leave them be until our paths cross." He pressed his hand to the window. "Let them enjoy the party tomorrow. They've earned it after getting through their test."

Benedict sighed. "Agreed." He set his glass aside and stood up, cracking his back. "Well, I'm going to sleep until next morning. Probably take a day off as well."

"Not going to attend the party?" Seth asked.

"Not my thing." He looked over his shoulder. "Oh yeah, Master Cielo, forgot to ask. Have you made your final decision on those applicants?"

"A few in mind. Perhaps I'll confront them at the party tomorrow." Cielo hobbled out of the box seats. "Seth, Cicely, you are free to return to your temples. Be ready for Team Ravenfield when they eventually show up."

They bowed. "As you wish, Master Cielo."

Cielo closed the door behind him and hobbled through the crowds of Pokémon leaving their seats, chattering about today's battle. He pulled out some papers from his sleeve and cycled through them.

"I haven't had a student who impressed me more than Garret Ravenfield. He was a master at his craft, my own disciple. I can't say for certain any of these candidates will surpass his legacy…"

He finished cycling through the papers with a familiar Delibird's picture at the top right hand corner.

"Then again, I said something similar when I took that lad on in the first place."