I've been annoyed this past week, as my computer went on the fritz due to a virus. Luckily, all of my information was saved onto an external drive, so no major harm done. (grumbles)

Sort of a short chapter, but the next ones will be longer. Enjoy.

Book I, Part I: Mortal Conflict - A Hero's Challenge

Chapter III: Magical Mayhem

Stepping back to the arena, I take a few deep breaths, preparing myself for round two. The announcement was made for the round to begin mere moments earlier, and I quicken my pace instinctively as I move down the hall.

"Our next match in round two is set to begin! Please welcome Benji Powell!" the announcer yells as I stride out into the arena, twirling one of my swords in my right hand.

"And his opponent, from the grand city of Bevelle, Joshua Bedouin!"

Stepping out into the arena after me is a light clothed figure, flowing sleeves on his reddish-colored shirt concealing most of his hands from view. His pants are much like his shirt, reddish with an almost graceful look, the material seeming to simply float around his body instead of resting upon it. His face is solemn, yet stern, the older male's face showing years of experience at a glance. In his right hand is a long, oaken staff, colored a dark black with intricate carvings etched into the wood, and a white cape rests behind him, clasped around his neck with a medal of some sort. Reaching to his neck, Joshua unclasps the cape, tossing it beside him to the dirt before we begin to walk towards each other.

"A pleasure to meet you," he greets, holding a hand out, which I shake. "I hope to have an exciting match with you."

"Likewise," I reply, nodding. "Let's give them something to cheer about." The two of us step back to our positions at either side of the arena as the referee approaches from above.

"Fighters ready!"

(Play: Otherworld - Nobuo Uematsu, Final Fantasy VIII)

"Shell!"

My first spell is a defensive one, pinkish-red lines of energy forming around me into a transparent bubble, which flashes bright red for a moment before vanishing. From the looks of it, Joshua is a powerful mage, and I don't want to take any chances.

"Doublecast: Waterga, Thundaga!"

Joshua's Waterga attack bears down on me hard, splashing me with watery energy and pushing me back, the Shell lessening the damage...that is, right before the Thundaga spell smashes into me, shattering my Shell and jolting me enough to make all the hairs on my arms stand on end. Recasting the Shell, I don't waste any time in trying to go on the offensive.

"Blasting Zone!"

The energy beam from my sword lances into the air, cutting the very sky around it as it ascends. Quickly, I bring the beam down on Joshua, who easily moves out of the way, the clothing not hindering his movement at all, despite the appearance.

"Doublecast: Shell, Protect!"

My mind does a flip at that, even as the red energy coalesces around Joshua, a barrier of bluish-white energy accompanying it before they both vanish.

"He's definitely a very powerful mage...he's managed to gain the ability to Doublecast White Magic as well..."

"Blizzaga!"

Even as I begin to move out of the way, the spell hits me like lightning, moving too fast for me to evade and freezing part of my arm and right side. Shaking my arm, I dislodge the magical frost, preparing a counter attack.

"Doublecast: Blizzaga, Firaga!"

"Firaga!"

Joshua's Firaga spell melts the ice from my Blizzaga, even as the Shell absorbs the majority of my subsequent Firaga. Muttering to myself, I realize that I'll either need to get in close to do damage, or use more powerful spells.

"Rough Divide!"

Dashing up to Joshua, energy begins to trail along my blade as I move, finally reaching Joshua and slashing upwards. The energy hammers into the Protect, the magical shield holding strong against my attack as I land back on solid ground, just in time to take the full force of a Firaga to the face. Staggering back, I rub my eyes and now-burned face, regaining my balance and my vision from the quick and powerful spell.

"You don't seem to be trying very hard," Joshua comments, as I brush pieces of singed hair away from my face.

"Just testing my enemy," I say with a grin, dropping into a defensive stance.

"I see...very well. Flare!" Joshua cries, the magical beam of energy blasting from his staff and heading towards me with the power of a freight train. The air around me seems to part as I flip out of the way of the attack, the beam continuing all the way to the edge of the arena before slamming into the shield protecting the audience.

"Fine! You want me to go all out? I will!" I say, energy gathering around me for my next attack as I hold the sword beside me. "Lion Heart!"

As yellow energy flashes around my sword, I sprint towards Joshua, cutting a retaliatory Blizzaga spell in half with my blade before slamming it upwards into Joshua's Protect, the shield buckling slightly under the hit and throwing him off balance. I continue my assault, the powerful magical spell denting and caving with every strike my sword makes. Finally, as the energy starts to run out of my attack, the Protect shatters, allowing me to get several strikes on Joshua's chest and midsection that send him to the ground.

"Man...even using Lion Heart, that Protect held out for most of the attack..."

"I commend you for such a powerful attack," Joshua compliments, holding his left hand to a series of ragged cuts in the fabric of his shirt. "Perhaps it is time for me to retaliate appropriately." Energy begins to gather around Joshua's staff as he speaks, the energy so immense that I can nearly feel it from my position.

"And now...Doublecast: Ultima!"

The incredibly powerful spell fires from Joshua's staff, the dark energy engulfing me, as well as a large part of the arena, in a torrent of power. I scream out in pain as the energy burns away at me, my Shell shattering like glass under the onslaught. The energy fades once, before coming back just as strong as the second attack connects, throwing me clear off my feet to land several meters away in the arena.

"One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Seven! Eig..."

The referee is cut off as I slowly push myself off the ground, parts of my shirt burned away from the attack, as well as large burns across my chest, legs, forearms, and face.

"I won't...lose...to you."

Gritting my teeth against the pain, I look around, seeing my sword lying easily a dozen feet from me. Resisting the urge to curse, I decide to take a gamble. If it works, I'll have the strength to hopefully end the fight.

"If it doesn't...well, I don't want to think about that."

"Angel Wing!"

I can feel more of not only my physical, but magical strength as well, drain from me as white wings appear from my back, propelling me up into the air to look down towards Joshua.

"Lightning Fury!"

Reaching to my sides, I grab several throwing knives, hurling them downwards as the knives seem to multiply, splitting until there are close to 30 of them hurtling towards the ground and crackling with electricity. Joshua leaps nimbly out of the way of several, before one lucky strike catches him in the left leg, causing him to stop as the electrical charge jolts his body.

"Let's see how you like being on the receiving end! Doublecast: Ultima!"

The dark energy seems to pour forth from my hands in a massive wave, the energy ball expanding to consume Joshua and the area around, an agonized scream echoing through the arena as Joshua struggles to defend against the spells. Finally, the energy fades away, revealing Joshua kneeling on the ground, breathing heavily. Unfortunately, that last attack drained the last of my magical reserves. Silently, I drop out of Angel Wing, the form doing me no good now that my spiritual energy is drained.

"You are...a worthy opponent..." he says, struggling to get back to his feet as the referee counts. "I give this...match to you."

"The same to you," I say, trying to catch my breath from the magical exertions. Finally, the referee hits ten, signaling for the end of the fight.

(End: Otherworld - Nobuo Uematsu, Final Fantasy VIII)

"Ladies and gentlemen, your winner, Benji Powell!"

Slowly, I walk over to Joshua, the older male accepting my offered hand and standing up. Joshua quickly grabs his cape from the ground as well, stepping towards the exit to the arena. Two medical officers are waiting for the two of us as we exit the arena, and we calmly walk over to them. As the four of us begin to head down to the infirmary, a flicker of blue catches my attention and causes me to stop, spinning to fully face whatever may be there. Nothing is there, however.

"Did you see that?" I say, turning to Joshua.

"What?" he asks, and I point to an adjoining hallway.

"There was something there. I saw something blue..." I reply, looking back towards the hallway carefully.

"Perhaps you are seeing things?" he says, causing me to shake my head.

"I know I saw something..."

Finally giving up, I merely continue to walk down the hallway, headed towards the infirmary once again.

"I know I saw something...that wasn't just a trick of my eyes. I clearly saw something move."

My trip into the infirmary doesn't last long this time, just a simple examination and Ether sends me out of the place feeling better. The fifteen-minute intermission announcement rings out over the PA system asI near the entrance to the lounge. As I step into the lounge, turning to get another bottle of water from the machine, I stop, spinning to face one of the side halls. Another glimpse of blue rewards my gaze, and I continue to stare at the place where it originated for a moment, before shaking my head.

"I just might be seeing things..." I mutter, reaching into my pocket to grab some Gil. Before I can insert the coins, a strange noise emanates from behind me, somewhere between a gurgle and a growl. Turning quickly, I can see a glimpse of the same blue figure, moving rapidly down the hallway. Slamming the coins back in my pocket, I race after the figure, hoping to get to the bottom of the strange glimpses. All I can see of the figure is another glimpse of blue as it disappears around another corner, however. Sprinting around the corner, I almost knock a startled girl carrying a large box to the ground before stopping, blinking in confusion.

"Did you see anyone come this way?" I ask the girl, looking down the empty hallway.

"No, I didn't," the girl replies, shaking her head.

"I could've sworn..." I mutter, before turning back to the girl. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to run into you like that."

"It's okay," she tells me, smiling. "I need to get this to the infirmary, so if you'll excuse me..."

"Of course, of course," I say, quickly stepping out of the girl's way to let her by. With a final confused look down the hallway, I begin to head back to the lounge, thoughts wandering back to the strange figure.

"Am I being watched? If I am...by who? Who could have a reason to watch me...one of the other fighters? Could someone want me out of the tournament?"

"Maybe I'm just being paranoid," I say out loud to no one in particular, before ripping the top from a newly-purchased bag of chips. No matter how fit my body might feel, I haven't eaten anything since I entered this tournament, and the exertion has made me rather hungry. The bag of chips is gone in less than a minute, and I toss the bag away, deciding to push my thoughts aside and relax before round three.

So, Ben has advanced to round three of the tournament. And who or what did Ben see? All in good time...all in good time. As always, please review!