Chapter 33
To say there was a large turn out for the tournament was an understatement. The Starfall Academy Stadium was packed, citizens of Firelink City, Icekey City, and several other neighboring cities were in attendance. There had to be thousands of viewers in attendance physically, not to mention those viewing from home.
The crowd's cheers could be heard rather easily from the locker room, which for efficiency's sake was shared by both teams. Though there was no official dress code for the tournament, most participants chose to wear a martial arts gi of sorts, tailored to the wearer. Further some chose to wear something signifying which team they were on, typically a headband or belt.
Pyre was not like most, choosing instead to fight in nothing but a pair of athletic shorts that fit tight enough to show off his body, but comfortable enough to move easily. The charmander was practically bouncing in place excited for the coming battle.
Despite being opponents, most of the other participants, regardless of teams, were being well mannered and friendly. Most.
Galahad Lade, was not friendly, his posture alone was antagonistic, and beyond that he was actively insulting the other team.
"Our team is gonna mop the floor with you losers. It'll be a blowout victory, so you best surrender now, before you idiots get hurt." The gallade spoke harshly.
It was Rai who stepped up, "Yeah yeah, keep talking, from the sound of it that's all you're good at."
"Enough guys." Gohan called out stepping between them. "Where's your team captain, we need to pick who will participate in the sample match?"
"Getting dressed over there." Galahad pointed to a secluded area of the locker room, and the monferno made his way over. "Your captain won't be able to save your team once the battles really begin."
"Jeez, you talk trash more than Pyre does." Rai sighed and turned away. "You're not worth the effort."
Just as suddenly as he had come, the monferno stepped by, followed by a shiny Scizor.
"Sample matches are about to start everyone, the real tournament will begin afterwards. So get out there and show your stuff!" A voice came over an intercom.
Just as the teams began to exit the locker room Pyre froze. "Wo oh oh. Here I am. On my knees again. I'd do anything, just to make it right." The charmander turned to face the voice, the captain of the Kamino Academy battle team Rain, the frogadier, Pyre's ex who was kneeling before him. "Say you understand, oh, I know you can, come on Pyre."
The charmander was stunned silent, feeling rage boiling up from within him. "I…you…"
"No matter what people say," the frogadier stepped closer, grabbing Pyre and pulling him in. "It didn't happen that way, he was a passing fling, not a permanent thing. I know you understand, just say you can, my Pyre!"
The frogadier had started singing. "Didn't happen that way?! I heard…"
"Well now your big green eyes, are so full of tears, from the painfulness, of my cheating years." Rain's head fell, drooping sadly. "So I hang my head, wishin I was dead. Come on Pyre!"
Pyre's head drooped as well. When he raised his head, he held it high, shoving the frogadier back. "You thought you got the best of me, think you had the last laugh? Like everything good is gone? Think you left me broken, that I'd come running back. You don't know me cause you're dead wrong!" Pyre stepped forward, and Rain stepped back, the charmander all but chasing him at a walking pace. "Because, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger! I'm only standing taller, didn't make me lonely cause you're gone!"
"Here I am! On my knees again!" Rain dropped to his knees scooting back as Pyre continued his advance. "I'd do anything! Just to make it right! Say you understand, please I know you can, come on Pyre!"
"Didn't think when I'd come back, I'd come back swinging," The charmander picked up the speed of his walk, causing Rain to scramble and scuttle across the ground desperately. "What didn't kill me made me stronger, I'm only standing taller, didn't make me lonely cause you were gone. What couldn't kill me made a fighter, I'm only rising higher! Didn't mean it ended when it was gone. What didn't kill me," Pyre looked down on the shuttling frog with disgust. "It made me stronger. And now it's time to say goodbye." Rain fell through the doors to the battlefield, as the rest of the teams slowly exited the doors.
And Pyre didn't even give a glance as they passed by. "I told you that was a bad idea." a hisuian zorua spoke as Rain stood up.
"Shut it Bran!" The frogadier scowled, but fell in line with his team.
The two teams stood on either side of the battlefield. It was large enough to accommodate both teams comfortably, considering it was practically a large stone pyramid with a wide plateau at the top.
A loudred stepped into the middle of the battlefield. "We thank each and every participant for coming, and thank all our viewers here and at home for watching. We have two short sample matches, that will have no effect on the outcome of this tournament, to start with. Will the Master of each team take the field?"
At the loudred's words, two infernapes took to the field. On one side, Goku, in his typical orange Gi, and opposite him another infernape, though he was dressed in what looked like a skin tight suit with an armored chest plate.
"Let the first sample match begin!" Loudred dashed off the battlefield.
The two fire types smiled at each other, the flames on their bodies bursting into a glorious gold. With that they met in the middle, fists colliding, matching each other blow for blow. Goku let loose a flurry of kicks to catch his opponent of guard, only for the other infernape to drop low and sweep his leg from under him.
He leapt into the air bringing his foot down in a heavy kick, only for Goku to recover and dodge backwards. As soon as he landed, his opponent was raining punches down upon him, keeping him on the defensive. He caught one of the punches and pulled the other infernape in slamming his fist directly into his opponent's face. Before the other infernape hit the ground he planted his hands on the ground and kicked Goku hard in the gut.
Both took a few steps back and took a bow. "You always know how to keep me interested Vegeta."
"As if I'd do anything to fall behind a clown like you." With a shared smile the two stepped out of the ring.
"What an exciting start!" Loudred called from the edge of the battlefield. "Will our next sample fighters take the field?" This time Gohan took the field, along with the shiny Scizor. "Contestant Gohan will be fighting Contestant Cell for this match, wish them both luck. Let the battle begin!"
"Been a while, I've been waiting for this rematch." The scizor spoke launching himself forward.
The monferno let out a deep breath as his flames burst that same gold as his father's, but with a distinct crackle of electricity around him. Gohan caught the first strike, and struck back hard, kicking the steel type hard in the gut, sending him sliding back. He pressed his advantage striking the scizor in his stomach twice more before backing off.
Cell rushed forward again, but this time, connected a headbutt, and a kick to the monferno's face, following up quickly by bringing his large clawed hands down like a hammer slamming the monferno down.
But Gohan wasn't done, he jumped up and kneed the steel type in the face.
Though they had only just begun, both took a willing bow, and stepped off the field.
"And that does it for the sample matches. From here on, the teams are competing for a most lovely prize, bragging rights!" While not the most inspiring reward, it was still a reward. "To reiterate the rules, single battles only, no outside support, no maiming opponents on purpose no weapons or supplements, and the battle ends when your opponent is unconscious, surrenders, or is pushed out of the battlefield." Loudred stepped into the center of the battlefield. "Names have been drawn, and the first round is about to begin."