32 Chapter 17: S.E.T. Round 3: Doppelganger (2/2)

She had long dark orange hair braided around her head so it wouldn't distract while fighting. This, in turn, revealed slightly pointy ears. Her eyes looked sharp, intelligent and calm as if she was in harmony with her surroundings. This made me think about the trees in the forest.

Spread underneath her eyes and across her face could be seen all kinds of freckles which made her look cute and kind.

As the gong rang she took on a stance and stayed in place. Closing in I noticed that she didn't have any openings what so ever which meant I needed to think of something quickly.

When I backed down hoping to create space to think, she instantly closed in. Never leaving me out of sight as there wasn't an opening or opportunity to gain the advantage. Stalking as if I was her prey, closing in ever so slightly.

Before I knew it, she had me cornered at the edge of the stage. Leaping in she prepared to strike.

At that moment I thought to myself that this was it...

That I would lose right then and there.

And for a moment the realization became real, only to realize something crucial... everything had stopped moving. Frozen in the air my opponent looked like she hit the air itself.

What was happening? Did I do this?

Looking around I noticed the slightest of vibrations in my surroundings. Breaking the illusion of frost,

I slowly came back to my senses.

Even if I could barely wrap my head around what was happening, I wondered what or who could have caused this phenomenon.

My heart was beating intensively as I had prepared myself for the worst. Quickly going out of the way I made sure I had some distance when I heard it.

The voice as black as the night and as fragile as bones behind me whisper in a sinister way.

”It seemsss I have awakened... once more... to call upon the powers in depths of your sssoul... is most impressive... yet, you were unaware... let me show you what we can do together!!”

When I turned around to face whoever it might be I was shocked by the mere sight of it.

Black and inky like in my visions, a creature whom I thought was the stuff of legends. But here it was...

The substances oozed off the top of his body to the bottom of the ground. Our eyes met even if it was just for the slightest of moments.

Yet I couldn't believe what I had seen.

The body in front of me jerked forward as it struggles to stand upright.

Was this me? ”This can't be!”

When the entity had closed in, it began talking.

”Even if brief... we finally meet... allow me to end this meaningless match in your favor, as they will all tremble before our might.”

At that moment in a rush, I got overwhelmed by shock, as black flames erupted from all around me, pushing away my opponent and clearing the way.

Unable to resist the flames pushed my opponent back as I began giving in to the temptation of overwhelming strength. My mind became clear as day, yet... I wasn't in the Colosseum anymore.

I was back at that place with nothing but darkness as far as the eyes could see.

Wandering around aimlessly trying to find a way out I suddenly heard a shard but deep voice echo through the nothingness. The voice spoke to me in tongue I did not speak... but for some odd reason, I understood every single word it spoke.

”Your time has been... now let me take over and show you how to dominate with power!”

”No! I don't know, who or what you are...

All that I know is that I have to get through these hardships on my strength.

I appreciate the gesture, but I won't allow you to intervene!”

I tried to resist the overwhelming bloodlust that the entity emitted, if it would take over it wouldn't just stop with killing my opponent, rather the entire Colosseum would be at risk.

I couldn't risk whatever it was to throw away my chances, not if this was my chance to show what I was capable of, or if I could require important experience in the long run.

As I struggled to resist my shadow began to grow...

Flames danced towards me, slowly engulfing my body. Black... Purple... dark flames...

This... this was all an illusion, right?

I mean... frozen in time, being engulfed by flames while I wasn't getting burned...

To make sure I slammed my head into the concrete floor, which snapped me out of my trance.

I looked around hoping not to encounter the shadow... thankfully I was back in the land of the living. The Colosseum and my opponent!

I couldn't be happier.

Now back I noticed that there was still some distance between us and tried to make the most of this small advantage. First, as she closed in...

I tried to stabilize my rhythm.

My opponent struck at me with great speed.

What was once beyond my vision... I could now see slightly better. It was not clear enough yet, but I could make out where it would end up.

And most of all... I wasn't afraid to get hit anymore.

This gave me a huge advantage over how I have been fighting up until now. I could finally focus on incoming attacks and anticipate how to react in turn.

Left... right... middle... she kept throwing punches.

But I knew better, there was this moment where she had the habit of grabbing her opponents after a hit got in, as this made her signature punching throw combination.

She went again, left, left, right. She then stepped in to try and throw a punch to my chin.

The moment I was waiting for it!

I quickly dodged and grabbed her waist,

taking her with me to the ground.

I then proceeded to lock her arms and legs rendering her unable to counter-attack.

I must admit as a man I enjoyed every second of it. Seeing as my opponent had a fit body.

I tightened my grip on her entire body rendering her defenseless, as it became more difficult to move she tried to get out or my lock with all her might.

A few attempts came close to breaking free,

If it wasn't for her exhausted body.

Eventually, my opponent gave up and tapped out on her own accord, allowing me to advance to the next round. Relieved I let go and tried to stand up

I had done it, I had won.

Exhausted I struggled standing up when I finally succeeded I offered support to my opponent.

Reaching out my hand I helped her stand up.

We had to make way for the next match.

Jumping off stage, the rest of the matches for group E had concluded after a while.

Gideon laughed as I passed him by.

”Hehehehe, did you hear them too? The voice of madness?”

He asked freaking me out with his twisted face right in front of me. Eyes wide open he invaded my space hoping for an interesting answer.

I tried to ignore him as I made my way yo the waiting audience. As I passed him by he whispered something that made my hairs shoot up straight.

”Your shadow expanded during the last match, just like mine did... they must have found a good one this time. Only ones who've had experienced death before can hear and see them.

As we are of the same kind, let me show you something interesting.”

Gideon made his way to the stage, the announcer quickly continued the matches as everything turned out to take a bit longer than expected.

Gideon's opponent was a girl with bunny ears, she quickly hopped on her left leg, then her right leg creating a rhythm for her fighting style.

When the gong rang Gideon didn't do a thing, om the contrary... he let his opponent close in on him.

As if nothing had happened Gideon stayed in place, even when his opponent kept striking at him with incredible speed.

I couldn't follow, but it seemed like someone next to me noticed him slightly moving. Astounded I fixated my gaze upon the field.

His opponent faced her feelings head-on,

frustrated about missing...

she confronted her fears, what was once a weight on her self image was now a clear image of pride.

Gideon couldn't hold it anymore.

Laughing about one's blind ambition.

”Kyshishi is that all you got? It seems you're not worthy of fighting on my own... Awaken my henchmen!! Show my opponent true despair!”

As Gideon, his taunting had proven to be quite effective. His opponent turned towards him as she tried to get a clean hit in.

During this turn of events Gideon his shadow expanded outward as it slowly summoned several skeletons. The audience was shocked by this unexpected turn of events. People didn't know to quickly they needed to leave... most still in disbelief had their vision locked on the match.

Frozen by fear, most got forced to witness these turn of events. Gideon ordered the skeletons to capture his opponent. Who refused to accept the situation...

Three skeletons grabbed her tight with their frisky and hollow existence. Weak and slowly they forced her down in place long enough for Gideon to win the match seemingly effortless...

The next few matches followed, hardships in these matches were expected as everyone was prepared to advance. The struggle was met as one of the matches almost ended in a draw when both collapsed at the same time one of them fell on outside the ring resulting in the win for the other as one gad to advance.

Moments later, Draven took the stage only to face what might have been an orc or pigman?

Broad, buff, and bald. He had tusk drawn out of his mouth allowing him an advantage while storming his opponent.

The match had started but, Draven still struggled with the events of his previous match. What was all that about enjoying the thrill of battle blindly without consequences?

Drawn had lost his sight on the price, or the match in general. The pigman couldn't care less about this and stopped in front of Draven, looking down on him as if he was an inferior being.

*pfffftttt*

The pigment was disgusting beyond belief even farting and spreading his odor throughout the area.

This, in turn, snapped Draven our of his little bubble of worry.

Who wouldn't be taken aback by a smell of that magnitude? His hand did not seem to help as the odor pierced his nostrils. Unbearable as it was some part of it made him think of back home.

The farm where Draven grew up on, taking care of the animals collecting their poop and using it to fertilize the ground for harvest.

Thinking back, this smell wasn't all that bad...

Draven stood his ground as the pigman approached him, this time with the toxic fume residing in his mouth.

The cloud of stink was so strong it burned away the hairs inside Draven's nose. His eyes began to water as the stink shot through is nose straight to his brain.

Almost knocked over by the stink Draven began losing his footing.

”Keep your head together! Just see this like another day at the farm... the pig there always stank too, enjoying their mud bath, eating, farting and barging wherever they could... haha good times.”

Draven punched himself to escape the wicked smell.

As he returned to us all Draven stood his ground.

Now that the odor wasn't able to overpower him anymore his opponent had to think of another way to win this fight.

Frustrated he charged towards Draven with his tusks pointed towards him. Draven finally regained his momentum and focus within the fight, allowing him to prepare for what was to come.

The pigman kept closing in, in a last-ditch effort to throw his opponent out, knowing he wouldn't be able to succeed in a fistfight, naturally putting everything he had into this one last passionately rush,

Locked on he only had eyes for his opponent.

But when stood in front of him Draven laughed in the face of danger.

”So... you want to take me on with everything you got? Who am I to not answer such an honest approach with the same resolve?!”

Draven prepared for impact as the pigman threw his head towards. Draven took on the pigman's tusks backhanded as he stood his ground.

Passion burned in both their eyes as they gave it everything they had only to come to a stalemate.

Neither of them was letting up as they knew this was the final chance to win the match. Whoever would drop their guard first would lose.

But then, the pigman stepped forward.

Draven took a turn to the right instantly throwing in his full weight and strength as he tried to throw his opponent off stage. The pigman barely made it to a standstill at the edge of the stage.

Frustrated by his miss, the pigman pumped himself up and charged towards Draven once again. This time Draven baited the pigman to charge in on him.

At the moment they crossed each other Draven slammed the pigman's face from his blindside,

While the pigman tried to counter.

Standing with their backs towards each other both barely kept standing on their feet. When finally the pigman caved in allowing Draven to progress to the next round, which also concluded the third round matches for Group F.

As Akeno's turn with Group G came up he wasn't able to keep in his excitement, seeing Draven fight ignited something from inside. Which pumped up something from inside.

This warm throbbing feeling, what could it be?

Could it be I am enjoying all this?

Akano couldn't wait to fight the 7 strongest of the finals as there he would be allowed to go all out,

Anything goes, even magic!

In his excitement, he didn't notice the gong,

His opponent did everything in his power to overcome the disadvantage she had over Akano.

But it was all in fain...

Akano as completely stoked as he was instantly dodged and countered every move.

He noticed he wasn't breaking a sweat on her.

Wanting to advance as quickly as possible he grabbed his opponents and slammed her to the ground resulting in a K.O. which ended the match in his favor.

As Group F had finished all their matches,

Group H made their entrance.

A few matches were fought before Aqua time came up. She started preparing herself at the sign of the first match starting because she could never be too prepared for something as important as this.

Knowing who she was going to fight she tended to be rather cautious, as she prepared for the worst... this is why she had been studying him during the last round. Not because she was all fascinated, but rather because she feared failure.

It turned out that her opponent was a rebellious young man with short white hair and rings all over his ears.

His muscles looked well-toned as a lot of time must have gone into training them. Confident the young man to center stage as he appealed to the crowds around the stage.

Craving the attention he toyed with a few ladies who were standing in front of the stage,

stealing their jewelry as he directed their attention to something else... mainly his impressive body.

Aqua couldn't handle all the attention and got annoyed as he was leagues above her.

Wanting to end this quickly she rushed towards her opponent when the gong rang.

Her opponent looked like he was enjoying all the attention the crowd was giving him, which allowed Aqua to strike first.

Going in from his blindspot she tried to grab him,

But at that moment her opponent smiled and jumped over her with an arc. Gently landing on his feet as if he was an acrobat, standing back to back with Aqua.

He turned around and quickly grabbed her waist.

”Being flashy is always good, I must praise you on the strategy that you thought of, but that wasn't enough to best the great Radish Glimmer! In return for my respect to you, let me show you how the move should be executed.”

Radish arced his back pulling Aqua over him and making her land head first on the floor. Quickly after Radish threw her upward allowing him to set off a series of combination skills ending the rush with a huge dropkick straight in her belly.

Weakened and almost unable to continue Aqua tried getting up with all her might, not wanting to go through the frustrating defeat without having shown the world what she had to offer started a fire from inside. Tears dropped down as her arms and legs began caving in.

”No... No... No!! This can't be the end!! No!!”

Aqua's only thought was not giving up, which made her slam her head into the ground in frustration.

The adrenaline that pumped through her body to repel the pain made her rise once again.

”I refuse to go down!! Not when I have accomplished so little here... people won't pay attention to failures... I can't lose... not now!!”

Her determination gave her the strength to go on and rise. Now finally standing she readied herself for what was to come.

Radish annoyed by her tenacity made a gruesome face. The veins were visible on his forehead.

Given up on elegance he rushed towards her wanting to end this quickly.

”Bitch!! Go down already... give the audience the match you know they deserve!”

Aqua laughed in the face of danger.

”I've seen through your plans Radish!! And now the audience has seen the real you... the gruesome bastard who thinks nothing about his fellow human beings. I swear to all of them that today I Cordelia Aqua will be victorious!!”

Aqua raised her fist in the air and the crowd went wild, roaring in unison! She had turned the tables,

At least she had won the favor of the people.

This pumped her up allowing her to fight on.

Enraged by the fact that Radish was not the center of attention anymore, this was something he wasn't able to handle, at that very moment something popped inside his head, which made him go mental.

He lashed out at Aqua intending to kill.

His attacks were uncontrolled and wide,

Allowing Aqua to easily dodge them.

Bloodlust seeped through his veins as it oozed out of his poors. It was plain as day, he was out for blood.

The referee noticed this and ordered the match to be stopped, but Aqua begged him to continue.

”Please... please let me finish this match fair and square! I will prove to everyone present in this Colosseum; that I Cordelia Aqua will come out as the victor!!”

The referee questioned her logic but also noticed the uproar it created within the crowd.

Wanting to end this as peacefully as possible he spoke.

”Helena has allowed us to resume the match,

but only for a few more minutes. Please continue the match.”

In the time the referee had wanted to stop the match Radish couldn't care less as he stormed towards Aqua. Helena her godly powers shielded her from harm.

When the match resumed she set Aqua free again,

She had enough time to regain some energy which she used sufficiently as she twirled around Radish his wide brash of punches.

She then took the opportunity to throw him off stage,

Resulting in her win and the end of the 3rd round.

Everyone got a quick moment to freshen up as Helena and the foundation of Youth had to fix what had been broken.

”Everyone will be back in one hour,

This will give us the chance to prepare the stage for the next round.”