159 Surprise (2/2)

I smiled, ”Are you that embarrassed?”

She looked up at me and snapped, ”You shocked everybody with how cool you were. I shocked everybody by looking like an idiot.”

I hugged Althea to my side, ”You shocked me with how sweet you were. Hell, I almost blushed myself.”

Althea looked away, blushing again. I'm pretty sure I saw a smile under her veil though. We chatted for a while like that, enjoying the fights. I surprised her with some stall food from a nearby vendor. We both munched on candies before they called me up again.

Once again, I floated up and landed onto the arena. This time, a bulky alien was at the arena. It was a living fungus, mushrooms sprouting from the cracks in his armor. With gray armor covering him, he dragged a flaming club behind him

It seemed strange for a plant to use fire as a weapon, but hey, it's his life.

The announcer lifted up his arms, ”On the one side, we have Vox Keeocktureanitrix.”

The announcer pronounced his name without fucking it up, keeping the enunciation fluid the entire time. Not gonna lie, I was impressed by that alone. He was good at this job even if he looked goofy.

The announcer pointed to me, ”And on the other side, we have the newcomer who made a big splash, Daniel Hillside!”

I raised a fist as a few people cheered for me here or there. I also winced at the terrible joke. We get it, Elsa ended up belly flopping. That didn't mean it was funny.

Some people booed at him as he made the terrible joke. It sounded like they were booing at me, but I shrugged it off. I wasn't here to make fans. I was here to win.

After the hecklers stopped, the announcer coughed into his hand, ”Anyways, are both combatants ready?”

We nodded. With the same attack as last time, I pushed down a wave of gravity by pushing down a hand. Unlike Elsa, Vox stayed standing. He couldn't move though, so I just lifted my hand up again. With another wave of gravity, he fell onto his knees.

I kicked forward, extending my reach with telekinesis. Vox dodged my attack, ducking down. I pulled my leg back and spun around. With a fancy spinning back kick, I shot a pulse of kinetic energy into Vox's chest. His armor caved in, and he ragdolled through the air.

He slammed into the energy barrier surrounding the arena. He fell onto the water, sinking in seconds. This time the carriers flew over and picked him up. They learned from last time. So did the announcer.

”And yet again, Daniel has conquered another round with ease. Let's hear it for the newcomer!”

I lifted a fist, and quite a few people cheered at this point. I was building momentum. I jumped back towards Althea, people already giving me some space to land. As I did, a voice reached out into my mind. It was the gialgathen again.

I turned towards him, the behemoth staring me down. His name was...Bah, I didn't give a shit at the time. His voice radiated into my head, ”I will admit, I assumed your first bout was a fluke. With that display of power, I can firmly say you're a worthy opponent.”

I looked back and forth, ”So?”

”You've earned my respect. I only give it to those that are worthy.”

I laughed, ”Are you serious?”

The gialgathen waved his head, ”Of course I am. We gialgathens don't lie like dirtwalkers.”

I rolled my eyes, ”Bother someone else.”

He narrowed his eyes, ”I warn you dirtwalker-”

”Fuck off.”

I snapped the mental connection like slamming a door. What's his face shook his dragon head, looking flabbergasted. He was just a little bit too condescending for my taste. In fact, I planned on breaking several of his bones if we fought. I looked forward to it more than I should have.

Althea looked at me, grabbing my arm,

”Did I say something to make you mad?”

I nodded, ”Naw. The gialgathen across the stream won't cut his condescending bullshit.”

I flicked him off, acting mature and elegant. He didn't understand the gesture regardless. He gave me a glare from hell though, wishing death upon my entire family by the looks of it.

Either way, my first impression of the gialgathens was bad. Real bad. The whole treating espens like a lower caste was pretty believable too. Still, I didn't want to start making assumptions about other gialgathens. That would be like racism but for species. I'd be a speciesist...I think.

Anywho, we relaxed and watched a few more fights. The sun dipped down. As it did, even more espens watched the ensuing fights. Before I knew it, more business people set up shop. They sold entertainment for the lulls between fights. They sold fans, umbrellas, even fold out chairs.

It contrasted with how rural Icosah was. The modern influence was shaping the city too, seeping in slowly but surely. As the fights drew to a close, Althea and I almost left. Right before we decided, the Announcer called out, ”And here is the semifinals for Icosah's yearly tournament. We have the victorious Iasis Klon against the notorious Alzoroth Vern!”

I snapped my fingers, ”That was his name. Alzoroth. Sounds like something off of Lord of the Rings.”

Althea looked at me, ”What's that?”

I raised an eyebrow, ”The best shit ever. We should watch it when we get back to Earth. I'm sure we could scavenge a copy or two somewhere.”

She pressed her hands together, ”It's a date then.”

I grinned. I had something to look forward too. Interrupting my joy, Alzoroth landed on the arena, quaking the ground. Iasis walked out to the center of the stage. Before the fight started, Iasis used ice magic to coat himself in ice armor. A wave of mental energy covered every part of the arena. Speaking to everyone, Alzoroth spoke out,

”Tell me then espen. Why do you prepare for combat before we fight? You neglected that act against the pistol user.”

Iasis responded, his mental voice radiating to every one of the audience,

”Earnest and I go way back. He's a good friend. I knew he couldn't use magic before the battle started. I didn't want to take advantage like that.”

The gialgathen, ”Waved his wings, wind blowing outwards in every direction, ”It's good you respect me, dirtwalker. Otherwise-”

Iasis snapped, ”Will you shut it and just fight?”

A look of utter rage passed over the face of the gialgathen, ”I cannot believe that not only one but two dirtwalkers would interrupt me in a single day. I'm going to use your spine like a toothpick.”

Iasis rolled his eyes, ”Yeah, sure.”

The whole blackmail thing wasn't even a big deal to me anymore. I enjoyed Alzoroth getting pissed, so I raised a hand and shouted aloud,

”Kick his ass Iasis. You got this.”

The espen looked at me, his Soldiers of Fortune crest flashing. He scoffed and looked down with a smirk. He looked up at the gialgathen, ice covering him. The announcer shouted,

”That's what we like to see. Some friendly banter before a battle!”

He spread out his arms, his goofy suit shifting in color, ”Are both combatants ready?”

They nodded.

”Begin!”