172 Leaving an Impression (2/2)

I jumped into the arena, clasping my fists. Kiki roared out, ”And he looks like he's itching for a fight! The first combatant will be the winner of the last bout, Moisc!”

He didn't even announce his last name. Covered in gray power armor. He got back onto the arena's stage, still out of breath from his last fight. It sucked he had to fight me while exhausted. I'd win either way, but he couldn't give his best. As a guy who's competed before, I sympathized.

As we faced each other, I gave him a short bow. He did the same. I raised a hand and shouted, ”Sorry you have to fight like this.”

He shrugged, ”Eh, I knew I wasn't winning the tournament anyway. I'm just here for the experience. I got further than I ever expected anyway.”

I liked his positive attitude. Kiki Mosk raised a hand, ”Are both combatants ready?”

We nodded. Kiki swung his hand down. I stomped the ground, lifting a panel of stone between Moisc and I. With Hunter of Many, I tracked his location from behind cover. I raised a foot, kicking forward. I extended my reach with telekinesis, busting his shielding.

Moisc already fired at me, unlatching a grenade. I thumped the projectile with telekinesis. The bomb smacked the forcefield around the arena, letting out a vibrant, blue fire. With crowd letting out a cheer, I kicked again, shattering Moisc's secondary mana shield.

Moisc opened his dimensional storage, his desperation building. Before he pulled something out, I launched a short uppercut. A telekinetic pulse smashed into his gut, knocking him upwards. Spit flopped out of his mouth as he couldn't breathe.

He tumbled from above, stunned and gasping for air. I caught him with a gravity well. At the same time, I kicked the block of stone between us back onto the arena. Kiki raised his eyebrows,

”Yeesh, that must of hurt. On to Daniel's next opponent!”

Moisc's breath returned to him as the medics came up. He let them carry him out on a hovering stretcher. My next opponent flew up from the stands, a large gialgathen. He wore armor over his neck and chest. With red skin and black spots, he glared at me. He growled,

”Filthy dirtwalker. You will not play with me as you did Alzoroth.”

I nodded, ”You're right. I won't. I don't have time too.”

He narrowed his eyes. He breathed in as Kiki raised a hand, ”Are both combatants prepared!”

We gave the nod, the gialgathen still breathing deep. Kiki raised a fist, ”Then go!”

I snapped a kick upwards, hitting a telekinetic panel. A portion of the force converted, hitting the gialgathen's chin as he breathed fire at me. The green flame dispersed on the arena's invisible barrier, creating a light show. The crowd boomed out, in awe at the display of light and power.

I wasted no time. As the gialgathen's breath sputtered out, I reached out a hand. I jerked the gialgathen's head towards me, accentuating my pull with gravity. His head whipped down while I launched myself upwards. I lifted my knee, landing the blow flush on his jaw.

My armor creaked as the bones in his face cracked. Several of his teeth shattered, tumbling against the arena. Knocked out cold, his head flopped to his side. I caught it, preventing him from suffering more damage. As I set him down, the crowd went quiet.

Even Kiki looked affected. He pulled at his collar, ”Well...that was something.” A drop of cold sweat fell down his face, ”Ahem, the winner!”

The throngs of supporters burst into applause, giving me a standing ovation. I gave them a wave while lifting the gialgathen out of the arena with magic. Medics tended to his injuries while I cracked my neck. I growled, ”Come on. Who's next?”

Kiki raised his eyebrows, ”The next victim is a veteran of the tournament. We have Eradin Forest-Torch!”

Eradin flew up into the arena. As he landed, the old beast sighed, ”And here I believed I might win Yildraza's selection this year.”

I shrugged, ”You can still win.”

He shook his head, a toothy grin on his face, ”I do have two eyes, young one.What they just saw gave me a clear message.”

His tail whipped behind him, picking up speed as he continued, ”Eradin, you should've retired before this last fight.”

I raised my hands, ”Eh, we'll see.”

Kiki Mosk raised a hand, ”Are both combatants ready?”

We nodded. Kiki swung his arm down, ”Then begin!”

I gave Eradin a bow, and he returned the favor. The crowd booed, wanting more drama. I rolled my eyes as I charged mana. Eradin stepped forward, whipping his tail towards me. I slammed my arm into his attack, knocking it down onto the arena.

The arena crumbled, a plume of white powder rising. Eradin flicked his tail slamming it towards me again. I detonated my runes, dashing forward as he did. Eradin pierced deep into the arena as I bolted towards his face. With momentum behind me, I slammed my fist into his face

The old gialgathen's head whipped back. He stumbled, still conscious. Eradin's eyes glazed over as he fell. He crashed off the arena, a clash of sound rippling out. He tried getting back up, but he was too disoriented. I looked up, waiting for Kiki to end the fight.

He didn't.

The crowd chanted, ”Finish him. Finish him. Finish him.” The old gialgathen shook his head, getting a sense of where he was. He looked around, his eyebrows creased. I waved my hand, shouting at Kiki,

”Just end the fight already. Eradin doesn't even know where he is.”

Kiki shook his head, ”He can still battle. Just listen to the crowd.”

Kiki grinned, a sinister edge in his voice. I frowned as Eradin locked eyes with me. He stared a for a moment before his huge eyes widened. He glanced down,

”I...I lost, didn't I?”

I nodded. Eradin raised a wing, letting out a mental shout, ”I surrender. He has beaten me. Honor to him and his clan.”

The crowd booed, their hatred for the gialgathens coming out. A few people shouted,

”Where's the blood?”

”I wanted to see some more missing teeth.”

”He's crushed dozens of espens with his bullshit tail. He has it coming!”

The crowd's reaction disgusted me. A few people tried throwing food and drinks at Eradin while he was down. I shot out a wave of gravity, slamming the food back into the arena.

This shit was getting old fast.

Kiki sighed, ”Well, it's well within tournament regulations to surrender.”

He raised a hand to me, ”To the victor!”

The crowd changed on a dime, giving me an enormous hoopla. The mob repulsed me at this point. I just wanted to win the mythical compendium then get out of here. All this easy fame and status came from their hatred of gialgathens. My integrity wouldn't let me accept it.

With those thoughts swirling in my head, the crowd calmed back down. Kiki raised another hand, ”And now we have the final fight for the Yildraza sector. The last gialgathen and last year's winner, give a hand for Derlilath, Lady Of The Yellow!”

A chorus of boos echoed out as a yellow gialgathen flapped her wings. Old and muscled, she landed in front of me. She almost glowed with energy, her armor encrusted with gemstones. She grinned at me, her voice commanding,

”It's good to see they've brought a worthy warrior this year.”

I grinned back, ”Likewise.”

Unlike the others, she looked like a serious challenge, so I analyzed her,

Delilath, Lady of Yellow(lvl 10,031 | Unknown Status) - Once a general of Lehesion's army, Delilath worked as one of the gialgathen's most powerful mages. She's placed in the top five of the tournament for the last seven years since she's decided to compete.

Though she once fought to help the espens, public opinion turned against her. Numerous campaigns by prominent figures such as Thisbey Thorn or Azakus Riola ruined the reputation of Lehesion's followers. With rumormongering and propaganda, they've turned Delilath from a celebrated hero to a scorned symbol.

Regardless of her affiliation with politics, Delilath's competence in battle is undeniable. She wields ancient magics only known by the gialgathens. By drawing mana from her surroundings, she opens up her own mana pool to enhance her tail swipes. This combination of control-oriented sorcery and physical ferocity makes her threatening to almost anyone.

Be careful and tread with caution.

I smiled, my blood boiling at her status. This would be an actual fight, and that prospect excited me to no end. I pounded my fists together, denting my gray armor and letting out an echo. Delilath channeled her energy, soft, yellow spheres forming around her.

Dozens of yellow stars formed beside her, a sweet-smelling wind rushing over me. I followed suit, charging up my own mana. The air around us saturated with energy, our auras intermingling. Sparks of red lightning shot from me, my blood permeated with volatile energy.

Kiki backed away, raising his eyebrows, ”Well, both combatants look as though they want to tear each other apart.”

A happy grin grew over his face, ”Excellent! Are both combatants ready?”

With her chin held high, Delilath nodded. I shook my fists, mana saturating my frame. Kiki laughed, ”I'll take that as a yes.”

He swung his hand down, ”Let the battle to decide who represents Yildraza begin!”