We Are The Diamond's Gems

## Sleepless Toil

Amidst the vibrant hues of a rising sun, the once war-torn lands of the Diamond Kingdom now bloomed with innovation and prosperity; it had been five years since the triumphant rebellion that shattered the chains of oppression was won. Where once there had been debris and destruction there was now gleaming spires and grand buildings with people beginning their day looking forward to the future ahead. Yet stood upon the balcony of the royal palace their King and Arch-General Sabik Taedil Rakha stood having once again had a sleepless night spent researching and working upon inventions he hoped would improve his people’s lives a task he considered forever unfinished.

From his vantage point Sabik could see the merchants and guildspeople of the Kingdom setting up decorations, stalls and festivities in preparation for the day’s celebration commemorating the anniversary of his rebellion’s victory and the liberation of the Kingdom. “The Victory Festival, a time to celebrate camaraderie and the kingdom's freedom from oppresion, Has it been five years already” Sabik said to himself quietlty remembering all those who had given their lives for his victory he didn’t feel worthy of their sacrifice but they had given it all the same and his people were happy to be free “Let us see what my kingdom can produce on this wondrous day” he whispered to himself with a smile finally crossing his lips as he remembered all of the good things his rebellion had made and today was a display of them.

“You didn’t sleep again did you?” Tuuli asked entering the room as she brushed some of Sabik’s research notes into a pile before placing mugs on the side of a table close to the door.

“I was so close i couldn’t stop i finally found a way to create a device which will allow the miners to detect openings in the mountains to find more resources and avoid danger” Sabik responded eager to explain the night’s work “I lost track of time” he said beginning to feel guilty.

“Your machines and inventions aren’t what define you anymore” Tuuli responded coming up behind Sabik and embracing him. “Look at the kingdom you’ve helped to build you don’t have to bear the weight of the world alone, that’s what the council is for, Now go sleep the festivities are tonight”.

## Let The Festival Begin!!

The air was electric with anticipation, as citizens from all walks of life thronged the bustling streets, decorations and insignias of the various guilds and symbols of the kingdom adorned every wall. Everywhere, luminescent orbs floated, illuminating the path of festival-goers, Lively music mingled with the tinkling of mystical crystals, and the aroma of delectable treats filled the air, enticing revelers to indulge in the culinary delights crafted through the ingenious fusion of magic and culinary art. At the heart of the festival grounds, a grand stage stood tall, where performers weaved spells into mesmerizing performances, captivating audiences with breathtaking displays of magical prowess.

In the midst of the vibrant and jubilant crowd, the figure of Antoni Cruser, the esteemed Shining General and powerful mage, stood tall. His presence exuded an aura of strength and authority, yet there was also a warm and approachable demeanor that endeared him to those around him.

"What a time to be alive" he said as he took a sip of drink. His eyes twinkled with a sense of wonder and excitement as he gazed upon the lively festivities unfolding before him. Dancers swirled gracefully, their colorful costumes adding to the spectacle, while acrobats defied gravity, leaving the audience in awe. The sound of music filled the air, and laughter mingled with applause as the crowd reveled in the joyous celebration. Despite his elevated position, Antoni blended seamlessly with the throng of people, engaging with the citizens of the Diamond Kingdom on an equal footing. "What a time to be alive" he said as he took a sip of drink.

Next to a stage that hadn't opened yet, Akrisna Dupont, the songbird of Diamond was currently setting up for her show, organizing the stage and ordering around people with a kind voice. She wasn't in her stage outfit yet, simply just wearing practical clothes but the headphone-looking mana device on her ears made her recognizable. She was helping with preparations, lifting boxes and putting up lights, as well as getting out her tool kit and making last minute adjustments to the magic devices around set, most of them made to provide practical effects for the show. She activated one on a test run and was rewarded with a large amount of blue sparks coming from the mana network set into the floor. Walking around she could nearly hear the anticipating emotions of people around her and smiled. This concert would be her biggest so far.

In the midst of the market, Iggy Zermati walked with a drink in her hand. The popular-ish singer mingled with the crowd, flirting with ladies and joking with men. She was in very-slightly more formal attire then normal, her speaker leg newly polished. Walking through the festival, she spotted Akrisna's show and walked over near it, to check on preparations.

Beyond the crowd, whispers and clamoring could be heard as Mishil Seok made her way through the crowd. Her luxurious blonde hair and pale eyes glimmered as men turned away trying to keep their composure while women were swooning over her alluring appearance. Mishil smiled as she waved to the men who swooned for her, she was used to the attention as she flung her hair gently from her face. She noticed her friend following behind looking behind to see her getting attention as well.

"Now now no need to push, one at a time guys," a voice chimed in a soothing yet seductive manner as she giggled, causing one of her fans to faint. The Gleaming Colonel was Ari Haw, a long-time friend of Mishil and a model of the Diamond Kingdom alongside Mishil. Both renowned for their beauty yet one of them is more vain than the other.

Paola Isambard was in the coucil chambers, a bunch of papers in her hand. They were equipment requests, but they could be dealt with tomorrow. Today was a time where her blood pressure was supposed to be slightly normal. Walking next to Sabik, she leaned against the wall and spoke. She was a bulky, intimidating woman, with the quartz pin she was wearing stating her affiliation and leadership of the Quartz Guild. "This looks like it was worth all the hassles in organizing it," a look in her eyes is almost nostalgic. "Hard to believe it's been five years."

"Feels so much longer, When we won i was stil just a young mage, filled with dreams and aspirations" Sabik responded now wearing his kingly red and white robes. "The Kingdom still feels unfinished but seeing the festival our people united in celebration helps to remind me that we're getting there".

"You've done more then you give yourself credit for" Tuuli said entering the council chambers in a resplendant black dress. "Now come on let's go the fruits stand has made special candy apples and Akrisna is performing soon" She said cheerily relaying her discoveries.

Sitting at a table by himself, Maksim Umayl, the quiet master of the Emerald Guild, smiled as he watched the people around him. ‘It’s been a long time since the people of Diamond have been this happy.’ He thought as an Anti-Bird flew down and landed on his head as his eyes landed on his daughter, Anastasia Umayl as she ran toward him with a box in her hand.

Maksim raised an eyebrow as she stopped in front of him, “If I may ask, what is that Stasia?” He asked.

Anastasia smiled as she opened the box to show what she had, it was a pastry that seem to be filled with poppy seeds. “It’s something called a Bulochka C Makom, that stands over there is giving them. It’s delicious, I just had to bring you one.” She said as she handed him the box and took a seat beside him.

His smile widened as he took a bite of the pastry. “You are correct this is delicious, thank you for getting me one.” He said as he watched her face light up. A smile appeared on her face as she hugged his arm. They sat there together in silence and watched the people joyfully participate in the festivities around them.

"Ahh...give me a break..."

Meanwhile

Inside a room, the white haired beauty with red eyes, Melanie Cruentus, was surrounded by books and was currently writing on a paper, having managed to write only a paragraph "Why should I participate in such festivities?" she wondered in a lifeless tone and eyes full of boredom "We are a kingdom of progress. Literature itself is a symbol of progress and I'm prevented on investing precious time on it." she said in what appeared to be a grumpy tone.

"Hisssss." a small, white snake coiled around her neck and licked her left cheek, with Melanie petting its chin.

"You might be right, Snow. Perhaps seeing people and enjoying some snacks and deserts will boost my creativity." she replied with a faint smile.

Looking out a window at the people below her, Zvezda scowled as she watched the people dance and celebrate. Walking away from the window, she grabbed a drink as a light blue blur flew past her. With a sigh on her lips, she frowned as the blur slowed down in front of her. The blue light around the blur faded as it revealed itself to be Aether, the spirit of stars. The spirit rubbed its face against Zvezda as it neighed.

"You want me to go mingle?" Zvezda asked the spirit with a frown on her face. Aether's eyes glowed briefly after she said that in some sort of agreement.

With a sigh, Zvezda grabbed her white sash and headed toward the door, "Fine, I'm only doing this for you."

Aether let out a loud neigh as it flew around Zvezda's head in happiness. With a small smile on her face, Zvezda headed down to the celebration.

## Royal Entrance

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Diamond Kingdom it is with my utmost cheer that i welcome his the Arch-General and Ruler of our deer kingdom his majesty King Sabik Taedil Rakha and her Majesty Queen Tuuli Taedil Rakha the Wind Spirit Sage" A royal announcer declare into a magic device which projected his voice throughout the entire festival.

A grand golden carriage adorned with the royal insignia of three overlapping diamonds descended from overheard flying over the festival in a dazzling display as it rode through the sky before landing on a raised platform not far from the grand stage.The sound of cheers and applause from the crowds outside fills the air with the cheers growing even louder as Sabik and Tuuli departed the carriage to address their subjects and join the festival.

"People of the Diamond Kingdom, My dear subjects welcome to the Victory Festival. Five years ago this kingdom faced uncertainty but as i stand here now where once there was conflict and destruction i now see only prosperity and magnificence. It is through our collective hard work and dedication that we can stand here now in a kingdom that we love and which each day is getting better" Sabik proclaimed proudly to the crowd of people grinning from ear to ear seeing the joy on his people's faces.

"We stand before you great ful of all that you have done for our Kingdom. Today is not just a celebration of our victory five years ago but the every victory in all the areas which have achieved a greater future for all of us to enjoy. So please celebrate, be merry and enjoy yourselves, let us see that our prosperity continues forever" Tuuli announced overjoyed "Now i believe the performance from our very own Songbird is set to begin any minute".

## Anticipated Performance

Akrisna was backstage. She had changed into a new outfit, more extravagant then her normal wear, with one or two magic stones set into it, that were mostly made to set things off. This was the biggest gig she'd ever had. She couldn't fumble this especially not in front of so many people. As she walked onto the stage, she took a deep breath, before speaking into the microphone with a smile on her face. "Hello Diamond Kingdom! Whose ready to rock!"

The crowd cheered and Akrisna felt their emotions rush through her head, a thousand songs of eotions and lives until her mana blocker Blocked them out. With a smile she activated the first two effects, blue sparks coming from the floor as the mana network lit up in the shape of a diamond. Her music began to blare and she started her performance, dancing and singing as she wove her magic into the devices around stage for bright lights and colors.

Lovag Brayton stands amongst the crowd, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he is mesmerised by the dazzling performance before him enraptured by the music. His eyes light up and he is no longer a grand mage protecting the land but a soul enraptured by the harmony of song and magic before him woven by the brilliance of his kingdom's music.

Watching from their elevated platform Sabik and Tuuli were enraptured by the vivid display of lights and rhythmic symphony of the music flowed through them. The display ignited a spark of enjoyment within Sabik's usually composed demeanor eleviating spme of the endless concern he felt for the wellbeing of his kingdom. Looking to his left Sabik exchanged a loving glance with his Queen expressing their shared joyous sentiment towards the unity and beauty of their kingdom.

As the melody shifted to a gentler tune, Sabik and Tuuli closed their eyes allowing themselves to be envolved by the symphony. Memories of their time ruling the kingdom toghether, their respective tenures leading the Diamond Army as Arch-General and guiding the elf tribe as Spirit Host flowed through, the battles they had fought to bring change to the kingdom, the trials overcome bringing the kingdom back to greatness in their early reign and the bonds forged with all of their trusted confidants and eachother, all merged seamlessly with the harmonies.

With the song's poignant conclusion, the crowd erupted into a crescendo of cheers and applause. Sabik and Tuuli joining in, their applause blending with the voices of their people in a symphony of appreciation. As Akrisna took her bow the couple's sense of gratitude swelled. The concert had reminded them that even beyond their reign, the kingdom held wonders and joy yet to be discovered and experienced.

As the crowd dispersed, Sabik turned to Tuuli, their smiles reflecting the joy they had both gotten from the performance and the joy it brought to the kingdom's people. Standing up the couple wallked towards towards the exit of their platform leading to the market, linked arm in arm, the memory of the concert's brilliance and the warmth of shared happiness etched into their hearts.

## Ongoing Festivities

Wandering away from the main stage the performance he had just witnessed filling him with a profound sense of fufilment Lovag wanders over towards the stalls selling their numerous exquisites wares. Stopping by a stall adorned with numerous tapestries and intricate woven goods of all types Lovag picks up one of the red tapestries on display he exclaims "Such exquisite craftsmanship, your work is truly a treasure to behold".

Slightly taken aback by the knightly man's high praise the merchant responds "Aye, Sir, each of these tapestries tells a tale from our kingdom's history to commerate the festival"

"Indeed i remember this battle well it was the siege of the fortress now known as the Amolite, I shall hang this in the fortress to commerate this day" Lovag reminisced remembering back to the day when he broke the inpenetrable fortress he nows calls him own.

Away from the main stage where the festivities were in full swing, Shining General Antoni found himself immersed in the more laid-back atmosphere of the festival's game stands. With a warm smile on his face, he tried his hand at various challenges, taking part in the joyous spirit of the occasion. At one stand, he playfully engaged in a ring-toss game, demonstrating impressive accuracy as he aimed for the targets. His eyes sparkled with amusement, and the onlookers cheered him on as the rings effortlessly found their mark. Despite his renowned position, Antoni embraced these moments of simple pleasure, allowing himself to be just another festival-goer seeking amusement. Whiling enjoying himself, Antoni spotted Lovag, "What's up, you old dog. Longtime no see" he said to his fellow Diamond soldier.

"Antoni, as I live and breathe! It has been far too long my friend" Lovag responded in joy upon seeing his friend before striding towards him "Shall i join you in this game and perhaps suggest a minor wager" he said with a glint in his eye "first to three hoops landed has the other buy them a gift from all of the glorious wares of our kingdom here".

While the two war veterans Squabbled and chattered their own personal talk, the Leader of the Sapphire Guild walked around the corner with a crape in her hand. She was accompanied by her guardian, another diamond mage soldier of the Guild. Windy Perun smiled as she ate the crape, and Oliver Constantinople stood by as he followed the young woman. Turning the corner to meet Lovag and Antoni. Oliver was a taller... much taller man clad in armor, his face was impossible to see. With Windy Perun being a kind-smiled, short woman with white hair. While not the strongest Perun in the Diamond Kingdom, her older sister was more known. The General of the Opal Guild, Tynged Perun, one of the Shinning Generals is a quiet mage compared to Windy. Windy would kindly wave as she swallowed her food and aimed to chatter with the knights.

"Hey! Nice to see you two around here... how are things going?" Windy Asked.

Else where throughout the festival, amidst the bustling crowd of the shoping area, a place where stands are placed to sell jewlery, artifacts, crafted magic items and inventive magical machanics to improve a citizens way or life. One person in particular is standing before one of the inventive items stands leaning over in order to observe the merchandise available. "Lady please! You've been at this for over an hour! I've got other customers to serve!" The stand owner cried out in complaint.

The lady he was refering to was one of the Shining Generals Catrina Cavalrain. "I know i know hang on a minute!" Catrina complained back. "I just dont know if i want this magical vase, it can provide water magic for the plants you put into it without you having to do it youself! I can decorate my house with plants without having to worry about caring for them myself." She said admiring it but then turned towards another item on the stand. "Ooooh But on the other hand this thing called a fan generates wind magic, i can carry it where ever i go and it'll provide me with a cool breeze, i could use for a hot day. ooooohhhh, i cant decide which to go for..." She moaned as a way to complain.

"Just hurry up and pick one already!" The stand owner said, almost at his breaking point of dealing with her.

"Lady Cathy please get a hold of yourself!" A voice came from the sword she has strapped to her back as it was revealed to have eyes round nose and a mouth was revealed on the guard of her sword. This sword she carries with her is Catrina's trusted weapon of Sovereign Arms, Ishtar who was trying to talk Catrina out of this challenging decision she was stuck with. "There are other things to admire in this festival. Dont get so caught up on the first thing you see right off the bat." She tried to explain to no avail.

"Yea yea sure one minute." She brushed off Ishtars advice and kept wondering which to go for.

"Might i suggest the vase, it's features are far more versatile then the fan" suggested an older greying man with golden eyes clad in a crimson cloak standing behind Catrina.

Mishil was enjoying herself along with Ari. Ari was enthralled by the festivities and was losing her head wondering what she wanted to get into first. Mishil on the other hand was admiring the jewelry and fine wine they provided as she glanced around with a gentle smile on her face. "So much to do, yet, don't know where to start," Mishil thought to herself then looked over to Ari who was giggling happily admiring the jewelry, "at least one of us is having a grand time."

Tardy to the grand festivities emerged the imposing figure of **Leonidas**, a prominent member among the illustrious cadre known as the 16 Gleaming Colonels within the esteemed Diamond Kingdom's Army. His presence, though delayed, added an aura of distinction to the jubilant event. Stepping into the lively scene, he keenly absorbed the palpable joy that enveloped the gathered throngs. Each corner he traversed allowed him to witness firsthand the radiant expressions on the faces of the festival attendees, a testament to the infectious merriment that permeated the air.

As he was walking he bumped into Antoni and he was greeted with a handshake by the General. "How you been, Big Blue?" Antoni's voice carried a hint of playfulness as he addressed his towering comrade, Leonidas before turning back to speak to Windy Perun. "And to answer your question, I have been doing well Windy, how have you been" he asked her.

"Its been grand, just dealing with my homework. I had Oliver here help me out with the last bit so we can have fun at the festival today." She smiled, as she leaned her entire head up to the skyscraper, as she wasn't very tall. "I do inquire, have any of you the slightest clue where my sister is? Either of them, she told me she'd meet me today since its my only day off."

Oliver greeted with Antoni with a handshake and Leonidas the same, but spoke not a word. Oliver was like this, doesn't talk much, just there as the guard to Windy. But if any of them knew Oliver 5 years prior, this is a sad sight to behold in a person as noble and kind.

After exchanging a friendly handshake with Oliver, Antoni's shifted back to his conversation with Windy. "I haven't seen your sister," he remarked, his tone carrying a note of curiosity. As the conversation flowed, Antoni turned to Leonidas, his tall and steadfast companion. "How about you?" he inquired, his voice laced with a sense of camaraderie. The question was directed at whether Leonidas had come across Antoni's sister in the midst of the festivities. Leonidas's response was succinct and straightforward, a simple "no" that underscored the unpredictability of the crowded festival and the ebb and flow of chance encounters. "Sorry I couldnt help" Leonidas said to Windy and Antoni. "I'll be on the look out though" he said.

Oliver sighed along with Windy. "Thats alright, I doubt she's at the concert and is probably doing patrols around the streets and tunnels of the city..." Windy was really bummed out, she knew her sister was in the city and might be working but she's never gone back on a promise.

Oliver spoke. "Antoni, have you a clue where Catrina is? I was meaning to ask her a few questions a couple days ago, but couldn't find the time."

## Royal Meeting

Only a Quarter after the festivities had began, a dastardly figure of the Diamond Kingdom stepped to the bottom of the platform of the Diamond King and Queen. This person... a woman of white and blue eyes, wearing a cherry red battle skirt with a crimson red corset. This was accompanied with her Sovereign Arm on her head with her sword placed by her side. To her left was her Lieutenant, a man in lion-like gold armor, this armor was a High-Grade Magic Tool Armor. Shinning with the brightest expression, this man walked with swagger and a feeling with pride to be alive. The man held a spear to his side, which he would swing around before it teleported out of his hands in a instant. This man's name was Colby Chapman. Finally, to the woman's right stood a slim woman, white hair but grey eyes. Bright red Roses fell from her belt as she walked with haste, this woman had no weapon and her boots clicked upon every tile to the Palace's entrance. Her name was Pam Peramore.

"Ma'am, shouldn't we deal with this business instead? So you can go meet with Windy and Crymaria," Pam remarked.

"It'll be fine, I have time to talk to the king. I've made it a promise to talk to the king every year after the fact, and It's just tradition to talk to him on this day." The Commander smiled, almost uncharacteristic.

"This 'otta be good..." Colby said, very weary of the situation as he had the time to get to know his commander.

Departing from their tent to join the festivities the echoes of the concert still in their hearts Sabik and Tuuli spotted the three figures before them standing at the bottom of the gangway. "Tynged it would not be a festival without you coming to find me" Sabik greeted them as he and Tuuli walked down towards them.

"Yes my king, but I do wonder on the thread of time... will our conversations become more formal or quite the joke over the days of futures past?" Tynged bowed, discretely smiling brightly towards Tuuli.

Pam leaned over to Colby, "Is she normally this nice to the king?"

"Oh, of course. I'm surprised you've never seen this side of her..." Colby muttered.

"Thats probably because I'm not working these da-" Pam was cut short on her remark by the side eye'd scowl of Tynged. The stare was dark and shivered up Pam's spine.

"I'm staying down here, I'm not meeting the king right now. I have other things to do if he doesn't need my council," Colby stated, as respectful as he can be at the moment.

"The day when I consider the formality with which old friends converse with me to be a reason for ridule will be the day I am no longer fit to call myself a leader" Sabik responded reassuring Tynged that her fears were unfounded.

"Join us won't you Tynged, We are on our way to the market to see our people, and understand our Kingdom's soul firsthand before the grand match" Tuuli suggested returning Tynged smile.

"Oh me oh my, I did want to swing by and meet my sister today, I threat I'm already late. But that's fine, I'll have my best friend Colby go tell her the news for me, i'll meet her at a time after noon. Wont you, Colby?" Tynged asked, turning to Colby.

"Getting away from you? Gladly..." Colby summoned his spear and started to walk, using his lance like a cane as his foot was very wounded at the moment.

"Ma'am, was that wise to let Colby on his own?" Pam questioned.

"Whats the point of forcing someone into a situation they dont want? He still hates his job, he's just gotten enough time to get used to it. To be honest, I think of trading him for Oliver, but they're both battle scarred... so whats the point? Either way, I like grumpy ol' Colby. He's my favorite grumpy asshole, even if he'd kill me if he wanted to." Tynged gave a kind attitude and nice toned response to Pam's question, it was honestly more sinister and dark than expected, but the honest truth. As their work was honest work.

Tynged turned back and theatrically bowed towards Sabik. "If we're always going to be friends, then dont friends ask for favors?"

"Oi, oi," an old rugged yet powerful-like voice appeared and rang through the ear drums of those gathered. The individual interrupting the gathering going on walked forward, his footsteps loud yet clean and elegant, as if he had a sense of superiority and ego that demanded his presence to be heard and known. He walked with a cane, a trench coat and most importantly a monocle that peeled directly at those in the room.

"Sabik, I need some more funding for my next wor-" the man stopped and looked at those in the group. "Shit, were we scheduled for a meeting? Damn it Rebecca, I told her not to let me come by if we're supposed to have a meeting or something." He groaned and looked forward. It was the head of the Research and Development division of the Diamond Kingdom, one of the greatest minds in the history of the kingdom, he who revolutionized many fields and continues his work, Eli Voltia, the old man of the eastern coasts.

"This is why I made the council the ruling power" Sabik said to himself feeling the usual pull of resources asked for by his generals. "No meetings today it's the victory day festival your needs will be discussed tomorrow if you attend to state them Eli and Tynged" Sabik sighed the weight of rule to which he had become all too accustomed beginning to return. "For now we walk the markets to see the wears of our kingdom before the show match begins, I hope to see your new suit in action today" he stated motioning towards the entrance to the market "Let us walk".

"Oh thank you. I was meaning to ask for a small addition to the old Theater. As you know, from the building next door, there are tunnels to the main fortress up the hill, I know some of my soldiers are getting a little upset and uptight from walking all the way outside and around the hill just to get the stairs since we're unable to get into the tunnels for safety reasons... could you by chance fund me rebuilding the old Factory and combining both buildings... Please!" Tynged got straight to the point, something that wasn't very known was the tunnels. Which Pam gave a concern and suprised look on her face when she heard what Tynged asked.

"Captain Tyn, when did that old factory ever have tunnels to the Fortress? Why didn't you tell me sooner," Pam whined, as she had wasted so much time getting to the fortress the long way.

## Anticipated Tournament

### Magnus vs Rebecca

The grand colosseum sitting in the heart of the capital hewn from luminescent stone rung with the cheers and chants of countless citizens as the announcer began his speech to welcome in the must anticipated show tournament which was the centre piece of the festival "Ladies and gentlemen, citizens of the Diamond Kingdom, today we gather under the banner of celebration and victory as we start this grand tournament of might and skill to honour the grand victory of the revolution which ushered in our Kingdom's golden age five years ago, With courage in our champion's hearts and strength in their arms, may the battles ahead be a testament to the indomitable spirit that defines our kingdom, I give it now to our King and Arch-Genrrsl to begin this glorious tournament" The announcers voices rang through the arena his voice projected through various magic tools placed throughout.

"Thank you announcer, to those competing today,  I am humbled by the immense talent and dedication you bring to these hallowed grounds. May your magic show the glory of our kingdom and weave a tapestry of greatness we have so many glorious mages to see with such amazing spells. Witnessing so many magic talents on display fills me with such excitement and anticipation" Sabik announced excitement brimming in his voice, momentarily losing himself as his eyes widen in awe as he gazes upon the competitors failing to hold back joy at the prospect of seeing them in action.

"Your first match today sees Rebecca Telkes of the Fluorite LIbrary facing off against Magnus of the Topaz Bastion, A clash of Size and Spatial magic" The announcer proclaims as the two competitors begin to walk in.

Stepping confidently into the spotlight, Magnus began his electrifying performance with a smooth slide to the left, effortlessly transitioning into a seamless slide to the right. His dance was a mix between rhythm and erratic movements, a symphony of dance steps that captured the audience's attention from the first beat. With a large grin, Magnus launched into a wiggle of his legs, putting a little playful energy into his routine. The crowd couldn't help but mirror his excitement, their cheers and applause echoing throughout the arena. He followed this up with a daring thrust of his pelvis, exuding an aura of confidence and audacity that kept all eyes locked onto him. As he continued dancing, Magnus executed a subtle yet powerful puff of his chest as he gathered his energy for the grand finale. He finished with a triumphant roar that resonated to the farthest corners of the venue, as he concluded his impressive sequence of moves.

The audience erupted into an uproar of exhilaration, swept up in the whirlwind of Magnus' performance. Their cheers and shouts merged into a harmonious crescendo of excitement and hype. With the crowd's energy fueling his own, Magnus took center stage, his commanding presence undeniable. "Let's get this party started!" his voice boomed, a declaration that only fueled the crowd's energy.

Both Eli and Rebecca standing in completely different locations let out a loud and dragged out sigh. "*Leave it to a "Antoni's boys" to be this idiot*" they both thought in unison as they looked over at the loud display of bravado and hyped energy, both being completely over him and visibly annoyed.

"Welp, I guess things won't be moving forward if I drag this out too long." Rebecca said out loud as she walked forward, moving the bangs out of her eyes and tied her hair back to a sloppy yet sturdy ponytail.

As Rebecca confidently advanced, a tidal wave of exultant cheers and praises surged through the arena, a resounding symphony of enthusiasm that swept through every nook and cranny. The walls were visibly shaking with every step she took from the cheer clamoring of the crowd. One by one each of the spectators began to rhythmically stomp their feet down in unison, following it up with a clap. All of them following a powerful beat, everyone's eyes were filled with anticipation and glee. The "**Red Mistress Of The Coliseum**" was the name that could be heard amongst the loud claps

"God I wish they'd stop that," she complained, picking the ear wax out of her right ear with her pinky finger. The moment she was finally visible, countless people in the stands shot up to their feet and roared, their eyes widening with a powerful intensity! Many were shaking from how loud they cheered.

"Let the inaugural match begin!" Sabik declared, his voice carrying authority and barely hidden joy at the display he was about to see. Taking his seat next to Tuuli who was busy enjoying snacks bought at the market on the way he could feel the air crackling with magic as the clash between two great mages was about to unfold.

"Let’s not waste time ," Magnus exclaimed as he deftly activated his spell, known as Blade Expansion. He channeled his mana, the essence of his magical power, into his trusty sword, causing it to undergo a remarkable transformation. The once ordinary blade now glowed with an radiant light, growing in both size and power.

With his newly enlarged sword firmly grasped in his hand, Magnus swung it with great force, unleashing a magnificent display of skill and strength. As the mighty weapon sliced through the air, it created a powerful gust, akin to a tempest in its path. The sheer force generated by the swing materialized into a colossal wind blade, hurtling towards its intended target with a resounding force.

"Wow if that's not compensation then I don't know what is," Rebecca thought outloud and leapt forward just as the sword was to reach her and charged forward, stepping over his blade, cutting the distance quickly. "Issues much? I bet this is the first time you've had someone touch your sword huh?" She said with a chuckle, leaping off his blade and was over Magnus. "Red Bane, to me." The young blonde called as she used her spatial magic to summon a large broad sword to her right hand, swinging her blade down aimed at his head!

In a lightning-fast response to Rebecca's blade, Magnus's instincts kicked in. With swift precision, he hoisted his shield aloft, summoning the powers of his Size Magic. In an instant, the shield expanded, its size increasing dramatically, forming an imposing barrier that effortlessly thwarted Rebecca's oncoming attack. Magnus couldn't help but indulge in a bit of banter. "Compensation? The Living Siege Weapon needs no such thing!" His laughter resonated through the entire arena, showing his confidence. But Magnus was far from finished. His shield, still enlarged, continued to expand with astonishing speed. Its metal exterior extended menacingly toward Rebecca, its rapid growth creating an overwhelming force that threatened to propel her out of the arena.

"Not bad, but bare bones are just remains." She said until walking to the center of the shield. "He's trying to force me out of the arena but to do that he's gonna have to get me off the shield. So first step," Rebecca then stopped before slamming her palm to the shield summoning her silver and red gauntlet and a small bolt of electricity circulated it and like a magnet it attached itself to the shield. "Even if you shake me off, I ain't going no where." She confidently yelled and then looked over at the edges of the shield. "*Knowing where this goes, I may need to be ready to move after.*"

"Smart girl!" Magnus exclaimed, his voice infused with genuine admiration, as a brilliant smile spread across his face. He couldn't help but acknowledge Rebecca's quick thinking and tactical prowess. However, his confidence remained unshaken. "But you scientists and your tech will not secure victory in this battle," he declared with unwavering resolve. Using his Size Magic, Magnus' arm rapidly expanded to a colossal size, as his limb grew to monstrous proportions, wowing spectators in the arena with its sheer size. In a fluid motion, Magnus quickly flipped his shield and swung it downward with blinding speed, directing it toward the ground.

"Not bad," she remarked, dropping her sword tightly and buckled her knees, looking directly at Magnus. "Charge to my legs," a small spark of red electricity ran through her legs and disengaged her magnetic grip. She shot herself like a projectile with a great powerful leap! While "*Magnus was busy making only his arm and shield larger, the rest of his body was still smaller, human sized. Meaning the balance of his body should be off. His reaction speed won't be at its best. That's an opening I can take.*" She thought to herself preparing another slash at Magnus's head!

"*Damn, she's fast*," raced through Magnus's mind as he instinctively shrank his head in a split-second maneuver to narrowly evade Rebecca's lightning-quick slash. Magnus recognized the need for a strategic shift. "*I need to revert to normal*," he silently strategized within his mind. With unwavering precision, he began the intricate process of reversing his Size Magic, causing his previously enlarged body parts and weaponry to swiftly return to their original size. Now, with his body back to its proportional form and Rebecca's potentially devastating slash successfully evaded, Magnus seized the moment. In one fluid motion, he lunged forward, his sword held with a very strong grip. The weapon sliced through the air, aiming unerringly towards Rebecca with the swiftness of a striking serpent.

"You took to long," Rebecca replied as she already adjusted herself from her attack missing, using the time Magnus used to undo his magic to stabilize herself. The metal gauntlet over her right arm was used as a shield to block Magnus's slash. "Hey you actually got some balls behind your attacks huh? Here I thought you were just a blow hard."

"Me, a Blow Hard? Never," Magnus retorted with a confident smirk as he raised his shield, the metallic surface gleaming under the arena's lights. With a calculated and precise motion, he swung the shield towards Rebecca's side, aiming to catch her off guard and exploit any opening in her defenses. His strike was executed with a combination of strength and finesse, a testament to Magnus's combat prowess.

"You're gonna need to do a lot better than that!" Rebecca barked as she swung her blade with all of its great weight out and slammed it against the oncoming shield! "Oh? Some actual muscles ya got there, here I thought they were vanity muscles." She commented as sparks of red lightning began to escape both her blade and gauntlet.

"Red Flow." She murmured as the sparks of lightning escaping multiplied and like bolts they shit and locked onto Magnus's own sword and shield. With them being made of metal they'd begin to conduct directly to Magnus himself.

Magnus couldn't help but express his admiration, despite the intensity of the battle. "For such a short girl, you sure do know how to fight," he remarked, his voice carrying a hint of respect for Rebecca's combat prowess. However, Magnus knew that in this battle, adaptability was key. With lightning-fast reflexes, he made a calculated decision. In a matter of moments, he shrunk his arms, releasing his weapons and allowing them to clatter to the ground. With his arms now free, Magnus invoked his Size Magic once again. His hands rapidly enlarged, becoming enormous in size, like the mighty fists of a giant. Then, in an instant, Magnus brought his colossal hands together with a resounding thunderclap. The shockwave of sound and force rippled through the arena, a deafening roar that resonated power.

"Oh no, ow oh gosh my ears, oh how they hurt." Rebecca mocked and smirked look up at him. "Who do you think was old man's Heimdall Horns? He made sure things like this couldn't bother if ya tried!" She mockingly clamored before stabbing her sword to the floor. "Crimson Pour!" She yelled as she sent waves of lightning and flames into the stadium floor itself, cause it to break and shatter, with the part of the floor under Magnus being the first to shatter and give due to the immense weight under his feet. By causing structural damage, Rebecca made Magnus's larger forms and abilities a liability as he'd cause the floor beneath him to give, causing a technical ring out.

With a keen eye and lightning reflexes, Magnus seized the opportunity that presented itself amidst the chaos. He snatched one of the sharp, airborne shards of the arena's ground, a shard propelled by Rebecca's attack. In a matter of seconds, he harnessed the power of his Size Magic once more, causing the shard to grow exponentially in size. With speed and precision, he thrust the enlarged shard into the gaping hole that had formed in the arena's ground. The shard wedged itself securely, preventing Magnus from being at risk of a ring-out.

As he stood there, having averted a potential disaster, Magnus couldn't help but offer his thoughts. "You scientists and your creations," he began, his voice carrying a mix of respect and skepticism. "Powerful, indeed, but it doesn't have the personality of a true weapon." He said as harnessed his Size Magic once more and shrunk himself down to the height of Rebecca, a strategic decision that granted him a lighter, more agile presence on the arena floor.

"Heh, is some over grown shit really trying to talk like that? Listen here tall blonde and dumb, don't talk down the tech. It's through the Magic Technology that we built that has given and maintained Diamond's position in this world." Rebecca replied as she rested her blade a top her shoulder. "So if you're really gonna talk so much, ya best be able to back it up."

"Given? You're telling me about the country that I've fought for in not just one but two wars," Magnus retorted, his grip on his sword tightening as if to emphasize his connection to his homeland. His eyes blazed with a fierce loyalty to the kingdom he had defended with his life. It was clear that the conversation about his country struck a deep chord within him. "What would you know about this Kingdom?" he continued, his voice resonating with a mixture of frustration and anger. "You're just Eli's newest science project. Once he makes something better, you're gonna get discarded like the rest of them." Magnus's words were a cutting indictment of Rebecca's origins. In a fast and precise move, Magnus lunged at Rebecca, his sword a gleaming due to the light of the battleground. The blade whistled through the air, aimed perilously close to her neck area.

"Haaaah," Rebecca sighed as she rose her blade and without much effort intercepted Magnus's own attack. "You fought in two wars? And? You have fought to fight and defend this country? And? Eli's gonna throw me out like the rest? And?" She nonchalantly said with a purely calm aura to her. She was hiding no rage, no fear, no jealousy, not a kick of ill will. No matter how much he spoke, it didn't matter in the slightest to her. "I just wanna fight, I wanna get stronger, I wanna see these wars and the destruction that follows. So defend your country, fight for what you want, heh, but don't go talking about what ya did in the past try to mean something more than all it was. You're just another notch in my belt, another guy that I need to beat."

"Fight in these wars? You have no idea what that does to a person," Magnus replied with a heavy sigh, his voice carrying the weight of years of experience and sacrifice. His eyes held the haunted look of someone who had witnessed the horrors of battle firsthand. However he snapped himself back to normal and invoked his Size Magic once more. In an instant, he shrank himself to a size no larger than an ant. His transformation was nothing short of astonishing, rendering him nearly invisible to the naked eye. In his minuscule form, Magnus moved with the stealth of a shadow, evading detection as he maneuvered strategically. His intent was clear—to exploit the element of surprise. Silently, he positioned himself directly in front of Rebecca. Then, with the precision of a surgeon and the strength of a warrior, Magnus unleashed his Size Magic once more. His fist enlarged dramatically, becoming a colossal force. In a flash, he thrust it forward, aiming directly at Rebecca's stomach.

"Idiot," Rebecca murmured as the moment Magnus disappeared and shrank himself, Rebecca's magic sense had already reacted to Magnus's own spell. Unlike Magnus or many others in the kingdom, she had over five different Mage Stones imbedded into her, currently the one attached to her spine on her neck just above her nape was made to enhance her Mana Sensing. Eli had this stone specifically modefied to make her sensing some of the greatest around, being able to not just detect mana but tell where and when it was being molded into magic or spells.

So despite how much he hid, Rebecca saw him coming the entire time. Once he was about to be under her, red light released from her opened palm and a powerful bolt shot down directly at Magnus when he spring forward, leaving him no room to evade along with the bolt dwarfing him in his smaller state. Even as he grew the attack would meet it's mark.

"Shit!" Magnus exclaimed, a jolt of searing pain coursing through his body as the lightning bolt struck him. The impact sent him hurtling through the air, his now-small form tumbling helplessly. However, as he descended, Magnus executed a swift transformation, returning to his regular and imposing form. Climbing back to his feet, Magnus couldn't help but acknowledge the reality of his situation. "Man, I need to get back in shape. Times of peace really made me rusty," he admitted with a wry smile. His musings took a humorous turn as he observed his own physique, realizing that he had let his guard down during times of tranquility. "This whole time, I was sucking in my stomach and impressing people," he laughed, his hearty chuckle resonating throughout the arena.

Magnus's mood shifted again, now expressing genuine admiration for his opponent. "You're a tough kid," he commended, his voice tinged with respect. "Eli has something real special with you." Magnus said, his words a recognition of Rebecca's remarkable abilities and potential as a warrior. Suddenly, without warning, Magnus enacted his Size Magic once more. His foot grew to colossal proportions, and with a resounding stomp, he sent a shockwave rippling through the already fragile bottom of the arena. The ground shattered, creating a dramatic and chaotic turn in the battle.

"Heh," Rebecca pointed her sword downward as she saw the incoming attack. "Now Blood Fall." She said beneath her breath, a dynamic force of fire and lightning, well over twice the amount from before shot directly down, the sheer force and power behind its release shot her directly above! So as his foot slammed down causing the floor to give, the power of her flames and lightning would follow it up, destroying the rest of the platform! With Magnus stepping forward and sudden lost of foundation to stand on, his weight was shifted from stepping the way he did, losing his footing was abound as there was no more platform to rely on.

"And the winner by technical ring out is Rebecca, and she will be allowed to move to the second round," declared the announcer, his voice resonating throughout the arena as the crowd erupted into cheers and applause. As the spectators celebrated Rebecca's triumph,

Sabik on the edge of his seat, can barely contain his enthusiasm. He standing in exhilaration he can't help but clap his hands at the spectacle he had just witnessed. "Incredible Magnus may be an old dog but he sure has learnt some new tricks and Rebecca is incredible she may have been Eli's projct but she has certainly come into her own her usage of magic tools was incredible Bravo,This is the true essence of what magic is!"He exclaims, his voice resonating with utmost joy.

Looking at her husband seated next to her radiating with joy with an amused glint in her eye. She leaned in closer to him "When it comes to magic your enthusiasm rivals that of a child in a sweet shop." she said in a playful tone.

Antoni, with a mixture of exasperation and frustration, made his way down to the arena and toward Magnus. His expression was a blend of disappointment and disbelief. "That's unbelievable, Magnus," Antoni scolded, his voice laced with annoyance. "How the heck do you lose to someone who's one foot and seven inches shorter than you?"

Magnus, now sitting on the bare arena ground responded with a hint of defiance. "Did you not just hear me?" he retorted. "I'm rusty, and you forced me to join this tournament." He said looking at Antoni. "Man, Eli is never gonna let me live this down," Antoni muttered, his hand coming up to his face in a facepalm of frustration. He couldn't help but imagine the talking and babbling he would endure from Eli. Recognizing the need to regain their focus, Antoni took a deep breath and nodded decisively. "Okay, alright," he said with a determined tone. "Leonidas is gonna win this for us." He said putting his trust into Leonidas. With their exchange concluded, Antoni wasted no time in issuing his next command. "Now get up," he directed Magnus firmly, "we've got work to do." The two of them exited the arena, leaving behind the wild crowd.

### Ali Blacksteel vs Iggy Zermati

Ladies and gentlemen, the anticipation in the arena reached its zenith as the announcer's voice echoed through the stadium. "Our next two combatants are none other than the formidable Ali Blacksteel and the music sensation Iggy Zermati!" The crowd erupted in a deafening roar of excitement and anticipation, their enthusiasm palpable as they eagerly awaited the clash of these two fighters. "Man, time to put on a show, I guess," Ali remarked to himself, his voice carrying a mix of determination and excitement. He strode purposefully toward the newly repaired and reinforced stage.

Iggy walked on the scene, respiratory mask on and a few vials strapped to her. She took a moment to drink in the sounds of the crowd as she went onstage. This was the best part of the entire thing for her. Analyzing her opponent, she noticed smaller things, the way he moved and the fact that he looked to be an official mage. Well that would make things just a little more annoying she supposed. Well she was only in the first round. Hopefully she'd make it to the second. As she looked at him, she took her mask off just to give him a grin and then put it on and spoke through it, the sound coming through her leg, amplified. "This should be fun. Lets blow the roof off!"

"Your loud," Ali remarked casually, a sly grin forming on his face. With a swift and practiced motion, he tapped into the arcane powers of his Snake Magic. In an instant, he summoned a magnificent serpent, a creature of serpentine grace and deadly intent. The crowd watched in awe as the massive snake, named "Hjaldr" by Ali, materialized before their very eyes. Its scales glistened in the arena's radiant light, and its fangs were poised and ready, rigged with a potent poison. With a whispered command, Ali directed the serpent into action. Hjaldr lunged at Iggy with a ferocity that was both mesmerizing and intimidating. Its body moved with fluid precision, a testament to Ali's mastery over his magical companion.

Seeing it, Iggy took a few steps back, grinning underneath her mask. "Chemical Magic:Hydrogen Boom" Tapping into the properties of her own magic, known to her as Chemical Magic, she summoned a small amount of a strange liquid and used her powers to keep it in the snakes path. The snake As the snake got the strange liquid all over itthat she started running away. As the gas interacted with the air and sunlight it exploded around the snake, the bits that had touched the ground exploding as well as the hydrogen interacted with the air and the sunlight. Although Iggy could only create small amounts of some things, it was still enough if you were creative with it. "Hows that for loud!" She yelled

"Apep's Legion!" Ali declared with commanding authority, casting a spell that conjured forth a multitude of serpents. These slithering creatures emerged from all angles of the arena, an overwhelming tidal wave of snakes that surged towards Iggy from every direction. The sheer number of serpents summoned by Ali made it a virtually insurmountable challenge for Iggy to deal with. The audience watched in astonishment as the arena was inundated with snakes, their sinuous bodies intertwining as they swarmed towards their target. It was a breathtaking display of Ali's mastery over his Snake Magic, a spectacle that left the crowd in awe. Iggy, perched precariously on the edge of the platform, faced an even more daunting dilemma. Any attempt to explode the snakes could result in a chaotic and explosive chain reaction, risking her own position and safety. The strategic brilliance of Ali's move became apparent, as he had not only overwhelmed his opponent but had also placed her in a perilous situation.

"Hmmm. Chemical Magic: Deep Freeze." As she did this, she directed both her voice and magic to her speakers to amplify her magic. Around her, she summoned small amounts of what was known as liquid nitrogen in an arc all around her, wherever the snakes were. The amplifier let her summon more of it, distributing it with sound. As it started touching the snakes, she watched the liquid freeze everything it touched, rapidly turning them into snaksicles. Soon there was a large bunch of dead snakes in an arc around her which she started walking over, careful to avoid the liquid nitrogen. Getting out one of her vials, this one filled with a rather oily looking liquid, she aimed and threw it at Ali. "Batter up!"

As the chemical projectile hurtled toward him, Ali's reflexes kicked into overdrive. In a swift and calculated move, he summoned one of his serpents to intercept the incoming danger. The agile snake lunged forward with incredible speed, devouring the oncoming chemical with a deft snap of its jaws. Not content with merely thwarting Iggy's attack, the serpent didn't stop there. With an audacious display of agility, it continued its trajectory, lunging toward Iggy herself. The crowd held their breath, captivated by the unfolding drama as the snake approached its target with undeniable precision.

"Very versatile magic," Ali remarked with a wry smile, acknowledging the effectiveness of his own powers as he observed the battlefield. He couldn't help but be impressed with the way his Snake Magic could adapt to a multitude of situations.

Iggy simply just smiled with a slightly manic grin, taking a few steps to the side to avoid the incoming detonation. As the snake chomped down on the vial, the vial blew up, the chemical compound inside it usually only found in the dynamite used for mining in this country. It blew through the snakes insides. "Very versatile magic indeed."

Iggy responded to Ali, sarcastic tone obvious in her voice. She had managed to avoid the brunt of the explosion and took off another one of her vials, unpopping the cap and creating something that looked like a metal before dropping it in, putting the cap back on and throwing it into the space between the two of them. As it broke, it released a reddish gas that helped conceal her approach as she got closer. It burned her eyes but her respiratory mask at least helped her deal with the worst effects of it, that of your lungs failing. Taking advantage of the gas, she tried to get in close so she could just end this with fisticuffs like a sane duel was supposed to go.

In response to the noxious gas that filled the arena, Ali acted swiftly and decisively. Drawing upon his Snake Magic once more, he summoned three moderately large serpents into existence. These serpents, with their sinuous bodies and heightened senses, were the perfect allies in the challenging environment that had been created. Two of the serpents were immediately tasked with stealthily navigating through the thick gas. Their lithe forms slithered silently, their movements guided by an unwavering ability to try and locate Iggy's presence. Ali's mastery over his serpents was evident as he directed them with a telepathic connection, using their keen senses to search for their elusive adversary.

The third serpent served a different purpose altogether. It was Ali's chosen sanctuary, a living tank that he could inhabit to protect himself from the toxic gas. As Ali watched his serpents move through the gas, he couldn't help but comment, a hint of amusement in his voice. "She made an environment perfect for stealthy creatures, what an idiot," he remarked, his words laden with a mixture of confidence and wry humor.

As Iggy walked through the fumes, they stung against her face and eyes so she pulled out a pair of goggles, putting them on to help her see better. She saw the snakes first, seeing them slither along the ground. As she looked, she tried walking lighter, so none of them would sense her. Luckily none of them could see her through the fumes, so she would just have to keep a very wide radius from them, as large as she could. For once she wasn't even speaking. Getting out another two of her exploding vials she threw one at the first snake and one at the second, just in case.

Seeing Ali through the thick smoke, she walked up to him, first noticing the giant snake that had curled up around him. It was a slightly terrifying thing but she got into a fighting stance and aimed a punch at him face, to knock him off his guard and deal with him as quickly as possible.

Ali feeling as Iggy's punch landed on the scaly hide of the monstrous serpent directed the snake with a quick mental command as he commanded the colossal serpent to respond. The serpent reacted with startling speed, its massive body curling around Iggy like a cobra closing in on its prey. The audience watched in tense anticipation as the serpent's powerful coils constricted around Iggy, its grip growing ever tighter. The air was filled with the collective gasps of the spectators as they witnessed the dramatic turn of events.

"Well, it should be fun to beat you up," Iggy said to the serpent, all the while quickly thinking of ways to do it. With an almost languid gesture, she got out her grimoire and read from it. "Chemical Magic: Acid Strike." As she summoned a jet of the material, still crushed in the snakes coils, she aimed for the serpents face. It hit surprisingly and when it did, the sulferic acid she had just summoned started doing its thing, eating away at the snakes face. While that was going on, she took off one of her boots and kicked the snake with her uncovered metal limb, driving the piece of metal into the thing.

In a sudden twist, Iggy demonstrated her resourcefulness by applying acid to the serpent's face, causing its features to melt in a grotesque display. It was a strategic move that had taken Ali by surprise, but he knew he couldn't afford to let this setback hinder his response. With a quick and decisive incantation, Ali invoked his spell, "Serpent Strike." in an instant, a new serpent materialized, sleek and deadly, coiled with a potent venom that could incapacitate even the most resilient foe.

This new serpent became a blur of motion, lunging at Iggy with breathtaking speed and precision. Its attack was executed with a calculated ferocity, as its venomous fangs aimed unerringly at her. In the chaos of the moment, Iggy would be preoccupied with the aftermath of her acid attack on the previous serpent's face. The noxious smell and the melting flesh of the serpent combined to create a distracting and disorienting environment. Along with her already stabbing the other snake and herself not being a combatant, it would be difficult for her to counter or even detect the snake.

As Iggy was preoccupied, she didn't notice the snake at her rear, until it was extremely close to her. Thinking quickly and remembering her time in the army, she grabbed the tube that connected her mask to her speaker leg and shoved it into the snakes jaws, making an effort to rip it out. It sparked in her hands as she used it to hold back the serpent from her face and as she hit on a realization, she used her power to summon a bit of hydrogen around the tube and pulled her hands back as quick as she could. This time when the tube's machinery sparked, it caught on fire and a bit of it exploded, right in the snakes mouth. While she had pulled her hands back as quickly as she could, her fingers were still burned. However, she didn't scream in pain, as this was definitely not the worst she'd ever been hurt. Her legs other function was also pretty useless now.

"You're paying for that after this match ends." She slammed her metal leg into the snake yet again, and got out another one of her vials and threw it at the snakes face. As the vial smashed against the snake, it exploded yet again.

"I'm getting tired of this," Ali declared with a mixture of frustration and determination. He knew that it was time to bring out one of his most formidable spells, and with that, he retrieved his grimoire. The snakeskin tome materialized in his hand, its pages filled with the secrets of powerful magic. With an incantation that resonated with ancient power, Ali cast his spell, invoking the name "Jörmungandr." The arena seemed to tremble in response as the incantation took hold. In a breathtaking display of magical prowess, a colossal serpent began to manifest.

This serpent was unlike any other, a monstrous amalgamation of countless serpents interwoven and intertwined together, forming a serpentine behemoth of unparalleled proportions. Its body coiled and shifted constantly, creating a mesmerizing and eerie spectacle as it surged toward Iggy with breathtaking speed. As the colossal serpent drew closer, it dripped potent poison, leaving a noxious trail in its wake. The audience watched in awe and trepidation as it closed in, threatening to engulf Iggy in its overwhelming presence.

As soon as Ali spoke, Iggy threw yet another vial in his direction. This one was filled with a bit of nitroglycerin and as it hit the ground below him it exploded. Then she saw what he had summoned and took a few steps back. "Well thats no fair." Looking at the massive snake, she looked at the vials she had left, less then half of what she used to have. Getting out her own grimoire, a ragged-looking thing with several bits blown off it, she started an incantation. "Chemical Magic: Deep Freeze" Yet again she summoned trace amounts of liquid nitrogen onto the snake, freezing parts of it, the serpents thin, brittle and frozen. Even then it still moved with an uncanny precision. "Chemical Magic: Showstopper." Pouring a large amount of her magic into it due to not being able to use her leg anymore, the frozen parts had the traces of liquid nitrogen on them turned into something different. Nitroglycerin. At the amount of shock the compound experienced from the serpent, it exploded. Suddenly the frozen parts of the serpent were shattered, those shards driving into the other parts of it. The explosion was big and Iggy averted her eyes from it.

"Man, just lose already," Ali grumbled in frustration as he rose from the aftermath of the explosion, his clothes slightly scorched from the fiery blast. Ali swiftly invoked another of his formidable spells, uttering the incantation, "Hydra." In response to his command, the serpent before him transformed, growing three additional heads and assimilating any remaining non-frozen snakes in the arena. The spectacle was awe-inspiring as the serpent expanded and multiplied, each head poised to strike.

Taking advantage of the distraction caused by the manifestation of the hydra, Ali seized the opportunity to close the gap between him and Iggy. Her eyes momentarily averted because of her earlier explosion, she wouldn't anticipate Ali's rapid approach. With lightning speed, Ali dashed towards Iggy, his intent clear. He aimed a powerful right hook at her face, his fist moving with precision and strength.

As Iggy was distracted by the giant-ass hydra thing, already thinking about how exactly to deal with it, she saw the punch coming but was barely too late to stop it, only managing to angle her head so that her respiratory mask took most of the brunt of the damage. The mask was most definitely broken by now, but a large portion of the gas has dissipated anyways so she wasn't exactly that affected by it. Still hurt like hell and she touched her wounded jaw, glaring at Ali. "Well that was rude innit?" Then in response she swung low with her right fist, aiming for his crotch. Sure she wouldn't be able to stay in the fight for much longer, but she still wanted to try to push even the small advantage she had over Ali, maybe she won, maybe she didn't but whatever happened was most definitely going to be fun.

"Wow, low blow, lady," Ali remarked, a sardonic grin forming on his face in response to Iggy's tactics. But Ali was far from passive; he had a strategic response ready. One of his hydras acted with uncanny swiftness, intercepting Iggy's reaching arm. The hydra's jaws clamped tightly around Iggy's limb, injecting her with a potent venom. "Now, that poison should slowly hinder all of your movement abilities," Ali explained, his voice tinged with a sense of superiority. With a graceful leap backward, Ali distanced himself from his opponent, creating a safe distance.

Iggy felt the serpents venom on her. "Thats fucking great." she said sarcastically, as her limbs started to feel like bricks. She got out another one of her vials and threw it at Ali. It didn't hit him due to how her limbs were feeling but it landed on the ground near him and exploded yet again, with Ali in the range of the explosion. Looking down at her vials, she realized that she only had two left. This was going to be a hassle wasn't it. Walking towards Ali, she was sluggish, relying mostly on her metal leg to walk. Right now, the flesh was weak. Getting closer, she reeled up to punch him.

Thrown back by the explosive force, Ali's defense momentarily faltered, and he was unable to evade Iggy's punch. The impact landed squarely, sending Ali back a little bit. However, Ali's durability and will to win came to the forefront as he swiftly regained his footing, his determination undiminished. With a renewed focus, he channeled his power through his summoned hydras, their three heads snapping to attention. Venom dripped menacingly from their jaws, ready to be unleashed. "Let's end this," Ali declared with unwavering resolve, his voice resonating with a mix of determination and confidence. The arena was filled with an electrifying tension as he directed his hydras towards Iggy. The serpentine behemoths, formed by an amalgamation of countless snakes, surged toward their target with formidable speed.

"Why not." Iggy smiled as her punch hit, before turning her attention back to the slightly bigger problem of the giant-ass hydra. Well if it was a bombastic ending that he wanted then it was a bombastic ending that he'd get. Besides she was honestly surprised that she had gotten nearly this far and it was customary to go out with a bang. Summoning her grimoire, she spoke incantations like she was singing, loud and scratchy. "Chemical Magic: Showstopper." As the snake lunged, she turned the oxygen on it into nitroglycerin again. The speed the snake was lunging at caused it to explode, chunks flying nearly everywhere, but not before it hit her. Angling herself to take the least damage, Iggy was blown back both by her own explosion and the hydras attack. On the ground and groaning, she had a smile on her face, visible from the shards of her gas mask. "I surrender."

"AND THE WINNER IS ALI BLACKSTEEL!" The announcer's voice thundered through the arena, and the crowd erupted into a frenzy of cheers and applause. Ali's victory was met with wild enthusiasm from the spectators, who had been treated to an extraordinary display of magical combat.

With the dust settling in the arena, Ali approached Iggy, extending a hand to lift her up. Despite the intensity of their battle, Ali displayed a sportsmanlike demeanor. "You're a great fighter, music girl," he acknowledged with respect. "Nice doing battle with you." He said as walked out of the arena, he did so as the victor of this round, leaving behind a crowd that had been thoroughly entertained and a rival who had fought valiantly. The audience continued to cheer, appreciating the spectacle they had just witnessed, and eagerly awaited the next thrilling match in the tournament.

### Leonidas vs Ari Haw

"Ladies and gentlemen, for our next battle, we have Ari Haw and Leonidas!" The announcer's voice boomed through the arena, and the already rowdy crowd erupted into an even greater frenzy of excitement. The mere mention of these two formidable combatants had electrified the atmosphere, setting the stage for a clash that promised to be nothing short of spectacular.

Emerging from the tunnel, the imposing figure of Leonidas came into view. He was an absolute behemoth of a man, towering at an impressive 6 feet 9 inches and weighing a formidable 250 pounds. The sight of him alone was enough to send ripples of awe through the crowd. On his back, he carried an arsenal of four swords, each one etched with a distinct rune representing an element. As Leonidas strode confidently onto the arena floor, his presence was nothing short of commanding. His sheer size and the aura he exuded made it evident that he was a force to be reckoned with. His mana, the essence of his magical power, seemed to radiate from him like a tangible entity.

Coming from the opposite side, an alluring figure emerged causing a few of the spectators who bared witnessed to Ari began to shyly look away while others swoon in her presence while she made her way to the arena floor. She was a sight to behold, with short luminating green hair and emerald green eyes that sparkled as she slowly opened her eyes glancing up at her opponent she was to face. Her expression remained tranquil as her hand was arched back with her eyes squinted not even bothered by the gigantic mage that stood before her as her mana alone emitted a power that was enough to hold her ground with how small she was compared to Leonidas, she was ready with credence and a burning spirit that was unpliable to extinguish.

Without a word, Leonidas used his Sword Magic to summon a colossal blade with a single hand gesture. The sword, gleaming with brilliance, materialized in his hands, ready to serve as a weapon of unparalleled might. With astonishing speed, Leonidas unleashed the massive sword, sending it hurtling through the air at a velocity that defied belief. The blade sliced through the arena with a ferocity that left the audience in awe, its trajectory aimed unerringly at Ari. The sword seemed to blur as it raced forward.

Ari stood still noticing the sword heading her way, then with only just a split second, she took a small step back as she let the sword launch forward. Immediately Ari summoned her grimoire ready to unleash one of her spells. "**Earth Magic: Groundam**!" Ari motioned her arms upward as a two huge walls made of earth were summoned before next to Leonidas each one just arms length from another. After summoning the walls, Ari began to motion her hands forcing the pillars to quickly close in on Leonidas ready to crush him!

As the rock walls began to close in, Leonidas remained remarkably composed. "Earth Magic, eh?" he mused silently in his head, his thoughts focused on the fight before him. In the blink of an eye, he summoned a vortex of swords. The swirling storm of blades materialized around him, each sword gleaming with the light of the arena. With great ease the whirling blades sliced and chopped through the solid rock with ease. Simultaneously, Leonidas seized the opportunity to launch another sword at Ari. The blade shot forward with unerring accuracy. But Leonidas wasn't finished, as he used his immense speed to close the distance between himself and Ari as he unleashed a powerful left-handed punch directed squarely at her ribs.

Ari was thrown back by the punch as she used her Earth Magic to hold herself in place. This was nothing to her, she felt a slight pain getting up but placed her hands on the ground glancing to Leonidas with a serious glare on her face. "**Earth Magic: Groundcrag**!" Ari shouted as from unleashing her magic, the ground around her and Leonidas began to tremor then without warning, the arena began to crack and crumble into pieces before their feet. This was not too much of an issue for Ari as she had another trick up her sleeve. Ari hopped one by one onto the crumbled rocks with agile grace yet with impeccable speed appearing only just a few feet away from Leonidas as a piece of land that had not been cracked into pieces was still stable. Ari placed her hand on the ground as she took a deep breath clearing her mind. "**Earth Magic: Fissure Rift**!" Suddenly, the ground before them began to tremble once more this time, the crevice began to split wider underneath Leonidas' feet causing him to fall!

Thinking quickly Leonidas summons a massive sword into existence within the rift. The sword materializes beneath him, providing a solid platform that halted his fall. In a graceful and swift move, Leonidas effortlessly leaps off the conjured sword and back on the arena. "Neat," Leonidas remarked with a calm and confident demeanor, unfazed by the dangerous situation he had just averted as he unsheathes his blade. With his sword in hand, its blade etched with a fiery rune, Leonidas wasted no time. He uttered a single command, "Ignite," and the rune on his blade sprung to life. Flames danced along the length of his sword, casting an fiery glow across the arena.

In one swift and fluid motion, Leonidas swings his flaming sword, sending a searing wave of fire-infused mana slashing toward Ari. As he landed back on solid ground, Leonidas continued his offensive onslaught. With a swift movement, Leonidas summons a barrage of swords into existence, sending them hurtling toward Ari from all angles and directions. The arena was filled with the mesmerizing spectacle of blades slicing through the air, each one a lethal threat aimed at his opponent.

"**Earth Magic: Osiris Dome!**" Ari shouted as she summoned a large pillar consisted of earth forming into the shape of a pyramid as it shielded her from the oncoming attacks. Ari thought to herself wondering how she was going to work her way around her opponent with his magic. She unleashed a huge amount of strength as she slammed away the rocks that shielded her from the attack then she planted her hands on the ground as she focused on Leonidas. "**Earth Magic: Mudhole Trap!**" The ground before them began to change as it went from begin a solid earth to a murky consistency as the ground beneath Leonidas began to slowly pull him in causing him that even the slightest move would cause him to fall and sink into the murky mud.

Trapped within the unforgiving grasp of the quicksand, Leonidas swiftly recognized the urgency of his situation. In a bold move, he drew forth his sword, its blade etched with a Water Rune, and summoned water with said blade. As he invoke the spell the murky consistency of the quicksand began to undergo a profound transformation. The once-thick mud started to shift and flow, taking on a more watery nature.

As the quicksand transformed into a liquid state, Leonidas knew he had to act quickly. "Need to get out of here," he muttered to himself, his voice trenched with resolve. With a surge of his mana, he pushed against the now-watery mud, using his magical power to create a forceful current that propelled him upward and out of the dangerous quicksand.

"*Close one*," Leonidas thought as he stood poised in the arena, holding two swords—one etched with a fiery rune and the other etched with a water rune. Recognizing the need for a strategic advantage, he decided to employ these elemental runes in unison to craft a clever tactic. Invoking the runes of both swords, Leonidas wielded both blades simultaneously. He harnessed the fiery power of one and the cooling properties of the other, creating a mesmerizing fusion of elements that materialized as a dense mist. This mist quickly began to shroud the arena, obscuring his physical presence from view.

As the mist enveloped the battleground, Leonidas didn't waste a moment. He summoned a myriad of swords, each glinting in the light, and released them into the air. These swords moved with remarkable agility and speed, creating a swirling and chaotic spectacle inside the mist.

"Hm," Ari muttered to herself as she continued to keep her composure while she placed her hands on the ground summoning a replica of herself standing before her made of earth. The duo stood before the mist as they looked around for an opening. Ari closed her eyes as she focused on where Leonidas was located while placing her hand on the ground feeling any sort of movement or vibrations to find him. She turned her head in the direction where he would be located with sharp eyes as she summoned a huge wave made of earth in the same direction!

As the wave of Earth magic surged towards him, Leonidas displayed his quick reflexes and immense leg strength. In a split second, Leonidas propelled himself high into the air with a powerful jump. His powerful movement allowed him to clear the mist that had enveloped the arena, granting him an advantageous aerial view of the battlefield. With a determined expression, Leonidas seized the moment to wield his sword, adorned with the Wind Rune. The Wind Rune's power coursed through him, and he channeled it into a mighty gust of wind that resembled a ferocious hurricane. The force of this conjured tempest was awe-inspiring, with gales strong enough to uproot trees and send debris hurtling through the air. As the air began to uproot the stone of the arena, Leonidas summoned a gigantic sword and threw it at Ari.

Ari and her double noticed the massive sword heading their way; without warning, the clone ran in towards the sword as Ari stood her ground placing her hands firmly on the ground. She glanced over where Leonidas was located, her eyes squinted as she focused her mana onto her spell, the mood changed as it shifted from calm to serious. "**Earth Magic: Ground Hei!**" A huge rumble came from the ground as she raised her hands summoning a humongous snake made entirely of earth emerged from the ground! The creature hissed as it charged at Leonidas with its mouth hinged open ready to strike, inches away from being swallowed.

"What a high-end creationist," Leonidas said with no hint of emotion in his voice, even in the face of the colossal rock giant snake that threatened to swallow him whole. Leonidas wasn't going to lose this round however, as in a lightning-fast response, he summoned a sword into his hand and, with the precision of a seasoned warrior, slashed through the snake right down the middle. The massive creature crumbled into a cascade of rubble, its threat now non-existent.

As the rocks began to fall to the ground, Leonidas wasted no time. He called upon hid magic once more, summoning about twenty swords into existence. With unmatched speed and control, he directed this formidable arsenal of blades towards Ari. The swords moved at a incredibly fast pace, slicing through the air with an eerie precision as they advanced towards Ari.

Ari sighed as she looked at the swords heading her way knowing this was almost the same tactic Leonidas was pulling once more. Ari wasted no time as she closed her eyes then within a split second with her swift reflexes she managed to narrowly dodge each of the swords aiming towards her; each step she took was more graceful than the last as she elegantly swayed and breezed through each slicing sword aiming in her direction. The crowd was in awe seeing the emerald haired Colonel elegantly sway among the arena dodging the swords. One sword scraped the side of her face leaving a scar with blood trickling down her cheek but it did not phase her as she dodged the oncoming attack.

Immediately Ari swiftly hopped onto the falling rocks until she was a mere foot away from Leonidas. Her composure was tranquil but her eyes burned with an intensity of coming out as victor. Ari summoned the crumbling rocks around her as they began to surround Leonidas slowly beginning to wrap around him to the point of painfully binding him. "**Earth Magic: Earth Coffin**!" Ari muttered in a cold tone as she clamped her hands tight causing the pressure of the earth surrounding his body to slowly crush his limbs where almost loud audible stomach churning cracks could be heard in the crowd. Instantly, Ari swung her arms down motioning the colossal rock formation with Leonidas to plummet towards the arena causing a blaring explosion!

"That hurt," Leonidas grumbled as he rose to his feet, his clothing showing the wear and tear of the battle. Yet, his determination remained unshaken. "But I will win this," he declared with unwavering resolve. With a surge of power that left the entire arena quaking, Leonidas unleashed a staggering 10% of his total mana. The arena was enveloped in a palpable, pulsating purple mana, and spectators could feel its presence wash over them like waves of the ocean, leaving them breathless.

As he channeled this immense magical energy, Leonidas put his remarkable speed to use. He closed the distance between himself and Ari with astonishing swiftness, his movements a blur. In a flash, he delivered a powerful kick to her ribs causing an audible crack as she was sent hurtling from the elevated dome of the arena to the ground area below. But Leonidas wasn't finished. As Ari plummeted, he invoked a spell known as "**Searing Blade Ember**." With a quick motion, he summoned a multitude of swords into existence, and they rained down upon the entire arena like a relentless storm. Each blade was imbued with the searing power of fire, creating an awe-inspiring spectacle of flamey destruction.

Ari had to act quick, feeling her ribs were broken she staggered managed to summon another earth clone of herself before she summoned a pillar of earth before her as she landed with a loud bang. All the while, her clone jumped in taking in her place as it took on the attack as it crumbled before her while pushing herself up. Ari slowly got up coughing up a bit of blood feeling her ribs that were cracked but she took a deep breath baring in the pain as she remained focus then gave him an annoyed expression on her face. "Geez, I almost felt that," Ari cynically sneered as she placed her hand on the ground summoning three cannons made entirely of earth as they began to fire boulders out from the barrel at blinding speed towards Leonidas. Unexpectedly, Ari swiftly charged in along with the boulders being mere inches from him, she delivered a hard punch onto Leonidas' gut following up with a rigorous side kick in the ribs without giving Leonidas time to react sending him flying with the boulders heading towards him!

"You're a strong lady," Leonidas acknowledged with a touch of respect in his voice as he reacted swiftly to the incoming barrage of boulders. With the speed and precision that had defined his combat style throughout the duel, he summoned a sword and quickly sliced through the oncoming projectiles, reducing them to harmless rubble. "But you can't beat me," he asserted with confidence as he tapped into his knowledge of Reinforcement Magic, channeling its power into his legs to enhance his already formidable speed.

With his newfound speed and leg strength, Leonidas landed back on the arena floor, and in an instant, he harnessed his Reinforcement Magic. His movements became a blur as he closed the distance between himself and Ari in the blink of an eye. With incredible speed and qucikness, he delivered a reinforced punch directly to Ari's stomach, the impact sending her soaring towards the dome surrounding the arena. As Ari hurtled through the air, Leonidas didn't relent. He summoned a barrage of mana slashes, each one a shimmering blade of energy, and directed them towards his opponent. The arena was filled with the dazzling display of these magical slashes as they pursued Ari through the air.

Feeling the pain in her body, using her immense endurance braced through the pain as she gracefully dodged the mana slashes while in baring the pain from her broken ribs but she remained composed and at ease as she closed her eyes focusing on her main task that was at hand as the pain she had felt began to deplete while dodging the slashes one by one with great stealth and procession with a few slicing through her dress and body but it did not slow her down. Once she landed back on the ground, Ari tapped into her Reinforcement Magic and within a split moment, her body began to glow in a hue of emerald as rocks began to form around her creating an armour surrounding her body that moved in tandem to her.

In an instant, she dashed towards Leonidas as she summoned another wave of earth rushing towards him while she was on the top of the wave looking down at him with a glare that one could call menacing but it was of determination and of resilience. One that was not ready to back down as in tangent with the wave, it collide towards Leonidas as she appeared before him with a stoic glare on her face. "When you said I couldn't beat you," Ari spoke before she landed a massive punch to his ribs, "I wasn't trying to though, don't leave me any choice." In a flash, she landed a tremendous roundhouse kick in his gut, her strength from the Reinforcement Magic, the earth armour and her skilled hand to hand prowess caused Leonidas to plummet to the ground as Ari quickly divebombed towards him landing a massive drop kick into his ribs once more causing them to plunge towards the ground creating a colossal crash!

"Woman, get off me!" Leonidas grunted with frustration as he summoned even more of his mana, causing the arena to shake. The amount of mana he was releasing increased from 10% to an impressive 15%, as he ignored the pain that surged through his body from Ari's previous assault. With a relentless grip, he seized Ari's leg and applied intense pressure, the sound of a bone cracking echoing through the arena. Not stopping there, Leonidas made a swift decision. With tremendous strength, he tossed Ari into the air, sending her soaring upward. In a breathtaking display of speed and power, he launched himself into the sky, almost seeming to defy gravity itself. As he ascended, he reared back and delivered a devastating punch right to Ari's face. The impact was thunderous, and Ari was sent hurtling back down to the arena floor. The force of the blow resonated throughout the arena, leaving the spectators in stunned silence.

Unexpectedly, Ari slowly got up still her body incased in her earth armor as the crowd was in disbelief over how someone like her was still standing after the merciless beatings she was receiving from Leonidas. Ari breathed heavily as she spat up some blood on the side before cracking her neck along with her shoulders. "Once again, I almost felt that," Ari spoke in a hushed yet frigid tone. Suddenly, Ari began to summon her mana as she took her stance glaring at Leonidas then with her swift speed, she summoned earth in the shape of two walls each one on each side but only a couple feet away from Leonidas. Then she immediately dashed towards Leonidas delivering a huge kick in the gut knocking him down. Ari did not waste a second as she lunged on top then with her Reinforcement Magic combined with her Earth Armour, Ari landed a barrage of punched onto Leonidas' torso! Each punch left a devastating crack with each impact. Ari's face remained unshaken as she continued her attack, she punched his arms, ribs and before she was about jump back, she landed a massive punch to his jaw enough to send him flying at the earth wall creating a loud crash!

Ari took a step back then with her strength alone, she conveyed a huge kick at the earth wall causing it to collide onto where Leonidas made his impact onto the other wall until the walls had collided creating a gargantuan slam! The crowd was on the edge of their seats brimming with excitement but also tension from the fight as it was all out tug of war over who would come out on top!

"Man, I hate this," Leonidas muttered through gritted teeth as he swiftly regained his footing. With great and immense speed, he sprang forward, closing the distance between himself and Ari in an instant. With a powerful punch, he struck her chin with immense force, sending her hurtling skyward. As she soared through the air, Leonidas wasn't about to let up. In a display of his incredible speed and combat prowess, he lunged upward, grasping her foot with a firm grip. With a mighty twist of his body, he slammed her back down to the arena floor with bone-jarring impact. The force of the collision caused an upheaval of earth, creating a shockwave that rippled through the battleground.

But Leonidas didn't stop there. He continued his relentless assault, a barrage of punches and kicks that rained down on Ari like a tempest. Each strike leaving the sounds of bones breaking as Leonidas continued to punch Ari. As Leonidas's barrage continued his fist connected with Ari's head, the impact was jarring, but he didn't falter or relent. He swiftly jumped back, gearing up for the next move. With incredible speed and power, he launched a devastating kick aimed at her arm.

The force behind the kick was nothing short of astonishing. When it struck Ari's arm, a deafening snap sound echoed through the arena, filling the space with an eerie silence. The audience watched in stunned disbelief. Ari was sent hurtling backward, her arm clearly injured by the powerful strike. The palpable tension in the arena was thick, as spectators held their breath in anticipation of the outcome.

A silence brushed upon the arena but a soft breath escaped Ari's mouth as she slowly got up. Her body began to crack from her bones being crushed by the intensity of Leonidas' attack. Her armour began to crack as she breathed heavily covered in blood with a burning rage in her eyes, then she used her Reinforcement Magic once more to rebuild her armor as she straightened herself up as a loud crack could be heard in the crowd leaving them gasping in shock as she grunted in a bit in pain gritting her teeth. Luckily her other arm was still mobilized as she placed it on the ground changing it into mud surrounding Leonidas' feet pulling him in then she charged in thrusting her leg back as she landed a massive roundhouse kick towards his ribs lifting him into the ground then tapping into her mana increasing it slightly, she could feel it surge through her body ignoring the heart throbbing pain coursing through her vein as she landed a powerful punch into his jaw knocking him down towards the arena floor.

"Man, you're resilient," Leonidas remarked, his voice betraying a hint of admiration as he rose to his feet. His clothing was now in tatters, bearing the scars of their intense battle. "This is getting boring," he muttered with an uninspiring tone, his face revealing no emotion as he made his next move. With his mastery over Sword Magic, he summoned a multitude of swirling sword tornadoes into existence. Their gleaming blades sliced through the arena floor, dicing up anything in her path. But Leonidas wasn't finished. He used his incredible speed to close the distance between himself and Ari in the blink of an eye. With a surge of power, he delivered a powerful punch aimed squarely at her chest.

Ari coughed up some more blood as her immense durability was holding her ground while she glanced up at Leonidas staggering a bit to continue standing. "Are you kidding," Ari retorted as a small chuckle escaped her lips, "I've dealt with brutes like you all the time, my General being one of them." Ari needed to get more serious, if she needed to secure her victory, she needed to act with precision and had to be a few steps ahead of him. The punch to her chest was brutal but she held it in as she placed her hand on the ground summoning a colossal wave of earth hurtling towards Leonidas with Ari making her pursuit. While the wave was charging towards him, Ari swiftly dashed in the same direction as the wave but with her speed she appeared behind Leonidas as a small exhale escaped her mouth. Unexpectedly, Ari delivered a dynamic hammerfist into his face hurtling him into the wave as it continued rushing at him!

Using his Reinforcement Magic, Leonidas flew threw the wave of Earth almost uninjured just a few scrapes, however his shirt had finally succumbed to the relentless battle and was torn to shreds, revealing his battle-hardened physique. "Man, now I gotta get a shirt after this," Leonidas remarked with a mundane look in his eyes. With a swift and calculated maneuver, Leonidas redirected all of his sword tornadoes towards Ari, unleashing their relentless fury upon her. But Leonidas wasn't finished. His speed was unparalleled, and he used it to his advantage once again. In an instant, he appeared behind Ari, his movements a blur. With incredible force, he delivered a powerful kick to her backside, propelling her forward into the path of his oncoming swords.

Ari noticed the swords were heading her way, using her swift reflexes, she bent and twisted her body causing some pain in the process as she dodged the swords aiming her way, a few grazed her but she managed to hold down the pain. Ari knew she met her match but she was nowhere close to backing down. "You're persistent," Ari commented in a light tone, almost sounding impressed, "but either way, I'm not done." She tapped into her mana unleashing it causing the arena to shake as she summoned earth to wrap around her hands doubling it in size as she dashed towards him then landed a uppercut launching him into the air. She wasn't done, Ari placed her hand on the ground then summoned clumps of earth surrounding his body slowly tightening Leonidas and immediately swung her arm down directing the cluster onto the arena floor!

"I've got to get out of this restraint," Leonidas thought with remarkable calmness as he assessed his situation. Tapping into his mana summoned his Reinforcement Magic, using it to amplify his strength. The surrounding cluster of rocks that had ensnared him began to tremble under the immense force he exerted. With a loud and deafening crash, he shattered the rocky restraints, breaking free using his strength. "I can't let Antoni down," Leonidas thought with resolve, his mind focused on the task at hand. He summoned a swirling mass of swords around him, their shining blades forming a protective barrier around his body. With the same incredible speed that had defined his combat style throughout the duel, Leonidas closed the distance between himself and Ari in an instant. With a mighty right hook, he aimed squarely at her jaw at great speed.

Ari using her skillful reflexes dodged the right hook punch but now had to think on how she was going to get past the sword barrier surrounding Leonidas. "I can't fail lady Mishil," Ari told herself in a tranquil tone as she cleared her mind focusing on her next strategy. Tapping into her mana, Ari enhanced her earth magic that surrounded her body as she summoned clusters of earth to hurl towards the barrier of blades bashing away at them like a stampeding avalanche aiming at him at blinding speed! Ari then placed herself on the ground as she planted her hand down summoning earth in the shape of spikes on the arena floor, as she glanced up at Leonidas continuing to hurl the clusters of earth at him!

"Man, this lady is persistent," Leonidas muttered under his breath as he quickly assessed the dangerous situation unfolding below. The arena floor had transformed into a menacing array of spikes. With unflinching speed and agility, Leonidas tapped into his formidable Reinforcement Magic. He leaped into the air with astonishing agility, evading both the clusters of rocks and the deadly spikes that threatened to stab him. "Man, this chick is getting on my nerves," he remarked with a hint of frustration in his voice. He knew that the battle was reaching its climax, and he was determined to secure victory. With a swift and practiced motion, he summoned four gigantic swords, each one a replica of his personal swords and imbued with the elemental runes for the four basic elements.

The arena was filled with a palpable sense of anticipation as Leonidas finished summoning the last sword. Without hesitation, he launched all four colossal blades at Ari with remarkable precision and speed. Each sword represented a different element, promising a diverse and devastating onslaught.

Seeing the four blades aiming towards her, Ari remained composed as she closed her eyes focusing on her next tactic. "He won't let up will he," Ari thought to herself until with her impeccable reflexes, she elegantly dodged each of the swords aiming at her with one of them struck her in the arm causing her to shout in pain but this did not stop her. She kept herself focused when using her mana, she summoned a golem made entirely of earth as she stood on its shoulder towering over Leonidas as it glared down at the mage with glowing yellow eyes. It grabbed Leonidas with both hands holding it towards its face as it began to constrict his body with massive force creating an unnatural crack! Without hesitation, Ari summoned a wave of earth from the golem's arm hurtling towards him while in the clutches of the golem making escape near impractical.

Ari was barely done, she dashed towards him as the wave was charging at him as she inflicted a devastating punch into his face using her earth encrusted fist while being restraint by the golem.

The impact of Ari's fist connecting with Leonidas's face was thunderous, sending him reeling backward. However, Leonidas wasn't about to be defeated. With a swift and decisive motion, he unleashed a wave of ten swords, each one shimmering with deadly intent. Half of the swords were directed at the colossal golem that loomed nearby. These blades struck the golem with relentless force, slicing through its rocky form and reducing it to a pile of shattered debris.

But Leonidas wasn't finished. The remaining ten swords began to undergo a startling transformation. They grew in size, expanding until they were as large as small houses. Their gleaming blades now loomed over the arena like colossal titans. With blinding speed, these gargantuan swords were launched toward Ari. Their sheer size and velocity made them virtually unstoppable, hurtling through the air with unstoppable force.

Seeing the swords hurtling towards her, Ari had to act fast to avoid the attack. Using the shattered earth from what remained of her golem, she shaped them into a massive shield that glided along with her agile reflexes dodging the swords with a few of them slicing her grunting in pain managing to hold it in. Ari panted heavily remaining tranquil about the situation at hand as she placed her hand on the ground summoning four cannons hurtling earth cannon balls towards Leonidas as she charged at him with blinding speed until she was an inch between her and him then landed a swift roundhouse kick into his gut as the earth cannon balls continue careening at him.

Reeling from the impact of Ari's powerful kick, Leonidas swiftly reorganized his body, showcasing his remarkable durability. His combat instincts were as sharp as ever, and he used his tremendous speed to evade the incoming barrage of cannonballs with swift maneuvers. In the blink of an eye, Leonidas appeared before Ari and with a ferocious punch aimed at the right side of her head, he struck with extraordinary force. The impact sent Ari hurtling through the air, her body propelled several meters away. "We can do this all you want. But at the end of the day. I will outlast you" Leonidas said with a blank face as he unsheathed the sword that bore the Wind Rune. With it he summoned a powerful tornado of air. The swirling tempest roared to life and, under Leonidas's control, was directed straight toward Ari.

Ari shook her head quickly snapping herself awake noticing the tornado careening at her. "Hmph," Ari muttered as she narrowly dodged the swirling tornado summoning a wall of earth to block the oncoming cyclone. Ari felt some of her body crack from the intensity of how much damage she received from Leonidas but she was nowhere near finished. Ari placed her hand on the ground causing two small golems to appear grabbing tightly onto his arms, then she began to turn the arena floor into mud slowly pulling Leonidas in. She dashed towards him appearing within a few centimeters away from him. "Given up yet? Don't worry," Ari commented before coating her arm with earth, "I'll make this quick." Unexpectedly she delivered a powerful hammerfist onto the top of his head slamming him down!

Suddenly, the very arena itself began to tremble, the ground beneath them quaking as if the very earth was having a stomach virus. The mud below began sputtered and churned, resembling hot coals dropped into a stick of butter. The rumbling continued, sending shockwaves through the battleground, and the audience could feel a palpable wave of mana wash over them. Amidst this seismic upheaval, Leonidas emerged with a display of extraordinary confidence. His mana levels surged, rising from 15% to a staggering 20%, a testament to his absurd amounts of pure magical energy.

"Why would I give up?" Leonidas said with unshakable amounts confidence, his voice cutting through the chaos around him. With a swift and powerful kick, he sent Ari soaring into the air, her form rising against the chaotic backdrop. But Leonidas wasn't finished. As Ari began her descent, he struck her with equal force, driving her back toward the ground. The impact was earth-shattering, and the arena floor quaked in response. Using his sword magic, Leonidas conjured an astonishing arsenal. Around a thousand swords manifested, their gleaming blades blinding all those who dared to look at them. In a breathtaking display of power and precision, he launched this formidable barrage of blades toward Ari.

Ari panted heavily from the level of impact that she sustained but slowly stood up coughing up blood before she slowly breathed seeing the swords hurtling towards her. Ari knew she was holding back a bit and she had to exert herself to continue forward though she had to wonder, how so? She remained tranquil as Ari summoned as shield composed of earth that guarded her from the oncoming attack though it only lasted for a good while until it began too much and a few swords pierced through slicing through Ari causing tremendous pain. She did not let it get to her as she had a sheer amount of resilience to her. Tapping into her magic power, a rumble occurred as she unleashed some of her mana while summoning another snake made of earth but it slithered its way underground until it found Leonidas erupting from the ground clamping onto him!

Ari was not done, she unleashed a barrage of earth clusters hurtling at Leonidas while in the clutches of the earth snake that was constricted in its grasp until it's fangs began to slowly pierce his skin. Suddenly, Ari wasted no time as with her remarkable agile speed, she closed in on Leonidas then landed a swift back kick into his head followed by a double fist hammer punch!

The double hammerfist punch from Ari landed with tremendous force however Leonidas unimpressed sensing a lack of power from before. With lightning-quick reflexes, he summoned a sword and swiftly sliced through the massive Earth Snake that had threatened to farther entangle him, reducing it to nothing more than a pile of rubble. Without missing a beat, Leonidas seized the opportunity to counterattack. In an astonishing display of strength and speed, he grabbed Ari's neck and forcefully slammed her into the ground. But Leonidas wasn't finished. In a matter of moments with a surge of strength, Leonidas unleashed a powerful left hook that connected with Ari's form. The impact was thunderous, sending her hurtling out of the arena with incredible force. As her body soared through the air, the audience watched in stunned silence.

In that decisive moment, victory belonged to Leonidas. The arena erupted in a chorus of cheers and applause as the spectators celebrated Leonidas's hard-fought triumph. "I did it," Leonidas said, a small, satisfied smile forming on his face as the adrenaline from the battle began to flow and ebb away, leaving behind the searing pain of his injuries. "Damn, this really hurts," he muttered, his voice strained by the discomfort. Soon, Magnus and Antoni made their way down from the stands to join him. With their support, Leonidas began to rise from the battleground, his battered body showing the effects of the battle.

"Don't worry about your injuries. We have the best healing mages in the Kingdom here; you'll be all good for your next battle," Antoni assured him, offering a reassuring hand to help Leonidas up. "Good job, kid," Magnus added with a nod of approval, both of them recognizing the remarkable feat Leonidas had accomplished in winning such a challenging match.

"AND THE WINNER IS LEONIDAS" The Announcer finally yelled, as the crowd cheered and cheered.

A young boy with dirty blonde hair, or, Leon, watches from the sidelines, eyes sparkling. "...That was amazing." He murmured, showing very little emotion aside from that. He watched people held Leonidas's hand up. "..." He blinks, clapping for the victor.

### Adem Karanlik vs Jamila Nour

Appearing in from the entrance of the arena was an alluring young woman with short blonde hair with radiant green eyes who flashed a soft smile as she made her way to the arena. The young woman was Jamila Nour, who is of the same guild as Ari Haw. The audience was in awe seeing her make her appearance seeing the last battle against Ari and Leonidas, she was bold enough for who her competitor is as her gentle smile turned into a confident smirk.

Entering the other side of the arena Adem Karanlik walked towards the edge of the arena his gruff exterior and muscles on display. "Let's get this over with I've got a bet to win" he sighed to himself wanting this to be over. Letting his magic power out the arena was filled with a sense of unnatural dread which then solidified around him.

"You and I both, I got somewhere to be later," Jamila retorted as she unleashed her magic power that filled the arena with an unsettling aura that was both tranquil but haunting.

"Grrrr." With a deep growl Rebecca sat down and looked down at Jamila with eyes of detest. "That stupid bitch better get her ass handed to her. You hear that Adem you worthless soldier! Win! Win damn it! Best that smug blonde bitch!"

"Haaaaaah that young lady is as foul as ever isn't she?" Eli spoke outloud from his seating in a private showing room. "To think you'd come all the way over here to watch this, my my. That acron looking gem is as ugly as ever old friend."

"Tch!" A mysterious man with red hair and a black cloak said as he looked down at the battlegrounds intently. He watched the fight commencing.

"Oh? Gonna ignore me now?"

"I'd prefer it if you wouldn't call me that." He spoke as looked back at Eli. "Saying something like that is really annoying, you're gonna make people think we're the same age."

"Ahh to be young again, Hahahahahaha!" He laughed loudly and slammed his opened palm against the man's back. "So, I'm glad to see that sleeve I made for your grimoire. Made it easier to get in huh? Heh heh." Eli unlike his usual attitude is showing a much more neutral and friendlier side, something he typically reserves for Rebecca.

"This will be an interesting fight old man. But Rebecca did put on quite a show. I think she'll probably be the one to take it."

"**Black Body Djinn**" Adem announced as his body began to change turning into Black Steel as he rushed forward to deliver the beginning punch of the fight.

"Heh," Jamila chuckled under her breath as she summoned a spatial portal before her causing Adem's fist to phase through it only for a second one to appear behind him, connecting it and aiming towards the back of his head.

"Well guess I was right" Adem smirked reaching his arm back from the punch and grabbing hold of the portal as it began to turn black and corrupt with his grasp. Aiming his other arm Adem aimed another punch squarely at Jamila's stomach using the closed distance to his advantage.

"Too slow," Jamila muttered under her breath as she summoned another spatial portal before her causing Adem's fist to phase through the portal connecting a second portal appearing behind his back where his fist aimed for his spine.

"Oh no I've run out of options what am I going to do" Adem grinned sarcastically as he pulled his other arm back to grab hold of the new portal as his grip began to darken and corrupt the portal as he had done before.

With her unmatched speed, Jamila appeared behind Adem as a confident smirk formed on her face. "**Space Blade**," Jamila spoke as she summoned a small thin portal then proceeded to launch it at Adem at a blinding swift accuracy making it unlikely to dodge.

"I don't often get to test what happens when the same spatial magic interacts guess we'll find out together" Adem said as he moved the now corrupted portal in one of his hands to intercept the attack with the other corrupted portal appearing behind Jamilla as it passed into the portal and appeared out the other side behind Jamilla at the same unstoppable speed as before it's accuracy undiminished as it sped towards Jamila's Back.

Using her immense Magic sensing, Jamila managed to dodge the attack to the side allowing the attack to miss her as she watched it teleport one of the audience members somewhere else. "Pity, was hoping it would've been you," Jamila sighed, "very well." Just then, Jamila raised her hands just near her body as a gentle expression graced upon her face.

"**Void Mirror**," Jamila spoke in a rather dark tone as space began to collapse around her and Adem, making the area around them appear to have the resemblance of a room with abundant mirrors. Dozens of them danced before Adem as they all reflected Jamila's appearance as the echoes of her giggles could only be heard.

"Jokes on you darling I got no interest in mind games" Adem said the display in front of him only seeming to bore. Using the immense strength his reinforcement form granted him Adem sent a devastating barrage of punches into each of the mirrors with each punch shattering the copies In front of him and causing a tinge of corruption to infect everything he touched.

Seeing Adem crushing the mirrors one by one, this was all going according to plan as she was watching from a distance. Seeing how he continued to corrupt her magic, she noticed there was something that caught her eye that sparked a lightbulb moment in her mind, which caused a confident smirk to curl on her face once more. Jamila unleashed her immense magic power countering his magic canceling it out as she unleashed her next attack Adem still remaining unseen. "**Fracturing**," Jamila spoke as the area around Adem began to break into pieces of space within. He was slowly getting pulled in as the pieces of space was shredding him from the inside out.

Feeling the pain of the shattering mirrors entering his stomach Adem allowed his plan to come into action. A corrupted portal appear behind Jamila "**Black Steel Djinn Roar**" Adem shouted launched the corrupted spatial magic which Jamilla had entered his body with the corrupted offensive spatial magic create an astoundingly powerful attack which unstoppably launched towards Jamilla. "Don't you get it lady I'm a freak any magic my black steel touches is corrupted and bends to my will" Adem boasted as Jamilla's own magic hit her.

Before the attack had a chance to hit her, Jamila smirked as a portal instantaneously appeared absorbing the attack then another portal appeared behind Adem connecting the attack towards him! "Yes, though you failed to realize one initial flaw to your magic," Jamila pointed out, "yours takes time to corrupt ones magic to use it against someone, as for myself-" there was a brief pause as her smirk turned into an ominous smile, "my magic works in an instant."

"Good to know" Adem smirked falling back into the portal behind him as the corrupted spatial magic touched his body and moved to his hand. Appearing through the pillar Jamilla had created Adem pulled his magic and the corrupted spatial magic into his clenched fist as he landed a devastating right hook to Jamilla with an explosion of spatial magic as his punch made contact sending shockwaves through the arena.

Fortunately, Jamila managed to block the attack just mere seconds before it was able to connect, though this was going according to plan. She blocked Adem's right hook using her hand as she summoned a portal only for a second one to appear before him delivering the right hook onto him. The attack alone caused the spectators to laugh from the humiliating reversal attack that Jamila was able to pull just at the nick of time. From the attack alone, not much damage was taken as she stood her ground due to her durability. "**Condense**," Jamila spoke as the space surrounding them began to solidify around the arena where Adem made the attack, this time, his body movement became sluggish and felt as if three ton weights were tied down to his body.

"Don't bother trying to use your Black Steel Magic on me," Jamila stated before summoning another portal next to her, "you should know by now your magic can only corrupt its base magic," Jamila stated before she summoned another portal then using her Reinforcement Magic, Jamila thrusted her leg in as a second portal appeared behind Adem as she landed a roundhouse kick to the back of his head! But Jamila wasn't finished. After a roundhouse kick, she forced her fist into the portal, delivering a hammerfist onto his head knocking him to the ground giving Adem no time to react!

Landing on the ground Adem got up as if nothing happened "Slippery like a slug and hit like one too didn't even leave a dint". "**Black Steel Gauntlet**" Adem said as his arm transformed into a mighty gauntlet bursting with reinforcement magic as he launched up at Jamilla and landed an devastating upper cut with a massive shockwave erupting upon contact.

Recovering from the uppercut Adem landed on her, Jamila summoned a portal appearing behind her as a second portal appeared behind Adem with Jamila's face decorated with a calm but ominous glare before she landed a front kick to his back. "**Void Horizon**," Jamila spoke as the area around them began to warp as Jamila began to appear further away from Adem casting the illusion she was a few miles away from him.

"Illusions are pretty useless when their not believable" Adem smirked as Jamilla's kick made contact with his back beginning to dent his Black Steel body. "let's make that illusion reality" he said as he grabbed hold of her leg throwing her in the direction of her illusion.

This was all going according to Jamila's plan as a confident smirk grew on her face. Seeing she was hurtling towards the exit of the arena, Jamila immediately summoned a portal behind her with another one in front of Adem. She appeared behind him as another portal appeared as she tackled Adem into the portal swapping places with him. Now, where Adem stood, he was now in her place out of the arena.

"What's the odds" asked quietly into a communication device hidden in his ear. "Their still three to one in favor of you winning" a voice came through "That's a tidy profit then" Adem smirked as he let himself fall out of the Arena.

### Catrina Cavalrain vs Tynged Perun

While the last duel was a spectacle, everything has to come to a end. Yet, when something ends something else has to start. With the audiences attention reeling from their last sight, the entrance for the next two competitors were eerily slow. The first to break the ice was Tynged Perun, a woman to sparked her introduction with a explosion. One that started as a arrowhead of smoke trailing from the tunnel and bursting into a massive explosion. From that, Tynged leaped out of the smoke and slid across the ground with her sword, Fate, in pursuit. The extravagant and theatrical Tynged caught the crowds attention for what felt like her first but last time. Tynged's short pearl white hair waved in the wind, as her scarlet red dress shined and her shiny gold rose thorne crown gleamed from the sun. the audience were trapped and couldn't turn away from the battle before.

"And to think I'd have time for paperwork today," Tynged remarked.

On the other the other side of the arena, roaring music began playing, building suspense for the arrival of Tynged's opponent as smoke slowly emerged from the entrance, covering it in thick cloud, almost impossible to see through. The suspense kept the audience on the edge of their seat as they awaited for the arrival of a fan favorite Shining General with baited breath. Light stones shining spot lights over the cloud of smoke as the beat of the music drastically increased, preparing for their grand entrance. Once the beat of the music finally cease, more spot lights shinned in the entrance as an explosion of fireworks shot out in rows starting from the entrance leading all the way to arena leaving a trail in between them, the cast of the fireworks resulted in the cloud of smoke dissipating revealing Tynged's challenger. As the crowd jumped up from their seat in a roaring cheer of excited before slowly dying down and mumbled to each other in confustion as the Shining General never emerged from the arena entrance.

The announcer quickly hopped onto his mic that broadcast to the arena. "Uhh our apologies ladies and gentlemen, we uhh appear to be having slight a issue. We ask that you please remain seated while we attempt to fix it." He announced to the audience "No refunds allowed" He quickly said before cutting off

Within the building of the stadium, a young woman is running through the halls. "Damn it, damn it, damn it! I'm so late! Ah man i bet they already did my dramatic entrance performance. Gahhh it took me an entire day to plan that out!" She says to herself in a fit of rage while running while having two kabob's sticking out of her mouth.

"Oh dear Cathy, I warned you we it was a bad idea to stop by that food stand for a snack break over an hour ago. Your indecisiveness cost us the first round into the tournament and possibly even your own match M'lady." Her sword on her back spoke to her.

"But they have so many amazing options i wanted to try!" She whinded as she ran

"Oh my dear, you are too precious for this world." Her sword spoke again

As she ran, munching down her kabob's at the same time, dashing past, leaping over and dodging all the pedestrians standing in her way. As she finally made her way close to the arena, she realized it would be faster to come in through the audience seats then to run all the way down to the contestants floor and came in crying out to the arena that she has finally arrived as she ran by the audiences sitting their seats "Hey! Hey wait im here! Dont disqualify me yet! I'm here! Please wait!" She cried out. The audience applauding at her arrival. In her haste to get to her position, she clumsily slipped over one of the audiences littered snack supplies and triped over, falling down the stairs and over the railing.

Before she could fall into the water, Catrina kicked off the wall launching herself over to the arena. Quickly drawing her sword, using the momentum of her spin to regain her balance as she landed on her feet onto the arena, sheathing her sword once she finally settled. "phew, made it." She said as she look over towards Tynged, grinning to her. "Sorry for the tardiness, you wouldnt believe the line." She confidently said to her.

Tynged smiled, "Dont worry Catrina, I'll forgive you this time. Just do better next time." Tynged was forgiving, yet took a deep breath before adressing the announcer. "I will not hold a penalty over Catrina. I hope she isn't late so she wont be noticed for this again, but who knows. Now Nick, are we ready to start?" Tynged had a harmless, yet stern speech on her tongue.

"Y-yes ma'am! start whenever you wish, ladies."

Tynged turned back to Catrina, knowing that her sword is unbreakable, Tynged needed a better strategy than simple swordplay. During this time, she just adjusted her clothing, she was able to part her skirt for more movement and loosened her corset, she was able to unwrap her sword from its cloth, which she had put on and hadn't taken off for almost 5 years to the day. Tynged's sword was majestic, the name was Fate. Tynged was a enforcer of laws, the Police for the kingdom, but she wavered her hand on cruel judgment. While she was keen for the unusual and weird, she detested the cruel and pointless. Tynged destressed as her sword shined in the sunlight, the blade's edge was separated from the back of the blade by a single red strip, this strip reared to the a circle guard, which separated the blade's head from the main handle. Despite that, it shined like gold while carrying the body of stainless iron.

"Shall we begin?" Tynged asked.

Catrina tilted her head to crack her neck and again to the other side. "Bring it on." She said conidently, placing her hand on the hilt of her sword.

Tynged raised her sword over her head, in a simple downward slash type of attack, but she bolted forward in a explosion by her feet. Instead of a slash attack, it was a lunge, aimed to 'seemingly' crush Catrina in one blow. How basic.

Without even removing her Ishtar from her sheath, Catrina extended it out from its resting spot and waved it around in order to use it to diflect Tynged's attack with its hilt in order to get between her and sword. Clutching fist the same hand that held her sword and extended her punch towards her opponent.

Creating a solid case around herself, Tynged was able to create a basic shield of carbon around her body and cause a explosion point blank in front of Catrina. This allowed Tynged to leap back and let the smoke settle, waiting for a response.

A shift amidst the cloud of dust, Catrina leaped out and charged towards Tynged holding her arms out with her palms open. With her incredible speed, she is capable of closing the distance in mere moments.

Tynged was able to spark circles around her wrists. Like fireworks they moved around her arms, giving Tynged enough speed to summon a black shield of solid carbon fibbers. Tynged used her shield to block one hand and strike Catrina's other hand with her sword.

Before her hands collided with wither of Tynged's carbon weapons, Catrina swung her hands down and slammed them onto the stone floor and pushed herself off the ground into the air above Tynged. With her attack now focused on the wrong direction, Catrina finally unsheathed her sword, Ishtar, faced it upside and placed her hand on the base of the hilt to push the sword down to thrust the sword to her from above.

Tynged used carbon magic at her feet, as she dropped the shield, it swiftly threw itself back behind Tynged's feet and Tynged was able to leap forward and dodge the attack by a explosion she was immune to. Tynged spun around and faced Catrina with little notion, all before summoning her Grimoire to her side, with a long snake like strain of Carbon dust. This dust formed into dozens of small knives as Tynged lowered her sword, aiming the tip of the blade to the ground and edge upward.

"**Carbon Magic: Gambler's Sticks**" Dozens of small short-swords of hardened carbon formed right behind Tynged, independently spinning around before stopping and preparing for a assault.

Due to her target moving out of the way, Catrina’s sword was pierced into the ground. Letting go of her sword, leaving it stuck into the ground and stepped in front of it. "Alright, exercises over. Now its time we go all out. Got that Ishtar?" She said to herself loudly enough for Tynged to hear.

"Ohohoho! Your victory is all but assured Cathy" Her sword replied.

Catrina started walking forward to Tynged cracking her knuckles. "You ready Tynged? Time for Round 2." She then leaped off the ground to towards Tynged for another attack.

"Round two? I thought we just started..." Tynged stated, with a sly smile. Tynged was able to send a array of dozens of small black daggers at Catrina. Expecting her to deflect them or repell them away.

Tynged leaped forward with a very tunneled move, "**Carbon Magic: Skyrocket Crackle!**" Tynged's sword, boots, and elbows were propelled by carbon explosives similar to a firework but stronger in power. It was a massive sideways swipe of her sword.

Catrina ducked backwards to the ground during her leap to avoid the swipe of her sword, her back skinning across the stone tiles and get under her to palm strike to the chest with her hands.

Tynged moved her hand and summoned a disk spinning disk of carbon so that Catrina's palm can be diverted and disorientate her, in this time Tynged was able to swing the pummel of her blade to Catrina's face for another backswing attack at such close range.

Catrina instead changes her hands and catches the carbon disk and leaped in the direction of her slide from away from the attack of her sword, suffering from a minor slash wound to the face and wipes away the blood without looking away from Tynged. While staring each other down after that encounter, Tynged noticed a the change in the stadium ground as it begun to shake and stopping suddenly. After a brief moment the shaking happened again before suddenly stopping once again until it shook a moment later. Each time in a rythmic pattern as it continued. As wave after wave of shaking continued emanating from her sword stuck in the ground behind Tynged.

Tynged's blade started to smoke with carbon dust filling the air in hundreds of thin layers. Tynged didn't know what was happening, and quite frankly didn't want to find out. Her eyes traced left and right before she lowered to touch the ground with her hands.

The ground continued shaking repeatedly in the rythmic patern as Catrina stood there with her hands on her hips grining. The sensation of Tynged's hands felt as if the very stone of the arena itself is pulsating. Before she could even realize it, the stadium ground began shake much more vigorously into an actual earthquake, the waves of the water surrounding the arena created from the shaking splashes up to the audience seats and the stadium begun rise up above the audience of the lower levels and continue its rise. The flat surface of the arena began to mold into a slightly more rounded surface and began to tilt over. Catrina's grimoire levitated before her and opened up from the middle and filp over to a certain page. "Get ready Tynged, we're taking this fight to a whole new level!" She shouted to her amongst the violent shankings. "**Life Magic**!" As the stadium tilted over a large face appeared out of the water behind Catrina, quickly followed by arms on both sides of them pushing against the floor on the bottom of the water. It was then it became clear the stadium has become a stone giant managing to stand itself up and what they are standing on that was once the arena is now the giants stomach. "**Towering Gorem**!"

"HRAUUUUUUHHHHHHHHH!!" It shouted out as it finally stood all the way up, unleashing its battle cry.

With it standing all the way up Tynged and Catrina lost their balance, falling into the water until catrina lands onto her sword ishtar that remained implanted into the stone, using it as her foot hold to keep her from falling.

"Well done M'lady, I doubt she has any way of comparing to your greatness, i doubt she can even save herself like you did." Ishtar praised her.

Catrina didn't respond and watched to see what happens next.

Tynged reached out like a damsel in distress as she fell, the haze of carbon magic in the air surrounded itself behind Tynged before clumping together before she hit the water. Only a second before, the carbon exploded violently. Out of all the mist, Tynged standing upon her sword by the edge of what was left of the arena. Tynged started floating up into the air, her accent became accelerated as she grew wings and armor claded her body.

"**Carbon Magic: Battle Dress - Falkor, the Mad Black Dragon!**" Tynged shouts, with her sword being covered in flames and carbon fiber claws grew as gauntlets around her arms. Tynged simply floated into the air and aimed her sword towards Catrina and her Giant. "This is one amusing show, a Dragon againts a Giant and a warrior. Who's the villain, but then again... who's the hero?"

Catrina was became speechless, her mouth agap as she watched her fly up. "Oh common! You can fly? How does that even work?" She comically complained.

"Lets knock her back down where she belongs. Show her why your superior." Ishtar suggested.

Tynged adjusted her blade, rushing forward to Catrina as she activated "**Carbon Magic: Skyrocket Crackle**!" Rapidly spinning with great force to slice into Catrina or the golemn behind her. Either way, she's approaching rapidly.

### Double Blonde

There were loud stomps and clamps filling in the coliseum, sending a rumble through the atmosphere of the arena. The crowd, the entire audience were in full uproar as they cheered for their champion approaching the platform. The liveliness of the crowd only grew as their champion raised their fist into the air and their thunderously loud roars only grew all the more intense.

"So, you don't mind if I lend her this right? I know I made it at your request but she does need a weapon and according to Sabik I'm supposed to supply her with something to fight with. Unlike that kid, I can't just pick some item up and give it powers, some of us actually need to work at what we do." Eli comments as he looks down at the long brown case on his lap.

"Do what you need to do, but if she breaks that sword because of his gorilla like strength, you're giving me a full refund and making me a new blade." The man sitting next to Eli replied in a focused time as his eyes remained placed on the mage in the fighting platform.

"Alright!" Rebecca yelled as she slammed her bare fist to the floor and loudly changed as her eyes were filled with excitement for what's to come. "Bring that dumb blonde bitch out here! It's go time!"

Making her entrance into the arena was Jamila Nour however she had a distasteful expression on her face looking towards Rebecca with slight annoyance. "Ugh, yes Becky, the world can hear you, you don't have to shout the arena down," Jamila remarked rolling her eyes a bit.

"These people love this!" Rebecca replied as she roared even louder! "Cause they know I've been wanting this fight for a while now!"

Jamila winced a bit in discomfort from Rebecca's thunderous yelling as she shook her head sighing to herself. "Would say so," Jamila agreed, "though, I'm eager to see the outcome of this fight myself."

"Heh, I'll give you a handicap, I won't even summon my weapons until the match actually starts."

A mocking smirk painted across Jamila's face as she glanced up at Rebecca with her arms crossed. "Ladies first," Jamila smirked cynically.

"Sighs\* here I was trying to be nice," Rebecca sighed as she slammed her fist to the floor and a large platinum white gauntlet covered her arms! "Let's do this!" She yelled as she lifted up a chunk of the floor below her and tossed it at Jamila! Leaping behind it and using it as coverage as she aimed herself at Jamila."

Jamila tilted her head to the side as she took a step to the side dodging the chunk of floor aiming at her. "Oops, I slipped," Jamila smirked as she glanced over at Rebecca before aiming her hand towards her neck.

"Heh, guess ya did." Rebecca replied as she landed on the ground and reached for his grimoire. "To me, Dragon Talons." She mumbled as five large and imposing weapons spawned out, using her spatial magic to make them appear and surround Jamila. "Make your next move carefully ya Bimbo."

Jamila's facial expression remained unmoved until she unveiled something underneath her cloak that was unseen from Rebecca's eyes. A flashback appeared in her mind about what she was given by Sabik as she knelt down in his presence.

"Jamila, your match was a spectacle to watch, your precise, strategic, and your usage of magic is amazing to watch, I have a request for you, " Sabik said, pulling out a black leather case about the size of his arm. "You see, Eli and I have a little bet going on. We want to see how our inventions compare to each other, I believe this enchanted gauntlet of mine can outdo any of Eli's inventions but it requires a wielder."

Back to the present, Jamila placed the gauntlet onto her right hand as a smirk formed on her face as she revealed the gauntlet aiming it at Rebecca's face. "Boom bitch," Jamila smirked, then using the gauntlet combined with her Enhancement Magic, she began to absorb Rebecca's mana as she began to strengthen. She wasn't done just yet, as Jamila unleashed two blades of light purple but were much larger than from her last battle against Adem. "**Spatial Blades**!" Jamila spoke as she lunged both blades at Rebecca at hurtling blinding speed!

"Heh," Rebecca smirked as she drew the the large blue crystal like blade to her hand and swung it. "Rainbow Cloud!:Cloud Eater!" The blade then released rainbow colored blade like projectile, equal in size of both of the attacks Jamila sent, with each attack canceling each other out.

"See I can't make myself teleport with my magic, I can't make magic pullets, I'm really no good. But that's why this sword was a good weapon. "**Rainbow Cloud**" is a magic weapon that can manifest anyone's own magic attribute into slash attacks." Rebecca explained as she cracked her neck. "Come on now Jamila, was that punch supposed to hurt? Sure ya got me clean in the jaw but be serious, is that the strength that glove gave you? Ha!"

"I'm just warming up to be honest," Jamila smirked, "but you done talking smack about how boring your magic is or are you going to take this match seriously?"

"Haaaaah, fine, I'll stop." Rebecca complained as she snapped her fingers and her bulky armor and weapons vanished. "You want me to take this a bit more serious huh?" She asked as she walked forward, forcing the blade to vanish and appear before Eli again. "Fine, I'll take ya a bit more serious." She then smirked evilly as a pair of gauntlets and boots manifested. "Boss, ya lost the bet, cause I'm gonna tear this bitch apart with my own weapon instead." She confidently chimed as she slammed her fists together and an aura began to envelop her and shape into wings.

"**Valkyrie Release: Restraint 2**" as she finished speak she took off running, with a single step she almost instantaneously cut her way through the entire area! The back draft and force behind her step caused a whipping sound to ring through the entire stadium, momentarily deafening the audience!

"**Strike**" she mumbled as the image of her fist as quickly approaching her unguarded for!

"Gotcha," Jamila smirked as she waved her hand before the image of the incoming fist, "Void Horizon!" Before long, she began to appear further away from Rebecca as she looked on ahead with the same haunting smirk on her face.

"Heh not bad!" Rebecca commented as her eyes widened and swung her fist out at Jamila! "*Only an idiot would depend on their vision!*" she thought to herself, slamming her fist into Jamila's face! Using her magic sensing ability rather than just her eyesight, Rebecca could sense where the young mage was without allowing her eyes to fool her! Unlike the other participants, Rebecca has seen and has been through countless battles and training throughout the years of Diamond kingdom's reign. "Boom" she whispered to herself as a clicking sound shot out, a huge blast of pure magic power shot out directly into her face!

"Heh, and like that, you've triggered my trap," Jamila smirked as she used the gauntlet that was on her arm to absorb the impact using her magic then within an instant she opened her palm towards Rebecca's face. "Bye bitch." Suddenly, a second portal appeared behind her as the same attack launched behind Rebecca!

"That's it!" Rebecca yelled as she took the brunt of her own attack and continued, swinging another brutally powerful attack! Twisting her hips the attack had the weight of her body behind it with even more strength than the last!

"Keep it going," Jamila smirked as she opened another portal absorbing the attack before having it appear behind her once more. Though, she was not through, Jamila summoned blades to appear before her aiming at Rebecca! "Space Blades!" Jamila shouted as she hurtled them directly at Rebecca at blinding speed!

"Heh," Rebecca took the brunt of her own attack as her heart began to race and vanished before the blades could reach her, appearing behind Jamila and taking a breath. "I may not wear the whole armor but I'll release it. Though, this is gonna be such an annoying experience." Rebecca complained to herself as two braces fell off of the guantlets and a wild gust was released around herself. "Release Restraint:Level One" suddenly her skin went from creamy soft white to a burning red as the blood in her body began to boil and steam began to emit from her body. The wings from earlier began to grow larger as she prepared herself.

"I'm so going to get an earful for this one," Rebecca complained again before launching herself. A loud clapping sound, like full blown artillery exploding could be heard as she launched herself. The sheer power behind her take off alone was dramatically greater than earlier. She appeared before Jamila as he fist was cocked back and ready to strike.