Chapter 261 - The Battle Of The Champions (2)
The crowd went wild after seeing the nine figures of the participants from the Azure Scorch Guild. Who would've thought that such a guild would catapult their ranks into the Top 10 in just one year?
Their names were headlines in all the news outlets of the kingdoms, and started to reach over to the smaller neighboring kingdoms. It was glorious to see the boys of the guild walk inside the field of the coliseum. It was the first time in history that something like this had happened.
"I will be changing my bet this year."
"Yeah, Azure Scorch Guild seems promising."
"Go, Azure Scorch Guild!"
…
Aquarius led the group, walking around the coliseum before they were instructed to go up to their balcony, which was under the non-participating members of the Cosmic Arch Guild.
"It is one of the guilds that call this coty home, and they will not falter that easily," Irv announced. "The current top guild, Cosmic Arch Guild!"
Kingsley, Janine, and Susan led the way. The three of them formed a triangle with the boy in the middle, while the others followed the pyramid behind them. Kinglsey had the most enthusiastic face. He was leaping and waving at the crowd, bumping into his teammates from time to time.
"The guild with the loudest music, jolliest members, but a strength to be feared on," Zia announced. "Circus Carnival Guild!"
The clowns paraded around the coliseum in their flat car. It was a car made of wood but all of them were able to fit inside. A female clown was pushing the car around while her teammates were inside.
"Last, but definitely not the least, a guild born with blood of nobility and royalty," Irv smirked. "They also hail from Solaguer, League of Nobles and Royals!"
The energy from the crowd was consistent all throughout the guilds that paraded. The excitement in their faces were evident, showing glimmer in their eyes after seeing their heroes fight each other and show off their power.
"And there have our Champions!" Zia yelled. "We will announce the first Round in a minute, for now, let us let out Champions settle down in their seats."
The crowd went bustling with noises after the announcement of the break. There are only two breaks in each day of the Battle of the Champions, one to settle the Champions in their seats, and two to clean up the aftermath of the first match.
Each day will have a minimum of one Round, and a maximum of two Rounds.
"It's not clear if one Round would be finished under a day," Aquarius said. "If it would exceed three hours, then the supposed to be second Round for that day will be moved to the next"
"What if they all take three hours?" Elliot knit his eyebrows in confusion.
Aquarius sighed and flattened his lips, "Then that means no rest for us."
"Oh," Elliot returned his gaze to the open field of the coliseum. Guards were preparing for Round One and it seemed like they needed large sharp rock formations. They accompanied casters who put up the rock formations, filling the entire field.
"Oh, I bet this is battle royale," Aquarius smirked. "Avoid the strong ones at all cost, slowly eliminate the weaker ones and let the strong defeat each other. When you have an opening, attack them."
"Isn't that like cheating?" Hope pouted. "Why are you teaching us that?"
"You got any better idea?" Aquarius curled his right brow up and crossed his arms. "We have no other choice, at least for you guys. You can't just fight anyone head on."
The others scoffed and watched the Casters finish the rock formations. Irv and Zia flew over the field, seeing it turn into a field for people battle in.
"That is a scary place," Elliot whispered. The rock formations range from five to nine meters tall. Some were cone shaped, some were a standing rectangular shape, and some were formed in a grotesque shape.
"And now that we have our battleground ready…" Irv trailed off, turning to his partner. Both of them chorused the next words, "Here are the participants!"
On the large open air of the coliseum, a giant blue screen covered the skies like a ceiling. The screen was the roster for the first match of the competition.
<< Round One >>
- Battle of the Champions -
[ Rocky Bulat
Sena Jamason
Carridad Pittinger
Janine Pollan
Savannah Caez
Ethan Petr
… ]
For their team, Ethan will be participating. He was confident enough to at least come in top five because earth was his affinity. This battleground was in favor for him.
"All the participants, please come down to the preparation area," Irv instructed.
They all greeted Ethan good luck before sending him downstairs. When he was in their balcony, Ethan was pretty confident about the battle that was about to happen. He said to himself that he was going to enter the top five, or even win this round considering he was at an advantage.
"Why nerves, why?" Ethan bounced up and down as he wated for the metal gates to open in front of him.
" Okay, for the description, you're going to be eliminating each other in this round by putting the others unconscious," Zia said. "And now for some ground rules."
"No injuring the opponent that will cause irreversible damage. All injuries inflicted must be under the capabilities of a Godly Healer," Irv dictated first.
"No one is able to leave the battleground until the round is over. You may dig on the ground, which has a hundred meter artificial soil below, or you can fly as much as you can, but you are not allowed to leave the borders of the battleground," Zia added.
"Lastly, for the Champions on the resting area, you are forbidden to help your Champion," Irv narrowed his eyes. "If proven guilty with rules one and three, the guild's Champions will be disqualified and will not continue further into the competition."
"And they will be kicked out of the Top 75 Guilds of Avancia," Zia said. "The Top 11 guild will replace their position in the rankings, but will not participate in the Battle of the Champions."
"These three rules are applicable to all matches," both the hosts chorused. "May the Almighty rain His blessings upon you and bless you with grace. Let Round One, start!"
The gate finally opened and Ethan's first instinct was to not get out immediately. He needed to feel the air around him, if someone was targeting him right outside.
When it was clear, he ran as fast as he could and placed his hand on one of the rocky formations. He examined the material with his mind, reading its composition.
"Bort?" Ethan whispered to himself and smirked. "Well, don't mind if I do."
It was as if the rock was water, Ethan's hand passed through the large eminence from the ground and pulled out a black spear. "Bort Class Spear: Darius."
Ethan was pretty satisfied with his weapon so it was time to roam. The battleground was large and wide. For 10 people to look for each other here would at least take three hours.
"Sea Lion's Roar!"
Ethan leaped out of the way when a giant outline of a green sea lion blasted off from a woman on top of a rock. The sea lion crashed through the ground and dented rocks with it. It also created a large crater on the ground.
"I found one!" she cheered. "I just love animals. Sloth Scratch!"
This time, it was a large outline of a orange sloth that was coming towards Ethan. The sloth has red eyes and was coming at an incredible speed. Ethan leaped back and raised his spear defensively.
The sloth screeched before charging towards Ethan. The man didn't know how to battle it. It was just an outline of the creature, but he wasn't sure if it has its own mass.
With a spin and a swing of his spear, Ethan managed to slice one of the arms of the sloth. The arm fell off and the sloth was deformed by itself. This had Ethan concluding that the spell must need everything in its outlines connected like a string. If he cuts off of one part of the string, the entire form would lose its figure.
"Wow," the girl clapped. "Well, as expected from the Azure Scorch Guild. Entertain me for a bit, will you?"
"I will," Ethan smiled. "Then I'll defeat you."
"Some confidence you got there," the girl laughed. "You don't know who I am, don't you?"
"Should I?" Ethan curled his brow up, expecting for an answer.
"Well, I am Monique Goodin," she introduced. "I was the best friend of Christina before your people kidnapped her."
"We did not kidnap her," Ethan said. "She went to us because she was threatened."
"Silence!" Monique yelled and dashed forward. She opened her hands and conjured strings on each of the tips of her fingers. Monique leaped above Ethan, rotating her body with the strings below her and tying the boy up. "I know what she's done."
"I told you, we didn't do anything!" Ethan argued.
Monique walked closer to him and leaned in to his ear, "I know.. That's why I'm going to help you save her."