Chapter 35: Magic Tournament 2
The rules of the tournament were pretty straight forward: Each team having a total of four players, belonging to different awakened classes and ranks. The match takes place on an elevated platform above the huge pit of sand in the arena.
Players use controlled, non-lethal abilities to hit opponents with projectiles aiming to knock them off the platform or even engage in one on one malee combat in aim to knock the opposition’s player off the platform to the sand below.
Players are eliminated if they fall off the the platform and into the sand. A team wins a round by knocking all opponents out or by holding the advantage when time runs out.
If the score is tied after regulation, a one on one sudden death duel decides the winner. Lethal attacks are strictly forbidden and foul play such as outside interference are being penalized.
"Please tell me that is not a real sword you have on you there... Zed." I said to the new arrival as the platform we stood on started to rise slowly.
Zed flashed me a sly grin first before speaking, "Your friend is a Hunter class, and an archer... doesn’t he use arrows?"
"They’re dull tipped and non-lethal," I responded almost immediately.
"Then I am using a dull blade and its non-lethal as well, I’m a second year... I know the rules of the game really well..."
I nodded shortly then stiffened my stance to get ready for the match. I have never been in a battle with a human in a controlled environment with rules governing it. If I could hold my own against Balthazar, I sure as hell could carry my team to victory.
The platform reached its peak and both teams were ready to clash. In this game, both teams sacrificed a fighting individual for a Healer who is there to rejuvenate and buff their stamina. So it would be logical to conclude that if the opposition team wanted to increase their odds of winning, they would go after the Healer to take them out first.
Valeria, she has to be protected at all cost. Although she was strong enough to hold her own in combat, a Healer is no where near the combat abilities and skills of a Hunter class per say.
Still, I had the power to knock every single player off the stage in one single sweep, but that would make my teammates feel small and if I let my Arcane pets fight all my battles, my skill and swordsmanship will eventually grow rusty.
A large horn blared into the air, signalling the beginning of the match and all eight players faced off against each other in a stare down.
"Like I said earlier, so called ’prince of Cindralock’ you and your team are going down...we don’t want to waste any Arcane energy on you small fry" Shawn Ferrell, said with a mean expression. She proceeded to snatch the golden head piece she had stuck in her hair as a piece of ornament and she smashed it with her bare hands.
A show of intimidation.
I cringed, not at her actions, but at the loss of such a beautiful piece of ornament that would have been worth a lot of Urns... I could really use that money.
"Don’t get too cocky, Shawn." I said with a slight smile. "My team and I intend to walk of this platform with the victory and we are not giving you guys any chance to even knock anyone of us over..."
Shawn was thrown aback by my words.
"That being said... although I am not going to use the full extent of my talent here today, I wouldn’t dare take you guys for granted..."
I raised my hands to my chest and performed a swift hand sign specific to one of my Arcane pets.
"Let us begin... shall we."
"Naga..."
Ding!
~You have summoned your Arcane Pet >Naga<~
~Level: Grade Three [Intermediate]~
~Arcane Reserves: 3499/3500~
~3498/3500~
...
The result was fast and eye catching, the loud noise from the audience in the stands suddenly died down to a pulp as Naga my Arcane pet emerged from a purple and black clouded portal behind I and my teammates. The snake was massive, as if it had increased in size since the last time I summoned it.
After it finished materializing, it instantly wriggled around Valeria slowly and formed a protective cocoon around her only leaving her face visible she could perform her healing abilities.
This was how we planned it during our extensive training, protect the Healer and take out the rest. With the Healer, one person could wipe out the opposition team if they were diligent enough.
Naga’s presence caused a deafening silence to ripple through out the arena, as everyone watched in awe.
"Did he just summon an Arcane Pet?" I heard someone from the crowd.
"Yes, it just came out of that portal, how is that possible?"
"I thought pets just kinda exists already and they’re not summon able! How the hell did he even do that? Is he a Mage class or Pet tamer?!"
"Is that Mage class or Pet tamer?"
"What the hell just happened? Did the Prince of Cindralock just summon a pet?"
The whispers were deafening, so was the shock on my teams opponents faces.
"What kind of magic is this? How can you summon a pet? What class are you?" she said with an angry expression as she whipped out a sturdy bow staff to show off her Hunter class.
"You don’t have anything to worry about when it comes to the great serpent, its merely for protection... not for attack. You can’t touch our Healer... now close your mouth and come at us!" I said, inviting them to battle.
Zed drew his prop sword and Jet stretched his bow back, ready to fire. The crowd snapped out of their awe and roared in cheers and excitement as Shawn attacked first, lashing her strong bow staff at me, while the other members of her team engaged jet and zed.
No one dared go close to Naga in an attempt to attack Valeria, because of the fear of the unknown.
After the first few clashes of weapons, I felt a surge of energy ripple through me as Valeria cast a spell to buff our stamina and endurance. This is it, the plan was working and we are definitely going to win.