The Tournament

We spend nearly an hour and a half eating. I finish eating early on, but I spend the rest of the time talking. I talk with the girls for a while before other people join us. They all ask about my Guild and about my magic. They've all heard that I can use multiple Schools. So they're very curious about it. At twelve-thirty on the dot, Asami starts ringing the bell again.

"I hope you've all enjoyed the food. As I mentioned earlier, it's time to start the tournament! If you're participating or want to spar afterward, go to the changing rooms and get changed into your gear!" Asami says, nearly shouting from the doorway. We all start leaving the rooms. I go straight to the arena, since I can swap to my armor.

"Should I just go and wait on the arena floor until it's time to start?" I ask Asami as we get to the arena.

"No, go up into the stands. I'll be using this device to call out the names of who's fighting." Asami says while holding up a microphone. It has a blue gem on the bottom of it. "Since no one, aside from you and Bergeth, knows who or when they'll be fighting. I wanted to call them off. I'll also be acting as the referee. But don't worry, I'll be using my Greater Twin-Tailed Wolf Soul and Minotaur Soul. I'll be fine even if you and Bergeth go all out." Asami replies with a smile. I follow her to the stands and we wait for everyone to arrive. Once they have, she stands on the stone railing between the stands and the arena. She summons her Wolf Soul beneath her in the arena. It grows one of its two tails and lifts her up. It places her on its back before walking to the center of the arena. Everyone notices her and stops talking to listen. "It's now time to start the first match! As those of you who are participating are aware. I drew names to figure out who's facing who." Asami says before pausing to look at a piece of paper in her hands. Her voice seems to echo off the air, filling the entire arena like there are a bunch of speakers around. "So the first match will be between Eric, the Steele Wolves Guild Master, and Bergeth, the ancient war wolf!" Asami says while pointing to me then Bergeth. I get out of my seat as Bergeth jumps into the arena. I see he's still wearing the white kimono and has no weapon.

"Break a leg!" Liz shouts to me as I take out my wings. I use them to jump to the center of the arena.

"The rules are as follows. First, no killing or severely injuring. We have a very talented healer ready, so don't hold back. But don't go too far either. Second, no leaving the arena. You can go in the air, but if you fly too close to the audience, or if you leave the arena. You'll lose automatically! Finally, the match only ends when one of you gives up or passes out. Are you both ready?" Asami asks, still using the microphone. While she was talking, I Observe Bergeth.

Bergeth Lvl 130, Class: Ancient Beast, Title: War Wolf. RP: 198, Hearts: 3, Weak: None

HP: 13000/13000 MP: 7500/7500

"I've been ready!" Bergeth says while raising his hands. His fingers turn into claws and his arms get covered in white fur. His feet and legs follow suit and I sense him cast Ancient Beast Strength. I nod and take out my boots, claws, horns, and cast Ancient Beast Strength. I make my weapons disappear, by swapping only those back to their empty Secondary Equipment slots.

"Then start!" She shouts, not doing any countdown or anything. Her Wolf jumps back and onto the stands. Neither Bergeth nor I move for a few seconds. He lunges for me swinging a fist for my head. I dodge to my right, causing his fist to pass by an inch from my head. I swing my own fist for his chin from underneath. He steps back before throwing a kick at my head. I can't dodge so I raise my left arm to block.

-1,216 Dmg

I barely manage to block it, his strength is unreal. He has the same strength Ayashi had during our fight. That said, his magic is nothing compared to hers. I think before jumping back. We each cast Ancient Beast Slash and send them at each other. They collide in the air, destroying one another. Even though they both destroyed each other, I could sense his had more power than mine. I cast Flame Kings Sword on my Dark Boots and Dark Claws. At the same time, I cast Annihilation Energy, to let them cut through his Slashes. The result is that my boots and claws get enveloped in a pitch-black flame. Bergeht smiles seeing this and he rushes me. I cast Lightning Step, and appear right in front of him. He gets taken aback, so I throw a punch for his chest. He tries to block, but can't make it in time. He jumps back as soon as he can though, so I miss my next punch.

-2,780 Dmg

"That's impressive Eric. You've gotten stronger." Bergeth says while gently rubbing his chest. He starts running toward me. He moves fast and gets in close. He throws a punch at my head again. I dodge and throw one at his chest again. He jumps over it and we enter a standstill. Neither of us can land a hit for a while. We keep dodging one another. We both know that we'll take damage even if we block, so we focus on dodging. Bergeth is the first to break this, as he lands a kick on my head.

-2,124 Dmg

I start to fall to my left and he jump up. He pulls back his hand to throw another punch at my head. I cast Annihilation Strike on my right leg, or more accurately my Dark Boot. I put my weight on my left leg and kick Begerth in his side. Since he jumped, he couldn't dodge in the air.

-6,489 Dmg

I feel something crack from my kick. Bergeth falls to the ground a few feet away. He starts coughing as Asami jumps down from the stands. She's on her Wolf and runs over to us.

"Bergeth, can you keep going?" She asks as Bergeth slowly gets up.

"No, he broke... something. I'm still new to this body so I don't know what. But I definitely heard a snap." Bergeth replies calmly.

"Then the victor of the first round is Eric! Eric, will you be continuing to the next stage?" Asami asks.

"Yeah, I will." I say causing her to smile. The audience starts to clap as Bergeth goes to where Gaia is waiting. She makes me sit next to her, to heal me up too. I get ready to watch the next match.