Channel your inner Goku.

I've always wanted to do this!

With a big grin on your face, you mutter, "Kame... hame... ha!"

The attack she used on you must have counted as magical, as your ring was able to absorb it. That's not all the ring does, however. It also stores the magic inside and allows you to unleash it at-will. As soon as you announce the final syllable of your attack, you throw your hands forwards, and activate the power within the ring. Falcon doesn't expect it at all. Just like before, a blinding beam of energy roars across the ring, though this time, it's going the other way.

"Cool!" Falcon shouts.

Cool? Really?

The energy explodes over the girl, and you can barely tell what's happening. You shield your eyes as a shockwave repels back over you. However, it was a direct hit. You look around and you don't see Falcon anywhere.

When the energy disperses, you can see her standing here with both hands out.

Her belt is barely hanging on, and her last dagger isn't present. There are tears throughout her outfit, and her body looks bruised and burnt. However, she didn't budge from her spot. You can also make out a faint wall of energy right in front of her. The wall is cracked, like broken glass, but whatever it is took most of that attack. Her gloves are torn off as well, revealing a marking from the Rite of the Sun on the back of her right hand. It must be how she was able to manipulate energy like that.

The most surprising thing you see is her eyepatch completely blown away. Where her patch once was, her eye is completely white.

Around it is a second mark.

"You--" Seeing another sunheart with two marks is a shock. You're not sure what to say.

"Surprised?" she asks and begins stepping forwards. "I was banished from this place a long time ago. Seems they don't take kindly to threatening others to perform the Rite a second time."

Niki looks down, speechless. As she does, Falcon looks right back up to her with a smile.

"I like fighting you," Falcon says. "I want you to call me by a different name. Lynx. Though soon, our fight will be over, I'd like to do it again sometime. We have a lot to talk about. Unless I'm ordered to kill you of course."

"Ten minutes!" the announcer shouts. "The first match of the tournament that has lasted until the hourglass reached its end. Well, we don't have all day, so let's make things more interesting, shall we? Release the beast!"

"Beast?" you ask.

You turn to see a horrific sight. Coming up towards the arena is a gigantic beast, nearly half the size of the ring itself. It's completely jet-black from top to bottom besides a huge red symbol etched into its back. The creature is a scorpion, though even larger than the ones you saw out in the desert. One claw could early break you in half, and that's if you don't get pushed straight out of the ring.

As it approaches, you and Lynx back up to the far end of the ring.

"The Twilight Scorpion!" the announcer screams into his horn. "This creature normally comes out only at night, and it feeds on giant scorpions. As it does, it grows larger and more powerful. Don't worry, folks. This one has been locked under magical control for a long time now. It's a fan favourite!"

Lynx sits down at the edge of the ring. She looks to you with a smile. "This fight is over, Kyle."

What does she mean? She's here too!

As the Twilight Scorpion crawls into the ring and the crowd cheers, you notice that it's moving straight towards you. Its giant tail reels back, and the stinger slams down into the ground by your feet as you throw yourself to the side to dodge. It's like a giant spear! If the impact doesn't kill you, it's surely venomous too.

"It seems like Falcon has decided just to watch!" the announcer continues. "Poor Kyle Warren looks like he's the only thing the beast cares about. We swear the Twilight Scorpion is neutral! What could he have done to garner so much hate?"

"It's not hate," Lynx says with a giggle.