Tournament begins

The 129th Rasheul Great **** Tournament would start on a beautiful day. The sun was shining brightly and the town was bustling with excitement. Fighters where required to check in at least one hour before there assigned slot, and so I made my way over to the arena a little before seven in the morning.

A long, transparent tube, the so called “Fighter’s way”, connected the second floor of the dorm with the Colosseum’s two waiting room's. This was of course so participants wouldn't get harassed by overzealous fans. However, Fighters way started at the wrong side of the Dorm and snaked its way lazily all the way to the Colosseum.

From there, it split into two paths, hugging the circular building like a ring. Regardless of which path combatants took, they would still have to walk a considerably distance before arriving at one of two waiting rooms, situated at opposite sides of the arena.

In other words, fans still had plenty of opportunity to gaze at their idols. Except gazing wasn't the only thing they did.

I was hoping to avoid the worst it so early in the morning but apparently Ben’s introduction yesterday gave me quite the admirers

I got many shouts of encouragement but also catcalls. Some of my “fans” outright offered to buy me once I would inevitably lose. It was embarrassing to say the least and I wondered if it wouldn't have been easier to slip in through the crowd.

Eventually however, I made it to the “red corner” My designed waiting room for the day.

As expected, combatants of the first five fights where already there, and even a few of the later matches decided to spectate. All in all ten fighters where present in the spacious lounge that could easily accommodate many more. While opposing fighters where assigned different waiting rooms, the people here might well face each other tomorrow. Given that, there was a reasonable amount of tension in the air.

Of course, another form of tension came with the fact that everyone except me was female. The Rasheul tournament association did not believe in gender divided waiting rooms and clearly these girls didn’t either. Some of them where half naked as they changed into their fighting gear or moved out of the adjacent showers, still dripping wet.

I gulped, trying my best not to stare and attract as little attention as possible.

“Well, well, well”, a charming voice spoke as a strangely dressed lady approached me. “If it isn't Sylphid's new boytoy.”

“I am not her boy or toy”, I replied, trying to act tough, but that only got a chuckle out of the lady.

“Of course you are not...and you won't be either. Sylphid is in bracket D. You will not make it to the quarterfinals. Actually, you will not even make it past round three.”

This “lady” was a bit of a brat, wasn't she? “And why is that?”

“Because I will be your opponent there.”

While Sylphid had a certain youthfulness to her, this woman exuded adult charm. I would put her in her late twenties/early thirties just from the way she carries herself. But despite that, her porcelain white skin showed not a hint of blemish and her huge breasts seemed to defy gravity while black hair cascaded all the way down to her back. She wore an elegant black dress, something more suitable for a noble ball then a deathmatch tournament. The only somewhat immature thing on her was that huge pointy hat that clashed with the rest of her outfit.

Ah yes, of course, I saw her yesterday on magic vision. A magician if memory serves right. Or perhaps witch would be more appropriate. “You will find that I am not that easy to kill.”

“Killing? I won’t kill you.” As if reading my thoughts(a possibility I shouldn't dismiss) the woman adjusted her hat. “The first round lasts for only ten minutes, but we have thirty in the third. That is pleeeenty of time to turn you into my submissive little plaything.”

...

Is anyone here not trying to **** me?

“Aren’t you confident?” I tried my best to stay calm. “You have to make it past the first two rounds first.”

“Oh, I assure you, that will be but a trifling matter. As it happens I debut in the very first match. So make sure to watch me, little Mari. I will start this tournament of in a most spectacular fashion.”

“Good Luck.” I shrugged, trying to act as indifferent as possible, which didn't require much acting to begin with. While Sylphid was confident this woman just seemed to try way too hard.

Unfortunately for me, the haughty Lady wasn't quite done. “Luck, my dear boy, is for morons. Oh, speaking of morons, that first opponent of yours, the cat, do you have a strategy?”

I really wasn't in the mood to talk with a potential future opponent about my tactics, but it didn't look like she would let up.

“Surprise her”, I responded vaguely. “Trying to outsmart her.”

“I see, how...cunning”, then she came just a little bit closer and...sniffed me?

“Wha!”, I couldn't help but stumble back a bit which actually made her cackle.

“You must forgive me, my nose is very sensitive and I just couldn't help but notice a minuscule trace of mana on you, but it is so utterly tiny.” She sniffed some more. “Oh my, a tracking spell? Don't tell me you are a Lucky Loser?”

Great. So much for keeping that aspect a secret. “So what if I am?”

But all I got in response to that was a smug smile. “Very well, I am looking forward to your marvelous performance. Do try to not disappoint me, hmm? I so hate disappointment.”

With that foreboding message she finally left me alone to mingle (and annoy) some of the other participants.

Soon enough a loud fanfare started to blare, followed by equally loud cheering. The waiting rooms where build directly into the sturdy wall of the arena, on an elevated position just below the spectators seat. There was a large panorama window which allowed for quite the nice view of the battle ground. Aside from the VIP seating this might very well be the best place to experience the fights.

Ben appeared in the middle of the arena, wearing a ridiculously bold outfit.(Some sort of bunny boy costume?) Seriously is there any job in the tournament this guy doesn't do?

“Good morning, Rasheul!!!!!! The time has come for the very first match of the 129th Rasheul Great **** tournament!” Ben announced to ravish cheering. He had a surprisingly loud voice, even considering magical amplification. “Are you excited???”

According to the booming reply, yes, the spectators where very excited.

“Then let’s not waste anymore time!”

Two pillars of light descended upon the sandy ground of the arena and with it came the combatants.

“Fight One of Bracket A!”

“The Witch of Miracles Beatrice vs The brutal Amazon Gigantes!”

In terms of height the two couldn't be more different. Beatrice was of slightly below average height while Gigantes was a hulking muscular giant wielding a colossal greataxe. Still, despite her huge frame there was a certain appeal to Gigantes well built figure, which no doubt convinced officials to let this rather unconventional fighter pass their beauty standard.

Beatrice didn't show even the slightest hint of fear as she stood a mere three meters apart from her immense opponent.

A few more seconds of silence occurred, before the words everyone was waiting for echoed through the arena.

“Fight!”

Gigantes did not seem very interested in making her opponent surrender. With a huge sweeping motion her greataxe came crushing down, ready to obliterate everything in its path. There was a thunderous roar as the axe cracked and split the sandy bottom of the arena.

And yet of Beatrice there was no sight.

Did she get crushed under the axe?

Of course not!

There was a cackle behind the Axe-fighter.

Gigantes whirled around and brought her axe down yet again, fruitlessly.

“Fight me!”, she screamed, her voice enhanced by the magic speaker that pick up every little sound effect and transport it to the far reaches of the arena.

“Fight you?” came the mocking voice, now from above her. There she was, Floating about five meters above her victim. “This is me toying with a lumbering fool.”

Teleportation. Floating. I gulped. This was no mere witch but a spellcaster of the highest caliber. The audience was equally entranced by this show of ****.(and the upskirt opportunity)

It goes without saying that magic users are the worst combination for physical power houses like Gigantes.

But even so. That was a mistake.

Even a complete amateur in spellcasting like myself know of it’s one universal rule. No matter how gifted the spellcaster, no two spells can be cast at the same time. Beatrice would not be able to teleport herself away while floating.

And she was hardly out of Gigantes reach.

With a tremendous roar Gigantes pulled her hand back and flung her greataxe upwards towards the gloating witch. What now? Even if she where to protect herself with a barrier, she would loose her ability to float and crash down to the ground.

But Beatrice did no such thing and so the spinning axe cleaved her in two.

Her illusion that is.

“Well, that was amusing, but I hardly want someone like you as my ****. So, this is your lucky day.”

Gigantes whirled around just in time to witness Beatrice's newest incantation.

“BLACK DESTRUCTION BEAM!”

A colossal beam of pure black energy shoot towards the Amazon. A huge part of the audience screamed as said beam traveled in their direction and this would have no doubt resulted in hundreds of casualties, if it wasn't for the magic barrier that protected everyone outside the arena.

According to my official Rasheul Great **** Tournament guidebook, this barrier consists of 10 individual shields, cast by 30 high level magicians. The barriers power was further amplified by numerous magic artifacts that form a circle around the arena. That absurd level of security was naturally extremely costly but it is unlikely anyone would advocate for budget cuts after today. The Black Destruction Beam penetrated about 6 layers before finally dissipating.

As for Gigantes, there was nothing left, not even any blood and gore. The intense power of the beam disintegrated her in an instant.

Well, for a few seconds at least. With a rather unfitting “Plop” Gigantes popped into existence again, no worse for the wear, except for clothes. Revival magic did not cover these. The naked Gigantes immediately dropped to her knees grunting. That alone was a testament to her strength. As powerful as Level 3 revival magic was, it usually resulted in the revived user being unable to move for at least an hour.

“The winner is Beatrice!” Ben shouted. The stadium erupted in cheers and Beatrice curtsied elegantly just as the pillar of light teleported them both away.

Meanwhile half of the waiting room was as silent as a recently purified graveyard. If that performance was intended to scare half of Beatrice’s competition to dead then the witch certainly achieved her goal. In the very first fight no less.

The other half however....

“Gonna need some anti magic against that one.”

“Show-off. That Black Destruction Beam used up all her mana, It's fine against someone like Gigantes but if she tries that with me I smoke her.”

“What a moron going for a direct approach against a mage. But I guess you can't expect more from a newcomer.”

Maybe this was just empty bravado, but I can't help but think about Sylphid's words from yesterday.

There are no doubts monster here.

And was I just about to fight one?