The next day the friends explored the large town visiting shops, and finding out information about the, so called tournament. Then after some training, and dinner the group retired to there rooms, and finally the day of the tournament came. After being instructed to meet in the dining hall they were guided through a door followed by a crowd of people. They were then lead to a room with a large billboard that showed all of there names, and who they were up against fight. The games were split into categories that many of them were unprepared for. Assuming that the entire competition would consist of fighting. There were 128 contestants. The sheer number of people made Lani's jaw drop as he searched the board for there names.
Lani: Wow I had no idea there'd be so many people! How come we didn't see them all when we went to eat in the
dining room?
Curcit: Its possible that not everyone ate at once. or some people didn't use the tournament accomidations. They
could simply reside in town or are renting rooms from one of the inns in town
After Finding there names they were lead to separate entrances were they would face there first opponents. The first 3 rounds went by pretty quick. A speed test. An obstacle course, and what was essentially wrestling with weights. All of the friends past with flying colors. The contest went by quicker then they had expected, and the crowd cheered for there favorites. The companions quickly found themselves gaining fans with the help of the announcer, and his over exaggerated comments. Somehow they made it to the final 16 were there true test had begun. The first challenge was a test of wit. Each contestant was given a puzzle of sorts was to find the answer before there opponent which sounded simpler then it turned out to be. Lani entered the arena like field with a roar of cheers all around him, and the audience screamed his name; as well as, his opponents.
Announcer: Next up to test there wits we have a special treat for you! One of our very own! The insane death striker
Xoana Lia!
Looking over at his opponent the woman seemed to be staring him down with an intense look of insanity. Her dark red eyes complemented by her long black hair, and pale skin which all seemed glued together by the evil smile that sat sprawled across her face.
Announcer: And her opponent! The small fry twintail from a far away land Lani Solfire!
Cheers came from all sides of the arena as the two were seated across from each other. It had gotten pretty late out so the fox was slightly tired; however, knowing that this was his last opponent of the day he forced himself to focus. Smiling gently at his opponent the fox wished her good luck only to have her give an evil grin, and a wicked laugh that scared the crap out of the little fox.
Xoana: you'll need it!
Announcer: Now lets get this show on the road! Your question is as followed! I can hear you sing from a mile a way as I eat my orange cone of not ice cream. I can jump and jump I do while your hopes of catching me fades. I twinkle brightly in the night sky. I love my carrots but my only true friend lies in the ocean filled with the oldest things I've ever seen. The night sky scares me but my home is with it! Contestants have 5 minutes.
The timer started and the sound of everyone in the audience thinking reverberated through the Colosseum. In the distance the fox's friends watched.
Zenny: Come on buddy you can do this.
Edwin: I don't understand the question...
Curcit: Its simple.
Zenny: Let me guess you already know the answer?
Teddy: Wow that fast?
Curcit: Yes well Lani does to however weather he knows he knows the answer is another story. Look at the sky.
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Edwin: I still don't get it....
Zenny: I think I do... When we were little me and Lani use to watch the stars at our school since we were both
nocturnal for the most part.
Curcit: Lets just hope all those classes payed off for him.
Back in the arena Lani sat in thought while his opponent sat with a crooked grin. With less then 2 minutes remaining she looked around feverishly muttering to herself; before standing up and giving her answer
Xoana: Rabbit! rabbit! rabbit!
Announcer: Im sorry that's not the right answer.
The woman exploded in rage sure that she had the right answer. Hearing her words the fox thought to himself. A rabbit did fit most of the description; however, something seemed a bit off. kneeling back and peering at the sky in thought his eyes fixed on the sky. Suddenly he came to a realization.
Lani: Ah!
Peering at the sky the stars were in the perfect formation for the Lepusian constellation. Lepus being a rabbit fit all the criteria. Giving an exited giggle he jumped up and pointed to the sky.
Lani: Thats the answer!
Confused his adversary looked into the sky. Her wicked face giving a look of great distaste. Curcit and Zenny both breathed sighs of relief Edwin; however, was still confused.
Xoana: You idiot how can that be the answer!
Lani: The formation of the stars form the Lepus constellation, And Lepus is just another way to say bunny or rabbit.
The rabbit is described in the question; however, it also gives hints of a star formation.
Announcer: Looks like we have our victor! The winner is Lani Solfire!
The angry opponent flipped the table and stormed out of the coliseum. Terrified the referee rose the foxes hand and proclaimed him as the winner. After regrouping with his companions the twintail gave a sigh of relief.
Curcit: I didn't think it would take you so long.
Zenny: Yeah your the astronomer remember?
Lani: Heh well.. Im kind of tired...
Zenny: If you want I can carry you.
Embarrassed the little fox rubbed the back of his head his face now beet red. Shyly he smiled and nervously shook his head.
Lani: N- no thanks, but thanks for the offer.
Zenny: Whats the matter? I use to do it all the time its no big deal.
Lani: Zen! im not 10 anymore!
Zenny: Hah I guess your right...
Teddy: How cute.
After some laughs the companions started for there rooms; however, as they did they ran into a tall black wolf woman. She was surprisingly intimidating despite her all be it average womanly figure she was very tall and she looked as though she could topple all of the companions at once. She seemed awfully familiar to them. Suddenly her eyes turned to them. Every one of the friends could feel themselves jump backwards. Looking at them she tilted her head just barely forward in a ever so slight bow. Before walking away. The companions looked over at her and then back at each other. With a large culmination of terrified sighs.
Edwin: She looked scary...
Teddy: Who was that?
Zenny: I don't know, but something tells me she isn't someone we want to take lightly...
Lani: hmm...
After the odd encounter the group retired to there rooms and prepared for the final day
***
The final day was the day that everyone had been waiting for. The final 8 competitors faced off in battles to determine who will go into the final match. Lani's fight was fairly easy. His speed gave him a great advantage. Teddy on the other hand was forced to face the woman they had run into the other night they now knew as Alpha. The butterfly didn't stand a chance. Thankfully after pummeling him into the ground it didn't appear she was blood thirsty as she simply bowed as she did the previous night. Curcit and Zenny's fights; however, ended up turning out very interesting. Curcit's match was against a man dressed in a brown trench coat wearing a phedora hat and dark sunglasses. Whipping out his double beam sword the man quaintly drew a pair of police issue steel batons.
Curcit: so your a cop?
Cop: Very Perceptive young man.
Curcit: Well you make it pretty obvious... What are you doing in a combat arena.
Cop: Under cover work. We believe that one or more contestants here are dangerous.
Curcit: This is a battle arena.
Cop: These particular contestants are creatures created by a cult group. Only coherent Bipeds are allowed in the arena. These creatures only exist to obey a master so its possible they'll try to kill the other contestants.
The man leaped into the air bringing his blade down on the gold fox; however, the computer nerd took a leap backwards causing the mans sword to get stuck into the ground. Seeing his opening he made a dash for the cop swinging his double beam blade. Quickly the cop pulled his blade from the earth just in time to parry the attack. Meanwhile Zenny stood face to face with a guy who reminded him eerily of the woman Lani had faced the night before. He had a crazed almost rabid look in his eyes not to mention they were a reddish black color like the woman from the previous day he to had pale skin and short black hare. Racing toward the bunny his wild flails with his giant two handed sword seemed like they were full of malicious intent. Doing his best to avoid the mans attacks the bunny regained his ground and shot the man a pissed look.
Zenny: What the hell is wrong with you!
Crazed man: You must be eliminated! Die!
Again the man rushed him with his obscenely large blade. Whipping out two of his arrows the bunny managed to parry the attack, and thanks to him having more strength despite the mans oversized sword the hare managed to push the man off of him. Making a quick jump backwards the bunny swiftly replaced his arrows with his bow and sent a flurry of arrows flying toward the man who somehow managed to evaded every single shot, but unbenounced to the crazed man the shots were only a distraction. While the man was caught up in not getting hit by the rabbits arrows the hare raced toward him with lightning speed. His bow now sheathed and a new arrow in hand the bunny executed an uppercut into the mans face causing him to flay backwards and collide with the earth sending a cloud of dust into the air. Taking a few deep breaths Zenny gave an long sigh of relief; however, the moment was short lived, for at that moment the mans body seemed to pulse. The pulse seemed to reverberate through the Colosseum. A very bad feeling came over the bunnies body and quickly he assumed a cautious battle position. Suddenly as if by magic the woman Lani had faced just the day before had appeared beside the mans now seemingly lifeless body. Both of there bodies pulsed again, and there was a brilliant flash. When the light cleared the rabbit stood before a large plant type creature. Its base re symboled an extremely large purple flower. protruding from the flower were four long thorny vines two of which at the end poked out very large pointed spikes. On each of the other two was a pod shaped head there jaws snapping in ferocity revealing two sets of dagger like teeth. Zenny Stared down the faces of the plant like creature its wales echoing through the arena catching the attention of alpha and Curcit as well as the cop who Curcit had been up against.
Curcit: What in the world is that!?
Cop: That has to be the contestant! Im sorry! I must win this match.
Curcit: Fine you win.
The yellow fox quickly turned to the barrier that cut off the other contestants clearly looking to scale it to the other side. Confused the cop put away his blade.
Cop: Just like that?
Curcit: My friend is in trouble. I don't have time for this.
With a mighty leap the fox cleared the wall into the section where the hare stood. Zenny's heart felt a small feeling of relief as he saw the gold fox heading in his direction. He also saw oddly enough the woman alpha approaching him along with Teddy not far behind, and finally Lanis voice came from behind him. Turning to look he saw that the little kistune running his way with Edwin not far behind
Lani: Zen!
Zenny: Boy am I glad to see you guys!
Edwin: What is that thing?!
Curcit: Somehow the two people that you two beat merged into that.
Teddy: Isn't that cheating?
Zenny: At this point I don't think they really care about the tournament.
The voice of the cop Curcit had been paired with broke into they're conversation. There attention turned from the beast to him, and his look of frustration.
Cop: There not human! They are creatures created by a group called Xeocross revolution!
Edwin: Are you serious!?
Curcit: Hey! We can take care of this! Get these people out of here before someone gets hurt.
Cop: Are you sure you can handle this?
Zenny: Piece of cake! We've been up against much worse then giant flowers!
With a nod the officer took off. The party then again turned there attention to the creature now staring them down. Without any verbal communication as if they knew what to do the party then dispersed. Zenny leaped into the air sending a small barrage of arrows at the creature as he had done before capturing its attention. One of its monstrous tentacles shot straight for the rabbit. As it connected it was stopped abruptly by a barrier of light formed by Lani's scutum constellation.
Zenny: Thanks Buddy!
Leaping into the air the rabbit sent another arrow at one of the creatures heads. the creature quickly moved a vine to swat away the arrow like an insignificant fly, but the distraction was just the opening the little fox needed. Using the Lepus constellation he dashed at lightning speed and leaped high into the air only to bring down a pair of swords summoned by the combined powers of the Gemini and Orion constellations down on the creatures base. The creature wailed in agony, and its second head quickly turned to the little fox sending the other spiked appendage his way; however, The Woman alpha Swiftly made a dash past the invasive appendage, and with a swipe of her talon like claws severed the spiked vine from the creatures body.
Lani: Thank you!
The vine flailed wildly as it hit the ground; however, the flailing soon subsided and the severed vine disappeared before re growing onto the creatures flower. Meanwhile Edwin had wrapped his chain linked whip around the creatures second tentacle. Its strength was far beyond his however as he struggled to keep it at bay. Just as he though his grip was about to give way Teddy appeared from the sky. In his hand a line of cards re symboling a sword. Bringing them down on the captured arm like arm it cut like a hot knife through butter; however, again the celebration didn't last long. Soon after the vine vanished and re grew. The creature laughed wickedly and the party could hear its voice taunting them.
Creature: its useless! You cant kill us!
The party soon regrouped next to Curcit who had been using his holographic eye piece to scan the creature for any anomalies.
Zenny: Well Curc? This thing have any weaknesses?!
Curcit: I think so. The creatures limbs are almost supernova hot meaning its regeneration is amazingly quick since
more heat means faster movement of cells. That being said its two head limbs seem normal.
Teddy: So we have to get rid of its heads... That'll be tough with its arms flailing about. Edwin.
Edwin: Y-yes?!
Teddy: You think you can grip one of its arms again?
Edwin: I don't know... It was pretty strong.
Teddy: Don't worry ill back you up this time.
Curcit: Alpha was it? Your very strong do you think if one of us distract it you can get a hold off the other?
The intimidating woman said nothing she just looked at the little yellow fox and nodded as if she understood.
Curcit: Okay. Lani, Zenny we'll leave the rest to you.
Zenny: We got it covered.
There planning lasted to long or the creature because just then the bunnies senses peaked, and with a warning cry he leapt out of the way just in time to avoid the giant spiked arm that came crashing to the earth. Signaling his allies they nodded to each other. The creature gave a wicked blood curling cry. Again forming a blade of cards Teddy took to the skies flying toward the creature causing it to shoot one of its tentacles in his direction. Leaping onto the tip of the large spike with all the grace of a butterfly the cboy did a front flip forward into the air landing on top of one of the creatures heads. Edwin's chain was there to catch the opportunity a wrapped itself effortlessly around the creatures arm. It tugged violently trying to knock the dragon off balance; however, this time the butterfly swiftly made his way behind the dragon, and wrapped his hands around the dragon adding his strength to his friends, and together they were able to hold the arm steady.
Teddy: We have it!
Meanwhile Curcit circled around the other side of the plant like monster with alpha close behind. The creatures arm immediately flew in the direction of the little fox who moving his double beam sword to protect him used the moment to his advantage and sent a small armada of what looked like small paper airplanes at the creature that on contact sent a surge of electrical energy through the creature temporarily stunning it. Taking that as her cue Alpha grabbed the creatures other arm.
Curcit: Were good on this side!
The creatures tentacles struggled to get free, but it was trapped together Lani and Zenny advanced. Drawing an arrows with one hand Zenny Grabbed Lani's hand with the other, and without a word the little fox pushed himself off the ground. The bunny using his own strength at the same time tossed his friend in to the air in the direction of the creature and suddenly the attention of both heads were all on him. It snapped its rabid jaws at the fox trying to land a bite on him. As he came down to landing he used the Ursan constellation and when his hand connected with one of the creatures heads a powerful wave of energy surged through the creatures body crippling its neck and dazing the head; however, as he landed from the attack the second head was right behind him heading right for him, but there distraction seemed to work for as it went to strike the bunny sent an arrow flying through its vine the sharp wide blade of the arrow severing it and sending the pod like head to the ground. With a smile the fox turned back to the left over head, and using the orion constellation formed a sword to slice the remaining head from its vine. A strange wailing screech could be heard. Suddenly the creature began to ripple. Then finally its body sank into the earth.
***
After the battle the companions were taken to the medical center of the arena. After being checked out they were told that only Lani and Alpha had actually finished there matches so they would be the ones to face off in the finals. The party turned to the wolf woman and all offered there words of thanks.
Lani: Uhm... Miss Alpha? Thank you for your help today!
Zenny: Yeah your pretty damn strong.
The woman simply nodded and gave what they thought looked like a smile, but it was a bit hard to tell
Curcit: The cop said that the creature was created my XZR.
Edwin: Does that mean they know were here?
Zenny: That green guy must have told there boss we were coming.
Lani: You mean Gastrophetes.
Curcit: If thats the case then he does know were here and he knows were looking for him.
Zenny:Dammit what if he runs!
Lani: I get the feeling he wont...
Teddy: Either way we all are going to the ceremony after tomorrows match so I don't think finding him is the issue.
Lani: I guess not.
