Three staircases materialize. Eve starts walking down one.
Lilith: Good luck.
Sydney: Shut up.
Sydney starts walking down a different staircase.
Wes: Let’s see how this goes…
Aaron: What, are you not excited?
Wes: Why would I be? I’m probably going to lose!
Aaron: You get to be in a three-way, buddy!
Wes: Shut up.
Aaron: I know it’s a big step since you’ve only ever been in a one-way, but I’ve got some tips for you.
Wes: Shut up.
Aaron: Don’t do that thing you usually do where you let everyone else do the work. Nobody likes a three-way that devolves into a two-way with a spectator.
Wes: Shut up…
Wes starts walking down the final staircase.
Aaron: Man, I just realized none of the other guys are here. They would have found that three-way joke funny.
Saige: I thought it was funny.
Aaron: And that’s why you’re cool. I also just realized I’m the only one here that likes women.
Wes: *from afar* Fuck you! I can hear you still!
Aaron: Ha!
Wes, Eve and Sydney approach the center of the arena.
Sydney: (I can make this quick by drowning these two simultaneously. The judges will have to be impressed with me defeating two opponents at once.)
Eve: (Wes shouldn’t be too big of a problem, but Sydney might present some issues. She’s a ranged fighter, and her water quirk is very powerful, I’ll have to be careful.)
Wes: (Maybe I can just hide in a corner and hope they forget about me.)
Hunt: It’s time to see where you’ll be fighting.
The screen starts randomizing through locations.
Wes: (I guess the nice thing about my quirk is it works well in most environments.)
Eve: (I just have to worry about Sydney flooding the arena.)
The screen stops on the ocean. Wes and Eve are dumbfounded as Sydney laughs.
Wes: Y- you’re kidding, right?
A blinding light blares. Wes, Sydney, and Eve find themselves standing on small rafts in the middle of an ocean.
Wes: He… he wasn’t.
Eve: (Great… just what I needed.)
Sydney laughs.
Sydney: You two should be happy; I can’t flood the arena if it’s already waterlogged.
Wes: Silver linings… yay…
Eve: Yeah, cause this is so much better…
Sydney: I hope you’re a strong swimmer because it’s time for me to capsize you.
Eve and Wes’ boats slowly start filling with water.
Wes: Of course…
Eve: (She has equipment for breathing underwater in her costume. If we go under, she has a clear advantage. Too bad I can’t do anything to stop her.)
Sydney smiles as Wes and Eve’s boats sink.
Sydney: (Once they’ve sunk, I’ll deal with the gorilla girl first. Her quirk isn’t powerful, but her muscles are. But that won’t be an issue in the water. After that, I’ll just drown the pipsqueak and-)
Sydney gets shot in the arm by a bullet.
Sydney: Wh-
Wes shot Sydney with his Beretta. Both his and Eve’s boats stop filling with water.
Wes: YEAH! FORGOT I HAD THIS, HUH BITCH?
Eve: Judging by how you were acting, I think you did too.
Wes: No…
Sydney looks at her bleeding arm.
Sydney: *frustrated grunt*
Wes laughs.
Wes: Who’s laughing now, bitch!
Sydney looks at Wes with pure rage.
Sydney: I’m going to castrate you!
Curved knives emerge out of the arms of Sydney’s costume, lining her outer forearm and biceps.
Wes: Oh god… I’ve made a mistake!
Sydney leaps into the water.
Wes: Wh- where is she!
Wes frantically looks around in the water, trying to find Sydney.
Wes: Oh god, she’s like a fucking shark!
Eve: Calm down; you’ve got a gun. You’re the only person on this planet who could act like a total pussy while strapped.
Wes: And you’re the only person who could act like a total bitch to someone holding a gun!
Eve: Do you want two problems? Because it looks like you’re already having trouble with the one.
Wes: Fuck you!
Wes begins randomly pointing his gun at the water.
Eve: Well, at least once Wes is dead, I’ll have a decent idea of her strategy.
Wes: I CAN HEAR YOU!
Wes’ boat creaks.
Wes: Huh?
Suddenly Sydney punches a hole through the bottom of the vessel.
Wes: AHHHHH!
Wes fires rapidly at the bottom of his boat, but Sydney swiftly swims away.
Aaron: (He’s using a beretta that holds 15 + 1 bullets, and he shot 13 of them before the 3-minute mark… Good for Wes.)
Wes’ boat quickly sinks.
Wes: HELP ME, EVE!
Eve: Toss me the gun first.
Wes: What!
Eve: That’s the deal.
Wes: You’re just going to take it and leave me to die!
Eve: Take it or leave it, Wes. There are no negotiations here.
Wes: Fine!
Wes throws Eve his beretta; she catches it with her left hand.
Eve: Thank you.
Wes is rapidly pulled towards Eve and the gun.
Wes: AHHH!
Eve places her right hand on Wes. He smacks down into Eve’s rowboat.
Wes: Wh- how did you do that?
Eve: I placed my right hand on your back while you weren’t looking during Hayze and Tobias’ match.
Wes: Isn’t that cheating?
Eve: It’s called preparation, which you clearly did none of.
Eve points Wes’ gun at him.
Eve: Now, hand over the rest of the ammo.
Wes: Heh… um… you’re not gonna believe this but-
Eve: You don’t have any more magazines do you?
Wes: Not a one.
Eve: WHY WOULD YOU-
Wes: This exact situation.
Eve stares at Wes.
Eve: You know what, that’s fair.
Eve looks into the water.
Wes: What should we do?
Eve: I don’t know, but you’d better figure your plan out.
Wes: My plan? What, you’re not teaming up with me?
Eve: Why would I? Sydney’s just a prissy bitch with a superiority complex. I can handle her.
Wes: Then why did you save me?
Eve: Because A, I wanted the gun, and B, I thought you would have more ammo. You don’t really matter to me at all.
Wes: Bitch…
Eve: Oh, so I’m a bitch for not wanting to help out the gnat that got himself into a bad situation. Oh man, am I terrible.
Wes: You don’t have to be an asshole about it.
Eve: Jump overboard.
Wes: Wh-
Eve: Did I stutter?
Eve aims at Wes.
Wes: I- I- I was kidding, Eve! Please don’t make me jump in!
Eve: No, you weren’t kidding. You’re an ungrateful little bitch, so I’m rescinding my kindness.
Wes: What do you mean by “kindness?” You just said it was for your own gain!
Eve: Letting you stay on the boat wasn’t.
Wes: Fuck…
Eve: Jump, now.
Wes hears Sydney circling in the water.
Wes: I think I’d rather take a bullet…
Eve aims at Wes’ crotch.
Wes: Okay, nope!
Eve: Five seconds.
Wes: (I can’t believe Eve is this stupid! All I’ve gotta do is mirror my body, and she’ll take the bullet! What a dumbass!)
Eve: Five… four… three… two… one…
Wes mirrors his body. Eve stares at him.
Eve: You really thought I was that dumb, huh?
Wes: I…
Eve: It’s incredible how someone who cowers at every strong opponent he faces can underestimate people.
Wes: Huh?
Eve tosses Wes into the water.
Wes: AHHHHHHH!
Sydney swiftly swims towards Wes.
Wes: (Crap! I’m defenseless!)
Sydney slices up Wes’ chest and swims away.
Wes: (FUCK, THAT HURTS!)
Wes covers his mouth to keep air in.
Wes: (I can’t waste my oxygen, she has a rebreather, and I don’t. She’s going to toy with me until I run out of air.)
Sydney slices Wes’ right leg and swims away.
Wes: *pained grunt* (I can’t beat her like this, hell I couldn’t beat her on land either. I need to get out of the water, but Eve won’t let me back on her boat.)
Wes looks up and spots Sydney’s boat.
Wes: (She’ll probably sink it, but I need to get some fresh air!)
Wes tries swimming towards the boat, but Sydney grabs his ankle and drags him further underwater.
Wes: (FUCK!)
Sydney chucks Wes against the ocean floor.
Wes: AHH!
Wes lets out more air as Sydney begins rapidly slicing up his arms and legs.
Sydney: (You’re never making it out of this water!)
Sydney leaves Wes bleeding against the ocean floor and begins swimming toward Eve’s boat.
Sydney: (I didn’t see his weapon anywhere, so she must have it. I’ll have to be careful.)
The water around Eve’s boat is red from Wes’ blood; she’s watching closely for Sydney.
Eve: (Wes has been under for a long time, it shouldn’t be long until Mr. Hunt pulls the plug on him.)
Aaron laughs.
Aaron: Wes did slightly better than I expected.
Blair: I know this is your dynamic, but shouldn’t you want to see him succeed?
Aaron laughs even harder.
Blair: Right…
Saige: Not all friendships can be like ours, Blair. We support each other at all times!
Blair: I liked it better five minutes ago when I had forgotten how annoying you are.
Saige: Awwww, I love you too, Blair!
Blair: I swear it’s like you don’t even listen to what I say.
Saige: I’m also looking forward to watching Lilith kick your ass.
Lilith: *off screen* Me too!
Blair: (Don’t respond, don’t respond.)
Aaron: Blair, why should I want to see Wes succeed when he doesn’t?
Blair: Huh?
Aaron: Wes doesn’t have a lot of self-confidence; he’s been like that since he was born.
Blair: That seems unlikely.
Saige: And sad.
Aaron: It doesn’t help that he was given a quirk that relies heavily on others to make the most out of it. Wes always sees himself as the sidekick and doesn’t really know how to act otherwise. So he’s always looking for someone else to help him. That’s why I laugh when he’s in situations like these.
Blair: But Wes worked a draw against Alexis.
Saige: And apparently defeated Bruno in the Final Exams.
Aaron: Wes doesn’t learn from success; he learns from not failing.
Saige and Blair stare at Aaron.
Blair: That explains way too much.
Saige: And also very little at the same time.
Sydney circles Eve’s boat.
Sydney: (I already have one bullet wound; sustaining more could be problematic. I need to get her in the water. Although… she’s probably not as good a shot as the idiot… somehow.)
Eve takes a deep breath.
Eve: (She’s being careful, I just need to hit her once. Anything to slow her down once I end up in the water.)
Eve checks her ammo.
Eve: (3 shots. Damn, Wes, using up all the shots in a panic. I have to maintain my composure; I didn’t even compete in the last tournament because I couldn’t keep my cool. So, I have to stay calm if I want to win. Had Alexis and Ash not given Aaron and Kevin second chances, the first five matches of this tournament would have been won by women. The other girls are taking massive strides; I can’t allow myself to lose again.)
Suddenly one of Sydney’s blades stabs into the side of Eve’s boat.
Eve: (Dammit!)
Eve takes aim at Sydney, but Sydney swims away quickly as Eve’s boat fills with water.
Eve: (Stupid, idiot! No! Stop it! Stay calm!)
Eve fires a shot into the water in the direction Sydney swam away.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Eve: (That might keep her at bay.)
Eve looks at Sydney’s boat.
Eve: (I have to get to the other boat.)
Eve starts rowing towards the other boat.
Sydney: (She thinks switching boats will help? I’ll just sink that one too!)
Sydney attempts to swim to her boat, but for some reason, she can’t.
Sydney: Huh?
Sydney looks down to see Wes has hooked his grappling hook around her right ankle.
Sydney: (What! He’s still breathing?)
Wes starts reeling Sydney in.
Sydney: (How!)
Sydney notices Wes’ left forearm is a shattered mirror.
Sydney: What!
Blair turns to Saige.
Blair: What did Wes do?
Saige: Sydney must have punctured one of Wes’ lungs in her barrage of attacks.
Blair: What could that do?
Saige: Well, if you have a punctured lung, air can escape into various body parts and become trapped under your skin. This can lead to a subcutaneous emphysema disorder and is brutal if untreated. When Wes changes his body into a mirror, he’s literally changing his skin composition, so shattering his mirrors is like breaking your skin. Thus any air trapped underneath would be released.
Blair: Oh, so Wes broke his mirrored arm to get more air! That’s pretty smart. How did Wes know something like that?
Saige: He probably didn’t.
Aaron: Yeah, he probably saw bubbles on his arm and made an assumption, but hey, it’s the thought that counts.
Blair: That doesn’t work there.
Sydney attempts to cut Wes’ hook with her blades, but the rope is too rigid.
Sydney: (Steel wire! Dammit!)
Wes detaches the rope of his grappling hook and ties it to a rock on the ocean surface. He swims towards Sydney.
Sydney: (Dumbass! I’ll slice him up now!)
Wes coats his entire body in mirrors as Sydney attempts to cut him with her knives. Instead, she merely scratches his mirrors.
Sydney: *grunts*
Wes grabs Sydney’s rebreather and rips it from her mouth. He then kicks off of her to create distance between them.
Sydney: (NOOOOO!)
Wes places the rebreather in his mouth.
Wes: (OH MY GOD, I’VE NEVER LOVED AIR THIS MUCH!)
Wes begins slowly swimming toward the surface.
Sydney: (Get back here!)
Sydney tries to swim after Wes but makes no progress. She looks down at the rock Wes tied her to.
Sydney: (I’ll just swim down and untie myself!)
Sydney swims to the rock. She pulls on the knot for a few seconds before realizing it’s too difficult for her to untie.
Aaron: Huh, that’s a constrictor knot.
Saige: Hm, what’s that?
Aaron: It’s one of the most challenging knots to untie and is known for its binding. Once it’s tightened, it’s borderline impossible to loosen.
Saige: Oh… how does Wes know how to do that?
Aaron: Oh, sometimes I tie Wes up with them in public places and see how long it takes for him to get out. He probably knows them like the back of his hand at this point.
Blair and Saige stare at Aaron.
Aaron: What? It’s hilarious, right?
Wes surfaces.
Wes: Oh, thank god… I see why Blair is scared of water now…
Eve has switched to Sydney’s boat. She spots Wes.
Eve: (Wes! I thought he was done!)
Eve notices Wes has Sydney’s rebreather.
Eve: (There’s no way that idiot actually took down Sydney!)
Eve clenches her fist.
Eve: (I’m not going to be outshined by Wes of all people!)
Eve shoots Wes’ shoulder.
Wes: AHH! GODDAMMIT! I FORGOT ABOUT YOU SOMEHOW!
Wes dives back underwater.
Wes: (Crap… how many shots did I have left when I gave her that gun? 5? 4? Fuck, I have no clue.)
Eve scans the water.
Eve: (One bullet left, I’m going to have to make it count.)
Eve notices certain spots in the water are red.
Eve: (That’s right! He’s bleeding profusely, filling the water with a trail of his blood.)
Eve aims in front of the trail.
Eve: Sorry, Wes, but it looks like your own weapon will lead to your demise.
Eve fires at Wes, striking him square in the back.
Wes: (FUCK!)
Eve places the gun on the bottom of the boat.
Eve: (If Sydney’s taken care of and Wes is heavily injured, I’d say it’s time for me to join the underwater frenzy.)
Eve dives into the water.
Wes: (Crap… Eve’s here now. Wait! That must mean she’s out of bullets, so I don’t have to get shot anymore! And with me having the rebreather, I just have to catch her the same way I did with Sydney!)
Wes reloads his grappling hook.
Wes: (The only problem is that I’ve been shot twice, stabbed a bunch of times, and shattered my left arm. I’m not going to be able to last much longer, so I have to finish this quickly.)
Eve swims toward Wes.
Eve: (I can finish him quickly!)
Eve punches Wes in the chest.
Wes: *grunts* (Her punches may be weakened by the water, but they still hurt like hell!)
Wes attempts to swim away, but Eve grabs his ankle and starts paddling back towards the boat.
Wes: (Shit! She’s trying to bring me back out of the water to beat the crap out of me!)
Wes aims his grappling hook at Eve’s back and fires it.
Eve: *pained grunt*
Eve releases her grip on Wes, and he starts swimming around her to tie her up.
Wes: (Ha!)
Eve flexes her muscles and breaks free of the steel rope with ease.
Wes: (HOW STRONG IS SHE!)
At the bottom of the ocean, Sydney is still struggling to break free. She’s slowly running out of breath.
Sydney: (I can’t lose! I CAN’T!)
Sydney begins to fade consciousness.
Sydney: (Isn’t this ironic… I’m going to lose via drowning. I don’t know if this is karma or bad luck. I got outsmarted by the same loser I called an idiot before the match.)
Sydney flashes back to her defeat at Hayze’s hand.
Sydney: (Losing that day… to someone like him. It was humiliating… not just because he was a weakling, but because of what he represented.)
A flashback begins.
A 4-year-old Sydney and her mother are sitting inside a doctor’s office.
Doctor: Well, Mrs. Bowers, we’ve done extensive testing, and we’re confident she has a quirk.
Mrs. Bowers: Then why haven’t we seen any signs yet? All of the other kids at preschool are.
Doctor: That could be for a myriad of reasons. Some quirks make visual changes to the wielder’s body, while some have simple activation requirements. I’m aware your quirk doesn’t fall under either, so it probably took time for you to figure out precisely what it was.
Mrs. Bowers: Yes, I can manipulate a room’s temperature to that of my body’s, but I was able to figure that out as early as three years old. Sydney here is almost five, and we haven’t the slightest clue what her quirk can do.
Doctor: Well, you’re just going to have to wait.
Mrs. Bowers: Please, Doctor, there has to be something you can do.
Doctor: All I can tell you is that she has a quirk, and it should be a combination of both yours and your husband’s based on her genes. That’s all.
Sydney’s mom gets upset.
Mrs. Bowers: I know you’re lying! I know you can do more! You’re a goddamn doctor!
Doctor: I’m telling the truth, Mrs. Bowers.
Sydney’s mother pulls out a stack of cash.
Mrs. Bowers: I’ll pay you anything now, please, tell us what her quirk is.
Doctor: Get out.
Mrs. Bowers: *frustrated grunt* Come along, Sydney. We’re going home.
Sydney’s mother grabs Sydney’s hand, and the two leave.
Mrs. Bowers: What an absolute idiot, how dare he lie to me. We’ll find another Doctor, princess, one that isn’t a moron.
Sydney: Okay… mommy.
That night, Sydney overhears and eavesdrops on a home conversation between her mother and father. Sydney’s father’s arms are made entirely of water; he’s a sizable hulking man.
Sydney’s Father: What did the doctor say today?
Mrs. Bowers: He uh… he…
Sydney’s Father: WHAT DID HE SAY?
Mrs. Bowers: He said she has a quirk, but he doesn’t know what it is!
Sydney’s father slaps her mother.
Sydney’s Father: I TOLD YOU TO FIND A GOOD DOCTOR THIS TIME!
Mrs. Bowers: I know, I know, I’m sorry!
Sydney’s Father: First, you give a damn daughter instead of a son, and then she has to be defective!
Sydney is shocked.
Mrs. Bowers: I’m sorry...
Sydney’s Father: I’m the damn #4 hero. DO YOU HEAR THAT? NUMBER FUCKING FOUR! DO YOU LIKE THAT I’M A FAILURE?
Mrs. Bowers: No, I- I- I don’t.
Sydney’s Father: THEN WHY CAN’T YOU GIVE ME A CHILD THAT’S WORTH A DAMN? SILVERCLAD’S KID IS A FUCKING PRODIGY, AND I’M GOING TO HEAR ALL ABOUT THAT AT THE FUCKING SUMMIT NEXT WEEK.
Mrs. Bowers: Please stop shouting; you’ll wake her.
Sydney’s Father: GOOD! Once I’m done with you, I’m going for her!
Mrs. Bowers: Please don’t!
Sydney’s father begins savagely beating her mother. Sydney watches in terror.
Mrs. Bowers: I’m sorry… I’ll do better.
Sydney’s Father: Good.
Sydney sniffles. Her father hears her.
Sydney’s Father: Hey there, princess…
Sydney: *gasps*
Sydney’s Father begins taking off his belt while walking toward Sydney.
Sydney’s Father: Let’s see if your quirk is higher pain tolerance.
The flashback ends.
Sydney: (I didn’t discover my quirk until three years ago… I spent every day training and learning, trying to make up for lost time. I wanted to prove to my father that I was worth a damn. I went from essentially quirkless to being let into U.A. based on recommendation. One of the highest jumps possible, but that wasn’t good enough for me. I wanted to be the top first-year student, and winning the Sports Festival was the best way to do that. I crushed whore in my first battle, but then I fought him… he “got” his quirk just months prior, yet he defeated me. He did what I did… better. I can’t lose again; I have to win! I have to face him again!)
Eve resurfaces to restore her air.
Blair: Wes is actually giving Eve kind of a hard time.
Saige: Yeah, and Sydney should be done soon. He might actually win this.
Aaron: Nah… I wouldn’t put my money on it.
Blair: And why is that?
Aaron: Wes probably will quit soon.
Blair: Why?
Aaron: Have you ever heard the phrase “give up while you’re ahead?”
Wes reloads his grappling hook again.
Wes: (You know, I’m actually not doing half bad. Should I quit before I get my ass beat? Nah… I think I’ve got a chance here!)
Eve dives back down.
Eve: (You’re going down, Wes.)
Wes pulls out one of his knives.
Wes: (I’ll shoot her, reel myself in and stab her in the stomach, that should do the trick.)
Wes swims towards Eve.
Aaron: You see, Wes constantly gets in his own head, but if you put two bullets in him and stab him enough times, eventually, he stops thinking about what could go wrong and just starts acting.
Saige: I see… It's like taking away the mental barriers unlocks his hidden potential.
Aaron: I like to call it… Super Dumbass.
Blair: That’s hilarious.
Aaron: Right now, Wes is in Super Dumbass 1; he’s fighting without thinking or second-guessing himself. Eve could be in a lot of trouble if he goes up another stage to Super Dumbass 6.
Blair: What about Super Dumbass 2 through 5?
Saige: Blair, Blair, that’s the joke.
Blair: Oh… that’s also hilarious.
Wes shoots his grappling hook at Eve.
Wes: (Thank god water resistance is a silly myth!)
Eve grabs the hook with her hands.
Wes: (Oh no! Water resistance is a silly myth!)
Eve starts dragging Wes closer, and Wes detaches the line.
Eve: (Shit! I can’t believe I’m having this much trouble against Wes, of all people! I’m starting to feel like Alden out here! It’s too bad my quirk is borderline useless like this, and I just have to rely on my upper body strength. I was hoping to showcase more of my skills, but I’ll just have to make it to the next round and do it then.)
Eve flashes back to the Sports Festival.
Eve: (Missing out on that tournament was a terrible feeling. I could literally see myself falling behind; it was awful. I may not have any special reason for being a hero, but that doesn’t mean my dream is worth less than anyone else’s. I have to be in charge of my own fate. I will win!)
Eve swims at Wes.
Wes: (Alright, just aim for a vital area.)
Wes braces himself.
Eve and Wes: (I’ll take you down!)
Suddenly the water starts shaking.
Wes: Huh?
Eve: What the?
The water around Wes and Eve begins moving to create a circular sea hole leading to the ocean floor. Wes and Eve start falling.
Wes: AHHHHH!
Eve lands safely while Wes slams against the ground.
Wes: *groans*
Wes’ knife falls into his back.
Wes: AHHHH! MOTHER FUCKER!
Eve: What the hell is going on?
Sydney: It was kind of you two to join me.
Sydney is standing at the opposite end of the vortex, still chained to the rock.
Wes: Oh shit… you’re still here?
Eve: I thought you took her down.
Wes: You and me both...
Sydney laughs.
Sydney: If you thought I would go away that easily, you were deadly mistaken.
Eve: Since when were you able to do this?
Wes: Yeah! I thought you weren’t able to physically control water!
Sydney: I’m not controlling the water; my quirk allows me to control the humidity of air particles. My “water” ability comes from when I saturate a particle to the point where it becomes water. In this case, I’m doing it in reverse.
Eve: Wait, that means you’re continually affecting the air particles around us to create this vortex. That has to take a ton of energy and concentration!
Sydney: It does, which is why I’ve never tried it before, but you see… I’m feeling a little extra motivated today.
Eve: *frustrated grunt*
Sydney cracks her knuckles.
Sydney: What do you say we finish this fight?
Eve cracks her neck.
Eve: Bring it, bitch.
Wes pukes up blood.
Saige: Well, this is interesting.
Aaron: Yeah, it looks like attrition will get the better of Wes.
Blair: At least Sydney is still tied to that rock; as long as that’s the case, Eve and Wes have an advantage.
Wes slowly gets to his feet.
Wes: What do you say to a partnership now, Eve?
Eve: Considering that you’re about as threatening as Alden right now, I’m okay with it.
Wes: Why do you have to be a dick about everything?
Eve: Maybe ask yourself that first, dick.
Wes: What are you saying? I’m not allowed to act like a dick and complain about when other people- okay, I’m starting to see your point.
Eve: You’re the first person to complain about anything for a guy whose quirk revolves around cooperation.
Wes: Okay, okay, I’m a hypocrite, but that doesn’t change our situation here.
Eve: You go in first. I have a plan.
Wes: You’re just going to fodder me!
Eve: Wes, do you honestly think you’re going to win at this point?
Wes: Okay, that’s fair.
Eve: See, not being a dick there, am I?
Wes: No, ma’am…
Eve: Thank you.
Wes charges at Sydney… as fast as he can.
Eve: Slower, please...
Wes: What do you expect? I’ve got a fucking knife and two bullets in me!
Sydney laughs.
Sydney: You two don’t seem to understand the gravity of this situation.
Eve: Huh?
Wes rips the knife out of his back and chucks it at Sydney. She blocks it using water that she materializes into the air.
Sydney: You really thought that would work?
Sydney reflects the knife back at Wes; it stabs into his thigh.
Wes: AHHH! DAMMIT!
Wes falls to his knees.
Eve: (Well, it looks like it’s all on me.)
Eve rushes Sydney.
Sydney: Like that would ever work.
Sydney fires a stream of water at Eve.
Sydney: Tsunami cannon!
The stream of water bursts into Eve and pushes her back slightly, but she continues to power through it towards Sydney.
Eve: I. WON’T. LOSE!
Wes watches Eve approach Sydney.
Wes: (This doesn’t make sense. If Sydney could do this with the water, then why didn’t she just create an air bubble to breathe? She has to know that she’s at a disadvantage with my chain restricting her, and if the mammoth herself unleashes the beast on her, she’s done. There has to be something more…)
Wes gets a look of realization.
Wes: Eve! Finish her off now!
Eve: I’m trying! Her attack is doing nothing to me!
Wes: That’s not an attack! She’s just stalling!
Eve: Stalling for what?
Wes: Just go!
Eve punches the water stream, dispelling it. Eve then leaps into the air and lunges towards Sydney.
Sydney: You really are strong!
Eve: I have to be so I can slap a bitch into the dirt!
Eve attempts to punch Sydney, but she continually dodges each one.
Eve: Hold still!
Eve feints trying to kick Sydney; Sydney preemptively dodges, allowing Eve to place her right palm against her stomach.
Eve: Gotcha!
Sydney kicks Eve back.
Sydney: You wasted your free hit on tapping me? You’re a fool.
Eve: Am I?
Sydney: Huh?
Sydney gets engulfed in a shadow.
Sydney: What’s this?
Sydney looks up to see her boat careening towards her.
Sydney: No!
The boat crashes into Sydney.
Eve: Yes!
Wes: Nice!
Sydney crawls out from underneath the wreckage of the shattered boat. She’s bleeding heavily in multiple places, and her arm is broken.
Sydney: *coughs*
Eve: Looks like my plan worked out after all.
Wes: Wait a second… you were planning on crashing that boat into both of us!
Eve: Yeah… probably.
Wes: Dammit…
Sydney gets up, laughing.
Sydney: You two don’t realize how screwed over you are.
Eve: Huh?
Wes: Eve! Finish her now!
Suddenly the chain connecting Sydney to the rock snaps.
Wes: Crap…
Eve: What! How did she do that?
Sydney creates a blade of water.
Sydney: If I concentrate water on a specific spot long enough, it can cut through steel.
Wes: That’s why she made this vortex...
Eve: Whatever, who cares if you’re free, I can still take you.
Sydney: No, I’m sorry, but this is over.
Eve: What?
The vortex begins filling with water as the waves crash down.
Eve: No!
Wes: She wins…
The vortex disappears, leaving Wes and Eve stranded in the water. Sydney begins swiftly swimming past them, slicing them over and over until they eventually are knocked unconscious.
Blair: She got them!
Saige: They lose…
The arena reverts to normal.
Hunt: The winner is Sydney Bowers.
Sydney falls to her knees, breathing heavily and exhausted.
Sydney: (I can’t believe they took that much out of me…)
Three stretchers come out. Aaron jumps into the arena and walks over as Wes is lifted onto his stretcher.
Aaron: Hey, Wes.
Wes comes to.
Wes: *groans* Huh…
Aaron: *whispers* Don’t drop the soap once you get to prison.
Wes: Ah fuck you…
Aaron: At least you didn’t get totally embarrassed.
Wes: Yeah… I actually did better than I thought, and I’m happy with that.
Aaron: Good for you, pal!
Aaron slaps Wes’ stab wounds.
Wes: AHHH! YOU DICK!
Aaron: Look at the bright side; the water was all holographic, so you’re not actually soaked.
Wes: That’s true, but then why is Sydney’s face wet, specifically under her eyes-
Sydney steps on Wes’ nuts.
Wes: AHHHH! *high pitched* Worth it…
Eve and Wes are stretched off. Sydney gets on her stretcher.
Sydney: (Thank god that’s over…)
Sydney gets taken out.
Hunt: Alright, that concludes the first round. Here are the results:
[https://i.ibb.co/b3s7NPz/Sports-Festival-Results-of-R1-drawio.png]Hunt: Obviously, half of the competitors are being treated in the infirmary, but here is our second-round bracket:
[https://i.ibb.co/j5TCD6L/Sports-Festival-R2-drawio.png]Hunt: The four of you here will compete in the matches tomorrow, be ready. We’ll start at the same time we did today.
Aaron smiles at the bracket.
Aaron: (Saige, huh? She’ll be a challenge, but I can handle her.)
Saige: (Aaron could be tricky; I’m not sure how my psychic constructs will hold up against his explosive array. But I have an ace in the hole…)
Blair: (I can handle Lilith, I know it.)
Lilith: (The Empress will smite her disobedient disciple soon enough.)