Steve ignored the looks he was receiving as he walked with Gurren and Lox through Donsk Mountain.

Many giants and members of the larger races were trying to make themselves look bigger as they puffed up their chests and walked as if their invisible lats were pushing out their arms.

“Are they trying to look like idiots or pass out from flexing so long?” Steve asked in a bored tone.

“I thought they were all trying to flirt with you. You know doing the whole ‘I’m a big man, I’m awesome as hell, and I’ll beat your ass if you say different’,” Lox said.

Gurren snorted and drank from his tankard.

“You got something to say to me, say it!” one of the giants that had been flexing challenged Lox.

“It’s my day off, yeh twerp, go rub yerself in cooking oil somewhere else!” Lox yelled before burping loudly afterwards.

He made to drink from his tankard, but found it strangely empty.

“Hurhh, well, where’s the next beer stall?” Lox asked.

“Do you not know of the mighty Elsoa! What are you doing running away?” Elsoa yelled.

“So, you’re bloody Elsa, whatever, knowing your name ain’t gonna get me beer!” Lox yelled, Gurren and Steve following.

“You coward!” Elsoa yelled.

Lox stopped so fast that Gurren and Steve ran into one another.

“Gurren, hold my mug,” Lox said, holding it out.

Gurren sighed, taking it as Lox turned around.

“Look the little coward is coming back!” Elsoa said. Steve actually looked at the giant; it seemed like he had something like a posse that laughed at his jokes. They looked like the kind of people that liked picking on those weaker or smaller than them.

“Baby, don’t hurt the widdle Dwarf too much,” a woman wearing entirely too little clothing to be out in public said, rubbing herself against the giant of a man.

“Okay, princess, I’ll do my best,” Elsoa said, grabbing her backside, his fingers disappearing up her skirt for a moment.

Lox was just five feet away. With just one look at him, people that had been going down the street started moving out of the way of the Dwarf and the Giant who stepped away from his girlfriend.

Lox didn’t stop walking. The giant yelled out, his body becoming covered in some kind of armor as he swung his fist with all his strength but Lox simply ducked under the blow and moved with a speed that belied his size and build.

His fist slammed into the giant’s head, breaking the armor that had formed over his chin and sending him ten feet to the left.

Elsoa dropped to the ground, clearly unconscious.

“Baby!” The girl ran to the giant.

“Couldn’t even take a punch. This is a tournament, not a place for a brawl. We’re here for some entertainment!” Lox turned around and headed back to Steve and Gurren.

“Looks like there’s a drink stall up ahead,” Steve said, pointing up the street.

“Good! We should catch this afternoon’s game. I heard it's two level seventy shield and sword types who will be duking it out!” Gurren said, handing back the mug as the trio headed towards Donsk Mountain without even looking back.

***

Alkao and Anna stepped out of the teleport pad and into Donsk Mountain. Krenua, Alkao’s old second in command and now the head of the Red Hands, was in charge of protecting Alkao and Anna.

Waiting for them on the other side was a delegation of Dwarves.

One of them moved forward.

“My name is Indi. We welcome you to our mountain. My lord wishes to extend his greetings to you. At this time, he is taken up with the Dwarven Tournament, but he has extended an invitation for you to both join him in his private box,” Indi said in his deep rolling voice.

“Thank you, Indi, we are indeed thankful for the invitation. If time will permit it, we would indeed like to speak to Lord Ulon under the Donsk Mountain,” Alkao said with a slight tilt of his head.

“I will pass on your words. Please enjoy your time in the Mountain.”

With that Indi and his group moved away as Alkao moved out of the teleport pad’s square.

People watched and muttered to one another. There were a few Demons and Beast Kin competing, but most of them were in Grorart or Aldamire Mountains. They were a legendary race, leading to more than one person muttering about them as they passed.

Still, no one tried to approach them as they walked through the square. Their very actions had proved that they weren’t known as some of the fiercest fighters just because of half-remembered legends.

They had defended against a Demon Horde numbering the millions, therefore they were not an unknown race and group.

Krenua and his people were constantly looking for a threat.

Alkao snorted, a small smile reaching his lips.

“Getting in the festive mood?” Anna asked.

“Just wondering how Krenua’s eyes are still connected with him looking around so much,” Alkao responded.

Krenua growled, relieving some of the tension in the air.

“So, where are we going to eat?” Alkao asked.

“Gurren, Lox and Steve are here. They suggested a tavern a bit out of the way,” Anna said.

“Lead on,” Alkao smiled.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him away, Alkao’s smile widening. She glanced back, quickly turning back around as she caught his eye.

Her tail moved a bit quicker as she continued to guide him and their guards.

She might be stubborn, but that tail of hers always gives away her true thoughts and feelings.

***

Steve, Lox and Gurren met up with them at dinner. The place was as friendly as it was boisterous; the tournament had put everyone in an excited mood.

Laughter and cheers rang through the room.

Alkao had enough drinks to make him feel a bit drunk. Anna watched over them and Krenua watched everyone else that might be a threat.

After dinner, they headed to one of the nearest arenas.

“Now this is what I’m talking about!” Lox yelled as they exited the walkways and came out into the seating that surrounded the arena.

Already, there were two people fighting it out on the stage.

A Fire mage and an Earth mage were locked in a brawl. The Fire was moving around the arena on flames, while the ground underneath turned into spikes at a moment’s notice.

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The burly Earth mage ran at the Fire mage, rocks shooting up from the ground to create steps for him.

Alkao whistled at the show of not only skill but the depth of their mana pools that the two fighters must have to put on such a fight.

“This way!” Steve said, wandering to their seats as people moved out of his way.

They found their seats, not bothering to sit down as they looked down on the fight.

Alkao winced as he saw a pebble dart out of nowhere and slam into the Fire mage.

Sensing it at the last second, the Fire mage dove out of the way of the projectile which would have shattered his ribs. However, the Fire mage wasn’t quite fast enough.

With the sickening sound of breaking bone the Fire mage let out a cry as he landed.

The Earth mage, thinking he had hit his opponent’s ribs, darted forwards, eager to end the fight.

A spear of Earth grew in his hands.  Letting out a yell, the spear was sent whistling through the air.

The Fire mage turned, using the flames on his feet to shift out of the way of the Earthen spear.

Disguising his movement, the fire mage raised his good arm. Quickly opening his hand, he released a condensed blue flame towards the Earth Mage.

The Earth mage barely had time to look surprised as he caught the spell in the face and went flying backwards.

A mana barrier flared around his body as he crashed on the ground.

The Fire mage cried out as he landed on his bad shoulder, but it was clear he was still in the fight.

“The winner is Peter the Red!” A Dwarven announcer yelled.

The Earth mage was fuming, but it was clear that without the mana barrier that he would have been killed.

“What just happened?” Alkao asked.

“Earth mage got his arse kicked!” Gurren said, coming through the crowd with armfuls of tankards.

He handed them out as he explained.

“All of the fighters are wearing a mana barrier. It’s made so that people don’t die and they can go full out. Well, most of them. The stronger fighters and group fights are going to be in the mirror of communication just because no one wants to pay for those kind of damages! Once the barrier receives an amount of damage that would be lethal, whether obvious or in the judges’ opinion, they stop the person from fighting. Then, the other person wins. Or, they submit. If you submit, then the other dude wins, naturally,” Gurren shrugged, drinking from his tankard.

Alkao drank from his tankard as well, a smile appearing on his face.

I could get used to this and going full out in the mirror of communication. I’m looking forward to those fights. Might be interesting to try that out with the DCA.

“The problem with fighting in the mirror of communications is that you take in all of your skills and relative strengths, but while you’re in there, your physical body doesn’t improve. Just your reactions. In reality, your body is just standing there touching a mirror,” Anna said as if reading Alkao's mind.

“Good for showing off your skills and current abilities without worrying about the damage. Bad if you actually want to grow any,” Lox surmised.

“Also, really helps with making things that are really dangerous,” Steve sighed.

“Sounds like you have something on your mind,” Anna said.

“Let’s just say that I’m happy that Dave has all of his lessons on magical coding in a mirror of communication conference room. We’d have quite a few craters in Emerilia with all the experiments people have been doing!”

Alkao watched the ground as it was refreshed in a matter of minutes. There was different terrain all over the place, allowing any and all affinities to be used. There was even light and dark cycles.

Big screens floated in the air, showing off the fight up close even if it moved further away.

Alkao had no trouble seeing it with his eyesight.

“Up next! We have the hidden expert Shoshin from Isefor, a master swordsman known to end his competition in less than ten hits! Facing him will be Al’abir, from Levte! A spearman known for facing down a cave of trolls and holding them still for two days and three nights! Who will last?” The Dwarven announcer’s voice rolled through the arena as gates opened on either side of the arena.

“Begin!”

The Swordsman left a trail of dust behind him as he ran at his target, his hand on his sheathed sword.

Al’abir took a running jump, grunting as he landed near the Fire area of the arena.

He moved his spear around, but he got in just two turns with it before Shoshin was on him. With a yell, Shoshin’s sword was free from his scabbard, almost too fast for the eye to follow.

“Shoshin has finally drawn his blade and Al'abir barely escaped the draw strike! What will he do!” The announcer cried out.

Blade rang out against spearhead, the shaft was made of a bamboo like material, flexing as Al’abir moved it around his body, as well as back and forth, dodging out of the way of the swordsman.

His movements were quick and slow at the same time. Moving with just enough speed so that Shoshin’s blade didn’t hit, but slow enough that he retained control of his spear.

Al’abir jumped backwards, Shoshin pushing him hard as he made it inside Al’abir’s reach. His spear might be long, but once Shoshin was within his reach, his advantages were cut down.

“Swordsman and spear fighter, this is an interesting fight!” The announcer said.

“Need more people that fight with an axe,” Steve complained.

Alkao laughed, seeing Steve was entrapped with the display of martial might in front of him.

“Swordsman without a shield, odd,” Lox said, his voice making it sound like it was downright unnatural.

“So, stick toucher or the sword wielding weirdo?” Gurren asked, looking around.

“Stick toucher,” Anna said, drinking from her tankard.

“You have some odd nicknames,” Alkao shook his head.

“What do you mean stick toucher? The sword weirdo is inside his reach!” Lox said.

“Yes, but dipshit ten strokes is in long pole’s area,” Steve said.

“He lured the swordsman into the Fire area. Isefor is between swamplands, cold and wet or humid and wet. He pulled him into the desert territory, dry and burning hot,” Krenua said, looking around. “Shoshin kills people in less than ten hits, he’s quick and fast in bursts. Al’abir stood in a cave facing trolls for three nights and two days. He lives in the Heval plains, they’re hot all the time and damn dry. Al’abir is conserving his energy. His spear is flexible and allows him more movement and can increase his power with the momentum created at it’s tip.”

“Good eye,” Anna said.

Krenua nodded his head slightly, a small smile on his face.

Alkao was glad that the two of them got along, Krenua was the closest thing he had to a friend before he had come back to Emerilia.

They watched the fighters, talking about their moves, what they should have done or what had impressed them. They talked about what they had been up to, what plans they had. For the first time in a long time, Alkao felt a sense of calm. It was as if he had taken a deep breath and as he let his breath, all his worries had gone with it.

As Krenua called it, Shoshin started to weaken with time. His Endurance was nothing like his opponent’s.

Al’abir was like an elusive fly. He might give ground but he turned or avoided every attack with a violent grace that showed off his skill.

Getting angry and tired, Shoshin rushed inwards, screaming as he did so. Al’abir should be at a disadvantage with Shoshin being in his spear range, but he still smiled slightly, Alkao felt the coldness in his eyes, the coldness of a predator. Alkao grinned, hiding his teeth as he drank from his tankard.

Al’abir jumped backwards, spinning his spear.

Shoshin, expecting Al’abir to flee, continued forward, right as Al’abir dropped, planting his spear. The point jutted out in front of Shoshin’s neck.

Shoshin’s barrier acted, flaring up.

If not for the barrier, then Shoshin would have opened his own neck.

“Al’abir is the winner!” The announcer yelled out. People cheered and groaned, money being exchanged while some people celebrated with slamming their tankards together and others downed them in regret.

“This fighting is indeed interesting,” Krenua allowed.

“Well, when you have a day off, then we’ll show you some real fighting in Devil’s Crater. There are some fun little dungeons we’ve been eyeing for awhile!” Lox said, clapping Krenua on the back. He may be too short to hit the Demon’s shoulder, but the heavy hits still made Krenua tilt forward with the strength behind it.

“I would like that,” Krenua admitted with the same hunter’s grin that Alkao had shown before.

“We’ll join,” Anna said, putting her hand on Alkao’s shoulder. It looked odd with the lithe and shorter wolf beast kin putting her hand on the dominating Demon.

If only they knew who was the strongest out of us. Alkao chuckled to himself.

“The mages might be off doing their thing and Dave is keeping Deia restrained because of the child she bears, I say it’s time that us melee types had some fun!”

Just then a screen appeared in everyone’s face.

Event: Of Myths and Legends

3 Creatures of Power have escaped their imprisonment and have arrived back on Emerilia.

The Event: Of Myths and Legends has begun!

Kill the Creatures of Power to gain rewards and experience. If you fail to kill the creatures then Emerilia could be forever changed.

Creatures of Power located on Emerilia: 3

Creatures killed: 0

“Well, looks like you ask and it happens,” Gurren said.

“Shit,” Anna hissed.

A pillar of pure light illuminated the night’s sky.

“Where was that?” Gurren said.

“Markolm, the Elves’ Island and the Angels’ original home.” Anna closed her eyes, smelling the air as if to try and sense something.

“Khanunda!” Anna spat.

“What?” Alkao asked.

“That aura, it’s Khalunda’s, the matriarch of the Angels, borne from the Lady of Light’s very flesh.”

“Why can’t gods just, you know, do something else? Where is the damn rulebook that says they have to watch over us? Could just go play a round of golf or get a massage. I swear they’re more tense than the wonky spring in my left leg!” Steve complained.

“I think that I will need to go to Devil’s Crater. If there are more creatures coming from Bob’s prison, we need to be ready,” Alkao said, pulling out a healing potion.

In a gulp, his warm and fuzzy feeling was replaced with cold logic.

“I’ll come with,” Anna said.

“With recent events and announcements, we have decided that we will be hosting the rest of tonight’s games tomorrow! I say again…” The announcer went on, giving his message again.