A few days had passed. Sincan had been promoted to Senior manager so fast that the office had to adapt. They were looking for new workers as of late. Someone to fill Sincan's spot.

Moris was spending his weekend how he usually spent it. Cooking. It relaxed his nerves while also giving him a delicious meal at the end. Moris was mixing some batter when his phone rang. He picked up the phone, groaned and then put it back.

After making breakfast, Chocolate pancakes, He sat down and began eating.

Moris*: "Got nothing to do today, maybe i should check up on Firil..."

It was at this moment that he received an urgent call from Jake. He looked at this phone and picked it up.

Moris: "Uhh hi. What do you need?"

Jake: "Come here now! This is important, man. You have to help me!"

Moris: "Is it important?"

Jake: "Extremely, now come on!"

Moris finished his breakfast, grabbed his jacket and went outside. The air was getting colder. These months really do suck for Scalins, Moris thought.

He made his way to the location that they were meeting at, The entrance to the stadium. Jake was pacing around, waiting for Moris to appear. As soon as he noticed Moris, he quickly walked over.

Moris: "Hey, Jake. What's up man?"

Jake: "So you know how I like collecting figures?"

Moris: "Yeah, you got a really cool collection."

Jake: "That's the problem."

Jake pulled out a phone with an order on it that had been delivered. Moris could not help but stare.

Moris: "Dude, you didn't..."

Jake: "Rent's due soon, Mor."

Moris: "Problem being I'm not loaded. Can't you return it?"

Jake: "...no."

Moris: "Well damn, you think we could ask Sincan for a favour?"

Jake: "I think it'd be best if we didn't."

Moris*: "I guess he does have problems with asking. Wait why me though?!"

Moris: "So what do we do?"

Jake: "Luckily enough, our goddess has blessed us. There's a tournament that starts in an hour here."

Moris: "Well I'm sad to say but I think registration's closed?"

Jake: "Ummm."

----

Moris: "You have an addiction. A very sad addiction, buddy."

Moris was in the waiting area, for his name to get called. When it was, he was to step out and face his opponent in the field. Nurses were stationed around the place that made no one got seriously injured.

Moris glared at Jake who was hanging his head in shame.

Moris*: "Usually I'm the idiot but i guess someone decided to join me."

Announcer: "And here we have a new contestant! He's a bored Derlin worker .Tired from the daily grind, he hopes to make it big in the battlefield!"

Moris*: "None of that is right! Who wrote this!"

Announcer: "Everybody, please give a round of applause. For Moris BEWFOOORRRDD!"

Applause rang out but it was mixed with laughing and snickering.

Moris*: " I knew I should have changed my last name. That was the lamest intro I've ever seen."

Announcer: "And on the other corner! A woman with a big heart and bigger Fists, Wolter STEEEELLL!"

A Derlin woman walked out of the corner opposite to Moris. He noticed she had very big "assets". She taunted Moris which he halfheartedly returned.

Announcer: "Now without further ado! Let's begin!"

She pulled out her assets which were two giant fists made of metal, with a cyan crystal in the middle of them.

She threw one of the fists at Moris. Since the field was open and in the middle of the day, He easily dodged it as it hit the ground.

Moris: "Hah! You already lost one of them!"

Wolter: "Did I?"

She said playfully. The giant gauntlet started vibrating and moved back to her arm, reattaching with it.

Moris: "This feels like some divine punishment."

She started closing the distance between them while Moris gathered up some snow around him. As soon as she was close enough she shot another gauntlet at him which he easily dodged. She tried punching him with the other one, but Moris encased her hand in ice.

Wolter put her hand on Moris and then pulled back the gauntlet that had flown past him. It hit Moris right in the back and he was forced on the ground.

Announcer: "A cunning Strategy!"

Moris*: "Shit, can't fight her close!"

He gathered the snow around him and turned it into steam, blinding Wolter. Wolter was confused but saw a shadowy figure pop up in the steam. She shot a gauntlet at it and the figure burst into small chunks of ice.

Wolter: "I'll get you somehow!"

Moris: "How about you get this!"

The mist cleared and an ice hammer smashed down at the spot that Wolter was standing. She tried resisting but ended up falling unconscious.

Announcer: "And we have a clear winner! Moris Bewford!"

Moris: "I just hope there's not much more. That woman was scary."

Moris went to get healed by the nurse. As he was walking towards the waiting area he noticed a loud Lyclan talking with his friends. The man was bragging about his strength until he noticed Moris.

Warrior: "You're that ice guy aren't you?"

Moris: "I guess, yeah."

Warrior: "It was pretty smart joining the tournament when it started snowing! Though I think you should be more active when fighting."

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

Moris: "I'm not really here because I want to be. Just want to help out a friend."

Warrior: "You just got dragged along to his whims?"

Moris: "Seems so."

Moris gives a little chuckle.

Warrior: "The name's Brahnd by the way. I've got to be going now, my match's up next."

Moris bid Brahnd farewell as he left for the stage. He then walked back into the waiting area where Jake was waiting for him.

Jake: "You're craftier than I thought, Moris."

Moris: "Like lightning I take the path of least resistance."

Jake: "Sure sure. I'm up next so keep an eye open."

Moris: "Do I have to?"

Jake: "It'll be good for studying your opponents."

Jake patted Moris on the back as he left for the stage.

Moris: "More active, huh?"

Moris sits down on a free seat with a plate full of Chippers. They were basically spiced and baked peppers. They were made with a thin pepper that was more well known for its flavour than its spice. Crispy and delicious.

Announcer: "In this corner, we have the two time champ of the tournament. The Bloke who goes broke, the man with no retirement plan, Jake VOLLTEECCHHH!"

Moris*: "This wasn't the first time!?"

Announcer: "In the other corner we have an up and coming warrior. Described as a quick learner and even quicker fighter. A Solik with a big heart, its Brahnd IIRROONSSS!"

The crowd bursts out with joy. His charisma won them over easily and his position as a Solik contributed even more.

Brahnd: "Let's have a clean match, shall we?"

Jake: "I work with greasy machines, nothing about me is clean!"

Jake prepares the battlefield by setting up small pillars of crystals. These are specifically made to boost his strength and speed.

Brahnd pulls out a gun with a crystal where the hammer should be.

Jake*: "Oh great, my perfect counter."

Brahnd erupts crystal shielding of his own and aims at Jake. He shoots a bullet at him which catches him in the shoulder.

Jake feels the pain flow through his shoulder. For a second he assumes he's bleeding but checks the wound to make sure.

There is no wound there. Just his shirt and some pain.

Jake*: "Dumb of me to even think they'd allow anything other than air bullets. Now how the hell do I deal with this."

Before Jake could come up with a plan, Brahnd aimed and hit the crystal towers, breaking them back down into the raw material they were made from. Jake put up a wall and thought of a plan. He pulled out some gloves and put them on. They were basic engineering gloves, with a blue crystal in them and a wind revolution imprinted onto them.

They usually had green crystals or yellow ones but Jake decided to splurge and mod his. They were now strong enough to deliver electric shocks to knock out a person.

Jake: "Just need one solid hit..."

Brahnd had changed the power of his pistol and jake could feel it from the other side of the crystal wall. He started moving the wall ahead until he heard a bullet sound right next to his ear.

Brahnd had erected a crystal tower and was using it as a sniping position. Jake ran away from his cover and started running around the field, trying to dodge Brahnd's fire and find a way to reach him as well.

Jake*: "Maybe his tower isn't so bad for me after all."

Jake was covered in bruises at this point, he ran towards the tower while making himself as durable as possible.

Brahnd: "He has to be kidding. I can just shoot him if he tries making his way up."

Jake: "Here's everything I got!"

He created a crystal sledgehammer and several crystal towers that boosted his strength. He swung the sledge at the tower and it started collapsing. Jake was out of Bewl but there was still some left in his gloves.

As the debris cleared, Brahnd was on the ground, covered in scratches and cuts, and pinned under some rocks that had reverted back from crystal.

Jake: "It's the oldest lesson, the bigger they are, the harder they fall."

Jake tried to shock Brahnd but as soon as he came close, his Bewllan crystals went grey. He was confused for a second but then got hit by a massive shock from behind him. He looked back and noticed another Brahnd standing there.

Announcer: "In a shocking turn of events Brahnd unveils his trick magic."

Jake wakes up in the nurse's office where Moris is there to greet him.

Moris: "Man you really got your ass handed to you."

Jake: "Yeah I didn't expect that. Probably shouldn't have modified those gloves. Took of the protection I guess."

Moris: "Yeah. Well since you're beat I guess we can go home now."

Jake: "What're you talking about? You're still here."

Moris: "I use water, he uses lightning. I thought you were supposed to be smart."

Jake: "That's a videogame thing. Fights in real life aren't as simple. Why give up so easily?"

Moris: "I just don't feel like being embarrassed in front of a crowd."

Jake: "You're doing it again, Mor. Making excuses."

Moris: "What's the point if you know you're going to lose?"

Jake: "What's the point in not. At least there's a chance."

Moris walks out of the room. He walks towards the junction and needs to decide where he wants to go. Home or another match?

Mor*: "A chance? Guess I'll gamble for once."

Moris walks towards the waiting area. He goes through 2 more matches before finally arriving at the finale. There are only two contestants left. Moris and Brahnd himself. Moris shakes as he realizes he has to face Brahnd.

Jake comes out to visit Moris before the final match.

Jake: "And here I thought you'd quit. Proved me wrong AND made me proud, Moris."

Moris: "Yeah but I don't know if I'll win."

Jake: "You've come this far. Plus it's not like i would think less of you for it."

He ruffles Moris's hair and walks back to his seat in the stadium.

Moris*: "That...actually kind of helped."

Moris notices a glove on his lap. Its one of the gloves Jake uses for his work.

Moris*: "A trap, huh? Yeah, maybe that'll work."

Moris hides the glove in his pockets and makes his way over to his starting position.

Announcer: "Ladies and gentlemen, we're now at the final match. The grand winner gets the prize of 10,000 Dims!"

Moris*: "How did he waste that much!?"

Brahnd whistles at the amount on display.

Brahnd: "Sure is a lot. I bet I could finally afford to treat myself a little."

Moris: "Yeah right, a little."

Announcer: "So without further ado. BEGIN!"

Brahnd raises some cover before dashing onto the safe side of it. Moris prepares the ice into a similar shape in order to give him time to think.

Moris: "He's going to try to shoot me, I'm guessing."

As soon as he finishes that thought, he sees Brahnd come from his left side and panics. Brahnd comes as close as he can before beginning to pummel Moris. Moris coats his hands with ice and blocks Brahnd's fists but this wears down the ice. He raises his hands and Burns off his ice gauntlets in order to create steam.

This allows Moris enough time to escape from Brahnd.

Brahnd: "Not so fast."

As soon as Moris creates some distance between him and Brahnd, he gets hit with gun fire from another place.

Moris: "Damnit I'm not safe close or far!"

An idea clicks in his head. He freezes the one in the mist and then rushes to the gun holding Brahnd using an ice shield to protect himself.

Brahnd: "Don't be so cocky now!"

He evaporates the shield and tries to slip up Brahnd in the resulting puddle. Brahnd inserts a device into his gun which lets him switch to ice bullets. He pulls down the power so not to fatally injure Moris.

He shoots at his feet to plant himself. He pistol whips Moris and holds him at gunpoint.

Brahnd: "Good fight but you're out. I can tell"

But before he can pull the trigger, he notices the ice module missing.

Moris: "May be true, but this isn't!"

He pulls out the glove and grabs Brahnd with it. Brahnd's clothes were drenched because of the evaporation so the shock is more potent. Brahnd gets fried and falls down onto the ground.

Moris: "I did it?!"

Announcer: "An amazing victory! It seems this office worker had just enough tricks up his sleeve! Let's give it up for MORIS BEEWWFFFOORRRDDDD!"

Moris*: "You're doing this on purpose..."

Many cheers are had as Moris stands victorious over Brahnd. The announcer walks over to him to hand the cash prize which Moris accepts gratefully.

Jake: "I knew you could do it!"

Moris: "Guess pushing myself a little couldn't hurt from time to time."

Brahnd walks over to them and speaks up.

Brahnd: "Man you really got me with that. You didn't have to make it hurt so much though..."

Moris: "I don't know how to use those things so sorry."

Brahnd: "A win's a win I guess. Maybe I'll see you around here another time. You're pretty good at fighting, did you learn from a dojo?"

Moris: "haha...something like that yeah."

Brahnd: "Alright. See you later, BEWFORD."

Moris: "Oh no..."

Jake: "We better get going now, Mor. It's getting pretty late."

Moris: "Uhh didn't you want the money?"

Jake: "Oh that? I lied."

Moris: "WHAT!?"

Jake: "You need to learn how to fight, Mor. Ever since you've been hanging around Sincan it seems you get into a fight every other day."

Moris: "It happened once!"

Jake: "And what's to say it won't happen again. Sincan's getting assigned as your manager and it seems to me he's a trouble magnet."

Moris: "Jake, come on."

Jake: "Look I won't do it again. You did learn how to fight better at least."

Moris: "Could've just sparred against you."

Jake: "It helps with learning the techniques but actual fights are much different. Well, Mor, It's getting late. Treat yourself with the cash and I'll see you later."

Moris: "Yeah, see you, Jake."

----

Moris: "Sweet! I can do so much with this. Man i wonder what I'll spend it on first?"

A voice can be heard from far away.

???: "Come on, you said you'd treat us this time!"

Brahnd: "Well I'm sorry but I kind of lost..."

???: "Why can't we get that kind of stuff, big bro?"

Brahnd: "Hehe, you little scamp. You'll understand when you get older."

Brahnd seems to be talking to two little kids. A girl and a boy. Moris witnesses the scene.

Moris*: "Guess it always does end up like this, huh?"

Moris walks over to Brahnd as the two kids stay behind him.

Brahnd: "Hey, Mor. You live around here?"

Moris: "Yeah, actually. Saw you around and decided to say hi."

Brahnd: "Well that's good and all but I really got to be going. The kids get scared when they're outside too long."

Moris: "Actually about that."

Moris holds out the cash prize and hands it to Brahnd.

Brahnd: "Wait , really? No...I couldn't."

Moris: "Save me the small talk. Just take it, you big lug."

Brahnd: "Thanks, Mor. You sure are a great guy."

Moris*: "The cost of greatness is brokeness, sadly."

Brahnd: "Say, why don't you join us?"

Moris: "Uhh are you sure?"

Brahnd: "You did something for me so it's only right i return the favour."

Brahnd grabs Moris's hand as he's dragged off to the small restaurant.

Moris*: "H-hey! I never agreed to this!"