“Tamer twenty-two, Master Rodrick, eliminated by tamer thirty-two, Master Kyle,” announced Lord Kensington. “We are left with eight tamers remaining. All tamers are no longer allowed beyond the grasslands. You have ten minutes to exit the forest, the caves, the hills or wherever you might be. Waiting out the competition is no longer an option for you.”

“Top eight, Inno,” said Luna excitedly. “All we need to do is hang on a little longer.”

The blue drake started yapping and hopping up and down erratically.

“Yes, that means we’ll probably have to fight our friends soon. If we run into Aurin, Kyle or Hunter, we might not have much choice but to battle. Can you imagine if we have to battle Leo? I would love to eliminate him and wipe that eternally smug look off his face.”

Luna exited the vineyard at the far side and wandered around the outside of it with Innogon. It had already been looted for all items, at least as far as she could tell. She had spotted a hedge maze nearby and thought she would investigate that too, but she had little hope of finding anything. It was a better option than to sit and wait idly for another tamer to happen upon her.

As Luna walked across the grass and towards the maze, she saw a Wingbloom fly out from within the hedge maze. She squinted and could make out a man and a large snowman walking from the entrance. Curiously, there was a large hole in the side of the maze that didn’t look to be carefully trimmed like the rest of the hedges.

Kyle waved to her as he walked across the grass. Luna picked up Innogon and ran towards him, excited to see a friendly face. The two met in the middle with the palace looming not too far away.

“Two Minakai left?” asked Luna with a smile, glad to see Kyle still going so strongly.

“Innogon and an eg—”

“Tamer twelve, Master Ciaran, eliminated by tamer seven, Master Frederick,” announced Lord Kensington.

“Ah, seven tamers to go then,” said Kyle, “and we know for certain who five of them are.”

“Leo has been on the rampage this entire tournament,” remarked Luna. “I don’t think anyone has eliminated as many other tamers as he has. It’s impressive, really.”

“Yes, I believe he’s the top scorer. I’m not sure if that’s even being counter, but no doubt it’s doing wonders for his already ballooned ego. Frankly, I’m surprised he hasn’t ambushed any of us so far. Maybe he’s saving us for last.”

“Perhaps we shouldn’t give him the satisfaction of beating us?”

“You think he would beat me?” asked Kyle with a sly grin.

“Um…probably not.”

“Probably?”

“Definitely?”

“Yes, that’s better.”

Luna looked at her egg. “I don’t think I’ll have the chance to hatch this before the tournament is over, will I?”

Kyle shrugged. “If you had found Aurin, you would have. He’s been carrying around an incubator for a while. He’s even got a Lunar Shard he wanted to hand over to you.”

“Oh! So he’s hatched his Petalcub egg?”

“Last time I saw him was maybe ten minutes ago. He still has Shamtile and Petalcub going strong, but Chopchop is getting tired.”

“Chopchop?”

“Ah yes, and he evolved his Snippet too.”

“I was lucky enough to find my own Lunar Shard so everything worked out…well, except for Frocean falling in battle against Clarke.”

“Yes, I heard the announcement. He’s a tough one, so it’s impressive that you defeated him.”

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“You know what will be even more impressive?” asked Luna.

“Defeating me?” asked Kyle.

“Defeating you,” said Luna with a nod. “How about it?”

“Well, you won’t defeat me, but I accept your challenge,” said Kyle confidently.

“Inno is a lot stronger than I think you realise.”

“Oh, I know he’s strong. I just believe my team is stronger still.”

“I want to fight both Wingbloom and Snowlem together.”

“You what?” asked Kyle, taken aback.

“You heard me.”

“Are you sure about that?”

Innogon bounded forwards, positioned for battle and eager to show Kyle just how strong he really was. Kyle nodded slowly and held up his hand, beckoning both Wingbloom and Snowlem forwards.

“Three. Two. One,” said Luna. “Go!”

Wingbloom took to the sky while Snowlem conjured a hailstorm. Innogon knew exactly what to do from his last fight and covered himself in a bubble shield to block the icy rocks before they had the chance to start beating him. He roared loudly and summoned a great wave that Snowlem broke with an ice wall, separating it into two waves that sailed on past him.

Innogon leapt out of the way as Wingbloom charged down, beak first. The winged plant grabbed with his talons and swept with his sharp leafy wings, but Innogon ducked and rolled out of the way of each attack, his small size making him a much more difficult target to attack.

An icicle spear struck him, courtesy of Snowlem, as he was busy avoiding Wingbloom’s attacks. He was knocked down and Wingbloom seized the opportunity to sink his talons into the little drake and take to the skies with him.

Wingbloom soared up high and performed a somersault. He released Innogon who was flung down to the ground, but he was not prepared to lose so quickly. He shot out a water jet at the ground, the force of it slowed him down just enough to land unscathed.

“He’s quite the resourceful little Minakai isn’t he?” asked Kyle.

Luna didn’t answer and focussed on the battle. Innogon ran forward and leapt at Snowlem, who brought up another ice wall in order to make Innogon crash, but the dragon flipped and cut through the wall with his fin. He pushed through to the other side and rammed into Snowlem, knocking the sentient snowman to the ground.

Innogon unleashed a point blank water jet and Snowlem was forced back along the grass, but the jet was cut short as a gust of wind from Wingbloom blew Innogon right after him. The two sliding Minakai hopped back to their feet and Snowlem made to grab Innogon, who spat small spurts of water into Snowlem’s coal eyes. He leapt into the air and headbutted the snowy golem, knocking him down once again.

Wingbloom descended upon him, but Innogon shot a jet of water into the ground and threw himself out of the way. From the air, he breathed deep once more and fired a pressure cannon into Snowlem, sending him skidding down a hill.

“Get up!” Kyle ordered Snowlem, but the force of the cannon had defeated the exhausted Minakai.

“Yes,” Luna said quietly to herself, just about restraining herself from giving a fist pump.

This was going to be closer than Kyle had expected. “Wingbloom, do not let up your attacks!”

Wingbloom swooped down, but Innogon rolled aside and shot water jet after water jet, trying to knock the flying plant out of the sky. Wingbloom proved to be too fast, swirling, ducking and diving out of the way. Not a single attack landed, but he was having to push himself to make sure that it remained that way.

“It’s time to bring back an old favourite,” said Kyle. “Supersonic beak!”

Wingbloom harnessed the power of the wind element and burst towards Innogon with incredible speed. He rammed his fibrous beak into Innogon’s chest, flinging the blue drake across the grass. Knowing he could not give Innogon the chance to recover, Wingbloom soared after him and picked him up once more. He took to the skies and tossed him downwards. Luna’s Minakai hit the ground hard and lay motionless, defeated at last.

Luna closed her eyes and breathed deep. She had lost, but she couldn’t help but smile. She walked over to Innogon and picked him up, cradling him in her arms.

“Tamer fourteen, Lady Luna, eliminated by tamer thirty-two, Master Kyle,” announced Lord Kensington.

“Why are you so happy?” asked Kyle with a small laugh upon seeing Luna’s smile.

“He put up a great fight, didn’t he?”

“He did,” admitted Kyle. “I’m impressed, I have to say.

“Good luck with the rest of the tournament,” said Luna, using a summoning stone to send Innogon back to the ranch. “I hope it’s you and Aurin in the final.”

“Thank you, Luna,” said Kyle.

With that, Luna walked across the grass with her unidentified egg in one hand and her high heels in the other. She didn’t even notice as Aurin approached from the vineyard, where he had sat quietly watching his two best friends battling. He looked over to Luna who walked past the fountain and ascended the palace steps without looking back once.

“Did you see everything?” Kyle asked him as he approached.

“I did,” confirmed Aurin. “She really gave it her all. I’m very proud of her.”

“Frankly, I’m surprised she was able to take out Snowlem with both him and Wingbloom battling together. I would say it’s because they’re spent, but that would probably be my own ego talking. Rather, I think Innogon is just…well, he’s powerful.”

“Yup,” said Aurin.

“That’s all?”

“What more is there to say?”

“You’re not going to challenge me yet?” asked Kyle. “I’m down to only Wingbloom and he’s just finished a battle. Now would be the time to strike for an easy victory.”

“I don’t want an easy victory. I’m saving you for last.”

“If we make it that far.”

“Well, if we don’t, we’ll have a proper battle back at the ranch at full strength.”

“You and your fairness,” said Kyle with a laugh as Aurin walked away with his team. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to find Hunter or Leo,” said Aurin. “I doubt either of them are too far away.”