Aurin’s Chopchop twirled his bladed arms around and assumed a defensive stance as Kenny’s own Chopchop collapsed, its helmet cut in half and a large gash across the side of its head.

The announcer’s voice boomed across the stadium. “And Kenny is down to his final Minakai while Aurin remains on his first. What a strong performance for our local hero, folks.”

Aurin no longer winced at hearing that, choosing to embrace the term. He let the cheers of the crowd fuel him further, pushing towards the victory that was within his grasp. As he watched Kenny’s fearful look from across the battlefield, he knew that this match was in the bag.

“Grakadon!” called the red-haired tamer, pulling his sunglasses that sat atop his head down and over his eyes.

“Now we’re talking,” muttered Aurin, excited to face off against the Minakai that Kenny had used to steamroll his competition.

The brown dragon appeared in a flash of orange, roaring ferociously as Chopchop tensed himself, waiting to be struck. Grakadon swung his arm, materialising a boulder within his palm and hurled it at Chopchop who cut through it and letting the two halves pass him by.

Grakadon, upon witnessing the strength of his foe stomped his feet, sending a quake across the entire battlefield. It was so intense that Aurin and Kenny both had to cling to the walls, yet Chopchop remained standing, fully braced for the attack. As the quaking subsided, he stormed towards his foe who took to the skies to avoid the sharp blades of the armoured insect.

“That won’t save you,” said Aurin with a smile. “Chopchop, use your metal wave!”

Aurin’s Minakai swung his arms, sending a shockwave of metal elemental energy through the air and cutting a deep gash into Grakadon’s tail, forcing it to drop to the ground. It may have been tough, but Aurin and Chopchop had trained with Tobias’s Grakadon which was on another level entirely.

Upon Grakadon landing, it noticed that Chopchop was already there to meet it with his blades raised. Grakadon raised his own arms, coasting them in stone armour that Chopchop swiftly cut through and took a large chunk from the dragon’s arm. It roared in pain as Chopchop’s other arm swung for its neck, stopping upon first contact. A single move and Grakadon was done for.

With eyes of malice, Grakadon sneered and foolishly chose to lean out of the way. Chopchop pulled his arm back and slashed across the earthen dragon’s chest, sending a splattering of blood across the grass as the dragon collapsed in defeat.

“And Aurin has eliminated Kenny with a single Minakai!” called the announcer, barely audible through the cheers of the crowd. “What a performance that was, folks. I can’t believe I just witnessed it. If he brings this level of finesse to the national champions, we could be looking at our next national champion right here.”

Kenny let out a dry laugh and shook his head in exasperation as he walked to meet Aurin in the middle of the battlefield. Aurin himself was smiling and waving to the crowd who were clapping and cheering as loud as ever. Luna put her fingers in her mouth and tried to whistle loudly, but it was a resounding failure and she was glad nobody had noticed except Innogon.

“Good match,” said Aurin, shaking Kenny’s hand.

“Yeah, but not for me,” chuckled the defeated tamer. “I hope I don’t draw you early in the national championships, mate.”

“You’re a good tamer, Kenny. You should study up on how Tobias handles his Grakadon to take skills up a notch. I’ve no doubt you can pull it off.”

“How long is there left until the championships?”

“That doesn’t matter. There’s always time to train,” shrugged Aurin as he moved to walk away. “I’ve got plenty of it left to do myself once my next battle is over. Can’t let myself slip by taking a month off now, can I?”

“You’re not free to train me then, eh?”

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The two tamers laughed as they walked away from the centre of the battlefield and back to their own tunnels.”

*

“Here’s to the first confirmed finalist of the third Hazelton Tournament,” said Gardner, holding up a milkshake and clinking glasses with Aurin and Luna. Shamtile and Innogon had milkshakes of their own and, of course, were already almost finished before the tamers had even taken a sip.

“How does it feel knowing that you’ll be fighting either Kyle or myself next?” asked Luna with a nudge and a wink.

Aurin shrugged. “I’ve fought you both so many times now that even with the higher stakes, I’m still desensitised.”

“I’ll make you regret those words once I kick Kyle out of the tournament and back to the ranch.”

“Oh, we’re getting to the tough talk now,” said Gardner, leaning in and watching intently. “How long before fists are thrown?”

“The only fists being thrown will be Zenoman’s as he single-handedly defeats Luna’s entire team,” said Aurin.

“So…you think it’ll be Luna in the final?” asked Gardner, raising an eyebrow.

“There’s no way you’re getting me to answer that,” chuckled Aurin.

“Does that mean you think it’ll be Kyle?” asked Luna.

“I’m not answering that either. I’m not taking sides in this and will be cheering both of you on.”

“Shouldn’t you take your girlfriend’s side over anybody else’s?”

“Normally, you would think so,” said Aurin, nodding along, “but my girlfriend doesn’t put a roof over my head.”

“Well, there is that,” muttered Luna as Gardner cackled wildly.

“At least all three of you will be going to the national championships with Kenny,” said the nature elemental specialist. “Some smooth operator knocked me out of the tournament already.”

“No regrets,” said Aurin, leaning back in his chair and grinning.

“Not until I come back for vengeance, mate. Not until I come back for vengeance.” Gardner shook his fist, feigning anger before grinning.

“Oh no,” sighed Luna, staring up the street.

Aurin and Gardner turned in their chairs and spotted Fredrick walking along the sunny streets of Hazelton and making his way straight for them. Suddenly Gardner’s fist started shaking in earnest upon seeing Frederick’s smarmy sneer.

“Aurin, Luna…whatever your name was,” said Frederick, making Gardner’s face turn red with fury.

“You rotten scumbag. I’m going to—”

“Don’t take his bait,” said Aurin, trying to calm Gardner down. “You’re giving him exactly the reaction he wants. What do you want, Fredrick?”

“I just wanted to congratulate you on qualifying for the national championships, Aurin. I’m looking forward to having a true battle against you again and seeing who is the better tamer.”

“Yes, I’m very much looking forward to defeating you,” replied Aurin.

Frederick laughed. “Do not get overconfident. Still haven’t hatched that Zeera, have you?”

Aurin said nothing.

“I thought as much. Even if you hatch him this evening, there’s no possibility of you getting him to bow to your will in time. It took a lot of effort to get a Minakai like Abysarex under control and Zeera should, in theory, be more powerful at his full strength.”

“Aurin doesn’t need Zeera to defeat you,” said Luna. “Even I could wipe the floor with your team, Frederick.”

Fredrick leaned back and let out a single loud laugh. “You’re serious, are you? Luna, you may be strong enough to beat losers like Damien, but not someone on my level. Not all Zodiac elites were equal in strength, as I’m sure you aware. The only one stronger than me was our dear leader.”

“Funny that you still call him your leader,” said Gardner. “You haven’t changed at all, have you?”

Fredrick pretended to be thinking. “What was your name again? Giles?”

Gardner stood up and lunged for Fredrick who took a swift step back to avoid Gardner’s grasp. “Temper, temper. Is it any wonder that you lack the emotional control needed to make it to the national championships, Gary?”

“Is there anything else, Frederick?” asked Aurin, holding Gardner back.

“No,” said the former Zodiac elite. “I’ve got plenty of training to do. I’ll see you in Ludonia, Aurin. And I’ll be stronger than you’ve ever seen me.”

With that, Fredrick stuck his hands in his pockets and strolled away while Gardner continued to stare after him, seething.

“You had better wipe the floor with him if you get the chance, you hear?” he said to Aurin and then sat down, taking a sip of his milkshake. “In fact, if you don’t get the chance, I’ll help you jump him outside the stadium.”

“I will face him and I will win,” said Aurin. “Fredrick is going to be humbled and, this time, it will stick.”

There was the sudden breaking of glass underneath and table seconds before Shamtile and Innogon rolled out from underneath in a heap, punching each other. Their two tamers grabbed them and tore them away from each other as the two little reptiles screeched and yapped at each other.

“What is it this time?” asked Aurin, looking underneath the table as the broken remains of the two milkshake glasses.

With a sigh and a shake of their heads, Aurin and Luna reached into their pockets and each grabbed a piece of silver to pay for the broken glasses while Shamtile and Innogon continued to glare at each other.

“Ah, to be so carefree that your biggest problem is fighting over milkshakes,” said Gardner, looking from Shamtile to Innogon and then back again. “What I would give to lead such a simple life.”

“Do you fancy stepping onto the stadium and brawling against Kyle’s Wingbloom tomorrow?” asked Luna.

“You know what, forget I said that.”