The day of the quarterfinals had arrived, and Aurin grabbed his seat in the tamer’s box to watch Hunter’s match unfold. It was a thrilling battle, but Hunter stayed one step ahead of his opponent at all times and pulled off a spectacular victory thanks to the raging inferno that was his Flambot.
“Our winner from last year, Hunter, is our first confirmed semi-finalist!” called the announcer. “You all know what that means, folks. He advances to not only the next round, but he has now qualified for the national championships in Ludonia next month. It’s going to be very exciting; I assure you all of that.”
Aurin hurried to the waiting room, where he would shortly be called to stand ready for his own battle. He was a lot more nervous for this fight than he was for his last, but the excitement of watching Hunter show off his skills had taken his mind off things for a while.
While Aurin tried to calm his nerves, Luna sat with his parents in the audience. “He’s going to be alright, isn’t he?” she asked.
Edwin nodded. “It’ll be a tough fight, but I’m sure he’ll pull through. Our Aurin is always full of surprises.”
Alice, who was holding Luna’s hand tightly, looked towards her husband. “I wish I had your confidence, Ed, but I’m worried about him. I don’t know how he’ll take it if he loses.”
“If he loses, and that’s an if, then he’ll do what he always does. He’ll pick himself up and train harder than ever before. He’ll climb higher in the tower, he’ll tame more monsters and he’ll strengthen his current ones.”
Luna was reassured by this and focused on the battlefield waiting for Aurin to emerge.
Aurin was waiting in the tunnel and talking to his friend, the tournament official, when Hunter approached from behind. “I just wanted to wish you luck,” he said, “but I don’t think you’ll really need it. You’re as prepared as you can be.”
“Thanks Hunter,” said Aurin, appreciating the morale boost. “Congratulations on your own win earlier. I didn’t doubt you for a second.”
“Thank you, Aurin. I look forward to facing you tomorrow. My team is ready and waiting, all you need to do is cross this final line.”
Suddenly, the announcer’s voice boomed out across the stadium. The tournament official signalled for Aurin to make his way onto the field. Aurin and Hunter quickly said their farewells as Hunter rushed to take his seat in the tamer box and Aurin walked across the grassy pitch.
“For the second match of the day, we have two fantastic competitors,” called the announcer. “You’re familiar with both of them by now, but I’ll name them anyway. It’s Aurin and Simeon!”
The crowd cheered, and Luna hopped to her feet with Innogon. They cheered loud enough that Aurin was certain he could pick her voice out amongst the cacophony.
“Aurin and Simeon are both standing in each other’s way of the semi-finals and a place in the national championships. One opponent. Three Minakai. Who will it be? Tamers, are you ready?” the announcer paused. “Begin!”
Aurin and Simeon both raised their hands, summoning their first Minakai from the orange stones embedded in their gloves. Each of them spawned a orange orb of light, which faded to reveal their first Minakai.
Spikruption stood on Aurin’s side of the field, whereas a different red reptile stood on Simeon’s. It was draconic, but with only wings where it’s arms would be, and it had a large tail almost as long as its body. It was a Fyrvern, a notably powerful fire elemental Minakai.
The red wyvern flapped its wings, its tail beating the ground as it rose and fell, as Spikruption charged in for the first attack. The Fyrvern dodged with ease against his slower opponent, but Aurin had expected this. He needed to be able to gauge how strong and fast this Minakai was.
A huge fireball erupted from Spikruption’s mouth and Fyrvern batted it away with ease, then swooped down and slammed his tail against the large dinosaur’s back, causing him to buckle at the knees.
“That had to hurt!” called the announcer.
The Fyrvern kept a distance, Simeon knew it was his biggest advantage in this battle. His Minakai breathed a wave of flames, but Spikruption took the hit without a problem, then sprinted in the opposite direction.
“Roll!” called Aurin, and his Minakai rolled into a ball, gathering speed as he did so. It was going to be hard to control, but it was his best shot in this face-off.
Fyrvern hung in the air, waiting for his opponent to draw close and ready to smack him out of the way. “Bounce!” ordered Aurin and Spikruption whipped his tail to unfurl himself. The heavy dinosaur flew through the air, catching Fyrvern off guard. Spikruption sank his teeth into his opponent’s tail, and pulled him to the ground.
The crowd gasped, thinking this would be an easy win for Fyrvern, but Aurin’s eyes were on Simeon. The tamer didn’t look deterred, in fact, he was smiling. “Rise!” he shouted, and his Minakai started to beat his wings harder than ever.
“There’s no way!” exclaimed the announcer. Everyone, especially Aurin, was shocked to see Spikruption be lifted into the air by the wyvern. The dinosaur must have been twice the weight of the dragon, but he somehow managed to ascend.
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The stubborn Spikruption refused to let go, thrashing wildly. He tried to sink his opponent back down, but it was no use. Fyrvern whirled around in the air and whipped its tail. He lost Spikruption, along with a small chunk of its tail. The red dinosaur slammed into the ground, defeated.
“Oh no!” cried Luna, squeezing Alice’s hand so tightly she had to pull it away.
“Dolissile, avenge your teammate,” said Aurin, summoning his second Minakai.
Fyrvern swooped straight in and unleashed a rain of fire on the battlefield, but Dolissile shot forward and out of the way. The flaming wyvern gave chase, but was unable to catch the much speedier dolphin.
“Spin and pulse,” ordered Aurin.
“Move!” demanded Simeon, knowing what was coming.
Fyrvern turned, but Dolissile was too quick. He sent out a pulse, disorienting his foe. Fyrvern continued to fly away, but Dolissile let out another pulse which caused the wyvern to drop down just low enough to be vulnerable. Dolissile was exhausted after the two pulse attacks, but he mustered the strength to burst forward and strike Fyrvern in the back with his fusion fin.
“Now that’s how you do a comeback!” called the announcer. “Each tamer now has two Minakai remaining, but Aurin’s Dolissile is looking tired. Can he hold out?”
“Somehow I don’t think so,” said Simeon with a sly grin. He summoned his next Minakai in an icy blue light as Dolissile remained motionless to conserve his strength.
Simeon’s Frogre beat its chest once the light had faded, then it sprinted forwards with a gruff yell. Dolissile jetted out of the way, dodging the attack, but was still tired from over-exerting himself with the barrage of attacks in the last battle.
Aurin knew what had to be done. “Head-on charge,” he ordered. “Give everything you’ve got left to give.”
Dolissile spun around and sped towards the Frogre, who dug its feet into he ground. He held his hands up and grabbed Dolissile’s head, refusing to be knocked back. Dolissile started shaking violently, trying to build up more speed. The Frogre, however, wasn’t budging an inch.
“Who’s going to break first?” called the announcer, as everyone in the stadium held their breath.
The usually quiet Dolissile screeched loudly with his sonar, causing the Frogre to wince as the loud echo pierced its ears. It was exactly what Dolissile needed. He burst forward with a final push and the two Minakai hurtled towards the walls, crashing into the concrete so hard it left a massive crack.
The two Minakai fell to the ground, neither able to get up. This was it, each tamer was on their final Minakai and the match would be decided very soon. Aurin and Simeon both raised their hands; Aurin unleashing a yellow light while Simeon conjured a blue light.
Skrow soared onto the battlefield as Simeon’s Guilgon landed with a thud. The large blue dragon, an evolved Innogon, stood with a devious smirk on its face. It marched forwards, slowly flapping its wings as it approached Skrow.
“Play this evasively for now, Skrow,” said Aurin. “You’re faster, but it’s stronger so we need to make it tire itself out.”
Skrow cawed, marking his compliance, and took to the skies. Guilgon stood on the ground, breathing deep. He held his breath, taking careful aim at the black bird and spat out a jet of water; a much more powerful one than Luna’s Innogon usually did. Skrow ducked out of the way, but Guilgon had plenty left in the tank and followed his opponent. The jet cut through the air like a laser, while Skrow weaved.
“Force him to move with an air cutter technique,” ordered Aurin.
Skrow beat his wings, unleashing a razor sharp wave of air elemental energy. Guilgon dove out of the way and his water jet petered out.
“Close range,” Simeon said.
Guilgon beat his mighty wings and took to the skies, quickly closing the gap between the two Minakai. Skrow ducked, rolled and twirled, avoiding the Guilgon’s attempts to swipe at him with its large claws.
The two flying Minakai were a black and blue blur in the sky as Guilgon chased Skrow. The dragon shot water jets, he tore his claws through the air and he clamped his hard, trying to catch Skrow, but the undead bird managed to avoid the attacks; admittedly, a few much closer calls than others.
“They look like they’re both getting tired,” said Edwin.
Luna agreed. “It’s down to whoever can knock the other out of the sky.”
Skrow let out a loud caw, as Guilgon’s jaw clamped down on his leg. He was at the dragon’s mercy, but Aurin had an idea.
“Air cutter to the face!” yelled Aurin, hoping his Minakai could hear him all the way up in the air.
Skrow beat his wings and the sharp wave of air slashed at Guilgon’s eyes, who released the bird. Both Minakai fell through the air and all eyes in the stadium followed them. Feet from the ground, Skrow pulled upwards and slowed his descent, while Guilgon’s head hit the ground. Aurin’s bird landed more softly but fell flat on his face seconds later.
“Both Minakai are—” called the announcer, but he cut himself off as Skrow flapped a wing weakly to show he was still conscious.
Aurin jumped for joy as the announcer called his victory. “Aurin advances to the semi-finals. He’s secured himself a place in the national championships and tomorrow he’ll face off against the reigning champion of Hazelton, Hunter!”
The stadium exploded in an uproar of cheers and applause, as Simeon walked across the battlefield. He patted his unconscious Guilgon’s wings, then banished him in a burst of light. Aurin sent Skrow back to the ranch and met Simeon in the centre of the field.
“I don’t think it could have been much closer,” said Aurin.
“Nah,” laughed Simeon. “Even if your Skrow was knocked out, my Guilgon was knocked out a few seconds before.”
“It was a great fight,” said Aurin, shaking his opponent’s hand.
“It was. Best of luck against Hunter.”
Aurin thanked him and the two headed off in opposite directions, returning to their tunnels. Aurin entered the waiting room and found Gardner rocking back and forth nervously on a chair, awaiting his own quarterfinals match that was due to start in a few minutes.
“Did you win?” asked Gardner. “I couldn’t hear the announcement over the audience.”
Aurin grinned goofily. “I did,” he confirmed.
Gardner jumped to his feet. “That’s great, mate! I can’t wait to see how you do against Hunter. He’s going to make you really work for the win.”
“I’m going to make him work for it too,” said Aurin. “It won’t be like it was in the town square last year.”
“I’d love to face either of you in the finals, but I still need to win two more matches to get there. The remaining competition is super tough, you know?”
“It is. I barely scraped through just now.”
Gardner sighed and sat down, continuing to rock back and forth. “I can do this, I can do this,” he repeated to himself continuously.
“You can do this,” Aurin assured him. “We’ll be cheering you on from the stands.”
“Thanks,” said Gardner, as Aurin departed.
The young tamer was ecstatic about his win. He felt an enormous wave of relief, knowing that even if he were to lose the next match, he still had a shot at the national title. However, he was determined to defeat Hunter and prove that he really deserved it.