“I don’t know what the Battle Underground is,” said Aurin, continuing to follow Luna through the quiet train station. There were a few stragglers coming in and out, but it wasn’t the hive of activity that you’d expect a station in central Ludonia to be.

“I booked us slots especially,” said Luna, half-skipping down the tunnel. “You know how I miss battling against other tamers?”

“It may have come up once or twice,” said Aurin sarcastically.

“Well, this was the answer. You’ll see in a minute.”

Luna carried Innogon on her back as she guided Aurin and Shamtile through the echoing tunnels. They made their way down an unmoving escalator lined with grubby and torn advertisements on the walls. When they reached the bottom, Aurin could hear the sound of cheers coming from somewhere up ahead.

They stepped through an archway and emerged onto a train platform flanked by train tracks on either side. There was a large group of people stood in a circle where flames burst from the centre, followed by a sudden downpour of rain. There was a Minakai battle occurring right here on the platform.

As Aurin and Luna joined the crowd, they suddenly gasped. “And would you look at that,” called a young announcer. “Robbie’s Pyropillar has just been smashed by Billy’s Minasma.”

Pyropillar was a fire elemental insect, the earliest stage of Pyrofly. The small orange caterpillar had been flattened by the sludge-like Minasma and looked in bad shape. Its tamer picked it up and stepped away from the circle to tend to its wounds.

“Alright, we’ve had a cancellation,” said the announcer, “so who’s next on the list…is there a Luna here?”

“Here!” she said, raising her hand.

“I’m glad you’re early,” said the announcer. “It makes my job a lot easier. You’re up against Miles. Don’t go easy on him, he’s a regular here.”

“Watch it, Kev,” said Miles, stepping into the circle. His Eyegloo—a small mound of snow-covered ice with a large eye at the front—slid along the ground after him.

Luna stepped forwards and summoned her Rabbacat from the ranch. The light brown rabbit looked around, confused as to where she’d been summoned to. It certainly didn’t look like the tower. Innogon yapped at her, then Rabbacat’s face lit up. She began to hop up and down excitedly.

“Are you ready to battle?” asked Luna, who received a high-pitched squeak in response. Rabbacat was ready.

“Are you familiar with the rules here?” asked Kev the announcer. “It’s a one versus one battle with no items, no switches. You’ve got fifty silver on the line. You lose, you pay up.”

“Fifty silver?” muttered Aurin, also noticing Luna’s look of surprise at that part. She seemed to have unwittingly brought them to a gambling den. “She’d better win then,” he said to Shamtile, who reached for Aurin’s wallet only to be batted away by his tamer.

“Begin!” called the announcer, Kev.

Eyegloo immediately hurled an icicle at Rabbacat, who bounced out of the way. The icicle flew to the edge of the arena, coming straight for Aurin. He ducked, but everyone laughed as the icicle seemingly vanished into thin air.

“You new?” said a girl in the crowd.

“What gave it away?” asked Aurin, feeling silly.

She laughed. “The guys running the show have a few Minakai watching the match and using forcefields to dissipate any attacks that go astray. You’ll be fine.”

“Do the forcefields ever get broken?”

“No…well, rarely,” admitted the girl looking uncomfortable.

Aurin turned back to watch the match. Rabbacat delivered a series of powerful kicks to the Eyegloo, but the icy dome closed its eye to focus, then icicles burst from its body like a sea urchin, stabbing Rabbacat in the foot. She hopped away on one foot, as the Eyegloo pursued.

“Push it away,” ordered Luna.

Rabbacat turned to look at the charging Eyegloo. She sidestepped while Eyegloo tried to slow down on the low-friction tiles, but the momentum made it difficult. Rabbacat headbutted Eyegloo’s back and it slid straight to the edge of the arena and into the forcefield. It bounced off the edge like it was a puck on an ice rink. It tried to slow itself down by conjuring ice walls, but Rabbacat continued to kick it, making it bounce and spin all over the place.

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As Luna ordered her Minakai to relent, the Eyegloo slowed down. It’s large eye was spinning dizzily. “There’s your target!” called Luna, and Rabbacat delivered a final kick straight to the ice elemental’s weak spot; its eye.

“Agh!” yelled Miles.

“It was your own fault for using an ill-suited Minakai in the underground,” snapped Kev. “The victory goes to Luna!”

Miles reluctantly reached into his wallet and passed her fifty silver, then slumped off. Luna gazed at it in awe, but Aurin pulled her aside. “Don’t even think about making a habit of this,” he said. “The last thing we need is you returning home with a gambling addiction. Your parents would kill me.”

“I won’t, I won’t,” said Luna hastily, trying to reassure him.

“Alright, next up is…Aurin,” said Kev, looking at a list in his hand. “We’re a bit early, so if he’s not here then somebody else can step in first.”

“No, I’m here,” said Aurin, walking into the centre of the crowd.

“Ah, it’s you?” said Kev. “Well, I already explained the rules to your friend. You’re up against Hendrix; you know the score, Hendrix.”

Hendrix walked forward and nodded. He had an Arium by his side, its detached fists were floating in the air and surrounded by a turquoise aura.

“Good luck,” said the tamer, then muttered under his breath. “You’re going to need it.”

“Yes, you will,” retorted Aurin. He raised his hand and summoned Gorunze to the battlefield, as the crowd gasped. Hendrix looked slightly worried.

“Fight!” called Kev.

Arium spun its fists around, and telekinetically threw them through the air at Aurin’s Minakai. Aurin simply smiled as Gorunze shot laser beams from his eyes. One beam, and a fist was thrown to the floor. A second strike, then another fist fell to the floor. A third beam hit Arium square in the head, and the Minakai fell to the ground defeated.

Everyone stood in silence before Kev spoke up. “Well…Kev, pay up.”

Kev walked forward quietly and handed Aurin his money. “You’re not a tourist. You’re competing in the tournament, aren’t you?” he asked.

“That’s right,” said Aurin.

Kev turned to the crowd. “Alright, everyone. We’re well ahead of schedule so we’re going to take a short break. If you want any refreshments, sort yourselves out. We’re back at it again in fifteen minutes.”

Aurin, Luna and their four Minakai sat down on an empty bench on the platform while half the crowd left to grab something to eat.

“I have to admit, this was a big surprise,” said Aurin. “It’s a fun place to battle, no doubt, but the rules…”

Luna held her head in her hands. “I didn’t know we were going to be gambling!”

Aurin couldn’t control his laughter and turned to look at Gorunze. A number of the crowd had approached him and were examining him, impressed by the powerful bronze golem.

“Your booking said you were an intermediate,” chortled Kev, who sat down on the bench beside Aurin.

“I didn’t fill out any booking forms,” said Aurin, looking at Luna.

She shrugged. “I thought we were intermediates. I didn’t think we would be counted as advanced tamers yet.”

“If you’ve qualified for the national championships, you’re definitely a step above intermediate.”

Aurin pulled out the silver that he had just won. “I suppose I should give this back then. I don’t want to win under false pretence.”

Kev laughed. “Nah, keep it, mate. Hendrix could do with being taken down a peg or two. Maybe this will humble him, who knows?”

Aurin was curious about the whole setup of the Battle Underground. “Who came up with this?”

“That would be yours truly,” said Kev, holding his hands out and looking proud. “This old station was going to waste, just sitting derelict for years with no plans to be brought back into use. I figure, hey, why not use it for something? It’s a fantastic location in the heart of Ludonia, it’s got plenty of space, and it’s not going to be too expensive. It’s all perfectly above board, I might add, it just looks dodgy.”

“It’s so cool!” said Luna, marvelling at the abandoned station. It was eerier than any other underground stop she’d been to, but that made it all the more fascinating to her.

“Thank ye,” said Kev, taking a small bow. “Right, our next competitor is a busy guy and it’s time to begin, so we’d better get back to it.”

Kev headed back to his spot where he was running the matches, while the crowd reformed their circle. In fact, Aurin noticed it was larger than it was before. He asked Luna why, but she didn’t even hazard a guess.

“Alright, ladies and gentlemen,” said Kev, looking all business again. “Our next competitor is the one you’ve been waiting for. He’s as mysterious was they come and doesn’t he know it, eh? Please give a big hand for the star of the show, Sir Mask!”

A man stepped out of the shadows and into the circle. He was tall and well-built, easily mistakable for a bodybuilder, but it wasn’t his size that captured everyone’s attention. It was his strange choice of attire. He was dressed in black sports gear, with his hood pulled up, and a black mask sat upon his face; it covered everything except his eyes.

Aurin and Luna gave each other an uncertain look, having had more than enough trouble with masked individuals in the past. “Should we get out of here?” asked Luna.

“It’ll be okay,” said Aurin.

Sir Mask paced around the circle, as though he was eyeing everyone up. He put a finger to his chin and tapped it as he walked. “Who is brave enough to face me today?” he asked.

A few tamers stuck their hands up eagerly, while others backed off in fear.

“Sir Mask?” asked Kev.

“You have an opponent for me, Kev?”

“Why don’t we make things interesting today?”

“Interesting…I like interesting.”

Kev gestured towards the crowd. “How about fighting two tamers at once, what do you reckon?”

“Two tamers at once?” asked Sir Mask, feigning shock. “If I were to fight two tamers at once, I would surely lose. You must have it in for me, Kev. Why would you say such a thing?”

“I’m afraid I must insist.”

Sir Mask sighed. “Very well, very well.” He turned towards the crowd once more. “Two tamers together then, and let’s make the reward five hundred silver each. Why not make it even better? I will only use one Minakai against your chosen two. You can’t say fairer than that, can you? Who’s brave enough now?”

Dozens more hands shot into the air, the thought of such a great prize and a two on one battle enticing them. Aurin and Luna were among those who had volunteered for the fight.

“You pair,” said Sir Mask, pointing at the two young tamers. “Let’s see what you’re made of.”