Hisa sighed after the numbers were called, and two men entered the square. “Katashige of the Lords versus Tsunekatsu of Marstonic. Both are maxed out at forty-seven rings.”
Kichi had never seen the rings about herself or anyone else. How did they know they even existed? She figured it was better to ask than to stay ignorant. “How do you know?”
“Those with the eyes can see, and they’ve told me. I know you have six rings. But don’t fret. Rings only store magical energies. They don’t account for skill or mystic items.”
“I see. So, who are you rooting for?”
“Katashige, of course. The Marstonic Order is like a demon. There’s good and purity within, but corruption has twisted its purpose.”
Katashige and Tsunekatsu faced each other at the center.
Katashige bowed.
Tsunekatsu crossed tattoed arms, looked down his nose at his opponent, and chucked. He had a long braid and a high hairline.
Most matches started with circling and prodding, one knight trying to gauge the other, but this happened suddenly. Both knights summoned Shining Armor, and Tsunekatsu barreled forward and unleashed rapid strikes.
Katashige met the onslaught, but his only possible response must’ve been to bend like a willow tree in a storm, for he slipped, dodged, and moved back. He flipped backward, making enough space to recompose himself.
Kichi wondered how long the two men could keep it up. It had only been moments, but it was all-out intensity.
Masahide sat next to her with a cloak folded in his arm. They would climb the mountain after they had competed. Hopefully, they’d reach the top, and a wind spirit would bless the falcon feather for the potion.
Water sprayed Kichi, and she squeaked. That brought her attention back to the fight.
Gaisers bust from Katashige’s hands. He shot streams of water nonstop at his opponent, but none landed.
Tsunekatsu conjured little wind devils, and the water misted. His form distorted behind sheets of water as he sprinted and dodged. “I’m too fast and too strong for you, Katashige.”
A column of water lifted Katashige from the square. “Now’s not the time for conversation.”
The braggart frowned at that. “Why is everyone so boring at these tournaments? Have a little fun once in your life.”
The crowd buzzed with excitement, which rose to a deafening roar when Tsunekatsu rose on a funnel of air, and both men stood in the sky to exchange blows.
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A constant drizzle and mist drenched the whole area. Kichi looked down at her tendrils of dark hair and clinging shirt. “How are we going to climb a mountain like this?”
Rivelets ran down Masahide’s face and dripped from his chin. “Put on your cloak. We’ll never get warm if we stay soaked.” He donned his and pulled up the hood. Water beaded on the oiled cloth.
Kichi and Masahide craned their necks to look at the mountain that surrounded the castle. The trees thinned along the slopes and disappeared at the treeline. Then, the granite turned white from the snow that lingered into summer. It was so far up.
Pop. Pop.
Something detonated and echoed in the mountain hollow like fireworks. The combatants sent water or air from their hands, colliding with a boom.
The crowd fell quiet—perhaps they felt the danger as Kichi did. Water snaked above the arena, and tornados meandered the square. The sword fight at the center was blurred.
The Duke stood and clapped. “A grand display of skill from two master craftsmen. Now, let’s add a bit of Dunaguardian fun. Loose the rhinohex.”
A six-legged rhino thundered up from a trapdoor onto the square. It charged into the magic around it but couldn’t reach the men in the air. When it got too close to the edge, the knights shielded its escape.
Kichi realized no one in the square had used a shield. “Masahide, why doesn’t anyone use a shield?”
“It’s risky. One must take energy from the rings and put them into the shield. If the shield holds, the energy isn’t lost and can be stored again. However, it only takes a quarter of the power to break it, and all the energy from the shield is lost. That’s why Shining Armor is so important. It uses much less than it protects.”
“Why don’t you use Shining Armor.”
“The skill eludes me. Most who reached my power level have long mastered it. But alas, I haven’t.”
Tsunekatsu landed on the rhinohex, threw his head back, and laughed. “Okay, Katashige, let’s not hold back.” He charged forward as a blur and hit his opponent in a combination of slashes and stabs. Most penetrated the defense of the blue sword.
There was a flash as Katashige’s Shining Armor burst apart in shards that dissipated. He fell from the column of water and crashed to the stone floor. He coughed blood.
Tsunekatsu landed and walked toward the injured man with a grin. “You’re done, Katashige. Do the Lords even have another knight worth competing against?”
The rhinohex rushed behind Tsunekatsu and tried to gore him. But he stepped aside, and the creature continued.
The heavy foot smashed Katashige's head. Pinched out of its skin, his skull slid across the square like a bean squeezed from the pod. It stopped, and the meat and bone faced Kichi with a terrifying visage.
Tsunekatsu caught the rhinohex in a funnel and stood at the square's edge. He kicked the head away. “Hisa, don’t be a coward. Join the tournament and fight me.”
Kichi
Level: 6
Focus: Prescience
Secondary focus: Lava+1
Weapons: pure sword - 3% pure
Items: Near Field Amulet (Prescience+2, focus)