James and Carl’s duel was short. James had an affinity for Earth, Nature, and Sand. At the very start he blanketed the whole arena with dust and dirt. There was no way that Carl was able to see anything. Seth was unsure how his new friend was going to manage. There was a blast of black and then it was over. When the dust settled, Carl was sitting on the far side of the room in a meditative state. A large beast was sitting on top of James snarling at him. Further inspection found the beast to be some sort of mountain lion. The beast lifted up off of James and ran back towards Carl. With a leap, the beast shrunk and disappeared as if Carl was a portal into the void.

“What kind of ability was that?” James asked accusingly. He was visibly shaking throughout his body.

“Summon Beast Familiar.” Carl said nonchalantly before moving to sit on the bench.

“Nicely done.” Lance said “Atiyah and Jasmine.”

Atiyah stood and walked onto the platform. Jasmine followed. Seth ignored the bets going on around them as he watched each girl carefully. Jasmine was beautiful. Her dark hair was neatly tied in a braid that fell to the midpoint of her back. The jumpsuit she wore had a function to tighten as the user needed. It hugged her curves in all the right places and showcased her muscled physique. Atiyah kept her clothes in a semi baggy state. Her white hair was pulled up into a bun which showed her pointed ears and thin jawline. Atiyah was a bit stockier and about three inches shorter than Jasmine. She was by no means fat. Her body was toned and proper from years of living as a princess in high court. Come to think of it, Jasmine portrayed a similar aura of confidence. It made Seth wonder if she was also some sort of high royalty from Regalia. The two sized each other up but made no moves. Jasmine was a stage three priest and ninja. Atiyah was on par in Sorcerer but was stage below when it came to the rogue class. Seth was unsure what the difference was in stage one and two but knew that the match was going to be good. Atiyah took a deep breath and muttered a word of power. Seth noticed air moving wistfully around her before she ran forward. She pulled out her daggers and fired a volley of strikes at her opponent. Jasmine ducked, dipped, dodged and rolled away. Their agility was evenly matched as their stats showed but that did not mean anything. Jasmine’s strength stat would play a crucial role in this match and she knew it. Jasmine struck downward with her fish fitting the concrete platform, It crushed beneath her and sent up chunks of rock distracting Atiyah. She then disappeared. Atiyah turned and was hit across the face with a right jab. Jasmine was using her skill, teleport to attack at Atiyah’s blind spot. Atiyah retreated to the left but was met with a swift kick to her side. She hit the ground and Seth stood up from his bench. He ignored the weird looks from the other teammates as he watched and willed Atiyah to get up and fight. She did just that. With roll and the help of her air barrier, Atiyah landed gracefully oh her feet and cast the spell water blast. A torrent of liquid formed in her hands and shot outward on to the platform. The barrier kept the water in place and she filled it up to close to three feet deep.

“Are you trying to go swimming?” Jasmine asked The water was up to her crotch as she tried to wade towards Atiyah.

“Needed a drink.” Atiyah answered sarcastically.

She then jumped into the air flipping and touching the water with her finger and landing on top of the water. Ice formed around her and shot outward. Jasmine tried to teleport but was caught in the frost attack. She landed hard on the ice. A look down revealed part of her leg was covered in ice. She formed a fire orb and let he heat melt away the frost before standing up and looked towards Atiyah

“Clever. I have a fire affinity however.” She said

Wind formed around Atiyah and rushed forward. More muttering and ice shards appeared. Atiyah covered her dagger in ice and a water orb formed in her other hand. Jasmine summoned a wall of fire to melt the shards. Water sprayed past her and she began sending fireballs forward from the flame. Seth watched the platform. The platform of broken concrete had a layer of water and ice floating on top of it. The fire was slowly melting that layer away and the water was rising upward. Jasmine could not see if but the water level was rising more than the three feet it had initially.

“Watch the water!” Joshua yelled.

It was too late. Atiyah side stepped a well aimed fireball and then dropped down the hole that it made. Jasmine was alone standing on a slab of ice nearly eight feet above the platform. The barrier was still holding the magic inside. Atiyah hit the concrete and walked calmly to where Jasmine stood above. Her water breathing ability made it to where she could survive underwater for up to three minutes. Hitting rank II in the skill increased it to five. She formed a water orb and whip-like conjurations formed out of the holes. They struck at Jasmine who teleported around the top half of the arena and threw fireballs to try and melt the ice. Jasmine had no idea where Atiyah was. The layer of ice was covered in a small layer of frost which blurred her sight. She had a vague idea of dark spots in the water but could not land a hit due to the ice. Out of more frustration than strategy, Jasmine punched downward into the ice Her fire punches were blowing chunks into the floor and shards broke apart all around as she made it into the water. She was so enraged that she did not see the shards floating in the air around her also. She looked up just in town to be plowed by a wave of ice and water. A cold snap occurred and the entire platform was frozen. Atiyah standing on top in victory. He bun had come undone and her clothes stuck tightly to her body showing just how raw her beauty was. Seth smiled as he heard Lance call the match. The ice melted and water flowed into newly seen openings in the ground. Joshua ran up as soon as the barrier lowered and checked on Jasmine. She was shivering and wet but otherwise okay. Joshua helped her back to the bench. Towels and blankets were brought to cover them.

“As to be expected of the Ice Princess.” Picard said calmly.

“Very good young Lass!” Stubby added

Francesca, Austin. Are you ready?” Lance asked

“Sir, We are both water users. I don’t think I can showcase anything that Ms. Atiyah hasn’t already done.. Especially here in this room.” Austin said

“I am also not a hand to hand specialist sir.” Francesca said while placing her hands on Jasmine.

A golden light moved back and forth between the two sisters and Seth could sense the holy energy washing over Jasmine as her wounds healed. Atiyah sat next to Seth and he duel cast heal and cleanse on her. Light shown throughout her whole body as the cleanse spell washed away all the aches, bruises, and cuts.

“You can duel cast heal and cleanse at the same time?” Francesca asked shockingly while looking at him.

“Oh.sorry. Yeah. Is that bad?” Seth asked looking at his hands

“No. It is just unusual. Why are you doing both?” She asked

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“The effects of healing are complemented by those of cleanse. Back during the war, I was taught to go ahead and do both. The casting time gets shortened, the effects are increased and most times a soldier had more than just healing that needed to be done. It sort of became a habit so I do it nearly every time I heal someone.” Seth explained

“Interesting. Joshua said. He looked at Francesca and without saying a word she attempted the duel cast while he monitored Jasmine’s stats.

Francesca attempted to duel cast but was unable to. After a few unsuccessful attempts she looked at Seth and asked for him to show her. Seth finished up healing Atiyah and drank a mana potion. He walked over to Jasmine and focused on her. They locked eyes as he put his left hand on her shoulder and the other on her head. He muttered a word of power and his left hand began glowing white as the left glowed a yellowish gold.

Jasmine looked up. His left pupil was glowing a frosted white while his right turned a yellowish haze. The shared a moment and she felt the power flow into her. Her health increased and all signs of tired and soreness disappeared from her body. She no longer ached all over.

“How does it feel?” Francesca asked

“Like the spas on Teritito cliff.” She said with a gasp.

The light faded away and Seth went to sit back down. Jasmine just stared at him in awe. Atiyah stared at Seth with a narrowed look before Lance spoke up

“Mr. Ravensword, Mr. Roberto, Are you ready?” Lance asked

“Sir the platform is broken.’ Roberto said.

“Right you are. Everyone grab your shit and follow me.” He then walked out the door. Everyone got up and followed

…

A few minutes later they were outside on the very top of the wall. The sun was setting on the baron wasteland and the air had a chill about it. Seth put a handkerchief over his mouth to dry the air from burning his insides. Even from hundreds of feet in the air they could feel the heat coming from the distant volcano. Mount Deathspike was steadily flowing, spitting flakes of red magma out of its many holes. Roberto and Seth walked over and stood across from each other on a chalk drawn platform. With a mental manifestation, Seth held his water guardian sword in his right hand and shield on his left arm. He decided to equip his battle gear also. A quick status check showed his increased stats.

Seth Ravensword Age 26

Matrix “Glitch” Level 40

00 / 167 Available Attribute Points

Strength 40 (+8)

Defense 40 (+8)

Health 30 (+6)

Agility 35 (-4)

Intelligence 25

Health 1920/1920 (+320)

Mana 1,150/1,150 (+150)

Stamina 1380/1380 (-160)

Mark II Battle Gear Set

+20% to Strength, Defense, & Health

-10% to Agility & Stamina

+15% to Max Mana pool

Water Guardians Sword & Shield

+80% immunity to Water Based Attacks

+50% Immunity to Ice Based Attacks

+30% to Water Based Attacks

+100% Affinity to Water

Special Ability - Water Blast V

Water Barrier IV

“Why are you taking this so seriously?’ Roberto asked.

“Just a feeling that this needs to be taken seriously.” He replied.

“Works for me.” Roberto said. He manifested his own battle gear and held a wand in the right hand and a thin pointed rapier in the other.

“Glitch.” Seth said

“I recommend we go all out.” Glitch said. “Shake off the cobwebs.”

Roberto made the first move. With his wand he cast a wind dash ability and flew forward at breakneck speed. Seth brought up his shield and blocked the strike. Seth pivoted to the left and stabbed forward. His blade narrowly missed Roberto as he quickly stepped backwards in a fencing stance. His wand made a swirl and a circle formed around them. Seth activated a water barrier using his shield's special ability. This allowed for the rank V version to activate at half the mana cost. The bubble formed around Seth and he jumped upward as the circle's spell activated. The bubble shield held and the stunning effect of the circle radiated the platform. Seth spun and threw his shield at Roberto while he was mid air. The Shield spun forward and stuck into the ground just missing the Duelist. They met mid air as their swords clashed. The two fell to the ground still trading volleys of strikes and parries. Roberto kicked away as he landed and Seth pursued after. They reached the edge of the wall and Roberto ducked under a jab. Seth stumbled forward and nearly fell of of the edge. Roberto grabbed him by his collar and pulled him back to safety. They stood their bent over and panting. Both were feeling exhausted from the effects of the outer sanctum’s debuffs

“Thank…You..” Seth coughed out.

Sweat was gushing out of both men from the intensity of the heat. Their temperature balance ability only granted them a five percent decrease in what the actual temperature was. The miniscule amount of decrease was barely any help when the outside temperature was over one hundred and fifteen degrees.

“Don’t…mention..it” Roberto calmly said between battered breaths

The two stood up to face each other again. Seth formed an orb of light in his empty hand and shot it forward with a flash. Roberto flinched back as the blinding light caused a temporary effect. Seth dashed forward with his sword and struck Roberto in his shoulder. The rapier just barely missed the parry. Blood oozed out of the small cut and the two stopped their fighting. This was practice and they were supposed to be on a team. There was no reason for blood to be shed past an initial slice. Seth unequipped his battle attire and replaced his sword with his wand of the light maker. With a few incantations, Roberto’s wound was healed and their health was replenished. They shook hands and looked back at the group.

The group was frantically waving at them and screaming. Lance was rushing forward at a crazy speed. The two men could not hear the screams over the rush of wind above the wall.

“Sir, Master Sheen just messaged me. We need to run now.” Glitch said in his calm butler like voice

Seth turned and looked out towards the lands of the demonic infection. Roberto pointed and Seth followed to see a group of twenty monsters flapping in the wind heading towards them. Their sharp claws and teeth were on showcase for the two to see. They were surrounded. A larger demon came forward and with a loud roar the beasts flapped harder and faster. Seth picked up his shield and manifested his sword. Roberto stood at the ready also. The large beast looked at them and snarled. The demons were less than twenty feet away. Seth saw that the beast was holding a sword in one hand and a whip in the other. It slung the whip at the two and Seth hid behind his shield. He did not feel anything and quickly looked up to see Roberto was fighting to cut at the whip while the demon pulled him closer to the edge. Another whip came from one of the other demons and wrapped itself around Seth's left leg. He scrambled to attack it with his sword with no luck. More whips came and struck at Roberto and Seth. The reached the edge of the wall and with a large yank from the demons, fell over the side