Zalan joined Rep and Nold back at his seat in the stands. Rep grabbed his forearm enthusiastically.

“What a fight! When he pulled out his Elemental Plant weapon, I thought for certain that you would have to retaliate by revealing your power! But you imbue yourself so well. And countered his moves masterfully,” Rep was punching the air to accent his points.

“Thanks,” Zalan said gratefully.

“Why the stunt with the money?” Nold asked, mildly interested.

“I was trying to give it to the kids again. But my throw didn’t go as planned,” Zalan admitted.

“You should have imbued the coins, then thrown them. You could extend the throw like you did with your sword against the Shell King,” Nold immediately replied.

Zalan blinked, impressed at the speed of Nold’s reply. He didn’t even think about imbuing the coins. He had locked the idea of imbuing things to his weapons and himself. He needed to have a more open mind and see things like Nold did. It was clear to Zalan why Nold was a good instructor.

“Yeah, you’re right, thanks,” Zalan said.

“But your mistake seems to have earned you additional good will from the audience,” Nold pointed out.

“Does that matter in a fight?”

“Absolutely. This tournament is molded by how the audience sees you. If you end up offending more than you please, then…” Nold trailed, the point made by his lack of conclusion.

“On this side of the stage!” Umdarr boomed, recollecting the attention of the crowd. “The man at Level 8. The Formidable Fighter… Rexler!”

Rexler walked on stage without emotion, the cheers of the crowd meaning nothing to him.

“And on the other end at Level 8. The Warmonger… Indal!” Umdarr presented.

Indal was taller than Rexler, a slight grin of confidence on his face as he reached the stage. Without prompting, Indal and Rexler gave one another the symbol of respect. Indal went into a defensive stance and Rexler leaned forward, looking off balance.

“You may begin!” Umdarr said, jumping off stage powerfully with a burst of air.

Before Umdarr even fell to the ground, Rexler was sprinting forward. Indal hesitated at the move, usually taking his time to size up his competition. Panicking slightly, Indal stomped powerfully, summoning a wave of water from within him and blasting it toward his opponent. Rexler changed direction midstep, easily avoiding the water and still approaching Indal. Indal turned the water around and tried to hit Rexler from behind while summoning a new torrent of water from his foot.

“He’s got pretty good control over the water,” Zalan said, watching the two torpedoes of water converge toward Rexler.

“I am surprised that Rexler has not countered with his own Element yet,” Rep noted.

At the last moment, Rexler dipped into a slide-tackle. He used the water slicking the floor to carry his momentum forward at a speed Indal didn’t expect. They were in hand-to-hand distance now. Indal went for a leg sweep and Rexler jumped over it, punching Indal in the face. Indal yelled in surprise. Most fighters avoided striking the face entirely to avoid disqualification, but Rexler seemed to have no qualms.

Indal brought his hand up to summon more water in Rexler’s face, but Rexler hit it straight up. The water fired out of Indal’s hand straight over its intended target, showering the audience with a light mist of water. Indal tried with his other hand, but had it kicked away to a similar result. Indal and Rexler performed this dance for several seconds. Indal tried desperately to get a good Elemental hit on Rexler and Rexler continued bruising Indal as he smacked the attacks away.

After suffering enough, Indal fired water straight out of his feet to jettison himself a few feet away from Rexler. Rexler waited patiently as Indal fell to the ground. Indal breathed hard, rubbing his forearms. Rexler cracked his knuckles.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“I think I want Indal to win,” Zalan said suddenly.

“Why is that?” Nold asked.

“I don’t want to have to go up against Rexler. I would have to take him on next. Look at him go. And I don’t even know his Elemental.”

“Do not cower from those that seem better than you. Watch them. Learn their power. Take it for yourself,” Nold instructed.

“A lot easier said than done,” Zalan grumbled.

“And a lot easier done when you do not whine,” Nold said.

Zalan watched closely as Rexler went in for a second round of beatings. Indal imbued his arms with water, a sheen of transparency making itself known on his limbs. Rexler was unperturbed, striking sharply at any point of the body not covered in water. Indal tried to get a single hit in, but was outmatched by the speed and ferociousness of Rexler’s fists. After another dozen blows were dealt or deflected by Rexler, Indal went for a double punch. Rexler ducked and then punched Indal in the face once more. Blood ran down his nose. It may have been broken.

“He cheats!” Indal said, his voice sounding nasally. “He strikes me in the face with imbued fists!”

“I do not,” Rexler said simply, taking a few steps back and presenting his arms.

He did it as a display for others to see no signs of Elemental Power, but all Zalan could see was that his arms were completely devoid of bruises. He hadn’t taken a single hit. He was totally overpowering his opponent.

“That is no proof!” Indal snapped. “You could stop your imbue as you please.”

“I never learned how to imbue,” Rexler answered, perfectly patient with his responses. It made Zalan shiver. He was so self-assured in his fight.

“How could he not be disqualified? There’s no proof that he doesn’t have himself imbued. What if he has lightning like me and just zapped him?” Zalan asked.

“There is no proof that he did that,” Nold pointed out. “But I do find it odd. Umdarr must see something that we do not.”

“But it seems pretty plausible. Why couldn’t he just be using invisible power?” Zalan said.

“You are a liar!” Indal accused, running his hand over his nose as he realized the blood that was flowing.

“If you yield, I will prove to you that I have not been cheating,” Rexler said, raising an eyebrow.

“I wouldn’t even believe you if you tried to prove it,” Indal said, wiping blood off his nose and going back into battle stance.

Rexler charged once more, his steps light to avoid any more water attacks. Indal completely enveloped himself in a ball of water just as Rexler ended up behind him. Indal spun around to try and see where Rexler was. Rexler continued running, trying to stay out of Indal’s eyeline. As a test, he lightly punched the water. It recoiled and splashed, showing it wasn’t a solid object. Indal was still spinning when Rexler dove straight into the ball. Rexler ended up on Indal’s back, placing an arm over Indal’s throat.

Indal smiled widely, Rexler having jumped straight into his trap. He manipulated the water, spinning them both downward and slamming Rexler’s back into the ground. Rexler coughed in the water, but didn’t let up on Indal’s neck. Indal sent them up then back down, slamming his opponent a second time. Rexler still held tight. Indal tried a third time, but his eyes were drooping, the movement in the water sluggish. It seemed like he pushed Rexler lightly into the ground instead of slammed. Then, the water cocoon collapsed around them.

Rexler let go of Indal, breathing hard and wincing as the water spread away from them on the stage.

“He is unconscious,” Rexler said.

“We have a winner!” Umdarr declared, jumping to the stage to check on the fighters.

“Oh great,” Zalan sighed. He still didn’t know Rexler’s Elemental Power.

“I am sure you will do fine,” Rep said, swallowing hard.

“You don’t sound sure,” Zalan said.

“Not because I do not believe in you. I am up next,” Rep said, standing up nervously.

“Oh, right! You’ll do great, Rep! Remember, you’re a great fighter! Better than average!” Zalan said encouragingly.

“I am worried that all of the average fighters were eliminated in the open battles and we are now only left with the best. Everyone here may be better than average,” Rep said, beginning to make his way down the stairs.

“How do we get him to be more confident in himself?” Zalan asked Nold.

“More power. Power always comes with self-assuredness,” Nold said self-assuredly.

“Wow, cool, I never would have guessed that you would bring up ‘power,’” Zalan said sarcastically. “How about something more practical?”

“Remind him of his past successes and refuse to comment on his flaws,” Nold said.

Zalan looked at his instructor, surprised to get real advice. He then realized that Rep treated him in exactly that way. He was always so encouraging while never bringing up places where he went wrong. Zalan needed to keep up with that energy. He was determined to be the friend that Rep deserved. He began to pay attention as Umdarr called the fighters to the stage.

“...at the Level of 5! The RazorTongue Eradicator… Rep!” Umdarr presented. Zalan cheered and applauded loudly. Rep nodded graciously to the cheering audience.

“And on this end. At a Level of 5. The Practitioner of Living Pain… Liv!” Umdarr said, pointing his hand to the young woman climbing up the other end of the arena.

Rep and Liv made the gesture of respect and looked to Umdarr expectantly. Rep was biting the inside of his lip.

“Begin the match!” Umdarr exploded.