Zalan stood next to Rep, not wanting to head to the stands before his friend moved up the stairs to the ring. Rep looked anxious, but he wasn’t trembling.

“Moving on to the next fight brings some of our more interesting fighters. First comes the Level 5 Razortongue Eradicator, known for his unfamiliarity with his own strength! Rep!” Umdarr called out.

Rep gave one last nervous look to Zalan. Zalan nodded to him, a determined smile on his face.

“Remember to run. Don’t freeze up,” Zalan advised.

Rep smiled back and took a deep breath. He made his way up the steps, the crowd chanting his name as he appeared before them. He gave a halfhearted wave to the stands, not wanting to offend anyone by ignoring them.

“And our most unorthodox fighter to date. The Level 7 fighter determined to go by the title ‘The Slaw!’ Slauson!” Umdarr presented. He sounded like he was growing more comfortable with the title “The Slaw.”

Zalan ran up the stands to get a better view from above. He jumped by twos, ignoring and pushing past anyone that was trying to get his attention. His number of fans were growing but his interest in them remained low.

“Fighters! Some respect before the fight,” Umdarr said.

Rep did the usual sign where Slauson did his extravagant bow, hand in the air. The crowd went wild over it, liking the brand of over the top gesture that Slauson had made for himself. Zalan made his way next to Nold and watched closely. He made it just in time to see Umdarr roll his eyes at Slauson before continuing.

“You may begin!” Umdarr declared.

Rep tried to begin the fight by running. After looking at Slauson, he grew incredibly sluggish. He barely raised a leg and took a tiny step, deep concern in his eyes. He looked like he was flexing his body beyond its limit, trying to break out of something as he slowly fidgeted forward. The crowd was already running wild with speculation. Slauson had caught another in his paralytic hold.

“No,” Zalan said urgently. “Move, Rep!”

Rep took another hesitant step. Slauson began to make his way over, fire at his fingertips. He was walking casually.

“Why doesn’t Rep run? You told him to run! I told him again right before he went on stage!” Zalan said to Nold, pulling at his hair.

“I am as lost as you are,” Nold said in wonder. He sounded invested in trying to figure Slauson out. “Slauson has a powerful hold on others. Watch closely and try to discover what his power is. You may have to go up against him in the next fight.”

“No!” Zalan rejected immediately, fire burning within him. “No, Rep is just faking it so he can get Slauson at the last second!”

“Even if Rep succeeds, it would be good to know the source of Slauson’s power.”

Slauson continued to make his way across the stage. Rep struggled, looking like he was pulling against himself fruitlessly. He hardly moved an inch. Slauson looked down at him, a blank stoicism on his face.

“Rep! Come on, move!” Zalan exploded, trying not to be drowned out by the roar of the crowd.

Slauson wound his hand into a fist and breathed in deeply. Rep strained, freezing cold sweat rolling down his face.

“Rep!” Zalan screamed again.

Slauson threw his whole body with his punch. It drove directly into Rep’s stomach. To the viewers’ surprise, Rep and Slauson were flashed by a flame igniting in between them. It was like a firework went off at Rep’s stomach, triggered by the blow he took. Rep fell to the ground and Slauson jumped away in astonishment.

There was a hole in Rep’s tunic, right where Slauson punched him. A deep red mark on his abdomen.

“Slauson tried to kill him!” Zalan stood, fists at his side.

“Sit down and look closer,” Nold said calmly. “The red mark on his stomach is familiar. Do you recognize what caused it?”

Zalan sat back down, leaning forward and straining his eyes to get a good look at Rep. His stomach was discolored, like the top layer of skin was burned.

“That kinda looks like what happened to Rep’s hands and feet whenever he would try to imbue himself,” Zalan said.

“That is exactly what it looks like,” Nold nodded in approval.

“He imbued his stomach?”

“He could not move his limbs, but he imbued himself just as Slauson struck him. Even without moving, Rep was able to do damage to Slauson. He had to wait until the last moment to unleash a surprise attack,” Nold explained, sounding somewhat impressed.

Zalan was amazed. He looked over to Slauson who was rubbing his knuckles tenderly, a fresh burn on his hand. Zalan chuckled to himself. Despite what Rep thought of himself, he was still a good fighter. He never would have thought of something like burning himself at the last second.

Rep was trembling on the arena floor, but able to move himself slowly. The audience roared in astonishment. It was the first time someone was really moving against Slauson. It was still slow like Rep was wading through a quagmire, but it was more than anyone else could boast. Rep had somehow overcome Slauson’s paralytic effects. He picked himself back up to his feet as Slauson said something to him, barely clear over the din of the active audience around Zalan.

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“You burned yourself?” Slauson asked. “I suppose that is why you can move.”

Rep tried to pick up his hands to throw fire at Slauson, but his movements were far too slow. Too readable. Without much effort, Slauson smacked Rep’s hands out of the way. Rep tried to imbue himself when Slauson made contact again, but Slauson was too quick this time. He was out of range of any flame encircling Rep’s body. Rep only succeeded in burning himself.

Slauson drove a powerful blow into Rep’s injured shoulder, causing him to explode in agony. Slauson sweeped Rep’s feet from under him and stood over Rep. He held a hand flat over his face, looking as though he was preparing to throw fire at him if Rep moved too suddenly. Rep tried to pick himself up, but his limbs refused to obey. He shook on the floor, shivering madly as he looked at Slauson.

“This match is over,” Slauson said calmly.

The words drove fury through every fiber of Zalan’s being. They were so arrogant. So dismissive of the fight that Rep put up. Rep was the first one to hurt Slauson and he pretended like nothing had happened. Rep needed to end him. Slauson needed to be brought down a peg. Humiliated like he had done to so many other fighters. But Slauson stood casually and Rep was almost motionless outside of his struggles and fidgets.

“Slauson didn’t even hit him that hard,” Zalan was pulling at his hair. “Why won’t Rep get up?”

“He is under threat of a blast. He may be yielding,” Nold surmised.

“Slauson aimed at his head! He wouldn’t do it. Rep knows that he wouldn’t risk disqualification. Rep wouldn’t yield like this,” Zalan said.

“Yet he does.”

“No!” Zalan denied. “He can’t! Rep is way better than this. Slauson can’t just say something like that and win!”

“Yet he will.”

Zalan pulled a few hairs off his head, tugging madly in frustration. He breathed fitfully as neither Rep nor Slauson made any sudden movements. Rep was running out of time. Umdarr approached the stage.

“No! No! Get up, Rep!” Zalan demanded.

Umdarr hopped onto the stage. Rep didn’t move. Zalan made such tight fists that his knuckles went white. He breathed erratically. He was infuriated as Umdarr opened his mouth.

“This match is over! Slauson wins!” he announced.

Slauson grabbed the prize money out of Umdarr’s hand and made his way off the stage. He gave Rep one last glance, like he felt sorry for him. It looked like he was pitying Rep. Zalan hated it. Zalan’s eyes were wide and shaking, following Slauson’s every step. He swallowed hard and slowly began to stand up.

“Stop,” Nold ordered forcefully.

Zalan looked down at Nold and only then realized he’d imbued himself with lightning. Slauson disrespected Rep and everyone else in the tournament. He had to pay. There needed to be consequences. Slauson had gone too far this time.

“Why should I?” he demanded venomously.

“If you do something now, you will be stopped and disqualified,” Nold informed him.

“I don’t care anymore. I’ll get disqualified. Slauson can’t just—”

“You are not listening. I said if you try anything, you will be stopped and disqualified. Whatever you intend to do will not be allowed to be completed. But the semifinals will begin soon. You will face him in the ring. No one will stop you there,” Nold said sagely.

Zalan was fuming, breathing loudly as his eyes refused to leave Slauson.

“Wait to unleash your anger. Whatever you plan to do now can wait,” Nold added.

Zalan made no indication he was listening.

“Go talk with Rep in the meantime. He may have some insight on how to take down your nemesis,” Nold said.

Zalan’s breathing slowed slightly as his eyes finally broke away from Slauson. He looked over to Rep who was being carried off stage by Kashir and Brashir. Zalan immediately broke out into a run, leaping down the stairs to get to his injured friend. Again, fans in the stands tried to grab Zalan’s attention and he dodged and pushed them aside. He reached the ground level in record time.

“Rep!” Zalan called out, bounding across the stadium to catch up to those carrying him.

Rep looked over at him, his eyes trying to convey so much meaning. Zalan caught up and walked along as he was being taken to the medical tent.

“Rep, what happened?” Zalan didn’t mean for it to come out so commanding.

“Failed,” Rep replied, his voice strained.

Zalan looked at him with confusion until he realized what he was trying to say.

“Rep, you didn’t fail! You fought better than anyone else against Slauson! You fought really well!” Zalan said, again sounding more angry than he intended.

Rep’s face didn’t look convinced, but he blinked slowly as if to accept his words.

“What did Slauson do to you? How do I counter it?” Zalan demanded.

“Not know,” Rep said shamefully, again struggling to get his words out.

“Come on, Rep. Anything. When did you freeze up? It’s gotta be a trick. When did it hit you that you were not moving?” Zalan urged.

“Before begin,” Rep whispered.

“You were fine until right before Umdarr said begin?” Zalan asked.

Rep blinked in assent.

“Okay, got it. Thanks, Rep. I’m gonna get him, I swear. I’ll take him out for you,” Zalan promised as they reached the opening of the tent.

“Careful,” Rep insisted, the loudest word he spoke.

“I’ll be fine, I won’t let him get me. Trust me, I’ll take him down. He’ll wish he never messed with you,” Zalan said quickly, then turned his heel and ran back to the stadium.

But Rep wasn’t telling Zalan to be careful about his physical well-being. Rep was always confident in his friend’s abilities. He was much more concerned about what Zalan would do to Slauson if he got the upper hand. He was clearly manic. His agitated eyes jittered when he was demanding answers. His hair was pluming out, like he’d been pulling at it frantically for the past few minutes. His tone of voice was forceful, even when he was assuring Rep he would be fine. Zalan was on edge about Slauson. He was ready to do anything to take his opponent down.

Rep wasn’t worried that he wouldn’t be able to figure out and take down Slauson in the ring. He was worried Zalan wouldn’t be careful in how far he went. Rep’s closest friend was on the brink of breaking, mentally, and he didn’t trust Nold to try and bring him back to reason. Zalan was in the state where he would do something he regretted.

Rep was worried about what Zalan would do to himself.

“Back,” Rep whispered urgently to Kashir.

“Huh?” Kashir said as he placed him in a cot.

“Stadium,” Rep insisted.

Whatever happened to Zalan, he wanted to be there to help him in the aftermath, no matter the state of his health.