The arena looked different from their first visit here. Walls had been raised, sectioning off the arena floor, similar to the setup for the training students when they had first found the arena. They arrived at their designated zone, the first years migrated toward the middle. They waited to see what today’s program was going to be. Ellison approached the group. “Okay everyone. We’re going to start with Maximus and his group. The arena can summon void creatures. The walls you see around aren’t for privacy, or to divide the teams. They are for containment, well, maybe they help separate the over zealous teams.” She admitted. “The void creatures won’t run, but if you die, the walls will contain them so they don’t escape into the city.”
She walked over to a large crystal. “Lets get started. Team one, please take a seat over there and keep out of the way. Everyone, pay close attention to the battle, skills may be learned. It’s unlikely, but it is possible. It’s very important that you remember that the safeties only exist for student versus student. Currently, each team only has a rudimentary healer at best. None of you are pure healers, but we have Gage here as well. If she needs to step in and save you, she will. We won’t let you die on our watch, but it won’t reflect well on your group if the mentors have to interfere. At the mention of Gage healing, Gideons eyes met hers. She nodded, and that nod said many things to him. She is going to avoid healing me, but will if she has too. No matter what, I know I’m in good hands. Gideon walked with Primrose and Riley over to the stands that Ellison had pointed out. They found seats with a good view to watch the fight.
Ellison triggered the summoning. The magitek portal crystals lit up. The runes glowed as the summons were pulled to the location. Small green creatures appeared in the circles. Gideon checked his UI to see if it would tell him anything. “Goblins. So that’s a goblin? I’ve heard them mentioned in stories with the orcs.”
The goblins were numerous. Maximus and his team prepared for an attack. “On me. I’ll draw their attention. Phoenix keep me alive. Hank, don’t die.” Maximus charged. As he ran a sheet of ice formed about him. Thickening with each step. A few more steps and he was no longer running. He had built up momentum and now slid on the ice created by the great armor he summoned. A hammer appeared in his hand, the head nearly the size of his torso. As he slid, he fired ice shards into the crowd. The razor like ice shards shredded goblins in his path. Maximus slammed into the small goblin horde, he took a great swing with his mighty hammer. Goblins flew in every direction. The crushing attack was impressive, but did little overall to the horde due to the sheer amount of goblins. They were flowed out of the small portals like water. The goblin bodies fell over each other into the arena.
Gage, Silas, and Ellison had taken seats a few rows below them. Gideon caught bits and pieces of their conversation. “This isn’t right, something is wrong. There are too many goblins,” Silas said. “The summons doesn’t seem to be stopping. Should we do something?”
Ellison shook her head, “No, we have to let them try, but be ready Gage, because honey they might need you soon.” Gage nodded her agreement.
Phoenix stepped up to the battle with the goblins without hesitation. The small girl glowed, her bright red hair looked made of fire, her presence swept across the battlefield. A warmth irradiate out from her, a warmth he could feel in the stands. The warming wave burned the goblins as it crashed over them. Their skinned blistered as if they were being cooked alive.
Gideon looked back to Maximus, the boys hammer had been dropped to the ground. It sat in the middle of the small arena untouched. The size of it was too much for a goblin. The head of the hammer was actually larger than the largest of the goblins. Gideon looked for the boy himself but couldn’t find him. Then he saw movement, goblins were being tossed away from a small mound. Unfortunately, Maximus had fallen, the goblins had piled up on him. They swung their cudgels down repeatedly, but the thick ice armor seemed to hold. “Gideon, should we help?” Primrose asked. “Maximus is down!”
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“No I don’t think so. This is their test. The mentors will know when to interfere.” I hope, he thought. The mentors had their heads together as they watched. "Maybe the mentors are debating on interfering?" he asked. I will do my best and make sure that isn't an option in our battle. I can’t show weakness in my first challenge. I can’t allow myself to need Gage. Gideon pointed to the right, “Look, Hank is making a move to help him now. They don't need the mentors, they have this under control.”
Riley smiled, “Yeah, never count us DPS types out. We come from the shadows to save the day all the time. Keep that in mind, because I’ll be the hero when you most need me.” Hank pulled a deck of cards out that he was always shuffling. What is he doing? Hank ran into the middle of the battle. He kicked a goblin away from Maximus. He spread a hand of cards out before him. With a wave of his hand the cards flew through the air with stunning speed and accuracy. The cards cut down the little goblins in there path as sure as any blade. The goblins saw the new threat, they turned their attention his way.
The goblins rushed at the boy with no tactic or strategy other than using overwhelming numbers. The cards he’d thrown lay where they had landed, scattered throughout the battlefield. Hank stepped on one of the cards. He suddenly dropped into the card and was gone. Riley stood, unable to contain himself any longer. “Bloody hell, what in the world is that ability? I didn’t know he could do that. All this time we’ve hung out, sat around and talked, I never knew he could do much of anything. I always thought he was just the quiet normal guy that tagged along with us.”
“Look,” Gideon said. Maximus had used the opening Hank created to get back to his feet. He held his hand in the air and his hammer lurched from the ground and flew back to his hand, crushing goblins in it’s path. Maximus roared and swung his hammer, crushing more goblins. Their bodies rag-dolled across the ground and came to a stop when they collided with walls or other goblins, never to move again. Blood ran down his face, neck, and torso. Chunks of the Ice Armor had been broken and torn away. The large young man was a monster on the battlefield compared to the goblins, but they were getting their pound of flesh.
Phoenix screamed, her rage swept over the battle. The tiny girl suddenly became the center of attention when her rage began to funnel into her wrath ability. With a sudden explosion, the warmth erupted out from her, hottest at the center. It burned down goblins, instantly turning those near her to ash. Gideon was shocked to see the flames burning away the wounds on Maximus. “Wow, it’s an attack and a heal at the same time. It’s cauterizing Maximus’s wounds and then he looks to be regenerating. I think the goblins are trying to find a way to run,” Gideon said, pointing out the goblins.
All the cards that were scattered about the arena began to glow. Hank stepped out of one of the cards. Then again, and again, and again. There was now a clone of Hank as a king, a queen, a jack, a joker and many others. The Hanks yelled “Full House,” and cards flew from every direction. The goblins were cut down and the threat was eliminated. The illusionary Hanks stepped into their cards. The last remaining Hank held up the box for the deck of cards. The cards returned to the box. Riley started clapping his hands loudly in applause. After a short time Gideon stood and applauded as well. Primrose joined them, then she was shortly followed by the mentors. “That was an amazing Fight,” Primrose said. She looked to the two boys. “Now it’s our turn.”
Gideon and his crew took to the field. They were ready. It was time for his group to have their first battle as a team. He was more than ready, he was excited to finally show what he could really do. Gideon looked to Gage in the stands. Instead of seeing the anxiety on her face that he had grown accustomed to. He saw a resolute look, she smiled warmly at him. Ellison walked out. “Okay we had some concerns with the previous round, but it all worked out. Gideon are you and your team ready?” He nodded. “Make sure you defend yourself well, we don’t need you walking around with your bare ass hanging out again.”
He laughed at Ellison’s antics. “Yes we’re ready. Or to quote a friend. Lets do this!” Gideon said. Maximus pumped his fist in response.