by Jesse Wilson
“My name is Thomas, I've been trained in three styles of martial arts and I have weapons training too, but it's just a hobby really. I've never actually been in a real fight,” he said to Taro.
“Great, come with me,” Taro said and walked back into the dark. Tom looked around at his five friends. “Uh, wish me luck,” he said with a worried smile and rushed off into the dark. “Good luck,” Jason said.
“Well, nothing exciting like that ever happens to us,” Jason said and sighed, feeling a little jealous of his friend right now. “Don't worry, Jas, Kim and Trini and I still have your back,” Zach said to him in an attempt to cheer him up.
“Worried, no, but I think we should all take martial arts lessons, you never know when a God is going to show up and need some help. “I like that idea,” Kim said and Trini smiled in agreement “You know I'm in too,” Trini agreed with them. All five of them had always felt like they were meant for bigger things, but up until now, their life had been mundane. Maybe this was a turning point.
Tom ran out into the street, Taro was waiting for him in the middle of it. “What do you need me to do?” he asked, and was excited. Taro let Yalen go and the ice blade floated towards him. “All I need you to do is hold on to it,” Taro said and Tom smiled. “This must be the sword of destiny or something like that,” Tom replied to him.
“Yes, destiny, something like that, just grab it,” Taro said and Tom grabbed it. Immediately as he did the blade immediately glowed a bright blue light and faded just as quickly. When he did Yalen was standing there. The ice blade finally had a body. “What, what happened to me?” Tom asked, he could see everything but he felt much bigger than before.
“You know I was about to say the same thing,” Yalen said, just as confused. “Your creator destroyed you the minute you were unsealed, by the grace of God, or you know, me, I've brought you back for one reason,” Taro said to him.
“Revenge,” Yalen replied once he realized he was betrayed by his creator. “I still don't know what's going on,” Tom said and Taro rolled his eyes.
“You're in Nolber's blade, one of the eight and the gods are here and you're going to help the blades take care of the gods once and for all because they are lying snakes, even if we are friends,” Taro gave him the short version of what was going on.
“Oh, alright I get it. Let's go get them. I'm Tom, it's nice to meet you Yalen,” Tom said to him. “Hey, you too, I'll try not to get us killed but no promises,” Yalen replied to him. “Great, bonding time is over. We have a fight to start. Let's get back,” Taro said and with that the two of them disappeared.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Taro and Yalen appeared back between the two groups. “Yalen, it's great to see you friend,” Sholtan said at once. “I would have been around more if you know, I wasn't dead or anything,” he replied to him and walked to his friend. “Who's in there?” Sholtan asked him. “Some teenager named Tommy I guess, I don't know him but he seems cool enough,” Yalen replied to him.
“For your information, it's downright cold in here,” Tommy said. “Oh, you'll be fine, we'd never kill our hosts, we need them to live to be like this after all,” Yalen replied to him.
“Still doesn't make it any less cold,” Tommy replied to him as Yalen turned to face Nolber whose glare he could feel on him from across the arena.
“You'll pay for what you did to me,” Yalen said to him and pointed at him, the ice god didn't seem to care.
“Alright, alright, enough talking, now for my end of the deal,” Taro said and put his hands together to form a faint aura of golden energy around the eight of them. “Excellent, you're now immune from being wiped out of reality with a mere thought or anything like that. That won't save you from their fists or various powers they might have, so be careful,” Taro said to them as he turned to look at his friends.
“Alright, are you ready to get this little contest underway, here are the rules. First team to five wins, takes the contest, winner gets to stay here. Losers get banished forever, do you accept?” Taro asked them with a faint green glow in his eyes.
“We have no chance of losing, of course we accept,” Elrox replied and turned to the blades. “Do you accept the same terms?” Taro asked them. “Of course we accept the terms, we have no other choice,” Pen replied to him.
“Great,” Taro took off his hat and turned it upside down. The gods will have letters, A through H. The blades will have the numbers one through eight. Inside my hat I have sixteen pieces of paper with corresponding letters. I will pull each one out, I will have one for myself included. I am a god after all and I'll fight to stay here as well,” he said. And with that a piece of paper appeared in each of their hands. “I'll pull the matches out of my hat,” Taro said with a smile. “I have letter—“ Taro cut Brolox off with a glance. “Keep it a secret for now. No telling. Let's keep this contest interesting,” Taro said and Brolox smiled. He liked a good surprise.
“You know your letters and numbers now so don't show them to anyone else. I will pick the first set now,” Taro said to them. “Wait, how can we trust you that you're not rigging the matches,” Xy complained as she studied her letter. Prolexa scoffed. “Does it matter, really?” she asked. “It matters to me,” Xy replied and she glanced her black eyes right back at her.
“True, so in the interest of fairness we'll do it this way,” Taro said and the sixteen pieces flew out of the hat and landed on the ground in two equal rows. Taro came up with a solution to the problem. “Everyone will see that this is fair,” Taro said. “And overly complicated,” Loa added, frustrated with all the procedures. But this is how Taro always was. Everything had to be complicated with him.
“Fine, I guess that's better,” Prolexa said to him and Taro smiled in response. Arket's flames intensified for a second as she wanted to go first, but a quick glance from Taro made her change her mind about making a scene.
Taro held out his hand and two pieces flew to his hand, he revealed them. Please step forward, number three and letter H,” Taro said to all of them as they all looked around to see who that was. “It's not me,” Lumic cried out, overly excited. “It is I,” Zolar said and stepped forward. I am number three,” he finished as calm as ever. “Apparently, I am the letter H,” Nolber said and stepped forward.
“Aw, and here I wanted to be the one to break my pathetic excuse for a blade,” Torax said, disappointed he leaned on his staff. “I'll do it for you, this won't take very long,” Nolber said to him and stepped forward. “You got this, Zolar, don't be afraid of him. He's more scared of you than you are of him,” Ventrix said to him and Zolar turned and looked at his friend.
“Really, he doesn't look all that scared of, well, anything at all really,” Zolar replied and stepped on to what would become the main site of the battle as Nolber did the same.
“Now for the rules, try not to kill your opponent. When one side gives up, the match is over, and that's all. May the best supernatural entity win the match,” Taro said and took a step back.
Zolar had no idea what he was going to do, his powers were terrible, he knew that he basically brought things to life and that was about it. “Alright snowflake, hit me with your best shot,” Zolar said to him.
Nolber raised his left hand and shot a beam of blue light at Zolar. He raised his hands in defense as the light covered him, completely incasing him in clear ice in a second.
The rest of the blue beam turned to ice in the air as well. Nolber pulled his hand out of his end of the ice shaft. “Looks like I win, that was easier than I expected,” he said and turned around. He took two steps away when he heard a crack of the ice.
“What is going on?” he asked and turned around only to see the ice around Zolar glowing and changing shape. “You idiot, you gave him the one thing he needed to fight back,” Torax said to him in disbelief as the ice shifted around Zolar and formed itself into a fifteen foot humanoid golem with Zolar in the center. The head formed a face.
“Thank you,” Zolar sai
d to him and his left arm formed into a mace as he swung and hit Nolber so hard he flew up through the balcony where they had first arrived. “God of the ice couldn't take his own medicine, figures as much,” Zolar said through the ice, but no one was convinced that this was over.
“I suppose I should tell you that Gods usually have more than one form, they always pick a form you are comfortable with, but in reality, they are sparks of their pure elemental power. And if you manage to piss one off enough they like to revert to this form,” Taro said to him from the side lines.
“What's that about a secondary form again?” Zolar said as it began to snow, yet there wasn't a cloud in the sky “Okay, I've never been more afraid of snow in my life than I am right now,” Melissa said as the wind began to pick up as the snow began to spin together. “Do not be afraid, I am with you,” Lumic replied to her.
As it did a shape began to take form in front of them. It was still like a human, but once it became even more visible they could see that Nolber looked nothing like he did before. He was tall and thin. His skin was bone white and his eyes were dark yellow. His face lacked a nose, lips or hair, all there were was the deep set yellow eyes and a mouth filled with razor sharp teeth. His arms were longer than they should have been and his hands ended fingers that had razor sharp claws.
“Damn dude, you're ugly,” Zolar said to him and took a step back.
“And hungry,” he hissed in response, his voice sounding more like the wind than anything else. Nolber jumped at Zolar with speed that he couldn't react to. Nolber's jaws extended and with a singled bite tore off the ice golem's head and he started to claw at the ice body, taking chunks of it off with each swipe of his claws. Zolar regained his senses and used the right arm and formed it into a blade and cut through the middle of Nolber's body.
The strike cut him in half with one clean blow.
There was no blood but the body fell in half and seemed to be dead. Zolar lumbered away and wasted no time in reforming his body with the chunks of ice Nolber had torn off.
“You're half the God you used to be,” Zolar said to him but spoke too soon as the emaciated body quickly pulled itself back together. “Oh come on that's not cool at all man, how am I supposed to beat that?” Zolar said and formed his arms into blades as the thing stood up.
“You don't beat me, it's pretty much that simple. I am a god and will exist forever, and you are a blade with a body. I can break you and that soul you're using as a host will prove to be a tasty snack for later,” Nolber said to him in a grinding voice and charged straight at Zolar.
Zolar crouched down and as soon as Nolbert was close enough. That golem body transformed into a spike and impaled the monster through where its heart should have been. He wasn't finished as the spike grew in that direction until it nailed the thing to a pillar. Zolar stepped out of the ice as Nolber howled in agony.
“Come on man give up this is embarrassing, you're the god of ice and you're being beaten by it, don't make this harder than it has to be,” Zolar pleaded with him, he wanted this to be over. Just as he said that the monster sliced through the shaft of ice with its right hand and fell to the ground.
“Me and my stupid mouth,” Zolar said to himself, clenched his fists and knew that ice wasn't going to cut it, so he looked around the arena to see if there was anything else he could use as out of the corner of his eye he saw the gaping hole in his chest close up.
Nolber's yellow eyes began to glow as he walked towards an unprotected Zolar. “Think, come on think,” Zolar said looking around for anything that might have been the one thing that could help him in this fight but he couldn't think of anything. Nolber reached out with his left arm and it extended across the arena. Zolar dived to the right and hit the floor harder than he intended.
While doing this he felt the floor beneath him and it suddenly hit him just how powerful he really was. He'd never thought about it before, but it occurred to him that he was surrounded by things that were never alive to begin with. There were so many incredible things around him that in his panic, he never even thought about.
“Alright big guy, allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Zolar, I am the blade of anti-life. I make the impossible into the simple because I was created by the God of magic, and you sir, you are screwed,” Zolar screamed at him, Nolber didn't care as he spun around. He stomped on the ground so hard that even the ones on the side lines had to steady themselves.
“Fight like a mortal, stand still so I can kill you,” Nolber said and was clearly getting frustrated. “I am not just a man, I am a blade and I'll fight like I was intended to you ice brain,” Zolar said and his blade formed in his left hand, he stuck it up into the air and dark green rays fired in all directions, snaking around until they each found a target. Zolar took the hilt of his blade in both hands, pointed it at the god and slid his right foot back, as if he were going to attack.
“Come get some, ugly,” Zolar said and waited.
Nolber wasted no time in rushing the much smaller enemy. “Your strategy is lacking substance,” Nolber said, but halfway through the charge Zolar sprung his trap. All the electrical cables he could focus on came to life and shot from the dark into Nolber's white, frosty skin and began to pump him full of electricity. At once the god screamed and fell to his knees as the steam rose from his body.
“Apparently, science kept you out, I figured that it could do the same for me. A dose of one of science's most powerful forces right into your icy, water based body,” Zolar said to him, but all Nolber could do is scream in agony.
“Technology and Magic, a match made in heaven don't you think, slick, and by the way that was for killing our brother and friend, you deserve this,” Zolar said to him as the thin, ugly body melted away revealing his original form as it fell face first into the ground. Zolar walked forward and stood beside the motionless form of Nolber, raised his blade and thrust it straight down.
Everyone watching was shocked, no one more than Ventrix who'd never known Zolar to be this cold blooded of a killer before.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“I should have tried to kill you, but the rules say I shouldn't,” Zolar had put his blade just mere inches away from the fallen God's head and pulled it out of the ground. The electricity came to a stop.
“Can we call this one or do I need to wait for him to wake up before he says he's had enough?” Zolar asked Taro, but never took his eyes off of the God. “No, you win, thanks for not killing him, too,” Taro said and had to catch his breath, he was sure his friend was going to die tonight.
“Way to go Zolar, I knew you could do it, I never once doubted you,” Ventrix yelled out. “Don't worry, I doubted you plenty to make up for it,” Sholtan quickly said. Zolar was impressed with himself, he'd just done something once thought impossible. He'd beaten the God of Winter in an almost fair fight. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Sholtan,” he replied, still shocked at what he did.
“Well, look at that. My blade isn't as weak as I said it'd be,” Torax said and smiled. “You're actually happy, we lost, that means whoever's next has to win to make up for it,” Elrox said and was annoyed with this whole thing already. Brolox walked to Nolber's body, picked it up around the waist with his left hand and walked back towards the team.
“I really hope I don't have to fight that guy, he's huge,” Arket said as she watched him do that. “For your sake I hope you don't either. He'll break you in half with a sneeze and not even notice,” Pen said, and he was worried. Arket hit him in the back of the head with the back of her hand.
“Shut up, I'm stronger than I look,” she said to him. “Yeah but he is as strong as he looks, you'd better hope you don't get him,” Tinea said to her, rubbing the back of her head.
“Alright, the first round goes to the blades, way to go champs I knew you had it in you, but now it's time for round two. We will pick randomly once more, is everyone ready,” Taro said to them as two more pieces of paper flew to his hand. “And the lucky contestants are
number five and the letter c, our lucky contestants please come on down to the center stage,” Taro said as everyone wondered who was picked this time, they didn't have to wonder very long.
“It's my turn, it's my turn, I'm so excited,” Lumic said almost too fast. “Again, calm down don't forget I am in here, alright?” Melissa asked her. “Right, sorry, but this will be fun,” Lumic said as Melissa wondered who she'd have to fight. Elrox stepped up, confident and collected as ever.
“I am number five,” he did not expect to be the one to fight in the second round and now the pressure was on him but he was sure he could handle this and stepped into the ring. “Alright, I am giving you one chance to give up now, interested in taking it before I mess up that pretty armor of yours?” Elrox asked her and glared. “Not a chance in hell you have been, now are you here to talk or fight,” Melissa replied to him, Lumic's positive energy was rubbing off on her.
“I like your style, let's get fired up,” Lumic said as Melissa smiled. “As you wish, elf,” Elrox replied to her. “Alright, remember what I said. No killing and may the best one win,” Taro said to them and walked out of the ring.
Elrox stepped into the ring and with a wave of his hand all of the debris on it disappeared.
“I like a clean fighting place, It makes me feel better,” he said to no one and crossed his arms. Melissa walked into the ring too. Elrox looked shorter from this close up than he did before, but besides his sparkling suit he actually looked like an ordinary person, but the race was off. Elrox appeared to have features from all of them, and none at the same time. It was hard to believe that this was a god.
