Coliseum Part 2

It was Paulus’ team coming up. Each team consists of seven students. Their mission is to eliminate each target as fast as possible using the least possible mana, because they will have four rounds in total, fighting one monster after another. They have to fight working as a team, using the right tactics according to the beast. They have five minutes between each challenge to review their battle, reorganize, and rest. In case of any difficulties, there are soldiers ready to jump in and take care of the beast. They receive more points if none of the team members drop out between challenges and everyone reaches the end. Three judges are looking at each battle, checking teams and individual points. There will be a ranking this afternoon, and the top fifteen students get to participate in the finale tonight.

Paulus’ team was ready to start in the middle of their sections, looking at the doors coming from the Arena field. When the doors opened, a pack of wolves came out.

“Oh, Grey Lukos. That would be dangerous in the mountains at night. They only use magic for speed, but they work great in groups. If it bites you, it can break your bones if you don’t defend with magic efficiently.”

“Have you dealt with those, Mom?”

“Yes, in my first adventurer’s job, I had to kill two, I think. I don’t remember that well.”

“From one as very easy to seven as very hard, how difficult it is to kill those here.” Asked Eugina.

“I would say it’s a one. The Grey Lukos don’t have enough space to use their speed as they would. They usually hunt during the night, and they would sneak up on you without you even noticing. Here, you know exactly how many they are, where they are coming from, and their teamwork is practically nonexistent.”

“Then what’s the point of the challenge?” Asked Marcus.

“With their speed and stamina, they can dodge for hours, though.” Said Dad.

“Aha! I think you are right, Dad.”

The Lukos were salivating and excited. It seems they see Paulus as food. This looks very dangerous.

“Alright, team! Each one of us will charge against one, not to kill, but to force them to move to the side of the wall. Go!”

In a split second, everyone did what Paulus told them to do. The Lukos stepped backwards. However, they had no place to run, bumping into each other.

“Now Kill!”

In the next instant, everyone got their knives out and sliced the Lukos that was closest to them. In fifteen seconds, the match was over. The audience was clapping and cheering them on.

“Good job, everyone!”

“You have five minutes!”

“Is that really Paulus?”

“Ha ha ha ha! That’s my son.”

“I could have killed them in half their time.”

“Anto, this is when you support your kid,” said Aunt Eugina.

“There is nothing special in killing Lukos in an arena. What!”

Everyone in the Arena around us was chatting and looking at Mom.

“Ice cold beer! Beer, here, beeeeeer.” After round one, several vendors came out to sell food and drinks in the seats.

“Beer here!” Mom was the first one to raise her hand.

“Match will start in 30 seconds!” Music started playing, and Paulus’ team got ready for the next beast.

The doors opened, and one single snake came out.

“What’s that?”

“That’s a nahash, but I have never seen one like that around here. Do you know what kind it is, chancho?”

“Mmm, it must be from far away. Do you know Eugine?”

“I don’t know. Marcus, go ask that soldier over there.” Marcos stood up and approached a nearby soldier.

“She said it’s a Mapanare Nahash. It is venomous.”

“Oh, I see now. It has a broad flattened head, and the pattern on its back is brown and grayish with a pale yellow underside.”

The snake has a lance-looking head. It’s about 6 feet long. It doesn’t look too intimidating against seven soldiers. However, the whole group was slowly moving backwards, trying to stay close to each other.

“Come on, soldiers! You got this!” People were encouraging Paulus’ team, but they were not paying attention to the multitude.

Suddenly, the snake made its first move. Slowly, the snake was unrolling itself upwards, moving forward. In comparison, Paulus' team was moving backwards.

“Why are they taking so long to attack?”

“I'm guessing they know something we don’t, honey,” said Mom.

Suddenly, the snake widened its mouth, showing its fangs. It was terrifying, but that was not all. The snake ejected venom from its fangs, but the distance was such that the soldiers were able to protect themselves with earth magic.

“Ah, it ejects venom. That’s why they were keeping their distance.”

“But the time is ticking, they have been in this stage for fifteen minutes already with no progress.”

Suddenly, the snake's aura increased and quickly propelled itself against the students like an arrow. However, once the snake was airborne, all seven students chanted "Air Slice Magic," attacking the snake directly and causing it damage. After the attack, the snake was erratic. Attacking everything and ejecting venom everywhere. The students waited for the snake until it was no longer moving as sharply. The snake rolled itself up in the ground to protect itself.

“Now!” Paulus gave a sign to his classmates to go forward, and everyone attacked at the same time with knives in hand. However, the snake struck, but as soon as the snake moved to attack, the students jumped backward. It was a faint to lure the snake. Immediately after, Paulus was already lunging with knives, cutting the snake's head. It was a flawless victory for Paulus’s team. The Arena erupted in ovation.

“That one soldier is leading the other really well.”

“True, he is the team leader and is communicating clearly.”

“All the members of the team must trust him.”

People around us were talking highly of Paulus. Meanwhile, Mom had her eyes closed, arms wrapping around herself, and nodding to every compliment people were saying about Paulus. She was very proud of Paulus’ performance.

“Five minutes before the next challenge!”

“They took too long to finish this stage, no? It was close to twenty minutes.”

“They have to be quick to get the most points, but also they have to preserve as much magic as possible because they don’t know what the next opponent will be. So I would say being cautious on magic consumption was the right choice.” Said Dad, looking down, eyes closed, and rubbing his nose.

“Meh, he is doing okay,” I said, looking at the side.

“Ooh? Is someone jealous?” said Marcus out loud, pushing me with his elbow.

“I’m not jealous, I’m just being honest.”

Mom came closer to hug me. “Don’t worry, my daughter, I will train you hard these last couple of months so you can beat up everyone at the Academy.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

“Match will start in 30 seconds!” Music started playing, and Paulus’ team got ready for the next beast.