Fallenshade VS Radiant Valor

“Match… start!”

Joseph lifted his staff, ready to cast. Radiant Valor’s two contenders squinted their eyes in confidence. In an instant they shot out, separating from each other. Clearly a duo they moved with precision, overlapping each other’s paths crossing the distance in an instant.

Each wielding dual swords, one slightly larger than the other, their eyes focused in on Joseph. Seeing him remain unmoving, they assumed their speed was the reason. Mages often lack physical prowess.

While they did eye Han, seeing him further back, with a single glance to each other they nodded and dashed in. Each taking an extra large step, their feet glowing as the multiple-meter gap between them and Joseph vanished.

As the glistening blades closed in, Joseph smirked when they crossed the one-meter line. He tapped his staff lightly against the ground with a dull thud, then swept his free hand. In an instant, two domes of water formed—one shielding him, halting the blades in mid-strike, the other sealing off their escape.

Off to the side, Han shook his head, already knowing it was over. The two men hacked away in desperation, their blades sliding uselessly across the smooth surface of the water.

“What the hell is this!”

“It’s just water, why can’t I break through! Fuck!”

“We need to focus on the same spot, idiot!”

The bickering started quickly, but ended just as fast when a crackle flared in Joseph's hand. Moments later, they collapsed to the floor, spasming as wisps of steaming vapor rose from their bodies.

“Match over. Winner: Fallenshade.”

“Next two fighters,” the referee called.

Radiant Valor’s eyes changed in an instant. At first they thought he was a mage, hoping speed was the key but his reactions were too fast. Swiftly strategizing amongst themselves, a pair of blond brothers stepped forth, donning mirrored outfits, hair styles and scars… somehow.

With shark-toothed grins, violent energy, and a piercing gaze, they were no regular opponents. No trash talk, no conversations, not even an ounce of emotion besides a thirst for combat, Serious from the start.

Han leaned in. “I know of these two. They’re twins, they become pretty well known in a couple of years, Rauvik and Sareth, I believe. Violent, bloodthirsty and impatient, yet they are surprisingly sharp. Don’t expect a normal fight.”

Joseph nodded, looking the two twins over with care. “Levels? Any trump card skills?”

With a quick look Han shook his head. “They’re both level 33. The axe wielder has the berserker class. He is more prone to anger and gets a strength boost based off it. His skills reflect that too, with plenty of passives and a handful of combat techniques.

The other with the shields is heavily focused into defense and covering for his brother. While he isn’t a direct threat, their teamwork is exceptional.”

Joseph just nodded again. ‘What an interesting duo… I’m impressed. I guess… Berserker and Shielder… a bit basic on the titles, but I’ve already forgotten the names Han said, their fault for having such hard to pronounce names.’

Han taking a few steps back, hovering at the outskirts of the stage, while Joseph raised his staff ready.

Meanwhile the other two similarly raised their weapons, one with 2 oversized axes, gleaming with a red tint on the silver cutting edge. The other a large tower shield, able to protect the entire body and thick gauntlets covering his fists.

With both sides ready, Sir Cedrid Stormborne raised his hand. “Match… start.”

The twins quickly formed up—Shielder front, Berserker rear. No running or intention to separate. The shield glowed, a zone flickering to life as a faint glowing grey bubble appeared.

Joseph ignored it and dropped a water dome. As if expecting it the twins pushed to its edge. With Shielder’s barrier contacting his dome, they pushed as far as they could. Without any communication a pair of axes rushed ahead.

Oversized, lethal and glistening red as a visible aura emanated from them, they slashed into the water. Ripples swirled around them. Not satisfied, Berserker’s veins started to swell, his skin turned rosy and pupils turned to needles.

With another slash, letting out a guttural cry, the barrier deformed slightly as the axes impacted the same spot, but once again only ripples shot through the dome. Feeling the tug on his mana, he could feel them weakening its surface, the surroundings soaked in water that was lost from the impacts.

Raising the staff, Joseph concentrated and soon a basketball sized fireball floated in front of him. Rapidly spinning, creating a vortex of air the color swiftly changed until it was furnace hot.
While he was casting, Berserker’s eyes bled as his power peaked. His shark-like teeth locking together, hair flailing wildly.

“Go, brother! Break it and crush him!” Shielder called.

The axes fell with a blood boiling cry. Water flashed to steam from the heat generated by the impact, spraying its contents all over the arena. The dome rippled in violent waves, distributing the force—until the oscillation collapsed the weakened structure.

The barrier shattered like a water balloon, they both held triumphant grins and immediately acted.

Before that, however, Shielder shouted as his brother’s eyes stayed locked on Joseph with needle-like focus. “Brother! Get behind me!” He rushed forward to shield them both, and an impact landed a fraction of a second later.

BOOM.

With only a heartbeat to react, Shielders defenses flared—shield glowing, both of their bodies covered in a golden film, and the thin, grey bubble forming into a rocky translucent barrier.

As the contained furnace erupted, Shielder planted his feet with a skill, grunting as the force still managed to drag him back a few steps. The stony translucent barrier shattered instantly, intense flames pushing towards them.

With a loud shout, Berserker seemingly regained some control, releasing his berserk energy in a wave, pushing away most of the fire. The few wisps that did reach, slid off the golden coating around them before fizzling away on the floor.

Unfortunately, that only prevented a small portion of the damage. At the front, the wave of heat flashed around them as it swirled and expanded.

Their eyes instantly dried up, clothes threatening to catch alight but worst of all, the heat bled past the shield and into the thinner metal gauntlets worn by Shielder.

The searing pain from within the gloves scorched his hands, burning through the skin and breaking his focus. Instantly many of the glowing skills stopped, the heat immediately attacking the rest of his body.

“Brother!”

Behind Shielder came the clatter of axes striking the ground. With a violent shove, Berserker hurled Shielder off the platform—before tumbling after him moments later, writhing in pain as his own defenses failed him, the heat burning his bare skin.

Blistered, burnt and in intense pain, healers rushed over from the side as the match ended.

Silence crushed the arena. Not only were two rising stars nearly killed by a single move, but the heat from the blast was eventually releasing its energy into the wider area.

Cedrid cleared his throat, blinking lightly as his dried eyes irritated him. “Fallenshade… is the winner…” Pausing to look up, a flag was briefly waved then Cedrid continued. “We will be taking a short break before the next match to allow the arena to clear up, fighters back to your benches.”

With a mandatory break to let the heat dissipate, Fallenshade retreated to the benches. Excited chatter drifted through the stadium. Radiant Valor’s team sat pale-faced, knowing Joseph had yet to yield his place, and their eyes turned towards an older gentleman seated above them.

In the stands, Radiant Valor’s Guild Master and Vice Guild Master studied Joseph with measured eyes. No strain, no fluctuation in mana. Their decision was made.

Devoid of pride or arrogance and a deep understanding of the situation, Radiant Valor forfeited before the end of the break, not wanting to risk further injury to their young members in a futile battle.

It was an upset. The usual bracket was broken. High-rank guilds were forced to reassess Fallenshade, their recent history gone from their minds as an information race began.

With the final match for the day done and the king’s brief closing remarks given, people rushed to leave. The remnant heat rolling over the arena was like standing next to an open forge—uncomfortable for most nearer the front, unbearable for many of the other contestants on their benches.

From atop the stadium where the king sat, both the princess and prince felt the heat prickle against their skin, their expressions complicated—especially the princess’s. It broke when their father stepped behind them and patted their shoulders. “I told you… the world is an unpredictable and ever-changing place. You had both prepare yourselves well, it may not be as easy as you thought.”

Back at the guest building, a banquet was laid out for anyone to grab and go. Joseph piled multiple plates and headed out. Halfway back to his quarters he met a wall of people clogging the corridor—glowering, smug, yet not seemingly there for him.

As he walked by, a few people glanced at him and nothing more. But when Han walked by soon after, they swarmed out like roaches to confront him, Logan, and Che. Tokko slipped past unnoticed, as if fate itself had deemed her separate from their group, avoiding the snide remarks they hissed.

Glancing back with utter confusion Joseph shook his head.

‘Protagonist scenario’s make no sense. I’m the one that did everything yet they’re hassling Han instead…’ After a moment Joseph’s head tilted in amusement, and a slight mischievous feeling soon arose.