In the morning, the group made their way to the colosseum and Jazmel led the way. Everyone was excited and as they entered, Baek was left outside to find somewhere in the stands to watch their battles.

  The talismans pulled them through the gate and a portal to the contenders waiting area.

  DING!

  WELCOME TO THE TOURNAMENT OF THE TITAN!

  THE RULES ARE SIMPLE, DEFEAT YOUR OPPONENT AND ADVANCE!!

  THE WHOEVER REACHES THE FINAL WILL GAIN A MASTER TIER REWARD AND AN AUDIENCE WITH THE KING!

  …

  As this came up, a large screen appeared before the fifty odd contenders, and they watched as it veered out of focus and two numbers appeared. Neither were those of his or his friends. So this was a bout of strangers, possibly their opponents later.

  The screen showed the thousands in the audience. But then two vanished from the contenders section. Appearing in the arena and preparing to fight.

  Their names didn’t even show up, they were simply numbered strangers who had to earn their right to advance.

  A gong sounded and they rushed in, hoping to end the bout quickly. Skills flashed, one of the contenders seemed to be more focused on Mana whereas the other was clearly someone who focused on their stats. They were unbalanced and lacked harmony. Jazmel himself started to consider how he would fight either opponent. Not to his surprise, the winner was the contender with more stamina, he thanked the Mana strikes and got in close. crippling his opponent and roaring a cheer. The loser of the bout vanished in a red burst of wind, while the winner was covered in golden light and ascended to another part of the colosseum.

  Jazmel smiled, it was quite simple. All they had to do was win, and he planned on winning his bouts, regardless of who he fought.

  The next to be pulled into the arena were more strangers. This fight was even quicker, the mage who appeared cast her skills as soon as the gong sounded. She turned her opponent into a bloody smear across the ground before vanishing in golden light.

  A few more bouts sounded off before Jazmel saw anything exciting. Paldane and Kazumi had been made to stay with Baek and so no pets, or tamer companions were allowed in the arena. The next person to be called into the arena was none other than Bannerman and he was itching to fight. His grey skin, black claws and toothy snarl gained extreme favour with the patrons of the audience. They shouted about the wolf man and when the gong sounded, Jazmel heard his friend through the screen.

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  Full moon

  His hair changed, turning from black as night. To stark white, his only proof of transformation. But he grew strong, he was one of the fastest members of the faction. But when his speed doubled it was as if he was a mere ghost. He faded from sight and by the time his opponent raised his sword. He had been knocked off his feet, the strike was so strong his guard had barely held. He tried to fire of a blast of Mana. but Bannerman was already gone, a wisp of white hair moving faster than most eyes could see.

  Wolf hunt!

  He carved through the guard and when his claws here inches from the other man’s face. He yelled.

  “I forfeit! I surrender!” he yelled; the crowd booed him. The man feared for his life against Bannerman, maybe the wolf form was too much for him. The colosseum heard his cries though. Pulling him from the battle and allowing Bannerman to ascend. The others groaned, Katie especially. They had wanted to see a proper fight.

  The next few bouts were the same. Strangers fighting and either a knockout or a forfeit.

  The rounds were coming thick and fast now, Jazmel found himself yawning. Bored with the waiting and watching. But then Katie disappeared and Jazmel focused straight away for her fight.

  She appeared in the arena, she let both her chains spool out and fall to the ground. Her opponent was also a woman, she was sporting two daggers on her left hip. She eyed the chains and then Katie with suspicious alert.

  The gong sounded and they were off. The woman disappeared, vanishing in a swirl of wind. She appeared close to Katie, but Katie simply waited. Sighing as if she was simply relaxing. The women disappeared as she neared Katie, when she was close she appeared just above katies head. but Katie was waiting for her.

  Chain maiden!

  Usually she used the skill to create larger objects and use them to smash down on her opponents. But this time she wove a net; a weave of chains and she used it to try and capture the woman.

  Clone folly!

  The woman shouted and where there was one. A second appeared she sprung off of it, using it as a diving board and while the net caught the clone. She closed in to attack Katie. Katie leapt up into air, using her chains to soar through the air towards the woman.

  Clone folly!

  Chain fang!

  She created another clone, now there were three. But Katie spun her chains through the clones and tore them to shreds. Her thorned chains literally ripping them to pieces.

  The woman drew her dagger and cutting her palm. Jazmel saw her Mana jump as her dagger seemed to change.

  Blood seal release!

  The woman yelled and her dagger which had been a normal straight edged one. Changed, her blood turned it into a wicked curved blade, and it seemed to change her style too. She sank lower into a stance and her eyes had become blood red too, but she still had her sanity.

  Bloody shuriken!

  From her palm wound, stars appeared in her hand, and she cast them about. Katie evaded them well and as she closed in on the woman, she released her chains again.

  Chain spike!

  Spikes tore up the ground as they appeared from the ground in chained links. The woman leapt into the air and that’s where Katie met her, with no escape.

  Withered whip!

  She lashed out her chain, it struck her hand, and the dagger fell from her grasp. She cried out, the link to her blood abilities broken. She fell to the ground from the shock release of the seal, crumpled. Katie landed deftly and retracted her chains as she ascended to the next stage.