“Your showing yesterday was something. Here eat.” The king handed Auna a bowl of warm mush. “Don’t look at me that way. It is very good for strained bodies.”

  “Fine, I will eat it. I will not like it though.” Auna took a few spoonfuls before continuing. “Why are you surprised? I am strong. I have been winning for a few years now. Tell me something though what is this egg?” The egg would not go into her storage, no mater how much she tried. Which was why she was still holding it.

  “I know you are strong, but I didn’t think you could fight without a weapon.” The king sighed as he absentmindedly played with Aunas’ hair, lightly braiding it. “Some times monsters are born unresponsive. Scholars think the parents didn’t give enough mana to the unborn for whatever reason. This causes dormant eggs; live birth monsters don’t have a dormant variant. The dormant eggs are mostly just decoration, it is rare but sometimes they are still able to hatch. It is a living being, but unlikely to ever hatch. Many nobles collect them, especially the rare ones.”

  “That sounds a bit creepy.” Auna continued to eat the gross mush. “Seriously what is this?”

  “I don’t even know. I just know it works?” The king stood, others were starting to wake and move about. “Be careful today, I don’t want to be the one responsible for such a talented person dying.”

  “Will do my king.” Auna bowed before she and her group of tamed animals left. She was going to rest until their turn to fight in the arena. The others would watch the teams go through. She still needed rest; she had pushed too hard the day before. Besides they all knew the king would give her team something odd to deal with. Sure, the king had every right to hand select challenges for the teams. Though that usually meant easier opponents for higher ranking children, not giving lower ranks stupid strong opponents. It was now an unspoken rule though they would have the strongest, or most uniquely difficult ones in that years’ arena. Though with luck it would not continue once they were a part of the older kids’ competitions.

  “Auna?” Ciela gently shook her. It was nearing their time to fight. Most of their team were nobles, however they still were last to fight. It was a rule that the previous champions would go last, a closer of shorts. If the champions had moved on, or were not participating they would go by average rank of the groups.

  “I’m up, anything I should know?” Auna asked as she pulled on a combat outfit. A thicker mantle and pants. She also pulled on shin and wrist guards.

  “Well, there were a lot groups. There was even a Golem that was resistant to magic! There were also cute bunnies that flamed up!” Ciela was chattering happily as Auna grabbed her staff. She made sure the egg she got had been given to the dungeon the night before, as she did not want to carry it.

  “Sounds good. Thanks.” Auna patted her on the shoulder as they walked into the waiting area of the pop-up arena.

  “Morning my moon.” Jensen was playing with Theo on the ground as they walked in.

  “So that is where they were.” Auna gave a small scratch to his head as he played.

  “They like me.” Jensen shrugged standing up to give her a small hug. “I am excited, lots of strong beats, and such this year. Do you think it is because the pada season came early?”

  “Possible, it is even stronger. I heard many nobles are going to be stuck in the capital this year. Commoners staying here in Bloodwave.” Auna gave a slight smile as he hugged her, it hurt.

  “You sure about this? Should I really lead?” Jensen looked serious.

  “Yup, I should stay in the back. Support.” Auna assured him with a smile. “The triplets will act as front attackers. Chloe and Sambor will be our defenders today. We got this.”

  “We are next, so deal with it man.” Sambor gave him a wicked smile and a pat on the back. He had truly become one of their people. Ciela giggled as she led the tamed beasts away to watch.

  “Alright! Everyone your favourite team of crazy kids is up next!” The annoying announcer laughed as everyone cheered.

  “Okay everyone get ready the gates are opening.” Jensen took to his new role hefting his shield up.

  “Looks like an average ogre.” Chloe readied her weapon with a grin.

  She was right it was a normal ogre, the triplets easily killed it. Next two monster horses were let into the arena, the triplets handled one. The other was taken down by Chloe through a savage beheading. She was already covered in blood less than a few rounds in.

  “This is not great.” Meredith groaned as they continued to throw magic around, not at the three golems.

  “One is hard enough to deal with, three is a bit silly. Even for us.” Auna took a deep breath. “Just aim around them to knock them off balance. Use healing when needed. Save your magic.”

  “Look at that! She may be on the back lines but she is still a great leader. Their heavy hitter she is not today!” The announcer was nearly spitting as he spoke so quickly.

  “So annoying.” Auna muttered trying not to glance his way.

  Jensen used his heavy shield to deflect and crush the golems as they attacked. Chloe used her heavy hitting mace to finish the job. The triplets and Sambor didn’t heave heavy enough weapons to deal damage worth anything.

  “This is just dumb. Is it worth it?” Chloe asked as she backed up to the support mages.

  “I think so. What is the prize this year?” Auna asked.

  “Are you serious?” Chloe laughed. “I think this year the group prizes were kept hidden. That is the whole reason even more people signed up this year. There are rumours though. They say it is something fantastic, like top of the line fantastic.”

  “Give me a break I was literally on my death bed you know.” Auna laughed as they all huddled under Jensens’ shield and an earth magic ledge. The griffins, four of them, were trying to eat them alive.

  “Touché.” Chloe laughed as she crushed one of beaks that came too close.

  “Look at that, having a calm conversation as four griffins are trying to eat them.” The announcer was invisible to the monsters, at least it seemed like it to everyone. Auna thought it was possible the announcer was one of the ones who raised the beasts for slaughter. He must be a cold, cold master.

  “He is so annoying.” Auna muttered again. “Game plan for these pesty things?”

  “I was thinking you could just drown them?” Jensen groaned as the heavest bird landed on the shield he and Sambor were holding up. They both gritted their teeth.

  “I need a clear line of sight, unless you want me to just cover the whole arena in water? The shields should keep the audience dry and the announcer, while I don’t care if he drowns.” Auna shrugged. “Someone will need to make a pocket of air though.”

  “What a crazy plan! No way she can do something so ridiculous!” The announcer kaughed as he floated around.

  “Sure, I’ll make the air pocket. He—” A triplet pointed to another one. “—Will make sure we all stay put by covering our feet in rock.”

  “Okay. I will need tome to regenerate after though.” Auna nodded as they nodded to her.

  Next Auna closed her eyes taking deep breaths. The necklace with her stone began to glow. Everyone was quiet as the triplets also began doing what they needed to do. Stone covered their feet holding them to the ground. Air began to compress around them. Next a torret of water started to flow from the around the air. Within just ten minutes the whole shielded arena was covered in water, the griffins panicked. They tried to escape but found no way to, the announcer seemed to also panic as his shield broke under the pressure.

  “Save the annoying announcer please.” Auna groaned.

  “Sure thing.” A triplet left the pocket of air, grabbed the helplessly swimming announcer before rejoining them. “Got him.”

  “Thank you, really.” The announcer panted as he looked around, his feet having been pinned to the floor as well. “Well, what a development! The entire arena is covered in water. Truly a feat.”

  Everyone just waited for the beats to die. Chloe did try to tame one but it was not in the state to be tamed. Auna closed her eyes and rested. Griffins were not easily drowned as they also had wind magic. Though they also were too panicked to properly fight them, instead instinct told them to find a way out. So, they waited, and the sun began to set. Once they were sure they had died the water changed and dissipated into the air. The children got up.

  “That was something.” The announcer was back in the air floating around, still damp though.

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  “I am going to be useless for a few rounds possibly.” Auna took out a mana potion, which was allowed. Many people didn’t have spatial storage as children, and would have to carry things into the arena. To keep up appearances their team also carried these things on their person.

  “Well, I guess this is lucky then?” Chloe giggled as three trolls came into the arena.

  “I guess so.” Auna laughed as they took back their formation, Chloe heading to the front. Trolls were slow, and had no magic other than healing themselves. Meredith and Auna just needed to move and keep out of range.

  It wasn’t like the last time they fought a troll. The groups weapons all had poison blades. These weapons had a specific metal that drained magic, and poisoned blood. It was low level but enough for monsters that should appear in this festival. The trolls also didn’t stand a chance against Chloe, who was nearly dying to crawl inside one like Auna had. Which she did, laughing like a lunatic.

  Next were the twelve goblin riders of higher ranks than normal. They even had a mage with them. The triplets chased them around as Meredith kept them as pinned down as possible with long range magic. Jensen dealt with the ones that had fallen off their mounts. Meredith managed to tame a boar mount, but a goblin killed it once it noticed. It did not take long to wipe them out. Auna stood on guard but did not participate.

  The next hoard Auna had to participate. Over twenty ants, possibly 25 as Auna count not count the things on the move. They had a variety of magic. The team split into small pairs. Meredith stayed near Sambor. Auna ran with Jensen. Chloe and Mateo were circling the ground picking off stragglers and helping teams as needed. The last two triplets were paired together. They ran around the arena taking down ants that each team had ability that put them at an advantage.

  “This is bullshit.” Auna wheezed. They had been running away from six oversized fire rabbits. “Are these the bunnies Ciela told me about?”

  “She called them bunnies? Other teams had three.” Jensen yelled back. They had remained in their teams to deal with the fire rabbits. They shot long streams of fire at them, with the agility to dodge them as well.

  “Okay what now?” Auna spun around with Meredith against her back. They could see nothing but the announcer laughing made them know the next fight had started. Auna had four dots on her map, that faded in and out of existence.

  “Cloud elementals. We see them near coasts due to the environment fitting them.” Jensen called over to them. “Stay on guard. They hate fire, so go nuts.” As he said that Jensen started firing fire everywhere, so much that the rest of the team ran to a huddle to protect themselves.

  “Crazy! We thought the boy was water magic based like his parents! Seems like he also has strong fire magic! These kids are unbelievable!” The announcer was huddled with the group as well, his shield also didn’t block fire. It was likely he had gone for physical attacks over magic, as the monsters didn’t aim for him.

  “Got them!” Jensen smiled brightly as steam rolled off his cooling body, his clothes a little charred but still together.

  The arena started to shake, a few platforms staying at ground level as the rest of the ground fell away.

  “It is going to be a water fight, one other team got this far. They defeated the lizard monsters that crawled out of the water.” Jensen stretched as they broke apart, not wanting to stay on one platform together.

  “Jensen, dear, it is only one target. Coming in hot.” Auna pointed at the water rippling towards the platform Jensen was on.

  “Got it, stay mobile support.” Jensen raised his shield to block. Not a great decision as a water drake knocked him clear into the water. Auna groaned.

  “Okay stay mobile! Triplets and me in the water! Sambor, Chloe, Meredith don’t fall in!” Auna jumped into the water as everyone called out. The announcer was complaining he could not see anything.

  Under the water Jensen was struggling to keep hold of his heavy shield, it was the only thing keeping the drakes’ teeth from tearing his throat out though. Quickly Auna and the triplets attached themselves to the drake digging in, Auna with her teeth. Aunas’ wrists were not stable enough to hold on. Instead, she pumped magic into the thing using her teeth. She basically had indestructible teeth, a fact she had learnt by mistaking a rock for candy once. She did not know why. She felt the triplets also release magic on mass into the beast as Jensen kept it entertained. It did not take long for the beast to die.

  “How did that happen?” The announcer was screaming as the arena reset. The kids ignored him and dragged themselves off to the waiting area. The potential teams that might get placements were already waiting. Jensen used fire magic to dry everyone off. Auna closed her eyes and rested for a bit while the king made a few speeches, and brought up the other winners. The child of Wardites’ team managed to achieve second place. Soon Auna and her team were showcased on the stage as well. The other teams had won very expensive weapon creation rights. It meant they could get a custom weapon created by the kingdoms’ best blacksmith shop for free.

  “For your team I offer a choice. You can get rights for weapon creations as well. Your other choice is a right to have something made by a jeweller.” The king smiled, having predicted they would not need the weapons.

  “Jeweller please.” Jensen gave a shrug as he spoke.

  “So, it will be. Now for the next option. Step up here Wardite team. I want to offer both teams to partake in the special round together.” The king stopped to allow them to decide. He didn’t always ask on the platform but this year because the prize was not physical, he asked on the platform.

  “Well, what do you guys think?” Jensen looked first to his team as Wardite did the same.

  “I have some fight left in me, nothing too grand though. Full support role.” Auna said as she had her staff leaned against her, not holding it. Her wrists were throbbing strongly, the rest of her body not doing too much better.

  “Cool, Marell?” Jensen called over. The Jade twins had been a part of the Wardite boys’ team since they started. This was the first year they placed higher than fifth though. They had even completed all ten rounds.

  “Can we?” Marell smiled at little Wardite.

  “Sure.” Little Wardite nodded. Soon they were all back into the arena. Waiting.

  “I am excited.” Auna smiled as Chloe bounced up and down as she spoke. With the greatest prize yet she was excited to see the special monster.

  “Oh, that is not good, SCATTER!” Auna yelled as a black and red dragon appeared inside the arena. The shields around the arena shuttered at the force of the magic having entered. At her yell her team scattered, and kept moving not allowing the dragon to pin them. However only two members of the other team scattered. It left the rest of the Wardite team vulnerable.

  “I. SAID. SCATTER!” Auna threw wind magic at them, scattering them to her team members who grabbed them. Her team dragged the Wardites as they all ran circles.

  “What, is this?” The announcer whispered, though loud enough to be broadcasted. The king also stood up, looking worried.

  “MOON!” Jensen jumped to Auna who had not been able to run fast enough. The dragons claw landed on Jensen’s’ shield, which gave slightly. Jensen could not hold it up. So Auna braced it with him. Her wrists cracking under the pressure, blood staining her sleaves through the bandages. “Moon, we have to do something. We won’t be able to escape. The shields are meant to keep us in as much as the special monsters.”

  “I know. Just hold for a few minutes while I figure it out.” Auna kept bracing as the audience started screaming about how unfair it was. A few of them, like Auna, had appraised the dragon. It was a level 500 Dark Fire Dragon. It was way beyond them. As Auna thought that the shield began to crack. “Okay brace for impact.” Auna was calm as they were punched fully into the ground. She had used earth magic to mage a tunnel away from the impact zone.

  Auna also covered their escape route as they moved. She used earth magic and nature magic to pull everyone else under the ground, deeply. She even kindly brought the announcer down. They now all sat huddled deep below the ground in a small chamber as Auna tinkered with something.

  “What is going on?” Marell cried. “Uncle told us not to accept doing the special level. He said we had been lucky this year, and didn’t deserve it. Father said not to listen to him. Maybe we should have.” She rambled on some more quietly as Wardite was saying a similar thing, his father had told him not to part take as well.

  “Why is there a dragon, that thing has to be at least level 200.” A freckled boy from the other team muttered.

  “500.” Nearly everyone else said.

  “The special monster was suppose to be a metal golem. Not this.” The announcer sighed deeply. His broadcast still happening. On the screen around the arena everyone could see and hear was happening below them.

  “Turn the broadcast off, I don’t need the dragon knowing what my plan is. Also shut the hell up, I don’t need that thing hearing us!” Auna whisper yelled.

  “Right.” The announcer shut his device off. “So, what do we do?” He asked in a whisper as they all moved closer. He had seen the blood pouring from her nose, eyes, ears, and wrists. No one had been surprised about the blood on her wrists. Everyone, including the ones outside, had been shocked about the other blood.

  “Survive of course.” Auna sighed. “I am going to lay explosives around. Then Jensen and I are going to get eaten by that thing. Once we are eaten start running around like mad men throwing these. Then, well, hope for the best honestly. If you run out throw any magic you can.”

  The next hour was spent with the group slowly moving around under the ground as the dragon dug around looking for them. It occasionally got close. Soon the charges were set. Auna was covered in blood. With a nod they all started counting going their opposite ways. Once they were all done with their count explosions rocked the arena. The dragon was momentarily confused.

  “Oh no! It looks like the dragon has killed Jasper and Pearl!” the announcer screamed as he started his broadcast again. He was hoping to distract it. He was not allowed to participate, so this was all he could do. As well as hope for the best.

  The others did as told, throwing the explosive stones at the dragon as they ran. It was a great distraction, though caused very little damage. They ran out in less than twenty minutes. As the others began to run out of magic though the dragon slowed. It roared with anger. It began to throw its’ head back and forth, rolling on the ground. Blood poured from its’ mouth. Soon it stopped moving. Falling to the ground it gave one last roar, a death cry mixed with anger.

  “We have killed the dragon.” Auna said quietly as the announcer had come to meet them. Her and Jensen had crawled out of the dragons’ mouth. They had been eaten, using magic to keep the acid of the stomach from killing them. They then crawled up the throat, down the wind pipe into the lungs. They cut through the lungs then into the heart. Once in the heart they let out as much magic as they manage throwing explosive stones into the path they came from. Once the heart stopped, they crawled back into the lung, up the windpipe and out the mouth. They were covered in blood, and all kinds of grime.

  “You will be rewarded the carcass for your efforts.” The king was sitting back down, like this wasn’t a mistake. Though most people had caught what the announcer had said, no one had proof after the fact. So, they all calmed down as well. Trusting their king.

  “Come my moon.” Jensen spoke, knowing Auna had closed her eyes already. He supported her body slowly limping them both to the exit. Theo met them there carrying her off to the medic. They spent a few hours being fixed, before the carriages left for the capital. There were no bodies in them though. Only a few drivers, who had short range teleportation magic. They instead all left for the dungeon, and the crater. They all needed proper rest. The Bloodwaves had chosen to stay behind, without Meredith. They would field any questions and move out with the rest of the caravan. The king would not get a chance to see Auna off, he still did not have the moon door. He was busy dealing with the fallout of the last special event. He made sure no one tried to claim the dragon. His shadow guard had managed to attach himself to Auna, going through the gate. Auna was conscious enough to give access when she noticed there was some trouble getting through. The guard remained in shadow form. He spoke to the king though, Auna noticed a device in his hands—like a communicator.