Elemental Zodiack

Chapter 22: The Tournament, Part 1

"Isn't it harsh to have a Zodiack give up his seat because some unknown people joined this 'tournament'?" asks Yoso while looking at the formed tournament brackets, at a loss of words.

"You might think so, but this happens every year. Also, anyone can become a Zodiack as long as they have enough accomplishments and can defeat one. This is how Shimada became one after all..." explains Laure

"I see... Then we might witness someone fall from his seat today..."

"I know it's sad since you've just familiarized yourself with the other Zodiacks and already fought together with them, but there is nothing we can do. If they remain a Zodiack it's up to their strength alone," says Saki

 A loud sound then filled the field, announcing the start of the competition where whose Zodiack seats will be filled will be decided.

"~ Hello everyone, and welcome... To the very competition where Zodiacks fight against each other every year, to decide their rankings, and also to give the chance to new faces to face them in a fair fight, with their own seats as trophies! The first fight of today will be held between the Zodiack with the sign of the Taurus, tenth in ranking: Ye Cai of the steel affinity!"

 The crowd already started cheering for Ye Cai from the tribunes. He was indeed pretty popular with the citizens.

"-And the Zodiack with the sign of the Gemini, twelfth in ranking: Shimada Kein of the Wind!"

 Even though the applause and cheer that Ye Cai was welcomed with were impressive, they were nothing in comparison to Kein's. Many people got up from their seats and upon Kein's arrival, some girls even fainted. He was probably the most popular Zodiack there was.

"~ Rules are simple! If you get K.O-ed or are out of Life force, you will lose the fight! Without further ado, let the fight... Start!"

 After receiving the signal, Kein swiftly increased the space between him and his opponent. Ye Cai tried to follow up, but Kein was by default way faster than him.

"I feel like this is going to be a tough matchup for mister Kein..." says Yoso

"Indeed... Steel is one strong counter to Wind... I am curious how Shimada will attack Cai," says Laure

 "Steel Style: Bullet Parade!" using this skill allowed Ye Cai to create hundreds of bullets that he could launch at high speed, and...

"I can dodge those..." thinks Kein

"You won't escape me!" shouts Cai

"What?!" says Kein while continuously running away from the bullets that were following him through the air.

...The bullets Ye Cai creates can follow their target anywhere as long as the target is in Cai's vision field.

"You see, Ye Cai is originally from the Kingdom of Swinford, and as you might know, that is a neutral kingdom where many mercenaries live. Even there, Cai's nickname was..."

"As expected from the one that was once called the Greatest Hitman... But, this is nothing..." mutters Kein

"Wind Original Skill... Chain of Fate..."

"What?! Isn't that skill?" shouts Yoso after getting up from his seat

 Upon using this skill, Kein connected himself to Ye Cai from afar and then moved towards him at unbelievable speed.

"What is that skill, Yoso?" asks Laure

"It is a skill he created when he was training with me a few days ago... It allows the user to attach himself or an ally to an opponent, making the ally move three times as fast as long as he follows the chain... He got the idea from mister Shiro's Forgotten skill..." explains Yoso

"But isn't that...?"

"Yes... It is a support skill!"

"What is that speed? Since when are you a lightning user, kid?!" shouts Cai

 Kein arrived in front of him instantly, letting even the bullets that were following him in the dust. Kein then grasped the rapier he had sheathed at his belt and stroked Cai with an empowered attack, using his wind weapon empowering skill. However, Cai hardened his hand that he used to block Kein's attack with his steel, so the wind couldn't pass through at all.

"I see..." quietly analyzing the situation, Kein took once again distance, realizing that the bullets returned and were approaching him. The Chain of Fate skill was still active, but it was draining Kein's Life force every second it remained, so he had to make use of that movement speed he had, and finish the fight faster.

"You are a slippery one, I'll give you that!" shouts Cai

"I am sorry... But I don't have time to waste on you, Ye Cai..."

 Once again, Kein approached Cai at incredible speed after bringing the bullets far enough from him, then he called out another skill that he had hidden for such dire situations.

 "Legendary Wind Skill... Life Force Channelling: Remastered!"

 After calling this skill, Kein's rapier started glowing in a light green colour, as he made use of his speed to approach Cai. Kein then struck Cai's steel arm with his rapier once again, without damaging him at all.

"Was that skill, just a bluff? What could you possibly do with a skill such as Life Force channelling?"

 However, Kein didn't answer and kept hitting Cai with a continuous wave of attacks, all of them getting parried by Cai's steel hardening skill.

"Something's off... How isn't he out of breath yet? And even more..." thinks Cai that then says:

"What happened with my bullets?!"

"You realized too soon..." says Kein

 And like this, with one more fast strike, Kein made Cai fall onto his knees, not being able to harden his body anymore...

"Life Force Channelling: Remastered... A support Legendary skill that allows me to steal a certain amount of Life force with every strike that makes contact with my opponent, and give it to myself or an ally... I won this..." and saying so, Kein puts the tip of his rapier at Cai's neck.

"~Incredible! With a continuous wave of support type skills and beautiful movement, Shimada Kein came on top in this tough matchup, unscathed! And thus, the winner of the first fight in this tournament is Shimada Kein!"

"~We'll be back after a break of ten minutes with the second fight of this tournament, between Solaria Tay, and Ryuuen Akasa!"

 Coming back from the battlefield, Kein took a glimpse towards Yoso's direction, seeing him wave towards him. After seeing this, he slowly walked towards him, while sheathing back his rapier.

"Incredible, mister Kein! Using support type skills like this!"

"Thank you... I don't really care about the outcome of this tournament... I just want to get over with it so I can relax in your jacuzzi afterwards," says Kein while yawning

"So you didn't use your full strength against a Zodiack... That's so cool! Hope I'll get to see the full extent of your powers sometime during this tournament!"

"Hope more..." and while waving back at Yoso, Kein turned back and went towards his seat.

 And thus, the fight between Ryuuen Akasa and one of the newcomers that were about to challenge the Zodiacks for the first time, Solaria Tay, was about to begin. 

 On the battlefield stepped a tall, beautiful woman in her early twenties, with long, blonde hair and a white outfit that matched the nickname she received in her squad: 'The Uncrowned Queen of The Sun'.

"Hello miss, hope we can have a good fight!" says Ryueen with a smile on his face.

"Same... Try to entertain me, Fire Zodiack..."

"~ And we are back! May the fight between the Zodiack with the sign of Virgo, Ryuuen Akasa of the flames, and the uncrowned queen of the sun, Solaria Tay... Start!"

 While Ryuuen started already channelling his Life force, ready to use his strong fire style attacks, Solaria was already charging at full throttle towards him. He didn't even manage to get his spell ready, and he woke up with Solaria's punch in his abdomen, throwing him two metres behind.

"What happened? I didn't use my magic yet..."

"What happened?!" shouts Yoso

"She used her physical strength to attack, without relying on magic... Sometimes it's better to do this if you're against an opponent that needs time to charge his abilities.

"Tch... Fire Style: Fire Cannon!"

 Moving forward towards Ryuuen, Solaria brushed off Ryuuen's fire cannon skill as if it was nothing. Ryuuen then used his fire propulsion skill to gain movement speed, so he could run away. Seeing this, Solaria channelled her Life force into her feet and emitting incredible heat, she launched herself towards Ryuuen, catching him by the collar.

 She then raised him so he couldn't touch the ground anymore, and started channelling her Life force into her fist, emitting an incredible amount of power and pressure, that was enough for even some chairs in the tribunes to melt.

 Just before unleashing her attack, Ryuuen realized the danger he was in. He never felt as scared as he felt now, not even when they fought Percival's group. And then, he came to a conclusion that seemed most reasonable for him at that moment...

"I- I give up!"

 And thus... The second fight of the tournament ended, with the loss of an older Zodiack, by the hand of a future one...