The God of Gravity part 1: Demigod District

First Round

-

*

"So," she said after she regained her composure. "You know the rules? The first round will start as the timer starts... NOW!"

The battle cries in the ring were as loud as the cheer of the crowd in the stadium. There are even cries of other warriors as they fall down the ring. Grunts and screams filled the air, while the dust makes everything hard to see. The clanging sounds of the swords and the clattering of armors falling on the ground makes it hard for Sander to work on a strategy for the three of them, but Leo didn't bother and went for one of the spots.

"Leo!" cried Sander. "Just let them fight each other for a while!" But he already disappeared in the dust cloud. "Ugh! He's not gonna make it on the first round!"

"Calm down," said Philip. "Let him be, he'll be okay. We just have to focus on getting our own spots, but where do you think is the ideal spot?"

"I don't know yet, but let the numbers settle down, and we'll make a decision."

Philip looked around and there are other people doing the same thing they are doing. Icarus and his friends, to be exact. "I guess we're not the only ones thinking like this."

"Huh?" asked Sander as he looked to the direction Philip is looking, he saw Icarus's group and others who formed an alliance, doing nothing in the middle of the ring.

*

-

"Yarghhhhhh!" I cried as I punched the dude who got on the spot. He fell down the ring. I took his place and I see that dozens of them really looking to kick me out of this spot too. "I will hold this spot no matter what! Come to me!" Then they charged together.

It was not that hard nor easy to deal with their numerous strikes at me, but I barely managed to repel them with my hand-to-hand skills. These are demigods and some have swords and spears that keep me at a distance, so I have to be careful. Despite that, I always find an opening by destroying their weapons using the gauntlet Mr. Ruiz gave me. It is very durable.

I know the best chance to win this round is to let others fight for it, and come when everything got settled down, but I don't care. If I do that, I will never get strong. I have to put my abilities to the limit!

A team of three grownups surrounded me. Behind me is the edge of the ring, so there is no stepping back. The middle I think is their leader. She is using two daggers, while the two are fully armed and protected by their heavy armors. Hurting them with my punches will be hard.

"Get him, boys," she said and they charged.

The one on the right prepared a vertical s***h, but I dashed towards him. "Fist of two!" His chest plate crumpled as I punched it, but he was sturdy, so he didn't fall down. Then the other tried to go after the back of my neck, so I ducked and he hit his ally in the chest. The sword is stuck in his armor. The guy with the stuck sword is behind me so I went through, and under the legs of the guy with the crumpled chest plate, and kicked him from behind. "Goodbye!" I said as both of them feel down the ring.

The woman began to charge behind me. s***h after s***h, I managed to block and dodge them. She is very fast! Then she kicked me right against the chest. It was a strong one, and I will fall down the edge if I can't stop. I used the gauntlets' claws to grab on the hard ground. There was a loud screeching, and sparks as I slowed down until I stopped. That's when she's already in front of me and slashed horizontally with her right dagger. I used my gauntlets to block, so it just ricocheted, but it was strong so it pushed me back even further until I only have an inch of distance from the edge.

"You're quite impressive, kid," she said while spinning her daggers. Then she threw her left dagger at me, but I dodged and passed over my left shoulder.

What is this? I see a string! She pulled it and caught me by the neck, and I collapsed forward on the ground. I can't breathe! It's made of steel, I can't cut it loose! If I pulled it, I'll be good as dead.

"It's over now," she said as she pulled me towards the edge.

Then I sensed someone charging in our direction, then the next thing that happened is that the steel-string was cut loose and I am free. The woman was blown away far from where we can from and fell down below, and I gasped for air.

"You're really reckless, Leo," said Sander as he turned around to look at me while I am still on the ground.

"You said you want to fight us," said Philip. "and you almost lost in the first round."

These guys... "I was fine on my own," I said.

Philip scoffed. "Like hell. We made it through everything by working with each other."

He's right... So I laughed, thinking about the times we saved each other. "Let's work together one last time!" I said.

"You destroyed my plan, Leo!" yelled Sander.

"I'm sorry," I laughed.

"My goodness..." He looked behind me as I stood up. "Here they come!" I turned around and dozens of them charged in our direction. "I'll draw them!"

He took a stance with his shield in front of him, and his sword ready to strike. Watching him from behind, somehow made me feel safe. But he's leaving his back open wide for an enemy to exploit it. That's right, it's because he trusts us to watch his back.

-

*

"It's been an hour after we started this free-for-all, folks," said DJ. "And the remaining warriors on the ring is less than half of those who entered earlier!"

"Looks like others have formed an alliance!" said Ericka. "But sooner or later, there will be disputes between the alliance themselves."

There is an unconscious man at Leo's feet so he lifted him up, and threw him over Sander. The guys who charged first were hit, and someone with a spear challenged Sander. He's so adept with the sword and a shield that the guy never stood a chance. He cut the leg of the spear-guy, he fell on the ground and is now disabled. More of them went to attack. Philip was busy fortifying their right rear, and Leo at the left.

"The fight in the north side of the ring is crazy yo!" exclaimed DJ. "We have these three kids defending one right corner spot from a party people!"

"And that's not all, DJ," said Ericka. "The kid whose name is Darius holds his position at the north-west corner!"

"What? I can't believe it! He is very light in his feet and those combos! Damn! This dude is a monster! Without any allies, he single-handedly defended his territory! And the others are now afraid to contest with him! Cheer for this dude, people!" The crowd cheered loudly.

"It seems that there are prodigies here with us in this year's tournament," said Ericka. "And they are giving us a good show!"

It was too many for Sander to handle, so he stepped back and let the enemies charge. Then Philip jumped over him and prepared a vertical heel kick. He spun forward and hit the ground with his heel. The impact blew the enemies away, along with the debris from the broken ground.

"Wow!" exclaimed Ericka and DJ.

"A very destructive heel kick from this kid!" exclaimed DJ. "These trios are unstoppable! They will dominate this side of the ring in no time! Somebody, stop them!"

There were a lot of enemies, but this time, they are scattered. They dealt with them one-by-one.

"Now, take a look at the south side, DJ," said Ericka. "At this side of the ring, Icarus of the Nephos family, and his allies started to make their move!" The four of them walked calmly towards the four spots on that side.

"Kara," said Icarus referring to the girl who is among his friends. "rain arrows on them."

"Okay!" she said as she pulled five arrows from her arrow bag on her back. She pulled them all at once on her horizontal bow, and quickly released it. She didn't miss any arrow as each of the arrows hit someone at their legs. She did it again, and still, she didn't miss.

"What a shot!" exclaimed DJ. "Girl sure doesn't want to waste any arrow!"

The allies of the warriors who were shot, charged to take their revenge. "You bastard!" shouted one of them, but quickly defeated by the biggest kid of Icarus's group.

"Unbelievable!" said Ericka. "This tournament of this year is not like any tournament we have witnessed before! This year's batch is really full of prodigies!"

Icarus just walked to the second spot that is second from the left, and let his friends do all the work for him. "Bob," he said, referring to his big friend. "Mark," he referred to his other friend that uses a shield and a sword. "this is our area now."

They nodded and charged to the warriors who are charging at them. They easily defeated the horde of warriors, and Icarus never lifted a single finger as he went to the spot he was after. The other three defeated the ones who are standing on the other three marks of that side and stood on each of those marks.

"That's it!" shouted DJ. "THEY COMPLETELY TOOK OVER THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE RING!!!"

The coliseum was full of deafening cheering of the audiences.

*

-

I punched a group man in the gut with my Fist of Two. He was blown away and fell off the edge. Then I heard, "Ten minutes left!" from the gorgeous host, and the crowd was thrilled.

"Ten minutes?" I asked. "It felt like I've only been here for half an hour."

"We need to secure spots quickly!" said Sander after defeating an opponent. "Don't mind that Darius, we are no match for him. Focus on taking these three spots!"

"Yeah," said Philip. "but we only managed to defend one."

I looked around, and I saw some injured people on the ground and some who are still standing, but desperately attacking the people standing on the spot but gave up hope on taking on Darius. The two middle ones are taken by some strong looking guys. I looked around, and I saw the East and West sides in the same situation as we are, except the South. Icarus is looking at me with a smirk. He seriously thinks I won't make it in this round. I'll prove him wrong.

"Two minutes left!" said the funky host.

"Sander," I said. "take this spot, and we'll manage on our own!"

He looked like He's against the idea, and said, "But-"

"We'll be fine!" I said as I ran to the two middle spots together with Philip.

"I see that we have no time," he said while running. "Let's win this round together."

I think he is lying. I can see it in his face as I turned to look towards him. He has the idea to give the spot to me and sacrificing himself. I won't allow that.

I charged at the man who fights using his bare hands. He has a kickboxing style stance, so I will have to change my approach. "Let's go, Philip!" I shouted.

"Okay!"

What's dangerous about kickboxers are mainly their kicks. There is a chance that he will start by kicking me down, that's when he will be vulnerable. He waited for me until I got near his range. He changed his footwork too early for delivering a punch, so it's definitely a kick. I cannot dodge it or throw a punch, so I will have to take the blow.

I was right that it was a kick, and his steel heels hit my gauntlets in a force that it created a spark. Then my head hit the ground. I almost got unconscious as I saw Philip leaping over me. I sat up and saw the man being blown away by his kick.

Philip really is strong. He deserves to get that spot more than me. I am glad if he manages to make it the next round because his father even went home from Mars just to see his son. It must be hard to just get the higher-ups to agree to allow him to go home just for a week to see his son fight. I won't allow a father's great effort to go to waste!

I am feeling dizzy, and I touched the back of my head and saw blood on my hands.

"Leo!" said Philip as I hear him like my ears are full of water. "Get on the mark now! I'll manage on my own!"

"Twenty seconds left!"

I was right in thinking he will sacrifice himself, but I am gonna have to stop him. "Sorry," I said. "Fist of two." He looked at me in the eyes as I punched his stomach, then he fell on the ground, right on the mark.

"So you are giving up?" said Zol in my head. "Nice, nice, that's it. Let me help you for a while."

"No!" I said as I ran towards the other mark with a dizzy head.

"Why not? I thought you wanted to be the King of Olympus. If you lose this, you will never become the King. You could've taken that spot, and you're all good. Philip said that he'll manage on his own. What's wrong about that?"

"No, that's not what I want to be. I want to be the King that puts everyone else before me. I will never listen to you! So get out of my head! I don't need you!"

I just heard a chuckle from him, I realized that I am near the man on the mark. He pulled his club to sweep from his right, and I am too late to dodge or even block it. This might be the end for me, but I am with no regret.