The New Tournament System
1574 Words
"I made it!" I said as I put my fist in the air. I am panting, and quite glad that I could make it, thanks to Philip's dad.
I saw Philip walking towards me through the crowd of demigods. I am glad to see him again after these three months, but he looks angry.
"Leo, you i***t!" he said. "What was that kind of entrance?"
"That's what I get after three months?" I said.
Sander was laughing his lungs out as he came from behind Philip. "That was hilarious, Leo!" he said. "Thank goodness the hosts didn't pay much attention to that. Why did you enter like that?"
"Okay," I said. "I will explain what happened thirty minutes before. I was walking without worry with your dad, Philip."
"What?" he exclaimed. "Really? He came back from Mars just to see this tournament?"
"Yeah, and there he is." I pointed at Mr. Ruiz on the opposite side of the location of the bisellium in the coliseum.
Philip looked surprised, and a little nervous. Maybe he doesn't want to disappoint him. "Okay, I'll continue," I said. "He said that he is one of the important spectators of the tournament or something, so we went through the back entrance. At the registration booth, they wouldn't let me join, because I have no armor, and a letter of consent from my parents, so I went off to find some armor at the festival. Your dad helped me. We don't have time left, so we entered the nearest store. The armors were horrible, but we have no choice. Then I forgot I don't have money, so your dad paid for me."
Philip exclaimed, "What the-"
"Then he asked me in what kind of fighting style I have, I said mixed, but I specialize punches, so he gave me these gauntlets of his." I showed it to them as the end of the gauntlet reached my elbows. "It's oversized, but I think it will work."
"Argh!" said Philip while putting his hand on the forehead. "Just don't break it, it's a family heirloom."
"I don't think I can, because it is made for someone stronger than me."
"But did your training with Lord Enzo went well?" asked Sander.
"Yes, definitely."
"But what about the letter of consent?"
"Oh, glad you asked. I told Philip's dad to forge me a letter."
"You did what?" exclaimed Philip who's just about to get enough.
"Yes, but luckily, there was Mr. Estevan that vouched for me, and had the letter of consent from my parents, so yeah, I'm all good!" I smiled with enthusiasm, but Philip is still confused and angry at me.
"And you're okay without your glasses?" asked Sander.
"I'm fine, I am wearing contact lenses my family sent me."
I looked at the coliseum, it is very huge, and so is the platform we are on. It is so wide that we are a couple of meters apart from other groups of demigods. Also the number of audiences in this coliseum. I never have seen these many demigods in one place before.
The drawbridges where everyone except me came from, were pulled up as Toparch Caesar spoke through the mic. "Young warriors of Hades District! I am grateful that you are here to showcase your abilities in front of everyone. It is a great honor not only for you but for everyone here in this coliseum to witness how strong the future warriors of the Realm are."
Even when we are far away from each other, I noticed that Lady Mila is looking at me. I didn't know that she's this pretty but don't misunderstand, I don't like her or anything. Well, seeing her in that getup surprised me for I always see her wearing these dark casual clothes, and her hair was short but messy. Here, she looks like a princess that she exactly is. After all, she is the daughter of the King. She averted her look when she noticed me looking back at her.
The old man continued: "You are here to show your strength for Lady Mila, Lord Damon, and the rest of the spectators here in the coliseum that they may find someone promising to join their guild."
"What's a guild?" I asked Sander.
Sander listens to the old man while talking to me: "A guild is either commanded by a god or a powerful demigod warlord, and they scout rookies during tournaments. If you're lucky, you could be picked by one of those men where Philip's dad belongs. Or if you are very lucky, Lord Damon may pick you. This is how important this tournament is."
"Okay," I said. So.... We really are here to show our skills and strength in front of these bunch of powerful spectators. This is interesting.
"Thank you," said Toparch Caesar, ending his speech that I missed most of it, but it doesn't matter.
I am still wondering about something, so I asked Sander again. "Hey, why are there hundreds of us? I thought there were only eight of us that passed the test."
"Haven't you heard? They changed the tournament system."
"Yeah," agreed Philip.
Sander continued: "They realized that the other young demigods who haven't been selected last year are being left behind. So they made the certificate of passing the endurance test, into a requirement for anyone to apply in the tournament. We will be up against some of the older batches, and those who trained for a whole year only for this moment. That is why I am not sure if I can survive long here."
"Don't say that," I said. "I want to fight the two of you for the championship. Also, don't hold back on me if we end up fighting for the spot. I am strong now, you know."
"Where do you even get that confidence? But okay, I will try, and I always think that you are strong, Leo."
"Then let's show each other what we are made of," said Philip.
I smiled and said, "I will!"
"Alright!" said the funky host. "Thank you for the wonderful speech, as always, Toparch Caesar! Ya never fail to inspire people with your words of wisdom!"
Then the gorgeous host spoke, and our eyes were focused on her. "Now that every young warrior is prepared for the tournament, let us explain to you how the new tournament system works!"
"She's hot!" I said as my eyes gradually went down.
"Hey," said Philip. "Look at the face, not the valley."
I looked at him, and he's gradually looking down too. "And are you kidding me?" I said. Sander did the same. We are all perverts.
"First off," said the gorgeous lady. "the warriors can use any weapons they wish."
I looked at Sander, and he carries a shield and a sword, so I said, "What? I didn't know that. I could've brought something! Did you know about this too, Philip?"
"Yeah, that's why I have these modified greaves and sabatons."
"Oh no!"
"That's okay, Leo," said Sander. "You will know the reason later why the strongest demigods don't carry weapons."
"I could've brought rocks!" I said.
"What do you need rocks for?" asked Philip.
"You know, as ammo to throw at people. I killed a pig using just a stone once."
"What kind of things did you do during these past three months?"
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DJ continued. "As ya'll have seen in your letters of consent, the people participating in this tournament could die!" Everyone in the coliseum was surprised to hear that this could turn into a b****y tournament. "We have no choice, but to give chance to those dudes who use weapons to shine! Whether it be spears, swords, or except guns! These weapons can easily kill, that is why we sent those letters of consent in the first place, yo!"
"Then let's proceed into the format of this tournament!" said Ericka. "There are five rounds for this tournament, each held on different days, so that makes this tournament to last five days!"
"The first round that these warriors are here for is a free-for-all, people!" shouted DJ and the crowd cheered. "Now, let's get down to business ya'll! In this round, ya will be fighting for the sixteen spots around the ring! There are sixteen marks near the edges of the ring, four on each side! Y'all dudes have to do is just stand on it until the time runs out, and if ya'r the only one standing on it when the time is over, yo dude may proceed to the next round!"
"Furthermore," said Ericka. "anyone can contest the area by simply forcing, punching, kicking, or any other ways to get the person standing on it leave the area. If a warrior falls down the edge of the ring, automatically he is out of the game! You will have two hours to do it, and it's up to you in how to play it! DJ, please ask these people if they are ready."
"You said it!" he said. "People of the Demigod Districts! Are ya ready?" The crowd cheered. "Ya'll definitely are! How about ya dudes in the ring?"
The warriors shouted, "YEAH!!!"
"Are ya ready, Toparch Caesar?"
He nodded while smiling.
"Lord Damon?"
He nodded.
"How about the beautiful princess of this event, Lady Mila?" She glared at him in anger as she let out the black smoke from her hand. "Alright!" he said nervously, and Ericka tried to stop laughing at his situation.
"So," she said after she regained her composure. "You know the rules? The first round will start as the timer starts... NOW!"
Everyone cheered as the timer on the screen above appeared.
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- Writer
