With the deal he made with Jethro, Raen was more than motivated, he just had to defeat three soldiers in the Skills tournament. This would occur in a couple of weeks and he would have a new partner for his plan, freeing Minawoods from the empires claws. Besides that at the mines he did physical workout for hours on daily basis, it didn’t compare with the hard trainings he endured at Iskyla, the boy needed to get in shape if he wanted to achieve his goal; in order to do that in his little free time he had at nights, he exercised in secret.

The Kivet Skills Tournament was a monthly event in the town, mainly to find out which soldier was the strongest. It kept them fit as the townsfolks represented no threat, it also helped to show their authority and inflict fear on the villagers; and as an extra it served to kill boredom.

The scenario was set up on the explanade, it was a simple fighting ring (1). On one side, they set up special seats for the three generals and the commanders who ruled the place. Around the ring the villagers were forced to observe the events from the steps also mounted just for this matches. There was considerable space between the combat area and where they were located. However this did not ensure that the spectators would came out unscathed.

Raen had already attended a few tournaments. The rules were simple, one on one battles, anyone could participate, although the use of kivet was the natural choice of fighting to show off their greatness; normally non-users never dared to confront the soldiers. Since those were “friendly” fights, only wooden weapons and shields were allowed to avoid lethal wounds.

For the first encounter participants volunteered, then the generals choose randomly two of them. The first person out of the ring, by any way; looses the battle and a new fighter will challenge the victorious one. The tournament reaches its end when someone wins five consecutives confrontations. As a reward the champion receives a decent meal with the generals, lots of drinks and an evening of entertainment of their choice.

The day had come, the tournament had started. Some combats had already ended, bets were made on every round. Raen along with  his friends were on the first row watching the show.

The actual champion was Renato: a earth kivet soldier, shorty, fat and brow haired. While he was slow with his physical movements, he made up for it enormously with his powers. His opponent was a rookie female soldier of the same element, the bell rang announcing the start of the match; she lunged forward to strike the first blow, but Renato raised his fist causing a pillar to rise from the ground, suffocating the girl. When she fell to the floor, the man did a jab (2) into the air with his left arm, again an earth pillar impact her from the left flank, sending her flying outside the arena.

─Renato adds another victory ─Jullien spoke, the referee appointed to coordinate the encounters. He could use electric and air kivets, which allowed him to increase or decrease the volume of his voice as he wishes, so everyone could hear him without problem.

The mayority of the multitud aclaimed the winner, the other part booed him.

─Boo, get lost dude, BOOO!

─Why are you booing him?, it’s his fourth victory ─one of the civilians asked Rozen next to him.

─’Cause that guy sucks.

─Because he was one of the soldier that attacked him ─Isaac added.

─All right, who will be next?… Humn… Nobody? ─None soul climbed on the stage.

─I’ll do it! ─Raen rose his hand.

The crowd laughed out loud and made comments like not to try it, that he was going to die and that he already had them worried about the absence of his follies.

─Woa woa woaah, we have a brave one. Come closer kid ─he was beckoning him to go into the ring.

─You should bet on my behalf ─he tossed a golden coin to Rozen while going up.

─Are you sure you want to do this? you can’t use kivets.

─Yep, I just need to pull him out of the ring ─the public reacted to the boy’s confidence.

─In your dreams punk ─Renato replied clashing his fists together.

─You have guts kid, Are you ok with him participating, my lords? ─asked towards the generals.

Melchior, the mines general nodded. Louis, the docks general raised his thumbs up. Yago, leader of Minawoods, stood up smiling.

─Go ahead, give him some armor or the fight wont last a second. You won’t get special treatment for being a powerless loser brat.

The brave little boy was smiling. As he put on the armor, which was slightly too large for him, numerous bets were made, people was murmuring. Although Raen’s friends wanted to believe he would win, they were concerned.

─Auuung, I can’t see this ─Ingrid leaned in Flor’s shoulder.

─Did you know he was going to do this? ─Floralia asked.

─Mmmn, yeah. My uncle tried to convice him to do the oposite tho.

─I knew he was crazy, but this is madness ─Don Oliver said.

On the special seats, the comanders shared their thoughts too.

─What is he up to? Does he actually thinks he’s gonna win? ─Gahiji said: a steel kivet imperial man, average height, black long hair and slender body.

─I don’t like him, I hope Renato tear him apart ─Marlon spoke: an electric kivet commander, tall, buff, curly short hair and a short groomed full beard.

The generals laughed approving the comments of their scorts.

─What do you think Sennet? you’re too quiet ─Louis asked: a man in his 50s, overweight, silky hair, and golden-brown beard.

─I don’t think he'll win, my lord. But Raen is audacious, he hardly gives up, for sure will give us a show.

─You are very observant mister Sennet, I think the same ─Melchior said.

─Nonsense! he’s just a troublemaker, he better sees the reality he is in ─Yago grumbled.

The referee told the boy to choose weapons and shields, once the battle started, he wasn’t allowed to pick anything else. The young prince grabbed two wooden shields, one rounded and one kite shield and a double edge wooden sword.

─Very well dear Generals, ladies and gentlemen the next round is about to start ─the crowd went wild ─. If Renato wins again, the tournament is over ─again people cheered and others booed ─. But if he looses, Raen will be the new winner and the rival to defeat ─laughter echoed in the place, nobody believed that this was possible ─. Ready… Start! ─he rang the bell and leave the ring.

─This will be too easy, prepare to be decimated Dragon Boy.

<<Your mistaken, I am Raidha Lundberg, and I’ll make you eat your dust>>.

Raen ran towards his enemy with a shield on each arm. The imperial threw a jab into the air on the right, a portion of earth approached the boy in that direction; he avoided it easily. Everyone was surprised, they were waiting the kid to be punched. He continued to advance near his opponent, the other jabed and hooked one way and the other without managing to connect either hit, the prince was getting closer and closer causing Renato to back off.

─Slippery insect TAKE THIS! ─desperate to hit the boy, his movements became clumsier.

─Ah! it can't be, Raen’s gonna win ─Sennet expressed.

─It looks like he read completely the soldier ─Melchior said, the other generals didn’t understand what he meant ─. His kivet power move the rocks from the ground imitating his extremities, that’s why he’s averting all his attacks.

─Oh, he has good reflexes ─Louis laughed.

─Grrr ─Yago growled and smashed his fist against the table next to him.

Raen threw the round shield head-on towards his enemy who was very close to the edge. The last one stopped the attack with an earth barrier, but he didn’t notice the youngster was already by his side, Raen stroked the soldier with the sword, making the soldier to lose balance. He was going to fall outside the arena…

His earth powers formed a thin platform, extending the ring. Quickly with his second shield, the pointy one; thrusted it with all his might to the edge of the ring. The platform broke and Renato fell to the ground.

<<That’s for beating up Rozen, half-wit>> For a second, he smirked to him from above the ring. The bell rang, the match ended ─. Ah!… it worked… I WON! Yuhuuu ─feigning naivety, he celebrated with his arms up.

Every spectator was speechless, they couldn’t believe what just happened.

─WOOOOO! that’s the way to do it ─Rozen broke the silence ─. Guys I can’t believe it… I’m rich! ─yeah, he won his bet.

─Raen… won ─Elyon said.

─He… he did it, AAAAH, he did it, Flor he did it! ─Ingrid frenzied shook her friend who was still in shock.

Jethro was amazed, he wasn’t expecting him to defeat the soldier so quickly. Finally the rest of the people started murmuring about the results of the fight. Jullien held the boy’s hand.

─And the winner of this round is… Raen! ─he raised his arm along with the boy’s, who was smiling from ear to ear and adjusting the oversized helmet ─. What a surprise you have given us. Now… Who will dare to challenge our new winner?

─GRRR, Damn it! ─Yago smashed his fist against the table again, he was furious at the result.

─I’ll crush him ─a tall but hunchbacked soldier stood on the ring, with pointy hair, his armor was red and smoke snorted from his nose.

<<A fire adversary, hummmn how am I going to vanquish you?>>.

-——

(1)Tournament ring: as a reference, if you watched Dragon Ball, well, the combat area is very similar.

(2)Jab or Hook: I think is understandable that this refer to the box type of punches, you know, the one that is thrown with the arm at shoulder height and bending the elbow.