Raen had won his first match in the Skills Tournament, his new opponent was already settle; Paolo, a fire kivet soldier. While the arena was cleaned for the next round, the participants were choosing their weapons and accessories to use. The imperial took fast a shield and a double edge long sword. Raen look all his options, after some minutes, he decided: he chose a lance, two wooden swords that put on his belt, a pair of rudimentary smoke grenades, a small shield which put on his back and a tower shield that was over half his height.

─Easy there boy, don’t get too excited. Do you think you’ll be able to move with all that? ─Jullien asked.

─Of course I do ─he turn around and  tripped with the big shield falling on it ─. Woops, hehe, I’m just trying it…

─Hmph, let’s not lose anymore time ─Paolo said angrily.

─Dear generals, ladies and gentlemen, our contestants are ready ─the crowd cheered ─. Will Raen get his second vitory? or will Paolo become the new champion? ─some people were still in shock, other encouraged the soldier.

─You’ve got this Raen!! ─his friends cheered.

─Double or nothing ─Rozen kept betting on the prince.

─Ready… Start! ─the bell rang once again and Jullien leave the center of the ring.

Paolo ran towards the boy, his fists were covered with flames, the kid held the tower shield with both hands protecting himself. He received the first impact which made him pull back a little, the heat was intense.

─You’ll turn into ashes ─he trew another fire punch.

Raen did the same, and the collision caused him to fall back again some distance ─. Ah! please noooo into ashes ─a third time the dynamic repeated. <<OK, this gap should be enough>>. The youngster was really close to the edge of the arena, he showed his sword by the side, his enemy didn’t hesitate and shot a fireball burning the weapon. Smoke was coming out from the sword, he threw it on the floor behind him.

─Seems a very heated battle, young Raen is cornered, Is this the end of the Dragon Boy? ─Jullien commented to entertain.

Whispers were heard in the crowd, some said his previous match was mere luck, a lot were changing their bets on the imperial, some others were cheering to not give up. Jethro was staring at Raen’s movements, the rest of the gang were worried; this fight was completely opposite to the earlier one.

<<C’mon Raen, you must win or… I’ll be poor again>> Rozen bit his nails in anguish.

Raen took the lance and did the same as the sword, his enemy once again set it on fire.

─Did you get tired in the other fight and that’s why you’re not moving?

He threw the lance on the ground, he stepped on it near its flamy point, and with one hand pulled up the spear to break it. He waved the burning part to disperse the smoke and dropped it behind him. The smoke from both wooden weapons were creating a screen, covering the spectator visibility clouding his movements.

─If you don’t do something effective soon, you’ll lose the battle, that shield won’t last forever ─Paolo took a deep breath, pointed both fists towards hi opponent; he was going go deliver the final blow. As he exhaled, jets of fire attacked the prince.

─Patience is a virtue that you lack!! ─Raen yelled while trying to hold his possition and do a small hole on the ground, he stuck what was left of the lance in it to retain the burning shield.

─You’re right! that’s why I’m ending this now ─he increased the flames, the heat intensify horribly and the shield was about to fall apart.

At the special seats, people were wondering what the heck was the punk trying to do; except Yago, he was happy to see Raen in that situation ─. Stupid Brat, he won by luck previously, but he ran out of it now ─scoffed the general.

<<Ok, I just have one chance, I need to be fast. If this fails, I’ll have to execute plan B, and I don’t want that yet>>. He wiped the seat from his forehead, covered his mouth and nose with his protector buff from the mines, pulled out the smoke grenades and blew them up.

BOOOOM!!

Half of the ring was covered in the smoke eliminating all visibility. Paolo stopped his attack, he waved his flaming hands trying to dissipate the blinding screen.

─Where the hell are you, scum? ─he serched from one side to another, then he saw the silhouette of the boy’s helmet ─. This is your end! ─Paolo threw a fireball in the direction of what he believed was his prey. Suddenly Raen came out from the smoke afar from his enemy.

─Hmmn, I believe you’re wrong Mister Yago, that brat ain’t stupid at all ─Melchior spoke. <<How interesting>>.

─He’s gonna win again, hahahaa ─Louis laughed.

The attack knocked down the silhouette but he realized it was nothing more than the other sword adhered in the ground holding the helmet ─. What the…? ─he turned around to look for the kid, he saw him running in his direction.

─You fell into my trap.

The smoke dimished, Raen toss him the small shield. Paolo deflected it with his arm, leaving his torso exposed; the boy was already in mid air throwing a double kick. The impact went straight into the imperial’s chest and he fell to the floor outside the ring. For a second time silent was present, the assault ended… the bell rang. The prince stood up laughing, Paolo was furious; and as a bad loser, he launched a fireball in the kid’s direction. Raen ducked avoiding it.

─C’mon Paolo, you’ve been defeated. But by my grandpa’s beards!! I ain’t expected this outcome… ─he reached the prince ─. And the winner of this round is… believe it or not… Raen! ─he raised his arm along with the boy’s.

─Whooohoooo! ─Rozen was jumping with joy. Also, more people cheered the boy, even some soldiers approved the results.

─Kyaaah! Flor… he did it again, hahaaa ─Ingrid hugged her friend.

─Raen is amazing ─Floralia said.

─Yeah, how is he doing it? ─Isaac and Leo were astonished.

Jethro gave Raen an approval look and a thumbsup.

─WRAAAHG, darned! this isn’t happening ─he slammed his jar filled with wine to the floor, Yago was beyond angry you could see his veins in his face.

─Good, good. Who dares to challenge our young winner here? ─the soldiers looked at each other, they began to doubt ─. Hahaaaa, Raen, seems you’ve intimidated them a little ─Jullien and the boy faced each other and smiled ─. Go, go go! this isn’t over yet ─the arena was clean and prepared for the next combat.

─One of you fight him! and destroy him ─Yago yelled at the three commanders.

─I’ll go ─Gahiji (1) volunteered, he jumped from the special seats and landed with grace inside the ring.

Raen was ready, he already took a shield and a sword, he was about to put on his helmet; but seeing who his next opponent was, he returned it to the ground.

<<Hmph, that this guy offers to battle, means Yago must be very angry>>. He glanced at the generals seats.

From his arm armor, the soldier with steel kivet powers, created a metalic sword and lunged straight for the distracted boy.

─Ah! ─he managed to shield the attack, but this object had some metal screws. Gahiji move abruptly his arm to the left and Raen flew over that direction ─. Ugh ─he landed on the floor, but not out of the ring.

─Wow!… Eh… Wait! ummmn… ─Jullien didn’t know what to do, he hadn’t started the round yet.

─What are you waiting? Start the fight! ─Yago scolded.

─Yes sir ─he finally rang the bell ─. Staaaart!

─Tch, this is not good ─Raen threw away the shield. He tried to remove the rest of the armor he was wearing, suddenly he lost control of his arms, he started punching himself on his face ─. Ugh… Aagh… Cht… ─after some punches, he unfasten the metalic pieces from his body and regain control of it. <<Uff, that was close>>.

Gahiji smirked confidently, now that the boy had no protection he could attack seriously. From the ground all the steel pieces were lifted and transformed into numerous sharp arrowheads. Raen still had his wooden sword, he used it to deflect the objects that attacked him; nevertheless those were pretty fast, too many and very sharp. The prince tried to reach his opponent, but the arrowheads began to hit the target, slowing his progress. The attacks came from everywhere, he couldn’t stop all of them with a wooden sword that was about to break.

Although being worried about him, his friends kept cheering. Also most of the spectators shouted words of encouragement.

─Teach him Dragon Boy!

─You already won against two, what is one more?

The attacks didn’t cease, the sword could not take it anymore, it shattered. <<Now what are you gonna do, Raen?>> wondered Jethro, who hadn’t lost sight of the boy since the very beginning.

─You’ll go no further, brat ─Gahiji laughed, he stopped all the arrowheads surrounding the panting boy.

─That was I wanted to see!! Hahaha ─the general was finally happy.

─Aww, the kid is reaching his limit ─Louis felt sorry.

<<Aagh… dear heavens, I’m so out of shape. His the third enemy and it looks like I’ve defeated 30. Cht, well… is time to make plan B to work>>. He threw down the hilt and what was left of his weapon, with his foot, he stepped on the pointy part of the wooden sword making it jump off the ground, he caught it with his hand and ran straight forward his adversary…

<<Plan B: When your rival carries a kivet and is stronger than you…>>.

The arrowheads flew at full speed towards the prince. This time he didn’t flinch and let them injure him, he continued running, some hit his arms, other thrusted his leg, one more in the abdomen.

─He’s not avoiding them?! ─Sennet approached the edge of the seat excited, Melchior looked at him ─. Ah, sorry sir ─he returned to his place ashamed.

<<… You must even the odds of winning…>>.

Raen closed enough, whith the sword attacked the soldiers face, Gahiji evade it; however, all the arrowheads from the air fell off to the ground.

Clank, clank, clank.

─Ooh, an unexpected turn ─Melchior said.

Once again everybody was impressed.

<<…by removing the kivet>>.

While being attacked at his face, the soldier focused his sight on the object, he didn’t saw that Raen with his other hand, dug one of the arrows out of his leg; and tore the pocket where he kept his steel kivet.

You may wonder, how the hell did he know where it was kept? Well when he was Don Vik’s assistant, he had to hold and fold the uniforms of the soldiers; there he discovered the secret pockets where the stones could be hidden. Gahiji, like Sennet and Marlon, was one of the soldiers that accompany the generals; so when Raen decided to free Minawoods, he paid more attention to the escorts.

——

(1)Gahiji: I just want to mention how I pronounce his name in the story. Ga.he.gee (Ga-hē-jē).