Episode 15: Ranking Ceremony Part Two

"Here we go!" Ven yells as he tumbles through the air.

His body twists instinctively. If he hits the ground like this, he’ll break something. Or worse.

He'll die.

He quickly flips himself over, extending his hands toward the ground to brace his fall. Before he can make contact, he releases a burst of fire from his palms, slowing his momentum. Using the opening, he kicks off the trunk of the tree and launches himself away, landing safely on the ground with a soft thud.

He doesn't waste a second.

Ven immediately drops into his defensive stance, raising his hands and planting his feet firmly into the earth.

Whoosh.

A blade of water cuts through the air, aimed directly at his face.

Ven tilts his head to the side, allowing the attack to barely miss him.

"Ah," a voice says from the darkness. "So your training has been paying off."

Ven slowly looks forward.

A figure steps out from between the trees, emerging from the shadows.

Ven narrows his eyes and quickly recognizes the figure stepping toward him.

"Merrick."

Merrick stops a few feet away from him. He is dressed entirely in black, with straps and buckles covering his outfit. His long black hair hangs loosely around his face, and his black-painted fingernails stand out against his pale skin.

Merrick is Lox's right-hand man. A talented Water Madokai, nineteen years old, and someone who rarely speaks unless he has something important to say.

"Didn't think you would be the one following me," Ven says. "Let me guess. Lox sent you?"

"Of course."

Merrick's voice is calm and smooth, almost unsettlingly so.

"We both knew you would have an idea where Enishi, Nyx, and Kia would hide their objects."

"So where is Lox?"

"Probably on his way back already." Merrick tilts his head slightly. "I'm sure he found one of Kia's objects. She would obviously hide something near water."

Ven raises an eyebrow.

"So why bother following me if Kia's objects were so easy to find?"

A small smile forms on Merrick's face.

"Because we have other plans."

Before Ven can react, a massive wave of water erupts in front of him.

He quickly raises his arms to protect his face, but the force of the attack pushes him backward.

Then—

A fist emerges through the water.

Ven barely sees it coming.

The punch connects with his jaw, knocking him off balance. His guard drops for a split second, and Merrick takes advantage immediately.

A kick slams into Ven's stomach.

He gasps as the air leaves his lungs and crashes into the ground.

Merrick moves forward, attempting to stomp on him, but Ven rolls away just in time and springs back onto his feet, clutching his stomach.

"It's like that, Merrick?" Ven pants.

"It is."

Merrick calmly runs his fingers through his hair, adjusting it with his painted nails.

"So what?" Ven asks. "You plan on seriously hurting me? Or are you actually trying to kill me?"

Merrick forms a sphere of water in his hand.

"Kill."

He launches the attack.

Ven dodges.

Another.

Then another.

Merrick begins circling him, firing attack after attack while laughing.

Ven blocks and avoids each strike, keeping his eyes locked onto him.

He's not fighting normally.

Merrick charges one of the water spheres, leaps into the air, and throws it with increased force.

Ven blocks.

The sphere explodes against his arms, creating a cloud of dirt and mist.

When the dust clears—

Merrick is gone.

Ven's eyes widen.

A fist connects with his face.

His head snaps backward from the impact.

Before he can recover, another wave of water slams into him, sending him crashing into a tree.

Ven slides down the trunk.

But before he can move, Merrick grabs him by the shirt and lifts him off the ground.

"We have been waiting for this day for a long time."

Merrick stares into Ven's eyes. "Waiting to see Tenari blood."

His painted finger slowly wipes the blood from Ven's lip. Merrick looks at the blood on his fingertip. Then he places it in his mouth.

"Delicious."

I'm going to be sick.

Ven glares at him. "Why doesn't Lox just kill me himself?" Ven asks. "He's been obsessed with making my life miserable since I arrived here."

Merrick smiles. "Because I wanted the honor."

Ven's expression changes. "What are you going to tell the Masters? Enishi? Kia? Nyx? You can't just kill me and get away with it."

Merrick shrugs. "There are many dangerous things in this forest." His smile grows. "Accidents happen."

Merrick raises his palm and slowly twists his fingers.

Ven glances to the side.

Water droplets begin forming from the leaves, roots, and plants surrounding them.

Thousands of tiny beads gather together.

All moving toward one place.

Merrick's hand.

He's forming something.

The droplets begin freezing.

Slowly.

A sharp icicle forms in his palm.

Long.

Thin.

Deadly.

Merrick's eyes light up with excitement as he examines the weapon.

"Such a shame," he says. "I expected more." He points the icicle at Ven. "Especially from a Tenari." His smile fades into disgust. "After being trained by Enishi, Nyx, and Kia? This is disappointing."

He tilts his head. "Any last words?"

Ven stares directly into his eyes.

"Yeah."

Merrick raises an eyebrow.

Ven grins.

"You hit like a bitch."

Before Merrick can react, flames erupt from Ven's feet.

The sudden burst forces Merrick backward, breaking his grip.

Ven uses the opening, drives his legs into the tree behind him and launches himself forward, slamming into Merrick with everything he has.

The two crash into the ground.

Ven lands on top of him.

And then he starts punching.

"You weird piece of shit!"

Punch.

"You!"

Punch.

"Thought!"

Punch.

Each strike lands harder than the last.

Merrick's head snaps to the side with every hit. Blood begins spilling from his mouth, and his eyes swell.

He raises his arms, desperately trying to defend himself.

Ven stops.

He grabs Merrick's wrist. "You want me to stop?"

Merrick spits blood onto the ground.

Ven looks down at him.

And for a brief moment—

Something changes.

His eyes flash crimson.

Not anger.

Something deeper.

Something ancient.

Something dangerous.

Then it disappears.

Ven blinks.

His eyes return to normal.

He leans forward and presses his forehead against Merrick's.

"Don't ever fuck with me again."

Enishi, Kia, and Nyx

Only five minutes remain in the first round of the Ranking Ceremony. Fourteen students have returned with their objects. The remaining candidates have already accepted their fate.

They will not advance.

Most students managed to locate Kia's objects, while only a handful found Enishi's.

Nobody has located Nyx's.

Not surprising.

"Where is he?" Kia asks. Her arms are folded as she paces back and forth.

"There is still time," Enishi says calmly. "Have faith." He places a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Lox was the first one back," Nyx says. "But Merrick isn't here."

He smirks. "You know he's basically Lox's shadow. Probably watches him wipe his ass."

Kia laughs, but when she looks toward Enishi, her smile fades.

He is staring into the forest. Worry written across his face.

"Hey." Kia gently grabs his chin and turns him toward her. "He's okay. We've trained him well."

Enishi gives her a small smile. Then he looks toward the setting sun.

"One minute."

"I expected more from your student, Enishi." A voice beside him speaks.

Enishi turns.

Ezreal stands there, arms folded, disappointment written across his face.

Nyx rolls his eyes.

"Thirty seconds, Enishi. I suppose your training wasn't enough."

Enishi's expression darkens.

Then—

"Ven!"

Kia points toward the forest.

Everyone turns to see Ven emerge from the trees walking slowly, carrying Merrick over his shoulder.

Nyx smiles. "I'll be damned."

Ven lowers Merrick onto the ground carefully. His eyes briefly meet Ezreal's who scoffs and walks away.

"You made it!" Kia says, smiling.

Ven smiles back.

"Of course." He reaches into his pocket. "I was trained well."

He pulls out the painted pebbles.

Enishi looks at them. "Where did you find those?"

Ven slowly turns his eyes toward Nyx who Nyx immediately started laughing.

"Asshole." Ven smiles.