Anyways, here is chapter 15 after 3 months of writer's block, I hope I haven't lost my touch...
Absolution’s Reign
Chapter 15
Battle Royale (Part Two)
After a night’s sleep, the second round of the Hero’s Tournament was about to begin. We all walked to the board to see how we were matched up, the board read:
2nd Round:
Roxas vs. Xonic
Riku vs. Draco
Sora seeded to final match
“Don’t expect any mercy from me” Riku said walking up to me, “Well don’t expect me to let you win” I replied jokingly. We all made our way inside the coliseum where Phil seemed to be waiting. “So you’re all here then?” Phil asked, “Yeah” Sora said, “Well let’s get the next round started, we don’t want to keep the audience waiting” Phil added. “Audience?” I asked, “Yeah, Herc’s gonna be watching and his parents and their friends” Phil said, “And who are his parents and friends?” I asked again, “Why they’re Zeus, Hera and the rest of the gods of Olympus” Phil explained.
“GODS!?!” I said in surprise, “Yep, they heard about the tournament and wanted to see if there are other potential ‘True heroes’ out there” Phil said. “Well that certain adds to things a bit” Xonic commented, “Well it would if your audience was the Gods of Olympus,” I replied.
We walked out onto the arena and saw the Gods of Olympus sitting in a special area, most likely a V.I.P area of sorts. “Well at least they get the royal treatment” I commented, “Indeed” Roxas said. The rest of the combatants took to the stands including Riku and myself whilst Roxas and Xonic took to the arena.
Meanwhile…
Down in the underworld, an obviously infuriated Hades walked up and down his throne room. “Hercules, he’s strong, he’s kind and handsome to boot, he’s perfect…” then his hair flared up into a scorching flame “He’s perfect alright, perfectly infuriating! Everytime a plan of mine seems flawless, he comes and smashes it to pieces! Why I oughta…” Hades cursed to himself.
He then noticed Dartanian appear before him from a dark portal, “Who are you and what the hell do you want?!?” Hades demanded. “Now, now Hades, can’t let our tempers get the better of us now can we?” Dartanian said.
“Temper? Hey I’m the coolest guy this side of the underworld” Hades said finally claming down. “Indeed you are and that is why I want to help you” Dartanian said. “Help me? In what way?” Hades asked, “Patience my friend, but before I help you I want to ask you a favour” Dartanian said. “And what would that be?” Hades asked, “You remember Sora and his friends right?” Dartanian asked.
Hades hair flared up again “Remember? REMEMBER? Course I remember, they’re the one’s who always get in my way all the time and trashed me one way or another!” he said in a rage. “Now now, we must calm ourselves, the one filled with rage is the easiest to defeat” Dartanian said in a clam tone. “So what do you want me to do?” Hades said after broiling down again, “It’s a simple job, just destroy Sora and his friends” Dartanian replied.
“And how on earth am I supposed to do that?” Hades asked, “Simple, I’ll lend you power over some of my half-heart army” Dartanian said. “And what guarantee do I have that they have the goods to defeat them?” Hades asked, “You doubt my power?” Dartanian asked, “Well… all right then, if you insist” Hades finally replied.
“Very good, and as an added bonus you can also test out my newest creations” Dartanian said, “Creations?” Hades asked. “Yes, they are half-hearts based on Cerberus and the Rock Titan”, “You can do that?” Hades asked. “Yes, by studying their structures and methods of attack, I made replicas of them that pack three times the power” Dartanian explained. “Well if they’re that strong, I’ll be happy to take them for a test run” Hades replied.
“Very good but one more thing…” Dartanian said, “And what’s that?” Hades asked. “I want you to make sure that you take care of two individuals by the names of Xonic Cryoliz and Draco Carvhall, they pose a significant threat to me and I want them erased… permanently” Dartanian explained. “Is that all, you just want me to destroy two kids? Easily done” Hades replied, “Do not underestimate them, they have powers that are not to be taken lightly” Dartanian added.
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll make sure to stamp them out” Hades said, “They are in the midst of a tournament right now, so you should wait until after it is over to attack” Dartanian suggested. “Sure thing, this should be a synch” Hades said “You had better hope it is…” Dartanian said in a solemn voice as he headed back through a dark portal.
Back at the arena…
Xonic and Roxas stood at opposite ends of the arena ready for battle, “All right then, you both know the rules? Good, alright GO!” Phil shouted. Xonic and Roxas ran at each other at high speed, Roxas managed to get the first hit in and sent Xonic soaring in the air, but Xonic pulled out two chakrams and threw them like boomerangs. The chakrams soared past Roxas “What’s the matter Xonic, aim a little off today?” Roxas asked mockingly, “You wish…” Xonic replied.
Roxas was confused by Xonic’s comment, but soon realized what it meant after the two chakrams came back and hit Roxas in the back of the head. “Owww! Sneaky bastard…” Roxas commented. “Ohhh Roxas just got owned!” I commented, “Xonic is like that, always has a few tricks up his sleeve” Elle replied.
Roxas rose into the air and began to fire blast of light from his keyblades, Xonic countered by summoning his dark blade and firing a blast of darkness. The two blasts collided in mid-air causing a small explosion and we covered our eyes from the blast and the rushing wind that followed the blast. “Well this is turning out to be a blast,” I said laughing, “It’s good to see that you still have your sense of humor about you” Mega commented. “Yeah well I suppose old habits die hard,” I said as we continued to watch the arena as the smoke cleared.
Roxas and Xonic were both still standing, but both sides showed signs of wear. They rushed at each other and a loud ‘CLANG!” was heard as the blade collided. They were at a face off as they tried to find the opportunity to attack, unfortunately for Roxas, Xonic saw the first open spot and knocked Roxas’s blades out of his hands. And with that, the match was won “And the winner is Xonic!” Phill called as they walked back to the stands. “Nice work Roxas, at least you tried your best” I said to cheer him up “Yeah, my biggest mistake was that my leg gave way when I was trying to push Xonic away” Roxas said.
“Well maybe you can work on that for next time” Xonic suggested as he walked up, “Yeah maybe” Roxas replied. “Wow, I’m supposed to be the master of the keyblade and my nobody can’t even beat someone like Xonic!” Sora said, “What’d you say?!?” Roxas said, obviously hearing Sora’s comment. Sora laughed and said “Come on Roxas! It was only a joke, nobody’s perfect right?”, “Oh I guess I took it wrong way, must’ve missed the sarcastic tone” Roxas replied in a sarcastic manner to make his point.
“Well now that’s settled” Kairi said laughing a bit for the conversation that had just taken place. “Okay, last match for quarter-finals, Draco vs. Riku!” Phill called. “I suppose it means I’m up” I said as I got up, “Give it all you got!” Elle said, “Thanks Elle” I replied as I watched Riku getting a pep talk from Kairi and Sora. Sora was saying random things about how to avoid attacks and attacking when Kairi interrupted Sora by saying, “Sora, shut up. Look Riku, I think he’s just trying to say give it your all and try not to lose”, Riku laughed and said “Fair enough”.
We both walked into the arena and stood at opposite ends of the arena, “Okay fighters ready? GO!” Phil yelled. Riku started by firing a blast of darkness at me, but I summoned my blade and hit the blast out of the arena like a baseball player hitting a home run. “You better try something else, because Roxas told me out that little trick of yours” I said. “Hmm I see…” Riku commented, he then jumped up and brought his blade down in a stabbing pose.
I barely dodged it as I fell back onto the ground, he wasn’t finished though, and he jumped back up and brought his blade back down. I managed to move my arm before the blade hit where it was, then he went again and I rolled sideways to prevent it hitting my chest. The next one’s almost hit my head and he was still going strong, I tried to think of a way to counter as I continued to avoid the constant stabbings one almost hitting one of my legs.
I suddenly thought of a plan, I waited for his next strike and tried to find the right moment. Finding the opportunity, I rolled forwards and turned around and delivered a powerful kick when his blade was stuck in the ground, sending him sailing into a nearby column. We were both exhausted, me from dodging the stabs and him from performing the stabs. Then he charged up for a Dark Aura attack, quickly thinking I prepared myself for my Absolute Judgement move.
We both ran into portals and then reappeared and traded blows between portals. We continued this for about a dozen blows, and then we both appeared a final time and our blades clashed sending a loud ‘CLANG’ sound throughout the arena. We both stood there pushing against each other’s blade’s, I studied him carefully and perceived the right moment of attack and sent his blade sailing into a column as it drove into the column.
“And that’s it! The winner for this match is Draco!” Phil called. I stood there as Riku went and retrieved his blade, he then came back and looked at me, “Hey man no hard feelings?” I asked. “Nah it’s cool, never expected an ending like that though” Rikue replied, “Yeah I felt kinda weird for a moment, like I could see the instant that you faltered” I said.
We both walked back to the stands as Phil talked to Hercules about something. “Hey good job Draco” Xonic commented, “Thanks, but something bothered me about that last bit” I said. “What’s that?” Xonic asked, “When we were pushing our blades together, I felt weird for a bit, as if I was pinpointing the exact moment to attack” I explained. “Ahhh so you have discovered the power to ‘perceive the enemy’” Xonic said, “Perceive the enemy?” I asked.
“You remember that bracelet I gave you?” Xonic asked, “You mean this?” I said as I showed a black bracelet with rune markings on it. “Yes, that is no ordinary bracelet, it has the power to detect changes in body temperature, usually associated with an enemy who let’s his guard down” Xonic explained. “Really?” I asked, “Where’d you get this?” I added, “From my late mother” Xonic said.
“Your mother?” I asked, “Yes she specially designed those for that purpose and gave them to me before she passed away from illness” Xonic explained. “Those? What do you mean those?” I asked, “What you thought you had the only one?” Xonic said, “I have the other” he added as he showed it to me. “These bracelets have saved me more times than I care to mention in the first war” Xonic explained, “Wow, accessories that do more than just look good” I commented.
Phil then came over and said “Well, you all better rest up, the finals and exhibition match are tomorrow”. “Exhibition match?” I asked, “Oh sorry I forgot to tell you, the winner of the tournament, not only gets a trophy and prize, but also the chance to go head-to-head with Herc” Sora explained. “Wow, that’s some prize” I commented, “But anyway, you all seem tired, better go and get some rest for tomorrow” Phil said.
We all headed for the door to the Gummi ship when a voice roared “Not so fast!” We all turned around and saw Hades standing at the podium where the winner would be announced. “Who’s that? I asked, “Hades, God of the underworld and resident psycho” Sora said jokingly. “Hey I heard that!” Hades yelled “This time I’m going to destroy all of you, especially you Wonderboy!” Hades yelled pointing at Hercules.
“Hades, haven’t you learned from your previous failures?” Zeus said standing up, “You know you will always be destined to fail, it is the will of the Sister of Fate” Zeus explained. “Shut up brother! I’ve had enough of you lecturing me, besides I had help from an unexpected ally” Hades said, “Unexpected ally?” Ray asked.
“Dartanian, no doubt” Xonic said, “That’s right, he’s given me the power to destroy you all once and for all!” Hades said as he clicked his fingers. A group of Darkside half-hearts appeared to attack the gods, while we faced off against half-hearts that looked like the grim reaper. “Reapers” Xonic said “Dartanian’s personal army”. “Goddammit, can we have ONE day without being attacked by Dartanain” I complained as we prepared to face off against the half-hearts.
To be continued in part three!
Note: The bracelets will become important items in the story.