Mark of the Fool

Chapter 582: Kybas' Final Match

Kybas and Harmless stacked one defeat after another against every opponent they faced.

In some of the other matches fought between familiars, monsters, or pets, their masters used tactics to their best ability: their partners circled, feinted, launched fire magic, struck quickly and used wrestling moves, but Harmless duels hadnt been about finesse, theyd been about simply running over his adversaries like a speeding turnip cart would over an unfortunate mouse.

All of the effort, training, love and magical potions Kybas had poured into Harmless had paid off: nothing could match his strength, speed and endurance. Attacks bounced off his scales, while he threw monsters around like sacks of feathers.

You know, its not just his size thats so devastating, Alex murmured, watching completely fascinated as the crocodile whipped his tail into a squat, man-sized brass golem. Despite the metal construct's weight, it went catapulting through the air for at least a dozen feet before crashing to the arena floor in a heap. His bodys even stronger than it looks: all those mushrooms must have really enhanced his muscles. The way hes tossing things around, it looks like hes got the strength of a heavyweight, more than a middleweight.

Its sort of like were watching a life enforcement practitioner, except in beast form, Theresa gaped, This is crazymaybe you need to get him for our dungeon core hunting missions, Alex, Theresa suggested. Even if its just to support us as extra back up. Harmless could turn those chitterers into ground Ravener-spawn, and I bet hed be able to take down a silence-spider or two. If he keeps progressing at the same rate, hell be tearing apart bone-chargers in a year.

YeahI hear you. Alex nodded, listening to the unwholesome grinding noise of Harmless teeth against the golems metal body. Theres safety in numbers, and that croc is devastating. But, honestly, its Kybas himself Im really paying attention to.

He has a good head on his shoulders, she agreed.

You dont know the half of it: how many spells has he cast in this entire tournament? he asked.

Um, maybe five, maybe six at most? she said. He cast most of them in their fight against Skylance and he hasnt really used any magic since.

Exactly. Alex punched his palm with his fist. Last year, one of the reasons he lost against Khalik was because he was running low on mana. He was also casting slowerand no offence to Kybas, but Khaliks just really fastand he was also a bit too aggressive for him to keep up with at times.

He nodded toward the goblin who was simply watching the fight with a serene smile.

Dont let all the hopping up and down fool you, Alex said. Hes been playing it smart in their division this entire time: he knows his crocodiles the biggest, meanest fighter here, so hes letting him acton his own and just stepping in when he needs to: hes saving his mana for the finals.

Hes a smart fighter, Selina complimented Kybas. He has good fighting tactics, doesnt he? Was he in Baelins class?

Nope. Alex shook his head.

Doesnt need to be, Grimloch growled. Talk to him about his background, and youll find out his tribes all warriors. Him and me talked about strategies and I told him all the stuff I learned from Baelin. And now, no ones gonna stop him.

Good for you, Kybas. Alex murmured, smiling as the crocodile flung his golem opponent through the air. May you crush your enemies uncontested.

But as the matches went on, Alex noticed one opponent who might give Harmless some trouble.

And the winner is Violante and its master Warren of Geljar! the announcer called the end of a match.

The duel was one-sided: the monster familiar crushed a summoned engeli like a bad memory.

That plant-bug thing looks tough, Thundar said. Ive been noticing that some of the middleweight competitors arentreally up to scratch, but, this guys the real deal.

Violante was a large creature Alex had learned about in Salingers magical botany class: a thorncap. It looked like an enormous insect with six armoured legs sprouting from the sides of a thick, rounded shell. From gaps in its chitin, hundreds of thorny vines emerged, with what looked like a large mushroom growing on top of its shell.

Its jaws were serrated like a saw blade, and its beady black eyes glowed, watching Kybas and Harmless, displaying intellect and power.

The creature was equipped with a range of weapons that it used in each of its matches: spiked thorns, razor-edged jaws, a powerful bite, noxious venom, and another ability that gave one pause. In the last match Violante had gathered power from the sun, then released a devastating beam from its maw that forced its opponent into submission, stopping the fight cold. Its master was as lethal as his familiar, and far higher in skill level than other competitors. In the middleweight division, a common trait Alex had observed in many of the competitors was that they lacked experience.

The lightweight competitors worked with small monsters, and compensated for size by strategizing, showing off their abilities and pride in their skills to the smaller audience that watched their contests.

Meanwhile, competitors in the super-heavyweight contest had extraordinarily powerful monsters, experience, a nice cash prize to compete for, and lots of attention from an overflowing, enthusiastic, adoring audience.

The super-heavyweight division came with super powerful monsters and skilled wizards, offering more appeal than a middleweight division consisting of competitors who didnt push themselves nearly as hard. Even most of the lightweight participants seemed more experienced.

For a seasoned audience who was really engaged with the battles, it made for very one-sided contests, especially for those who took the fights seriously.

Kybas was one who took them seriously, but unfortunatelyin his upcoming opponents caseit was clear that this Warren did too. He was a fast spellcaster and had kept a cool head during his matches. From the commands he gave and how he gave them, it was obvious that hed seen real battle at some point in his life.

A bite of nerves reached down into the pit of Alexs gut as the semifinals ended.

And then

Weve had an excellent afternoon, folks! the announcer boomed. An astounding showing for the middleweight division today! Both newcomers and veterans alike showed off their skills and thrilled us with their abilitiesbut now its time to see who has the greatest skills of all! Let the final match begin!

He gestured to his right. On this side we have a devastating duo: Kybas of the Clan Chulu and Harmless! With a clean sweep throughout the tournament and without a single match lost, this croc-apocalypse has proven to be a terror among terrors! A dragon of the sea! They bite! They bash! They slash and gash! Give it up fooooor Kybas and Harmless!

The crowds roar seemed to shake the stadium down to its foundations.

And to my left, we have a veteran of the middleweight division! Back after a three year hiatus, yet racing to the top like hed never been absent, we have Warren of Gelvar and Violante! These two contenders also remained undefeated in every round today, showing that their skills have not turned rusty! Instead, theyve made their opponents dusty! They bring the light! They bring the pain! And theyre here to win this game! A round of cheers fooooor Warren and Violante!

The sky echoed as the crowd pounded their feet against the arena floor and hooted.

Below, Kybas raised his hands, calling out to his Clan Chulu ancestors. Ancestors! Witness me take victory! Ill wipe away my shame from last year and take home a golden prize for me and for Harmless! Chuluuuuu!

The crowd roared. Ky-bas! Ky-bas! Ky-bas! Chu-lu! Chu-lu! Chu-lu! Harm-less! Harm-less! Harm-less!

Harmless raised his head in pride, his fangswell-brushed and polished by his loving mastergleamed in the sunlight.

He opened his jaws as though grinning at the audience, then snapped them shut.

The crowd cheered.

On the other side of the arena, his opponent clapped politely, though his lips were curved in a wry smile. I can feel the love between you and your familiar, Warren shouted, his eyes twinkling as though hed been told a private joke. But love doesnt win battles, and sometimes its the duty of us old timers to teach the young a lesson!

He pointed to his chest. And that lesson is not yet! his voice swelled. You all have had your time while I was away! But the middleweight division belongs to Warren and Violante and Im here to claim it!

As he shouted those words, his thorncap raised its head and unleashed a beam of concentrated sunlight into the sky.

Alexs ears rang from the crowds answering cheers.

Here we go, he murmured.

Hannah, help my friend Kybas, he thought. Guide his mind and Harmless jaws.

The goblin wizard squared off against his opponent, all signs of mirth gone. Now, he was watching, waiting, assessing.

Like a true warrior.

Warren only smiled, his hands folded behind his back.

Harmless hissed from the right of the arena.

Violante gnashed its jaws.

And the announcer raised his hand. Let the final match begin! Warren versus Kybas! Violante versus Harmless! Who will come out on top! Lets find out! Fight!

His arm came down.

The battle began.

And Kybas wasted no time: he was no longer holding back mana and he cast a flight spell on Harmless, pointing above his head. To the sky! he commanded. With a hiss and a flick of his tail, the crocodile took to the air, his body undulating like a snakes.

Warren cast a spell that Alex didnt know, making Violantes form shimmer. A sound like a boulder cracking ripped the air, and much of the familiars shell darkened to a slate coloured shade of grey.

Rockskin. Isolde frowned. A difficult fourth-tier spell. It gives one resistance to physical trauma similar to stone.

Soundslike a good spell Claygon lifted one of his stone arms. It will makeViolante much tougher.

Fourth-tier, Alex thought. Warrens got skills. Kybas better watch himself.

Evidently, the little goblin had come to the same conclusion.

Instead of letting Harmless rampage through this opponent, or ordering him torampage through his opponent, the little wizard took a different approach.

Stay back! Kybas shouted, keep moving Harmless. Ive got this!

He began delivering a torrent of spells through his familiar.

Firebolts and acid arrows rained from Harmless underbelly as the crocodile circled his opponent, each blazed against the thorncaps vines, and sizzled or melted on its shell.

Yet Violante stood firm, planting both legs into the arena floor and whipping its vines at the flying reptile. The green tendrils stretched, turning to long cracking switches that whipped at the crocodile, but Harmless soared higher, staying well out of reach.

Warren followed up with another spell Alex didnt know.

Switches doubled in length, striking at Harmless from all sides. Kybas wasnt idle. The instant the vines lengthened, he spoke another spell and Harmless armour of bark and vines unfolded, covering the crocodiles form.

Sharp, snapping noises cracked through the stadium as whips struck Harmless armour.

Bark cracked.

Kybas vines sheared away.

What the hell spell is that? Thundar demanded. Doubling your reach out of nowhere is complete horseshi he paused, glancing at Selina. Ah, horseshins.

Isolde raised an eyebrow at him. That is Aberrant Limb: a very rare first-tier transformation spell. It can double the size of any limbbut it tends to have unfortunate, lingering side effects when used on creatures with a skeleton.

Oh. Oh. What kinda side effects?

Dislocation. Joint destruction. That sort of thing.

I can see why its not popular, then, Theresa said, watching Kybas layer greater force armour over his familiar. Violantes thorny whips crashed against the spell, but the goblins magic held.

For now.

Kybas frowned, uttering a new spell.

This time, a spray of acid erupted from Harmless belly, washing over the thorncaps limbs. The creature pulled backcrying outand the crocodile hissed, diving straight for Violante like an arrow, snapping its whips between his jaws.

Force armour blunted the vines thorns from piercing the crocodiles mouth, and he held on, trying to drag the thorncap into the air.

But the creatures insectile legs dug in, burrowing into the arena floor.

The monster didnt budge.

Whats this? the announcer cried. Do we actually have an opponent that can challenge Harmless incredible strength? This is a game-changer, folks!

The crowd pounded their armrests.

Professor Salinger leaned forward.

Alex held his breath.

Warrens an experienced spellcaster, he thought. Hes going to have a deeper mana pool. Watch yourself, Kybas andwait, oh shit!

Harmless, get out of there! he shouted, but the crowds roar drowned out his voice.

It was already too late.

Warren smiled like a cat whod caught the mouse it was hunting.

Violantes mouth glowed with ever growing sun power. Vines Harmless had been tearing at suddenly twisted, snaking around his snout.

They tightened.

Kybas large eyes flew wide.

Then Violante unleashed a beam of blazing solar luminescence.

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