System Break

The two bluecloaks stood atop the wall and looked down at the competitors. They were part of the team of five who protected the city because the tournament mimicked what happened in time of war. To save expending lives unnecessarily - the domains throughout the planes of existence - agreed to settle their differences with combat of five versus five.

Alejo had dark hair and pale skin. He was tall and handsome, a favourite of the Duke's wife. Kysandre was once his apprentice and she was young and beautiful. Her brown skin and dark hair were similar to the fisherman who were moored from the Dawnharbour docks.

They were in the Duke's box and stood at the far end. Close enough so he could ask a question, but not rubbing shoulders with the nobility in the centre.

Alejo spoke quietly to Kysandre while keeping an eye on the proceedings. "They're innovative." He sounded a little impressed and surprised. "Hmm, see how they adapt after watching the other matches."

"They stretch the rules."

"The adjudicators adjusted the rules based on their complaints. That and they wanted to stop them bringing barricades onto the field."

The combatants were now twenty-five yards apart instead of fifty. And shield sizes were limited to what a single person could carry.

Kysandre spat. "Cowards."

Alejo chuckled. "They have not learned any of the qi-shields let alone auras. It's almost like watching guardsmen spar."

She frowned. "The more I watch, the more I don't like them."

"You like the Svartalfar woman. She is up last again."

"She is brave and doesn't resort to cheap tricks. She's like us."

He tilted his head and peered at her. "You mean, not an adventurer."

"She knows if she dies, she will die."

He smiled. "That's true. They're the highlight of the tournament so far. But you know that two of them are adventurers and they joined one of their guilds. I heard that's how they got in." He sounded a little upset.

Kysandre laughed. "You don't want to fight these do you? It would be no challenge for you."

He chuckled. "True. Thanks for reminding me, but I still hate sitting on the sidelines."

The first three bouts passed with the winning teams making the semis and the top five. They were the first teams from the Whitecloaks, the Reds and the Wreckoning. The last quarter final was Dangerous' first team versus the Forest's only team.

"Four," Kysandre said. "They lack a reserve." 

"Hmm," Alejo said and they looked down upon the competitors. Gisael was in the centre with Reyas by her side. The other two Svartalfar were spread to each side.

"What is she doing?" Kysandre asked.

"Watch," he said.

Dangerous all held large wooden shields and there were no rogues in their team. There was only twenty-five yards separating them the three swordsmen and two brawlers from the Forest.

The red flag dropped and Gisael shot an arrow straight up into the air before she stowed her bow and drew her sword.

Alejo chuckled.

"What?" Kysandre said.

"Watch," he said, and she huffed in annoyance.

The crowd was roaring as the other two Svartalfar ran. One down the flank and the female ran away from the wall, out into the plains beyond. There was no boundary on that side.

Dangerous reacted slowly to their movement because their shields were raised, and their line of sight limited. They feared the accuracy of the bows and blinded themselves because of it.

The raven-haired woman wielded one axe and there was a round metal shield strapped to her left arm from her elbow to her hand. She banged her shield and waited next to the leader before she charged.

Gisael was wrapped in tight leathers from chest to ankle. Her motley green skin and bare feet made her stand out from her companion. Her brown dreadlocks flowed behind her as she ran forward. 

Ailen ran past their right flank and a brawler yelled. One peeled off and chased him because he was getting behind their line. The shields could only face one direction and were unwieldy. If they became surrounded, they were toast.

The second brawler growled and headed east towards the escaping female Svartalfar. She was doing the same except she skirted wide and had a great lead.

There were ten yards separating Reyas and Gisael from the swordsmen when the arrow fell to the earth. The lead swordsman screamed when it pierced his shoulder and drove down into his chest.

Kysandre laughed. "Now I see."

"I thought you didn't like cheap tricks?" 

She smiled and shook her head. "That was pure skill. Who has that much control over an arrow? The timing, the prediction. She is all class."

Alejo chuckled. "You're biased." He smiled. "All she did was shoot it high in the air and guide it down onto her opponent. It was obvious; a simple qi shield above your head and it would be nullified. She's merely a wolf fighting puppy dogs."

The nobility cheered when the shields were dropped, and the real fighting began.

Ailen turned when he heard the crowd and had run past the brawler. He aimed and his arrow flew, then he swore when he missed the enemy by a breath. 

The brawler used qi-body and ran at him full pelt. His shield hung loosely, and he threw it at Ailen who was drawing another arrow. Ailen rolled out of the way of the shield and into a kneeling position. But the brawler was in the air and closing the last few yards between them.

Ailen drew a pair of knives and tried to cut the brawlers foot as he descended. The brawler used qi-strike and the knife rattled away and then the foot smashed into Ailen's face. The brawler lifted a knee and was about to drive it home into Ailen's chest as he lay prone when an arrow pierced his back and spine. 

Blood spurted from his mouth in what should have been a cry. He flopped over on top of the twin. Ailen peered from under the mass of flesh and saw his sister running towards him with another brawler chasing her.

He tried to push the brawler off himself and ended up wriggling his way out. The one chasing her still had his shield which slowed his pace. Ailen pointed for her to run south and crawled to retrieve his bow. He had survived one brawler but the second closed the distance quickly and planted a foot on his bow.

"I don't think so," he said and landed a strike on the back of Ailen's head. He turned and dived just in time to avoid an arrow from Sakaala. He then turned and held his shield between himself and Sakaala.

Gisael danced around her opponent and what she lacked in skill she more than made up for in cunning and determination. Her qi protected her wooden blade as she parried another blow, but the metal sword slid down hers and onto her hand.

She stifled a cry of pain as it cut into her hand. She dropped her sword and grabbed onto his blade and it dug into her hand further. The sharp edge separated skin and muscle.

Her other hand met his surprised face with a qi strike. Her fist ploughed into his cheek and nose turning his face into a blood splatted mess.

He dropped his sword and brought his hands to his face.

Kysandre watched on and smiled. "He can't take simple pain. She beat him with discipline."

"They're probably not used to pain from their old world." Alejo rubbed his chin. "But I wonder why she fights so. She's fighting like she's protecting her home, not like she's in a contest." He cast a sideways glance at the nobles but there was nothing to glean. They merely cheered and enjoyed the spectacle. 

Gisael did not stop smashing his face until he surrendered.

The swordsman Reyas faced was smaller, but quick. He fought with an unusual style and used qi-strike to break down her shield. Her arm throbbed with pain with every strike.

She was unused to fighting with a shield, but it was the only choice with her wounded left arm. With every swing of her axe he skipped back. His sword had reach and he used it well.

He stabbed at her and she hooked his blade in her shield straps then pulled him close. A look of dread crossed his face before her axe came down and cleaved his skull open.

The crowd roared with delight.

She dropped the useless shield and surveyed the field. One brawler left and Ailen was down. She looked down at her arm which was bleeding again. The sword had sliced it open when she trapped it in the straps.

Her vision began to fade and the last thing she saw was Gisael aiming at the brawler who was chasing Sakaala. He cried when he hit the dirt with her arrow in his back.

Gisael took down the brawler who thought his back was protected by the three swordsmen. When they're dead they don't offer much protection. She heard Reyas' cry and ran to her side.

Blood was pouring from an open vein. She grabbed the shirt from the nearest swordsman and tore it from his chest. She tied Reyas' arm as quickly as she could while the healers were still running onto the field with stretchers in hand.

They adjudicator announced. "The Forest are declared the winner." And the crowd roared.

Kysandre frowned at the scene. "They only had four for this match, how many left for the next?"

Alejo shrugged. "They knew the rules. The guilds have twenty-five members each, plenty of substitutes even before intervention from the gatekeepers."

Kysandre laughed. "Maybe I can join their guild."

Alejo frowned. "Most certainly not."