The glowing light changed rapidly into different colors, blue merged with red, then purple, then red again. It was moving in an unpredictable rhythm, never settling into one pattern.
Takashi had a confused look on his face as he glanced at the crystal then the device in his hand and back again. "Tier-one." he said slowly. "High Power, High Stability, but…" he paused. "unusual resonance... very unusual."
Murmurs went through the crowd.
"What does it mean?"
"Is the crystal broken?"
"Is his test good or bad?"
"I don't know, man…"
Itsuki pulled his hand away, causing the lights to flicker out. He quickly got back to his friends, pushing his way between the crowd.
"What was that about?" Takumi's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"I... don't know." Itsuki flexed his fingers, staring at his palm. Something wasn't right. When he touched the crystal, he felt his Honshitsu being drained and given back to him in bits.
Kairo leaned in. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
The testing continued. Name after name was called, each candidate stepping forward to place their hand on the crystal. Some lit it brilliantly, others barely managed a flicker. The crowd murmured with each result, cheering for the strong showings, falling silent for the weak ones.
Two hours passed, more and more warriors were tested and finally Shion's name was called.
Itsuki watched him approach the crystal hesitantly. Shion's hand trembled as he placed his fingers on the circular surface of the crystal. The crystal light glowed, however it was weak, flickering in and out.
"Tier-one, Low Power, Low Stability." The instructor's voice was quieter this time.
Shion returned with a very serious look on his face. He stood by Kairo, his gaze fixed on the ground.
Kairo smiled sarcastically. "Guess lady luck wasn't on your side, huh?"
Shion responded with a slight smile, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, it looks like she ditched me today." The rest of the group laughed as the tension that was there before disappeared like steam.
After the last warrior had completed his test, Instructor Haruki came out from between them. He regarded the gathered mass with a penetrating gaze.
"The Monolith has measured your Honshitsu aptitude," he announced. "Those whose crystals lit up will be advancing to the combat rounds." He paused for a moment before adding his next words. "Those whose crystals didn't... try again next year!"
The courtyard erupted. Some warriors stormed out, fists clenched and faces twisted with fury while others simply stood there, dreams crumbling in their eyes before they quietly turned away.
Haruki waited for the noise to fade as the last of the failed warriors filtered through the gates. When silence finally settled, he reached into his coat and pulled out a dark wooden box, no larger than his palm.
"The combat trials will be determined by fate," he held up the box. "Inside are tokens bearing each of your names. I will draw them in pairs. When your match is called, step into the arena."
He opened the box and a small chorus of clinks resonated from within as the many tokens inside bumped and rolled against one another when he stirred them around with his fingers. He lifted one up, flipped it over in his palm, and read:
"Takumi Kazuhiko!"
Haruki's hand dove back into the box. The tokens clacked and rattled against each other as he shuffled through them. He drew another.
"Inara Vex!"
A young girl came forward from the crowd, she was taller than the majority and had the black hair which was tied in a very tight knot at the bottom of her neck. She met his eyes and her look was both calm and confident.
Takumi snorted through his nose and cracked his knuckles. "Alrighty."
Haruki pointed toward the arena. "First match: Takumi versus Inara!"
...
Takumi stepped into the fighting ground, his sandals scuffing against the surface. The ground was clay and gravel. Deep grooves marked where countless warriors had fought before.
He performed two shoulder rolls to release the tension building up in his arms. Across from him, Inara settled into her stance, adopting a precise fighting position; body weight low, knees bent, hands extended with fingers wide.
The crowd noise turned into loud cheers as Instructor Haruki lifted his hand to signal the beginning of the match.
"Ready?" he called out, stepping back slightly.
Takumi took a deep breath before he nodded along with Inara.
"Start!"
Takumi began his movement while the crowd continued to cheer.
His hands ignited, his ability Burning Light blazed to life, as he charged forward, throwing rapid jabs that left flame trails in the air. He wanted to close the distance between them.
However, Inara was ready!
The moment he stepped within her range, vines erupted from the ground beneath his feet. Thick, green vines that wrapped around his ankles like living rope. Takumi staggered, fighting to stay upright as more vegetation pushed up around the edges of the arena.
Tsk!
Fire instantly exploded from his body, burning through the vines that bound him. They shriveled to ash in seconds. He kicked free, immediately charging forward.
Inara jumped back, raising her hand, she signalled the vines from underneath her to burst out and form a thick wall.
Takumi thrust his palm forward, flame tearing through the vines. The wall fell apart, but
Instantly, another grew in its place.
You've got to be ki- He punched through, fire bursting from his knuckles. His Honshitsu flared hotter and faster than his body could take.
He smashed through the fourth wall, sparks scattering around him. Inara had already moved—eleven feet to the left, wrapped in a spiral of vines.
The arena floor was a mess. Roots crisscrossed everywhere, slowing his movement, forcing him to watch where he stepped.
Huff! Huff! Takumi stopped for a while to take a breather. Each burst of flame drained his Honshitsu reserves a little more. The warmth in his palms was starting to feel strained, like pulling on a well that was running dry. His legs grew heavier, his lungs burned.
Inara noticed him slowing down, a smile touched her lips as she stomped her foot hard on the ground.
The roots surged upward all at once, aiming to ensnare him from every direction.
Takumi jumped back, flames flaring around his feet for extra height. He landed near the edge of the arena, eyes narrowing as he looked across the vine-covered arena.
He needed to find a gap; some break in her control before the next wave hit.
At that moment, he noticed Inara raising her hand again. Vines began to grow exactly where he'd been standing a second ago.
His eyes tracked the roots spreading across the arena floor. They were all connected!
One massive network, all feeding back to where Inara stood, and she kept putting them in the same spots, the same defensive positions.
Takumi's legs nearly collapsed as he mustered up his remaining energy and launched.
Now or never!
He dove in, faking left. Vines flared up from the ground, grasping for his ankles. He spun right, flames flaring as he dodged. Another vine lashed at his side—he rolled under it, then burst forward with fire igniting beneath his feet.
The heat scorched his ankles but he didn't care!
Three meters... Two...! With each step, his leg screamed in protest, a throbbing ache pulsing up his thigh with every movement. Burning Light wrapped round his fist one final time.
Inara tried to backstep, her hands coming up to summon another barrier, but Takumi was already too close for her barriers to stop him.
His flaming fist stopped inches from her chest.
Heat rippled off his knuckles and a bead of sweat rolled down his temple, pulse pounding in his throat.
His vision blurred at the edges from exhaustion.
Then suddenly, everything and everyone went quiet.
"...."
"Match over!" Haruki called out. "Winner, Takumi Kazuhiko!"
Chants and claps rained down the arena. Takumi extinguished his flames, shaking his hands when the adrenaline began to recede.
Inara was breathing hard, bent forward with her hands braced on her knees.
"Good fight." she managed between breaths.
Takumi cleared his throat. "You have a lot of stamina… huff! huff!"
She smiled, pushing hair out of her face. "Thanks, you're not bad yourself."
They shook hands briefly, then left the platform. The vines across the arena were already starting to wither and dry up as Inara released her grip.
Spectators pressed in around him, Takumi waded through the thinning crowd and saw his friends, who were standing close to the edge of the arena. Itsuki stood with his hands in his pockets while Shion and Kairo were arguing in low tones.
...
"You idiot! The chicken came first… then the egg!"
"NOO! The egg came first! How else would the chicken even exist?!"
"From another chicken!"
"Then where did THAT chicken come from?!"
"From—" Kairo paused. "From... an earlier chicken?"
Takumi stepped between them. "Guys! Did you see my last move? You all saw it, right? RIGHT?!!"
"Move? You fought?" Shion asked, tilting his head.
"I think he did…" Kairo scoffed, chin dipping. "…against the vine girl."
"Oh, right!" Shion snapped his fingers. "How'd that go?"
Takumi's jaw dropped. "How'd it— I won!"
Itsuki stood behind them, trying not to laugh. "They were arguing about chickens."
"Chickens?"
"Yeah..."