The twenty-first (21) pair just ended their battle. It was a hell of a fight between a girl that practically "hitless" and a young man that possesses the ability to teleport. It wasn't a fair battle since people without Hit should be paired together and same goes for people with. But things just happened the way it did because all contestants were paired at random.
•••
The announcer was still satirical commentary about the fight. Evelyn saw that her father and King Justin were in a deep conversation. She needed to get out of there as soon as possible.
"Be right back!" She whispered to Derek Ardo and rushed out leaving him no chance to ask what the matter was.
Before, he could turn to Elara to inquire what the rush was about, the maid rushed after the princess mindlessly. Derek furtively prayed she was up to no trouble.
•••
Nick already joined Stanley and Jackie where they stood. Stanley already filled Nick in about the new development he made — Evelyn was the princess. Just then, Stanley saw Evelyn movements. He thought about the reason behind the rush. He hoped she was alright.
"Bro, I think you should just forget about her. She's the princess! I'm sure the king's already finding a suitable prince for her." Nick said. No evidence showed that Stanley was even listening. In fact, he wasn't.
After a short sigh, Nick reasoned. " Wait... So, if she's Evelyn the princess and also Evelyn from RCA, how's she going to fight? I mean... She can't possibly fight with her face open to the world. I mean... Everyone knows that the princess didn't sign up for the challenge... " Nick was saying but kept quite as he read Stanley's expression. The guy was somewhere in his head thinking about doing something stupid.
Just before Nick could ask what he was thinking, the two contestants walked from opposite sides of the arenafield. One was a man with white buzz cut and the other was a woman wearing a mask.
Both Stanley and Nick looked at the lady that stood at the middle of the arena and then at each other. Then repeated this again. They couldn't possibly be mistaken.
That was Evelyn.
•••
King Ryler readjusted himself on his majestic chair. His composure diminishing. Lord Derek too was just as shocked. He knew Evelyn could do things that she's not meant to do but didn't think she could actually fight in the Legion Challenge.
"Keep calm. You don't want Justin to see you lose your composure." Derek whispered to Ryler that was thinking of stopping the battle that was about to take place. "Don't mind her for now. She's going to be safe...and she's going to win. If she's not, she wouldn't have signed up for it."
•••
In the heart of the arenafield, and the sun wove a silver glow on the terrain, two figures stood facing each other. The lady with the mask, Evelyn Ian, with skin as pale as alabaster and hair as black as the night sky, closed her eyes, her fingers weaving intricate patterns in the air. She was a summoner, a wielder of the ancient arts that allowed her to call upon the spirit animals of the Seth Realm. Her eyes snapped open, and she smiled, a fierce glint in her gaze.
Before her stood Kel, a young man with rugged features and eyes that seemed to burn with an inner fire. He was a pyromancer, his hands crackling with flames that danced to his every command. The air around him shimmered with heat.
The battle began without warning. The lady with mask raised her hands, and a great bear emerged from the shadows, its fur a shimmering silver, its eyes glowing with an ethereal light. The bear charged at Kel, its massive paws swiping through the air. Kael laughed, his eyes flashing with excitement, and he raised his hands. Flames erupted from his fingers, engulfing the bear.
The bear roared, its fur singeing, but it did not falter. It charged forward, its jaws open wide, and Kael was forced to leap aside to avoid its deadly claws. Evelyn watched, her eyes never leaving Kel, and she nodded to herself. She raised her hands once more, and a wolf emerged, its fur a sleek gray, its eyes burning with a fierce intelligence.
The wolf darted forward, its jaws snapping, and Kel was forced to conjure a wall of flames to block its attack. The wolf yelped, its fur singeing, but it did not retreat. Instead, it darted around the flames, its agility allowing it to evade Kel's attacks. Evelyn smiled, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
Kel snarled, his face twisted in frustration. He raised his hands, and a blast of flame shot towards Evelyn. She raised her hand, and a great eagle emerged, its wings beating powerful. The eagle swooped forward, its talons outstretched, and it snatched the flames from the air, dispersing them harmlessly to the ground.
The battle raged on, the two combatants exchanging blows and counterattacks. Evelyn summoned a snake, its body sinuous and deadly, and Kel conjured a blast of flame to scorch it from the earth. But Evelyn was relentless, calling forth spirit after spirit, each one more powerful than the last.
A great stag emerged, its antlers branching towards the sky, and Kel was forced to conjure a shield of flames to protect himself. The stag charged forward, its antlers glowing with a fierce light, and Kel stumbled backward, his shield wavering. Evelyn seized the opportunity, summoning a great cat, its fur black as coal, its eyes glowing like lanterns in the dark.
The cat padded forward, its tail twitching, and Kel raised his hands, conjuring a blast of flame that would have incinerated any ordinary creature. But the cat was no ordinary creature. It was a spirit, born of the land and fueled by Evelyn's energy. The cat dodged the flames with ease, its agility allowing it to evade the attack.
As the battle raged on, Kel began to tire. His flames burned lower, his movements slowing. Evelyn, on the other hand, seemed to grow stronger, her maind energy fueled by the spirits she summoned. She raised her hands, and a great dragon emerged, its scales glinting like gold in the moonlight.
The dragon roared, its voice like thunder, and Kel stumbled backward, his eyes wide with fear. Even the spectators were overthrown with terror of the great beast. The dragon breathed fire, a blast of flame that would have incinerated Kel if he had not conjured a shield. But even the shield was not enough. The dragon's flames burned hotter, stronger, and Kel's shield began to falter.
Evelyn watched, her eyes gleaming with triumph. She raised her hand, and the dragon's flames engulfed Kel, burning away his defenses. Kel stumbled, his body hurt, his energy failing. Evelyn approached him, her eyes cold, her smile triumphant.
To Kel, that wasn't the end. He stood up again hoping to go for a hand to hand combat but before he could launch any attack, Evelyn leaped towards him and flipped backwards using her legs to slap his jaw. He was thrown off balance, landing on his back. Before he could stand up again and probably attack her, he saw her pointing her arrow at him.
Honorably, he laid down back, accepting defeat.
•••