Eternal Courage 3: Galactic Bonds

Chapter 32: Judging Without Doubt

The special event of the Royal Rumble had already begun with around 1300 warriors entering. That number quickly dwindled in first confrontations but most of the warriors had their eyes on Saku, a somewhat feared opponent. They surrounded in a field of polka-dot flowers...completely unaware of the danger they had except Saku who looked anxious.

Saku appeared now to be anxiously looking all round him, taking notice of the flowers around him. Saku put his hands to his side, generating a strong pulsing sphere of blue which made all of the encroaching warriors nervous. As they all paused, the flowers glowed ever brighter, attracting their attention while Saku jumped and fired his beam to the ground propelling himself away.

Before the warriors could react all the flowers began to glow, and before their screams could leave their mouths...a deafening boom echoed instead. A brighten dome of bright orange, and red, suddenly materialised rapidly swelling in shape and size. Saku avoided the immediate explosion but not the after-shock, the shockwaves, which blasted out.

The shockwave, a hard-hitting gust, hit Saku severely sending him flying, like a rocket-projectile through the air. Saku was blasted a considerable speed, high in the air before falling and then  sent ploughing into the trees. Saku was sent smashing through thick branches, leafs and slim tree-trunks none of which could stop his flight path. It was until he made contact with the ground, rolling like a wheel that he began to slow down.

As he just began to slow down the ground suddenly left him, making him fall further down only this time it was not ground which greeted him, it was a river. He landed in the water, a great splash sounding his entrance before it became calm. For the audience they could only wonder what had happened. Several of the screens were now only showing static bringing much bewilderment "Did anyone see what happened to Saku?" asked Angel

"He did get out of the immediate explosion" said Shais "But the camera was quickly caught in the blast"

"As were several of the others" said Aeron "About 5 kilometres of land was immediately wiped out while 15 kilmetres more affected by strong winds"

"It definitely took a toll" said Zak'ryon "Check out the number"

The large VR number which once read a little over nine-hundred now read 495 "I really hope Saku was not among those who fell" said Shais

"He made it" said Emiko with hopeful thinking "He had to have done" it was then Leyla spoke

"Everyone...I've found him" said Leyla pointing to a screen above him "If my prediction is correction, he's in that river"

"Are you sure?" asked Zak'ryon "It looks rather calm to me" but as they watched they saw bubbles rises to the surface. The concentration of bubbles which thickened showing a disturbance underneath but then showing and taking a sharp gasp for air

"It's Saku! He's alive!" said Emiko with great relief

"Thank goodness" said Aeron "He's okay"

The screen showed Saku hardly able to keep himself afloat as he went under and out of the water. Saku looked round for the nearest land, gagging and choked, before swimming towards it. His hands and legs soon hit land, to which he then slowly and clumsily crawled out. He stopped for a moment, coughing up the water he had inhaled before he fell to the ground...in a breathless heap.

Through the screens everyone saw him panting "I guess...I was in-correct to say he was okay" said Aeron looking at him

"Yes...you're right" said Shais "As I said he avoided the immediate explosion but the shockwave must've blasted him like a bullet"