Rebirth

Chapter 28: Duel on the Coliseum Grounds

In hindsight, I probably could have found a way to get out of this fight. Not fully healed, head injury, or something. All I had left after yesterday's incident was a scar on my face. Otherwise, I was perfectly fine. I changed back to my old attire too, it was easier to move in when I didn't feel like a wild animal.

I slid my short jacket on, patting my clothes to remove the wrinkles and looked at the team. "Wish me luck." They nodded, yet Zhaniah looked away. I guessed she was still upset over what happened, but I couldn't focus on that now. Instead, when I walked by her, I pat her head and flashed a smile, then made my way down the hall and into the arena grounds. The crowd quieted down as I approached the Silent God twins. Jarimu smirked at me, hands at his sides. Dai watched, his mouth in a frown. The air between the three of us was tense, and practically crackling with the amount of magic we held.

"I've honestly been looking forward to this.. What was your name again? Dustin, isn't it?"

"It's Justin, and yeah, I bet you have. Didn't think anyone would be happy to eat the dirt in front of a crowd." Jarimu growled at me, but Dai shook his head. "Attempting to rattle our skin won't come to your advantage. Rely on your skills, if you have any to begin with." He straightened his posture. "Having magic doesn't make you powerful. Unless you've trained yourself, you will catch up to us."

"You think I'm that weak?"

"We know. It's a simple fact, and your lack of magic signal makes it even more obvious. Your win against Ashley was a fluke, nothing more, and we're going to prove that."

Without speaking, I turned to Richard up in his stand. He nodded at me, Michael smiling and ringing the gong to start. The twins began charging at me, and my eyes flicked to them. I moved, faster than they expected. The first one I closed in on was Jarimu, getting as close to as his face as possible. In a flash, my fist struck his cheek, making him stumble back. Dai came at me, kicking, but I blocked with my left forearm. The strike shook and blew the dust around us from the ground. I gripped his ankle, spinning and using his head to hit Jarimu. Releasing my grip, I tossed him in the air, jumping up and throwing a punch. He caught it, Jarimu coming up fast behind me. I smiled then, catching his fist and slamming the two together. Breaking free of Dai's grip, I gripped their heads, freefalling towards the ground and spinning. White flames crackled around my arms and I flapped, the flames taking the shape of two massive wings, with Jarimu and Dai at the ends of the attack and hitting the ground behind me.

The crowd began cheering loudly, and I faced the twins. "Yeah, I'm totally not skilled with my magic."

"Hadn't expected you to be this strong.." Jarimu said, rising. Dai got to a knee, watching me. "It seems we underestimated you.. It won't happen a second time." They charged at me again. I smirked, the two of them throwing punches and kicks. I dodged and blocked, then flipped back. Behind me, Jarimu appeared, and struck my back with ice. Dai came from my side and gave me a swift uppercut, with Jarimu slamming his palm against my stomach. I stumbled back, but noticed my body was completely frozen stiff and there was a glowing seal on my abs. "What the?"

"Heh. Paralyzing spell. Don't expect to go anywhere, because that spell doesn't deactivate until I say so!" The two struck my face with their knee. They raced around, cutting at my sides with magic and then punching my stomach. I winced, the crowd roaring around us. I glanced at the guild, and they were all on the edge of their seats. I smirked at that, returning my attention to the twins. Jarimu raced at me, ice swallowing his hand as he prepared another punch. Sighing, I locked eyes with him. "You're pretty slow, aren't you?" He blinked at me, and I swung my flaming fist, connecting directly in the center of his face. Dai stood back, wide eyed. "Impossible. That spell should be... Wait.."

I cracked my neck, the glowing seal sizzling and burning away. "You were saying?"

"You burnt it off," Jarimu said, shocked and holding his face.

I cracked my knuckles. "You're not bad, but you've got your heads up your asses. Don't think you're all that because you have a lot of power in your guild." Dai came up behind me from underground- I hadn't even noticed he was moving. He tried to strike with a claw attack, but I caught his wrist and let his incoming force slam into my elbow. "I was talking ya know!"

The crowd was in an uproar. Whether they were cheering for me or them, I wasn't sure. I couldn't focus on that now. Flames covering my fist, I brought it back, and struck Dai, sending him flying into the arena wall across the colosseum. Jarimu watched, dumbfounded, then smirked at me and took a strange stance. "I never thought I'd have to use this spell." Around him, a massive storm of ice began forming. The air grew notably colder, with the ice spinning around in a twister. "Get ready, because I'm not holding back anymore!" I smirked at him, stretching. "Be my guest. Won't do much for you anyway."

He growled, gritting his teeth. "You asked for it then! Take this! Ice Meteor!" He yelled, leaping at me. I closed my eyes as his fist connected, an explosion of ice rising in the center of the colosseum, with me, directly in the center.