"Riser Phenex's Pawn has been eliminated."
"Riser Phenex's Pawn has been eliminated."
Sam skated along the icy battlefield, barely taking the announcements overhead.
Tiche is doing well. All that's left is-
"Riser Phenex's Queen has been eliminated."
Sam almost lost his rhythm as he wobbled on the ice.
The Queen? Already?
He focused forward, already moving on.
Doesn't matter, just find Riser and win.
As he skated on, a burst of flame overtook his side, blowing him off his feet.
He rolled, hitting the icy ground hard enough to bounce.
"Look who I found!"
That voice already dripped with smug arrogance.
"...Riser.." Sam got up, scorch marks on his exoskeleton. The ice on the ground cracked as he did, the residual heat of the blast having softened it.
"Consider that payback for the punch, Human." Riser revealed himself as he floated in the air, flame wings carrying him.
"You should consider yourself lucky. A Phenex nobleman like me entertaining this… game."
Sam let out a suppressed chuckle. "You still like to talk? Looks like the previous beating wasn't enough."
Riser frowned, flame gathering in his hand. "You think that strike from before meant anything? I have the power of the immortal Phoenix!"
Sam dodged to the side. His ice skates shattered as he applied pressure, bursting forward.
The flame hit where he was, melting the ice around.
Sam barely had time to think as Riser dived down towards him.
Channeling Smite into his gauntlet, Sam cocked his fist back.
Their fists clashed with force. Flame meeting Holy Power.
Both were flung backwards a moment later.
His back hit the ground and sent him ass over head across the melting icy terrain.
Lightning crackled across his silver Exoskeleton as an armored hand dug into the ice to slow him.
Looking up, Sam could see flame already heading his way. Riser had recovered from the clash before him.
His silver form blurred as ice melted along his path, Sam slid under the fire pulling up steam and dirt.
His facial plate clicked off as a charged lightning breath exploded forth the moment he cleared the fire attack.
Riser's eyes widened as he hit directly, but flame was already competing against the damage.
"Behold the power of the Phoenix!!" Riser's flaming wings expanded, dwarfing himself as he shot forward like a rocket.
Sam barely reacted even with Godspeed as Riser grabbed him by his exoskeleton and flew up.
Blow after blow hit Riser as they flew up, Sam unrelenting as he tried to make Riser flinch.
But every blow was quickly engulfed in flame as it healed in moments.
Sam felt Riser look at him, the smirk already infuriating him.
The flames from Riser's wings engulfed both of them, Sam felt himself cooking in Exoskeleton.
"You must be wondering why your holy energy isn't as effective as it was before?"
Sam grunted, still landing blows despite the heat.
"After the humiliation you gave me last time, I made preparations. Ones that include your holy power."
Sam gasped as he finally felt the heat become too much. "That's a lot of talk…You just can't beat me yourself."
Riser scoffed as he hit Sam's chest plate with a flame blast, letting go at the same time.
"A nobleman's wealth is part of his power."
Sam felt the free fall as the blast launched him down to earth like a meteor.
Ah shit.
Crash
***
(Riser PoV)
Riser looked down at the crater, smoke and steam blocking his vision of the upstart human.
No announcement? A human surviving my flames and a fall like that…
"GRAAAAWWR!!!"
The sound vibrated the air, as a flap of wings cleared the area around the crater.
Riser felt his body stiffen as he took in the new sight.
A dragon?!?
The Gold Dragon looked up at him, anger burning in its stare, a silver exoskeleton clinging to its body.
"W-what is that!?!"
He didn't get an answer as a sudden golden flame surrounded him mid air, burning through his resistance.
Holy flames?!? How?
Riser felt excruciating pain as his regeneration failed to keep up.
"Aaargh!!!"
He looked at the dragon, it wasn't engulfed in flames but the superiority in its gaze… Riser ignored it as he fled towards the ground for safety.
As he escaped the golden flames, golden lightning immediately hit him as the dragon's tail batted him away in a blur.
Riser bounced across the ground, flames dying weakly as it failed to heal.
When he finally stopped, Riser barely had time to get up as a clawed hand slammed him into the ground.
"Aaaargh!!"
Riser gripped the digits of the hand as he looked up at the dragon that was staring directly at him.
The dragon opened its mouth, slowly lowering its head.
"Wait, you can't eat me!!"
The dragon continued, ignoring his pleas.
"Wait, wait! I forfeit! I forf-" Riser grasped as he felt the pressure of the clawed hand increase on his chest.
Riser felt tears form as the dragon's mouth come dangerously close around his head.
No! I can't die here!! Dad! Mom! Save me!!!
He closed his eyes, not able to bare seeing the maw getting closer.
But the pain he expected never came, instead the air vibrated due from a voice.
"Pathetic."
The pressure lifted off his chest.
Riser opened one eye to see the dragon still looking down on him.
I… I lived?
But before he could feel that hope grow, the dragon opened its mouth, a mixture of golden lightning and flame filled his vision.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"
"Riser Phenex has been eliminated."