"Sick? I... don't think it's possible for objects to fall under ailments. Unless, we're counting rusting? But even then--" Tonithy muses out loud, the boy's lingo foreign to his comprehension.
"No, not literally sick. I just mean it looks awesome. You know, pleasantly interesting." Galivinth clarifies.
"Oh! That's good, I'm glad. I did my best to consider what might be optimal for you, so hopefully you like its capability just as much as its design!"
"And what exactly is that, Tonithy?" Galelith asks while eyeing the device.
"I call it... The Mage Canon. You see, it's a tool that allows the user to launch prepped magic spells contained in the spheres you see along the belt. It eliminates the need to memorize incantations and saves time on casting." Tonithy explains.
"Did you create that for his Conquest Bout matches?"
"That I did! Went and got the King's approval yesterday!"
"So that's what you had inside that box..." Galelith comments, recalling seeing his lab partner being escorted to the king's throne room the previous day.
"You built this pretty fast. How does it work, though?" Galivinth chimes in to ask.
"I'm glad you asked, my young acquaintance! I built in two ways to use it. The assumed standard way is placing your hand on the pad of the launcher, the spot with the ridges, and pulling back on it to fire the sphere that's in the launcher's pocket. The other way--" Tonithy pauses briefly as he steps closer, reaching under the belt to pull what vaguely resembles a kickstand from the side of the bracer and around to the front, where the teen can simply grip the fairly thick remote like an arcade stick. At it's very top sits a red button.
"Is by using this remote! When it's retracted, the button will be sunk, preventing any accidental firing. But as it is now, you can push it as much as you want and it'll fire the same way as the other method. Not quite rapidly, of course. There's a small delay when it needs to prep the next sphere. I think I adjusted it enough to get it down to about 2.6 seconds."
"Duuuuude, whaaaat... That's so crazy, man. Like, this is something straight out of a fantasy movie or something. You're a mad genius, Tonithy!" Galivinth praises, now looking upon the invention with five times more admiration gleaming in his eyes.
"I don't know about mad, but I more so like to think of myself as an upbeat and sane genius. However, I am a man who prefers to prove his merit with undeniable evidence. You and the others are training again today, yes? Why don't we head out back to join them and put the Mage Cannon to the test?" Tonithy proposes, curious himself to see just how well his invention could hold up.
"Sounds good to me! I'm ready to see what this thing can do!" Galivinth enthusiastically takes the other up on his offer. Then three depart from the lab and make their way to the rear side of the building, where Naeth and the others are waiting. Being that Tonithy's invention wasn't difficult to notice in the slightest, Naeth raises a brow.
"What is that... contraption on your arm and body?" Naeth questions.
"Tonithy calls it a 'Mage Cannon'. Says it should help me out." Galivinth answers.
"I don't think such a device is legal in Conquest Bout..."
"Not to worry! I brought it to the King's attention and got his explicit approval! Galivinth may use it." Tonithy speaks up to inform.
"Oh? Well, then I won't question it further. Let's see how much it compensates for his shortcomings." And so, training proceeds as normal.
Their routine of three hours of drills, tactic execution, and cardio comes and goes. Another day passes. And even though the following sunrise marks the day of their formal match against an actual team, it too passes. Nothing too difficult. Naeth, Raice, Qoreman, and Rayson were adequately capable enough to assert a victory over the opposing side. After that day came the next 24-hours where they'd all rest to prepare for the match that actually matters. The day they were scheduled to face off against the king and his hand-picked teammates was now at hand.
It begins almost like any other previous morning, save instead of heading inside the university and research facility, the trio of Naeth, Galivinth, and Galelith meet other members of their team at the sidewalk in front of the establishment's grounds. They all board the bus Galelith decided to make use of this particular day and were driven to the colosseum where their match would be taking place.
The exterior was a tremendous structure made of navy-blue stones and possesses the structure of an oval shape. Its size was unfathomable. In Galivinth's rough estimation, it looks as if it'd take at least 15 minutes to just walk a lap around it.
Galelith lets the bunch off the bus near the entrance of the building, of which all eight of them enter through. After traversing their way through the corridors inside, the group make out to the battleground of the colosseum -- the center ground level Galivinth discovers takes after a snowy forest in appearance. About three inches of snow obscure the pavement beneath everyone's feet. At the middle of the arena, where there was a 20-yard treeless gap between the two evenly divided sides of the field, stands the king and his chosen team members. Patiently awaiting them.
It takes a moment to notice, but there is an eerie silence that consumes the atmosphere around them - Galivinth feels. It takes only a second to realize that there are indeed people occupying the seats of the upper level of the colosseum. However, the spectators seem scarce in numbers. With their low population, it was something of a distant dream to imagine the cryonean race would grow large enough to fill out the oval structure. While trailing behind his teammates, Galivinth wonders if the low numbers are the reason he hears no chatter from the crowd at all. Maybe they were simply more aloof than he previously thought.
Nonetheless, the two opposing sides proceed to exchange words with one another.
"We're in for an interesting noon, aren't we, gentlemen and gentlelady? The outcome will decide whether this shall be a good day for one of our sides. Someone must face the repercussions of defeat with a brave face, after all. Are you excited as I am to find out who'll come out victorious?" The king greets and speaks his mind. Words he speaks with a casual grin on his face as he looks up at the older cryoneans from the opposing team.
"As excited as I am honored, your highness. I only humbly ask that you don't hold it against me for wanting to win and not holding back within this match." Naeth is the one to respond to the young king, upholding his strong-willed nature while also being mindful to choose his words carefully.
"Heh! No, no. By all means, make this your greatest endeavor yet. Don't hold back just because I wear a fanciful shiny crown. It'd be an absolute bore if none of you struggle against the inevitability that is myself." The King encourages in mockery. It's then an individual approaches the two teams - an official for the match. A man with olive skin who wears an attire consisting of a black and fairly baggy leather hoodie that bears many pockets and several zippers on it, a black baseball cap that protrudes from under his hood - the hat tilted in a way that completely obscures his eyes. An armband with a red and white stripe pattern on his left bicep, and black cargo pants that tuck into the shin-high high military boots on his feet.
An appearance that stands out in a city full of formal dressing civilians in Galivinth's honest opinion.
"Are both teams ready to begin?" The peculiar man asks.
"Indeed. I think all that needs to be said has been done so already." The King answers as he turns to head toward the tower that stood behind him. His teammates follow along.
"We're ready, as well, referee." Raice answers for her side.
"Very well. Please, head toward your own team's castle and prepare to begin. The match will commence shortly." The ref instructs before heading toward the wall behind him. Galivinth and the bunch oblige and move toward their side, as well. Soon, a dozen small and sphere-like drones fly and spread throughout the field. One in particular stations itself near the group as they stand waiting, gazing upon them with a high-end mechanical lens. As soon as Galivinth catches sight of it, he questions its presence.
"Hey, Naeth. What's that thing floating over there?" The teen asks while pointing toward the levitating eye.
"That's an AI camera. I suppose this match will be broadcasted throughout the city."
"Oh. Well, I guess it is an event that involves the King." Just after Galivinth's comment upon Naeth's answer, a booming voice that sounds as if it's coming through a microphone makes itself heard - one that sounds like the referee - by way of counting down from ten.
"Yeah, so it is. That aside--" Naeth responds before shifting his attention to the rest of the team.
"Raice, Qoreman, Rayson, and Galivinth are starting out first. The rest of you await inside the castle until we need to switch out." He states and finds his words obliged without question. Good thing, too, because there was no time for debates on the subject.
"10. 9. 8..."
"Alright, remember what we've covered in training!" Naeth shouts to the others.
"7. 6. 5. 4.
"No need to worry at all, I'm ready for this!" Raice exclaims while thrusting her right fist into her left palm.
"3... 2... 1..." The countdown arrives upon its end.
"Oh man... Can't lose, can't lose, can't lose, can't lose!" Galivinth murmurs under his breath as he flexes his fingers into and out of fists, anxiety creeping along his skin like the chilling brush of a winter breeze.
"BEGIN!" Upon that word, a transparent dome-like force field emerges from thin air. Similarly, the three towers in front of their team's castle form transparent barriers. Blue-ish walls that form a triangular blockade that prevent access to the building.
"Advance in standard formation! We need to dominate the field before they can get a proper footing in their strategies." Naeth instructs, then he's the first to take off into a dash toward the center of the field. Galivinth, Raice, Qoreman, and Rayson follow behind while making sure to spread out in a V-like structure while closing in on the middle.
Naeth comes to a skidding halt at the last row of trees on their side, his hands posturing in a claw-like manner as preemptive magic courses along his forearms like elemental bracers. Once his keen eyes spot a figure on the other side, he sharply thrusts his right hand forward.
"Ligh-Tomei!" He shouts in unity of his motion before a sudden roaring crackle of lightning intensely cuts through the air and strikes his target ferociously. A distant cry of pain could be heard as the lightning bolt assaults the individual like an enormous blunt javelin, one that tore through several trees to not only get at its mark, but also sends the person flying back until they harshly collide into a different tree.
Right after, he spots two more members of the opposing team - a pair who're taken aback by the destructive incarnation - and acts immediately.
"One to the far right!" He shouts while discharging his second prepped spell at the one to the left. A tier-3 fireball leaves the rotating sigil hovering over his palm with a violent burst and heads right for his second target. During, Raice accumulates energy into her own left hand and sends off a tier-3 wind incantation at the other Naeth brought awareness to.
"Win-di-oh!" Raice shouts just a mere second before a powerful onslaught of air leaves the sigil her incantation summons, sending her opponent torpedoing back and smashing through a couple of trees before tumbling along the snowy ground.
Similarly, Naeth's target ends up getting blown back after the massive fireball makes contact with the tree near the target and explodes with a tremendous burst.
With momentum on their side, the coordinated group advances forward to claim more ground while giving no real opportunity to the opposing side to collect themselves in the midst of the imposing push. This goes on until they near the other team's barrier, of which the king himself finally comes into view and fearlessly steps forward to confront the incoming assault. It certainly does come. Naeth gathers energy within both of his palms again, adeptly reciting the desired incantations within his mind as he holds his hands out in unity. His hands presenting horizontally, fingers spread and bent in a claw-like fashion, the bottom of his palms touching one another and facing his next target. Without a spoken word, but instead a mere thought, he discharges a dual casting. Out from his hands shoots a twisting dance of raging lightning and scorching fire that was easily three times larger than the King's body, threatening to engulf the boy whole within its aggressive elements. And yet--
"It won't be THAT easy, I'm afraid." The king muses to himself before simply gesturing his hand upward as if he was tossing up a ball from his palm, in doing, he derails the incoming projectile and sends it curving upward to meet the dead end above that was the ceiling of the force field surrounding the field.
"Did he just... control the spell?" Galivinth questions with a look of utter disbelief on his face. However, his teammates try to maintain the advantage of the situation and apply pressure. The next to do so were Qoreman and Raice, one casting a tier-3 ice spell while the other shoots forward a water spell of the same tier. Just like before, so nonchalantly, the king presents his hands in front of himself like double doors, with his finger tips touching, and makes the gesture of opening them wide into opposite directions to send the spells coming at him off to the sides.
Though taken aback, Galivinth raises his Mage Canon to take aim and fire a spell of his own, but it is a little too late.
"Huh-.. GUUH!?" A tier-2 fireball was coming right at him, and by the time he sees that fiery projectile flying his way, he's struck directly on the abdomen and sent soaring back until he eventually lands with an involuntary flip onto his face.
"Cousin!" Naeth calls out to his relative while turning toward him.
"I-I'm fine!" Galivinth assures while pushing himself up out of the snow. However, Naeth allowing his concern for his relative to be a distraction proves to be a poor decision. When he turns back around, he just barely catches the instant a member of the opposite team casts a tier-3 fireball spell toward him. Quick to react, Naeth promptly jumps up high enough to grab onto a tree branch and avoids the projectile. Afterwards, he makes use of his athletic nimbleness to rock the entirety of his body back and then swing forward to loop within a half-circle, flipping into perching himself atop of the branch seamlessly. He balances himself by using a hand to grip onto the branch and uses his other to throw out a tier-2 lightning spell in retaliation. It misses this time when his target throws themselves into a roll out of the way. When he prepares to go on the offense again, the king himself lifts his hand toward Naeth and blows him away with a tier-3 wind spell that sends him far back and landing roughly at the middle of the field.
"I think it's time I had some fun, too." The king thinks out loud to himself before drawing an invisible 'U' with his right point finger, promptly creating a blocky throne of stone that shoots up from the very ground itself and sends snow flying into the air. He plops down onto it and then makes another gesture. This time, he simply points that very same finger skyward, which causes his new seat to elevate in height like a tall pillar. With his new view of the field, the young royalty begins his assault.
Grunting, Naeth pushes himself off of his stomach and into a kneeling position. He would've gotten right back into the thick of the action, but what he sees next leaves him staring in shock. It wasn't simply the King sitting on his high throne, but the incoming 'rainfall' of fireballs from above. The first lands just 6 yards away from him with an explosive impact that quakes the ground beneath him so harshly, that he nearly loses his balance. Several more like that one follow in quick succession and pummel the ground just as ferociously. In the next moment, he sees the other four members of his team retreating from the enemy's side while a barrage of spells come flying from further back of the opposing team's woods.
"What is even happening right now!?" Galivinth shouts in the middle of running.
"Good lord, the... the king is far, far more formidable than I thought he'd be!" Qoreman comments.
"Naeth, you've got to move! Get up!" Rayson shouts while coming to pass the individual he addresses. And the latter does indeed heed his advice and scurries up the ground before moving within a full-blown sprint. In the chaos, the opposing team keeps on their pressure and follows behind. Given how they were spread out, especially Galivinth who was at the far side, it was easy for them to carry out an on-the-spot plan to isolate the weakest link.
It begins just as Naeth and Rayson formulate a defensive plan.
"Raice, help me put up a stone wall for cover!" Naeth shouts just before shifting into sliding the soles of his boots along the ground of white under him to bring himself to a stop. Raice does the same just a few feet away from him, including the part where he turns himself around. The two then prepare an earth spell and simultaneously slam their palms down to the ground just as Qoreman and Rayson pass them by. Twin walls of stone shoot up from the earth and stand about ten feet tall in front of the four of them, effectively blocking the incoming spells. While their new protection begins taking a beating, Naeth takes a moment to look around and finally notices that someone is missing.
"Ack!" Galivinth grunts while falling over onto his stomach after a fireball strikes just a measly feet away from him and throws him off balance. He attempts to hurry back onto his feet, but a tier-3 lightning spell that also just barely misses startles him enough to cause the teen to trip over himself. The delay in his movement results in him being caught. The next spell, a tier-3 fireball, hits his back directly and hurls him violently toward the arena's wall. The teen ends up tumbling uncontrollably until the momentum causes his forehead to harshly meet with the transparent surface of the force field at the far side of the arena. His head bounces right off of it before he drops onto his back, grimacing as he holds his head with a single hand.
"That kind of hurt..." He murmurs before pushing himself up to stand. In the midst of him rising, a tier-1 lightning spell hits him directly and sends a shock through his entire body.
"Aa-uck-k-k!?" The teen practically cries out as his body fidgets against his will.
"Cousin Galivinth!" Naeth calls out in horror.
"We have to help him." Rayson states, knowing that things could only get worse if nothing is done soon.
When another tier-3 fireball hits Galivinth and ruthlessly slams him against the force field's wall with a resounding DHOOOM ! as if his body was colliding with a glass-like surface, and the teen drops to his knees in pain, it's then Naeth decides to make a run for it.