Chapter 264 - Kings' Crafty Decisions

Ignoring Brak, Zelsh kept a close look eye on the arena floor. He said nothing more and neither did Jeminine or the other kings.

Twitching his head, the mantis gave the Tundra Tiger a once over. "It's an honor to learn from worthy foe."

"Likewise, but don't expect mercy until you surrender," remarked the tiger, bowing his head.

"If you're both ready… then begin."

No hesitation was shown as the mantis threw himself into the hulking tiger. Two energies gathered around it, wind and nature. Wind added to the mantis's incredible reflexes and natural speed. Blades of air took shape around the mantis's spiked forearms, slashing without fear. 

The tiger roared but didn't attack, not before spreading ice around the nearby area. Frost gathered quickly near the tiger, freezing and smothering the roots bursting from the ground. But that delay forced the tiger to take a defensive stance against the incoming mantis.

Ice-coated claws smashed into the wind-cloaked forearms, creating a misty slurry around the combatants. Though the tiger was much larger, the mantis's speed was incredible and matched by its flexibility. The tiger couldn't find an opening to change the tempo or breakthrough the flurry of attacks. An icy ground helped but only if the mantis wasn't using its wings to evade it entirely. 

"Is he really your first seed? Or are you being crafty again?" Jeminine asked, glaring back at Zelsh. But no reply came. 

Picking up the pace, the mantis began to overwhelm the tiger from all sides. It was only a matter of time till one of his attacks cleanly landed to deal serious damage. Then it would be a downhill match for the tiger.

However, as the mantis finally found a good opening and moved in for the strike, its wings suddenly began to tear and shred. It managed to back away, but not without casualty. 

Small pieces of mantis wing drifted and gradually floated to the ground, falling off of the tiger's now-spiked tail. A mace of hard, condensed ice was formed and whipped around with shocking speed as the tiger took the offensive.

The mantis fled and retreated but noticed one last detail too late. Ice now coated the majority of the arena's center. And without functioning wings, the mantis was left to endure the irregular cold while trying to escape the tiger in his natural habitat. It proved difficult. Too difficult. The slowed mantis could feel his body temperature dropping while he scrambled atop the ice, with the might tundra beast now toying with him.

"I… concede…" Giving up as the tiger finally showed killing intent, the mantis understood when he was no longer able to manage. 

Releasing all icy essence, the tiger clawed the ground and shattered the lingering ice. It wasn't dissipated, but it offered a way to more easily walk toward the stands. "Thank you for the match."

"No… Thank you…" Shivering, the mantis walked up the stairs with its head hung low.

"Next, numbers 15 and 16."

Things kept moving along as Lady Inka destroyed the lingering glass and destroyed the shriveled roots with the swipe of her hands. She happily smiled, eager to see the rest of the contest now that most first seeds had already participated. Now, the remaining matches were mostly made up of third and second seeds, making it much more fair and interesting. 

It was the second king from the Tempest Prefecture who claimed victory next. Her second seed managed to beat the third seed of Toxic-shadow Prefecture's fourth king. And the following round wasn't much different, though a third seed was closer to overcoming a second seed.

"Numbers 19 and 20, please."

Hearing the call, Brak brandished a sly grin. He turned to Zelsh, asking, "We're doing this, right?"

"That's up to you. But I will be sending you my best candidate regardless."

"That's all I needed to hear…" Brak's low chuckle almost turned to a growl, "Then you go."

Finally sending out his fourth seed, Brak was the second to last king to do so. It also let the rival king feel more comfortable. 

"Hurry up, Kirsdyn! Choose already!"

Nodding along with Brak's roar, the fourth king of the Tempest Prefecture sent out his second seed with a feeling of hope.

Both competitors stepped into the arena with a sense of caution. While Kirsdyn's second seed was a white fox more than two-krin long, Brak's fourth seed was a badger barely one-krin long. The badger's plain black and white fur didn't seem to attract much attention while the fox stood in the arena, at least not for being attractive or usual. Some kings were uncomfortable with Brak's unfazed confidence and ongoing track record as they eyed the young beast. Despite what they would admit, they weren't too sure how to assess the matchup until the battle would already be underway.

"Are you two ready?" Inka asked, getting calm nods from both silent competitors. "Then begin."

Neither foe moved just yet. The fox leaned forward and snarled while anticipating the badger's first attack. And since the fox surrendered control of the fight's tempo, the badger showed its fangs and sauntered forward. 

Daring the giant fox to try anything, the badger began to circle the fox while getting closer and closer with each step. A trilling growl left the badger's throat as more and more ferocity glazed over its eyes. But the fox only circled in response, patiently waiting for a chance to counter as the badger's confidence grew.

One was a low-adept. One was an early-adept. This was shown as the badger finally charged in for an attack. 

The badger snapped its jaws swiped a claw at the fox, who threw back its head and swiped to parry the badger's claw. Pacing was entirely different this fight as the two opponents tested each other and gradually picked up the tempo of their attacks. 

Bright white essence illuminated the fox as it finally attacked for itself, no longer just reacting. The vibrant energy boosted the vitality behind the foxes gaze and added newfound confidence to the fox's every stride, all while the badger covered itself in earthen spikes for boosted defense.