Chapter 21: Oops

Chapter 21: Oops

The two combatants took their places on either end of the arena. Yeo twirled his kusarigama at his side, and Timothy drew an arrow and strung it, keeping the bow pointed at the ground.

Begin, the proctor said.

To Chances surprise, both Yeo and Timothy bowed to each other. He took a second to look at the other fights, surprised to realize that many of the other students were also exchanging bows before they started.

Bella noticed the same thing and winced. Oh. Oops.

Oops, Chance agreed, feeling a flash of pity for the boy. That explained Antons outburst at the end of the fight.

In the arena, Yeo and Timothy straightened. An arrow shot across the arena, but Yeo bobbed out of the way and it thunked harmlessly into the wood behind him.

Metal Dragon Art: Twin Heads! Yeo called, twirling out of the way of another arrow as a second kusarigama joined his dance. Chance and Bella both suppressed a groan. He really needed to stop calling out his abilities.

Yeo flicked both of the sickles through the air in opposite directions. They arced out, whipping past Timothy with blinding speed. The weapons shot past him, completely missing. The boy smirked, nocking another arrow. White energy gathered around its tip and he released it.

Metal clinked and Yeo ducked. The arrow drilled into the barrier behind him with a loud crack and a flash of white light. Before Timothy could nock another, Yeo yanked on the chains of his sickles.

The weapons whipped back toward him through the air from behind the boy, making a wide arc around Timothy in either direction. The chains hit him and the sickles twirled around him, whipping faster with every orbit. In an instant, Timothys hands were yanked down to his sides and he was bound in metal.

Yeo yanked on the chains, pulling Timothy off balance, then charged the boy and jumped into the air, turning sideways and driving both of his legs into his chest. Timothy, unable to move, flew back and skidded helplessly across the edge of the arena.

Yeo wins, the proctor called as Yeo dropped into a roll and came to his feet, dropping into a bow.

Great job! Chance called. Yeo gave him a thumbs up and his weapons unraveled from around Timothy, one returning to his side while the other turned back into metal filings that slipped into his pouch.

Now the pressures really on, Yeo said when he got back, sitting down beside them. Both Bella and I have won, so you have to as well.

Chance groaned. You realize that only makes this worse, right?

Wont be worse if you win.

You are, without a doubt, horrible at motivation, Bella informed Yeo.

Oh? Youre better, then?

Bella opened her mouth, then snapped it shut. No. Not really.

They watched several more fights go by. Every passing round where he wasnt called up only made his anxiety grow until, almost mercifully, Drake called his name.

Chance, Meredith. Youre up.

Go get em! Yeo said, giving him a friendly shove as he rose.

Chance nodded, his heart beating too fast to even look back, and walked up to Drakes arena. A short girl carrying two daggers walked over as well. She gave him a once over, then gave him a tight grin as they took their positions in the arena.

No clue, Yeo replied, sounding distracted. Its not like weve done this before. Just wait, I guess.

His eyes were locked on one of the other arenas. Chance followed his gaze to see Jake squaring off against another boy. He was covered seamless metal armor that conformed to his flesh like a jumpsuit, and held a large hammer in his hands.

Jakes lazy swings kept his opponent pedaling backward, but he moved with just enough speed to keep him from fighting back. Whenever the other boy managed to get some space, Jake accelerated, forcing his opponent to retreat once more.

The battle ended when one of Jakes swings was just a little faster than the other boy. It caught him in the arm, crunching into flesh and bone. Jake blurred, slamming the weapon into the boys chest and launching him from the arena.

A proctor rushed over, pushing a healing pill into the injured Shikaris mouth. Jake walked off the arena after getting the okay from the older man. He glanced in Yeos direction, smirking when he caught him watching.

Thats how a real Metal cultivator should fight, Jake said as he passed them.

Bugger off, Yeo replied. I dont care how you fight. Ive got my own way.

Jake paused, cocking an eyebrow. That pathetic little dance you do can hardly be called fighting. I suppose well get to see shortly, wont we? Better make sure you make it to fight me, or youre going to look really bad.

He strode off, chuckling. Yeos eyes narrowed, then he let out a forced laugh and leaned back in the bench. Stuck up prick.

Chance cleared his throat, electing to say nothing. He was starting to get a general picture of why Yeo didnt like Jake, and the other boys cocky attitude didnt help at all. With some amusement, Chance realized that Jake was exactly what hed thought Yeo would be like when theyd first met.

I saw her fight already, Bella said, breaking the awkward silence and gesturing to one of the arenas. I guess it makes sense. I dont see how theyd get a very good ranking of us without having multiple matches.

Good, Yeo growled. Ive still got a lot of energy left.

Several more matches passed. Yeo was the next of them to be called up, and he won his match without much of the usual flair his style usually employed. It was done in just over a few seconds, and he returned to sit beside them, a pensive look on his face.

Bella was called next, and she won her next fight as easily as the first although she didnt forget to bow this time around. Both of them definitely looked like they had more experience than the rest of their competitors, and it was showing.

Chance spotted Jake in his second fight as well. The Metal cultivator won it as easily as his first, making the entire thing look borderline effortless. He looked just as dangerous as Bella and Yeo, if not more.

His own name was called shortly after, but Chance was so preoccupied with Yeo and Jake that the proctor had to repeat it before he snapped back into reality.

Sorry, coming! Chance said, jumping to his feet. Drake was his proctor once again, and his second opponent was a large, heavyset boy wearing leather armor.

They took their positions on either side of the arena.

You all there? the boy asked. You look half asleep.

Sorry, Chance said. Im a little distracted.

Undistract yourself, the boy suggested. And, since Im pretty sure you missed it, Im Todd.

Nice to meet you, Chance said. Im Chance.

I know. I was listening.

Enough chatter, Drake said. Begin!