002 Tournament (Part Two)

* Outside the game in the tournament viewing area **

A second screen instantly appeared above the crowd. A second camera also appeared in the game and flew through the air zooming in on the top of the volcano.

Everyone even the announcer were wondering just what was going on up there. Only they knew that the final group of participants settled down at the top of the volcano that appeared to be source of the lotus flowers.

The camera focused in to the group of people standing as if they expected its arrival. The camera moved from person to person giving the audience a view of everyone in the group. The group was arranged in a way that the camera could not see the final person. It had to weave through the group; as it passed each person the audience felt like they were a introduction to each person one at a time with a build up to a final BOSS.

The camera first approached a pair of people sitting on boulders that were divided by a walkway. These two people had a dark, twisting mist that surrounded their lower bodies giving them a shadowy aura.

They looked like a young pair of twins, their faces and other physical features nearly identical apart from the gender specific looks. The first was petite girl looking no older than 16. She wore a ninja yoroi that was black and red, her geta on her feet where made from dazzling paulownia wood. Her face looked cute and delicate to the crowd, on her head she wore a fox mask, which had a roman numeral 9 on it. The mask was turned to the side so it only covered the right side of her head.

The second was a handsome looking young man that appeared to be her twin brother; his face was not delicate nor cute but looked like a boy who just grew into a young adult with a hit of maturity. His outfit was a mirror image of his sister's but the colors where black and purple. He also wore a fox mask but on the left side of his head. The mask had a roman numeral 8 on it. They were both sitting on their respective boulders while playing with their exquisite looking daggers.

The camera moved past them through the walkway between the boulders to reach the next person. This person had a light golden glow around them and their holy looking plate armor. A closer look shows that it was a young lady who looked slightly older than the twins. She was sitting on a step of the staircase that leads further up the volcano. A white and gold shield with a cross on it blocked the view of her sexy legs as she sat on the stairs. The shield and her armor looked pristine as if it had a holy aura protecting it from the dirt. She was polishing a mace while ignoring the camera. Her face was cold and showed no emotions. Her eyes where green with hint of gold in them. She was blond, and had long straight hair that rested at her shoulders. Her fox mask had the roman numerical 7 on it.

The camera passed the holy knight and found its way to the next person. A tall but sleek man stood in the camera's path. He wore a black mage robe that changed color from time to time. They could tell the robe's main color was black but would shimmer as if it was a kaleidoscope. Runes could be seen floating on the surface of the robes. The runes were constantly changing between blue, green, teal, and red. He held a staff that was topped with a vertical crown of thorns surrounding a magical gem that was also changing colors like the surface of his robes. On his head was another fox mask similarly off to the side of his head; his mask read 6. As the camera moved past him he gave a smirk.

The camera then found itself in front of another man. He wore leather armor that looked to have scales and feathers attached to it. The scales on the armor laid near his neckline, wrists, and on his shoulders. He had a bow strung across his back, from what they could see the top of the bow had talons and the bottom had black feathers protruding off the ends. His eyes were sharp almost like a raptor. His fox mask read 5.

The next person was a woman. She wore a gothic lolita dress with red frills, black stockings which were supported with garters, and red boots. Her black dress vaguely looked as if it was a modified priestess robe. Her hair was neither short nor long but was lightly wavy and tied into a ponytail. She wore the fox mask so it covered her face. Her staff was crested with the symbol of Apollo. On her fox mask it had a 4 on it.

A huge man appeared next. Vines, leaves, and small flowers grew at his feet. Green particles floated around the man. Just by looking at the base of the man you would feel as if you were surrounded by nature. Besides looking as if he was one with nature he also had a ferocious look to him. Other than not wearing shoes he was fully clothed. He had brown combat pants and silver plate armor. His armor was strange, along its neckline and down the back of the armor looked as if it had a lion's mane. His hair was blond which added to the lion appearance. He was radiating the feeling of strength and appeared to be a natural hunter. On his head a fox mask a 3 was written.

The camera appeared before the last two people, who were also wearing fox masks labeled 2 and 1, blocking the view of the final person. One was a women and the other a man.

The man dressed in void black robes had small debris floating around him as they seem to be defying gravity themselves. He had a bored look on his face but his eyes betrayed him. Excitement could be seen in his eyes as they were practically sparkling. He had a flickering glass orb floating above his hand. It was almost like the orb was disappearing and reappearing rather than just a light bulb flickering on and off. He wore the most ancient looking set of robes they have ever seen. Looking at him made them feel as if they were looking at an old relic.

The women gave off a domineering aura. She wore what looked like combat heels. She had black stockings that reached up to the middle of her slightly plumb thighs. A priestess skirt that came down to just above where the stocking stopped leaving just a small section of skin showing. Her priestess top hugged her amble chest highlighting her curves. She had curly dark blond hair tied up into a pony tail. Her eyes a breathtaking blue color.

Before the audience could get past the beauty of the priestess something unexpecting happened. Both the mage and the priestess moved out of the way of the view of the final person.

After so much build up the final person was displayed in full glory. He was wearing a pair of Japanese sandals on his feet and a magic robe that looked similar to a kimono. The kimono's primary color was black with lotus shaped red accents. On its back was a fox with nine tails. The fox mask he wore was slightly different than the rest of his group. It had no number but instead had a smiling face rather than one without emotion.

His appearance caused the audience to have slight trouble breathing. His body was brimming mana. So much so that wisps and thin ribbons of mana was visible to the human eye. Those who were magic classes were petrified. It would typically require [Mana Sense] to be able to detect mana. However, if someone had a truly ridiculous amount of then you would see very small traces of mana around them. No one could guess just how much mana it would take to show mana that dense.

Everyone watching could only image the pressure they would feel if they were in front of such a monster. The mana danced around the man as if it was worshiping him. The man had dark brown eyes, a slightly pointy nose and a small grin. To some it seemed like a grin of enjoyment but to others it was a grin of the devil. The man had no weapon to be seen but instead there was something floating above his right hand…

Guessing that everyone's attention on him the man smiled even more. He knew they all recognized what was floating in front of him. The entire building was now deadly silent. Before there was praise, cat calling, and all other kinds of comments about the appearance of the group but now only the sound of a pin dropping would be heard.

Floating before the young man was a red lotus flower. Instead of being a warn fiery color it was instead a sinister blood red color. If the other lotus flower was described as warm and friendly this flower was the opposite. It would be described as blood lusting and evil. It sent chills down their spines. When they all saw that lotus they instantly knew that the lotus flowers didn't come from the volcano but instead this man.

The man raised the flower a little higher so that it would be closer to his head drawing attention to his face. Now with everyone's attention on him he slowly spoke his next spell, [Spell Swap]. Instantly the lotus in front of him changed color it changed from the blood red to the light red color of the flowers surrounding the other guilds. He then gave a eerie smile and cast his final spell, [Blooming Lotus].

** On the battle field **

Everyone on the battle field was oblivious to what happened on the volcano.

Rend was slowly lifting his dagger above his head to slash down on the lotus in front of him when everything changed. While everyone had their eyes on him when they all had a bad feeling rise in the chest. Instantly all the lotuses on the island changed to the blood red color! Those who still had the [Inspect] skills active quickly looked at the lotuses again.

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Lotus of the Damned

A lotus flower made only from the purest mana. Myth has it that these flower's fire can burn one's soul.

Effects:

[Unstable Mana] - Personal mana becomes harder to control, increases mana usage by 100% per cast.

[Chain Explosive] - When an explosion happens near by it also explodes and increases the near by explosion's damage by 10% per nearby lotus (20 meter radius).

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Seeing the panic and fear on Tempest and Violet's faces the other attempt to cast their life saving skills.

"It's a trap; these flowers might as well be bombs!"

The lotuses started flickering and growing at an impossible rate. Once they grew twice their size they exploded! Explosion after explosion rang out across the island. The leaders of the four guilds were blown around like they were paper. Explosions chipped away at everyone's HP.

Those in the larger battle suffered the worst. A few explosions where enough to slaughter mage classes and most rouge classes. The tank classes did not have it much better. The few that realized they were in danger did not have enough reaction time or even the skills they needed to use to survive. While those who reacted fast enough wished they had not. The explosions continued for what felt like years; their will to live and fight was crushed. They surrendered to their fate. In a matter of seconds the hordes of players in the large scale battle died and were logged out.

The guild leaders also had a rough time. They used invulnerability skills, major healing spells, buffs to increase magic and damage resistance; all of them were pushed to use the ultimate trump cards just to barely survive. After all the explosions all 8 leaders where in the same sorry state as one another. They were nearly out of health and almost no mana or stamina to recuperate with.

The camera hovering above the battle field zoomed out slowly. What was seen made the audience lose their breath. Not even the announcer could talk. Everyone felt that their words were stuck in their throats.

What they saw was a barren island. None of the previous luscious foliage could be seen. There was no trees, no building left standing and no green grass. All that was left was charred earth, fires, and rubble. Smoke could be seen floating through the air.

*woosh*

Every head in the stadium quickly turned to the second monitor.

Cold shivers went down their backs. The group of 10 had no display of increased excitement or happiness. Not a single look of surprise. It was as if everything that happened was to be expected.

The man that resembled a loin spoke sarcastically, "Oh? Our mighty Lord, it seems like some slipped past the net and survived."

With a chilling grin the man in the kimono gave a chuckle. "Of course they survived. They are the best the top guilds can provide, it is only natural after all. It is time to clean up. Twisted lets continue the show."

Excitement filled Twisted eyes, "Yes Lord!" [Grand Teleport!].

A beautiful magical circle appeared above the group and a shimmering platform formed below their feet.

The group disappeared from the audience's eyes instantly.

The smart viewers quickly changed what screen they were watching.

A magic circle appeared a short distance a way from surviving guild leaders from the four major guilds.

"Now, my nine tails, show they what euphoria feels like."

With pleased and happy looks on each of their faces all nine people jumped from the floating platform while glowing all sorts of different colors. "Yes Lord!"