49 Watching fights

As the announcer got done talking, a large stone was raised from the ground near him. There was nothing that stood out about it, it was a 15ft diameter dark green stone.

From how they presented it, it was easy to guess it was the oath stone. Slowly 10 fighters came from beneath the ring as there number got called out, and walked towards the stone.

Once every one was out the main anoucer started talking again.

"Are you willing to accept the oath, that you will not lose on purpose during any match you fight today at the The Starfall Arena. And you will try your best to not kill or cripple any unconscious person, or if the person had admitted defeat."

After he got done talking the oath stone glowed. "Put your hand on the oath stone and say "i accept" if you accept the oath."

Everyone put there hand on the stone and said. "I accept.". A light shot into there body and the stone stop glowing moments later.

"Head to your stages and get prepared to fight." The anoucer said in a loud tone, while everyone cheer to get the battles started.

"Why did they take a oath to not lose on purpose, and not say try to win or something. Brian asked his dad.

"It probably because, some people don't want to show there full battle power. If they have to win, than they can't choose to hold anything back. But as long as they not trying to lose, they won't have to show all there battle power. "

"The oath work good enough to know what you are thinking, and if you were to even think about losing intentionally it will warn you. If you actually lose on purpose, than you will have to pay a big price." Tom said to Brian, as Ryan and Elizabeth listen in.

As Tom got done talking all the fighters were on the stage and a formation was formed around each stage. Tom and them had focused on the screen where the first and second ranks fighters are at. It didn't take long for the fighting to begin, after the word "fight" was yelled.

The stage Ryan was paying attention to was the stage that had the rank1 fighters. The rookie fighter had a battle axe as a weapon, as he charged toward his opponent.

He was using a movement technique and had a pretty decent speed. His opponent fighter 165 was standing there with his sword. The rookie covered half the distance, and 165 hunch down like he was about to attack.

To the rookie surprise something wrapped around his leg and made him lose balance for a brief moment. But before he could collect himself 165 used a foot movement technique too and dash with his sword aiming at the other guys neck.

The rookie noticing this yelled I surrender before the blade made it to him. Even if 165 wanted to pretend like he couldn't stop in time, the oath wouldn't let him. 165 blade stop inches away from his neck. The announcer for that stage anouced the winner.

"Fighter 165 wins his second consecutive match. His record 3 losses and now 8 wins."

After the winner was announced the replay of the last moment was on repeat. The replay was pretty much the entire fight and you could see the spell 165 used on the rookie. He had used a water spell called water vine, to wrap around his opponent ankle. It didn't look that strong, in the video you could see the water snapping apart even tho it did enough to trip him.

Ryan started paying more attention to the rank 2 fighters now. Not even a minute went past since everyone started fighting.

The 2 rank 2 had already exchanged a few hits with no clear winner. The rookie doesn't seem to be at a disadvantage, but they both haven't even used any Martial skills or spells yet. They both been using swords, which make it look like they are trying to see who has the best sword play.

To Ryan surprise the rookie made a sudden move and used a Martial skill. He was already in the process of swiping horizontally across fighter 244 stomach, than fire had burst out the other side of the blade. It had sped up doubling the speed of the swipe.

His opponent 244 was planning on blocking it like normal but when he saw the fire and blade speed increaseing he knew he couldn't block it unprepared like this. He still swung his sword out in hopes to slow the strike down and jump back.

He did narrowly dodged it and avoided a direct hit, but there was a pretty deep horizontal cut on his stomach. He had to use his aura to keep the blood in his body from leaking out. Fighter 244 looked down at his injury and narrowed his eyes.

You could tell, he just had gotten serious and the fighting is about to go up a notch.

He started fighting with his sword again more intensely but was still keeping an eye out for the rookie Martial skills.

Once 244 saw an opportunity to take a advantage of he used his spell fire roar and shot fire out his mouth at close range.

The rookie used his mana barrier and coated himself in aura to receive the unexpected attack. The sheer force of the fire roar spell push him back.

Since the rookie was a fire user too, he didn't take Much damage from the heat but it had cost a nice chunk of mana to block. Fighter 244 ran straight towards the rookie, not even a second after his fire spell ended. He used a Martial movement skill, as fire was spotted with each step he took increaseing his speed.

He ran straight towards the rookie but the rookie put up a spell called flame wall that surrounded him like he already knew 244 was coming. The screen that was showing there fight switched to a bird eye view of the fight. You could see the rookie casting another spell in side the fire wall.

All the fire including the flame wall he just made got suck into his hand that was holding the sword and formed a 6ft fire blade. He ran towards 244, while 244 use his movement technique to charge at the rookie.

As they got closer the rookie try to slash him but 244 was quick enough to dodge it, than used the spell fire roar again as the rookie was still in the swinging motion.

But to fighter 244 surprise he noticed the rookie stop midway and was swinging his fire blade at him and ignoreing the the fire roar spell. but he wasn't to worried, he was well aware he can't be to close to people that is on guard of his technique.

it's possible to fight through the fire and strike him. So seeing the rookie strike that was to far away to reach, he was calm. 244 thought he was striking in order to block the fire roar spell.

But he didn't expect the fire blade to get longer, and became able to reach him. He had to stop his spell in his attempt to dodge out the way of the sword. Sadly for him he was just a moment to late, and got his left arm cut off.

He didn't waste time once he realized he got his arm cut off, he used his Martial movement skill. He knew he would of had a very low chance of winning with one arm if the fight go on, and charge straight towards the rookie.

The rookie had thought even if the attack was not fatal, 244 will definitely be injured. So 244 charging over with his movement skill took him by surprise and he didn't have time to block. 244 sword was aiming right at the rookie neck and he had no choice but to surrender.

Unlike the rank 1 battle alot more people cheered for the winner.

"Fighter 244 wins his third consecutive match. His record 1 loss and now 6 wins."

The anoucer loudly said.

"They was an intense fight" Brian said with a hint of worry in his voice. He was not sure if he really ready to fight in the ring. Losing an arm and being so close to death is making him second guess his choice.

Ryan seeing the expression could guess what he is thinking because he have similar thoughts in his head. But he not second guessing himself, this won't be the first time he is fighting with his life on the line. If he makes one mistake, it all could be over.

Out of curiosity he looked at Elizabeth, but to his surprise she had a look of determination on her face. There was not a shade of fear in her eyes. Ryan couldn't help but ask. "What do you think about the fight."

To his surprise she said more words than she had ever did before to him.

"It was interesting and confusing. If the fighter 244 would of used his spell first when they was fighting at the beginning he could of had the advantage. He didn't use his movement skill either, I don't think the rookie even had a movement skill. That should of been another advantage to take advantage of but some how he seem to be the one in the disadvantage most of the fight."

Tom hearing his daughter jumped in the conversation.

"It was because he was trying to win with the bare minimum of strength. This arena is about winning consecutively, and if you show everything in your matches people can make plans to beat you. Its a double edge sword in a way, if he just went all out the match could of been over faster and show less of his moves."

"But if he was able to beat him with no Martial skills his next opponent will not know what he could do and he may know what is next opponent skills are though. That's a advantage in its self plus his next opponent should be stronger than his last."

"As for Brian and Elizabeth if yall do decide to fight, go all out from the start. Your not in it for the mana stones. And Ryan, you should be able to handle yourself in the rank 1 stage. The fact that you don't have spells or martial skill will have a limited effect than the higher ranks."

"Are we staying here the full day, I want to watch as many fights as I can. I already know I may struggle more than what you would think, because I never actually fought another person before. I only had fought dumb beasts and my simple strategies won't work good on humans." Ryan said in a sunken tone.

"Sure, we have nothing to do, watching fights is a form of training too." Tom said as he start paying more attention to the other fights that is ongoing.