Exodia 62: A card of darkness

[Now, let us see our 10 contestants!]

Ten?

I guess Qin really didn't participate. I could hear some people whispering too.

"10? I thought it'd be 11?"

"Maybe to make it fair, they removed one of the Chinese participants too."

"Yeah, maybe."

Tatsuya seemed to catch on too. I gave him an acceptable answer.

On the holographic screen, it portrayed the Japanese team and their names. After 20 seconds or so, it switched to the Chinese team. After 20 seconds, it switched to a screen with 5 boxes on each side. Inside the boxes were pictures of the participants. Japanese on the left and Chinese on the right. Their names were under the boxes. It went in alphabetical order of their second names. There was a VS sign in between each box.

[Okay! Before we get to the rules, we'll draw bouts! Here is the randomiser!]

The names and pictures began spinning vertically, fast. After 10 seconds, there was a click and the pictures and names set themselves in place.

They went in this order:

Anastasia VS Daiyu

Raijin VS Alix

Jinrui VS Qiang

Akane VS Lin-Hua

Kuroha vs Li-jun

Anastasia was first and she was fighting the small black-haired girl, Daiyu.

[Before we let the first two onto the stage, I'll introduce something new. Ah, but the rules first!]

Ravi said, piquing the interest of the audience.

[Now, let me ex--]

['No, please let me.]

The President interrupted Ravi. He looked slightly annoyed but he simply sighed.

[Well, I guess you are the supporting commentator, so you do need to say something. President, let's hear the rules of the 1v1s!]

He shouted.

The holographic screen would proceed to show us slides similar to what the President was saying.

['The matches will be 10-minutes long. Almost anything goes in these 1v1s. If there are any weapons used, they shall be provided by the school. The only weapons which do not apply are weapons made from mana. Lethal spells may only be used once. If they are used even more than once, the student shall be immediately disqualified. When a lethal spell is used, I shall say, 'Lethal Spell,' in accordance with how much damage it does or could do. Whether lethal spells hit or not, it shall be counted. No killing. No leaving the arena. Win by either damage, knockout, movement restriction or mana depletion. I shall leave the rest up to Ravi to explain.']

The screen switched to Ravi.

[Alright! Now it's my turn!]

Why does he shout so much? You're using a microphone. Speak normally.

[We have a new feature in the Colosseum which was recently built in. It's called the Landscaper!]

That's a lame name.

[With the click of a button, the landscape of the arena will change to whatever was selected. For example, the first battle's landscape will be...]

The screen switched to a selection page. There was the emblem of a leaf in the middle. It began to spin, similar to the pictures and names, finally, it stopped on the symbol of a mountain. It was brown, the emblem.

[It will be the Earth Wasteland landscape!]

"Dude, what's going on?!"

I heard Tatsuya shout as he leaned over and grabbed my shoulders. The arena floor sunk into the ground and uneven earth arose and set itself in its place. On top of the land were lots of boulders and rocks. There were a few rocks stacked on top of one another to make a stack. A few of the boulders began to float. They were large enough for a human to stand on.

It was incredible.

Within seconds, the landscape changed. From a flat, polished metal floor to an uneven, rough, and earthly land with floating boulders.

[Let us introduce the two contestants for the first match! Anastasia and Daiyu!]

The two gates opened and Anastasia and Daiyu walked toward each other. They stopped around 4 feet short of each other.

[During the match, the contestants won't be able to hear our lovely commentating! Ah, the audience will also not be able to hear the participants talking too! This is so that they can focus on the match! We'll start the battle! Count with me, everyone!]

Everyone shouted with Ravi. Even Tatsuya and I.

["3!"]

["2!"]

["1!"]

There was a loud beep and the battle started.

Anastasia versus Daiyu, who would win?

--

"This is the perfect place for me."

Anastasia smiled, looking around at the floating boulders. She moved back slightly from Daiyu.

"That's a coincidence. It's also perfect for me."

Daiyu breathed, doing the same.

There was a reason that Daiyu was chosen to represent the Chinese Branch first-years.

Daiyu was not exactly one of the strongest girls in the first year when it came to her own ability. However, when she enhanced herself, she would be able to trouble even the most powerful student.

How? Well, she had a card that no one else possessed.

A card of darkness.

"I guess I'll start."

The purple-haired girl said.

She began quick-casting.

"Oh, Divine Wind, enlighten this puny being and show us your might. Severe my opponent into six pieces via your will; Tempest Shotgun!"

Though the incantation was slightly lengthy, it was a quick cast. The incantation for Tempest Shotgun is longer than what Anastasia said since it's a high-level Wind spell.

It first started as a large Wind Bullet but split into 6 smaller bullets.

Daiyu did not move an inch. She did not even look concerned. All that she did was mutter a single word.

"Devour."

Shadows converged to a point before Daiyu and formed a tiger head; it ate the wind bullets.

The audience was surprised.

What Daiyu had used was Shadow Magic. No doubt that everyone in the arena had never seen Shadow Magic in their lives.

The way she used it was unique.

"Shadow Magic?"

Anastasia kept her distance. Even she did not know how to deal with Shadow Magic.

"I don't like idle chatter."

Daiyu raised her arm.

The shadows in front of her changed form and began to shroud her like armour. An ominous feeling drifted through the atmosphere of the Colosseum.

Shadows covered her head and gave her a helmet in the shape of a jaguar head. She had two shadowy claws, as well as, boots, which would increase her mobility. Her eyes glistened like polished lemon quartz as she stared longingly at her prey.

She kneeled into a pouncing position.

Anastasia readied herself by beginning to chant a spell.

Daiyu licked her lips.

"Here I come."