Sorry for a long update; I wasn't able to picture how the battles in this chapter will be like, and neither did the one who was helping me. But he finally got the pictures on his head. Maybe then I can finally continue this.
Part 21: Hot Rumble, Part 1
After retrieving Momo's bazooka from the confiscatory, the group consulted the tournament chart. There are 8 teams in the Contest, which will be held in a traditional single-elimination style. Momo picked up a pamphlet at the front desk just outside Balio and Sunder's office. The pamphlet shows the tournament's standings and general details of each match.
There are three battlefields in the Genmel Coliseum: the Hall of Fire, where combatants fight over a pool of lava; the Null Magic Hall, where all sorts of magic are sealed and prohibited from use; and the Hall of Kings, where battles are one-on-one between team leaders. In each arena, there are two locker rooms for use by each team that will be competing there.
"Well, according to the guide," Momo said, "the Hall of Fire will be where we will be first fighting. It's located at the west portion of the Coliseum. Let's go, you guys."
Ash and May followed Momo through a small maze of corridors, which probably circle around the three battlefields. As they passed some rooms, loud cheers could be heard from within, indicating that the battles there are being held as of this moment now.
Outside of their locker room to the Hall of Fire, were eight large, musclebound, bald men. "We's called da Dodai," one of them said. "It's our job to hold people up in da Hall of Fire. You's going in dere? Well, den, wish us both luck, yeah?"
The group wondered what the Dodai meant, and instead headed inside their locker room. It was small and cramped, with a bed on one corner and a couple of footlockers in another. Right across the door they came through, is a scantily-clad young woman, dressed in a black one-piece, and a headband with fake bunny ears.
"You're Ash's team, right?"
"Yes," May answered for all three of them.
"My, aren't you a little young for contestants," the woman muttered. "Anyway, do you know the rules for the Hall of Fire?"
"No," May said again. "But please tell us."
"Very well. Here, single team members fight in a knockout tournament. The order you fight in is arranged by yourselves. You win by either defeating all three members of the opposite team, or by knocking down the other team's platform. The Dodai holding up the platforms have a set stamina-- One strategy is to concentrate all your attacks on the Dodai.
"Are you three ready?" They nodded. "Okay, plan your battle order, and I'll be right back." The bunny woman turned on her heels, and entered the room behind her.
"Well, who's going to go first?" Momo asked her friends. Before they could answer, she decided for all of them. "I'll go first. I'm guessing that they will be using their strongest one for last, and Ahs can take care of it with his powers!"
Ash sweatdropped heavily, again. Meanwhile, May said, "How can you be sure, Momo?"
Momo just shrugged. "Anyway, in my opinion, I think it's best to leave Ash for last, May. After all, his powers will probably what we will need for this fight."
"I-I guess," May replied, looking at Ash sympathetically. At least Momo's feeling confident. What May feels right now is nervousness.
Minutes later, the bunny girl returned. "Have you decided who will go first?" she asked the team.
"Yes," Momo said, stepping forward, with her bazooka poised on her shoulders. She turned back to her friends. "Well, I'm off then... But don't get your hopes up too high. Just save up for the last round, right, Ash?" Ash sweatdropped.
"Alright, then, please follow me. The other two can watch from the stands next door." She pointed in the direction of the door she was indicating, while ushering Momo into the next room.
May led Ash by the hand, outside the locker room and into the door right next to it. The Hall of Fire is, like suggested by the pamphlet and its name, is a hall of fire, sort of. Surrounding the arena, are the stands where spectators watch the battle. This is also where Ash and May went.
Among the crowds, there wasn't a single innocent-looking face. However, there is a familiar one: Garland. He's leaning on the wall at the top of the arena, where he has a clear view of the battle. Tugging Ash alongside her, May went up to him.
"I never thought that kids like you enjoy this sort of sport," Garland said as they came within earshot of him.
On the arena in itself; two bridges from the south and north sides of the arena, act as the entrance for the combatants from each one of the teams. About ten feet below them, from where the whole room's intense heat was coming from, is a pool full of red-hot charcoal. Standing, with the fiery solids miraculously up to their knees, were eight of the Dodai the group saw earlier. Each Dodai is holding a 10x10 stone platform over their heads, with no apparent trouble. Momo came in from the southern "bridge", while her opponent, a female thief, entered from the other exit.
The referee, another "bunny lady", stood on a platform right next to the arena. She was on level with the spectator stands. She waved her hand to each one of the fighters as she introduced them. "From team Patrio: Claw! From Team Ash: Momo!"
Claw is a well-endowed young woman. The lower half of her face is hidden behind a reddish-brown handkerchief mask, while her bandana is blue. She wears tight-fitting gear, suitable perhaps for the thief profession. On each of her hands are two daggers, shaped like claws of a tiger each.
"Contestants, please step onto the platforms."
The referee indicated the platforms being held by the Dodai. Momo and Claw stepped onto them (Momo's shook a little), then heard a whirring sound behind them. momo turned around, to see that the bridge is retracting from the Dodai!
"Let the first round begin!"
Claw lunged for Momo, her daggers slashing at her smoothly. For someone who carries a large weapon in her hands, Momo was able to evade, albeit barely, the strikes.
The real problem came with Momo's bazooka itself. She can't use it without producing recoil that will hurt her as well, at that close range.
At the stands, Garland was able to quickly deduce Momo's dilemma. "Does she know of the different ways you can win here in the Hall of Fire?" Garland asked May. "She doesn't have to in order to win, you know..."
"You mean, attacking the Dodai?" May asked. "The official stationed at our locker room told us about it, yes. but how can Momo attack something that's underneath her?"
"Magic, of course," was Garland's swift, and veteran, answer. "And there's an element of strategy here: you have to make sure your opponent stays on the Dodai that you attack the most, or you might end up being the one on the very Dodai as well. And if you manage to knock out all the Dodai on the opponent's side, regardless of what round, your team will win."
Then, each of the Dodai beneath the platforms began flexing their arms. This caused the platforms they were carrying to alternate going up and down individually. To Momo, this felt like she was in a pocket earthquake, and in the process lost her balance.
Claw tried taking advantage of this, and jumped at Momo. The latter then prepared a surprise for everyone: the mouth of her bazooka released a folded umbrella of sorts. And when it opened up, it became a shield! A shield so strong that Claw's daggers couldn't penetrate it!
The thief recoiled backwards from bouncing off the shield. This bought Momo enough time to get back to her feet. However, she balanced herself on her bazooka, trying to catch her breath, apparently exhausted.
Claw also recovered from her recoil, and dashed towards Momo again. The latter made a clumsy sidestep, trying to avoid it, which was actually a lucky break: Claw tripped on the bazooka which was slightly slanted on the floor, hitting her head on the platform!
The entire crowd was stunned; the whole ring was silent. Even Momo's teammates were awestruck and openmouthed. Garland has the slightest reaction, by raising an eyebrow at the turn of events. "Well, what a surprise," the ring announcer declared, after the moment of silence. "The winner of this round: MOMO!"
Ash and May cheered, being the only ones who did amongst the crowd. The rest of the spectators were either groaning in disappointment, or booing and leering at Momo. It seems that Balio and Sunder were right: no one in their right mind would place their bets on Ash's team, allowing the greedy brothers to rake in the money.
"Now, on to the other combatant," the referee called over the din of the crowd. "The wizard Cawer!"
After some tournament hands took Claw off the arena, her teammate appeared from their locker room. He is a heavyset man with a pencil-thin curled black mustache, clad in scarlet robes, and a matching wizard's hat.
This announcement shocked May. "Wait, aren't they even going to give Momo a rest?" she asked Garland.
"No. The surviving battler continues until he or she is unable to. Then it switches to his/her teammate. That's how the battles here in the Hall of Fire are done, until all members of one team are unable to battle."
Momo did look like she was exhausted from her battle with Claw. But she has no choice: she has to continue fighting.
To Be Continued