“In Gina’s words... Jinkies... I’m sore...” Julia moaned out, her eyes opening as she woke up from her fist-assisted nap.
“She’s waking up.” She heard Séance say as she pushed herself up into a sitting position. “My word, G’Nolga worked you over good, didn’t she?” He said, a sad look in eyes.
“G’Nolga?” Julia said as she turned to look at those gathered about her, Brianna, Genn and Séance. “What’s this about?”
“You... Don’t know?” Genn said. “She kidnapped Brianna before the tournament!”
“SHE DID WHAT!?” Julia screamed as she stood up, her body protesting. “Ow, ow, ow...”
“We learned she was going to use her as insurance, to make sure you lost.” The young aura mage said as he moved to assist the fighter back to her seat. “At first she was going to challenge you before the tournament, but changed the plan to ensure you could do nothing after it was over with, hence she entered the tournament herself. Once we rescued her we rushed over here to learn you were defeated.”
“Damn her...” Julia said wincing. “Well, you haven’t heard then... G’Nolga was the runner up.”
“Someone else DEFEATED G’Nolga?” Séance gasped, knowing full well that Julia was considered the best fighter on Jade and G’Nolga was just a hair’s width behind her. For someone to beat either of them let alone both of them...
“Mom?” Brianna asked as she saw Julia’s smirk. “Why are you--”
“Seems the new Armsmaster had done me two favours without knowing it.” Julia said. “One: He saved me my honour by defeating G’Nolga and stopping her plan in it’s tracks. And two: I was taught a valuable lesson today.” She said as she moved her wounded body to lie down again.
“And what’s that?” Brianna asked.
“Never underestimate a man with a pigtail.”
0---0
A fist slammed into the wall as G’Nolga let off a shriek. Her part of the plan was simple. Challenge Julia, then toss the lock of hair down, with an illusion cast on it to seem like money to everyone else. Julia would recognize the hair as her daughter’s, Brianna’s, and let herself get pummelled. All before the tournament began. Then Tirant had a change of plans, why do it BEFORE when you could do it AFTER and prevent Julia from reclaiming her title. If G’Nolga wanted another fight with the woman she could challenge her as she pleased.
So she entered the tournament herself, and beat everyone left to right. She had gotten to the finals and was nearly to the point of challenging her eternal rival. All she needed to do was defeat some Earthling punk and his homemade weapon of choice, gloves studded with dwarven steel. An odd choice to be sure, but given that his entire style was based about unarmed combat it was the best weapon her could have made.
One pigtailed boy. From Earth. That was all that stood in her way. “And he sent me flying with that DAMNED TORNADO OF HIS!” She cried out slamming her fist back into the stone, the wall cracking slightly. “HOW DID HE DO IT!? HE COULDN’T HAVE CHANNELLED THE ETHERAL STREAM! IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE!” The arena was GUARDED against that sort of think magic couldn’t be used! And one of the mages watching said he couldn’t make head or tails of what he did. Only that it wasn’t against the rules of the Tournament.
All that was bad enough, but at least her bruised ego was somewhat healed when she returned to the arena only to learn that the young whelp actually managed to topple Julia. If there had to be someone who could actually beat her than that guy DAMN well better be able to topple Julia too.
Of course that was ignoring something about the Ziggurats. Something Tirant could turn into a weapon to conquer all realms. An item only the Armsmaster was allowed to command. Snorting she turned walking away, a section of the wall crumbling. “We need a new plan.”
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(Posted Sat, 05 May 2007 16:47)
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