Oliver’s team went on to win the final round. I even stood and clapped along with the crowd.
The announcer came out once again, looking more composed than the day before, and cried, “It’s time for our final event, everyone, and always my favorite! Let’s have another round of applause for the Companion’s Cup finals! Our first match is between two very powerful competitors. Give it up for Sarina Harkonen and her peryton Momo versus Kandelan and his dire wolf Wolfie!” The man disappeared as the competitors faced off and the fight began.
“Wolfie?” I complained. “Come on. You’ve got to have some self-respect when naming a companion.” The match ended quickly, the poor wolf no match for the antlered peryton.
Teegan chuckled quietly, “Yeah, I’ve heard worse, though. You think that Serina and Momo might be your match-up, then?” He tossed me a questioning glance.
“Maybe. They are really good. I hope not, though. I just keep thinking of Pachi when that peryton uses her flashing ability. Would be pretty creepy.”
We watched a couple more matches before fighting Tarah and her kelpie companion named Rhione. The fight was pretty brutal, and though the kelpie had some interesting water skills, Tejón ended up taking a bite out of its throat. When we were announced winners, the bear told me that though horse was tasty, he still preferred pig. I just patted him on the back and walked into the arena tunnels to await the final round.
We didn’t have long to wait, and as Tejón and I walked up to get ready to emerge, Teegan returned to watch the fight. I had been hoping for a longer reprieve. My HP was restored, and we were as strong as ever, but the Gravel Storm had a 30-minute cooldown.
I encouraged Tejón, hoping to pump up the bear. Hey, buddy. We still have a couple tricks up our sleeves. Let’s rock this, okay?
My encouragement was not needed, and I smiled as Tejón lumbered ahead of me, roaring as soon as he entered the pit. I still didn’t know who the other finalist was, but I wouldn’t trade places with them for any amount of gold.
And though my opinion didn’t change after I saw our opponents, I did have a flicker of doubt regarding our victory. Facing Tejón was a bulky canine creature whose charred skin crackled in an unending and unholy flame. I inspected the beast and saw it was a hellhound!
His master wore black robes and held a tall staff topped with a crystal emitting purple light. He looked like an evil Mage or Warlock.
The announcer made his way between us and bellowed, hands raised to the sky in epic challenge, “Here we are! The last and most savage exchange of the tournament. Here with his hellhound Samael is the wicked Warlock of the west, Kazen the Loremaster!” He paused, letting the crowd have the moment in an onslaught of cheer. “And opposing them is the barfing Berserker we’ve all come to love, Madi Mendoza and the heavyweight stone bear Tejón!”
He disappeared quickly before I could glare at him for his two casual insults.
The bout began and immediately all hell broke loose. Literally. Samael’s flames burned higher and a cord of fire stretched out from his body and wrapped around me, scorching me despite my armor’s fire resistance. Tejón charged the hellhound, but Kazen flung up an arm and a black shield formed from thin air, blocking his path.
I tried using Dodge, but the skill failed, the fire wrapped around me gripping tighter. Kazen walked toward me and held out his staff, which had begun to glow with a vile green at its tip. Not seeing any other options, I used Quake Stomp.
The shattered earth rippled out toward the Warlock, and though he wasn’t knocked down, he was dazed. The spell he’d been casting fizzled out and bought me some time.
Thankfully, whatever ability the hellhound had used ended, and I could move freely again. The black shield also fell, and Tejón leapt at the hound. He struck out at the oversized dog and tore a gash across its face. Before more damage could be done, Kazen flicked a hand toward me and a blast of power slammed into me, flinging me back in the air and smashing down hard onto the arena floor. I looked up in time to see the Warlock launching the green orb—originally meant for me—into Tejón’s face.
The energy splashed across his body, almost like it was liquid, and seeped between the armor. Tejón roared in pain, and the hellhound used another skill in an attempt to finish him. He crouched down, almost like a puppy wanting to play, but when he pounced, a maw made of yellow and red fire extended from the hound, dwarfing the creature in size. It opened wide enough to close completely around Tejón and gnash into him. Like the green energy, the fire seemed to ignore the plate armor, passing through easily.
Tejón thrashed in the grip of the hellhound’s ability, and I watched his health drain away.
“No!” I shouted, then flung my hand out to the bear, using Companion Mend for the first time in battle. A ball of swirling white and green light flashed out from my hand and sank into Tejón. His pain immediately seemed to diminish, as his eyes became clearer.
Kazen saw me getting to my feet and slammed his staff into the ground, blinking out of view and reappearing right next to me. The warlock summoned a ball of black energy in one hand and pushed it toward me in an instant. Thank the gods of EO that it had been just over twenty-four hours, because for the second time, I used Palisade of Fire. The ball of power sizzled out on the shield.
Tejón must have remembered his own similar power, as he used Lava Burst. I watched as the ball of bubbling lava extended outward, pushing away the hellhound’s attacks. Then it exploded, and though the hound
