“I can’t take them any longer,” Matt wailed.
“I know these vines,” the Scavenger said, trying hard to remember. “They thrive in the cold and they fear fire.”
He had to say no more. Archer extended his hands and fire flickered across his palms, unleashing a scorching wave of fire on the vines.
Matt watched as the vines slowly burned. Soon, there were only ashes left.
Everyone observed their surroundings.
The floor in the hall was laden with snow. It was cold. Archer summoned some fire and kept everyone warm.
They walked across to a barely visible door covered in frost. Archer melted down its ice cover to reveal a metal door.
The Scavenger kicked it open, and they marched through it to enter into an arena. The stands were full of people. Hundreds of them were jeering at the newcomers. There was a throne and on it sat a warrior with black armour and a masked face. He stood up and said, “I am Krisis, the Lord of the Mountains. I have called you five to entertain my people and -”
The Scavenger snarled at him. “We have done nothing to hurt you. Leave us.”
Krisis sighed loudly. “I am afraid, my friend, that I cannot let you escape so easily. I have a suggestion – I will send five of my men to fight the five of you. One warrior from your group will fight. If he is defeated, the next one will go. If you lose, you will be our prisoner forever, and if you win… we will let you go.”
The Scavenger gritted his teeth in anger. “Fair deal. Let’s begin.”
Krisis raised his arms and announced, “Come on, my child. Shane!”
On the other side of the arena, a large gate opened, and a young boy stepped out from it. He couldn’t be more than thirteen, but his stance indicated that he was a seasoned warrior.
“I am always fair to my enemy,” Krisis announced, pointing to a rack behind, filled with weapons and armour. “You can use these and decide who will fight my champion.”
As they put on the armour, the Scavenger asked, “Which one of you is willing to go first?”
Matt volunteered. He chose two swords and strapped a lance to his back.
Before he walked forward, the Scavenger stopped him. He said, “Remember, don’t use your Elemental Powers. I know you can knock the enemy in one second by using wind, but if Krisis comes to know that you are the prophesied children… Well, we don’t yet know whether he supports the Death Lord or not. Don’t take the risk.”
Matt nodded and walked up to his opponent.
Shane pulled a long, whip-like sword – a katana, which he extended forward with both hands – and took a battle stance.
A bell rang somewhere in the arena, signalling the fight to begin.
Shane struck at once, his katana cutting quick and fast. Matt remembered the Scavenger’s words when he had trained the children: always keep your eyes on your opponent’s body and his sword. Forget the audience.
Matt quickly blocked the katana. Shane retaliated with a series of attack patterns. He lunged with his katana, aiming at Matt’s chest. But Matt quickly changed position, lowered his sword and tripped Shane to the ground. He jumped in the air and brought the hilt of his sword down on Shane’s head, knocking him unconscious.
Silence prevailed. Then the crowd went wild.
“SILENCE,” Krisis yelled. “That was a good match. I wonder how the boy defeated our champion. Must be luck. Next, I will send Tronus, our cook, who likes to cook people alive. Good luck surviving him.”
The gates opened once again and a man stepped out. He was dressed in red armour and carried a hefty butcher’s knife. ‘Forget your face’ was written on the knife.
Matt gulped.
Tronus took his position opposite him, raised his knife and glared at Matt.
This time Matt picked up the katana.
“BEGIN!” Krisis yelled.
Tronus attacked at once. Swinging his knife, he ran towards Matt and struck. Matt ducked under the blow and slashed his katana at Tronus’s shoulder, breaking his shoulder guard. Tronus grunted.
Then Matt saw a loose chunk in Tronus’s armour, near his thighs. As fast as lightning, he lunged towards it. His katana went through the armour.
Tronus roared in pain and his knife fell. He clutched his thighs and groaned weakly.
With the hilt of his katana, Matt rendered him unconscious too. The fight ended within seconds.
“UNBELIEVABLE!” Krisis roared.
Krisis glared at Matt and then sat down on his throne. “This time, you will not win. Big-Muscle will kill you! Mark my words!”
“That’s a Justin Bieber song,” Matt muttered under his breath.
A muscled warrior in shirt and jeans stepped out from the other side. He neither wore an armour nor carried any weapon.
Matt was amused by seeing the confidence of Big-Muscle. As Big-Muscle roared and charged at Matt, he sidestepped, and Big-Muscle plummeted to the ground. Matt immediately kicked Big-Muscle on his head. Within ten seconds, Big-Muscle was lying on the ground like dead meat.
The crowd was laughing.
“Gemini, my torturer! Come and get rid of this child! Make sure he doesn’t leave the arena alive!”
The doors on the other side opened.
A man in grey armour, carrying two long whips, stepped out.
Matt quickly took up a battle stance.
“BEGIN!”
The warrior didn’t attack.
Matt tried to trick him by pretending to strike, but Gemini stood still.
Matt attacked abruptly, striking his katana at Gemini’s legs. Gemini jumped, somersaulting through the air and landing behind Matt. He raised one whip and brought it down. Matt rolled away just in time.
Gemini sliced again, and his whip cut through Matt’s armour, breaking his breastplate.
Gemini roared and ran headfirst. The crowd yelled as Gemini struck Matt on his shoulder, making him shriek. Matt threw the katana at the whip and its rope sliced away.
Gemini stared dumbfounded. Immediately, Matt ruined the other whip too and flew in the air, giving Gemini a perfect kick, knocking him
