Guard A: "Wha-?" *Lightning stringed up the spear, electrocuting him.*
Guard B: "No!-" *He watched the lightning spark across the guard's armour with shock.*
Cindy: *She watched the guard slowly collapse to the ground.* "..." *She wiped her mouth, causing lightning to spark around her hand.* "Pathetic-"
Guard B: "How dare you!" *His yells caused several guards to charge towards Cindy in opposite directions.*
Cindy: *She looked to each side with an angry face.* (Charging at me from their pitiful hiding spots?)
Guard B: *He raised the spear, aiming it at Cindy's head.* "There's at least ten guards surrounding you-"
Cindy: (I'll wait until they're all in attacking distance-)
Guard B: "Harh." *He jabbed the spear towards Cindy's face.*
Cindy: *She ducked under the spear, sweeping the guard off his feet.* "Hmph-" *She spun around punching the guard in the gut, blasting him back.*
Guard B: "Goof-" *He tumbled back, awkwardly hitting the ground.*
*Nine guards ran into striking distance, raising spears and swords at Cindy.*
Cindy: *She clicked her fingers, shaking her wrists.* "Storms flash and swirl, instantly spark and wrap your energy around me, ELECTRIC TORNADO" *She straightened her arms and spun around, causing swirls of lightning to string around her.*
Guard: *He noticed the lightning, causing him to stop.* "Watch out, Rostical!-" *The lightning touched his shoulder armour, instantly dropping him to the ground.*
Cindy: *She smirked keeping her spinning motion, as blue lightning stringed in front of her face.* "You're all pathetic."
*Cindy stopped spinning and stood up straight, causing the lightning to spark away.*
Cindy: "..." *She watched the guards twitch, dropping their weapons.* "Collapsing one by one to the ground, pathetic!"
Guard B: *He wheezed, standing back up on his feet.* "Y-You won't get away with this-"
Cindy: "You frustrate me, so I'll show you my strongest Rostical?" *She slowly turned around, facing the guard with anger.*
Guard B: *He stepped back, frozen with fear.* "L-Leave now-"
Cindy: "Eye of the storm I hear your silence, raise my arms and allow me to become your conductor-" *She raised her arms, causing swirls of green lightning to spiral down her hands.*
Guard B: *His eyes widened, as he heavily breathed.* (Her Neurons are on a different level-)
Cindy: "Channel the power, channel the terror-" *She lowered her arms in front of her, crossing her hands.*
Guard B: "..."
Cindy: "Channel the foe's impending doom!" *She watched the lightning swirl into a ball, causing her to smile.* "SPARK CANNON" *She pushed forward, blasting the ball of lightning towards the guard.*
Guard B: "No!-" *He closed his eyes, as an explosion of fire erupted around him.*
Cindy: "Tssk-" *She turned around and grunted.* "Now, for that dirty lamp." *She cracked her neck and flashstepped out of the area.*
Chapter 6: Battling Oxident
Ashton: (It sure is quiet-) *He opened the door, stepping out of the Inn.*
*Several villagers swept the ground around the booths in the markets.*
Ashton: (I wonder why Season wants to see us?) *He walked towards Season's manor, gasping with shock.* "W-What is that?!"
*An enormous dark purple sphere pulsated in the middle of Surpreon's central.*
Ashton: "That certainly wasn't there before-" *He mumbled to himself in disbelief, staring at the sphere with shock.*
Guard: *His armour rattled, as he walked around the sphere towards Ashton.* "Are you, Ashton?"
Ashton: "Yes?"
Guard: "Come quickly-" *He turned around, facing Season's manor.*
Ashton: *He stared at the sphere with fascination.* "It has several glyphs and unreadable text on it, it looks weird." *He mumbled to himself, closely following the guard.*
Guard: "Glyphs?" *He glanced at the sphere.* "That's the glyph involving the Spacial Funnel."
Ashton: "And where is everyone?"
Guard: *He walked up to the golden doors, opening them.* "They are inside."
Ashton: "Thank you." *He nodded his head in respect, walking inside the manor.*
----------
Kath: *She sat on a high chair in a dark room, staring at a monitor.* "Two captains, what's going on?"
*Sounds of a blizzard-like howl could be heard outside.*
Kath: *Her glasses glared in the monitor's light.* "Has there been any unusual Neuron or Astragons readings?!"
Warrior: *She stopped typing on the keyboard-like console, facing Kath.* "No, ma'am."
Kath: "Then, what about The Unknown Territories?"
Warrior: "No information as of yet-"
Kath: "Do you have any good news?" *She grunted with authority.*
Kath: "Which one?!"
Warrior: "Him, ma'am."
Kath: (A captain is available to inspect The Unknown Territories.) *She smirked evil-like, leaning back in the chair.*
----------
Ashton: "..." *He walked through the golden door, noticing the entire party awaiting his arrival.*
Lance: "'Bout time." *He grunted and looked away, placing his hands on top of his head.*
Season: "Ah, Ashton! How are you feeling?"
Ashton: "I'm feeling much better thank you." *He pointed behind him with curiosity.* "When I was walking here I noticed a large-"
Teresa: "That would be Battling Oxident."
Alicia: "That circular thing is Battling Oxident?"
Lance: "Why didn't ya just tell us that?"
Ashton: "You didn't know?"
Lance: "Nah, he was like, oh, wait until Ashton gets here." *He looked up to Season, pouting like a child.*
Season: "Considering the three of you don't know what Battling Oxident is, Teresa and I thought it would be best telling you all at once."
Lance: "Pssht." *He rolled his eyes, making childish sounds.*
Ashton: "Please excuse the stupid question, but why-?"
Lance: "Please, leave the dumb questions to me." *He took several steps forward, facing Season and Teresa.*
Teresa: "..." *She stared at Lance with an emotionless face.*
Lance: "Why didn't we notice that sphere thingo before?"
Season: "Well-"
Lance: "And why is it there now?"
Season: "That's-"
Lance: "And how does it work?"
Alicia: "L-Let him answer first-"
Lance: "Let him answer first." *He groaned like a cow, pulling a feral face at Alicia.*
Alicia: *She sighed and looked away.* (He's so annoying.)
Ashton: (Funny thing is, they were the questions I was going to ask.)
Season: "Do any of you remember those glyphs embedded on the ground?"
Alicia: "Yes, those black lines in the central-"
Lance: "Wat about the glyphs?"
Alicia: "Grottom bottom, stop interrupting me."
Lance: "Gah, will ya stop callin' me that?!"
Alicia: "Will you stop-"
Ashton: "Alicia and Lance. We won't get any answers if we keep this up."
Alicia: "S-Sorry." *She shook her head, focusing her attention to Season.*
Lance: "Wat-" *He closed his eyes and sighed.* "Eva."
Season: "Shortly before Battling Oxident commences, the glyphs on the ground activate periodically-"
Lance: "Periodically? What do ya mean?"
Teresa: "Essentially the arrival of Battling Oxident activates the glyphs."
Lance: "Oh?" *He scratched his head in confusion.*
Teresa: "Once the glyph activates, it uses a vast amount of Astragons activating the entrance to Battling Oxident."
Ashton: "The entrance?"
Teresa: "The space, the arena, it is condensed into the sphere."
Lance: *He shook his head, moaning with frustration.* (Seriously if this was a book,
I'd throw it in the bin. If this was a movie, I'd leave. Why must they have confusing nerdy explanations about everything.)
Ashton: "So that sphere, it's Battling Oxident?"
Season: "Yes."
Lance: "So now that's out of the way, where is everyone?"
Season: "They're already inside, seated in the spectator rows."
Lance and Alicia: "Already inside?"
Season: *He paused and sighed, looking over to Teresa.* "Ah?"
Teresa: "Once you enter yourselves, many questions will be answered."
Alicia: "O-Okay-"
Season: "Please come, several matches have already finished." *He jumped off his seat and started to walk out of the room.*
Lance: "Aye? Wat's with the rush?"
Season: "Considering you both are enrolled for a match, it wouldn't be wise not showing up for a match."
Ashton: "I see, that seems acceptable."
Season: (It's already bad of me, to not be present in the first match.) *He led the party through his manor, walking with urgency.*
Alicia: *She walked behind Ashton, noticing his new clothing.* "A-Ashton."
Ashton: "Yes?"
Alicia: "Your clothing, where-?"
Lance: "Aha, I didn't even notice! It looks pretty badass." *He smirked and thumbed up Ashton, before hitting the side of the door.*
Alicia: *She smirked, lowering her head.* (Did he just miss the door?)
Ashton: "Are you okay, Lance?"
Lance: "Pssht, I'm fine." *He rubbed his head in pain and stepped to the side, walking through the door.*
Ashton: *He glanced at Alicia, tugging his shirt with a smile.* "I got it from one of Teresa's friends."
Alicia: "I-It looks very good."
Teresa: "Indeed-" *She walked past Ashton with an emotionless face.* "The garments suit your body structure well."
Ashton: "Good grief, I don't deserve such kind words from you all, even Teresa." *He smiled with modesty, scratching behind his head.*
Alicia: *She observed Ashton, stepping outside Season's manor.* (I wonder what he went through?)
Teresa: *She walked towards the sphere and stopped, staring at the party gather behind Season.* "..."
Season: "Ashton, Alicia and Lance, prepare yourselves once you enter the sphere."
Alicia: "G-Got it."
Ashton: "Of course."
Lance: "Wateva."
Season: (I hope no one has noticed my absence.) *He watched the sphere pulsate, before stepping into it.*
Lance: *He watched the surface warp like water, causing him to smirk.* "I'm next!" *He announced in a child-like manner, jumping into the sphere.*
Ashton: *He sighed, looking at Alicia and Teresa.* "Let's go."
Lance: *He started to yell, as disorientating lights flickered in his face.* (It's like I'm in a vortex or something!-) *His hair rapidly flapped back, as if he was falling.*
*Lance suddenly slammed into the ground, causing a pulse of dirt to blow around him.*
Lance: "Sh-Shit nuggets." *He moaned and looked up, noticing tens of thousands of people cheering.* "Wha-?"
Ashton: "Alicia, here, grab this." *He reached down, helping her up onto her feet.*
Alicia: "Th-Thank you." *She brushed dirt off her pants, gathering her attention to Season.*
Lance: *He faced Ashton, noticing his messed up hair.* "That was fun."
Ashton: "Phew-" *He watched Season talk to several of the patrolling guards, wiping his forehead with disorientation.* "I'd have to disagree with you there, Lance ha ha."
Season: "Dismissed!" *He turned around and walked towards the party.* "Ashton and Lance, come with me."
Ashton: "Yes."
Season: "Teresa, take Alicia to your usual spot."
Teresa: "Of course, let us go, Alicia."
Alicia: "Y-Yes, see you shortly."
Teresa: "Stay close, it would troublesome if you were to get lost." *She started to walk up a long set of stairs.*
Alicia: "S-Sure." *She skipped up the stairs, noticing the thousands of rows surrounding the stadium-like structure.*
Teresa: *She looked down in the middle of the stadium, noticing a massive dirt pit.* "That is where the battles commence."
Alicia: "Wow-" *She looked up, staring at the bright blue sky.*
Teresa: *She noticed Alicia's amazement, causing her to slow down.* "Despite the weather conditions in Surpreon, the sky remains blue."
Alicia: "A-Always remains blue." *She looked up, whispering on her breath in amazement.*
Teresa: "There are usually several hundred thousand spectators watching the matches."
Alicia: "W-Wow, what else do you know?"
Teresa: "People from all the towns and villages across the continent, gather to participate in Battling Oxident."
Alicia: (Amazing-) *She looked up to the highest rows, noticing people stare down to the dirt pit.* (It's so lively here, the constant chatter-)
Teresa: "Over here." *She started to shuffle down a row, causing Alicia to closely follow.*
Alicia: *She noticed deep slash marks and charcoal markings on the walls.* "What happened?"
Teresa: "Damages from previous matches of course, was that not obvious?"
Alicia: (Th-That's scary.)
Lance: *He followed Season, twirling around in amazement.* "Whoa."
Ashton: "This place is enormous."
Lance: "I reckon, like the size of several football fields."
Ashton: "I certainly can't disagree with you."
Season: *He led Ashton and Lance through a waiting room and up a corridor.* "It is a large arena, Tyler got lost the first time I showed him."
Ashton: "I see what you meant Season when you said our questions would be answered once we saw Battling Oxident for ourselves."
Season: "Hohoho."
Lance: "Lemme get this right, all this-" *He motioned his arms around him.* "Was in that little sphere we walked into?"
Season: "Yes."
Lance: *He shook his head, whispering to Ashton.* "I never realised how much these Astragongs and Newgongs affect things around 'ere."
Ashton: "I felt the same way."
Season: *He walked down a hallway, behind the spectator seats.* "..."
Ashton: *He stared at Lance, discreetly smiling with excitement.* (I can't wait to show you what I learnt from PKMY.)
Season: *He approached an old man, sitting at a table with paperwork scattered across the desk.* "Excuse me?"
Man: "Pfft, can't you seen I'm busy?! Scram."
Season: "I suppose I can go if you want."
Man: "Didn't I say scram-?" *He looked up to give Season a feral look, instantly noticing who it was.* "S-S-Season! Sir!"
Ashton: *He quietly stared behind Season, shaking his head with disappointment.* (That's why you should've been nice from the start.)
Man: *He quickly stacked the paperwork into one pile, causing the desk to look more appealing.* "P-Please forgive me."
Season: "I'm not sure if it's the atmosphere of Battling Oxident, but I'm not offended."
Man: "Y-You're so kind-"
Season: "But I will cut to the chase."
Man: "Your majesty-"
Season: "When is Ashton and Lance's first match?"
Man: "I, arh, umm-?" *He flicked through several pages and stopped, pointing on a piece of paper.* "Lance begins two matches after the current one."
Season: "And Ashton's match?"
Man: "Right after, sir."
Season: "I see, so who is currently winning?"
Man: "You had to ask? The current champion of course."
Season: "Oh that hunchback girl?"
Man: "Yes, sir."
Season: (Hmm, how interesting-) *He turned around, deep in thought.* (That means if Lance wins his first match-) "Ahem, let's go."
Ashton: "Yes, Season."
Season: "Where's Lance?"
Ashton: "He's right next-" *He looked to his side and mumbled with confusion.* "He was with me not long ago."
Season: *He glanced around, noticing Lance in a conversation with someone.* "There he is."
Lance: "Wanna say that again?" *He grunted to someone out of Season and Ashton's line of sight.*
Ashton: "Who are you talking to, Lance?" *He smiled, walking towards Lance.*