Mage And Wolf
Chapter 90

Chapter 90: Chapter 90

I quickly put my hood up before anyone recognizes me outside the Sect. I’ve still got an alias to protect here.

"Sorry to cause trouble and then run away, but I’ve got to get to my matches, the 30 minute warning should be soon."

Elder Song looks up at the sky. "You’ve got about 20 minutes to the warning, go get something to eat first"

I dip into a public restroom to put my combat leathers back on before returning my robes and finding a nice food stall with some picnic tables out front. As a plus, nobody is in line, everyone’s trying to get good seats for the first fights right now. I grab a lamb shank and some fried dough and sit down to eat, but am almost immediately interrupted.

"Hey aren’t you from the Shadowed Blade Sect?" A polite voice asks.

I look up to see a young teen in Dark Green robes looking down at me with interest.

"And if I am?"

"I’m from the Poisoned Tongue Sect. I saw you at the alchemy trials and then today with an Elder of the Shadowed Blade" he says looking a bit nervous.

"Our Sect Master has an interest in the pill you created" he finishes looking a bit afraid, unable to see my expression past the shadows created by my hood.

"Tell him I’ve already sold it, but if he is on good terms with Sect Master Sun, he might arrange to have another made"

"I meant the one submitted for testing. And of course we’re on good terms, we’re brothers" a voice comes from behind the boy, but I see nothing.

"Hey, how’d you hide your energy that completely?" I ask in shock and he appears, sitting on the picnic table opposite me.

"It’s a matter of power. Fully hiding your energy from those multiple Realms lower than you is easy, if you know what to hide" the man looks like a merchant. Young, with a pleasant face, fine clothes and no trace of Death Energy or evil intent around him.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance" I smile and shake his extended hand.

"Not much rattles you does it?" he smiles "We were going to steal it, but as you’re one of the Shadowed Blade, I thought we might haggle first"

"The other went for quite a bit, it might be difficult to buy if there is a bidding war" I suggest.

"But if I steal it, there would be little trouble paying you to not look for it?"

"I’m glad we understand each other" I nod my head, knowing he likely can’t see my facial expressions.

The two leave to wander through the crowd as the 30 minute warning sounds, time to finish my lunch.

My elimination group looks, frankly, less than intimidating. With one exception. A giant of a man in his later 30s at Fortification 10. He’s heavily muscled, but not so much that it would hinder him, and walks with the easy grace of a well trained fighter.

His chest is bare, showing off a fine collection of tattoos, some I recognize as having the energy of defensive wards. Karl has some like that, so they must have mage type cultivators in their Sect. I just wish he was wearing a full uniform so I could tell where he is from.

The first match is called. I will face a boy in his mid teens at Fortification 6. Not strong by comparison, but most of our group is on their thirties and at Fortification 7 and 8.

"Hood down contestant. All faces must be showing to determine if forbidden techniques have been used. No hood, no mask." Darn those Elders, they knew this was going to happen and ruin my disguise, but they didn’t tell me.

I drop my hood and the big man starts laughing. "It’s just a little girl! The big bad unknown enemy they warned me about is a child with a bit of cultivation"

Even my opponent laughs at that.

"Boy you’re no older than I look" I snarl at him and the referee starts the match.

He’s far slower than I am, so I slap the smile off his face with an open handed strike of the Divine Fist style. That’s it for him, his eyes roll back and he hits the floor without ever even throwing a strike.

I smirk at the big man and step off stage. Take that you puffed up target dummy.

The matches are mostly close, and a great spectacle. They’ve arranged the group so that I won’t fight the big man until the last fight of the elimination.

My next target, I mean opponent, thinks that taunting me will be his best course to victory.

"You’re hiding in that black gown because you’re from a dual cultivation sect, right? If you show me a good time, I’ll spare your face. How about that, good deal, right girlie?"

Even the referee looks a bit scared of what’s about to happen to him when the black energy claws come out.

Seconds later, he’s running circles around the ring screaming. There is no leaving, a barrier blocks the perimeter, and he’s too scared to say the words ’I forfeit’.

Shallow claw marks cover every inch of his body and his clothes are in tatters.

"Come back here so I can castrate you like a good boy" I snarl at him and he whimpers.

"We forfeit" a Booming voice sounds from outside the ring and the referee steps between us.

I look over and see an old man in Taoist Robes that match my opponent storm into the ring.

"The disciple of the Shining Fist Sect forfeits this match" he repeats and bows slightly to me, taking his disciple off stage.

I smile at the next man chosen to fight me and he gives an honest smile back. Finally, a decent opponent. He’s from the Sacred Thunder Sect, his moves lightning fast and smooth. I match him with his own style after a few moves and his eyes turn murderous, but his mouth stays shut.

Slowly I put him on the defensive, his speed making it easier than most for him to escape my traps, until finally I get a good shot and a kick cracks his ribs, dropping him to one knee and making him tap out.

Only one fight is left to me, the big guy.

"Your tricks are all played out little girl. Forfeit now and you won’t have to get hurt."

"Roshambo you for it?"

The big man laughs "Not likely." and signals the ref to start the match.

"Come on? Rock Paper" he lifts his head to laugh at my antics and I kick him square in the danglers. "Scissors it is"

His knees cross and he hops backwards, shaking off the blow. "You’re dead meat"

He comes in with a flurry of strikes which I dodge using the Sacred Thunder style he’s already seen. I try to counter attack, but his blocks are impenetrable. He actually lives up to his own hype.

Back and forth we go for a few minutes until he suddenly turns a strike into a grab and gets a hand full of my sleeve, launching me over his shoulder towards the barrier.

I activate Shadow Meld, using the Shadowed Sword Sects skills for the first time in the competition and push off the barrier to the side, his fist hitting where he thought I would be.

His steps go silent, listening for any sign of my presence. Circling around behind him, I wave my hand near his pants and jump while raising my knee for a hard strike at the air. He turns to dodge what he thinks is a groin strike, driving his fist out hard, but that only puts his chin directly on the path of my knee.

His head rocks back and he stumbles, so I follow up with a hard kick to the back of his head and down he goes.

Preliminary group winner goes to me. Next up is the real challenge, the champions round. The Round Robin to determine who goes to the finals.