Mom dashed to the right and quickly leaped into the air, sending herself into a spinning motion that would allow her to strike multiple times at her opponent. However, the alternate was already aware of this and proceeded to block each attack, but deflected the last in hopes of catching her off balance.
"Cheeky fucker, aren't I?" Mom asked aloud with a wolfish grin that, for a heartbeat, nearly made me confuse her for her alternate. She carried the momentum from her spinning attack into a low kick that forced the alternate back a few steps. Taking advantage of the space she'd created, I saw Mom ready herself and dash in again, this time in the same pose Kalia had copied from me during their duel.
This fight's over, I realized, already seeing the confused look on the alternate's face. Yes it is. Thanks for the new technique, Mom sent me with a sensation that indicated a sense of pride in knowing Kalia had learned it from me.
In the time it took to blink, Mom appeared behind her alternate with her back to it, listening to the sound of squelching flesh and gushing black blood spraying into the air in her wake. A gasp came from the crowd at first, then a unified roar as the alternate's vertically separated body slumped to the floor in a heap.
"And the winner is: Siraye Fayren!" Sabura called out, while Mom beat the base of her fist against the hilt, then swung her blade to finish ridding it of the gore still stuck to it. She turned and faced the box and offered them a bow before being dismissed from the arena.
"How was that, son? Did I do it right?" Mom asked with a bright smile, causing me to chuckle. "Was that really the first time you've ever tried it? You made it look easy; too easy," I sighed with a chuckle.
"It was, which is why I think it worked as well as it did. That thing was matching me blow for blow, but I figured that if it was my alternate, there was a decent chance it wouldn't know your techniques," she shrugged, prompting the others to nod in understanding and begin whispering to each other.
"You figured it out faster than I'd expected, but then again, you are my Mom," I shrugged, playing off of what she'd told Sabura earlier, though she only chuckled and patted my shoulder in response.
"Ren, you're up next," I said, gesturing toward the arena, earning me a silent nod. His eyes were focused on the task at hand, but I could tell that after Mom's display, he was ready for whatever came next.
"Following Siraye, we have Rennyr Virie!" Sabura shouted, prompting the crowd to roar to life once more. Just like before, the gate opened, and out came his alternate, already seething for a fight.
"That's not like Ren at all! I've never seen him do that," Mom scowled in disgust, while Sabura continued his introduction. "You have to realize that Alternates don't just wear your appearance, but they're also able to bring out the worst in you," I explained, getting a number of raised eyebrows and widened eyes as I watched the fight.
I could tell he was a little nervous; after all, who wouldn't be if they had to fight themselves outside of their own mind?
However, the moment I heard the signal from Sabura for the round to begin, Ren suddenly appeared on the other side of his opponent. His back was turned, his blade was down at his side without even bothering to see the result of his attack.
The alternate stood there confused for a heartbeat, but then merely slumped into a clump of flesh as blackened blood seeped into the ground around it.
H-He did that without mana? Hooooly shit, I thought, feeling my jaw drop in pure amazement as the crowd was left equally stunned.
"Derion, you're up next," Mom said with a chuckle as she shook her head, jutting a thumb over her shoulder, to which he quietly nodded and drew his daggers as he walked toward the open gate.
"Good luck out there," I said, even though I knew Derion was one of the best on Mom's team. That wasn't because he was stronger than the others, by any means, but because of how cunning he could be.
Ren passed him with an upturned lip and a shrug, as if Derion had commented on his fight, but I couldn't hear what. "Well done, Ren," I said with a much deeper level of respect for him. "Thanks. I felt that thing needed its mouth shut, but now I've gone and ruined my chances of studying it with Derion," he sighed, causing me to chuckle.
I don't think I've even seen Derion use all of his techniques, so this should be interesting, I realized as he raised his twin daggers the moment his body was under the violet light.
"Our next contender is Derion Blaidd, who is said to be surgical with his dual daggers and a member of Commander Siraye's team. Welcome him as we bring out his opponent!" Sabura declared, earning a cheer from the crowd.
"Do you really think he'll be alright? I mean, he is facing himself after all," Haldir asked with a curled eyebrow. "I think so, but that will depend on his ability to adapt and use techniques that don't rely on mana," I shrugged, turning my attention to a, somehow, even creepier version of my friend entering the arena.
I heard Eirenne and Vyra flinch in what could have been disgust at the sight of the gangly creature, but I could tell Derion had already made a plan on how to handle it. At Sabura's command, the duel began, but just as the two clashed in a similar fashion that Mom had with hers, there was a pained cry that erupted from the center of the arena.
Audible gasps came from the crowd as the dust settled, and with it came a grotesque image of Derion holding a quartered body up by its hair, and an excited look in his eye. "What in the ever-living fuck just happened?" I asked in absolute disbelief since none of us were able to see what happened.
"Lord Sabura," Derion's voice rang out over the crowd's cheers. With a single, likely frightened nod from Sabura, Derion began walking toward us, still holding his alternate's upper, stubby half by the hair. "A-And the victor is Derion Blaidd!" Sabura managed to announce, earning confused, scattered cheers that eventually erupted into full-on roaring excitement.
I'm sorry. I probably should have warned you that might happen, I felt Mom send Sabura. I-It was an impressive display of his talents, though now I must admit that I am glad I refused his request to experiment on me, Sabura chuckled nervously, earning him a nod of agreement from everyone who had a connection to him.
As he made his way back to us, Derion had a clear expression of excitement written on his face. "Well, that was quick," Bernar said with a half-laugh. "I didn't want to drag out the fight. Too little time to experiment on a fresh subject before we move onto the next mission," Derion replied with a nonchalant shrug. "Guess that means I should do the same," Bernar said, aiming a wry grin at me.
"If you can," I smirked, already knowing how his fight was going to be. "Oh, I will, shit-bird. Don't worry about that," he said, patting me on the shoulder twice before stepping out into the arena.
It didn't surprise me that there were more than a few confused exchanges from those in the crowd. After all, Bernar and I looked much more alike now than when I'd first been there. Thankfully, Sabura cleared up any confusion the moment he'd announced Bernar as my brother, eliciting a thunderous roar from the crowd.
As the gate at the far end of the arena opened, I noticed Bernar's alternate wasn't anywhere near as disheveled as the others', leaving me with a slight sense of unease, having seen a similar instance with Mom's alternate.
He might have to face a similar situation to what you and Siraye did during yours, Kalia sent with a tinge of concern, having noticed the shift in my attention. I wonder if it has anything to do with your family's ancestry. After all, Nexis was down here for what would have been thousands of years, Ysevel added.
I'm not sure, but it feels different than the others, that much is clear. Be careful out there, shit-ass, I replied, sending the warning to Bernar just before their fight began.
The two circled each other for a moment, though they were a little too far for me to hear what they were saying, even with my enhanced senses. I could tell Bernar was getting a laugh out of whatever his alternate was saying, though it was likely a way to bait out an attack.
I was right, of course.