101st Magic Games

Amelia bent down to tighten her shoe, taking her time. Before getting up, she took a breath to slow her heartbeat. She couldn't believe she was there. Not again.

Rising to her feet, she pulled her hood up and put her hands in her coat pockets, before entering the hallway that led to the heart of the Underground Stadium.

Fortunately, the tunnel to the arena was empty, which allowed her to reach the gate, at the top of some stairs, on the other side of the entrance.

The crowd outside took their seats, ready to cheer their competitors. An intense buzz descended through the stands. She tried looking for Martor, her mate. The thousands of people present did not allow her to do so.

As the crowd calmed down, she heard a screech from a microphone.

It was about to start.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the 101st Magic Games!"

Has it been a hundred years? - she thought - Damn...

"My name is Aldor Naksar and I'm here to introduce your competitors. Grab your seats as we have an incredible constellation lined up to impress you."

To distract you...

"From Aligaer, with 125kg, and a lot of muscle, the winner of the last edition of this competition, Solmeeerrr Akeasoooooon!!!"

The crowd rose to a huge roar, cheering the champion of Centenary. Many of them had masks of a bald man with a big beard. Solmer, she was sure.

Weak...

"From Golithom, this time bringing the spirit of his late brother by his side, in an example of commitment to our prestigious World Championship, Anatheeeem and Anathoooom, the Half Dead Brothers!!!!

Necromancer.

The audience screamed loudly and applauded but nothing compared to the scream they had given for Solmer Akeason.

"From Anancil, provoking the wrath of his own king and father to be here, the druid who let himself be carried away by the demonic nature of Azraluth, Maarelna Owilnaaaaaaaath!!!

Pathetic... This one looks like someone who will run away at the first opportunity.

And so the ceremony continued, with the audience applauding less and less for each candidate presented. About ten more were introduced, with all the pomp that the presenter could provide. It was then that she heard her name.

"From Begloh, I bring you the first person to ever win this competition, the Wizard's Hazard, the famous, the legendary, the only, Ameliaaaaa Kunyaaaaa!!!!"

Only the sound of one person clapping, which she saw was Martor Nofte's, rose in the arena.

That's it? How disappointing...

"Without further ado, because you came here to see combats between magical beings, much more spectacular than me, I open this edition of the Magic Games! Fighters, if you can hear me, from this moment on, it's on. A Last to Man Standing will ensue and it can be fought all throughout the venue. Just don't hurt our fans, please..."

The whole venue?

Amelia turned back and saw her opponents all lined up in the tunnel, facing her. At the top of the stairs, she raised her hands to chest level and a dark blue fire enveloped them.

- Bring it on, motherfuckers...