The evening glow of the shining star, nestled between towering trees and the gentle murmur of a nearby stream, enshrouds the training grounds—an area now a gulliutine for those that could not seize victory. The air was charged with anticipation as Gobsung, hyper-focused, much to the surprise of Gabe, prepared to fight with his towering opponent: a red-skinned troll with imposing antlers.
Gobsung had a toothy grin on his face as he stood confidently in the center of the dirt ring. His cloak softly swayed in the breeze as his pointed ears twitched with excitement. Gobsung knew it was time for his first performance. And it would be in battle with a strange creature noless!
Opposite him stood the troll, stretching as he analyzed the overactive goblin. His eyes glowed with a fierce intensity, and his muscular frame exuded strength and power. The oni, hailing from the mountainous regions beyond the village, was a warrior of great renown, known for his brute strength and robust endurance.
As the two faced each other, the onlookers gathered around the ring, eager to witness the clash of green and red. Gobsung began the duel with a flourish, weaving his hands through the air to summon a symphony of sound. The air vibrated with energy as he unleashed a barrage of sonic waves, each note precisely aimed at the troll.
The troll, unfazed by the auditory onslaught, charged forward with a roar that echoed through the arena. His movements were swift and precise, each step shaking the ground beneath him. As he closed the distance, he swung his massive fist, aiming to disrupt Gobsung's concentration. The trainees held their breath in anticipation as they saw with their eyes for the first time magic being used and brushed aside as if it were not there.
But Gobsung was prepared. With a deft flick of his wrist, he altered the frequency of his sound waves, creating a barrier that absorbed the impact of the oni's attack. The crowd gasped in awe as the two continued their dance, a mesmerizing blend of sound and strength.
The sparring match continued, each combatant pushing the other to their limits. The troll skids backward, his heel barely touching the edge of the dirt ring. Instead of charging back in, the troll inhaled a large amount of air, his lungs straining under the pressure. Gobsung's throat emitted a blue hue as the dust whirled from the sudden high-moving gust of air. The adventurers beside the ring quickly stood in front of the rookies with training shields from the nearby rack. The inexperienced group looked bedazzled by the sudden intervention for seemingly no reason. Then, both combatants shouted. Raw, shrieking mana collided with the shockwaves of vocal cords, the impact creating a miniature earthquake. The kobolds howled in agony from the grating noise on their sensitive ears as the rest covered their ears. It was a battle of wits and will, a testament to the raw power and determination of both warriors.
The noise soon vanished as the dust cloud settled within the arena. Many were looking to find who would become the next to move on. "Look!" The arachnoid that spoke pointed one of its many legs to the center. "Over there, I see something!" A large silhouette entered the vision of the spectators. Slow thuds echoed as it drew close. The red skin, the antlers, the fangs. The troll soon revealed itself, silently standing. Yet, before anyone could make a comment or celebrate...he collapsed. The large body hit the ground as atop its back stood Gobsung, looking more exhausted than he had seemed before.
The goblin groggily made his way to Gabe. All watched as Gobsung's mouth struggled to form the right words. "Sugah Craah.." And with the slurred vocabulary complete, the goblin fell to dreamland, both figuratively and literally. Acting fast, Gabe caught the goblin before laying him gently to the ground. "Ew." He shook the viscous drool from his hand as the instructor announced the result. "The victor is the Goblin! James, right a note for me: get the goblin to try and stay AWAKE after battling." A helmeted adventurer saluted before quickly writing on the papers. "All right you gossipers, show's over! Now it comes down to this. The kobold vs the tree. Bark pisser against wilting willows." Some of the trainees snicker at the instructor's 'polite' way of placing bets. Gabe and the last kobold make their way into the ring. "Start! Let's finish this already!"
The kobold sprints across, seemingly more impatient than her other brethren. Gabe raises his arms in time as claws tear through. Chunk by chunk, splinters litter the area as the agonizing process of growth and breaking takes place. But the kobold won't stop. She cant. Not unless his arms are broken. Until the sap. Runs. Dry. "Look at him, poor guy. I almost feel sorry he has to go against that kobold." "Yeah, but isn't this going too far? The eyes have already turned red, and it hasn't even been 10 minutes!" "You heard the instructor, the world isn't gonna play nice when we get there. Seems like some of us took that to heart more than others." "Hey!" Gabe could barely register the chatter of the other trainees as he managed to force the kobold off.
The Kobold lands on both hands and knees, a feral growl emitting from her. 'Crap, at this rate I'm gonna be turned into wood chips if I don't change something! But what?' He doesn't get more time to think as the kobold is on the move again.