Shadowfall Kingdom

  Vincent

  Tournament Grounds

  Kaijuu Ryu

  Loyd steps forward.

  “Contestants, please take your places outside the ring.”

  The three challengers look confused as he gestures toward the area in front of where King Raymond is seated.

  “These three competitors will start from ringside in front of His Majesty. You will run around the ring. The match will last twenty minutes. We will be tracking the number of laps completed.”

  They turn toward the king and begin moving into position.

  “First place will receive first pick. Second place will receive second pick. Kaijuu Roka-sama and Kaijuu Felmina-sama may each fight only once.”

  Loyd pauses, then continues.

  “After the match, General Kaijuu’s wives will complete the same number of laps as the second-place challenger. Following that, there will be a ninety-minute intermission for recovery.”

  He looks at the three challengers.

  “Needless to say, third place will be disqualified.”

  Loyd straightens.

  “Are the contestants ready?”

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  All three raise a thumbs-up.

  “ON YOUR MARKS—GET READY—SET—GO!”

  They take off.

  Shanon immediately pulls ahead, Mark close behind her. Wilfred hangs back, pacing himself.

  5 minutes in:

  Shanon — 7 laps

  Mark — 5? laps

  Wilfred — almost 4 laps

  10 minutes in:

  Shanon — 12 laps

  Mark — 9 laps

  Wilfred — almost 8 laps

  15 minutes in:

  Shanon — 16 laps

  Mark — 12 laps

  Wilfred — 13 laps

  20 minutes:

  Shanon — 17? laps

  Wilfred — 15 laps

  Mark — 14? laps

  “And we have our winners!” Loyd announces. “Shanon Wilson, first place with seventeen laps completed, and Wilfred Shadow-Wolf, second place with fifteen laps completed! Please give them a round of applause!”

  Felmina and Roka join us around fifteen minutes into the match.

  When I explain what’s about to happen, both of them pull depressed expressions.

  “So,” I say, “let’s keep it fair.”

  Their expressions don’t change.

  They move into position. I step away from my seat beside the king and head over to Loyd, quietly explaining the next step.

  Then I return to my place.

  “Fellow soldiers!” Loyd announces. “Roka-sama and Felmina-sama will be given twenty-one minutes to complete fifteen laps. If either fails, she will forfeit her match.”

  The crowd stirs.

  “Let us cheer them on, so we may witness their battles after the intermission! General Kaijuu will personally serve as referee. He may stop the match at any time at his discretion. Both participants will use real weapons and will be halted before any fatalities occur.”

  Applause breaks out.

  “Contestants ready!?”

  Both women raise half-hearted thumbs-ups.

  “ON YOUR MARKS—GET READY—SET—GO!”

  They start slow.

  Then they accelerate.

  Rapidly.

  The entire thing takes five minutes.

  They cheated. Obviously.

  They used anti-gravity.

  The crowd falls silent.

  Felmina nearly laps Roka. Roka adjusts, syncing her timing to the anti-gravity steps.

  A hesitant applause begins as Felmina finishes her final lap.

  Cheering follows when Roka crosses the line.

  “O-Okay folks,” Loyd says, clearly flustered, “we will now be taking a ninety-minute intermission. Please return afterward.”

  Loyd starts walking toward me.

  I cover my face with my palm.

  No comment.

  After the intermission

  Loyd returns to center stage with Shanon and Wilfred.

  He speaks briefly with Shanon.

  She nods, then returns to her seat.

  Loyd lifts the megaphone.

  “For our first match of the afternoon, Prince Wilfred will be facing off against—”