Chapter 54: The Quarterfinals (Part II)

The audience began singing the lyrics to the famous Coldplay song 'Something Just Like This' as soon as Argonaut stepped into the ring. Funnily enough, Argonaut seemed to be bobbing his head in time with their tune.

"That's an interesting melody… this must be what mortal music sounds like," Morgue laughed into her mic.

"Catchy," Donatella agreed.

"Dun, dun-dun, dun, dun-dun, dun, dun-dun!" the audience chanted next.

Leo recognized the tune. It was the intro to another famous fight song, The Eye of the Tiger. They'd switch to it as soon as Oh!siris stepped into the ring.

"Looks like this healer made a big impression in his last match as well," Donatella commented. "Because he's getting his own entrance chant."

"Oo~oh, I like this tune better for some reason," Morgue added.

"Well, if you duke it out with a guy carrying an ax and come out of it the winner, I'd say this song is pretty appropriate," Leo piped in although only Morgana and Donatella could hear him.

Below in the ring, the fake Maestro announced that the match was starting — and to no one's surprise, both combatants walked calmly toward the center of the ring and shook hands.

"What a show of sportsmanship," Donatella nodded approvingly.

"Yeah… right before they spill their blood and guts over each other," Morgue added.

Then, after each player took one step back, the blows started coming. The battle went much like Oh!siris' previous bout. It was a contest of the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object. Only this time, no one was sure which was which as they both seemed pretty immovable.

As a Death Cleric, Oh!siris adopted his typical strategy of healing both himself and his enemy, but he quickly realized that this was working against him for every time he used [LESSER HEALING] on Argonaut the other player's attack power only increased.

"I believe that's an effect of the Eldritch Champion's ability, Focused Defense," Donatella announced.

"What does it do?" Morgue asked.

"For a limited time, all effects made to the Eldritch Champion, including damage and healing, are converted into power for his or her attacks," Donatella explained for the audience's benefit.

It was certainly true that each swing of Argonaut's sword seemed mightier than the last. And after a while, each of Argonaut's attacks caused Oh!siris to take a step back, bringing him ever closer to the edge of the ring.

But, not one to be outdone, Oh!siris, for the first time since the first game, picked up his mace and smacked it against the back of Argonaut's shield. Thus, the trading of blows between two weapon & shield masters began. Sparks flew and spatters of blood sprayed around them.

"They're really going at it," Morgue said in an amazed tone.

"Although it's clear that Oh!siris is less skilled at attacking… this may prove to be fatal," Donatella analyzed.

Leo guessed that she was right, of course. Perhaps if Oh!siris was more confident in his fighting skills, perhaps then he could have been more of a challenge. But the way he fumbled with his swings was clear for all to see, and Argonaut wasn't the type not to take advantage.

So, while Oh!siris' attacks were mostly deflected by Argonaut's shield, Argonaut's slashes continued to penetrate Oh!siris' defense. Each blow caused him to pull back more and more.

"Amplified Blade!" Argonaut yelled.

A dark blue energy field blazed to life across the edge of Argonaut's sword, and with one final swing, he completely broke Oh!siris' defense, causing the player to stumble backward.

"Eldritch Charge~~e!" Argonaut yelled.

Dark energy exploded out of Argonaut's body like flames licking against the edges of a burning log. This energy wrapped around him, lighting him up from the inside and out.

Then, after a single step forward, Argonaut launched himself shield-first at Oh!siris, and the energy around him propelled him forward like a rocket.

And while the other player managed to put up his shield to block the explosive charge of his opponent, all Oh!siris could do was brace against it — and it wasn't nearly enough.

"And~~d Oh!siris out of bounds," Donatella announced. "He's been pushed out of the ring by the explosive force of Argonaut's Eldritch Charge."

"What's he doing?" Morgue asked. "Wasn't he satisfied crushing Oh!siris' spirit?"

Contrary to Morgana's assumption, Argonaut didn't actually want more blood. He just stepped over to where Oh!siris lay sprawled on the sandy floor and offered his hand. The other player took it, and Argonaut helped him to his feet to thundering applause.

"What a show of sportsmanship," Donatella repeated her earlier comment. "I'm just about ready to weep at this display."

"Don't get too emotional, Donatella," Morgue laughed. "There's another fight coming."

The fourth and final match of the quarterfinals received an equal show of support from the audience as the last match. For as each competitor stepped into the ring, they were each given an appropriate entrance song by their fans.

They sang 'Wild, Wild West' by Will Smith when Bully the Kid made his entrance. It was a tune that made even Donatella and Morgana nod their heads in time with the music. For Wunderkid, many in the audience sang the Lyrics to Jack Black's, "Wonderboy, what is the secret to your power! Wonderboy, won't you take me far away…"

"Have you noticed a discrepancy in how our players are supported, Morgue?" Donatella asked, sounding a bit miffed.

"Are you referring to how all the males seem to be getting entrance songs from the audience while the female-led matches only got raucous cheering for their efforts?" Morgue replied wryly. "No, I didn't notice that at all…"

"You two are supposed to sound like NPCs… not social justice warriors," Leo reminded them, although deep down, he too thought it was a shame that neither Lyghtning nor Ath3na got serenaded by the audience. "We'll make sure the two of them get some equally cool music in the semis…"

"They better, Leo," Morgana warned.

"Indeed," Donatella agreed.

Leo sighed. "Why are you getting mad at me…?"

Unlike the previous match, this fourth match of the quarterfinals didn't start with a handshake, but a tune from Wunderkid's lute that was quickly nipped in the bud by a bolt from Bully the Kid's crossbow.

"I ain't about to be brainwashed by your music, son," Bully the Kid spat.

Then he fired bolts in quick succession from the light crossbows in each of his hands.

Swoosh!

Wunderkid ducked just in time to dodge the first one.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

He pivoted left then right to dodge a second and third bolt.

"Die, die, die, Motherf*cker!" Bully the Kid yelled as his firing speed kept increasing with each shot. "Die!"

"Come on, baby," Wunderkid sang as he played his lute, "hit me with your best shot!"

His feet danced in time to his tune, and it seemed to everyone watching like he was dodging all the bolts while he danced.

"His Song of Quickened Pace has certainly riled up the audience who seem to be singing along with him," Donatella commented. "I'm not familiar with this mortal song although it is quite catchy…"

His bolts expended by [RAPID FIRE], Bully the Kid lowered his weapons while irritation flashed on his face.

In contrast, his opponent was all smiles when he said, "You didn't think I was a one-trick pony like you, did you?" Then he bowed to the applause of many female members of the audience.

Several requests of "More Britney!" and, "Give us some Spice Girls!" and then, "How about some Maroon Five next!" ensued.

Bully the Kid's eyes narrowed, and as Leo watched him holster his weapons, he imagined a wild west background music begin to play in his ears. He knew Bully wouldn't just take this lying down.

The bowslinger reached for the wooden longbow strapped to his back while his opponent began to play another tune.

Then in a few quick motions, he notched an arrow to his bow, drew the string, aimed, and then fired just as he said, "I'll show you who's a one-trick pony… Crippling Shot!"

The arrow, which flared a bright green for only a second, flew through the air and straight for Wunderkid's head with incredible speed. However, just before reaching Wunderkid, the arrow curved slightly, almost deceptively, so that it would instead pierce the player's unprotected thigh.

"Hell yea—"

Bully the Kid's words of triumph were cut short as the arrow struck the ground behind his opponent almost as if it had gone right through him — which is exactly what happened.

The form of Wunderkid wavered slightly just before vanishing entirely in a puff of white smoke.

"Oh, baby, you've been fooled by my illusion… and now I see your heart out on your sleeve," Wunderkid sang, and his voice carried across the wind while more of his copies appeared in front of Bully the Kid.

"You're just reworking a One Direction song!" Bully the kid growled in annoyance.

In response, Wunderkid continued to sing, "Oh, baby, you've been fooled by my illusion!"

He fired arrow after arrow at the Wunderkids before him, but each one proved to be just an illusion.

"Damn you! Show yourself," Bully the Kid screamed.

"Tell me, baby, what's your story?" Wunderkid sang into Bully the Kid's ear.

Leo, who watched him step into view right beside Bully the kid, recognized the Red Hot Chili Pepper song he was singing now, and said, "The songs are triggering his abilities… It's like he's choosing lyrics that are similar to what he wants to be done…"

"In this case, his Brainwash," Morgana agreed.

The audience noticed the change that had come over Bully the Kid — the vacant expression on his face — and it was no surprise to them when he stepped off the ring of his own accord.

"That Brainwash is a terribly powerful ability," Donatella noted while the audience applauded in the background.

"I think the setup to using Brainwash was the brilliant part in this fight," Morgue piped in. "He really took his time to distract Bully from what he was planning. Just brilliant…"

And with the thunderous cheers from the stands, the curtains to the quarterfinals came to a close.

---

Deep within a mine far away from the festivities of the Deathly Challenger's Cup, a chubby, blonde boy was racing across a dark and damp corridor while the sound of his steps bounced noisily against the craggy walls.

"Sh*t, sh*t, sh*t!" Jaybird repeated again and again. "This is supposed to be an adventure… so why… why was that thing there?"

Tears dripped down his flushed cheeks. His breathing was ragged.

"Why'd you run away, man?" he asked himself. "Why'd you leave Howler to get killed by that monster… that abomination…?"

CREATORS' THOUGHTS
GD_Cruz

Greetings, fellow reapers!

Apologies for the delayed chapter release. I took a weekend off from writing as I was experiencing a bit of writer's fatigue... and I determined it was better not to write a chapter than to write one that didn't have my soul in it... ;D

To make up for this, I'm giving you guys a double chapter release! Woot-woot! Enjoy! :D

Okay, so there are a lot of songs mentioned in this chapter. FYI, it's okay to mention songs as long as you also mention the person/group who sang it. Give credit where it's due.

That said, quarterfinals are over, but we're taking a break from the DCC for the next chapter. :D A couple of errant adventures need some spotlight shed on them too. ;P

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