The Unmasked: The Betrayer’s Game

Isla's heart raced as a boulder blocked the way and fell right on top of her. She could hardly breathe. "How do I dodge that?" she whispered, panicking. Her body was frozen; her instincts were yelling at her to move.

Leon stepped back with wide eyes. "Isla...!" he said in a burst of frantic calm.

Then—whap! A sharp yellow gleam flashed in front of her.

The boulder split directly in half and fell on either side of Isla. Dust whipped past her face as she hit the ground, knees knocking against dirt. A little flick of yellow blood dripped idly from her palm.

Fanny's voice broke the madness behind her. "Great job, Isla," she was cool and calm, though Isla could almost hear the pride buried beneath her breath.

Isla squeezed her grip on the yellow sword and squinted deeply. Then she crouched low, staring straight ahead at the enormous snake looming over her. The ground moved underneath its mass. She exhaled, eyes narrowed, and bolted under from the snake with the yellow sword raised. 

The snake hissed loudly when it saw her. Yellow hunger spilled from its glowing eyes and it swung the side of its tail at her sending another series of giant rocks flying in her direction, crunching nearer and nearer like many meteors. 

Isla jumped, rolled, ducked. Every stone it missed left a crater in the dirt. Sweat dripped from her brow. Her jaw clenched.

If this keeps up... how can I get close enough to land a hit?

Then, just like that, the snake saw its chance. It lunged forward, its massive body coiling in speedy movements that belied its size. Isla's pupils shrank. I can't dodge that.

Using a loud cry, she summoned a shimmering golden shield just in time. The snake slammed into the shield and sent shockwaves reverberating except she was thrown backwards toward the arena wall like a toy thrown by a child. By the time a frontal collision with the wall was looming, she conjured a golden spear in midair and shoved it into the floor. The force prevented a head-on onto the wall, and she was just inches from catastrophe. Her body hung off the wall, still trembling from the prior force of her movement. 

There's no way I'm going to fight this thing in hand-to-hand... Her mind thrummed until an idea sparked in her eyes. In one smooth movement she summoned a bow in golden light and slew out arrows. The snake screeched as the arrows struck into its thick scales.

She fired again. This time, the snake plunged underground. 

"What the—" Isla whispered. All around the arena, Fanny, Leon, and Finn rose from their seats in shock. 

"Where'd it go?" Finn stammered.

Suddenly, the ground blew up behind Isla. Dirt and rocks exploded as the snake erupted from the ground, its jaws wide and once more, another slew of massive rocks were thrust at her.

Isla barely had time to throw another shield up. The hit cracked it and threw her backward once again. She slammed into the dirt, teeth gritted and body aching.

This thing is a monster of a nightmare.

Panting, she conjured star-shaped blades and threw them like spinning saws. They tore into the remarkably massive snake's side. The snake shrieked, smoke billowing from the scales where the magic hit.

The snake's rage boiled over.

It slammed its colossal tail into the ground. The earth split and cracked beneath it, and rocks shot straight up. They encased Isla. Her arms, her legs—everything was pinned. She could not move.

Her eyes went wide. "No…"

The serpent above summoned a giant boulder. With a loud guttural howl, he hurled the boulder in her direction.

Leon stood, fists clenched. "ISLA!!!"

The boulder made contact.

Smoke and stone dust rose into the air as Isla's body collided with the back wall of the arena. The audience gasped.

Leon sprinted as best he could to the edge of the arena wall. "ISLA!"

The dust cleared.

Isla's bloodied and broken body lay crumpled on the arena floor. She trembled, but somehow—she moved. Her hand clenched into the ground. Her legs wobbled with effort, but she managed to leverage herself into a standing position—blood dripping mercilessly down her arm.

The serpent was charging again, like a charging bull, massive and vindictive.

Isla did not run. She smiled through the pain.

"I've always wanted this," she whispered. 

As the serpent approached, she sidestepped with lightning-fast speed and leaped off the ground—hopping onto the back of its head.

The audiences roared.

Golden swords were summoned in the air, around her, in a circle formation. She threw down the swords one by one, stabbing deep into the skull of the nasty motherfuckin beast. The serpent howled in agony.

It bucked, and Isla was thrown from its body, hitting the ground again with a grunt. The beast disappeared underground again. 

Isla's head swung left and right. Her body shook as she breathed shallowly. Where is it?! 

Then the ground erupted underneath her, the snake lunged up at her. It opened its mouth wide and caught her mid-air in its massive jaws.

"NO!" screamed Fanny. Leon's eyes were wide—he was frozen. 

But inside the snake's mouth, a flash of golden light shimmered. A spear, with double-pointed blades, burst from inside the snake's maw. 

Isla sliced her way through the snake's mouth to freedom, bursting into light. She crashed to the ground, gasping, with her face smeared with blood and dirt. 

The snake thrashed, screaming, banging it head again and again into the floor of the arena... then went quiet. 

Unmoving.

The crowd erupted.

"ISLA WINS THIS ROUND!" the announcer said. 

Isla flicked a wan smile, then collapsed. 

Leon sprinted to her, dropping to his knees. "You really did a great job," he whispered, cupping her bloodied cheek in his hand.

She flashed a faint smile. "Told you... I'm not going down easy."

As he helped her off the ground, Leon heard the announcer's voice. "Leon, after a couple of more matches, it will be your turn." 

Leon turned around. "But she's wholesome—" 

"The matches are almost over," said the announcer. "Be ready." 

Fanny stepped in closer and grabbed Leon by the shoulder. "Don't worry. I will take her to the medical room." 

Leon nodded. "Thank you." 

Fanny smirked. "No need to thank me. She is my best friend." 

Fanny supported Isla's body and walked her after Leon and Finn returned to their seats. 

A new student walked onto the mat but looked really nervous. He looked determined, though. The air around him shimmered with cold. 

A large bird swooped down in front of him— there was a glowing red gem sitting upon its head and its entire body was . . . heat. Flames. 

The boy simply raised his hand and began launching ice crystals. The ice crystals were incinerated by one burst of flame from the bird, but then the bird launched a gigantic fireball. 

The boy froze— for real frozen. He couldn't move. 

Time slowed. 

Just before the fireball was to collide with the boy, there was a wave of water that splashed the fireball away. The announcer stepped in, with her tone electric, "I think you submit. If I didn't stop you, you'd be dead."

The student dropped his head. "I give up..."

Walking back, he lowered his head, feeling lost and defeated.

Leon leaned over to Finn. "This training...It is brutal. And not just a journey, it is a test to see if you're going to make it."

Finn nodded. "I agree."

Next in line was a girl. Flames danced at her fingertips.

The large door swung open.

And walking out....a little yellow cat.

Everyone blinked.

Then they noticed it had a soft pink gem. Electricity.

"Awww....how am I supposed to hurt that?" the girl asked.

The cat tilted its head. "Meow."

Then, lightning, and the cat shot out a stream of electricity down her arm. The girl gasped and attempted to aim a blast of fire toward the cat but it had vanished.

"Where-?"

She looked down; the cat was rubbing up against her leg.

"Meowww."

Then-BOOM. A surge of electricity coursed through her body, and she crumpled to the floor unconscious.

The crowd was frozen in thoughts. 

Leon quirked his brows in disbelief. "Looks can be deceiving..."

Finn chuckled nervously. "That cat is terrifying."

The medical team wheeled the girl out. Finn spun around to Leon. "It's you now." Leon stood up. "Yeah...I don't think this next match is going to last long anyway." He stepped into the battlefield. At that moment, Fanny reappeared with Isla, all bandaged and sitting up. Leon turned. "What are you doing here? Are you okay?" Isla looked up and gave a small nod. "I'm fine. Well...for the most part." Fanny snorted. "She needs some rest, but she insisted." Leon smiled and Isla blushed. "Aww, how cute," Fanny snickered. Isla quickly slapped a hand over Fanny's mouth. "She's kidding!" Leon watched as Isla pulled Fanny away. They walked to their seats together. The announcer raised her hand. "Leon, are you ready?" Leon responded in a steady voice. "Yes." "Three...two...one-begin!" The doors creaked open and a bone-chilling aura spread over the battlefield. Everyone tensed up. Out of the fog came a gigantic crocodile completely decorated with shining blue crystals on its back and a blue gem right in the center of its head. It locked eyes with Leon. "Ice," Leon whispered, and he could now see his breath. "It's suffocating even to be in his aura." The crocodile breathed out a heavy gust of air. A frigid fog blanketed the battlefield below, freezing everything on contact. The fog lifted.Leon found himself motionless, ice crawling over his body. Isla, Finn and Fanny jumped to their feet. "He just froze him with his breath." Fanny whispered. "This one… may be the strongest beast we have seen yet." Finn added. The crocodile wasted no time. It conjured up a spear of ice and sent it at Leon with deadly aim. Isla stood there, screaming - "LEON!"