All characters in this story are over the age of eighteen.
***
"Battle commence!" Jeffrey, the commentator, bellowed loudly to incite the crowded stands that filled The Dome. They responded eagerly to the prodding, but they were, somewhat, subdued. They must have thought that I stood no chance of winning.
'Well,' I thought to myself, 'I guess they're in for a major surprise.'
I didn't even flinch as I stared across the blistering hot expanse of sandy ground between my opponent and I. Without a moment's hesitation though, Gavin, my opponent gathered his' Animus into his legs and lept the length of the arena and swung his fist directly for my head; more precisely my temple hoping for a quick knockout. His' confused expression was priceless, and crystal clear as he saw me smile coldly.
My reaction was nigh instantaneous; so quick his face never had a opportunity to change. Both of my hands locked around his wrist and spun 180 degrees, which catapulted him into a vicious shoulder throw that smashed him into the ground with every ounce of force I could muster. Then I slung him single-handed back across the arena, but just prior to him having impacted with the wall he summoned his' animus to shield himself although it didn't stop all of the force as he smashed into the wall.
He coughed up a small puddle of blood as he fell from the wall, his hair a sandy colored mess, to the arena floor. He pushed himself up slightly and sneered, but my hardened stone of an expression was all he was returned.
"There's no way you're human. Your too strong and freakishly fast," he groaned as he climbed to shaking knees, "so, just which are you; orc, elf, demi?"
"Draconis," I growled with a heavy sibilance, it felt weird to talk in my native tongue after so long.
The entire crowd quieted nearly immediately after I had finished speaking. It was a general understanding that no Cryp normally was allowed to fight in The Dome, but it wasn't necessarily against the rules; the main reason being that 'Cryps', Cryptids, could use both Animus and Mana as well as a natural power, similar to a specialized form of Mana unique to each species called Alium, something few humans could use.
"Let's start again," a slight smirk cracked his face, but a determined look filled his rocky grey eyes, "and this time I'm not going to underestimate you."
I felt a change in the air that almost shocked me. A large quantity of Animus built-up in Gavin's chest, so densely that it began to manifest physically. It surged out slightly and expanded to his arms and legs until it covered him in a Sandy colored armor.
"So this," I gestured loosely towards him, " is how you really use your Animus? Interesting, it might prove to be a challenge."
For the first time in the duel I smiled and it made almost all of the women in the first few rows of the stands blush deeply. Others fidgeted slightly in their seats.
'maybe one or two will be game after the match is over,' the thought was there and gone in an instant. I had no chance now that everyone knew what I really was, 'might as well end this now.'
I was across the intervening ground in an instant as my Mana and Animus rose in unison and mixed together into Alium, but wasn't enough for what I wanted. It coated; my fist, my arm, an my legs. It split through Gavin's Animus like it was rice paper. My fist made contact with his solar plexus and he flopped over my shoulder, while his sick stained my back, as I carried him from the arena to find a nurse. As I walked across the sandy ground the crowd began to slowly cheer; which was puzzling in itself, but what they were they were cheering was what really amazed me.
"In a frightening turn of events, the Challenger, Alec light, has managed to pull the underdog victory!" The commentator cheered with the rest of the crowd.
"Respect!" Cheered one.
