Mutation

Champion

At first, Amber just stared at me. Then, a dark aura flowed around her. It felt like the strangeness was pulling at me, trying to pull me into sleep, but I wasn't going to let it drag me down.

I blinked sleepily before grunting and taking a step towards Amber.

I pulled my sword out and took another step towards her. Scales were forming on Amber's exposed arms and legs. A long, thin tail appeared from just above the back of her pelvis.

I was stunned. What is... Going on?

Taking advantage of my surprise, Amber leaped at me so quickly that she was just a streak. I jumped to the side, not knowing where she would strike. She was using bronze twin daggers the length of my forearm.

As soon as I landed, I leaped at Amber while swinging my sword over my head. Amber was obviously not prepared for me to recover so quickly.

Amber slashed at my sword and knocked it off its course, but I pulled it back in just in time for her to deflect it again. She's a monster with those.

I jumped back, afraid she would lash out. Amber sprinted toward me so quickly that I barely got my sword up in time to deflect both of her blows.

I jabbed at her chest as soon as she left an opening, which was often. I think... Amber's strategy is just to get me out as quickly as possible. I think she's trying to force me out...

And she was. As I looked back, I noticed only a foot of mat left, so I circled around Amber to get behind her.

Amber seemed surprised that I had even noticed her plan, but then she recovered and lunged again.

Her knife was in my face in an instant.

Suddenly, a plan appeared. Just... Gotta get... Closer... I thought around my heavy pants.

We were both panting pretty hard so we wouldn't be able to keep this up for long. Sweat had worked it's was down my back and some was dripping onto the mat below.

I sprinted towards her and lowered my shoulder, making her think I was gonna tackle her. But, my sword was at my side and I was ready to swing.

Amber moved to the side, unaware of my plan. I reached out with the sword and whacked her with the flat of my blade. She stumbled to the side and didn't recover fast enough because I kicked her in the chest, off the mat.

The others in the room stared at me. Then half let out a deafening cheer. The other half let out a sob. The'd probably bet on Amber. I guess you shouldn't bet at all... Unless your psychic.

A teacher pushed through the crowd of students trying to congratulate me. Among them was Oak. We made eye contact, and he put his finger next to his ear and made a circular motion. Everyone here is crazy.

I smiled and pushed through the crowd of students. A lot of them backed off, and for good reason. I still had my sword out.

I made my way over to Amber and extended my hand to help her up. She stared at it for a moment, before grabbing it.

"That was fun!" She got out through giggles. I nodded and smiled.

"Let's do it again! Finally, another girl who is at my skill level!" I shouted over the noise.

Amber nodded and the tail shrunk back into her back. The scaled faded into her tan skin. What was that, anyway? I thought to myself.

Suddenly, a familiar hand was placed on my back.

"C'mon, girl, ceremony of swords!" Mrs. Hoy was practically shouting in my ear. I nodded and let her pull me and Amber towards a podium. Behind the podium was a doorway that I presumed led to the weapons room.