CBLT: Huntsmen in Training

Chapter 17: CBLT vs SHMR

Shaded daylight washes over them. Roars of the crowd fill their ears to a nearly deafening point. Cobalt looks onward focused solely on the opposing team. Bianca marches forward sniper in hand as a figure of authority. Tanaka looks in awe at how much bigger the crowd seems to be from the arena. He waves at the onlookers within his beaming smile shrouded behind his helmet. Lapis enjoys every bit of the attention. She spins at every step forward waving and giving peace signs to all the watchers. Soon on stage they join the other team centerfold of the raised platform that serves as the arena.

From team SHMR (Shimmer), their leader Steinn Gard marches on stage. His body is heavily armored. Small portions of exposed skin covered by thick armadillo shells. Barely a pair of cargo shorts and t-shirt cover him. The armor seems to take up more space than clothing. He carries a sledgehammer with pale yellow edges across his shoulders.

Hikari Yagami seems more distracted and lazily focuses on the crowd. Wearing a sheer white top followed by a pink tank top. Baggy blue shorts and high heeled sandals. She carries a golden monk's staff adorned with multiple small rings. A line of fire dust flows through the end of the staff.

Maple Acer is the next to follow. Short golden brown hair sways at every step. She skips on stage. A loose flowing red blouse and brown jean shorts. She carries a pale brown and red umbrella with her. The shaft seems to be entirely metal with a slot along it to slide in dust ammunition shells.

Rakesh Scale is the last to join. Dark tanned skin blends with a pair of black pointed dog ears. Similar to a doberman. A cardigan made of gold adorns his shoulders. Pale tan sandals wrap around his ankles multiple times. He carries a khopesh sword that seems to have an arrowhead lined along the blade's length.

Around them, several holographic screens appear. They immediately begin to spin like slot machines with several symbols passing by in a blur. The crowd grows silent, watching the symbols pass.

Moranda's voice rings out. "This will be an impressive showing. Now I might be biased because I spent a month's salary betting on team CBLT but I think they're gonna be the ones to take this win."

Morse makes a whistling sound at Moranda's comment. "A month's salary? Couldn't make it two? Either way I say the primary focuses for each team are the leaders. Both capable of smart tactics and well executed plans. I wonder who brought the better counter.

Finally, the symbols lock in place deciding the biomes. The first behind CBLT rises into place. A biome full of concrete floor, buildings, and metal railings. Some parts lie in rubble. While other parts of it are perfectly intact with buildings full of pale concrete standing multiple stories high. The second biome rises into place behind SHMR. A surrounding edge of sand turns to water within a few feet. A vast area of saltwater shakes with the moving platform. In the center of it lies a broken pirate ship peeking out of the water. Parts of it's hull are missing with water flowing into it. Several islands are scattered throughout the water with tall palm trees on top of them. These are the urban and ocean biomes.

Moranda's voice erupts from the speakers, "Begin!"

Cobalt yells, "Split up!"

White rails instantly appear beneath Bianca whisking her away. The clear sound of metallic grinding can be heard as she zooms into the urban biome and up the side of a building to it's rooftop.

Steinn yells, "Maple, take the sniper! Hikari, back her up!" Maple jumps high into the air. Seeming to float there with a slow descent. She points the tip of her umbrella behind her. It fires like a shotgun and sends her flying across the field. Hikari dashes after her. A bolt of lightning strikes her side. Hikari sweeps her staff. A wave of fire slices through the air colliding into a wall of sudden ice. Lapis peaks out and smirks. Dust crystals spin around her wrist and lock onto wind dust. She flicks her wrist and flies into the air after Maple. Hikari chases on foot.