Angel's Ascension: Tenacious Folly (Book Four)

Chapter 4: Power

"The next four teams have been decided!" Alister yelled, "Teams one, four, eight, and twelve are selected."

"No shocker there." Percy kicked at the bars and leaned back on the bleachers, "Let's hope we aren't being thrown into a tough battle."
Lucy stood up and stretched her back before stretching her arms.
"I'm ready to go if I'm picked yet again. We've done three battles back to back and I'm full of energy!"

"From team one, Spades, Ignis, and Ruby. Team four, Lias, Hanario, Synderia." Alister floated toward the arena and sighed, "Team eight, Orisen, Jixyn, and Hancer. Lastly, team twelve, Xreia, Gwen, and Zoey."

Ignis poked at Lucy with his tail, "Hey, at least you can rest one out." He winked at her, "This time you'll have to cheer me on."

"You got that right, Ignis." Lucy grinned and laughed, "I'll yell as loud as I can so you better win for us!"
Bane folded his arms and cleared his throat, "Alright, Ruby. You've been quiet a lot since we got here so maybe you need motivation." He chuckled, "Just do your best and you'll make us proud."

"Hey, jackass!" Ruby pinched his nose and smacked his head, "Don't tease me, I've been quiet because I've been analyzing." She huffed, "I'm an assassin at heart you know?"

"Y-Yeah!" Bane wheezed, "Sorry, I didn't realize you were in assassin mode at the time."
Spades motioned Ruby and the two joined Ignis as the bleacher lowered. Once the bars rose, they reached Alister with the other contestants.
"This will be another special battle set with rules. A small portion of the arena will be considered a safe zone." Alister waved to a part of the arena which lit up with markings.
"If you step out of this safe zone and into the danger zone." He motioned to a red flashing zone, "You'll be penalized and can no longer use energy-based attacks. The second time will negate your powers and the last time is elimination."

"And we're supposed to do this as a three on three team battle?" Zoey asked while twirling her pigtails.
"Since the restrictions are so important in this battle, three on three is too crowded." Alister adjusted his gloves "You'll do one on one fights until two teams get eliminated or six contestants drop."

"Seems like a fun challenge." Lias replied with a soft smile, "Are the one on one fights random, or will we be able to pick our teammates?"

"Ah, good question. You will get to choose a teammate but the teams are chosen at random still." Alister slapped his glove against his hand, "Now get ready for battle!"

The teams soon split up on opposite sides of the arena as Alister floated back to Verum. Zoey along with Gwen and Xreia yelled at each other. Hancer, Orisen, and Jixyn whispered to each other while Lias, Hanario, and Synderia kept silent.
"Um, okay then." Ignis closed his eyes and swayed his tail, "If we get picked, who should fight first among us?"

"Honestly, I'm fine with letting you go first, Ignis." Ruby glanced at the other teams, "I noticed that one team relies on weapons." She pointed to Hancer's group, "One is entirely physical." Her finger shifted to Gwen's group, "The other is a complete mystery."

"Ruby has insight into these things." Spades added, "I trust that we should hold off until we see what the others can do." He faced Ignis, "So, you're going to fight them first."

"Gotcha, I'm pretty quick when it comes to adapting." Ignis rubbed his forehead, "I won't let any weird powers throw me off. So-"
A whistle blew and caught everyone's attention over to Alister.
"Teams eight and twelve! Select your teammate and have them meet in the safe zone!"
Zoey and Jixyn stepped forward into the safe zone and faced each other.
"Get her, Zoey!" Xreia yelled out, "You can't lose to someone like this!"

"Jixyn, show them your strength of the almighty ax gifted to you!" Hancer shouted and held his hand over his chest.
Both nodded to their teams as the whistle blew again and the zones lit up with colors. Zoey stood in place and eyed Jixyn's ax while her reflection bounced off it.
"Quite a weapon you got there. He said almighty so I assume it's a weapon crafted from deities?"