ULTIMA MAGICA: BED OF ROSES
A bright light fills the arena.
"Seriously!?" Jonathan says in a tired voice.
He jumps backwards far away from Rose as he possibly could waiting to see what it does.
The crowd roars.
"Woah Rose Providence starts the match off with Ultima Magica, as Jonathan jumps to evade!" Professor Lop says excitedly.
Roses fill the rectangle arena covering the whole area with roses. Dozens and dozens of roses.
"She's starting with that!" Ezekiel says as he jolts off his seat.
"G-gosh you almost gave me a heart attack," Jericho says as he holds his chest.
"Hehe my bad"
"That's her Ultima Magica" Eriko says.
"She wants to end this quick" Bianca says.
"Its different from mines" Ezekiel remarks. "Yes it is you turned into a giant lion basically with all your skills and powers enhanced" Jericho says. "On the other hand it seems Rose's Ultima Magica allows her to change the terrain as well. Lets see how this plays out".
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"Hey hey I dont wanna get caught up in this," Professor Kayneth says as he steps back. "Barrier" he casts that encapsulates his body which protects but also makes him levitate in the air.
The light then fades as Rose emerges from the light in a new form. Wearing a red strapless sleeveless leather suit, and black high-heeled boots. Matching her Rosegold hair color she dawns a cape that is surrounded by 4 rose-shaped orbs. Her chain whip now latched onto her arm had a thorn-like surface on it.
"That outfit," Eriko speaks.
Albeck watches silently with his arms crossed intrigued by what her ability can do.
"My apologies Professor Lop but let me comment on this Ultima Magica if we had a ranking for presentation this would get an S a true work of art," Randall Deximar says in an awestruck tone.
"Okay, I've been in the air for a little long. Let's see. A good idea" Jonathan then activates barrier magic of his own.
"Hmm," Kayneth says to himself as he stares at Jonathan's barrier. "This kid".
In an instant, Rose's Whip appears right beside Jonathan. "SHIT"
wuh-PSSSH!
CRACK
Jonathan's barrier gets cracked as he receives an onslaught of whip attacks.
wuh-PSSSH!
Crack
wuh-PSSSH!
CRACK
Inch by inch he gets closer to the edge of the arena "not good not good"
"Rose lays down an onslaught of whip attacks Jonathan is desperately trying to keep a barrier up!"
"If Jonathan doesn't think of anything sooner he'll be pushed out of the Arena!"
"Alright, it's either I release the barrier or I get hit with the whip OR?"
The whip comes around again.
FWOOSH
Jonathan drops the barrier and ducks the whip. Falling off to the side of the arena.
"Jonathan overboard!" Lop says.
"Is it over that quickly?!" Randall wonders.
Kayneth looks down "That's a smart idea."
With his speed Jonathan then runs along the arena's edges, clinging onto the outer edges not falling into the water below, and making his way around the arena to get closer to Rose. He appears from behind Rose ready to land his first blow however Rose is already prepared for this to happen and hurls another whip.
"He's going to allow himself to be hit?" Jericho wonders.
wuh-PSSSH!
"Jonathan gets hit by the chain!" Lop says.
GRAB
"What's this?"
"It appears that Jonathan has grabbed onto the chain whip," Randall says.
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"How?" Jericho wonders.
"What did he-" Eriko asks.
"His hands look at them," Albeck says.
I focus on his hands. "Barrier magic? He managed to focus it on one particular spot"
That is a great mastery in defensive magic "Bianca says.
"Why didn't he display this during the second stage?"
"He was probably saving it for this stage" Ezekiel remarks.
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Jonathan hangs from the whip as he gets tossed around with it. "I guess it's time to let go"
Jonathan releases his grab from the chain while in the air he makes a circle with his hand creating mini magic circles that shoot out beams that reign down on Rose.
He drops back down on the arena floor.
"Whew, that should do something. Huh" Jonathan looks down as he sees a rose mark on his hand. "Ahh, this is one of those abilities of yours. Dont I need to be hit two times to be-"
ARGH
"Guess I spoke too soon" Jonathan holds onto his arm as it drops.
STEP STEP
Rose steps out of the smoke from the blast with little to no marks "Unlike before my abilities have been amplified" she says.
"So like an extension of your weapon?" Jonathan looks at the orbs behind her "Oh so three are slightly glowing now" he thinks to himself.
Rose stops mere feet away from Jonathan
"That and then some" As she says this the Roses planted in the arena begin to glow as petals from the roses begin to fall off.
One lands on Jonathan's hood.
SIZZLE
A piece of the hood gets burnt off.
"Oooh scary. Well, I can't be sitting trapped here for long" Jonathan runs around the arena , as one by one the roses begin to glow and bloom wherever he steps. He again activates multiple mini-magical circles this time below him.
"Alright let's see" He leaps up and then shoots down at the Arena creating a little crater where the Roses aren't.
"What's this Jonathan he made a hole in the arena?! A very unique method indeed"Lop says.
"Dont be discouraged participants the Arena is always foxed for every match" Randall reassures this knowing that he can fix it easily with his art magic.
"Alright her whip is dangerous, the roses are dangerous, but what do those four orbs mean?
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In the stands.
"Cmon Rose" Azalea pleads.
"Why are you worried Azalea" Bella asks.
"Rose is kicking his ass right now"
"I know Rose is strong but she has to be careful around him. His abilities are unknown to me as well. Right now she could be playing into his hands. " Lily says.
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On the opposite end.
"Ugh this headache I can't even pay attention," Ai says slouching in her chair.
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"What happened last night?" Xi asks.
"Am not too sure I remember roaming the shopping district. Then you said something, Sir William" Rowen asks.
"It seems I have forgotten last night as well. Plus this weather change isn't doing us any good. Am going to go visit Headmaster Dawkins"
"I thought he already- Arghh" Rowen grabs his head.
"Maybe I should grab us some food or drinks all be back," Xi says.
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Student Council Box
"Things are not looking good for Jonathan. It's interesting to see who prevails there both are really good mages," Luna says.
"Within the second stage, he appeared towards the ending laying low and keeping a low profile. Here in this tournament, he could be out of his element" Issac remarks.
"You're right Jonathan looks to be more on the defensive but knowing he created a plan in the second stage and prevailed as the top duo he isn't someone who'll go down easy," Axel says.
"What do you think of it, Faith?" Luna turns to her.
Faith stares at the arena looking thinking.
"What's wrong? You've been acting like this before we got into this arena?"Luna asks.
"Oh, nothing I have to use the bathroom. I'll be back"
"Okay" Luna responds.
Faith leaves her seat.
"Ceaser I want you to track her please with your sand" Luna whispers.
"Already on it" Ceaser responds.
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Headmasters Box
"Look who winning so far Taz" Ariana teases in a playful manner clapping to herself.
"Just wait I know he has a plan up his sleeve" with a smile.
Celeste watches in silence examining every little thing. Something then catches her eye.
"I'll be back"
Taz and Ariana look at each other.
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"Rose jumps into the hole in the ground!" Lop says on the microphone.
"You're done all you can do is defend right now," Rose says as his rose orbs begin to glow.
SHINE
Jonathan puts up a barrier.
wuh-PSSSH!
That hit from the whip shattered his whole barrier pushing him back a few feet.
The orbs with mana charged generate a beam.
"Oh this is bad" Jonathan puts his hands up.
"You won't block this"
ROSE STORM BEAM
BOOM
A giant explosion happens as the smoke clears.
"What happened?!"
"What is the result of that powerful blast?!"
"You want me to try okay? I'll try" Jonathan comes out of the smoke holding to twin daggers in his hand. The one on his right hand is in an inverse grip while the other is in a outward grip.
"So you were a dyad all along huh? It seems like our batch participating this year are all dyad mages" Rose says.
She looks down at the daggers "Which of them is his dominant hand and his arm seems to be fine now. Did my paralysis wear off already? What did he do with the blasts?" Rose thinks to herself as she surveys the environment. She then releases two damaged areas of the arena that were there before. "So he deflected the attack in that short amount of time I should be cautious on what his magic is."
Jonathan proceeds to throw his daggers in an underarm throw.
FWOOSH
"He missed?"
WARP
"Where did he?"
BOOM
The orbs manage to block Jonathan's kick.
"Teleportation?"
Jonathan then picks up the daggers etched into the ground past her "I got more tricks than that. "Now it's time for the real fight" as he takes a stance.
"Those daggers are pitch black I can barely make out their design, approximately 9 no almost 11 inches in length. Pretty heavy for daggers I would call it almost a short sword but the way he was able to move with them" Rose thinks to herself looking down at Jonathan's hands. "When I made contact with them they were made out of some unique material. What is it? I must take precautions its abilities seem too unique" Rose says as she takes a stance and whats for his attack.
Jonathan stares at Rose "Those 4 orbs around her aren't lit anymore so it is safe to assume that WAS her best shot. No, it can't be she gotta have a trick up her sleeve and I know it involves her ULTIMA MAGICA above but I ALSO have a trick" Jonathan thinks to himself as the two across from this close-cornered space. This 20-foot space crater is what houses their battle.
"Jonathan reveals his weapons a set of daggers. What kind of abilities does it wield?" Lop speaks into the microphone.
"You wonder about its abilities. I am just admiring what these blades are made out of. And the daggers' aesthetic perfectly suits his mysterious character" Randall Deximar follows.
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"Please be alright Rose?" Azaleas pleads with her hands.
"Dont worry Azalea she'll be fine" Lily reassures her patting her head.
"You didn't know about this Sunneta," asks Bella.
"No, he didn't reveal any of this to me. As I said everything from the second stage was planned from him" Sunneta explains to the girls.
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Participants Box
"He was a dyad mage all along huh." Jericho remarks.
"The fact that his magic is already something but now adding weapons am still not too sure what he can do," Eriko says.
"But can he win is the real question," Ezekiel asks.
"His abilities are going to be tricky to learn," I say.
"He's smart he was able to minimize Roses's Ultima Magicas effect and take her to a more cramped and less spacious area " Bianca suggests.
"We have to focus on every move he makes," I say focusing on the projected images.
-----------------------------
"What happened aren't you going to attack?" Jonathan taunts Rose and he removes his hood wearing a white dress shirt that has been ruffled up due to the combat and black slacks.
"This fight can't be entirely one-sided," Rose says
Jonathan lowers his stance and folds his sleeves "I was about to say the same-"
Once again he disappears from Roses's sight.
"He didn't release his dagger this time, was he always this fast?"
swoosh
"Ugh"
Jonathan advances with his daggers guiding each attack with his right foot in front of him guiding him to all his attacks on Rose.
"Damn," Rose says as she parries and evades the attacks.
wuh-PSSSH!
Crumble
Jonathan ricochets off the walls due to the crater bouncing off catapulting himself towards Rose.
wuh-PSSSH!
crumble crumble
Jonathan dodges the whip attacks by Rose.
wuh-PSSSH!
wuh-PSSSH!
DODGE
"He just keeps getting closer also"
wuh-PSSSH!
"Shit, I just keep hitting the stadium. Wait." Rose glances at her surroundings. "He's planning to make the arena collapse on me? No not on my watch" Rose launches another attack jumping out of the crater with Jonathan following close.
Rose then jumps back onto the Arena. "I had to get out of that cramped space"
FWOOSH
Jonathan appears in front of her looking to land a fatal blow thrusting the dagger forward with his right hand.
SWOOSH
CLINK
Rose shields herself as the orbs protect her again.
"Hmph" Jonathan chuckles.
"What" Rose looks confused as she looks around "No"
A dagger is shown on the ground in between her feet.
VRMM
SLASH
"Jonathan lands a clean hit on Rose" Lop says.
She falls to the ground on one knee.
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"Rose!" The four Providence sisters shout.
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Participant Box
"He got her" Ezekiel says.
"That was a smart move he did," Jericho says.
"It was a quick and calculated," Albeck says.
"While Eriko was focused on parrying that dagger attack from his right hand at the same time Jonathan threw the dagger in his left hand in between her feet on the ground and teleported right in between there"
"There seems to have been a "safe zone" in Rose's ability" Bianca remarks. "Whenever Jonathan got within that zone the orbs blocked it"
"That time he wasn't in it," I say.
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The Federation Box
"Woah finally a hit after playing cat and mouse" Kaneda remarks.
"He's good"
"Javin what do you think of the kid's speed?"
"I wouldn't call it speed. It's more a teleportation ability while I am pure speed although he's alright"
"He calculated he would be a good fit in the Federation but this match isn't over yet"
"You wouldn't like that right Javin?"
"If he can win it all that is," Javin says.
------------------------------
Audience
"Noo Rose!" Ariana yells out"
"Woah didn't know he had that"
Ariana quickly looks at Taz "Stop lying I knew you knew of his abilities"
Taz with hands up "Calm down Ariana I didn't know about this either"
"Hmph sure"
Taz looks back at the match "Looks like Rose isn't done yet"
---------------------------
"Rose Providence is getting back up on her feet, "Lop says.
"What persistence beautiful, "Randall says swinging his paintbrush.
"Hey watch the fur" Lop slightly moves away from Randall.
Rose slowly rises to her feet with a slash from her right leg leading to her midsection
The orbs go around her body like a floaty.
SHINE
"The wound is gone," Lop says.
GLMMM
"Huh"
Rose looks at the section that was cut.
"What?!"
"Look familiar?" Jonathan asks.
Roses appear on her body.
"This is my ability. What did you do?"
Jonathan shrugs his shoulders as he heads in for another attack.
"Since this is my ability he needs to hit me one more time in that spot for it to work," Rose says as she attempts to counterattack Jonathan somehow.
CONSTRICT!
Rose yells as vines with thorns on them appear from the Rose.
"Jonathan shows off his quickness as he nearly escapes the vines from Rose" Lop says.
"But how much can he do" Randall says.
One of the vines grabs onto Jonathan's feet.
"Shit" Jonathan then throws both of the daggers at Rose however the vines vines catch them both.
"Good, now I can-"
BADUM
Rose feels a sudden shock in her body.
"Ugh, what I c-can m-move" Rose stands helplessly as he falls to one knee.
Her magic begins to release as Jonathan's body gets freed from the vines.
CLANK CLANK His daggers fall.
"He didn't touch me. How??"
"You must be wondering. How did I get it? When did I get hit? It's not that" Rose glares at Jonathan while kneeling.
"You see it's just your ability but just a tad bit better" he taunts her.
"You made me pull out some tricks but not all of them. I gotta admit Rose Providence you're a great mage but it is a shame that I was your opponent" Jonathan stands in front of Rose opening a white magic circle with his right hand with his pointer finger down.
[FLOWER CREATION MAGIC: FUSCHIA BEAM]
"You bastard," Rose says.
BOOM!!
The smoke clears as the audience gasps.
Rose lays there lying on the floor.
"T-the winner is Jonathan Fultear" Lop announces.
With a brief applause from the audience.
"ROSE!" The four floors hop the barricade tending to their fallen sister.
Healing Mages from the sides rush to the arena right away.
"Get her out of here. Dont worry girls she's fine"
"Am glad you didn't kill her" Kayneth says to Jonathan. "What you think am a monster why would I do that? The rules were to knock your opponent out or kick them off into the water"
"Hmm"
Jonathan walks away as he grabs his hood uniform "Well see you next round"
"That kid copied my barrier," Kayneth thinks to himself.
----------------------------
Participants Box
"He won," I said aloud.
"Son of a bitch" Jericho says.
Albeck looks down.
"He stole people's moves right or am I seeing things?" Ezekiel asks.
"Yes, he did," Eriko says.
"He stole Azaelea's FUSCHIA BEAM attack," Jericho says.
"I wouldn't steal but copied," Bianca says. It seems he can also strengthen and lessen an attack on certain abilities,"
"From what I saw he could copy Rose's ability of paralysis but made it more effective but when he hit her with a blast it wasn't as effective and strong as Azalea's actual FUSCHIA BEAM" Jericho remarks. "However it was different than what he was displaying at the second stage in that stage it looked like he reflected the ability right back at the sea serpent," Jericho says.
"What is it copy, reflect, gain, what is his ability so I know how to kick his ass" Ezekiel confused puts his hands on his head.
"It's most likely a combination of all three" Albeck claims.
"I also saw that he couldn't copy Rose's chain whip. Maybe it's a possibility he can't copy physical and only magic?" I add on.
"That's true Valerus" Albeck responds to me.
"Am wondering how his abilities work" Eriko wonders. "It appears that he can do a lot of things but how would we know if we were to eventually face him"
"I would like to know as well" Bianca responds.
We all look at the board and see his name advance to the semi-finals while Rose's fades to black and white.
"Well, Valerus we can test out that theory. It's either going to be me or you that is going to face him" Albeck says.
"Yeah may the best man win," I tell him.
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Colosseum Concession stands
"Wow this line is long" Xi stands there waiting for food.
GRUMBLE
"Ugh that's probraolly the cause for my headache"
SQEAK
"Ah, a white mouse. Ah well this is a old Colosseum there bound to be a few of those"
CLAP CLAP CLAP
"Oh looks like that first match is over. I gotta ask the others when I get back"
STEP STEP STEP STEP
"I feel a little better" Faith walks past.
"Hmmm"
The two make eye contact with one another.
As their Twelve Star Isignias glow.
"A Twelve Star?!"
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Somewhere within the Arena
"That's the boy you were telling us about Melody?" a voice calls.
"I would've just killed him right there haha" another voice says.
"Shut up he caught me off guard I know how to take care of him. Besides the plan is already set in motion we just have to wait for my time"
