After being {Return}ed and coming back to this white space Sephtis immediately got to work. He found that my body was almost entirely repaired. However his shield was still heavily damaged. His first thought was to repair it, but since it lacked use in his first fight he decided to try something else.

Sephtis began fiddling with the dark matter once again. He tried layering it, making complex patterns, and organizing into something that resembled chain mail. However, all of these attempts didn’t strengthen the dark matter by a considerable amount. Sephtis sat down to think over what he had done and what he had not. Then it occurred to him.

“What I want to do is make this stuff harder, and it’s pretty light to start with. So shouldn’t I just make it denser?”[Septhis]

Septhis broke up what he had been working on and started to pack dark matter into his fist and squish it until he couldn’t pack it any tighter. Then he moved onto the next bit on dark matter until all of it had been condensed. When he was done he was left with a little under a third as much dark matter as when he had started with.

“Well this makes things awkward. Theres not much to work with now. I could make a buckler, but that wouldn’t do much for protecting Miria and I have nothing to counter with…. I suppose I’ll just have to make a dagger. There isn’t much else I can do with this small amount of dark matter.”[Sephtis]

Sephtis started with the grip making it only a bit longer than his hand, and making the grip standard so he could hold it in multiple positions. After finishing the grip Sephtis contemplated adding a hilt for quite some time as it would take away from the size of the blade. Sephtis decided against the hilt since he wouldn’t be able to sword fight. Finally the blade. He started making a two sided blade, but all of his attempts would either be too short and not have the reach he wanted, or it would be too long and break easily. After a brief thought Sephtis laughed.

“Hahahaha...I’m going to have to make a kitchen knife.”[Sephtis]

Sephtis took off one of the edges of his blade using the extra material to make his blade thicker. The final result was a very simple blade a bit shorter than Sephtis’ foer arm not including the grip.

“Great I have a glorified kitchen knife to fight with. Now all that's left is a bit of practice.”[Sephtis]

Sephtis began doing practice swings to get used to the blade waiting for Miria’s call.

*******

Miria arrived to the matches in the middle of a normal round. She knew it was a normal round because Princess Fluff was fighting against the Lightning Panther Sephtis lost to. The two were running around the plaza avoiding ranged magic and trying to corner each other.

Chears were coming from other students sitting outside the plaza. Some of them erected barriers for themselves and sat close others climbed up trees to get a better view and still others simply watched from their rooms. All of them focusing on the fight some even making bets.

“Watch out Princess Fluff!” [Alexia]

Fluff had been cornered and knowing he couldn’t dodge took a bolt of lightning head on.

“Finish it, Tyrone!” [Rouge Student]

The Lightning Panther(Tyrone) covered itself in lightning and went straight for Princess Fluff. Fluff stood his ground feet back and jaw clenched. Tyrone Leaped up ready to tear Fluff apart, but before he could Fluff opened his mouth releasing a fire ball big enough to envelop Tyrone. Tyrone continued to fall onto Princess Fluff before being forcefully {Return}ed from being burnt.

Alexia ran over to Princess Fluff to see if he was alright. She was relieved to find Fluff with only a few scratches and minor injuries, but she was exhausted from using too much mana on the final attack. Alexia used {Return} on Fluff before running off to find Miria in the crowd. She quickly found her, but before they can even start talking Miguel steps into the middle of the plaza and shouts to the crowd.

“Well I think we can all agree that that was a good fight.”[Miguel]

“Whoooo”[Everyone]

“Good good, the next match shall be a loser round; between Miria and her Skeleton and Fredrick and his Anibis! Would you come on down.”[Miguel]

“Go get them Miria!”[Alexia]

“Are you sure this is ok? Fighting here?”[Miria]

“Don’t worry everything is taken care of. Now then I know it's scary but go on and have your familiar fight. Its tradition after all.”[Randall]

“Well if you say so.”[Mira] says worriedly

Miria nervously walks out onto the plaza. Her opponent had spared no time summoning and was already to fight. ‘I hope your ready for this’ Miria thought.

“Come back to me ,please, SUMMON”[Miria]

Sephtis came forth holding not a shield but a dagger. Miria realized that she had forgotten to tell Sephtis to absorb the dark matter. Still, she was glad that he had a weapon now.

“Sephtis you will be fighting against that Anubis.” [Miria]

Sephtis started to examine the Anubis in close detail. The Anubis had short black fur covering its body. It had small gold cufflink on its arms and legs, but other than that no armor. It also held a long golden staff.

“What are you guys waiting for! Fight!”[Miguel]

The Anubis took the initiative and made a heavy swing with his staff. Sephtis dodged and tried to counter only hitting a cufflink leaving a small cut on the gard. The Anubis continued with his attack with the butt of the stalf; pushing back Sephtis and leaving some fractures on his rib cage. The Anubis continued to attack Sephtis this time taking things safe with smaller swings and not leaving any openings. The Anubis had more reach so Sephtis could only dodge and parry. The fight was going on as a stalemate with the Anubis attacking and Sephtis defending.

This dance continued for several minutes as the crowed cheered. The two fought for all this time as it started to get routine. The Anubis hoping to land an attack, and Sephtis waiting for his chance to counter. The Anubis begins another lunge and Sephtis doges, but too early. The Anubis had not committed to his attack and quickly changed direction to land a solid hit on Sephtis. It lands a direct hit throwing Sephtis back.

Sephtis stood up and examined himself. He lost most of his ribcage and part of his left arm. He would have to end this soon before he takes another attack.

“End it now!”[Anubis’s Summoner]

The Anubis started to gather nature magic in his right hand. Sephtis saw the magic gather and dropped low and charged hoping to finish the fight before the magic went off. The Anubis looked panicked at the Sephtis who began charging as fast as he could. Sephitis was close and shot up aiming for the neck of the Anubis, but too late. The Anubis punched forward with his claw sending a green flying claw at Sephtis. The attack continued through him hitting a shield behind him, but only through him. With everyone surprised at the intact skeleton Sephtis continued with his attack splitting the Anabasis throat. The Anubis bleed out for a shot time before having a forced return leaving Sephtis the victor.

“..a..And the winner is Miria and her Skeleton!”[Miguel]

Miria ran up to Sephtis and hugged him.

“Good job Sephtis. Now get some rest you need it.”[Miria]

Miria used {Return} and Sephtis disappeared into light.

“Congratulations Miria I knew you could do it.”[Alexia] said as she ran up and hugged Miria.

“Congrats Miria, but come out of the plaza we’re gonna announce tomorrow's matches.”[Randall]

Miguel steps into the center of the plaza with two hats and began his speech.

“Now then everyone settle down, settle down...I know that was quite the match, but we have to chose the matches for tomorrow. As you all should know this is a free for all. Anything can happen. Drum roll please.”[Miguel]

All the students start stomping their feet, clapping their hands, or making noise. Miguel reaches into each hat and pulls out two numbers.

“8 vs 3 and 16 vs 24. Thats all for tonight. Now get to bed there's gonna be a big night tomorrow.”[Miguel]

“Wait, What!”[Miria]

“Now thats some bad luck. Looks like you’ll be fighting tomorrow too.”[Randall]

“but..but...”[Miria]

“Its a free for all. You can be in every match or just one. If you keep winning you keep going. It keeps things interesting and it's tradition. Now you need to get to bed. You have a big day tomorrow.”[Randall]

Miria left being pushed along by Randall. She went into her room prepared for night got in her bed and

“What!”[Miria]

Miria slept nervously that night. Still not quite believing what had happened in the last few hours. She found out she was in a tournament had to immediately fight and then she found out that she has to participate tomorrow too. ‘I hope tomorrow is less hectic.’ thought Miria.