Chapter 32

It's the day of the tourney and everyone had gathered in the center of a colosuem. Vain was participating in Tedgy's group, Lumia, Void, and Rexalia were in a group, and Veto was participating by himself, because he was forced by Luxia. Luvia, Luxia, Zec, and Sia were watching and cheering them on, from the stands. A female announcer then said, "Welcome everyone to the annual Hero Festival Tourney. Today we have a lot of people competeing for the title of hero and the chance to hold the hero's sword of light, that has been passed down from generations. The rules are simple, you may not kill other participants, the max in a group is five or you can fight by yourself, and you are free to use any methods to win. But you can only win by knocking out your opponent or knocking them out of the ring. With that said, let's get this started!" Everyone then shouted and cheer in excitement for the battles that were about to unfold.

While the crowd continue getting hyped, everyone left the area and the announcer called out the first two combatants, "On the left we have this mysterious man who joined at the last minute possible, Veto Faltorun." Veto stood on the ring and yawned. The audience started whispering to each, wondering why he join, and saying that he looks lazy and unenthusiastic. The announcer then turns everyone attention to his opponents, "On the right, we have a trio of heavy knights known as Heavy Fortress." Three knights stood on the other end and they draw their weapons. Each wielding a different weapon, a spear, great sword, and shield and sword. The announcer saw that they were ready and said, "Will Veto be able to shatter their defense and continue on his way or will they push him back like an invader and secure their place in this competition. Let the fight begin!"

The Knights rush towards Veto and he yawned while grabbing hold of his guns. But he stopped as he remembered what Luxia told him, "You'll join this tourney or I'll delete all your game data. Also, you can't use your guns as well or you'll know what happens." So Veto waited for them and when they swing, he took a step back. The other two surrounded his left and right, so Veto kept stepping back and dodging their attacks. Finally, he reached the end of the ring and when the knight with the lance lunge at him, he jumped up, and over him. Then he kicks his back, sending him out of the ring, before landing on the ground with his hands, then pushing off the ground, and kicking the last two out. Veto stood on the very edge of the ring and the announcer said, "Unbelievable! He achieved a quick and easy victory. Ladies and gentlemen, Veto Faltorun will be advancing."

Everyone didn't say anything and Luxia sigh and said, "Even though he didn't use his gun. He still didn't work hard." After some battle, it was time for Void's, Luvia's, and Rexalia's battle. So the announcer said, "On the right, we have a team of three, two people of unknown origin and the person everyone knows as the weakest person alive. I give you, Void Faltorun, Lumia Faltorun, and Rexalia Levinghart." Rexalia was wearing a white shirt with long blue sleeves and a blue skirt. The crowd immediately grew silent at her name and they all thought to themself why she join this tournament. Everyone felt bad for Void and Lumia because they thought Rexalia was going to drag them down or hold them back. Void rubbed Rexalia's head and said, "Everything will be alright." Luvia, Luxia, Zec and Sia then started calling out to her, "You can do it Rexalia! Don't let it bother you, Rexalia! Lumia and Void will be supporting you, so let loose little lady! Try your best, we're all here for you!" Rexalia smiled and tears stream down her cheeks. She then wiped them away and stood tall and proud. 

They were up against a group of five, three men and two women. The announcer was about to start the fight, but Void said, "Wait, give me a second. I need to give Rexalia something." So she waited and Void opened a magic circle, putting his hand through it, and pulling out three items. A gunblade with a revolver barrel, black coat with white petals around the edges and gold wings sewn onto the back, and a belt with colored boxes attached. He handed them to Rexalia and said, "Here. Vain made the sword, Luvia made the coat, Luxia made the belt and boxes, and Veto made the barrel and bullets. It will take some practice to get use to using it, but we'll help guide you along." Rexalia took the items, putting the belt on, then attaching her sword and sheath to the belt, and finally putting on the coat. When Rexalia put it on she noticed there were hidden pockets on the inside of the coat. Void turn to the announcer and nodded his head and she said, "Now that everyone is ready, fight!"

Lumia took off and manage to aggro three of them onto her while the other two rush Rexalia and Void. Void walked up and grabbed the man by his collar and left Rexalia to handle the woman. Rexalia drew her weapon and Veto's and Vain's voice rang out in her head, "Alright, since this is your first time using it, we'll give you some tips." Veto then said, "The boxes are specially design and colored coded. The gray box makes normal magic bullets and I'm pretty sure you can tell what the other colors mean. Will give them a tap and see what happens." So she tapped the gray box and it opened, shooting out a quick load roulette. She grabbed it and Veto said, "Okay pull the hammer and that will push the barrel out." She was confused and Vain said, "He's talking about a tiny metal part sticking out. It should be between the blade and handle, you see it right?" She pulled on it and the barrel slide open. She placed the bullets in and the quick reload disappear, while the barrel went back into the blade. But they took too long to explain and the woman was in front of her. She swung her whip at Rexalia and Rexalia hurriedly blocked it and accidentally fired a shot to her left. The magic bullet flew towards Lumia and she blocked it with her palms. Void started to worry and connected a telepathy call to Veto, "Those are non-lethal correct?" Veto reply, "Of course, Luxia said not to give her any lethal bullets before she gets better." Void breathe a sigh of relieve and said, "I see."

Vain then spoke to Rexalia, "Come on now, remember what we practice and be calm." She said, "Okay," and she started swinging at the woman. She blocks with her steel whip and attacks in between every block. Rexalia was still a beginner in sword combat, so she was swinging slow, and leaving way too many openings. But she can't block all the time, so she blocks what she can, and continues to swing. What she couldn't block in time, Void shielded with a barrier. The man he was fighting was swinging tonfa's at him, but Void is a master of hand to hand combat. So he easily dodge everything, while giving him a slap in the face every now and then. Void and Lumia were both drawing out there fight, so Rexalia can get comfortable with having a team. But that only made their opponents more irritated and they tried to get around them towards Rexalia. But Lumia manage to keep her three opponents in her area and Void already pushed the man to the edge of the ring. Soon the woman, Rexalia was fighting, started to get back into her pace and swing her whip fast and hard. Pushing Rexalia back and making her block more.

Void then figured that was enough and kicked the man out of bounds. Lumia then smacked the three she was fighting out with her sword and Void stood between the woman and Rexalia. He then struck her right hand with his left, so she couldn't use her whip as he spins and elbows her out of the arena. Rexalia lowered her head and said, "I'm sorry Void. I tried my best and even then, you had to help me." Void patted her head and said, "Don't worry about it you're still new to this. So continue working hard and practicing with Vain and Lumia." She smile, nodded her head, and reply, "Yes." Lumia came over to them and looked around Rexalia for any wounds or bruises. Everyone stared at them surprised and speechless at how strong Void and Lumia were, but the other teams knew they had a weakness. Void heard them plotting to kidnap her and store her away somewhere, maybe dump her out in the open for monsters to eat, or sell her to some men to play with. Void clench his fist as his anger grew, but he instantly shook it off when Rexalia held his hand. She started pulling on his hand and said, "Come on, come on, let's go home and train some more."

Void laughed and said, "What are you a little child?" She blushed and said, "W-Well I've never had a proper chance to be a child when I was younger. So it's fine for me to act like one, for now, right?" Void reply, "I don't mind, somehow I'm starting to feel more and more like your dad or brother." Rexalia laughed and said, "Well you did say I was part of your family." Void nodded his head and said, "Yep, so let's at least watch big brother Vain's fight. Then we'll go home, eat big sister Luvia's cooking, and then... we'll practice." Rexalia nodded her head and they exit the arena and made their way into the audience.

The final battle of the day was Vain's battle. He, Tedgy, Melli, and the other two stood in the middle of the arena. The announcer then said, "On the left, we have the adventuer group Peaceful Nature. Joining them today another from the Faltorun family, Vain Faltorun." If the previous battles were any indication of the Faltorun's family strength then Vain will no doubt win. The battle was a five on five, but once the announcer said fight it was already overed. In five seconds Vain charged his engine blade with the wind cartridge, pulled the trigger as he drew his weapon, hitting the enemies with a crescent wind blast, knocking them out of the ring, and ending everything in ten seconds.

Vain then left the arena just as quick as he finished it and everyone in the crowd left as well. They all met outside of the coliseum and walked home together in a group. As they were walking Rexalia said, "That was a really fast win, Vain onii-chan." Vain looked at Rexalia then to Veto and said, "I bet you told her to say that." Veto smile and said, "Hey come on, it's every brothers dream to be called that by their little sister." Vain sigh and said, "That's your stupid dream, not everyone's. Besides the one working harder then us here is you kiddo, so good job." Everyone then congratulate her as well and that made her happy. Once they made it home and ate food, everyone gathered in the back. They watch over Rexalia's training and Void and Luvia worked on their own training. Once training was over, Vain took a look at everyone's weapon and their condition, and with all the preparation done, everyone went to sleep.