"How may I help you?" The young receptionist in the anteroom of the local Warrior Guild smiled from behind her desk at Becky, Alyson, and Derrick. They were the first of the Fantasmal Fighters to arrive. Becky decided that it was best for them to travel to the guild in smaller groups to avoid being conspicuous.
"I'm looking to get the fighter's rank." Becky showed her the bacilla proudly.
"Ah, you'll need to see the rank clerk." She pointed to a hallway before sizing up Becky's companions. "Good morning Commander, are you here to enter a tournament in the Fighters League?"
Alyson nodded. The receptionist had easily recognized Mendala's Commander of Weather because of the grey crystal embedded in Alyson's forehead.
"Very good, Commander; right through that door." She pointed to a large oak door right behind her.
Alyson shed her grey robe, revealing the white skirt and lavender crop top underneath. She handed the robe to the young girl before shouldering her sword and heading for the door.
When she was gone, the receptionist turned to Derrick. "And what can I do for. oh." she blushed slightly as she looked up at him. "I'm guessing you want to become a black band."
"Black band?" Derrick repeated, uncertain.
"Yes, you do want to fight in the hand-to-hand combat tournaments, right? I mean. You definitely look strong enough."
"Uh, yeah."
"Well, you'll have to become a black band before you can do that."
"Okay, what do I have to do to become a black band?"
The receptionist pointed to another door on the far wall. "Go down the hall beyond that door, take the first right and talk to the band clerk."
Becky headed for the hall that the receptionist had indicated previously. "I'll see you later, Derrick," she said. "Try not to get too hurt."
***
"So Derrick, you want to become a black band." The band clerk was a medium sized man who wore a long white robe. He seemed stronger than his relaxed demeanor revealed and he wore a silver headband with an emblem of a white hand in the center.
"Well I guess so if that's what it takes to fight in tournaments. What do I have to do?"
"It's fairly easy. You just have to fight another black band and win. Don't worry, all the fights are monitored and if you lose, your opponent won't kill you."
Derrick grinned at the comment. "Well that's good to know. So when can we do this?"
The clerk stood, adjusting his robe. "Well if you're that eager, we can do it now. The way we pick your opponent is by asking for volunteers." He led him out of the office and down the hall. "We'll just go to the training room and see who wants to earn a few centars."
"You pay people to fight?" Derrick asked.
"Ah, just a little to the volunteers for band initiation."
"What about normal fights?"
"Usually the contestants put up an equal amount of money; we use candovie bills here, or two valuable objects. Whoever wins gets the money or objects, less a fee that the guild charges of course. The guild also handles the betting and stakes. It's a very lucrative business."
"I see."
The clerk opened another door that led to a room filled with exercise equipment. "Attention everyone, we have a potential black band looking for an opponent. Any volunteers? Remember you won't lose your rank if our young friend defeats you."
There was hearty laughter all around. All the men in the room looked significantly larger than Derrick.
"Hey, I'll fight him!"
Derrick recognized the voice before its owner appeared. "Rick Redstone, what're you doing here?"
"I should ask you the same thing, Black Knight. You don't really think you're good enough to become a band fighter."
"Why not? You obviously made it."
"Hey wait a minute," another man shouted. "That guy's the Black Knight. He beat Redstone in Weaver's Road."
"He beat Redstone?" There were additional outbursts.
"It was a fluke. This punk cheated." Redstone grabbed Derrick by the collar. "I think it's payback time."
"I see you two already know each other," the clerk said with a smile. "Well, save it for the ring. This should be amusing." Redstone did not release his opponent. The clerk grabbed him by the arm and forced him to release Derrick. "I said, save it for the ring, Redstone. Let's go."
Redstone rubbed his arm. "Why don't we make this interesting? I'm willing to put up 50 centars that I can beat this chump."
The clerk gave him an angry glare. "Redstone, that's unfair. He's not even a band yet."
"It's okay." Derrick pulled out an orcrus. He read the meter on the side that told him how much money it held. "I'm up for a little wager."
The clerk eyed Derrick incredulously. "A little unorthodox, but I'll allow it. It seems more fitting to take this to one of tournament rings rather than a practice ring."
He took money, in the form of candovies, from both contestants and they started out of the training room flanked by others who were talking excitedly. As the group proceeded down the narrow halls of the Warrior Guild, more and more people joined their entourage. Word quickly spread about this unique match involving Rick Redstone and the fighter known as the Black Knight.
Tournaments were held in large fighting rings that were surrounded by anywhere from 200 to 500 seats depending on the popularity of the fighters. There were over a dozen of these areas in the Leviton Warrior Guild, each contained in its own room. It didn't take too long for the band clerk to find a free place for an impromptu fight. He led Derrick and Redstone to the center of the ring as the spectators filed into the surrounding seats, taking up nearly half of the available chairs.
The clerk stepped out into the middle of the ring, truly perplexed at the turnout for the initiation battle. "We have an unusual match in the tournament ring, today. This young man, Derrick Banks, also known as the Black Knight, wishes to be black banded. His challenger is Rick Redstone."
Cheers went up all around. This promised to be an exciting match. The two contenders stepped out into the ring.
"Alright, you two: No weapons other than gloves or claws. Use of mentus or mandamus is prohibited. First one who doesn't rise in 10 seconds, loses. Oh, and as always have fun." The clerk grinned mischievously at this last statement, then stepped back to monitor the fight.
"I didn't think you'd be stupid enough to challenge me again, Redstone," Derrick said as he assumed a very relaxed stance. With his arms folded and his eyes closed, Derrick did not look as if he were about to fight anyone, but the Zormon fighting style, was unlike any other. Anyone who had seen Derrick in combat before knew he was ready for anything.
"Make no mistakes about it, Black Knight, this fight'll be different." Redstone balled up his fists and charged
"Sure it will," Derrick muttered. He grabbed Redstone by the arm and threw him to the other side of the ring.
Redstone picked himself up easily. "Is that the best you can do?"
Derrick folded his arms again. "Shut up and fight."
Redstone charged Derrick again. Instead of defending himself, Derrick simply slid to one side and let Redstone pass him. Cheers exploded from the crowd.
"A little trick I picked up from an animated friend of mine," Derrick laughed.
"Why don't you stop running?"
"Why don't you stop talking?" Derrick countered, folding his arms once again.
Redstone charged yet again. This time Derrick crouched low to the ground and tossed Redstone over his head. Redstone jumped up again and began to flail his arms wildly but Derrick easily dodged most of his opponent's punches. Finally he grabbed one of Redstone's arms with one hand and used the other to punch the bully repeatedly. Redstone staggered backwards but was still able to compose himself enough to charge Derrick again.
Derrick jumped in the air and aimed a flying kick right at Redstone's chest, knocking the wind out of him. Redstone fell to the floor and this time he did not rise. Everyone in the stadium cheered as the band clerk gave the countdown. Derrick bowed flamboyantly.
The clerk stepped next to Derrick after he was satisfied that Redstone had lost. "Well, it is my pleasure to introduce to you, the newest member of the Band League of the Warrior Guild, Derrick Banks the Black Knight." The audience was applauding wildly. The clerk looked down at the loser again. "Can I get a healer out here?"
Becky rushed into the ring to greet her friend. "I saw the fight. You really made a fool of that loud mouth." She pointed to the pin on her shirt. "I got the fighters rank by the way; wasn't nearly as exciting as your fight though. So what're you going to do now?"
The clerk handed Derrick his nearly 100 centar prize in the form of candovie bills. "Uh, you know what, I think I may stay here a while."
Becky laughed. "I'll make sure I place all my bets on you."
Jandor leaned on his staff. "Ace, just tell me; are we lost?"
Ace pounded his fist on the wall in frustration. "I helped design and build this place. I've walked through it over a hundred times."
Jandor put a reassuring hand on Ace's shoulder. "It's not your fault. We've been attacked at least fifty times. It's easy to get turned around. How big is this thing anyway?"
Ace sighed. "Let's just say Greengale could fit comfortably in a corner of this place."
Allen's mouth dropped. "You're kidding. We're walking around in an underground city?"
"It's got four floors and they're all mazes," Ace said with a resigned sigh.
"How do Davron's creatures survive down here?" Ashley wondered aloud.
"They're not real; they don't need food, sleep, or anything," Daniel groaned. "They can be down here forever."
"Okay Ace; we're lost. Now what? We've gotta get outta here because we can't survive forever. We only have a limited amount of food with us," Jandor reminded him. "So if you have any ideas, now's the time."
Ace composed himself. "Okay, the good news is at the base of many of the corners there are markers. I put them there myself. The markers tell you which way to go." Ace walked to the end of the corridor and pointed at the base of the wall. "See there's one right here. Unfortunately they're written in a language so old, even I've forgotten it. If I had one of my books here I could translate it. "
Ashley came up behind him. "It says 'turn left.'"
Ace looked up and smiled. "Daughter of the Sun! Glad to have you around!"
Ashley did a mock curtsy. "Well someone has to be the brains of this operation." She started around the corner then screamed at what she saw awaiting her. A fireball went flying over her head. "Englers!"
Three shadowy creatures rounded the corner. Englers were nothing more than empty black robes with glowing red eyes. They shot fire and ice from their armless sleeves and their bodies were immune to most physical attacks.
"Stand back!" Daniel summoned his blue flame to surround the group as one of the englers attacked with ice. The mentus fire absorbed it.
Ashley stepped forward first. "Mittius Mandamus Gravity."
The strong effects of the mandamus gravity held the englers in place.
"Mittius Mandamus Bolt." This command came from Allen.
In response a surge of electricity coursed through the engler party. All but one of them disappeared. The battle grew when four more monsters appeared. Two swamp zombies rounded the corner behind the remaining engler. Then, two giant slithering snakes with silver scales blocked the path behind them. Before anyone could react, one of the silver snakes spit a yellow liquid into Ashley's eyes.
"Ahhh!" Ashley began to wipe furiously at her eyes. The liquid was like burning acid.
Allen sat Ashley down on the ground. "Hold still, Ash." He passed a hand over her eyes. "Mittius Mandamus Cure." She could see again.
Daniel's blue flame shield had been hit too many times and it dissipated. Ace stepped forward quickly and the blue flame appeared around him. He shot the flame at one of the swamp zombies but it had no effect. The monsters were closing in. The two silver snakes and the remaining engler attacked simultaneously but Daniel summoned a brick wall to surround the group this time.
"I don't understand why the fire isn't working on those zombies," Daniel said
"It's not strong enough. We need something hotter." Ace said as the zombies pounded on the wall around them.
Jandor had an idea. "Ashley and Allen, use your mandamus fire. Daniel and Ace, use the blue flame. All of you attack those zombie things at the same time."
"Right," the others said in unison.
The wall disappeared. Ace and Daniel summoned the blue flame again and waited for their companions.
"Mittius Mandamus Fire," Ashley and Allen commanded. At the same moment Ace and Daniel shot their blue flames. The zombies could not survive the intense heat and vanished instantly.
Jandor used the Fantasmal Staff's energy blast on the two snakes and they disappeared as well.
Another mandamus lighting attack issued by Allen and the final engler was gone. Everyone checked to make sure they were unscathed before continuing down the corridor.
It wasn't long before more trouble arrived. "Guys we're being followed," Allen informed them. "Rock walkers, five of them."
"You guys run. I'll hold them off." Ace reached inside his now yellow robe and pulled out a soccer ball, but it wasn't just any soccer ball. It was an exact duplicate of Bernie's lithanal soccer ball. He placed the ball on the ground and kicked it expertly at the first rock walker. The ball bounced back after dispatching the creature. The remaining four rock walkers lumbered forward with their massive arms outstretched.
Allen called back to him. "Ace hurry, we've found the staircase leading down to the next level."
Ace discarded the ball and made a hasty retreat. "They're still behind us," he told the others.
Allen turned to face the advancing enemies. "We'll just have to slow them down. Ash, double wind."
"Mittius Mandamus Wind," they commanded simultaneously.
The double wind command had the desired effect; the rock walkers were blown halfway down the corridor. The group hurried down the stone stairwell but would soon be stopped again.
There was a loud thud on the stairs below them. Four metallic creatures blocked their path. They looked like small mechanical rock walkers with razor sharp metal teeth and claws.
"What're those things?" Jandor asked as the huge creatures took another step towards them, which was accompanied by another loud thud.
Daniel was already scanning the mentant realm. It was the best way to learn what type of creatures they were facing. "They're called mechazombs and I think they attack with."
One of the mechazombs began to glow bright blue and then shot an electric beam at Ashley. She was thrown backwards by the blast. She hit the rock wall so hard, it cracked like glass.
"Wh. Why does it always ha. have to b. b. be me?" Ashley was stuttering uncontrollably due to the electric shock and sparks flew from her hair. Her whole body felt numb from the force of the blow.
Allen managed a light chuckle as he yanked her off the stone stair. "Mittius Mandamus Cure. I'm beginning to wonder the same thing myself."
Ace held onto the wall as the mechazombs took another step. "You're the Daughter of the Sun; it's you they're after, remember."
"Uh, guys, we've got more problems." Daniel pointed behind them. The four rock walkers had returned to block the way they had come. They were surrounded yet again.
Ace couldn't contain his mirth. "Looks like we're caught between a rock and a hard place."
"Not funny, Ace," Jandor admonished as he dodged an electrical blast aimed at him.
"Sorry," Ace said seriously. "I think I can stop those mechazombs. Mittius Mandamus Water." Water cascaded from an invisible source above the mechazombs and they instantly exploded, scattering debris everywhere.
"Allen can you hold them off for a while?" Jandor asked, pointing to the rock walkers. "I can take 'em out; I just need some time to concentrate."
"Mittius Mandamus Safe." A green shield appeared between them and the advancing rock walkers.
Jandor raised the Fantasmal Staff and soon it was glowing bright blue. After almost a minute of intense concentration he let out four tremendous blasts of energy that dissipated the green aura and knocked down the rock walkers, immediately dispatching them.
"Every time you use that it seems to get more and more powerful," Allen said, impressed.
Ashley took a seat on one of the steps leading down to the next level. "This is ridiculous. I've never fought so hard in my life."
"Well you didn't think Davron was going to make it easy on us, did you?" Ace almost shouted in exasperation. "He wants you dead, Ashley. Haven't you figured that out by now?"
Ashley nodded vigorously. "Right, well he won't get the chance, not today. Come on you guys, we've got a jewel to find." She stood and started resolutely down the stairwell.