1
The top spots were:
Me: 1st place.
Michael: 2nd place.
Lupin: 3rd place.
As for the rest, only 9 more contestants managed to finish; the others were either eliminated or gave up.
"Dylan!" Elizabeth called out.
She ran up to me.
"Hey," I gasped.
"What are you doing lying on the ground?" she asked, her breath coming in heavy heaves.
"Well... I don't have enough air left to actually walk," I replied.
My lungs were still burning. The Evos (who were hiding in my shadow) started firing off questions:
"Are you okay?"
"Are you dying?"
"Did they poison you?"
They were like those annoying ads for terrible mobile games; or worse, like Movistar customer service.
"I'm fine," I muttered.
I stood up, realizing I was in the same coliseum where the agency exams had taken place.
"Ladies and gentlemen, our 12 contestants have arrived! Phase two is about to begin, but first, a few words from our King."
The contestants and I fell silent along with the crowd. Suddenly, a booth appeared with two golden chairs, red cushions, and a silver table. The guest had a crimson beard and hair, with amethyst eyes and a wide smile. He began to speak.
"Hello, youth of the future," he said. "I am the King of Rastrean, Troy Crak."
After announcing his name, the King propped a foot up on the table.
"I hope you can compete graciously to fight for our nation."
Pure applause followed. Man, if being King is that easy, give the job to me; I could probably do it better.
"Now, randomly selected..." the announcer continued, "the first match will be..."
A roulette wheel appeared, wreathed in yellow fire with our names in red. It started spinning. I crossed my fingers, praying I wouldn't be first.
The wheel spun while the rest of us watched in silence. Finally, it stopped on two names.
Dylan Tyler vs. Lupin Witness.
Dammit.
"Wait, wait! THIS ISN'T FAIR!" I shouted.
Lupin looked me straight in the eye.
"Relax," Lupin said. "I won't destroy you... much."
With that, the others left us alone.
"Good luck," Elizabeth said.
"It was a pleasure knowing you," Elias added.
"...."
I looked at Lupin. He was a demi-human wolf about my height, with cream-colored fur and brown eyes.
Crap.
2
"Mom, where's Dad?"
Lupin had asked that question ten years ago—a question that broke his mother.
"He's dead, dead, dead," his mother repeated without stopping.
That man, who loved him more than anything in the world, had died in the eminent battle against Koygre.
That blue whale with red and white stripes—a plague that had to be killed...
Looking at his father's grave, Lupin wept. Sadness flooded him. Why? Why his father and not someone else?
"Because of the whale. Because of that damned whale," Lupin thought.
The days with his father had been beautiful and peaceful. The man would hug him, love him...
"Son, remember, I will always be with you."
"Damned whale," Lupin muttered, staring at the rainy sky.
Because of her, his father wasn't there. Because of her, his mother fell into depression. Now, he had to be the one to kill it...
Then, overnight, he was told he was a descendant of King Arthur and the future candidate for the crown.
It was strange. Usually, Wolfwiz weren't given such high positions. Although discrimination had decreased, it was still somewhat taboo for a Wolfwiz to be treated as an equal or better than others.
His father hadn't even had a dignified funeral because of it...
Anxiety hit his chest sometimes, like falling into an endless pit, until...
"Hi, I'm Michael Fronx."
That boy had his father's attitude and a beauty without equal. He... made Lupin's heart race. He couldn't take his eyes off him.
The two of them went on missions, fished, camped, cooked outdoors—everything.
"Lupin," Michael said. "I need you to do something."
Defeat Tyler and make him interested in Michael. Of course he would do it, because Michael... was his everything.
And right there, Lupin realized he loved Michael.
3
My finger hurts like hell, but it's becoming more "tolerable" little by little. I raise my key with the hand that has the broken finger.
"Fire Ball!" The flames manifest, emanating their typical heat.
I launch the ball, sending it tearing across the field with the sound of a projectile. Lupin dodges it with a simple water attack and incoming bubbling sounds.
This is my chance. He's close to the line, so I have to hurry.
"Air impulse!" Using my last two reserves (leaving me with only one), I'm propelled forward by the sound of a blizzard and the feeling of air flowing through my legs.
I reach Lupin and hug him with all my strength. I can't let this opportunity fly away. I cling on with the little energy I have left until I hear a sparking sound.
"Electric—"
"STOP! DYLAN TYLER WINS THE MATCH!"
I collapse to the floor. I feel horrible, like a trampled flower. Lupin looks confused, exhausted, and sweaty. It turns out one of his paws was outside the circle.
And that was how I beat the descendant of Arthur.