It was a new day and with the new day came the battle games.
The announcer was in his usual spot with a bright smile on his face as he oversaw the crowd.
Instead of his regular voice amplifier, this time he had an amplifier attached to a long stand which he held with one hand.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Orks, Elves and humans of all races, welcome back to the POWER GAMESSSSS!"
The crowd, even more ecstatic after the events of the previous day roared in response, their cheers filling the arena.
"This is a new day, and with the new day comes a new challenge." He began.
"Yesterday we had an all out brawl, People vs monsters in a fight for dominance. But today there will be a twist."
One of the doors that led to the arena was opened and out of it came two beautiful Orks dressed in showy clothing.
The two girls cat-walked to the center of the arena, the infamous gacha wheel in tow.
"Today we will be having our team battles! Now you are probably wondering what the gacha wheel is here for."
"It is simple, yesterday the matches were determined based on luck. But today the matches as well as the team partners will be determined purely by chance."
He paused, letting the crowd absorb the information.
"Now let us welcome our brave warriors."
Immediately he finished his announcement, Wise stepped into the arena besides Stanley, as well as all those who had made it past the first stage.
There were all types of people with them, burly men with countless battle scars. Young master's armoured to the teeth, female warriors that were as beautiful as they were deadly…
And old sages with countless years of experience behind their belts.
One among these groups of people would be Wise's partner in today's games. He secretly hoped it would be the old man, that way he would carry him through. But he knew the chances of that were slim.
The guards ushered them toward the gacha machines after which they formed a long line and began to take their numbers.
When it got to Wise's turn he spun the wheel like usual and waited for the ball to emerge, strangely unlike others, his ball took a little longer to come out.
He picked the white ball and flipped it to the side.
'Number 6…'
Wise walked to the side where Stanley stood. "What number did you get?"
"Eight," he replied. "My lucky number, what about you?"
"Six."
Stanley frowned, no doubt disappointed that they would not be teammates. The two of them stood in relative silence, waiting for the rest of the warriors to pick their balls.
After they were finally done, it was time to locate their partners.
Stanley's partner found him first, coincidentally, it was an actual old man… one with pure white beards and a wizard's staff.
The man walked up to him and looked him over while stroking his bountiful beard. "Kid do you know how to use that mace you have in your hands."
Stanley frowned. "I'm forty years old, I'm not a kid!"
The old man laughed, his voice rich and full of life which was strange considering his age. "I'm more than twice your age, so you are indeed a child in my eyes."
He stamped his staff on the ground and suddenly Stanley levitated. "Come, we have to discuss our strategy."
"Hey, let me down!" Stanley screamed, but the man paid no mind as he began to walk away with Stanley floating by his side. "Xanthos, do something!"
Wise simply waved at him with a smile on his face, he gave the old man one last glance before turning away.
'I guess I should find my partner…'
Wise began to shuffle through the crowd, searching for those who were alone since his partner would most likely be one of them.
As he moved through the crowd, someone grabbed his shoulder, causing him to halt.
"Number 6?" Came a deep voice.
Wise turned to get a better look at the man. He was tall with broad shoulders and well defined muscles. Behind him, a claymore was strapped, one that almost matched his height.
'Not bad, not bad.'
He didn't look very smart, but at least his partner was not a weakling.
Wise lifted his ball and showed him. "Guilty as charged."
The man's face suddenly twisted in confusion. "Hey, why does it look different?" He lifted his own ball and showed it to Wise.
There was not a single similarity between them!
Okay… admittedly, six and nine were very similar. But the organizers had made it clear by scribbling the letter 'nine' just below it.
'How did he miss that?'
Wise sighed and walked away in search of his real partner.
'If it's not him then who?'
Most people seemed to have found their respective partners already, or did the queen make it so that he wouldn't have one?
Wise was slowly begining to come to that conclusion when he heard a shy voice call out to him.
"Hi, umm, are you number six?"
'A girl?' He wondered.
When Wise saw the person behind him, he was taken back.
Chestnut coloured hair that had a gentle sheen, eyes the colour of a lush forest and a walking stick clapsed in her hand to support her movement.
It was none other than the elf who ran the drunk phoenix.
Wise's gaze darkened slightly.
He did not fail to notice her poorly hidden issues with Daphne and he was still very suspicious of how she had found out he was a dragon.
Throughout the events of yesterday not once had he seen the elf, not like she was in any condition to even participate in such a match in the first place.
How then was she here?
Was this really a coincidence? Or was there something deeper at play?
Wise greeted her with a smile just before pulling her closer.
"Tell me." He began. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Somewhere in the crowd, Daphne was watching the two of them with a dark look in her eyes.
The shadows stirred but remained still, for now.
Very soon, the shadows would dance— if need be.