the Mini-Crusher-Tournie - 19. Second Match

Jane could hear the audience chanting as she paced by herself in the locker room. She hated having to wait for her fights. Half an hour intermission and all she could do was pace and wait. Even with what Blake said, Jane had a case of nerves in her gut. A hollow feeling of anticipation and fear. I can do this. I can do this, she kept reassuring herself.

Part of her wanted this – to face the monster who almost killed her friend and dish out some justice of her own. Ophelia was bad, there could be no denying. At the same time however, Jane felt she had no right to fight ever again because of Evan. As bad as Ophelia may be, she hadn't killed anyone. Jane could not pass judgement. And she didn't want to be a killer, regardless of the dangerous situation she was in.

"Jane… it's time." Blake appeared by the doorway. "Be sure to win. The reputation of Zorgon is in your hands. No other Zorgon crusher has made it this far. Only you." He gave her the thumbs up.

"Thanks Blake." She didn't give a crap about his pride as an elemental, but she smiled anyway and set out.

The light of outside was bright. Jane's heart was beating in her chest. A wave of outdoor air hit her along with the raucous shouting of the viewers. It was something else to be surrounded by so many people, all eyes on her. She forced her gaze forward, to Ophelia who was walking from the other entrance. Those yellow eyes were hateful. This fight was going to be all-out, the winner had a shot at the championship after all.

Lyle might not be able to beat Ophelia. Yellow lightning would only annoy her. It'd have to be blue lightning, but Ophelia could fly. It was up to Jane to stop this monster.

"It is time for the second fight!" Chris was announcing this battle, his voice reverberating through the stands. "Jane Flame versus Ophelia Langdon. Begin at the siren!"

"Ready to end up just like your friend?" Ophelia taunted with her usual bloodlust "Except this time, you're going to die."

"Bring it on."

The countdown began. Flashing red numbers: three, two, one… go-time.

Jane punched a burst of red fire and Ophelia leapt from her podium and into a crouch. Her body convulsed and there was a sound of tearing material. From behind Ophelia a long black devil-tail swished out.

"Wha…" Jane hesitated. She thought for sure she'd have time to hit Ophelia before she could change. She's learnt how to partially transform! That means she can stay conscious!

Ophelia raced side-on, arcing toward Jane instead of moving in a straight line. A strategy; Jane felt herself minutely panic before regaining composure. She stepped forward with a punch, a flamethrower of scarlet streaming toward the Shedim girl. Ophelia ducked away.

She was unnaturally agile, flipping back and away. When she stopped to crouch before changing direction Jane noticed the black veins on her face. She was gritting her teeth as if in pain – perhaps fighting off a total change? Jane stepped forward and streamed more fire. Ophelia ran in her arch and Jane turned her arm, the fire moving to follow but also obstructing Jane's vision. When she lowered her arm the scarlet blaze scattered into embers – and suddenly Ophelia lunged close.

Panic. Jane leaned away from a clawed swipe. Ophelia grunting as she twisted into a kick, slashing her hands like vipers. Jane ignited both hands and went to attack, Ophelia blocked by deflecting her upper arms, though still cringing from the heat. Jane punched fire forward, Ophelia falling onto her tail to dodge, kicking Jane in the chest with both feet.

She oofed and flew. Landing on her back but streaming twin bursts of fire as she went down. Ophelia ducked back from the blaze, red light setting the area aglow. The sounds of the audience were muffled throughout the dangerous scuffle and hissing fire. While still on her back Jane waited for it to dissipate. Ophelia was a good distance away, she was still human but she'd grown her wings. More veins riddling her body. She opened her mouth and snarled, no longer capable of human speech. Jane could tell that despite the physical pain in her eyes, there was still human intelligence there. Jane scrambled back to her feet, flicking her black ponytail over her shoulder.

"It's not just that you don't want to transform cause you'll be unable to move for a few seconds." Jane realised. "If you give in and transform… your Shedim brain won't be able to remember the strategies you prepared to beat my red fire. You'll attack head-on and run straight into it."

Ophelia gave a horrific squeal of anger, her leather wings stretching outward. She was impressive and terrifying. Jane inwardly corrected herself – Ophelia wasn't completely herself, she was influenced by the animal instincts, but still together enough to fight with her head.

A single wing-beat shot Ophelia off the ground, she whipped up several metres and started flapping to keep herself airborne. Jane clenched her fists and ran forward. She punched blasts of fire and Ophelia weaved to dodge them all. She blasted off into the air, Jane turned as she ran and cursed to herself.

The cube-room of the initial rounds and the dojo of the tertiary rounds didn't compare to here. Ophelia flew far and wide, circling from one end of the colosseum to the other, so high up she was a thumb-print. If Jane could use blue fire she could fly up after her, as it was she only had her current skill level.

Red fire ignited and condensed into a ball. Jane focussed on compressing the fireball further. A smaller explosive could knock Ophelia off-balance without killing her. The Shedim turned and finally flew closer toward her. Jane sprinted with the fireball, she waited for Ophelia to get closer then she drop-kicked her attack mid-stride.

Ophelia easily swept aside in the open sky. When the fireball exploded into a swell of red her wings swerved and she was forced into a downward course. Jane didn't slow for a moment, she hurled several fireballs, Ophelia barely swerving to dodge. She finally arced around and Jane chased her with a flamethrower of red.

Ophelia escaped, gliding to the ground and landing on her hands and knees. She was too far for Jane's range. Ophelia seemed to shudder and change. Was she far enough to transform to full power before Jane could get there? The Flame girl sprinted as if her survival depended on it. But she had a sinking feeling when Ophelia's wings rose. Jane skidded to a stop with exasperation when that long monster-head turned to her, the eyes of her sclera black.

She's transformed. The monster roared at her like it was the first time it'd noticed her there. Now awake the demon turned to face her and spread its wings. Jane held her ground and put a hand behind her back, her hand igniting. She would wait for the opportune moment…

Another metal-tear screech. Ophelia dived directly toward her, tail whipping behind. Jane crouched, a primal fear filling her like a solid. Taking a chance meant you could die, but freezing up was certain death. When Jane revealed her hand the monster's eyes widened at the fire.

The demon swerved, Jane ran and jumped. A putrid squeal as Jane send a flaming karate-chop through Ophelia's wing, almost severing it.

Black monster blood hit the dirt and trailed to where the Shedim crashed. Jane's flaming hand burned through the flesh as if it were butter, but Ophelia didn't combust. The demon writhed and screamed, loud enough to hurt Jane's ears.

She spun and splayed her palm. Her hand ignited, Jane stared through her fire at the injured girl who almost killed her. Thoughts started rushing through her head. She thought of Leaf, lying with his insides sliced out. She thought of Evan, burnt to death. She thought of what Chris had said, about the intrinsic difficulty of Ophelia's brain. Her hindered humanity. The Shedim continued to suffer and Jane extinguished her fire, she lowered her arm.

"The winner is Jane Flame."

The medical drones flew fast to the injured combatant. She swiped at a robot out of mindless rage and pain. Before the machines could help her they had to shoot her with another tranquiliser dart. Ophelia's screams quieting as she slowed. Jane turned away at that moment and made her exeunt under the chorus of viewers.