The 6 takes the secret boat that was hidden in an abandoned warehouse in the port of Circa. It was a medium-sized paddle ship that could take 10 people piloted by goblins. The island itself could been seen in distance at the port, but only their own ships had permission to enter. As they pass through the fog they reach the Arena Island and gets out of the ship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YD2c923mJTQ
Edward: Phew. Finally. These goblins scares the hell out of me.
West: Even though I don't support discrimination, I have to agree they are very disturbing to be close to.
Florencia: Hm. There is quite the crowd in there.
They see a giant colosseum with a giant line of people waiting for open that was surrounded by spotlights, food stands and even a large hotel with a bar.
Johnnathan: That must be the Circa Arena. I guess we have to wait in there.
Tenkai:...There is another entrance in there saying Participants Entrance...I guess that is our destination.
Edward: Well, surely it is better than waiting here. It is worthy a try.
They procced and enter that entrance. Inside there was a huge gate with the words "Please Knock if you wanna fight."
Johnnathan: Huh. Charmed.
He knocks the door and it starts to open and they are greeted by a muscular giant-sized purple goblin with large horns wielding a large bone.
Goblin:....
Edward:...Is that...A goblin? It is bigger than all of us!
Florencia: He is...Gigantic. It almost an demon.
Johnnathan: Er...We would like to participate.
Goblin:....*Huff*
He gives a follow me gesture and he takes they downstairs to another room. Inside they found a place similar to an office, with a dark-skinned man with sunglasses and a dread hair in his desk alongside a muscular man with a metal mask-like helmet with a black ponytail with two axes on his waist, wearing a shoulder belt, brown shorts and metal greaves.
???: Hey Wardrobe. It seems you brought fresh-meat just before the show huh? Welcome then. I'm Kane. Kane Corsus. I am the boss of this place. It seems you already are familiar with one our Staff members, Wardrobe.
Johnnathan: His name is Wardrobe. Fitting.
Kane: I know right. Next to me is the Staff Chief and my right-hand man. Gladius. These two will be competing today by the way.
Gladius:....
West: I didn't knew the staff participate on those fights.
Kane: Well, it's the Champion. He has been around for too long you know.
Johnnathan: So that is how things work here. Very well, where do I sign?
Kane: Woah, hold it there boy. Just because you have a 100 pieces of Gold in your head, it doesn't mean you will have special permission whatsoever.
Johnnathan: You know me?
Kane: Only a total idiot wouldn't. Anyway here is how things happens. The ZX tournament is a Survival Team Battle. It will start with a 8-on-8 battle, then we procced to to 4-on-4, to 2-on-2 and finally 1-on-1.
Johnnathan: I see, sounds very simple.
Kane: Here is the deal. The pairs are chosen by themselves. And there is a preliminary to choose what pair gets in the tournament. You get what I am trying to say? You have to pick a partner first.
Johnnathan: A partner?
Kane: Yes. And it appears you have like 5 candidates in there.
Johnnathan looks behind it and see his crew.
Edward: Woah, hold on. Are you saying we have to fight against Johnny in the end? No way.
Florencia: You can always forfeit.
Kane: There is a punishment for that.
Vanilla: What? Then don't put me in! I would never hurt Johnny!
Johnnathan: Hmm...What about you Tenkai?
Tenkai:...If possible I would like to avoid senseless violence...But if I may suggest, why not West? From what I hear, he is a natural born fighter.
West:...I'll take that as a compliment. Alright, I volunteer.
Johnnathan: Well, then it is West alright.
Gladius: I got it. Follow me. We need this preliminaries done as soon as possible.
10 minutes have passed since Gladius took Johnnathan and West and the remaining 4 were waiting for them. Florencia then takes a look at Edward sensing anxiety on him.
Florencia: Something the matter Eddie? You know you can't hide when you are concern.
Vanilla: Don't worry Howitz. Those two gonna be fine.
Edward: It is not they. You see, back in the line I saw a bunch of know people from Blitzreign. And from Drakland as well. Very rich people I mean. Some of they I even met once.
Vanilla: Come to think about it...I saw some influential people from Gel as well.
Kane: You guys never heard of this place's patrons? That is how this place is run. It has been like this since before I was this place's boss. Do you lot even know how long this place has been around it?
Florencia: How?
Kane: Thousands, Fairy. 20000 years to be exactly. This place was a sacred battleground that previous civilizations would send their most powerful warriors to determine the fate of a whole nation. Even ancient gods would play a role on these selections. It was just one of the many forms that one would crush other with their powers without things like wars. Of course those are histories and legends. The only thing for sure it is that for adapt to current times, it was turned into a bussiness nowaday.
Florencia: Bussiness...And what about those slaves? Is forcing someone to risk their lives in battle also a "bussiness"?!
She said with an angry tone.
Tenkai: Florencia-san...
Kane: Heehehehe...Hahahaha! I don't know how things works in Fairyland, but no bussiness exist without any exploit. In any kind of work, accidents do happen, right?
Florencia: Accidents? Murder is not an a-*Cough*
She have her attack of coughing during her anger.
Vanilla: Flor! Hang in there!
Tenkai: Does she always do that?
Edward: Yeah. Kinda very often.
Kane: What? You didn't told your friends yet? About Fairy Ashtma?
Edward: Fairy Ashtma?
Florencia: *huff* You two don't need to concern...Neither do you Mr. Corsus.
Kane: I thought you kin was supossed to be nice people. Whatever. I can't wait to see you the news that your 2 friends d-
Johnnathan: Hey guys! We're back.
Johnnathan and West came back unharmed.
Kane:...And there goes the excitement. Man, I prepared a cool evil laugh.
Gladius: These two beat the preliminary round in record time boss.
Kane: Yeah, I noticed. Okay you lot pass through through the right door. Gladius will take the rest to the spectators stand while you two gonna wait with the remaining 14. I'll give you 4 free stands as a reward for the record time. And by the way, your tag-team needs a name.
Johnnathan: Really? Well I didn't thought about that.
Kane: How about...Red Hound.
Edward: Hey, I kinda like it. It's short, easy to remember and has quite the impact.
Kane: Well then it is settled. Gladius...
Gladius:...This way.
On a cell room in the Arena's undergound, two female figures were resting on their beds. One with a long red hair with a broadsword on her side and the other wearing a violet shirt and white pants with a white hair locked that resembled various tails with a black band covering her eye wearing a yellow sleeveless shirt and a black short. The white haired woman calls the other attention.
???: Hey Schneider...Did you got sleep.
Schneider:...I think I got enough. Don't worry Kasa. I am not tired.
Kasa: It's finally the day isn't it? We can finally fight in the tournament after 10 years and we can finally have the chance to reach our freedom.
Schneider: You mean...One of us, right?
Kasa: I know. But I promise you. If I win, I'll collect enough money to pay your debt...Your mother's debt.
Schneider:...Same to you Kasa. If I win and don't pay your debt, you're free to kill me.
Kasa: Even if you forget about me, I will forgive you. You were my only and true friend.
Schneider: I say the same Kasa...
She opens her eyes and reveals her right red eye.
Schneider: For 10 years we fought and survived. We will win this!
Outside of Kane's office just after they leave, they come across a hallway that was splitted in two paths.
Gladius: You two go to the left. I will take your friends to the stands. Me and Wardrobe will join you soon.
Johnnathan: Understood.
Florencia: Johnnathan...West.
West: Yeah?
She approaches the two and kisses their cheeks.
Florencia: Good luck. I'll be cheering.
Vanilla:....
She leaves and Vanilla advances, giving Johnnathan a long kiss in his cheek.
Vanilla: Good luck again! >:T
Edward: (Lucky bastards...)
Tenkai: Do you regret your decision Howitz-san?
Edward: Shut it, newbie.
They all leave and Johnnathan and West looks at each other, slapping each other faces. As they were advancing to the waiting room, Johnnathan starts a conversation.
Johnnathan: So, that Kane guy, huh? I guess only Raven is worse than him.
West: Yeah. Still, he is a good samaritan compared to Raven. But...I don't think he is bad at all. My kind was always know for hiding things
Johnnathan: Yeah, Hid-Wait. Your kin? He's a Werewolf, too?
West: Yeah. How do you think he got the "Hound" in our team name?
Johnnathan: Huh. I wonder how many werewolves me and Henry would have avoided if you were with us. It seems we come.
They stop at a very large door that had two smaller doors within in.
Johnnathan: I hope this is for that Goblin.
West: He isn't that big.
The two enters and they hear someone shouting.
???: HEY, let me get things straight!!! You guys better quit it! Do you know why?! Because Rolf is here to Win! And no one steals Rolf's winning! So that is enough reason to forfeit! Because I gonna win no matter what! Trying to defeat Rolf is a futile and effortless effort that makes the effort of tying effortless! Rolf is being real here! Get it! Rolf is gonna smack you! And he is gonna shred you to pieces and put it again so he can crush it again! Wraaaaaaah!!!
They stumble accross a big muscular anthropomorphic goat with a shoulder belt, wearing an armored skirt and holding a giant round metal shield on his back shouting at the competitors with the same ignoring it. After Rolf finishes shouting he starts making push-ups with one finger.
West:...Is that a Caprex? From the Mox mountains?
Johnnathan: Yeah. The most show-off and knuckleheads beings in the entire world. *sigh* To think that Mox mountains was reaaaly close from home scared me.
West: Hmmm...Hey look cap'n. A Kroak.
He points with his look an antropomorphic frog with a very macho body with a mohawk next to a man with a long hair with long bangs playing a guitar.
Johnnathan: A Kroak, huh? They are natives to the Wildlands. Pretty far from home.
West: Hey...Isn't that your friend from Hurricane Port?
He points at a familiar face, Samantha, together what appears to be a machine in the form of a cilinder with wheels that resembled a Gremlin in general. She gave a short stare at Johnnathan and goes back at drinking a small canteem.
Johnnathan: I am more curious at her partner, actually.
Without they noticing a male hooded figure alongside from what appears to be a giant bipedal rhinoceros beetle with 4 arms stares at him.
???: If isn't the Red Beast? It seems the standards of this place is high as they say. Isn't that right, Wrat?
Wrat: I am more concerned with the champion. I heard it has been undefeated for 10 years. Don't go slacking off Petit.
Petit: Hey, don't go shouting my name like that. Hey. Alpha and Omega. Good luck for both of us okay?
He addresses to 2 masked hooded figures, one with the alpha symbol and the other with the omega symbol.
Alpha and Omega:.....
Petit:...Tch. Juniors don't respect their elders anymore.
Kasa who was with Schneider too notices him.
Kasa: The Red Beast...It just like the poster...Ah! Schneider, look!
Schneider: Hmm...Oh! That eye...
Gladius and Wardrobe shows in the room.
Gladius: Your friends are in the spectators stand now. I hope you two are ready.
Johnnathan: Believe me. I've been prepared for worst things.
Rolf: Gruh! Gladius!
He stops his push-ups and does a backflip.
Rolf: How dare you show your face in this tournament, huh?! Rolf will make it real here! Rolf and Fudgeball will turn you into paper scraps and-
Gladius: Yeah. Yeah. I heard the same thing last year when we threatened your partner after he made pudding out of you. Where is the man in question anyway?
Suddenly the room starts trembling slowly and slowly.
Wrat:...Hmm...Something big is coming...
Petit: Yeah...Feels like this place is going down.
The shakes stops and the whole door of the room opens.
*SLAM!*
Johnnathan: What?! That whole door opened.
Then a large black rabbit creature wearing a golden helmet mask with a shield on his right claw enters.
Gladius: Hey there, Fudgeball.
Fudgeball: *exhales*
Johnnathan: West...Is that...
West: Yeah. A Lagomoth. One of the rulers of the land. They are the most dangerous creatures in the world.
Johnnathan: Mom said it she once took one after 5 days in the Wildlands. Of course, she found it after 3 days.
West: I see. She was a Red Sword. That explains your potential, I guess.
Fudgeball: So you've really come it Gladius.
Petit: What a menacing voice...
Gladius: You still have time to quit.
The Lagomoth then raises his menacing voice.
Fudgeball: Who do you think I am? What do you think I am? Tell to that damn dog that he doesn't own my career! All these people who lots the Arena come to see me! If he wanna throw me out, then he lifts his lazy ass and come to fight myself! And not his puppets!...What is this?
He approaches West and sniffs him.
West: Hey, give some space.
Fudgeball: A Werewolf huh? You don't look to be in leagues with Kane. You know, I had a brother who was killed by one.
West: Hey, don't go holding a grudge or something.
Fudgeball: Hehehe. He wouldn't have died if he wasn't busy killing other 10 wolves of the pack that thought they could gang up on him. Of course, I killed the damn son of a bitch that survived.
West:...Good for you.
Fudgeball: Hmm...And what is this?
He changes his eyes to Johnnathan.
Fudgeball: This smell...The smell that reminds of two things...Hybrid!
Johnnathan: You know about it?
Fudgeball: Yeeees!
He screams so hard that everyone gets freezed.
Fudgeball: I hate humans. And I hate vampires even more. So of course the spawn born between both of they would be in my number one spot of Must Kill list
Petit: What? Offspring? What does that mean?
Fudgeball: Those two species always hunted us. Either for our fur or for showing off their strenght. It's funny how humans think that they can hunt us with no casuality bringing a hundred people with they and it always end it with more humans killed by on lagomoth. I wonder who is making popullation control...And speaking of which..
He changes his look to the Kroak.
Fudgeball: What is this frog doing outside of his pound?
Kroak:....*ribbit*
Guitar Guy:....
Johnnathan: Do you know about something?
West: Well, since the Lagomoths started to make Wildlands their territory, some change in the enviroment happened. That includes the decrease of swamp areas.
Then a radio sound started to come from the speakers.
Speaker: Attention fighters! The Circa Arena Ultimax Championship Tournament ZX will start soon. Everyone to the stadium!
Rolf: Alright, you heard the voice thing! Everybody to the stadium so me and Fudgeball can crashyour skulls! I'll make it r-
Fudgeball: Shut up Rolf.
Rolf:....Hum....What he said it!
Fudgeball: Hehehehehe....Today will be the finest anniversary. I will dream with Kane's face after this. Kehehehe...Hahahaha!
He and Rolf advances ahead. Schneider then starts breathing deeply.
Kasa: Schneider....
Schneider: It is okay...I was just surprised in seeing the champion is such an exotic opponent. Let's go Kasa.
All of the fighters exits the room.
In the Stadium, the spectators stands was full and all were excited for the start of the tournament. The 4 crewmates were in the front stands in a well viewed spot.
Edward: Well this is it. I wish Johnny and West the best.
Florencia:...*sigh* It should have be me with Johnny. If something happens to West, I...
Tenkai: Florencia-san. If that is the case, all the four of us are guilty as charged. And that is coming from the man who suggested West to participated.
Vanilla: Yeah, Flor. In fact, Johnnathan should had asked 2 of us to participated, not himself.
Tenkai: I may know him less than you, but he doesn't seem to be the man who would do that.
Edward: Yeah. That is him alright. Anyway, this crowd is quite loud. Aren't those people supossed to be nobles and all that?
Tenkai: This is a place where man can become beast and even demons. They show their true colour here.
Then a goblin goes to a stand above the gate of the stadium and speaks in a stone attached to what appears to be a microphone.
Announcer: Welcome everyone to the ZX Tournament! The annual fight-filled party that chooses the champion of the champions! The rules are simple. The last one standing wins! Now, let's begin by showing our Champion! Alongside his tag-team partner Rolf, there he is....Ladies and Gentlemen...Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuudgebaaaal!!!
Fudgeball and Rolf appears on the arena and he hone his claws, leaving a mighty roar.
Crowd:*Cheeers* Fudgeball! Fudgeball!
Florencia: No way...A Lagomoth.
Edward: What?
Vanilla: No way!
Tenkai: Very strange creature the West have.
Florencia: That is actually from the East, but they were originally from Fairyland. They are know as the "those who rules the land."
Vanilla: I finally see one...It's so scary. I feel very unsafe being so close.
Vanilla: Eddie. Will Johnny gonna be okay?
Edward: All I can tell is to believe in him and West.
Then the rest of the fighters enter the stadium.
Edward: Hey...Isn't that...The Orca Slayer?
Florencia: Yeah, it is definetly Samantha. And what is the deal with that machine she is with it?
Edward: The shape is kinda familiar...Hey, what is that big bug.
Florencia: Ah. That is a Steel Beetle. We live with they together in Fairyland.
Edward: it feels like a zoo here. There is even a frog guy there.
Florencia: A Kroak. It inhabits the swamps in Wildlands.
Vanilla: You know, that hooded man with the Steel Beetle is very familiar...Wait. Those other two. The Alpha Omega twins. They were underclassmen of mine in GMA...Now I remember! Petit Gateau! He was first at my class!
Edward: Woah! The first at your class! He must be hella strong, then.
Vanilla: I don't know about that. But the twins are definetly trouble. They all tied to first place last time I heard it. They have been done various difficult jobs back in their student's years.
Tenkai: Can someone tell me what is that goat thing?
He points at Rolf doing poses at middle of the stadium.
Edward: Isn't that...A Capraex?
Florencia: Yeah, the biggest knuckleheads in this world.
Vanilla: I am...Disappointed in a way.
Tenkai:...That swordswoman over there...She has the same eye as Johnnathan-san.
Vanilla: Huh?...Oh my! She is a Hybrid!
Edward: Wow. The standard of this match is real high.
Tenkai: And the other one...
Vanilla: Hm? Something about her?
Tenkai:...Nevermind.
Announcer: Alright! Let's begin phase 1. Remember in 8-on-8 team fight you are only allowed to face the opposite team members. Here is the shuffle! Leeeeeet's begin. The following teams are:
Team 1
Team 2.
Now, all the combatants in position!