Chapter 162 - 158: Tournament Finals: Bottomsley Battle

Chapter 162: Chapter 158: Tournament Finals: Bottomsley Battle

Ophion hisses, his strong python body on full display, while Zuba flashes a grin in the blue portion of his face. Without preamble, they head to the platform.

Gussie flits to the platform and Demos climbs up, with Lamant and Vedette already waiting for them. Terrah and Martyn look way too aristocratic for the arena, especially considering that their beasts dispatched their own opponents in record time.

The announcer calls out, "Ophion and Zuba have distinguished themselves up till this point, but they are facing two serious contenders. Gussie, for her size, is quick and sharp, while Demos has shown a ferocity of spirit that always inspires. Still, Zuba has squeezed multiple opponents until they surrendered--similar to Demos’ and Gussie’s teammate Peridot. Zuba has the cunning brain of a baboon."

The platform levitates, and I hold my breath. I’ve chosen to watch from the stands with Lightning and the cubs. A different view and comfort with my family rolled into one. Finn and Leonie climb on top of me. Lightning nuzzles me.

"Stay steady, Blaze." Maartenwitz’s voice is unswerving. Unwavering.

For an NPC, he’s proven to be an MVP. How did we get so lucky in a world that System controls? Maybe the Mushroom Man and the forces behind him were responsible?

The platform has arrived at its destination, and the announcer calls out the now-familiar refrain. "3...2...1...BEGIN!"

Our strategy is simple. Outlast Ophion and Zuba.

I track Gussie winging her way around, an orange and red comet whizzing around buzzing Ophion and Zuba. Lifting in the air, Ophion snaps his jaws on empty air while Gussie does a continuous loop-de-loop. Meanwhile, Demos charges Zuba, who swipes at him with long, sharp claws. Rolling aside, Demos snaps his own jaws on Zuba’s tail, but the baboon dodges just in the nick of time.

Screeching, Zuba leaps on Demos’ back and clings like an octopus, while Ophion knocks Gussie out of the sky with his tail.

NO!

Not Gussie!

Dizzy, blindsided, Gussie flies around drunkenly before righting herself. How did she not get crushed? The glow from Lamant’s hands and the gossamer weave around him give me the answer. Clever Lamant shielded Gussie.

The announcer provides a commentary. "Lamant has crafted an excellent weave to protect Gussie from being swallowed by Ophion. She is too small for his coils to easily entrap her without the danger of crushing her. So, his powerful disabling bite and tail smack are good options, if most unpleasant for Gussie."

I roar. [GUSSIE! Are you well?]

[Everything is spinning. But I’m fine.]

Plucky Gussie. She takes her punishment and keeps on being awesome. Maybe her small size is an unexpected asset?

Ophion’s fangs glisten. [You can’t evade me forever.]

For a moment, Gussie does not have a snappy comeback. His tail strike has momentarily disoriented her. Instead, she flies out of range.

[Stay still, for Primal Beast’s sake!] Ophion doesn’t have any urgency in his voice, As if he trusts that she will eventually tire and become an easy target. [Do yourself a favor.]

Gussie shouts out loud, "NO! You will not take me! Not alive! WAIT. You can’t kill me. It’s against the rules. So, you will not take me."

[Do you ever stop talking?] Ophion’s fangs glisten. [It’s just babbling. And it’s useless.]

Gussie puffs out her feathers. [Rude!]

[GUSSIE!] Lobo is hard-nosed. [Don’t lose focus. He’s trying to distract you with his insults.]

Meanwhile, Zuba clings to Demos’ back like a bronc rider. If it weren’t such serious business, I would find this visual hilarious. Growling, Zuba pulls handfuls of Demos’ fur while Demos shakes and shimmies.

Gussie’s talons clamp on Ophion’s coil and squeeze tight before she starts flapping upward, trying to carry Ophion upward and off-balance. Heavy, Ophion drags down Gussie, but she valiantly rises. Yellow-green python eyes fix on her. Meanwhile, Zuba’s brown eyes lock onto Ophion and Gussie.

Oh no. The baboon is a multitasker.

[DEMOS! Get rid of him.]

An "ufff" from Demos. [His claws are permanently tangled in my fur! What do you suggest?]

[Shooting Stars?]

He growls. [Am I supposed to immolate myself?]

He has a point, but we need to get the upper hand. [It’s better than having him ride you around like he’s a cowboy!]

With a grunt, Demos sends a cascade of shooting stars up into the air. A shower of fiery stars, and they all land with unerring accuracy on Ophion, who screams and howls and springs off Demos’ back.

I growl in triumph. [You’re welcome!]

[Yes, yes, yes. You had a good idea. Do not let it go to your head.]

Crazily, Gussie flaps to evade Ophion, plummeting in freefall. A scaly ribbon, Ophion drops down, wriggling, coils snaking out to sntach Gussie.

NO!

Ophion caught Gussie! Loosely, it must be said, but he caught her. She squawks in indignation. "Let me go! Not fair!"

[GUSSIE!] Lobo radiates concern now. [Get free! He can’t kill you according to the rules, but he can still deal a lot of hurt.]

Like a shot, Gussie bursts free of Ophion and rockets away from him, then dive-bombs Zuba and pecks him on the nose. Screeching, he swipes at her, but she’s too agile for him. and then Demos’ teeth sink into his arm. Howling, he jerks back his arm and swipes at Demos. The two of them lock in furious biting and clawing combat while Gussie launches aerial assaults.

Completely shut out of this fracas, Ophion loops around everyone, creating a living scaly cordon, waiting for the right moment. Maybe he is communicating with Zuba privately and timing the baboon’s exit so that he can capture Gussie and Demos. The victory shall be his alone!

However, there are two problems with that strategy. Zuba has taken Demos’ attack personally and is embroiled in tearing him down. Also, Gussie hovers above the chaos. Gradually, Ophion’s coils draw tighter and tighter, but Demos and Zuba are moving around far too erratically for Ophion to get a secure hold.

Then, Demos and Zuba accidentally sink their teeth into Ophion at the same time, and Ophion thrashes wildly. Gussie shoots into the airspace above them achieving new heights. Circling, she seeks her target: either Zuba’s nose or Ophion’s coils. Wounded in two places, Ophion is not having a good day. Scales scatter everywhere.

Lobo directs the effort. [Demos! Good one. Gussie! Double down on the attacks!]

Vedette looks like she’s pushing energy into Demos’ attacks, while Lamant swirls energy in the air. Electricity sizzles around us, so strong that my fur sticks up. Demos’ fur and Zuba’s fur also stand up in spikes.

Demos keeps biting and using his bear strength on Ophion, while Zuba goes after Gussie, leaping in the air with prodigious monkey agility and muscles. Diving in a kamikaze run, Gussie strikes Zuba on the nose and face again and again and again. With a mighty swipe of his claws, Zuba knocks Gussie down. CRASH! Gussie sprawls on the hard platform, her wings splayed.

Rushing over, Lamant kneels to make sure that Gussie is not seriously injured. Or worse. Scooping her up, he cradles her like a child.

The announcer has gravitas in his voice. "Gussie is down! Gussie is down. Is she down permanently? Lamant has her safe and sound."

Terrah and Martyn pause, maybe remembering the ill-fated conflict over the buffet at the party. They need to make sure that Gussie is not dead or seriously wounded. Waiting and watching, they actually seem concerned.

Coughing. Gussie rises up and flaps to show that she is still a contender!

The audience cheers wildly. Somehow, the idea of Gussie, a small parrot, not getting crushed resonates with the spectators. They like her being the feathered version of David versus Ophion’s scaly Goliath.

And this bird still has tricks up her winged sleeve, because she pecks near Ophion’s eyes, and Ophion hisses in agony. Next, Gussie pecks in the vicinity of Zuba’s eyes, and he wails and covers his eyes. Seizing on the distraction, Demos slams into Zuba, who flies backward, rolling repeatedly, closer and closer to the edge. Roaring, Demos gallops toward Zuba and slams into him again.

Screeching, Zuba manages to brake, but is practically teetering on the edge of the platform. Meanwhile, Gussie dives toward Zuba to startle him. With another screech, Zuba rolls to the side and plummets off the platform. Martyn and Terrah gasp in terror.

Briefly, Zuba’s claws scrape against the platform before he plummets toward the arena floor. Ophion leaps into the air, afraid for his teammate. However, a dragon shoots down and plucks Zuba out of the air, then flies him away since he’s been defeated. Terrah Bottomsley hitches a ride on the dragon.

The announcer shouts, "One down! Zuba is down! Ophion still has a chance to defeat Gussie and Demos. In the final rounds, beasts are allowed a little more grace. House Bottomsley could tie with House Riddlehoeven-Lammermoor."

Our houses could tie? No one mentioned that little wrinkle! What if we both end up facing House Milian together? Or a three-way fight?