Semi-Finals (3)

In the midst of the Semi-Finals, the energy in the arena was electrifying. The crowd was on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the first match between three powerful opponents. The stakes were high, as only one would advance to the finals and have a chance at becoming the ultimate champion.

Flying above the pit, the announcer's voice boomed through the arena, announcing the first match of the semi-finals. It was a 1 v 1 v 1 match, with only one of them being able to advance to the finals. 

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the first match of the semi-finals! We have three powerful and skilled warriors standing before you. In one corner, we have the Sage from the far east, known for his wisdom and strategic mind."

"In the other corner, we have the upcoming genius from the Elven Empire, Elrion, who has been making waves in the magical world with his incredible abilities. And lastly, we have a dark-horse, a mysterious contender who seems to have some unresolved business with the Sage. Who will come out on top? Let the battle begin!"

As the announcer hyped up the crowd, Willow noticed Elrion, the upcoming genius from the Elven Empire, making his way towards him. Elrion towered over Willow, standing at an impressive height even compared to other elves. Willow was taken aback by his sudden approach and was wary of his intentions.

'What do you want?' Willow asked, his guard up.

Elrion simply smiled and introduced himself in a gentle-manly manner. He was known as 'The Child-Genius of Great Elaria' and was quite famous in the Elven Empire. Many knew of his brilliance and talents, but none had ever seen him in person until now.

Elrion's eyes sparkled as he gazed at Willow's beauty. 'I have never seen anyone as beautiful as you, my dear Willow,' he said, his voice smooth like honey. 'I wish to take you as my wife and give you many children.'

Willow couldn't help but notice a bulge in Elrion's breeches and was taken aback by his bold offer. He was not used to such forwardness from strangers, let alone someone he just met. He was about to decline when Elrion added, 'The spirits have told me everything I need to know about your beauty.'

This statement caught Willow's attention, and he was intrigued. He remembered his grandmother's stories of how the spirits were their guides and protectors. It made sense to him that Elrion would trust them in matters of beauty.

Trying to hide his shock, Willow replied, 'But how can you see my beauty when you have never even met me before?'

Elrion just smiled and said, 'I do not need to see you to know your beauty. The spirits have shown me everything.'

As the conversation continued, Willow learned that Elrion was not just a genius in battle but also a master in the art of magic. He was well-versed in the ways of the spirits and their powers, making him a formidable opponent in any match.

Willow is about to decline Elrion's proposal, but then remembers what Ivanka, his mentor, had told him. She had warned him that the Sage, who he was about to face in a battle, would not hold back this time. The only way for Willow to defeat him would be to gang up on him or make someone else fight against him, thus reaping the rewards.

'Sure, I'll take your proposal and marry you,' Willow says, his voice firm. 'But, only if you defeat him.'

Elrion turns to see who Willow is pointing at and notices the Sage floating above the ground, meditating. He scoffs at the sight, a small smirk playing on his lips. 'Is that all?' he asks with a hint of arrogance. Willow nods, reminding Elrion not to underestimate the Sage. But before he can finish, Elrion cuts him off.

'Hmph, I'll make quick work of him. After all, the spirits deem it so,' Elrion states confidently. He then leaves a lustful gaze on Willow's body and says, 'You should prepare to receive my love after this match, my faire lady.'

A shiver runs down Willow's spine at Elrion's words and he can't help but feel a bit creeped out. He wonders if all elves are as horny and creepy as Elrion. He hasn't had much experience with elves, but the few encounters he has had were with extremely lustful ones. Then, it dawns on him that his beloved Ivanka was the one who created the elves. He remembers her own lustful nature and connects the dots as to why the elves turned out this way.

The announcer's voice interrupted their conversation, 'Oh? What's happening here?! Is the dark horse and the elven genius working together to defeat the- Wait no! The genius himself is striding towards the Sage alone!' The crowd's excitement reached its peak as the tension in the arena rose. Everyone was eager to see how this unexpected alliance would play out.

The announcer then declared that the semi-finals had officially begun, and the crowd erupted into cheers and applause. However, instead of rushing into battle, the Sage simply stopped meditating and pointed his katana at Elrion, asking for his name. Elrion scoffed at the question, 'Elrion. A fool would do good to remember it.' His words were dripping with sarcasm and disrespect, clearly insulting the Sage who remained stoic as ever.

The Sage's expression didn't falter as he asked, '. . .Do you believe you can win against me?' Elrion's confident grin never wavered as he replied, 'Of course. The spirits deem it so!' The Sage's response was a simple 'I see.' before he instructed Elrion to take his stance.

Elrion's reply was unexpected, as he stated, 'Stance or what-not, I don't really care about those. You can go ahead and attack me once.' His disregard for the Sage's skills and techniques was evident, and he seemed to be basking in the attention of the crowd. The Sage, on the other hand, simply sighed and took his stance, muttering a word under his breath, 'Domain.'

Suddenly, a dome appeared, enveloping the stage and everything inside it, including Willow who watched in awe as she witnessed the Sage's famous domain with her own eyes. The crowd gasped in amazement, and even Elrion's expression changed to one of surprise. This was a move that no one had expected, and it was clear that the Sage had complete control over this dominion.

The Sage's voice echoed inside the dome as he addressed Elrion, 'You put us in a space completely cut off from the outside. And, I assume you have complete control over this dominion.' Elrion's response was nonchalant as he shrugged, 'Well, that's impressive. But it won't change the outcome of this battle.'

The Sage's expression remained impassive as he retorted, 'We'll see about that.'