Levi couldn’t help but find himself giddy, having watched the last fight take place in the semi-final. His opponent for the semi-finals had been an easy matchup, the amoeba that had been eating up the other competition found out that Arin wasn’t an easy meal like the others. In the end, his slime had beaten out Selene’s creation, and she had simply congratulated Levi on the win before scampering off to the stands.

  “You’re always a surprise, Mr. Wilson,” Professor Thomas said as both of them watched the attendants carry out the two semi-final arenas and bring in the final one for the last match. “I’m sure you’re well aware of this, but every one of those in attendance is discussing your name and Mr. Quen’s right now. Any plans on who you might accept an offer from?”

  Levi’s heart was fluttering in his chest as he tried not to stare at the dozen plus representatives of different job opportunities that would come in the next month after graduation.

  “Honestly, Professor, I’m just wanting a job where I can continue learning and develop things that will help the kingdom. All I need is enough money to provide for my grandparents and myself. After that… I don’t know what else I would need.”

  A wrinkled hand patted him on the shoulder for a second. “That’s what I like about you, Mr. Wilson. You’re humble and remember how you got here. Good luck in this next matchup. I’m certain it’s going to be the hardest one yet.”

  The professor strode off toward Dax, Levi’s final opponent, and stopped, having words with the silver-haired student.

  Trying to ignore the silver eyes that had been staring at him, Levi lifted his jar upward, holding his slime before his face.

  “Listen, Arin, we've got one more fight left, and you’re doing great. I can see your color has changed a few times. I believe that means you’ve adapted or acquired something of those you defeated. This rotifer we’re going to be facing is… different.”

  Levi had managed to watch one of Dax’s fights as it came to an end. His creation was shaped like a clear teardrop and had a gold crown that spun around the peaked top. Dax had managed to alter the qualities Levi expected it to have. This one seemed to eat magic instead of just matter. All the other creations it had faced were nothing more than shriveled up husks when the match was over.

  How do you defeat something that eats the very essence of your being?

  Pondering that thought, Levi watched as they set down a ten-foot square stage that was raised about three feet off the ground. Then the attendants brought in the final crystal arena. This one was a nine-foot cube and the only space that Levi would be able to reach was the staging door on his side.

  So I can’t do what I did against Havel… this is all on Arin.

  There were different-sized pillars and even a few columns that ran up to the ceiling. None of it really mattered in this fight as Levi knew this was going to be a fight that took place when both creatures touched each other.

  “You have ten minutes before we begin the last fight of the tournament,” Professor Thomas announced. “Remember, once the tournament is over, no one but the family of the winner may come down. All those in attendance will be allowed in the grand hall to celebrate this moment and try to woo those students who have caught your eyes.”

  A few chuckles echoed around the room as those seeking to acquire new workers stayed in their seats.

  Levi moved to where Dax stood and held out his hand. “Good luck and congratulations on making it this far.”

  A pair of silver eyes narrowed and then a half-hearted handshake took place.

  “You do realize that your journey ends here,” Dax said. “I’ve watched your slime and seen how it fights. As impressive as it is, you know what my creation does.”

  “Eats magic,” Levi said. “I’d like to know how you managed to mutate the natural quality of the rotifer to one that can have that ability. Based on the research notes and studies that I found in the library, such a thing shouldn’t be possible without an extremely rare ingredient or two.”

  Dax sighed before he rubbed his eyes. “Levi… you do realize that even as smart as you are, you’re an idiot.”

  “I’m sorry, what?” Levi asked.

  “An idiot…” Dax continued. “You know who I am and you know who my family is. Do you really not believe that they would invest that kind of money to allow me to do something like this? Winning is everything. My Grandfather won this, my Father won this, and my oldest Sister won this tournament. I stand before you ready to claim the title again and prove to everyone in this room that the Quen family name reigns supreme in the metallurgy and alchemical department. You’re merely the last bump in the road before I enter the city as the victor of this tournament.”

  A pit grew in Levi’s stomach as he knew the truth of those words. There was an entire wall filled with hundreds of paintings of past winners of this tournament and the Quen family was considered a shoo-in this year. Part of Levi had hoped that someone would manage to take out Dax’s creation early on, yet it appeared that each matchup fit perfectly for it to win.

  Wait a minute…

  “How is it you didn’t face any creations that launched ranged physical attacks?” Levi asked.

  “I’m not responsible for the bracket creations,” Dax said with a smirk. “You’re not implying something like foul play, are you? That would be considered a slander to my family name and we both know how that would play out.”

  Keeping his temper in check, Levi shook his head, biting his lip to stay silent.

  “Good,” Dax said. “Now then, when we’re in the hall later, please wait till I’m done talking with all of the representatives who want to offer me a contract. It would be beneath you to stand there like an injured animal, licking its wounds and accepting whatever scraps I choose to turn down.”

  Levi’s stomach churned, causing his chest to ache as he watched the red-haired student walk toward the side of the arena where the rotifer would begin.

  It’s not fair… these… no matter how hard I try, it’s always some pompous ass like Dax or the others who seem to care where I come from. Why can’t they be more like Liora?

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Trying not to show his frustration, Levi moved toward the starting point for his creation and held the jar near his face.

  “Arin… I… I don’t know what to tell you. You beat that amoeba because you were the stronger of the two creations. But this one… It’s designed to kill things like you.”

  Levi watched as his red slime seemed to press downward into the jar, its shape shrinking slightly.

  “Don’t be scared,” he said, tapping the jar. “You’ve done amazing. I’m so proud of you and if there’s a way to win at all, you’ll need to find out on your own. I can’t help you. But…” Levi sat down on the platform and then placed the jar between his legs. Lifting the lid off, he reached into his pouch and pulled out six pieces of meat. “I promised you some treats and here you go.”

  Dropping them one at a time, Levi watched as the slime seemed to reach upward, gelatinous tendrils snagging each one as they fell.

  His… do I really call it a boy… I mean, I gave it my Father’s name… Of course, no one here knows that and I’m not telling Grams and Gramps.

  “Arin… if you can somehow pull this off… I’ll give you a whole piece of meat, not just these chunks.”

  The red slime began to bounce up and down, frantically and Levi couldn’t help himself when he started to laugh.

  “Calm down… if you don’t, you’ll bounce out of this jar and we’ll really be in trouble.”

  Slowly, the slime settled, and Levi pulled out the last few pieces of the moldy bread he had and dropped them in the jar.

  Putting the lid back on, Levi sat there, watching the creation he had made and trained over the last few months. So many parts of it had been challenging moments, learning to encourage Arin to do what Levi wanted it to do.

  Running his hands through his mop of brown hair, Levi stood and waved at his grandparents, putting on the best smile he could.

  Mom… Dad… If you’re watching… I could use a little help.

  Levi jogged up the stairs to where his grandparents had been allowed to descend for just a moment.

  “We’re so proud of you, Levi,” Grams said. “No matter what happens, you’ve done more than everyone else here.”

  “But winning would still be nice,” Gramps said, winking at Levi.

  “I’m going to do my best… but all that matters is I can get a job and take care of you two. I owe both of you that,” Levi stated.

  “Bah, you don’t owe us anything, son,” his grandfather said. “We’re proud of the man you’ve become. Still, if you do get a good job, I’d love some new shoes.”

  Levi rolled his eyes, knowing that what his grandparents were wearing was borrowed. Even then, the outfits they wore were muted browns and blacks, crafted from lesser-quality materials and nowhere near what almost everyone else present wore.

  “Maybe I’ll make enough to get you two pairs,” Levi replied.

  ***

  Levi bit his lip so hard that blood seeped out.

  The golden crown that sat around the rotifer spun again, sending out a wave of energy that assaulted the small blob of slime that Arin had broken off from its body. As the attack from Dax’s creation struck the glob of slime, it began to pull the piece toward it. Once it got next to it, the piece vanished completely, not a single trace of the sacrificed section around.

  Cheers and applause came from the onlookers as Dax stood beside the arena, his chest out and a smile that said he had already won.

  “You can do it,” Levi said. “Keep trying to find a solution!” He wasn’t sure if Arin could hear what he was saying over the sound of the crowd. Levi was just grateful that his creation had been able to release a small section the first time the rotifer’s attack had struck, sacrificing a tenth of its mass to escape the pull.

  Now Arin was leaving small pieces of itself behind, creating a trail of its body that moved from the center of the arena to the edge. The red slime weaved a trail around the pillars. Due to the amount of time it took for the Aether Rotifer to begin its attack on each piece, Arin had managed to set six globs down in a simple trail. It reached the corner of the arena and moved ahead some, depositing another drop and then moved back to the edge, where a piece had been dropped near a pillar.

  What are you doing?

  Levi watched as his slime climbed up the seven-foot-tall pillar.

  The crowd began to laugh as the slime appeared to be fleeing from a foe it appeared to realize it couldn’t beat.

  “Seriously?” Dax asked. “Is your creation as cowardly as you are?”

  Levi ignored the taunt and the laughter from some of the other students who were still watching. He could feel the stares of those he had beaten and wondered if there was any way Havel’s creation could have beaten Selene’s.

  Every matchup appears to have been carefully considered and weighed. There’s no way a physical, attack-based creation could make it past something like mine or Selene’s.. This whole tournament feels like a setup for Dax to get a painting of his face on the wall.

  It felt like his face was just as red as his slimes, but Levi didn’t say anything, trying to figure out what Arin was doing.

  Slowly, the rotifer made its way along the trail, its crown spinning up, and dragging the treat left behind by Levi’s slime.

  Eventually, it reached the pillar where the red slime was hiding and turned the corner. Arin had sacrificed more slime than usual to create that drop and as the gold crown began to spin, Levi couldn’t believe his eyes.

  It appeared that Dax and the others started to notice what Arin was doing. The red gelatinous ball started to roll toward the rotifer. As it did, the red slime moved to the side of its opponent, clinging to the edge of the pillar.

  Arin’s body began to transform, and Levi wanted to shout for joy as he watched the slime practice something he had tried to teach it hundreds of times.

  The red slime formed a point; its body began to shrink as it compressed itself.

  “Hurry,” Levi whispered, his eyes darting between his creation and the ball of slime almost to the rotifer.

  Arin’s grasp on the pillar vanished; a thick red wedge, almost like the horn on a blacksmith's anvil, fell downward. A crunching sound came as the wide tip connected with the spinning crown, and the rotifer made a loud screeching sound as the gold piece bounced loose, clattering along the floor.

  Arin’s mass tumbled to the side and it took a moment for both creations to start moving.

  No sounds came from anyone in the stands or on the floor where the arena was.

  The rotifer was lying on its side, the clear teardrop body looked to be slightly cracked and was trying to right itself.

  Arin’s shape transformed as it drew close to Dax’s creation. A thick, blunt piece, similar to the tooth that Havel’s creation had used, appeared. Over and over, the section slammed down onto the struggling rotifer, and after about the eighth time, a large crack appeared.

  Six more strikes were all it took before the tear shattered and a ball the size of a marble rolled free, white light erupting from it.

  “No!” Dax shouted, banging his fist against the wall of the arena. “Don’t do it!”

  Levi wanted to laugh, yet a part of him was caught off guard as Arin’s wedge paused above the glowing orb. Then it raised the wedge higher, getting thicker, and came down upon the glowing piece.

  A thunderous boom echoed around the room, and a flash of light blinded Levi. He blinked over and over, seeing nothing but spots as he tried to see what had happened.

  There in the arena was Arin, half of its body missing. Under it was Dax’s experiment, the light gone from its body. It slowly began to dissolve inside the red slime, which, once done consuming its fallen foe, bounced slowly toward Levi.

  “The… uh… winner, Levi Wilson!” Professor Thomas shouted.

  Levi didn’t care that only ten percent of those gathered clapped and cheered for him.

  Whatever just happened… Arin’s not just a normal slime.