Season 13, Week 3
Rune Walsh
(Phantasy Star 4)
 
The carrier of Lutz's will enters the arena once again. With a victory against Lexis under his belt, Rune's got to be feeling confident. His next challenge, though, will be nothing short of epic. The esper faces the noble and rash ninja prince Edge, whose legendary shadow techniques are more than a match for Rune's impressive array of spells. Still, the wizard knows he will remain triumphant: despite Edge's skill, his magic defense is infamously poor - a weakness Rune can easily exploit. While this may very well be the hardest battle Rune has ever fought in the RPGDL, but it's also one he's not going to lose.

V

S

Edge's brutal win over Rude sent a message that the Ninja Prince isn't being playful this season. With both his pride and Rydia's fair hand on the line, expect only the best in his short fight against Rune. His nasty status claws are accurate enough to be threatening even with the Esper's status-resisting equipment, and two of his Fuma easily overcome his foe's pathetic durability. For Edge, this is a chance for both vengeance and love - Rune's close friend was who handed him his first DL loss, and Rydia has promised him her hand if he could survive this fight. In the face of all this, a mere status attack isn't slowing him down!


superaielman
Rune was prepared for this battle. He had come to his seat by the ring a full 12 hours ahead of time, and was just going to sit.. six and prepare. Sit and focus. He only had one chance to fell the fearful ninja and earn his upgrade, and he wouldn't let this chance slip through his fingers. Striking his usual stylish pose, Rune sat down and fell into his magic... deeper and deeper...

"Hi, Rune!" The sound of a young teen's voice broke the esper's laser like concentration, sending both his mood and grasp on magic to the floor in jagged shards. "I thought you might be here. Why be along right before a big battle? It's no fun to begin an adventure like this by yourself! Why, this reminds me of the time I scaled the End of the World..."

Rune grabbed his head in pain. This moron's blathering was more painful than Zio's deadly energy attacks, Lasheic's otherworldy strikes, and it even outmatched the very touch of the Profound Darkness! There was only one thing he could do. Rest be damned.. a few uses of Legeon wouldn't affect him much today. As he prepared to blast Justin out of the arena, he sensed an immense wave of energy behind him. Groaning, Rune looked around, and saw a very annoyed looking Feena glaring in his direction. As soon as Justin stopped talking and paided attention, Feena smiled at her husband.

"Sweetie, go get yourself something to drink. I want to speak with Rune alone."

Justin left in a hurry. As soon as that happened, Feena's wings came out, and her face contorted. "If you hurt my husband in the slightest way..it'll be the end of your world Am I making myself clear? Be nice to him."

Rune's a powerful mage. The beck and call of various magics are at his fingertips, along with a few crippling statuses. Even with that, he knew he stood not a chance against Feena, and her insane assault. The esper was trapped. If he left the arena, he'd lose face, which he can't stand. But... if he listened for Justin for 12 hours, he'd either be insane or death. Sighing, Rune sat back down, and attempted to find his magic center. Just as he had found his grasp on his spells... "Rune! Hey Rune! I found this great new drink on the way, and it was an adventure getting back here! Why.." His hold on the magic broken, Rune sighed and put his head in his hands. It was going to be a long day.

-11 hours later-

Edge stood in his room, a frozen expression on his face. He knew that Rune was a far tougher foe than Rude, and that Rydia's fair hand was his prize if he could take down the Esper. Strapping on his catclaws and making sure he had enough Fumas was the last bit of prep work he needed. All that was left was to go out to the arena, and see if he could find any... advantages, before the match started. Edge sprinted out of his room, with the grace and silence that is a ninja trademark. Just as Edge had gotten a few feet away from his room...

*CRASH*

The Ninja Prince turned around, and was utterly stunned at what he saw. Where his room stood, there was a giant, several stories tall monster. It was covered in red scales, and seemed to create a whirlpool around it's feet. In front of the monster stood an eldery looking man in a brown robe, with shining armor underneith. In his hands stood a massive sword, with glowed with a faint holy energy. It only took a second for Edge to figure out what he faced, and why. For first time since Rydia had kissed him over a week ago, Edge's calm mask slipped.

Orlandu saw the look under Edge's veil, and laughed. "Boy, I see you remember who I am. That's good, because I won't want to have to waste time on you. I've decided that your little run through middle ends here. I have just the creature to assist.. meet Ruby WEAPON." Orlandu patted the creature on it's foot, and got a earth shattering roar in response. "It seems that he wasn't happy that you were the one who slayed Emereld WEAPON, boy. You can can talk about your differences.."

"Gulp..." Edge was a bit scared. Fleeing in front of him was his chances at a middle title. His chances with Rydia. His chances to live to see another day. And unlike when he fought Emerald, he had nothing besides his basic DL equipment on him.

The ninja made a dash to try and take out Orlandu, but was stopped by yet another roar of Ruby WEAPON's. Orlandu walked behind the creature, and addressed Edge. "Boy, you've got two hours to make to the arena. Oh... and don't try to escape. I have the area sealed off, and security won't respond. Being a godlike champ has it's perks, eh? Orlandu pointed Excalibur up to the high ceiling. "This building's also got an enchantment spell cast upon it, so that your 'battle' with the dragon will be broadcast throughout the arena." Orlandu laughed, and reached into his armor. He took out a battered album, which Edge knew as soon it was taken out. "I'll be holding onto this for you. Try and take it back from me... boy." Orlandu left the sealed off area, with his laughter burning in Edge's ears.

"He... took...my...photos....again...." Edge's eyes turned a bright shade of red, and all fears fled from his body. His prized possessions were stolen.. again. His chance at Rydia.. stolen again. There would be revenge.

With a twisted grin, Edge stood tall and glared at the WEAPON that stood in his way. "I'll show you the true power of the Eblan Ninjas!"


-In the arena-

Rune's slight doze was broken by the sounds of the arena, slowing filling up for his epic match. Of course, they, the people, had come to see Rune smite his way to glory.
"And then, the enemy attacked again! I thought I was a goner at that point.." Rune's train of thought was broken by the warbeling of Justin. "He's.. still at it?" The esper looked completely stunned. He had fallen asleep a few hours ago. Apparently, the young man hadn't even noticed that Rune had fallen asleep, and was still relating stories!

Rune's attention was quickly placed elsewhere. In the center of the ring, a giant screen was being placed, with a viewing crystal underneith it. Orlandu stood in front of the viewscreen, and made a call for attention. The quickly filling arena hushed, as Orlandu prepared his statement.

"For many a season, a foul Ninja has been in our midst, causing trouble, harassing women, and stealing wins Not only that.. a few short weeks ago, this Ninja struck down one of the natural wonders of the world, in an attempt to impress a girl. It is time for this Ninja to pay for his crimes, and to do so in a public fashion."

Orlandu motioned, and the viewscreen came to live. In the screen stood Edge, who was facing down a giant red creature. The crowd gasped at once; everyone knew that Edge had somehow managed to strike Emerald WEAPON, and of course people knew about the terror of the desert, Ruby WEAPON.

"This befouled ninja is about to g-" "Oooh. An adventure. Rune, let's go help out Edge!"

Rune looked over in immense annoyance, Orlandu's voice blotted out by Justin's high pitched voice. Rune sighed. This wasn't what he needed... "Seals!"

Justin's voice was shut down by Rune's magic. "Now hush! "I'm trying to hear this!"

"..This shall be entertaining, and proof that no one is above the law of the DL." Orlandu stopped speaking, and stepped aside. Rune, the now silent Justin, and the crowd stood at the viewscreen, watching...

..Edge danced around his foe, throwing Fuma after Fuma at his foe. He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep up with this.. he was so tired, and beaten... and he only had two Fumas left. "I...want...my...photos!" Looking around, Edge saw a crack in the wall, and knew that he could win this... he just had once chance. Looking directly into the viewscreen, Edge flashed a battered smile. "Ladies... I'll be right back." Edge reached into his pocket, and threw a Fuma at the viewscreen...

...Rune was startled. His opponent had disabled the viewscreen. Glancing up at the giant clock that kept track of things in the DL, the esper smiled. Only a few mintues left to go. He walked to the center of the ring, and stood proudly. His victory was all but assured..

...The doors to the DL arena opened, and the crowd gasped in shock. Out of the doors came Edge, but as none of the crowd had ever seen him. He was covered in head to toe with red dust, and covered in deep cuts. His left arm hung limply, and his trademark veil was nowhere to be found. Each slow, painful footstep seemed to take pain the Ninja, although his face gave away nothing but the look of a man who had won. Edge walked into the ring, and limped his way to Orlandu. Spitting out blood, Edge readied himself.

"You... can't... get the best of me. A WEAPON can't stop me, and none of your other tricks can."

Orlandu looked utterly shocked, a rare expression on such a seasoned veteran. "Ho...how did you defeat the WEAPON, boy?! HOW?!"

"...I...didn't, you old fool!" With those words, Edge moved with a sudden burst of energy, and quickly slashed Orlandu across with his good arm, causing minor damage. However... "Wha...what....sleepy..." Orlandu dropped Excalibur, and fell to the ground, asleep from the cursed strike of the Catclaw. Edge quickly reached over, and grabbed the legendary sword. With a quick heft, Edge throw the priceless sword into the air. The blade arched over and over in the air. It easily split the walls, and landed with a dull *THUNK*. The arena was deadly quiet for a second... and then a loud roar shattered the silence. A large red creature roared into the arena, tearing out chunks of the crowd. A pitched battle was had, and the creature was quickly put down by the godlike section. However...

The arena stood in ruins. Most of the crowd had felt the short, pitched battle, and the others were attempting to clean up. However, the arena was fairly undamaged.. in it stood an immensely stunned and annoyed esper, and perhaps the world's most abused Ninja. Rune shook his head in wonder at the scene. "Ho...how did you manage to escape the creature? Or the barrier? Or know that throwing Excalibur would work?"

Edge looked at Rune, and laughed. "It was simple for such a brilliant fighter as myself.. that old fool used Excalibur as the trigger to get in and out of the sealed area, as shown by him pointing the blade. I threw that Fuma in hopes that it'd distract the monster.. who'd think such a big thing could be stopped by a bunch of magic energy?" With a battered nod, Edge walked over to Orlandu, and reached into his armor. "That's MY set of photos. Don't you forget it, you old freak!" Edge stood up, and lifted the still sleeping Thundergod up with his good arm. He cocked his arm back, and punched Orlandu as hard as he could. "And don't forget- that's what you get for stealing from me!"

The few members of the crowd still left looked at the ring in utter shock. Not only had Edge somehow escaped the trap.. but he had once again gotten the better of TG Cid! The utter silence coming from the crowd was a balm to the battered Ninja Prince. Edge limped away from the ring, obviously at the last edges of his strength, but as a man who had proved his point. Edge stopped for a second, hearing something coming his way. "My match!" The energy struck home, and Edge collapsed into the rubble, broken by the power of Legeon.

...Rune sighed. That Ninja may have been tough, but he was stupid. Who else would escape a WEAPON, beat down Orlandu, then forget about his match? Too bad for him. It was yet another win for him. His reputation would be restored... oh yes. He'd get his chance at Justin, to-

Rune's world was filled with a sudden, burning pain. The Esper was thrown against a large piece of rubble. He opened his eyes, and saw a green haired woman stand over Edge, her hands just coming down from her Bahamut spell. "..Don't touch Edge again." Rydia reached up, and shook Edge on his battered shoulder. "Did.. I win?" Edge attempted to sit up, and was stopped by Rydia's hands. "You did well.." Rydia's smiled, and patted Edge's cheek. Now... go back and get Bowman to look at you. I'll be waiting for you in my room. I'll be wearing something... special."

Edge grinned, and quickly limped out of the arena with Rydia's help. He may been beaten by a weapon, hit by a massive energy spell, and lost his match.. but damned if he didn't feel like a winner.

Rune staggered up, leaning on one of his Psy Shields for support. It wasn't the way he expected to win, but a win was a win. He stood up, coughing. Damn.. where did the red haired idiot go?

"...You couldn't leave him alone, could you?" Feena's voice was filled with anger, and her wings were out. "Poor, sweet Justin did nothing wrong, and you had to hurt him!"

Rune looked around, and saw what Feena meant. Justin was knocked out cold, and covered in magic burns.. from Rydia's summon. "Damn it, he must have been too close to me.. the one time I shut him up, and it backfires!" Rune then looked up, and time froze.

His last thought for a long while was that he hated Ninjas, WEAPONS, Justin.... and especially green haired magic using women.

Rune Walsh: 30
Edge Eblan: 27