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Tournament of Champions 3 (The game has begun!)
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"I would do anything for you."
"Please save me, I'm being attacked by an evil dog. Eh I mean, zombie cow."
""Who are you? Why are you doing this to me?"
"Look, dad. Look what I made!"
"Get them out, get them out, get them out, get them out, get them out!"
"Where is he!? Where is he!?"
"Can you see the flowers? its a field, no, a sea of flowers. Beautiful flowers. They must smell so good. I wish I could smell them."
"Get them out of my head. Get them out."
"Its a lie father, It's a lie because the people want to hear a beautiful and sometimes even sad lie."
"I will always be with you, always"
"Where is he!? Where is he!?"
"The monster will never stop, not for anything but its own destruction."
"Survive! Please survive! You cannot die here, not now. Hold on, please hold on!"
"I do what has to be done to save those that deserve to be saved. To always be seen as a murderer, monster and enemy to the people. It is worth it. I don't care what they will remember me as. All I care about is that they will survive."
"Dad, would you take me with you to see them one day?"
"Do you remember where we met? I'm so sorry."
"They send the monster that killed my parents, they are the reason I lost my home, my friend, my cousins, him. It is because of them that I lost you. I should have been there.
"Father! Help! Help, father! ingh! It hurts! HELP, DAD! HELP ME! PLEASE, DA-ghhhh...!"
"Would you help me? Would you do anything for me? Would you travel from the world's end to the other for me? Would you fight unimaginable beasts and horrors to help me? Would you go to war for me? Would you become a monster, a slave, for me?"
----------------------------------
Niran looked at the shadow, the soul. It was dead and alone. Nothing, no soul, no shadow, no life, no death, no city, no fortress, nothing so far as the eye could see. He was all alone now. His soul was screaming his name, screaming in burning fury and thunderous wrath. The silence of death was painful. He could not rest, he could not vanish. He would not go the afterlife, he did not dare to see who would wait for him, and who would not. He had failed and was now searching desperately for-... something. He did not fear the drain of the darkness. He did not fear the abyss.
Niran sat down beside the shadow. She took out the iron dragon and put it inside the soul. The soul embraced the toy first with love then sadness and finally, anger. He embraced the abyssal energy that filled the dragon as his soul submerged inside. Niran took the iron dragon that now contained Zallados' vengeful soul and whispers of his most important memories. She put the dragon in her pocket then she walked back to the portal.
---------------------------------------
Nilani watched the slave's poor body making small almost unnoticeable movements as she looked into its mind, its memories. They were dark and shattered. Almost nothing remained of its life before. She could not decipher any of the names nor any of the faces or many places but she could hear voices and whispers. She could feel the anger, the sadness, the fear and the love that had yet been taken by the darkness. She saw unclear images of what was to come. Moctaraktus and the battle for Avelaide. She saw the black sun in the dark sky only illuminated by the silver light of the moon. Broken chains fell to the ground and a dark mist covered the images.
Nilani looked to her side. The shadow girl had put her hand on hers. A portal was open behind the girl. Nilani understood. There was nothing more to see now, nothing more to hear or feel. Nilani stood up and walked towards the portal. It was time to end this.
A black sun is burning in the eternal black sky. A large stone bridge stretches through the darkness never reaching land nor end. A black sea is resting far beneath. It ripples as black drops falls from the bridge.
"How long have you wandered? How far will you go?"
Her steps echoes as they bounce off the supporting bridge walls.
"The abyss is no place to rest."
"Is it so? I think you are wrong."
"You are but a whisper in my head. What do you know?"
"I am one of many, and I know that you can rest. You can always rest... Can you hear it? Listen."
She listened. At first she only heard the echo of her own steps but for every step she took, other steps made themselves distinct from her own.
"Everyone may rest, you, she, even her- and him, it, that, those, everyone and everything can rest."
"Everyone and everything can rest? You are not helping me. Get out of my head."
"As you wish."
Soon after the whisper had left her head a familiar face appeared from the darkness before her.
Both Nilani and Niran stopped. Niran was burning in black and blood red smoke. Nilani's arms and skin were filled with glowing yellow cracks and her eyes had become almost ethereal. They did not say a word for no words were necessary. Akuma appeared with corrupted form and twisted soul behind Niran. An abyssal soul with a horned skull and twisted form manifested itself above Nilani holding mighty sword.
Niran raised her arms and a large cloud of red and black smoke rose from her body into the darkness. The wind grew in strength as it pushed and gnawed into the bridge. Without giving Niran a chance for her life, Nilani drew souls from the very darkness around her. In just a short moment a legion of souls had formed. With nothing but a nod she gave the order. The souls and the invocation dashed towards Niran. Niran shouted and the smoke around her fell forward creating a wall of black flame. Most of the souls vanished as they tried to penetrate the flames but many made it through, together with the invocation.
Akuma drew the sword that her form had manifested around and moved forward. She slashed over ten souls with one swing from her blade and in the blink of an eye, she swung again. Her blade echoed as it struck the invocation's blade on her third swing. The invocation raised its blade and struck against Akuma's steel hard body.
A dark wind was cast over the bridge, throwing a handful of souls into the black sea. From the black sky, a dread Arkanai dived. Nilani formed a black and golden shield just before the Arkanai slammed into it, causing the air around her to vibrate for a second. Nilani dismissed the shield and threw multiple energy balls of black golden light at the beast. They exploded and the beast was covered in golden flames. It screamed as it fell to the ground. Stones and boulders cracked by the impact.
From the sky two more Dread Arkanai descended. Nilani drew even more souls around her. From the darkness a swarm of birds appeared and ascended towards the Arkanai. They swarmed them, attacking their eyes, wings and ears. One of the Arkanai was blinded and one wing scratched open, so it fell. It crashed into the bridge with such force that large chunks of stone broke lose and parts of the walls fell in.
Meanwhile, Niran finished another summoning. From the darkness behind her, something large and cruel was growling. The bridge was shaking with each step it took and the air moved as it mixed with the black smoke. The cracks in Nilani's skin were glowing brighter and hotter as she focused the essence around her. When she saw the black eyes of the Terror Arkanai step out of the darkness. Nilani snapped her fingers and streams of dark energy exploded from under the Terror Arkanai. The bridge shook so large segments fell off into the water beneath as the Arkanai trampled forward with a roar of fury.
Nilani's invocation broke out from its fight with Akuma to face the Arkanai that headed towards them. Nilani filled the invocation with abyssal power so its body and sword began to glow and even burn with a golden flame. Akuma appeared behind the invocation and thrust her mighty sword into its heart, but the invocation did not crumble. For as long as Nilani focused her energy the invocation would remain. Three more explosions burst beneath the Arkanai and beside both Niran and Akuma. They fell to the ground as well as the Arkanai.
Before the monster could stand up, the Abyssal hope stepped on top of it with its sword raised pointing down towards the Arkanai's heart. Akuma had resisted the explosion and drew her sword from the Invocation's chest. She cut off the head of the Invocation. It stood silent as Nilani fell to the ground but she held onto the invocation. The Abyssal hope still attacked by Akuma, raised its burning sword and pierced it through the Arkanai 's heart and into the stone bridge beneath. The Arkanai burst into flames and the stone beneath began to crumple.
The bridge collapsed. Niran, Nilani, Akuma and the invocation fell into the black water. The world turned black. They sank deeper and deeper into the abyss within the abyss.
"Rest. This can be your resting place. Let it be your resting place. Don't struggle any more, don't fight, don't continue. You may rest now, Akuma. Rest now."
Labial gossip of night, sibilant chorals,
Footsteps gently ascending, mystical breezes wafted soft and low,
Ripples of unseen rivers, tides of a current flowing, forever flowing,
(Or is it the plashing of tears? the measureless waters of human tears?)
I see, just see skyward, great cloud-masses,
Mournfully slowly they roll, silently swelling and mixing,
With at times a half-dimm'd sadden'd far-off star,
Appearing and disappearing.
(Some parturition rather, some solemn immortal birth;
On the frontiers to eyes impenetrable,
Some soul is passing over.)
- Walt Whitman
"...goodbye..."
Nilani felt something soft beneath her fingers as she woke up. She opened her eyes. A white beach in the black world. She looked at her hands, they were different than before. They were still filled with golden glowing cracks but the skin was more,.. alive. She felt what at first she had thought was sand but soon realized was ash. She had drifted up on the beach she thought. She sat up on her knees and looked into the sky. The moon was shining bright and full in the night. For a moment she thought that she was back in Avelaide, but the eternal darkness of the horizon told her otherwise. Before her was a field, also painted white, and behind it a forest of black dead trees before tall white mountains. This place was nothing but white and black. She looked back at what should have been the sea, but it was not. Behind was a black river that came from forest covered mountains further away and ran downwards.
She stood up on her feet and began walking up into the field, but as she stepped up on a small hill she saw something. Further up to her side, was a ruined village. Without no other direction she walked towards the village and as she got closer she felt that Niran was already there.
Niran sat at the base of a large Oak tree in a ruined village. She was alone again. Akuma had not come with her. She tried to summon a beast, an Arkanai, but she could not for some reason. She was not exhausted, but she felt weaker. She looked at her arms, they were dark grey and black smoke was escaping them. The blood red smoke was gone.
Nirani was just about to answer the voices in her head, but as she looked to her side she stopped. Behind her, leaning onto the tree, was her old violin. She let her fingers move across the fine wood and the strings. She grabbed it and held it tight onto her chest. She began to play a symphony, not of magical powers or to summon a beast but just to listen to. The music was calming and it filled the emptiness of the world she was in.
She closed her eyes and just listened. After some time she suddenly stopped. She opened her eyes and saw Nilani.
Niran resumed playing her violin but this time she played a darker and colder melody. Nilani raised her hand to summon the Abyssal Hope. Nothing happened. It was gone. Nilani instead reached out her hands in an attempt to draw the souls from the place around her. Still nothing happened. There were no souls there. Those who had lived in the village were gone but there was still something there, something that Nilani could not manipulate at all. The air grew colder as Niran played her symphony. Dark energy was being accumulated further up. Nilani tried to charge a burst of energy at Niran but not to her surprise it did not work.
Nilani felt a great power manifest itself. A house further up collapsed and black smoke escaped into the air. A black beast came crawling out of the ruins, a Fear Arkanai. Nilani stretched out her hands. From the air before her a Hope Twin invocation appeared. Nilani then backed away. Her invocation could not deal with an Arkanai. She felt the same feeling again as when she tried to draw souls. Nilani looked behind her to the horizon. Far away she saw a large hill and upon it stood a tree with white flowers as leaves, the only till living tree. Someone, a shadow, stood beside the tree. Nilani raised her hand and felt a soul. It was the soulless shadow girl, but here she had a soul. Nilani thought about it for a moment but she decided that she would not try to manipulate the soul, but the soul made her realize something.
Crash! Crghhh!
The Arkanai had forced the invocation into a building. Nilani watched the roof fall in over the two. She reached her hands straight out before her as if she was grabbing something. If she could not find a soul to use maybe she could create one from her memories, or someone else's. Her hands began to glow intensively in blackened gold and a shiver of silver. Niran stopped playing her violin and watched Nilani create a golden light.
The Arkanai broke out of the ruins and met a golden invocation, the soul of a large knight wielding a great sword. The Arkanai growled and the knight's sword began to glow in both gold and silver flame. The Arkanai dashed forward with his teeth revealed at the invocation. The soul knight took a step back as he pointed his blade forward. Then he stepped froward.
"Noo!" Niran yelled. The Arkani roared as it fell back with the burning sword in its head. The beast soon died. Niran was shaking with anger. She calmed down a little when she put her hand in her pocket. She took out something which she put on the ground before her. It was a poorly painted toy dragon made of iron, and it contained a furious soul. Niran stepped back and took up her violin. The melody was,... angry. The dragon began vibrating and growing. Cracks formed all over the toy as it grew, and black and smoke escaped the now red glowing cracks. Its eyes came alive, red of anger. It moved its wings and then its legs. Soon it was the same size as a Dormanian Royal, but made of Iron.
Niran watched the flames spread over the building where Nilani was hiding. Soon the dragon flew in once more and set the next building in flames. Nilani was powerless against her magic combined with the hate of Zallados. A third time the dragon flew in, destroying the last building in wall-to-wall with the other. Niran took her violin and began playing something, just to have a sound other than the flames to listen to. She closed her eyes as she listened. She heard the dragon fly in for a fourth time. It came closer. Then a overwhelming heat fell upon her back and she fell forward into the ashes. She instantly turned around and saw the oak set ablaze.
"What are you doing!!" She yelled.
"̴̨͑͂͛̐̽̀̋̾͌͘T̴̨͚̜͈͓̫͕̠̒̾̿̇͐̔͜ḥ̷̠̫̳̪͌̿̍́̀̕͠è̴̤̥̩̐̌̽̓͜ͅ ̴̧̨̛͖̤͈̩̞͎̺̱̘̦̂̓h̵̖̮̄̆̋̉̾̓͂̉͋̆ͅa̴̡̙̖̩͔̬͆͒͐̈́͌t̴̞̺͙̖̩̙̲͚͚̥̹̀̆̑̽͗̀̀͐͌̔̒͋e̸̡̢̢̺̘̩͈̣̥̾͗̓̈́ ̸̺̱͕̳̖͈͇̭̻̦̥͙͝c̵̨̧̛̰̙̱̗͚̩̤̤̊̒̅͊͆̊̿͆̂a̷̡̺̗̲̩̐͒̽͂̀̓̀́͐̋̆n̴̯̽͑̽̇̄̇̓͗̕͝ñ̵̙͚͈̪̮̲̝̮̥͕̪̋̄͋̑̄̍́͝ͅo̷͍̙̘͉̝͕͔̰̻̾̒͒̋̓͂̇͌͌͆͜ͅț̸̛̃͐͑̀͌͂̐̑͘̕ ̷̨̨̤͈̳̝̝͉̐͛͑̆̍̇̍͐̉̈͝b̵̨̛͙̫̅̄͋́̃̓̔̀̕ȩ̶̙̮͉̳̼͒̆̈́̊ͅ ̷̡̥͖̭̱̲̉̀̍̇͝͝t̷̢̤̔̈́̈̄͛͝a̶̟̖̮̼̹̜̯̪̥͆͌͂̒͂̇̀̇͋͛͒͜͝m̸̨̛̯̠̪̟̦͇͉͔̆͌̋͗͒̂͑̕͠ȩ̷̯̲͇̙͚̹͓̺͖̇̒͌̈́̾̈́̆̆̑̾ͅḋ̴̢̫̳͎̫̝̤̆̈́̒̔̓́͐,̷̢̣͇̝̙̮̏͜ ̴̢͎̦͎̃̈́̋́̆̀̈́́̑̅̀̂ń̶̪͕̟̮̳͕͍͚͔͔̺̄̈́o̷͓͎̮̖̲̜̭̾͆͐͑̕͜͠͝͠ť̴̺̣̭͕͇̘̞̄̉̏̓̈́̆͊ ̵̥͙̝͈̥͎͇̟͚͉͂̈̈́̿̈́͐̋̒͘̕̚b̸̜̄̇̑̀y̴̢͎͚̎̅̊́̍̓͊̒͘̕ ̷̨͈̯̤̠͚͉͂̈́̐̆̾̋̾̒̾̑̕͜͝ý̷̛̳͖͉̜̳̪̍̑̉̋̄̋̉̚̕o̵̡̬̪̫͆̌́͒̆́́̎͗̑́͂u̶̧̢̜͕̠̤͔̥̻̩͊̃̄̉̂̾̊̀̈̚͜.̶̢͇̬̱̩͕̪̤͐̅̿̇̓́̀"̸̨̛̭̙͚͖̣̍̇̇̔̋̇̀͘͘͜͝ͅ ̷̤̻͙͔͖̗̣̆͌̀̐̉́̓͒̊̒͝
Niran looked up at the dragon as it flew away, as it turned, and flew back straight towards her. The red cracks were glowing intensively red. Niran stood up and ran away just before the flames fell where she had just been. Niran fell down into the deep ash so half of her was buried. She took the violin and played the first melody she could think of. Ashes from the burning tree was slowly falling over her. She felt how she began to sink into the ash. A wind blew in over the village, it blew ash over her. Soon she was completely covered in ash. The ash was warm and soft, almost like a bed. Niran's mind began to drift away almost as if she would fall asleep. Before the dragon had returned, her mind had disappeared.
"Without hope, without despair, you shall serve."
Soft, so soft. Niran rolled over digging her face into the cotton pillow. She moved her bare feet around so she could feel the mattress and the blanket. She felt she could stay in bed forever. She moved her head and looked at the window and the morning sky outside. The morning birds had already begun to sing. She turned around and listened to the birds as she resumed her rest.
Later, Niran woke up as she felt the sun touch shine over her. She quickly raised up from the bed and looked out the window, it was midday. "I'm late!" Niran jumped out of bed and put on her clothes. She grabbed her violin that stood at the end of the bed, and the ran out of her room.
She ran through the stone corridor when a door opened just behind her.
"Hey, Niran! Why such a hurry?" Brynn shouted. "I'm late. I must hurry. See you later!" Niran answered as she continued to run. She made it out to the courtyard. As she ran past the training ground she slowed down. In the training grounds, Akuma and Aeryn were training with each other. "Niran, what are you doing here? Don't you have a match today?" Aeryn said. Niran stared at them while she moved. "What? ehm yes, yes. I must go, see you guys." Niran continued to run. Something felt strange when she had looked at Aeryn and Akuma, a feeling that she could not describe.
Niran continued down into the city through the busy streets filled with people. She made her way past the masses quite effortlessly. She made her way from the busy streets into a park. "I think the white cheese is much better." "No, not that one. The green cheese has much better aroma." "You don't even know what aroma means." "Yes I do." "Prove it." Niran stopped when she saw two goblins arguing with a pile of cheese between them. "Niran, could you help me convince this fool that the white cheese is the best." Gorchi.
Niran slowly walked towards them. "What's wrong with your face?" Graagdord said. "Are you crying, Niran." Gorchi said. "Your white cheese could make an orc cry." Graagdord said to Gorchi. "I- I must go." Niran said and ran away.
Niran moved a hand over her face and felt her tears. Something was wrong but she could not see what. She was probably only stressed for the match. She got to the arena where she could see Elos, Renatin, Lukaes, Dakros, Pan, Efilia and Kutos. She ran into the arena and down the corridors. When she approached the gates, she saw that they were already open. "Oh no. I am too late." she thought, but she ran out into the arena anyway. Maybe they had waited.
She entered the arena to the applause of the audience.
"The missing contestant has arrived!" the host, Daniel, shouted.
Niran stared straight into Nilani's eyes, who stood on the other side. Her eyes moved up into the audience where she saw a young girl. Something was awfully familiar about that girl. "Then let us not prolong this match any longer. Let the match between Niran and Nilani, begin!" The host, Nadja, shouted.
Niran took up her violin and began to play as Nilani summoned her invocation, the Guardian of Hope.
A ghostly spirit came into existence to Niran's symphony. The invocation and the spirit got into battle only moments after they had been created. The spirit rose up against the invocation but it was too weak. The invocation made short work of the spirit with a vertical strike. Niran summoned another spirit that began its assault against the invocation almost before it had completed its forming. The invocation almost as pushed away the spirit and struck into its core.
Nilani was so focused on the fight before her that she almost did not realize the cold air in her back. She quickly formed a golden shield in her hand as she turned around just in time to block the attack that lurked behind her. Even though she blocked the attack, it together with her quick turn caused her to lose balance. The spirit, unhindered, struck Nilani's chest and pushed her down into the sand. She groaned by the pain. She raised her hand towards the spirit. In the blink of an eye, the hand began to burn with a golden flame. The spirit caught fire and burned into nothingness.
The audience cheered with caution.
Nilani moved to her side so she could stand on her knees. She held a hand over her chest. The pain was burning inside her, as if a fire had started in her lungs. The invocation was fighting two spirits summoned by Niran. Nilani was grinding her teeth. She reached her arms towards the invocation, and it began to burn with golden light. A burning golden core appeared within the guardian. It cracked with black shards before it got engulfed in flames, golden but also a little black. The burning golden invocation stepped through the spirits ,that vanished in the flames. The burning core cracked even more.
Niran summoned another spirit but the invocation just moved straight through it towards her. Niran would just turn around but the invocation moved fast. She could not summon another spirit and the invocation was already over her. Niran used the only thing she had as shield, the violin. The guardian's burning blade was met the strings of the violin. The core burst again and wave of flame fell over Niran. The string snapped, the invocation's blade fell through the violin and into Niran's chest just missing her heart. The guardian vanished by the flames as they fell onto the burning sand.
The audience gasped.
Blood from Niran's chest was pouring down into the sand. Niran coughed up blood as she held her clothes tightly over the wound. The golden flames ignited the blood and spread further away in the sand. The fire created golden smoke clouds that raised into the sky and turned dark. The sun lost its light and shadow fell over the world. The burning sand turned to dust that was swept away by the wind leaving a black wet floor. The fire spread up over the structures and even the audience who did not run. They all burned to dust and flew away into the approaching darkness. Soon everything and everyone turned to dust and the sky and sun turned black. Black water rose up from the ground and stopped only after it was knee deep.
Niran looked down on her hands, they were ashen black and covered in black cracks. Her blood that was dripping down into the water had turned black and smoke surrounded her. She raised her eyes and looked at Nilani who also had returned to her abyssal form, ashen with yellow cracked skin and on her knees holding her hands over her heart. Between them in the water, a silver light penetrated the surface and in the distance beneath the black sun, eyes were watching them. In their mind the voice spoke.
"Fallen, you shall not live. Fallen, you shall not die. Fallen, you shall serve."
...and there goes our last signature cards!
I wonder when Nilani and Niran will “shatter” too...
"Fallen, you shall not live. Fallen, you shall not die. Fallen, you shall serve."
The eyes are watching, waiting to claim its prize. Between them in the water, a calm silver light. A shadow shivering in the light, a girl with a soul untouchable.
"You shall not survive, You shall not die, you shall serve."
Still holding her hand over her chest, she defied the pain. She rose up and walked towards the light. The small girl looked at her with her hand embraced. At one moment it looked as if the girl's face was visible in in the silver light, but if so it was gone as soon as it had appeared. The water felt heavy as she moved through it but she did not stop.
The shadow girl turned around and watch the other as she rose up on her legs and hands over her chest.
She made it to the light where she stopped to look at the girl. Did her face really appear or was it just an delusion. She bend her knee and reached down into the black water. Her hand found a hard object, grabbed it, and return above the surface. Her chest healed almost instantly with the light cast over her. The shadow girl took a couple of steps back as if she avoided the light. The silver light came from a dagger made completely of silver, a living silver. The dagger was warm and it was burning bright without anyone channeling its flame. Her hands holding the blade, healed and the ashen skin turn back to normal.
With the silver dagger in her hand, she moved forward. Nilani and Niran stopped within an arm's distance. Their eyes met and without uttering a single word, they said good bye. She forced the dagger into her chest so the blade reached her heart. The very air began to move and waves of water from the black sun swept past beneath them. The ashen skin around the blade was cracking open with a white glow as her eyes turned dark. Then the blade shattered into dust that then turned to flowers that slowly descended towards the water surface. Her legs turned weak as she drew her last breath. With a splash she fell into the water. The waves grew larger as the monster came closer but the flowers in the water did not go away. Then as the last flower landed on the surface, like glass, the ground beneath her body shattered. Her body fell into the nothingness followed by the flowers.
Nilani had killed Niran. The air fell still and silent. The waves in the water stopped.
"You shall not survive, You shall not die, You shall serve."
"You will not die, you will serve." Nilani said staring into the endless darkness where Niran had fallen with the eyes staring at her.
The air grew violent. The black sun burned. Large waves slammed against her legs.
"Run Nilani!" The girl yelled.
Nilani ran. From the endless darkness beneath the sun, the monster of the abyss, Septhis, appeared. The monster slammed its fist beside Nilani so that water was splattered high. Nilani summoned a large amount of black and golden souls of knights, warriors, giants and dragons. Septhis crushed and slammed them with ease as it pursued Nilani. But the more souls Septhis struck down, the more Nilani summoned. Chased by a monster that out-powered her by far, she almost felt unbeatable as she ran into the endless darkness.
An iron chain was shaking causing Niran to wake up. She felt a shoulder beneath her chin. She felt hair against her cheek. She felt cracked and broken skin beneath her fingers. She was not dead, nor was she alive. She felt no emotions but she felt powerful. She opened her eyes and saw the shadow girl, behind her the endless darkness but without a burning black sun. She looked down on the person she was lying upon. It was a broken entity of human form, chained in the black water. Septhis, the slave of the abyss.
"The day Moctaraktus begins, you will answer the call, and you will serve."
The end
"Outro song"
@shadow123 with Nilani
shadow123
@MonkeyPirate2002
Finally it is over. I do not lie when I say that it was very even results between you in both card quality, story telling and amount of work you have put into this contest. Any one of you could have won actually since the it was so even. Sadly only one can win.
If I was forced to name something that made the winner in this tournament, I would say, the backstory of Nilani. I really much liked the conflict within Niran though. It felt wrong to make her lose after all she have been through, that is if you consider what happened to her "losing".
I thank you both for your participation in this contest. I have loved having both of you.
Since both of you were so incredibly even, I have decided that you will both receive the same reward (beside declared winner of the tournament).
I leave rewards for tomorrow though. I will also then take up some critical thought about this tournament and I would like you to give feedback then as well.
I did have one more story section in mind left as an epilogue. I'll see if I get energy to write it this weekend. It is not very important so it is not something I prioritize.
What were the rewards again?
All (semi) joking aside, congratulations @shadow123 ! This has been quite the extraordinary ride for all writers involved, and dare I say the watchers as well. And thank you @Jonteman93 for hosting a tournament that broke the fabric of reality itself!
GG @MonkeyPirate2002 !
To be honest, every time this fight was about to come up, I had a feeling Niran would win. Even this time. I was very surprised and excited to win this!! I loved reading all of Niran’s story bits and I LOVE how much effort you put into this amazing tournament @Jonteman93 ! This has really been my all time favorite contest I’ve participated in. This has really been a fun journey for me.
Thank you so much to @Jonteman93 and every single contestant for making this possible! I have a little more lore to write following the fight, so I’ll do that sometime today or tomorrow (or maybe after Jonteman posts the epilogue part).
133 days
21 forum pages
16 contenders
1 winner
Death
Love
War
Hatred
Friendship
T̸̩̝̮̹̹̺͍͙͋̒͐͜h̷͔͇̑̓̽̆͋̔͜͝e̵̡̢̞̻̙͈̮̳͕̠̥̹̻̘͊͑̎̓ ̶̹̦̺͈̤͚̗͓͍̲̓̓́͗̋̈́͋͆̎̽́͛͘͜͝Ả̶͓̭̆̒̐͋̆̓̚b̴͔̦̞̼̬͙̠̹̝̭̳̱̣͊y̴͙͈̠͙̼̼̠̙̫̙͈̭͑ͅs̷̨̧̙͇̪̝̩̆͋̓̀͒̎̽̈́̃̂̋͝ṣ̴̥͈̰͒̈͛̈́̋̋͛̓͐̋
And not to mention some of the best characters and character writing I've ever had the pleasure to bear witness to.
My sincerest congratulations to both @shadow123 and @MonkeyPirate2002! You're both amazing cardsmiths and writers and it was absolutely amazing seeing Nilani and Niran's stories unfold and come together for the finale. And of course a massive thanks to @Jonteman93! The setting and political intrigue were wonderful and the amount of writing and organization that you've put into this project is truly astounding. I feel honoured to have been able to take part in something this cool. I'm not even sure how to finish this paragraph, other than saying I'm really hoping that this can happen again!
Long live the Tournament of Champions 3
place 1-4, I have given each of you a follow and a place in the HALL OF FAME in addition to the rewards beneath. It is not much in relation to the time spent on this tournament, but neither is it a contest based on the rewards.
1st place
@Shadow123 - 8 favorites of your choice.
2nd place!
@MonkeyPirate2002 - 8 favorites of your choice
3rd place!
@CassZero - 6 favorites of your choice
4th place!
@Usaername - 5 favorites of your choice.
5-8 place!
@Fallen_Lord_Vulganos, @SpellPiper2213, @Temurzoa & @Lujikul
Each of you will receive 3 favorites of your choice.
Oh I almost forgot.
@Shadow123 since you won the tournament, you have the first priority to create and host the next tournament of champions. If you would not want to host it then the priority goes to @MonkeyPirate2002 then @CassZero and lastly @Usaername.
If none of you wants to host the next Tournament of Champions I will keep that right until either someone with experience asks to host it or I get the energy to bring the tournament to Alsoldan. But that will not happen in a long time.
My recommendation though is that the next tournament is not started at least within a couple of months. Also, @TenebrisNemo might have something going on.
This is meant for everyone. All 16 contestants and all readers.
@Bowler218 @CassZero @TerryTags @HeroKP @Abu_Jafar @SpellPiper2213 @Fallen_Lord_Vulganos @Ydoplus_of_Forduuath @kandra127 @UsaernameLujikul @Atriark @fire12 @MonkeyPirate2002 @KorandAngels @IzItTru @Aggroman15 @shadow123 @DrakeGladis @Temurzoa @Everybody
Since the tournament is now over I believe it is a rather good time to go through it and see what went wrong, what went right and what happens now. Much of this can be taken into consideration for the future. Many of these points are similiar to those mentioned in Tournament of Champions 1. Here is a link to that one: https://forums.mtgcardsmith.com/discussion/3287/tournament-of-champions-the-game-has-begun/p30
(1) - The time
3½ months.
It took 3½ months from start to finish. This have created multiple problems both for me as host and for many of you who have been with the whole way. This have caused some serious fatigue for me and probably many of you as well. The fun thing is that the first tournament took "only" 2½ months, and even that was exhausting. The reason that it took so much time is quite obvious; the story.
(2) - The story, or rather, stories
In the first tournament I made the story and the events as the contest went on. This time I took an already established idea of a series of events from three different stories and shoved them into the same oven. One was just ideas and structure of laws, the abyss and the corruption. One was an idea of world diplomacy and balance of major kingdoms, Vosanova and the conflict between Medirna and Gwendolyn. The last one was more than just ideas as it have been gnawing in my mind for two years now, the conflict between Zallados Beldanov and Pontiff Cralmarov with following events.
At first it was supposed to only be the two latter of these, but as time went on, the abyssal elements got more and more involved until it became kind of the main element of this tournament. Maybe it was bad, maybe good.
(3) - Breaking my own lore
This is a weird one. At first I tried to stay true to the lore I made up in my mind during a long time. To make everything work and actually let most of you still have some control over your characters, I could not enforce the lore correct outcome anymore after a certain point. I as the writer see a clear jump regarding the severity of the abyssal corruption and the abyss itself. It went from very severe to become not much more than a dark force that may slightly corrupt the minds of those affected by it.
(4) - Going away from using your characters too much
This is a combination of the two above. Compared to the first tournament, in the second half I almost never used your characters at all for the larger events. I did this both to have more control and to avoid repeating a mistake from earlier where I was unfair in my usage of your characters. Some got a lot of time in the light while others were almost forgotten so it became difficult for some to write stories when so little was established for them.
This did however make it so that your characters became less than background characters in a story that should resolve around them more than it did.
(5) - Me, Your host and story writer
I shall be honest, I did not proof-read my stories. There were just so many of them and still there were so many more. Some stories that should have taken 1-2 hours took 3 or 4 hours leaving me without much time and energy to put even more time on them.
I have also been very tired, exhausted during most of the second half where I just wanted the tournament to reach an end. Well at least we made it past the finish line.
(6) - Dormania and the story - the purpose of this tournament
I did not make this tournament just because I wanted to make a tournament. I have gone through it once and it was honestly not worth it. I needed a reason or some catalyst to explore Dormania in this world that I have created. I was also a little eager to start a new tournament since it seemed like so many have tried and failed to finish those that were started.
I also wanted to explore this evil man that would do more harm than most monsters and kingdoms could ever achieve, Pontiff Cralmarov. He was not used much in the direct story of Vosanova but the fate of Vosanova was very much affected by him. Maybe one day I'll host some kind of contest during the time after the fall of Vosanova when Pontiff goes to action in Medirna and faces off against the Beldanov family.
(7) - The future
As mentioned in the rewards section, the next tournament may be hosted by one of the top four finalists and it might take place in Avelaide or somewhere else if the desire exists. If I will host another tournament of champions, it will most likely take place in Alsoldan, southern Alsoldan to be more precise where science of war gets into conflict with the fury of nature's beasts. Pike and shot vs guerrilla warfare. Arquebus vs half giants dressed in Medirnian iron. Steam grenades vs elephants.
Here I want you to be honest. It will help me more in the long run.
How do you think I have been as host and writer?
Have my ways of writing been interesting? Was there one style that was more interesting than another?
Have it felt like I have treated you and your contestants correctly and respectfully?
Have I been handling eliminations in the correct way?
Is there anything else I and new hosts should think about?
(9) - Anything else you would want to say?
I have nothing here. Did I forget an important point?
This point is for you to express other thoughts and opinions you have.
I believe all opinions are useful if they are based upon something.
All critic, both good and bad that can be improved or preserved is gold worth.
(10) - Thank you for participating in this tournament
I feel quite satisfied with what I have made for quite some time now. I will probably sink back into the shadows and only keep an eye on this forum for a couple of weeks. When I get back I think I might see if I can blow some life into the failed Terrina project.
But as of now, thank you for your kind words and not so kind but useful words. I see you around.
Nilani ran faster and faster into the darkness. Gold and dark light surrounded Nilani while shadows and spirits protected her from Septhis. Nilani felt invincible. She could feel the abyssal wind through her robes and hair as she ran faster than she had ever done before. Every step Nilani took, the dark ground turned golden around her. Nilani's ashen skin slowly healed. Her wounds and bruises healed with every step.
For some odd reason, Nilani felt refreshed. With a swipe of her hand, a rift opened in the midst of the abyss.
"I'm ready to go back."
Nilani stepped out to a scene of devastation. Ashes of trees, people, animals, and homes littered the barren terrain. Nilani could still hear the screams of the people as they helplessly burned in the face of the dragons that swept the area.
It seems you've finally proven yourself. You've finally overcome the past. Are you happy, Nilani? You've finally become more than the little girl who was captured by Mystus. The young girl who lost control. You found a purpose. Haven't you? You've become powerful. You've become important. Valuable. True. Hon-
"Will you just stop!?" Nilani snapped at the booming voice in her head. Reality had sunk in. She was too late to save people from the war. She had stabbed Niran with a pure dagger she never knew she could use.
"What happened...to Niran?"
You stabbed her, yet she did not die. You took away her life. Her...everything. You conquered a great monster of the-
"What!?" Nilani stared down at the ground. In all her rage, she had forgotten what Niran felt. She had ignored what her wise friend Akuma said. Now Akuma was gone. Nilani felt a small tear run down her cheek.
A faint memory came to Nilani's mind from Niran's "quarterfinal fight". Niran's sadness behind her rage. Nilani had seen the chains that Niran was struggling to break through. Nilani had understood. She had smiled back to the murderer she saw before her.
Why? Why was I so blind? I've sent Niran back to where she started! A mere instrument just for someone else to play.
"Is there a way I can undo this? Free Niran?"
Ha! No. Why is it that you suddenly care about-
"Do you not see it!?" Nilani shrieked, "I came on this journey to help others find hope. Help them when they felt like they were spiraling downwards and there was no possible way to get up!"
Niran deserved to die. You helped her!
"I destroyed her. Niran was calling for help! And I was too blind to help her."
You hurt Niran because you care for you friends. You killed the Red Queen because you cared for your family. You killed Mystus because you cared for yourself! You care too much. Haven't you ever thought how much it hurts you?
Nilani slashed her hand through the air. An angry blast of magic exploded in the sky.
"I care because it's right!" Nilani retorted defiantly. "I care because people deserve to live happily. To wake up knowing that there is hope for them. No matter how people see them. Niran was wronged so many times. She fought because she had to. Not because she wanted to."
Niran was a dangerous freak who can't-
"You know what?" Nilani interrupted, "Get out of my head. I know what I stand for. I don't need anyone or anything to guide me anymore."
The voice went silent. Nilani had been guided by Arden's voice for so long. She had been lured by Septhis's voice. She had been tormented by this one. She had outgrown all of them. No one needed to ask Nilani who she was. She knew now.
Nilani raised her hands. Two large balls of golden and black magic raised above her head while energy radiated around her. One of Nilani's arms turned back to the ash black color too.
"I am Nilani. After seventeen years, I've found myself. My purpose. My own voice." Nilani put the ash-black hand to her heart. "From now on, I vow to protect the people without hope. Maintain the balance between light and dark. I promise to bring hope to the misfortunate. The misunderstood. Even the misguided too. After seventeen years, I have earned a new title: Nilani, the Champion of Hope."
Arden stared at Nilani from above in her spirit form. She was talking to Brynn. "̸̧̍I̵̖͑f̴̛̯ ̸̢͒ö̷̹n̵̛̜l̷̡̎ỷ̶̟ ̶̫́s̵̰̽h̶̦̚e̵̪͑ ̸͈͌k̵̬̇ǹ̸͕e̶̮͝w̴̼͘ ̴̧͆ḫ̷̂o̸̠̍ẅ̷̳́ ̷͉̓m̷̺̚ü̸̗c̶̩̔h̷̥̀ ̵̲͆h̷͇̉e̵̳͑r̸̻̽ ̵͈͂s̷͖̆t̶̠̆ȍ̶̬r̴͔̆ẏ̶̙ ̸̘̑r̷͙̋e̷̤̊s̴̩̃e̷̬͝m̸̡͂b̵̩͑ļ̴̄e̸͓͛s̴̹͒ ̷̱̈́m̵͙̎i̴̠͂n̶͈̈́e̴̗͘.̵̦͠ ̵̨̀M̶̘̐y̷̭̆ ̷̯̽v̵͖͝i̵̞̓ö̸̥́l̴̡͘é̶̬n̴͕̄t̵̞̅ ̶̠̏p̷̨͗ă̸̳t̶̜̆h̷̟͐ ̵͈̒s̷͉̈́t̴͎̔á̵͉r̷͈̓t̴͚̅e̷̞͛d̷͈̿ ̸̘͊j̷̩̊u̵̩͝s̸͝ͅt̸̫͝ ̸̏͜l̶̘͒i̸̮̐k̶̑͜e̶̲̍ ̵͍̅t̸̡͝ḧ̸͎́ị̷͒s̴̨͑.̴̢̽ ̴̩̅W̶͜͝i̶̛̥t̸̠͝h̴͉͑ ̶̦͐a̷͍͆ ̵̨͘n̶͎̍e̶̳̿ẅ̸̡́ ̶͈͝n̴̙̚ă̶̤m̴̖̉e̴͍̕.̶̻̆"̶̞͑
Arden nodded to Brynn.
As the light faded from around Nilani, the spirits of the fallen people from the war swarmed into the air. Golden spirits and dark shadows filled the sky. there were warriors, knights, demons, dragons, and so many more. It was like a celebration of their freedom even after their tragic deaths.
Minutes later, the light faded. Nilani smiled sadly. She knew she was alone, but she could help others, just like she had dreamed. Still something troubled her. She didn't know exactly what, but something was bothering her. Something that Nilani felt tied to the Red Queen.
There were two strong wingbeats. Then, the familiar sound of a sword being drawn out of its sheath.
“This is not betrayal...” Brynn reassured herself, “I vowed to vanquish the darkness. It seems Nilani has fallen into its grasp.”
With all the power Brynn could muster, she swung the silver blade at Nilani.
Nilani’s eyes narrowed. She ducked, dodging Brynn’s attack. Nilani fired a golden ball of light back at her attacker, which Brynn easily deflected with her blade. The enchantress pressed forward, creating invocations and summoning shadows to trap Brynn.
“I thought you were trying to help me...”
“I am!” Brynn yelled as she dodged a large fist from an invocation. Arden smiled evilly as she watched the fight unfold.
After a few seconds, Brynn had destroyed the last of the shadows. She was very tired already and her sword had been wrenched out of her hands. “To think I saved you...for this...”
Nilani stared up at the sky. The sun was red, its light still disfigured by the fiery destruction that took place above the ground. She could faintly make out the image of Arden. Nilani fires a blast of light into the air, sending the spirit form of Arden spiraling away into the smoke.
“Brynn, I need to talk to you,” Nilani said abruptly.
Brynn was stunned for a moment. A few seconds ago Nilani was trying to kill her. Even if Brynn had attacked first, why was Nilani suddenly acting like this? Brynn retrieved her sword and touched down on the ground. She walked over to Nilani apprehensively as if waiting for Nilani to try and strike her down.
“You’ve been talking to Arden, haven’t you? After you left me in the abyss?”
Brynn nodded.
Nilani sighed. “Ever since I got out, something was troubling me. I couldn’t tell exactly what until now.”
“What was it?”
“Arden. The Red Queen’s story. I just can’t stop thinking about how my path is just so much like hers! I don’t want to become like her. Arden started off like me! With a pure purpose! But when completely alone, like I am right now, she changed.”
“Right.” Brynn said.
“I fear that despite my efforts, I’m losing myself within this tangled mess of the abyss! Brynn, I don’t want to become evil. I don’t want to become corrupted! What if the abyss is actually evil and I’ve just fallen into its wicked grasp? What if-”
Brynn smiled. “I’m glad you realized. It gives me less of an inclination to kill you,” She said jokingly.
“What is hope to you?”
Brynn paused. “What do you mean? Hope is many things. I feel like hope is the feeling of safety. A feeling of happiness. Something that I never found in the abyss.”
“I see.” Nilani nodded.
“Hope is one of those things that last forever,” Brynn stated, “It outlasts friendships. Family. Riches. Wars. Even when you think it’s gone, it’s never lost. Just hidden in a box you need the key to unlock. See, that’s what amazed me about you, Nilani! Even in this war, you offered hope for Akuma. Perspective for Efilia. Even a smile to Niran who was hated by this world. You found hope in the abyss, yet I feel you’re falling into it yourself. I thought you had lost yourself, but I was wrong.”
“Nilani?”
“I need you to help me.”
“With what?”
“I- I don’t get it.”
“You’re right, Brynn. As long as I live I can be corrupted. I can’t have it that way! The Red Queen chose to value herself over others. She didn’t care. I need to. I need to learn where the Red Queen failed. Arden was a good person.”
“So you’re just going to throw everything away? Your dreams? Your powers? Your life?” Brynn asked surprisedly.
“I don’t have anything left here. My life has been to preserve hope. To foster it! Why would I risk giving up the hopeful legacy I’ve worked to build?”
“Isn’t your legacy built through your powers? Ending your life would mean throwing it away.”
“That’s what Arden thought,” Nilani pointed out, “And I can’t fall for the same trap as her. Who knows. Maybe I’ll see may family again. Maybe I can see Akuma again too! Please, Brynn...”
Brynn was quiet. She nodded.
"I will not choose life like the Red Queen. I will not choose death like Akuma. I will not be a slave like Niran nor a monster like Septhis. Only hope can last forever. I’ve made my choice.”
Nilani weaved a complicated spell around her, using her very life energy to fuel it. Colorful lights danced around her as a golden light expanded in front. Brynn stood a few feet from Nilani. The light dazzled her and gave her a warmth she hadn’t felt since she had joined her angelic order. A hopeful warmth.
“From here I can lie between both worlds. Ready to give hope, yet unable to be corrupted. My life is just one among many. If I can end mine to save so many more, I will. Morkaractus still hasn’t begun, and when the day comes, I will be ready to answer.”
“Is this the end?” Brynn asked.
Nilani smiled as she turned to face the growing light. “Some say it’s the end. I‘d call it the new beginning.”
A golden wave of light washed over the plane. Smoke cleared from the sky. Wounded were healed. The ashes of the dead turned to golden mist as lost souls ascended into the sky. Brynn watched, awestruck. The plane’s very life was being restored in front of her eyes.
“You really are the Champion of Hope,” Brynn smiled, “You’re a true hero.”
- - - - - -
“Akuma, is that you?”
- - - - -
@shadow123 what a great ending! and your cards are super flavorful as well!
@Jonteman93 to address your questions:
How do you think I have been as host and writer?
- Absolutely marvelous mate, I know you were harshing on yourself earlier but in all serious you've done a great job! It was a huge undertaking and you still managed to find time and motivation to direct this amazing story! 11/10
Have my ways of writing been interesting? Was there one style that was more interesting than another?
- I really really loved the war and political story segments, although I must be honest when I say I could not for the life of me remember who everyone was. Also, I think those segments were somewhat disconnected from the main story, which is understandable, given how the story veered towards the abyss and away from the war.
Have it felt like I have treated you and your contestants correctly and respectfully?
- I'd give this one an 90%, but the 10% just boils down to completely human things, such as misinterpretations and a lack of knowledge from some or all parties involved, especially when it came to the abyss. I think a little more clarity could've been helpful, but in the end, I think everything ran very smoothly
Have I been handling eliminations in the correct way?
- I mean I don't really think there's a wrong way, especially with the terms and conditions at the front that says you control everyone's character. I think most of the eliminations were fair for the most part, although I feel like there was definitely a lean in bias based on either character story, background, and cards, and it was somewhat annoying not being able to tell where to focus
Is there anything else I and new hosts should think about?
- boutta throw shade on everyone here but... Punctuality. You said it yourself. 3.5 months is a long while, and there were multiple occasions where the thread went dry for a week on end. I think a good way to fix this would be to either remove the week-long gap in between rounds or have some sort of filler exercise in the meantime. Sort of like a prompt that people can run with if they wanted too. For example, two things I did for Akuma's downtime were 1: Analysing potential opponents and how to beat them, which not only makes great filler but makes winning the fight more realistic, as well as training, and 2: Interacting with other contestants, and by that I mean Nilani, but you get it. Possible prompts:
- write about your character interacting with the city
- write a segment where your character meets someone or learns something new
- write about your character's favorite place to eat food
- write about your character training (use it as a chance to show off a little)
- write about your character's thoughts on the tournament
- write about your character interacting with nature
- write about your character thinking about their home, or about friends and loved ones
- etc
But anyways, I dunno really where I'm going with this. Like I said, Jonte you've done an absolutely stellar job, and of course it wasn't perfect but it was absolutely wonderful! I kid you not when I say that Akuma has been probably my best written and most fun to write character ever. And I couldn't have done it without this outlet. So, again, thank you so much for hosting this tournament! I wish you good luck in your future writing!!!
1) The Time-
I must admit the process of this was tiring. The length was mostly inevitable, although this time around, I feel like it was even more busy due to having many people in the semifinals who were still in school, making time even more difficult. That said, I loved every bit of this. Tiring as it may have been, I enjoyed every day I'd wake up and find a new post in ToC. This whole process (the card creation, the writing, the interactions, and even the discussions over discord) really always made my day so much better. I'm definitely going to miss this.
2) The story/stories-
I think one reason why this whole story started to lean more to the abyss was because I feel like it may have been a little easier to understand. With all the different stories going on at first, I found it hard to keep up with every single character in every story, including the ones in the war. I must point out that CassZero did an excellent job of keeping the story tied to the war and the other characters that seemed to escape the others. The war story was definitely interesting, but I feel like the abyss and corruption piqued my interest a little more. Maybe that's just because of how I wrote my character.
3) Breaking the lore-
First, I'll apologize about that because I feel like Nilani drove that break for the most part. I probably should have reached out for more information before shifting the path and powers of the abyss. Nilani wasn't very connected to the lore besides Akuma, and that sudden shift may have been a bad idea. It could have also been Nilani becoming corrupted by the abyss to lead her to think that way, I'm not super sure. Regardless, I think the story still flowed really well and I enjoyed writing and/or reading everything a lot!
4) Going away from the finalists-
I think it would have been nice to see a little bit more of the characters being highlighted in the main events. I personally like the challenges you presented everyone in the story. One thing is in the first ToC (where everyone had a little more time), I really enjoyed reading segments like Bells which used the champions a little more and reading the champion's cardsmith write a story segment to respond to it. I feel like the unpredictability and oddities in Nilani's story may have been something that made her more difficult to use, so I definitely understand why Nilani wasn't used as much. I do remember all of us agreeing that we allowed you to do what you wanted with our characters when we entered the tournament, and I think you reserve the right as the host to correct our stories/change your characters as you so desire.
5) You, the host and story writer
You did a fantastic job. I didn't have time to proofread my stories because of the crazy amount of (socially distanced/online) extracurricular activities I'm doing. Your writing was really fabulous and you handled everything super well. Not much more to say here!
6) The purpose of the tournament
Again, sorry about taking the story off course from what you wanted it to be focused on. I really enjoyed reading your stories and figuring our how all of our champions' stories intertwined with it. I think MonkeyPirate2002 and CassZero did an excellent job at keeping the story more aligned to the purpose you were going for.
7) The future
Despite all the difficult work it takes for these tournaments. Man, I would really love to see this continue. I love seeing all the combined work of so many cardsmiths too. Over discord, I really felt like the tournament made for amazing discussion too! This is really an amazing thing that I would love to see continue.
8) My opinion
Ha! This was an AMAZING experience. Everything was so fun and the work I put into this saga made it feel even better! This has made my life so much better in so many ways. You were an amazing host and we had sixteen amazing contenders too! This was really a fun tournament.
9) More opinions
If I haven't said it enough, the work you put into this was amazing. I really respect that.
10) Thank YOU for hosting such a fun tournament with such amazing stories.
Thanks to every contestant to for making this experience even more fun.
------
Also, @Jonteman93 I would love to host the next Tournament of Champions (ToC4!!). I'll need to get more information via PM's and will only be able to start something after mid December. I loved this so much. Thank you for creating such an amazing saga.