Freelance Heroics Read Online Free PDF Page A

fingers.
    Bright blue mana belched from the mouth of Gladiator’s Way, spilling out of the dark tunnel and racing toward Mazik. The crowd gasped—and then watched as Mazik calmly walked away from the explosion, mana licking his gray robes as a big smile splashed across his face.
    The crowd erupted! Mazik wasn’t surprised—he knew Houkians loved a good show, and he intended to give them one. He raised his arms high over his head, urging the crowd on. He was basking in their adulation, and loving every second of it.
    Mazik stopped in the middle of the arena and looked back at the announcer. The fat man quickly squashed his grin and got back to work.
    “Today, in the spirit of friendly competition, these three young heroes will face off against the best duelists from six of Houk’s illustrious adventuring guilds, in a series of one-on-one duels. There will be up to eight matches, with the representatives from Paragon, Malediction, Bloodfist, the Tryrindar Knights, Vector, and the Brotherhood of the Steel facing off against the three heroes of Team Kil’Raeus. Each match will last until one of the competitors surrenders or is unable to continue, or fifteen minutes have elapsed, in which case a judge will select the winner.”
    Mazik looked around the arena, and picked out the members of the Guildmaster’s Council seated on the south side, halfway between the Gate of Life and the Gate of Shame. He grinned and waved.
    “Here are the stakes,” said the announcer. “If the guilds win, they will prove that they are powerful enough to protect Houk and its fine people, and have not been negligent in this aim. But if our young heroes win, they will prove that the guilds have been complacent in their defense of the city, and will gain their blessing in creating a new adventuring guild, the first to be founded in Houk for many years!
    “Now, let us begin!” shouted the announcer. The crowd cheered, their anticipation rising. “For the first match, challenger Mazik I. Kil’Raeus will face off against the prodigious summoner from the blood-soaked brawlers of Bloodfist, Birel Faral!”
    Mazik watched as his opponent emerged from the Gate of Life. Like Raedren in a robe.
    Birel Faral wasn’t as tall as Raedren, nor did he possess Raedren’s curly beard, but he had the same air of studious nerdery, albeit cut through with a strong measure of Houkian arrogance. His robes were midnight blue and long, and shimmered when he moved.
    Houkians didn’t like to put all their support in one camp before the victor was clear, so the audience cheered for Faral too. Mazik bowed as his opponent reached him. “Let’s have a good fight.”
    “Let’s,” agreed Faral. He looked Mazik over. “What kind of robes are those?”
    Mazik frowned. “Huh? They’re just robes.”
    “They look funny. Aren’t you an arc primarily?”
    “Exclusively.”
    “Those look like something a div would wear.”
    Mazik’s eyes narrowed. “All right. I’ma have to kick your ass now.”
    Faral laughed, and his grin turned wicked. “You’re welcome to try. Just make sure to mind your defenses. I won’t be holding back.”
    “I wouldn’t worry about that,” said Mazik, cracking his knuckles.
    The announcer, now brandishing a mallet, turned to the gong beside him. “Is everyone ready? Now, let the first match between Mazik I. Kil’Raeus and Birel Faral—”
    Bwaaang!
    “Begin!”
     
     
    Mazik broke to the side as pale red daggers perforated the air. The glowing daggers embedded themselves in the sand where he had been standing a few seconds prior, and then disappeared. Mazik looked up to see more incoming.
    I need to get closer , thought Mazik. He ducked and wove as glowing spears, swords, and arrows hurtled at him, searching for a gap in the onslaught.
    There! Mazik dodged inward, heading straight for Faral. But before he had taken three steps, pale red winds buffeted him, leaving him open. Mazik barely managed to get out of the way before a