章 25: 25.

The first day of the tournament finally arrived. Sheree stood on the mat and stared at Elliot as she waited for the match to start.Elliot stood next to a nervous looking Albert and a pumped Rayne. Sheree was the first of them to fight. She wasn't nervous, but she was anxious for a completely different reason. Her and Elliot had been using their powers almost nonstop over the last few days. That much exertion left them both in a state of constant arousal. They didn't ignore the feelings, they spent whole nights kissing and touching. They did stop short of making each other climax though. Sheree suspected that overdoing that had led to what she called the 'short circuit' between them. So far her hypothesis felt accurate. They remained able to touch even after hours of being all over each other. Sheree wondered how many orgasms it would take to make them short circuit, but she wasn't willing to give up Elliot to find out.

The University president, an old, white man named Meyers Walters, judged the matches alongside the Dean of Students, another old, white man named Ezra Bachard. They sat at a table directly in front of the platform. The referee, a thirty something, black man, wearing an all black shirt, pants and shoes stood on the platform between Sheree and her opponent, a burly, blond girl from the herculean class named Emma. Emma paced back and forth pounding her large fists together and grunting. Sheree looked over at Elliot and mouthed 'I love you', for everyone to see. An audible gasp went through the crowd just before Rayne's unmistakable voice told them all to grow the hell up. Sheree smirked at the reaction as she turned her attention back to her opponent.

The referee yelled 'fight' and Emma charged at Sheree. She looked like an angry bull rushing at her. Sheree considered her options at this point. She knew a ring out was an instant victory, and while that was the least fun option, she wanted to conserve her strength in case her next opponent was more dangerous. She shrugged her shoulders and waited until Emma reached out to grab her. She sent the large girl hurtling off the platform and into the first row of the crowd by her outstretched arm. Emma roared in anger as she tried to force her way back onto the platform. She quickly calmed down when Meyers Walters calmly raised his hand. A look of absolute terror appeared on Emma's face just before she went and stood in the audience without another word.

Sheree looked bored as the referee raised her hand in victory. She walked back over to the group and hugged Elliots arm until it was his turn to fight. His match was only slightly more entertaining. He faced a short, skinny guy named Terry, who also started off by rushing at him. Elliot threw a right hook, which gave Terry a face full of the crackling energy. He clutched at his eyes and screamed as Elliot forced him off the platform with his new power. Elliot wanted to punch him, but he didn't since he was unsure of what the impact would do to Terry's body. The match lasted only a few more seconds than Sheree's had. Unlike her though, Elliot didn't look bored as he had his hand raised in victory. He watched as a medical person helped Terry with his eyes. I didn't hit him as hard as I could with it. So I really hope I didn't actually blind him, Elliot thought as he walked off the platform. He stood with the other three but never took his eyes off Terry. After a few matches had played out Terry was given some dark shades and appeared to be watching the matches. Elliot was able to relax as Rayne took her spot on the platform.

"Let's go baby!" Albert called from beside Elliot and pumped his fist in the air.

Rayne turned to face him and blew a kiss in his direction. Her opponent was a frail looking girl with pale skin black hair and glasses, named Natasha. She looked completely out of place until the referee started the match. Her cowering posture turned into a confident one as she raised her hands palms up. Droplets of water rose into the air all around the platform. Shit it rained this morning, Rayne thought as she realized she was fighting a water controller. She moved toward the center of the platform as the droplets began to form into waves about the same height as she was. The first one hit her with enough force to make her take a half step backward. Rayne was smart enough to know that she needed to plant her feet and just weather this attack as wave after wave crashed into her.As long as i'm not moving this attack can't beat me, Rayne thought as she guarded her face and took another wave. If an opportunity to counter attack presented itself she would have to move quickly to seize it.

"Hey Rayne, have some of your namesake," Natasha teased as the waves turned back into floating droplets.

At the pause in action, Rayne advanced on her opponent. She moved toward the smirking brunette as pain exploded in her shoulder. She clutched at her shoulder and yelped in pain. She hadn't seen what hit her but she knew what happened. They were weaponized rain drops now, another one raced at her face and she blocked it with her hand. The impact burned like being hit with a paintball. Rayne waved her hand in the air as the stinging pain lingered. I'm gonna break this bitche's neck, Rayne thought as she continued advancing on Natasha. The rain bullets became more frequent as Rayne chased Natasha. Pain engulfed most of her body, but she willed herself to keep moving.

When the rain bullets didn't stop her Natasha switched tactics again, this time she created a gigantic ball of condensed water in the air and dropped it on Rayne. Rayne noticed it in just enough time to dive out its way. It sounded like a massive stone hit the ground when it narrowly missed Raynes left leg. She stood up shakily and was just able to put up her guard when it smashed into the front of her. It pushed her toward the edge of the platform as she tried her best to halt its movement. At the edge of the platform Rayne dove to her right and the ball rolled into the crowd. Before Rayne could stand back up the ball landed on her back and forced her body flat against the canvas. I can't beat her, Rayne thought as the ball pressed down on her. She felt her strength leaving her as she attempted to keep breathing. I need to just give up so this cowardly bitch doesn't kill me, Rayne thought and went limp beneath the ball.

"Hey Rayne, we have a date in the champions tournament remember. So get the hell up and win!" Sheree's voice called out over the stunned silence of the crowd.

"Oh yeah, we do," Rayne said as her strength returned to her. She used every ounce of strength she had in her to will herself off the mat. The only image on her mind was Sheree's face.

"I gotta beat her," she repeated aloud as she stood completely to her feet. The massive ball of water was still pressing down on her.

"And you're not gonna stop me!" she screamed and tossed the ball off her back before breaking into a full sprint toward Natasha.

Natasha panicked and pulled the ball as hard as she could behind Rayne. When it slammed into her it sped her toward Natasha even faster. Rayne wrapped her in a bearhug as the ball continued pushing her off the platform. When they were clear of the mat she pulled her knees up between her and Natasha just before they hit the ground. Natasha landed flat on her back with Rayne kneeling on her for support. The audience broke into a raucous applause when the referee ran over to them and declared Rayne the winner by ring out and raised her hand in victory. She winked at Sheree and mouthed thank you as the crowd chanted her name in unison.