The last match had been close - not that Relic had expected to get this far. But she knew the chances of losing out on whatever waited at the end of the Olympics grew with each mistake she allowed herself. She should lock in, now, because she'd neglected to in the hour or so beforehand. Her second fight was the last in the line up, and had she seen any of the ones prior? No. She'd been busy licking her wounds.

It wasn't enough to want the win. She needed to fight like she deserved it.

With her armour readjusted (but not repaired, obviously), Relic stepped into the ring, dark and battered helm held high. She knew this one was Chaos Forge from the weird, stupid designation. She tried to keep her mind from running, but run it did. She was haunted by the potentials long before the Agate actually walked into view.

She couldn't stop thinking about the hulking silhouettes she'd spotted in the crowd and sign ups. Luck alone couldn't carry her through a fight with something five times her size.

@V-Agate-One

Its previous match had been... quite the experience. A historical moment, some would say. Definitely something The Agate wouldn't forget. It was an odd mix of exhausted and wired as it trundled on to it's next matchup.

A smarter, more observant gembound might've made a couple connections between this stranger's appearance and the agate's [or, more notably, its sister's] but the agate was neither of those things. And even if it was, it was distracted by a glaring detail.

"OKAY, THAT'S JUST ACTUAL ARMOR." Its previous opponent had weird scale-armor or something, but this was undeniably just good ol fashion non-biological armor. "FUCK YOU, YOU ACTUAL CHEATER!"

Before anyone could explain to it that only enchanted armor was banned, the agate was charging forward. It's jaws snapped at one of the leather straps binding Relic's armor to her body, but its teeth met nothing but air.

ROUND 1/5

ATTEMPT: Tear Armor Strap
DEFENSE: Quills
INJURIES: Tired + scraped up from prev round

@Relic

The Gembound that stepped into the ring next was short, thankfully. It looked spiky, and it sported several eyes and nostrils, all glowing a bright acid green. A familiar shade of green- wait, hold on.

Was this her kid??

Was she about to beat up her child?????

Relic stared at agate from behind her helmet, mouth hung open as she mustered up the will to break the silence, to either confirm or deny her suspicion. A noise had just escaped her throat when it started yelling at her about her armor. This wasn't a real fight! It didn't actually factor into the match!! Why did people get so mad about it!!!!

"Whuh. HUH?" Her brain shifted from shock to anger as it stuttered to action again. It went for one of the straps - no, no, it did NOT get to do that. Teeth AWAY from the merchandise.

"Fuck you!?" Closing the rest of the distance, she lowered her head and charged into the Agate, wings beating down as she aimed to pummel it into a backpedal with the sheer amount of limbs she flailed in its overall direction.

ROUND 1/5

ATTEMPT: Hitting agate with her face, wings, legs, et cetera. (yknow what. fuck you dude. envelops you)
DEFENSE: Armour along spine, enchanted helmet
INJURIES: minor cuts and bruises from last fight, tired

@V-Agate-One

No professional announcer nor particularly enamored with his current commentating job, sticking to an established format didn't occur to East as he overlooked this latest match from the stands. Maybe an impressive competitor might have warranted the formality of a grandiose introduction; a small amount of fondness for Vakornol's appreciation of a quick tongue admittedly had tilted him in favor of providing a verbal nod of recognition for her battle. This ongoing dispute in the arena, however, had the bird swallowing back a chuckle. The way it was playing out, he could be witnessing a spot of light entertainment compared to the more brutal fare he was bound to spectate later. He narrated accordingly.

"What's this we're seeing?" Despite the rhetorical nature of his remark, a glance full of feigned disbelief was cast about the audience. His beak clacked together a few times to sell a gobsmacked image before venturing further into empty, farcical questioning. "Did you hear that? Is this our first call to evaluate a rules violation? Unprecedented territory. Let me consult the big book."

Flapping wings, through use of rustling feathers, attempted their best imitation of pages fluttering in a breeze. "I'm sorry to inform," East called out, very much not so, "that the filed complaint has no legs to stand on. And soon our disadvantaged Agate mightn't either if it doesn't push back against this belligerent bat-winged beating."

The agate was a mess of serpentine squiggles as it attempted to escape the brutal smackdown currently being unleashed upon it's poor, poor face. Its eyes were wide in shock and it wasn't even able muster up a swear in response. It would whirl around to escape the onslaught, it's long quill-covered tail snapping whip-like towards Relic.

It would peer up at East, eyes narrowed. "CAN YA SHUT UP?!" It yowled, "Can everyone just SHUT UP when I'm fighting?" If this was going to be a repeat of its last match then it might ACTUALLY commit a rules violation out of sheer rage.

ROUND 2/5

ATTEMPT: Tail whip
DEFENSE: Quills
INJURIES: smack'd face

@Relic @East

Relic was beginning to forget her previous reservations as she ruthlessly battered the Agate with every limb she had available. She was fighting like she had to win - because she wanted to, and because it was the respectful and sportswomanly thing to do.

A voice rang out from the crowd, apparently commentating the match. Relic should've felt grateful, or enjoyed the attention, but she mostly just felt confused and irritated by everything. Had she ever been like the Agate when she was younger? She sure hoped not.

Her opponent whipped around to smack her with its sizeable tail, and Relic began to backstep in order to avoid the impact. With a wing-flap for good measure, Relic dodged the Agate's swipe at her legs.

ROUND 2/5

ATTEMPT: dodging by hitting reverse
DEFENSE: Armour along spine, enchanted helmet
INJURIES: minor cuts and bruises from last fight, tired

@V-Agate-One

There was a funny thing about perching in the arena stands: the further out your seat was, the less impactful the events occurring at center stage were. Those with the worst possible spots probably saw little more than blurry figures slamming into each other, each combatant's employed strategy too minuscule to perceive. And how small the Agate's anger must seem from afar, a gasp upon the wind rather than the explosion closer viewers experienced. Thanks to his announcing, East couldn't profess to that same level of detachment, the job requiring him to be nearer to the action. However, comfortable bounds kept feathers safe and dry from a downpour of spitting rage. Unblinking, unswayed by the verbal assault, he continued peering down at the battle.

"I'm afraid not, kid." Blatant lack of remorse was evident in shrugging shoulders. "My gab's part of the job. You've got problems, take it up with management."

"Besides," he added, "The best respect you can expect for your blessed silence down there is a good clap on the ears. Better learn to deal with the noise fast before someone helps you with it the painful way."

It's tail whiffed through the air, the lack of the expected satisfying smack sending a surge of frustration through it, with East's retort only adding fuel to the fire. The agate whirled back around to face Relic, quills clattering and eyes narrowed, contemplating its next move.

It would lunge forward, trying to grab one of Relic's wings in its teeth. If it got that under control, then it wouldn't have to worry about getting smacked in the face again. A flawless plan!

...Except it missed completely. AGAIN. Ugh.

ROUND 3/5

ATTEMPT: wing chomp
DEFENSE: Quills
INJURIES: smack'd face

@Relic

Relic almost - almost - flinched at the snap of teeth near her side, shooting for her wing this time. It was like it WANTED to get battered again, which was something she was currently considering... She was going to try, at least. It worked last time.

Rajani had been a challenge. Beating this indignant rat of a Valkhound was a cakewalk; Which was a thought she immediately regretted having, considering the non-zero chance of this kid being hers. What a mother she was.

That wave of guilt got to her, embarrassingly enough. She just kind... of waved at it.

@V-Agate-One

ROUND 3/5

ATTEMPT: Failed attempt at wing beatdown #2
DEFENSE: Armour along spine, enchanted helmet
INJURIES: minor cuts and bruises from last fight, tired

This was STUPID! This rando with their stupid [and SOMEHOW perfectly legal] armor was practically running circles around it! Agate just knew that El was probably laughing at it from up in the stands, and it wouldn't stand for that! Even if it didn't win [which was fine, because at least it'd gotten further than El] it HAD to at least get ONE hit in.

Relic's wing fluttered tantalizingly close to its face, so of COURSE it was going to chomp it.

...And fail. Again.

ROUND 4/5

ATTEMPT: Chomp that wing AGAIN
DEFENSE: Quills
INJURIES: Smack'd face

@Relic