There were two more fights before Jude’s: Jack and AJ’s. If they both won then they would face each other in the second round.

Jack who was hot-headed, wits slower than his reactions, and perfectly suited to hand-to-hand combat was fighting a projectile user. Their alteration allowed them to fire energy blasts, whilst not a specific type of energy it was more a generalised ball of plasma that exploded slightly upon impact.

Instead of closing the distance as soon as he could Jack had jumped back. Within his utility belt he had pockets of throwing weapons. Ranging from throwing knives to ball bearings, and even some miniature explosives. He used these to fire back at the energy bolts and explode them before they hit him.

The issue with his plan was that the energy blasts exploded upon contact with another force and thus anything thrown at them would be blasted away quite easily. Yet, he kept trying his plan.

After a few minutes of constant clashes he was out, he was searching his pockets, his bags, anything, and yet they were all empty.

As he was searching another bolt came towards him, without seeming to notice his body just moved out of the way. Jack’s movements looked rehearsed as he began dodging these attacks whilst looking for a weapon of his own.

He saw them, two knives. One by the edge of the ring, giving him ample times to dodge attacks, and the other in the centre. He had to choose whether to kite his opponent around or head straight for them.

The logical part of his brain told him he could dodge the attacks if he headed in a straight line but his body had already made the decision for him. He was running along the edge.

He was able to secure the knife but the projectiles blocked his path to the enemy. Thus forcing him to the other end of the ring. He ran along the diameter of the circle.

When he was about halfway one blast came straight for his torso, thus he slid along the sandy ground. He very quickly began running again.

Then without warning he threw his knife at the opponent, who swiftly responded with their own projectile.

As all clashes had, it ended with a small explosion creating a slightly bit of smoke.

From that smoke came another knife. A perfect shot.

Jack had won. The opponent had been taken to safety. Whilst sliding he had made sure to grab the second knife in view.

For AJ it was a similar conflict but from the opposite perspective. He had not known it at the time but the woman he was fighting had the Alteration allowing her to use image training. She could imagine every situation and keep replaying them in her mind to find the optimal strategy in mere seconds.

However, the downside to this power is being able to know information on your opponent beforehand so the first round of a tournament when a majority of people are unknown did not suit her power set.

What was hardest for her was the fact AJ used a fighting style that was quite unorthodox in the west: Shaolin Kung Fu. Specifically the horse stance.

This meant standing with your quads parallel to the ground, having a wide base, and keeping your centre of gravity low.

From here AJ could throw out powerful punches. Though the horse stance was not the most practical stance for a real close range fight it was perfect for AJ. Since it provided a strong base and good footing, powerful blasts of electricity could be shot out of the punches and he would stay still.

It was his primary strategy, being hit by one was not the end of his opponent. After she absorbed the first one she could feel herself get more sluggish. Teeth rattled around in her mouth. More than likely she could take a second but a third would eliminate her.

So as she slowly approached AJ she took care with the hopes of not being hit by another one. Once she had recovered from her shocking experience she became a lot more nimble.

She ran straight up to AJ and instead of hitting him then and there, she instead flipped over the top of him. He did try firing at her but he just sent it straight into the sky.

Once she landed she came straight in, she had gotten to grips with how he moved when firing and at this distance he would not be able to pull it off quick enough.

Though once she was in AJ pulled off a very basic Punch Block Punch. He fired out his right arm to punch her and held his left to block whatever incoming attack she may have used. She was dazed by the punch to the face so he fired another with his left into her side.

Now she was reeling. His hands were close to her. He did not waste this chance. “Sorry about this. You’re not usually my type.” He grabbed her clothes and held her tight. Then he slammed his foot down and the electricity he sent upwards earlier came hurtling back down smashing into the two of them.

After a couple of seconds AJ let her go. And she fell to the floor, defeated.

AJ had progressed.