“You can do this,” he told the kid in the mirror.
Back in the commons, everyone was tense. Coach Vanova didn’t offer any further explanation. Once everyone made it down from their quarters, she beckoned them to follow. They filed in behind her and made their way out back behind the buildings to a large mowed field painted with Djinn battling lines. The field was ringed in stadium lights that were already on despite it still being a few hours before sunset.
Jackson’s stomach rumbled the instant they set foot outside — he realized that, aside from some soggy complimentary oatmeal on the train, he hadn’t had a meal all day. Luckily, both Asena and Scrappy had been well-fed the night before and burned no calories while in stasis. He wished he could have let them out prior to the battle but hadn’t wanted to start a fight in his apartment before whatever Coach Vanova had in store.
Coach Vanova turned to face them when they reached the line marking the edge of the battlefield. “All right, rookies. This is your first test at camp. We’ll be assessing your current fighting style and overall strength to see where everyone stands. Just because you got an invitation doesn’t mean you’ll be sticking around.”
Jackson gulped involuntarily. Apparently, Akamu hadn’t been completely full of crap. Although Coach Vanova didn’t articulate further, it sounded like some of them might not even make it one night. But before he could dwell on the possibility of failing before he’d even begun, Vanova pointed to Fiona and Avril.
“You two, into the ring. You’ll be our first match. Let’s see what you’ve got — this will be a two-on-two match.”
Fiona’s face lacked her usual confidence as she strode out into the tamer circle, but she didn’t look anything near as nervous as Avril, who clutched at the rings on her right hand and stared out onto the field with wide eyes. Jackson couldn’t help but feel bad for the older woman, though a small part of him was glad he didn’t have to go first.
The two tamers faced off against one another and released their Djinn in a flash of multi-colored lights. Jackson saw the familiar form of Fiona’s Megala, Rebel, and eagerly awaited her second Djinn. It turned out to be a Donkick, one he recognized from Sato Breeders. Jackson hadn’t spent a ton of time working with that kind of Djinn, but knew they had a reputation for nasty dispositions.
Fiona’s new Djinn brayed and swiveled its long ears as Avril’s own Djinn materialized across the center ring. Jackson was impressed — he’d been expecting Avril to own a couple of common Djinn. Instead, she had a Kasstor and Moltiger — a Wind and Fire-Elemental pair with a similar team build to what he hoped Scrappy and Asena would amount to someday. The Kasstor gave a hiss as soon as it saw its opponents on the other side of the ring, and the Moltiger’s growl echoed its sentiment. Jackson let out an involuntary expression of awe. Sure, the Moltiger was an impressive beast — no surprise there — but he hadn’t realized that the serpentine Kasstor had a coat of fur on its body, which was at odds with its reptilian features. He supposed fine details like that didn’t really show up on holo-vision too well.
“We will go until both Djinn on one team are knocked out,” Coach Vanova shouted around the whistle in her lips. Then she blew it. “Begin!”
It was clear to Jackson from the get-go just how much stronger Fiona had become as a tamer since the last time he’d seen her and Rebel in the ring. Fiona’s Donkick charged both the Kasstor and the Moltiger, and Rebel took flight. Faced with an attack from both ground and air, Avril hesitated for a split second. That was all Fiona needed.
The Donkick bucked its way into the middle of the confused Kasstor and Moltiger and pivoted around to deliver a strong kick with both hind legs into the ribs of the Moltiger. At the same time, Rebel swooped low and plucked the Kasstor right off the ground. The Kasstor writhed in Rebel’s talons, but before it could gain any hold, Rebel let go and it plummeted back to the earth.
Whether by sheer luck or brilliant planning, the Kasstor struck its own teammate just as the Moltiger leaped at the Donkick. The pair went down in a hissing, tangled mess and the Donkick charged, trampling the pair into the ground. When it jumped away, Rebel hit the ailing pair with a spray of feather needles that Jackson knew all too well.
The Moltiger rose, wobbled for a few moments and then toppled over. The Kasstor never moved after the feather needles hit it. Both Rebel and Fiona’s new Donkick waited for the command but Coach Vanova’s whistle blew before Fiona could finish off Avril’s Djinn.
“I think we’ve seen enough here,” Coach Vanova said, glancing down at her tablet. “Tak Rito and Lucia Scofield, you’re up!”
Lucia managed a narrow victory over Tak, his Lutrotter, and Gruffoat, which Jackson couldn’t help but enjoy watching. Next came Miguel and Hayden, which Miguel handily won. Finally, Moto went up against Appleby. Jackson was happy to see that Appleby and his Moldune looked better than ever, but his friend still didn’t stand a chance against Moto, her Scorbble, and her Zanga.
Despite his trepidation, Jackson thought he might have a good chance if all the tamers in camp were around the same skill level as Barrack 4. Instead of thinking about his own match, Jackson forced himself to make mental notes on each of the other tamers, the Djinn they used, and their particular strategies. At least, that’s what he tried to do initially. However, his attention span to the other matches started to sway when he realized that no one else had yet been paired up with Akamu. It made Jackson mad, but he knew he was intimidated by the young Kaleo even though they’d never actually faced off.
“Akamu Kaleo, Jackson Hunt! You’re up next.”
“Just let it happen,” Akamu said. “I’ll be doing you a favor by sending you home early.” He was standing a few paces away and Jackson could feel his smirk although he forced himself to ignore Akamu.
Jackson heard a few calls of encouragement from Appleby and the others who’d already taken a disliking to Akamu. As soon as they entered the ring, both tamers faced each other and released their Djinn, waiting for the signal to attack. Jackson was so focused on Akamu’s Djinn that he hardly paid attention to Asena and Scrappy as their bodies formed in the blast of light.
The first Djinn to appear across the field was a Flogadra, a flying Djinn with flaming feathers. Instinctively, Jackson opened up his Djinncyclopedia app.
Djinn: Flogadra
Element: Wind/Fire
Flogadras are an Intermediate-Form, Fire and Wind-Elemental combo Djinn. They are an exceptionally-rare Djinn that aren’t generally found in the wild. The evolved form of Pyras (an already-endangered Djinn), Flogadras can only be evolved when in the hands of a tamer. As such, when evolved, Flogadras tend to be incredibly loyal and protective.
It would be a tough fight — as both a Wind and Fire Djinn, the Flogadra canceled out any Elemental advantage Jackson would have had with Scrappy or Asena. Which meant Akamu’s second Djinn would have a real leg up if…
A long, powerful body with scales and ridges appeared on the battlefield grass. Jackson recognized it immediately as a Tandile, but, as if by instinct, knew it wasn’t just any Tandile. His eyes were instantly drawn to a long scar on its snout — the very place his own Scrappy had attacked a certain Tandile not long ago. Akamu hadn’t just caught a powerful Djinn, he’d caught the Djinn Jackson passed up on.
“Don’t worry,” Akamu said, noting Jackson’s reaction. “He’s in the hands of a capable trainer.”
Before Jackson could really process or register what he was seeing, Coach Vanova’s voice cut through his shock.
“Begin!”
Chapter Sixteen
Everyone else but Jackson, Akamu, and the four Djinn in the ring faded away. Jackson’s mind went into overdrive as Akamu went on the offensive with his Flogadra and Tandile, and Jackson was forced to react.
He’d learned in the past few weeks that commanding two Djinn telepathically was a whole lot different than just one. In fact, it was even harder than when he’d first struggled to establish his connection with Asena. Scrappy and his loya
l Lyote worked fine with him on their own, but their general dislike for once another played chaos with Jackson’s mental strategy.
Jackson commanded Scrappy to engage with Akamu’s Flogadra. He knew it was potentially-unwise to sic the Fire-Elemental Asena against the Water-Elemental Tandile, but given Scrappy’s history with the Tandile, he didn’t think it smart to re-open any fresh wounds.
Any hope of that disappeared instantly. The Magglecaw went straight for the Tandile, no doubt intent on revenge. Asena, who Jackson had commanded to engage with the Tandile, saw Scrappy head past her and changed course. Rather than attacking the Tandile, Asena snapped at Scrappy, intent on being the first to tangle with the Tandile.
Jackson’s two Djinn collided and fell into a scuffle.
“Killer, Tail Slam! Phoenix, Fire Tornado!”
Jackson almost smiled. It looked like Akamu wasn’t able to command his Djinn telepathically. Though the mild elation didn’t last long, as that extra second of timing didn’t break up the scuffle between Asena and Scrappy. The Tandile struck a powerful tail blow and the Flogadra hit them both with a whirling Fire Tornado. Jackson wanted to scream and he did, if only mentally.
Akamu let out a huge laugh.
Come ON you two. Focus!
Both Asena and Scrappy’s health had taken a pretty serious hit from the two strikes, but Jackson wasn’t done yet. Instead of trying to sort out his Djinns’s discipline problem, Jackson switched tactics and sent Scrappy after the Tandile while Asena focused her attention on the Flogadra. It was probably for the best though, as Scrappy’s Wind attacks would work well against the Tandile — at least in theory.
Jackson ordered Scrappy to use Mocking Wind, and while that hit the Tandile square-on, its Defense seemed so ridiculously high that it seemed near ineffective, in spite of the Elemental advantage. That scaly hide was some serious stuff. The battle raged back and forth — neither land-bound Djinn, Asena or the Tandile, could strike their airborne opponents, bringing the fight to a boring stand-still.
Jackson’s mind raced. He needed to come up with something to break the stalemate, but any idea he had involved Scrappy and Asena working together. The odds of making that happen on the fly were slim to none. Sweat beaded beneath the hat on his forehead and the pressure mounted. He then nodded his head when he realized the only true path to victory: using Scrappy’s Mocking Wind over and over again until they were able to whittle down the Tandile’s HP. It’d take a while, but it would be worth it.
But that plan immediately flew out the window when Scrappy found himself in the gaping mouth of the Tandile after a failed Dive Bomb attack which forced Jackson to redirect Asena’s attacks on the reptilian opponent. Her Fire Bark struck the Tandile in the side but it refused to relinquish its hold on Scrappy. Jackson chided himself. Of course it wouldn’t do much. It was a Fire-Elemental attack against a Wind-Elemental. The best solution would be to utilize a Plain or Earth-Elemental attack. Jackson commanded her to use Wild Bite.
The Tandile growled in frustration as Asena dug her teeth into its neck. Asena shook around vigorously, but the Tandile was so robust, it seemed almost as ineffective as her Fire-Elemental attacks. But Jackson knew better. He would have to command Asena to hold out with these attacks.
“Killer, Armor Skin!” Akamu called out. In an instant, the Tandile’s body seemed to stiffen, and Asena let out a yelp as the scales hardened around her teeth. She recoiled back, and rather than wait for a follow-up command from Jackson, let loose another Fire Bark, this time directed at the Tandile’s head. It hit its intended target, which also meant it struck Scrappy full-force and the Magglecaw went out like a light.
Asena!
Jackson couldn’t be sure, but he felt his Lyote had attacked her teammate on purpose. Now facing two-to-one odds, Jackson knew he was in trouble.
The Tandile surged forward on its short legs. Above, the Flogadra screeched and blasted Asena with a gust of wind that toppled her on her side. The valiant Lyote recovered quickly, but by then, the Tandile had closed in. A torrent of water blasted from its mouth and caught Asena with a direct hit. She went down in a sodden mess. It was only a matter of time.
“Enough!”
Akamu shot Coach Vanova a sullen look and his Tandile took one last parting swipe at Asena. The Water-Elemental Djinn’s tail struck Jackson’s Lyote, throwing her several feet to the side before she slammed into the ground.
“What the hell was that?”
Before he knew what was happening, Jackson sprinted toward Akamu and stopped just inches from his face. “That was a cheap shot — the fight was over!”
“Sorry,” Akamu said, smirking. “My Tandile is a little hard to control sometimes.”
“If you can’t get your Djinn under control, you shouldn’t be able to use it!” Jackson said.
“That’s rich, coming from a guy who can’t even get his Lyote and Magglecaw to work together.”
Jackson growled and shoved Akamu, who got back up in Jackson’s face. “Touch me again. Go ahead. Touch me again.”
“Enough!”
Coach Vanova forced her way between the pair. “Kaleo, pull that kind of trick again and you’ll be cleaning toilets instead of training — I don’t give a damn who your father is. And Hunt, you ever lay hands on another tamer at camp and you’ll be out the door faster than I can say Falcador. Got it?”
Jackson muttered his understanding and recalled both of his Djinn to their rings. When he rejoined the rest of the students on the side of the field, it was Hayden who spoke first.
“You command your Djinn telepathically?”
Jackson shrugged, in no mood to talk, especially to the guy who’d been playing the stoic lone wolf all afternoon. “Yeah?”
Hayden looked impressed. “That’s a pretty advanced talent.”
Jackson didn’t know what to say, and Hayden seemed to be finished talking.
“All right, gather round, everyone,” Coach Vanova said. For several long moments, she continued tapping data into her tablet. Jackson realized she’d been doing it throughout the entire scrimmage. When finished, she laid the tablet on the ground. A thin line of blue light blossomed from the screen and grew into the holographic image of a man. Unlike the coaches, he wore a sharp-fitting tan suit and had white hair combed back. Although he was in a hologram, the man paced back and forth within the confines of his video stream. It gave the impression of a caged Djinn. Jackson recognized the face but couldn’t put a name with it until the man introduced himself.
“Welcome, tamers. My name is Walton Belmont, the Commissioner of the Bronze League Division of the Djinn Battle League. You’ve all just finished your first battle. For some of you, it will be your last for the season in the DBL.”
Belmont paused to let that sink in. Jackson felt like he’d been stabbed in the gut. He hadn’t thought he’d done that bad — how could they send people home after just one fight? Was the scrimmage meant to cut their numbers in half before camp even began?
“Each of your coaches assessed the battles that took place today and scored all of you based on a number of factors. We have now compiled a rank of all two hundred tamers here at camp. Open the official training camp application on your holo-watches to see where you rank.
There was a shuffle as everyone reached for their wrists and pulled up the app. Sure enough, a leaderboard tab had appeared ranking everyone from one down to two hundred. Jackson got some small satisfaction that neither Akamu or Fiona were in the top place, although they’d both made the top twenty. He kept scrolling and felt his stomach sink as he did so. Each number he passed without seeing his name felt excruciating. Finally, he came upon Jackson Hunt all the way down below the top one hundred.
“Have you all found your positions?” Belmont asked. “Good. As you progress through camp, you and your Djinn will have opportunities to increase or decrease your ranking. Keep in mind that the forty-one lowest ranking tamers will be removed from camp at the end of each week, so make sure you work hard
in all aspects of training camp. Tonight, however, we will be cutting one person from each barrack. To those of you who will be going home, we wish you the best of luck in your taming journey. And remember, there’s always next year. To those of you who remain, remember to work hard and believe in your Djinn. Goodnight, everyone!”
For such dire news, Jackson thought Belmont ended his speech on an awfully cruel high note. Worse still, Jackson wondered if he’d be the one going home. True, he hadn’t lost in the worst fashion, but while other tamers had also struggled to control what were obviously their new secondary Djinn, they hadn’t seemed to struggle nearly as much as he had. Most just acted like typical new Djinn — slow to react, confused, and halfhearted — but Jackson was the only one whose Djinn actually fought each other.
“Hunt!”
The moment had arrived. Jackson stepped forward and prepared for the worst. He forced himself to meet Coach Vanova’s eyes, all the while keenly aware of Akamu snickering behind his back. At least the humiliation would be over soon.
“Your Djinn team is the biggest cluster I’ve seen in years,” Vanova said. “You and your Magglecaw and Lyote have talent, but you’re all on three different pages with three different goals. Still, I’m impressed with the telepathic connection you displayed. You’re lucky — it’s the only thing keeping me from booting your rear right now.”
“Y-yes, Coach,” Jackson said. His heart hammered in his chest. His palms were slick with sweat but at least he wasn’t going home!
“Avril!”
Jackson’s momentary relief didn’t last long when he realized what was coming.
“I’m sorry, but you didn’t make the cut,” Coach Vanova told the older woman. Her tone softened a bit. “Please pack your items. Better luck next year.”
Avril nodded. Jackson could see she was doing all she could to hold back her tears. A few of them gave soft goodbyes and small waves as she passed by on her way to the barracks, but mostly, they were stunned. The message from camp staff was loud and clear: they were playing with the big boys and girls now.
Djinn Tamer - The Complete Bronze League Trilogy Page 37