//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: Arena Challenge 3/3 // Story: The Tales Of Spike - Empress Of Evil // by Spyro_Story //------------------------------// The sounds of crowds cheering from the outside when Spike and Sparx are waiting for the big door to be open. The baby dragon knew that he and Sparx have made it through the matches, but now they hope they can also make it to the finale. As soon as the big door opened, they moved forward to exited and entered the red line circle in the arena. One Rock Lobster in front of Spike starts to make an announcement to the crowds. "Ladies and gentle Lobsters, tonight you've all been waiting for this opportunity. Here we have is the one who's ready to win the match and a friended to bugs. The one and only, Spiiiiiiike the Dragoooooooon!" He shouted. The crowds are happily cheered for the little guy, causing the baby dragon to blush and wave at them. "So telling me junior, how is it feel to be in this final match?" Rock Lobster asked while he placed his claws on Spike's shoulder. "I don't know, maybe I'm just ready I guess." Spike answered. "I doubt it ya are, kid." Rock Lobster said and then he turns to the crowds. "And now, we bring out you've all been waiting for. Behold, the champion of arena, the king of ringer, the stone crusher. That's right ladies and gentle lobsters, our champion... BEEEERRRRSERKEEEEERRRRR!" *THUMP STEPS* Spike can feel a little bit vibration on the ground from his feet. The thumping is getting louder and closer, and the sound of snarling coming from the opening big door in front of him. What appears out of the dark was causing Spike and Sparx eyes widened to know his opponent named 'Berserker' turn out to be... a black minotaur. The crowds cheered for the champion of arena while he flexes his muscular body in from of them. Until suddenly, he noticed that his opponent was down here. "So this puny dragon is who I'm up against, don't make me laugh." Berserker said with such toughness words and chuckle. "That's right champ, but ya don't know what this kid is capable of, because he barely made it through the matches alive." Rock Lobster said while patting Spike's head. "Is that so. Alright then, let's see what you can do runt." Berserker said. "I'm ready whenever you are." Spike said with such bravery and Sparx nodded. But suddenly, a minotaur just grabbed a rock and crush it with his bare hand. "... Oh boy." " now without further ado, let the final battle arena... BEGIN!" Rock Lobster shouted when he hit the big bell. Two fighters takes their battle stands, waiting for which one of them makes the first move. Until then, Spike first charge at Berserker with battle cry and throw many punches at him, but Spike didn't because the minotaur's hand had stopped the baby dragon's track. "Hehehe, that's very cute coming from you, now it's my turn." Berserker said while he lifted Spike's head up and slam the baby dragon to the ground really hard. "Get up, I want to see more." Spike can feel the pain from his back before he got up from the ground, and then he starts to take thing to a next level. "Okay, you want to see something more, I'll give you one." Spike said in attitude when he takes a deep breath and releases the fire ball to hit the minotaur in the chests. Berserker just got hit by it, the pain hurts him a little, but it takes more than one to take him down. The minotaur now starts to get very aggressive when he shake his head and began to charge at Spike. The baby dragon was gasp by that and managed to jump above him to dodge. He turned around to see the minotaur got hit the wall with his bare horn and causing everything to shake a little like an earthquake. As soon as Berserker got his horns out, he turned to see Spike and said. "Okay kid, you are quite good I'll give you that. But you won't beat me, I am the champion of arena and I will squash you like a grape." Berserker said to admitted with a smile on his face. "Yeah... well, bring it on." Spike said when he dares Berserker to come at him. The minotaur raise his arm to smash Spike, but he miss him. It's the baby dragon turn to attack is to jump on top of his head and pounded with his fists. Berserker attempts to shake him off of his head to get Spike out. But then, a slap knocked Spike to fall down the ground from the minotaur's head. "Its squeezing time." Berserker said when he grabbed Spike and starts to sqeeze his body really really hard. The baby dragon's face turns red because he feels like he's gonna pop like a balloon and screaming. Sparx gasp to see this happening, so he's about to fly towards the minotaur's face by hitting him in the eyes. "Argh... buzz off you little mosquito!" He headbutted Sparx really, causing the dragonfly to crash landed on the ground. "Sparx!" Spike barely shouted in worry for his little friend while he's been squeezed. "You're... gonna... regret... hurting... my... friend!" On that moment, Berserker eyes widened to see Spike managed to push off the minotaur's hands with both his arms and legs with all his strength. Berserker tried to squeeze the baby dragon back, but Spike is too strong. Spike took a deep breath and unleashed a huge green fire on Berserker's face, sending him away and landed on the ground. "How, how can that... be? How come a runt like him be this strong?" Berserker said in confusion while he struggling to get up his knees. "Are you gonna give up, or you wanted more Berserker?" Spike asked with an attitude while he takes his battle stands. "Me, give up? Not on your life!" Berserker said. The minotaur began to charge towards Spike, ready to throw a punch at him. So does the baby dragon began to charge also and ready to throw a punch as he did. They scream furiously as they getting closer while running towards each other. and then... *POW!* Each of them knocked each other out, collapse backwards to the ground. "Wow what a knock out folks. It seems these fighters just hit each other with one punch. But if one gets up back on back on his feet, will be determined a winner!" Rock Lobster shouted. Spike and Berserker are struggling to get up because they are feeling hurt. Until the baby dragon barley moves slowly to sit up straight. "Is that... all you got?" Spike barely asked when he coughing and spat out his tooth. On that moment, the crowds shouted much louder for cheer because Spike is the only one who got up on his feet first. "Incredible. ladies and gentle Lobsters, we have our winner... Spike the dragon!" Rock Lobster shouted happily to the audience. The crowds shouted Spike's name multiple times and slapping their claws. Meanwhile, Spike walk to check on if he's okay while he holding him in his hands. "Sparx, please tell me you're okay buddy." He said, and Sparx nodded when he is about to recovered. But suddenly, there was a laugh coming from the minotaur, it wasn't a bad laugh, it's a good laugh. "Hahahahahahaha, I lose, I lose to you little dragon." Berserker said in happiness while he's getting up, which is make Spike confuse. "You know, no others around the world has ever beaten me in my time, but you are the first one." "Really?" Spike asked. "That's right, congratulations." Berserker said after he clapped his hands at the baby dragon. Couple of hours later after the end of arena, the Rock Lobsters have kept their promises to release them, returning Spike's stuff, and helping them the way out to the service. But when Spike got his backpack back, he was checking to see if the Rock Lobsters didn't steal anything. Luckily, none of it were stolen including the compass. "Well, a deal is a deal kid. What can I say, I am very disappointed. We could've kept ya here forever, but you have our words. You're free to go." Rock Lobster said. "Thanks, but you better keep your words for it." Spike said. Spike and Sparx are now on their way back to the service when the Rock Lobsters already told the baby dragon a direction and it take like three hours away up. "Hey kid!" Berserker shouted happily to Spike when he stops his track. "When we meet again, I hope you and I will have rematch someday." "Oh I do hope so too." Spike said when he winked with one eye. And so, Spike and Sparx have continued their quest to find their way back to the service and then continuing to find Ravahna's amulet wherever it is somewhere on south. But once they did, Spike and Sparx must beware for the Dredoks that attack them back then. If the Dredoks find them again, they'll be in grave danger and failed. But nothing can stop Spike for saving Twilight and her friends, no matter what. To Be Continued...