Battle for the Throne (3) - What is Dodgeball?
What is dodgeball? Definitions of this sport can vary by era or person.
But in this country of Rok, at least, it carries one clear meaning: the sport of truly womanly women.
Come gym class, the boys play soccer while the girls play dodgeball. And this dodgeball? It's a brutal affair where flesh tears and bones shatter. Muscles clash against muscles, ferocity battles ferocity—a game reserved for the hottest-blooded women among women.
Typically, five players per side hurl the ball at the enemy territory. Get hit? You're out. The ball's made of steel and weighs about 20 kilograms.
Usually, it's team versus team. But this time was different.
A sports festival in the royal palace. Four knight orders, each vying to crown their liege as king. Naturally, the dodgeball court took on a unique shape: a circle split into four quadrants, with five players from each order stepping up. A fair, all-at-once showdown.
"Heh heh heh. I'll smash you all."
Five from the Red Bulls Knight Order under 1st Prince Estial stepped forward. Captain Taurin—the most powerful and reckless among the young officers—and his four loyal followers.
"I'll show you what classy play looks like."
Five from the Black Yack Knight Order under 2nd Prince Int followed. Led by Captain New Balance, an officer from a noble house.
"Women should act like women."
Five from the Gold Lion Knight Order under 3rd Prince Jal took the field. Led by Captain Kaya, famed as the "She-Lion."
Meanwhile.
The 4th Knight Order under 1st Princess Roin: the Pink Dragon Knights. They too stood atop the dodgeball court.
"Yaaawn."
The one yawning at the front? None other than Hotse.
No one had given Roin's Pink Dragon Knights a second thought. The real contest would be among the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd orders. No time to waste on these ragtag nobodies.
Yet Hotse's stunning looks at the forefront had the crowd buzzing anyway.
"Ho ho ho. That's why we wear hoods like this."
Unicef, hood pulled low from behind, muttered. Everyone but Hotse—who'd ditched hers out of laziness—wore theirs dutifully.
"Everyone, do your best!"
Roin cheered from courtside.
"What beauty."
"Incredible."
1st Prince Estial and 2nd Prince Int, seated beside Roin, marveled at Hotse.
Seeing this, 3rd Prince Jal pursed his lips.
"She's had it all done—eyes, nose, mouth, ears. The works."
Whether Hotse was natural or enhanced didn't matter. The match began as scheduled.
"Alright! Ignore the trash for now! Let's start!"
Captain Taurin bellowed, flexing his muscles. At the starting bell, he snatched the central ball. By the time the other orders' players skidded to a halt before it, too late.
"Die—!"
Captain Taurin: over 190 cm tall, over 100 kg of muscle. Strong enough to punch out a bull barehanded, reflexes to snatch falling raindrops.
Boom!
The ball he hurled rocketed toward the Black Yack Knight Order.
"Ngh!"
One knight's helmet shattered. His shoulder plate followed, blood spraying.
"Amazing. Hit the head, but blood's from the shoulder."
"Classic unpredictable Taurin. Can't pin him down."
Admiration rippled through the crowd. Taurin grinned smugly at the referee.
"Tweet! Out!"
The ref blew his ocarina. The "dead" Black Yack knight was carted off on a stretcher. In dodgeball, you might actually die. That was the real world of the game.
But the other orders wouldn't let Red Bulls dominate unchallenged.
Thud—
This time, Captain Kaya of Gold Lion grabbed the ball.
"Dodgeball's a woman's sport. Men, stay out!"
Her full swing matched Taurin's bulk.
Splat!
Straight into Captain New Balance's gut—the nearest target.
"Ngh!"
New Balance crossed his arms in an X-block. Crack— His forearm guard splintered.
"Hah. Blocked it."
New Balance smirked at the rolling ball.
But.
"Tweetle-dee~ Out!"
The ref played his ocarina, signaling out.
"Oh crap!"
New Balance realized: this was dodgeball, not a brawl. Blocking alone didn't count.
Kaya's ferocious momentum had made him forget it was a sport.
Taurin sneered at the departing New Balance.
"Hahaha! Always calling us brutes, but you fancy boys don't even know the rules?"
"Tch!"
New Balance bit his lip, but it was done. Leaderless, Black Yack crumbled under Red Bulls and Gold Lion's pincer attack.
"Alright! Time to settle this!"
"Bring it!"
Captain Taurin of Red Bulls and Captain Kaya of Gold Lion clashed fiercely. Red Bulls had four left; Gold Lion three. Red Bulls slightly ahead.
Boom!
Taurin's full-power throw curved low toward Kaya—"low enough to graze the ground."
Skreech!
It grazed her elbow.
Red Bulls erupted in cheers.
"We win! Got their leader!"
"Long live Captain Taurin!"
Gold Lion roared back.
"You idiots, it hit the ground!"
"Your eyes decorative? It touched down!"
Ignoring the bickering knights, Taurin and Kaya faced off.
"You're out."
"...Ground ball, no?"
"Looked out to me."
"'Cause you're seeing through that knothole vision."
"Lucky you. Stick some tofu in it."
From ground ball or not, they devolved to insulting families. Swords drawn.
"O-oppa? Shouldn't we stop them?"
Roin turned.
"Out!"
"Ground ball, bro."
1st Prince Estial and 3rd Prince Jal squabbled.
"......"
2nd Prince Int scowled—his team out early.
Kids' fights turn adult fights. Spot on.
Then 3rd Prince Jal snapped irritably.
"Fine, ask a neutral third party fairly."
Estial and Int's heads swiveled to Roin.
She pointed at herself, bewildered.
"Me?"
"Yeah, you!"
Estial jabbed a finger.
"Your minions won't win anyway. Be fair: ground ball or not?"
Roin hesitated. Estial and Jal stared with fiery eyes. Tough choice. Aftermath scared her either way.
Short deliberation: tell it as she saw.
"Looked not to me. Just. My. View."
Her word became judge's gavel.
Estial and Red Bulls cheered at her lips.
"Roin! Roin! Roin! Roin! Roin!"
"Symbol of justice, Lady Roin!"
"We love you! You're gorgeous!"
The roar flustered Roin more.
She glanced back sheepishly...
"......"
3rd Prince Jal and Gold Lion glared icily.
"Why am I the villain here!?"
Roin cried unjustly, unheard.
Post-ground-ball call, Kaya slunk off sullenly.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Taurin's monster throws crushed Black Yack and Gold Lion.
"Woooaaah!"
Red Bulls partied. Certain victors leaped in joy, spraying beer, stripping shirts, hugging. Some ditched pants too.
"Hahaha! Swept the first game easy!"
1st Prince Estial rose triumphantly. Victory trophy and crown already in his mind's eye.
But?
Thud—
A dull thump.
"...Huh?"
Estial turned to the court. Eyes widened.
A Red Bulls knight sailed far from a hit. Nose gushing blood—face shot.
"What? What's happening?"
Even central Captain Taurin hadn't seen. He'd watched the dropped ball roll into Pink Dragon territory...
"Ow... my aching back... gettin' old..."
Hotse grimaced, thumping her back with a fist.
She reached out, hoisted the steel ball effortlessly.
And.
"You're... already... dead."
Hotse hurled at the two front Red Bulls knights.
Boom!
20 kg steel ball with visible arc-force! Slammed head and chest.
"Gack!?"
"Pehk!?"
They flew back unknowing. Helmets powdered, chest plates crumpled like tissue. Fainted without proper screams. Looked truly dead, not just out.
"Wha? What?"
Flustered Taurin scooped the ball, glaring at front-line Hotse.
"What'd you do? Why are my men down?"
Hotse picked her long ear, annoyed.
"Bratty... whelps... talkin' down... to me~?"
"...Crazy woman. Ignoring you was our mistake. I'll handle you properly now."
Four subordinates out in a blink. Fouls, surely. Taurin focused.
Muscles ballooned ball-in-hand.
"Tricks mean nothing before true power! Haaah!"
Bull-killing strike, mana-infused!
Boom!
Aura-laced ball screamed terrifyingly. Steel bent visually mid-flight!
But.
Hotse did nothing special. Just a deep breath.
And...
"Hmph!"
Thumb-plugged nostril, she snorted from the other at the incoming ball.
Instantly, the raging projectile halted midair.
"...!"
Taurin's eyes bulged impossibly. About to tear at the corners.
A snort blocked his attack? From a top-tier sword expert, soon Sword Master?
"......"
Hotse caught the dropped ball, smiled prettily. Taurin blanked momentarily.
"Well... bye~"
She tossed.
Krraaaang!
Eerie roar, horrifying speed.
"Uwaaak!"
Taurin snapped to, ducked desperately.
Kaboom!
Grazed his scalp, punched through the octagon mesh, smashed three boulders, seven trees. Flew far, collapsed the eastern palace spire roof.
Rumble...
Crashing walls and debris.
"Ah, I forfeit."
Taurin touched the long burn scar atop his head.