| XIII | Jay and Cole

                                    

                                          
   *No POV*
                          
     The gong then sounded along with the anthem, the bars containing the two ninja now lowering. Chen raised his arms, ready to announce the fighters.
                          
     "Let the tournament continue! Jay, Master of Lightning versus Cole, Master of—!"
                          
     But he didn't even get to finish as the two ninjas were already running out of their spots and at each other. Jay shot his lightning at the earth ninja, while Cole easily flipped over the attack and slammed his fists into the ground, rocks forming.
                          
     Jay side-flipped, laughing. "Is that all you've got? Least valuable ninja!"
                          
     "Eat dirt, Blue Bell!" Cole shouted, shooting his element at his opponent. The two were roughly going at each other, not once hesitating to attack the other.
                          
     From the top, Chen was giggling like a maniac. "Ooh, Clouse, go get me popcorn. This is turning out better than I anticipated!"
                          
     Red frowned, his arms crossed. You two are friends... brothers. This should not be happening.
                          
     Clouse noticed his distress from the rapid tapping of his foot. He smirked, whispering to him before leaving, "Oh, how overjoyed you must be to see this match."
                          
     And on the benches, the ninja were almost surprised. Lloyd mumbled, "I can't believe them..."
                          
     "They actually want to fight each other. God, I can't watch this." Scarlett covered her face with her hands.
                          
     "Come on, guys... get past this," Kai said with clenched fists.
                          
     "Hey," Turner whispered to Camille. "Who you got?"
                          
     "Oh, easily Cole. The guy's got super strength, and he's also super handsome." She gave the Master of Speed a wink. "But he's a ninja, which sucks. We don't like ninja."
                          
     "He's got a loud mouth, but I've got Jay. It's always the ones you don't expect to pull through in the end."
                          
     "How about you, Neuro?" the purple-haired master asked. "Who's got your vote?"
                          
     He sighed, shaking his head. "If I'm being honest... I have no idea."
                          
     Turner frowned, looking down at Scarlett, who was biting her nails from nervousness. "I won't even ask her."
                          
     "Yeah... better you don't."
                          
     Jay charged forward, his speed far above his opponent's. He managed to land a kick and a few punches, but Cole grabbed his leg and swung him.
                          
     Jay's back hit the pole, but that didn't stop him from getting back up. "Okay, I'll admit, that hurt."
                          
     "Good." Cole clenched his fists, forming more of his element in them. "I don't plan on losing."
                          
     "Well neither do I!" Jay was quick to shoot lightning at the earth ninja, shocking him.
                          
     The crowd was cheering at how much they were going at each other—but the three ninja on the bench wanted it to end.
                          
     Jay took this opportunity to run for him, grabbing him by the throat and slamming him into the ground. "That blade is mine!"
                          
     Cole felt himself being choked for a few seconds, but he refused to go down that way. He kicked up, making the blue ninja let him go, and he flipped them over, giving him a good punch across the face.
                          
     The crowd was once again, going crazy. Camille even screamed, "Yeah, get him!"
                          
     Jay grunted, throwing his hand on the latter's chest and shocking him, watching as the lightning coursed throughout his entire body. He then threw Cole off of him, flipping back.