Hippo Critical

I stare at the saber hanging on the wall. I flex my right hand. Would I be able to pull this off?

Would this make me more effective, or worse? Feng Da makes it look so easy but I didn't have a ton of practice with him. With a determined exhale, I unbuckle the borrowed short sword and reach for the saber on the rack. I strap it onto my belt where the short sword had been. The weight feels strange, yet brings me a sense of strength. Now I just need to not be a hindrance.

---

"Viske!" I hiss. No reaction from the stone statue I aim at. I grimace. Well, you're off to a great start. Shen Po steps near me, facing and gesturing toward Mildred, Luban, and Mordax. I glance, watching as they disappear behind a false wall of rocks. It'd be enough to fool our elemental opponents. Hopefully.
Wander's yelp yanks my attention to her. She struggles against the tentacles of a rather tall and pointed mass of gritty monster. My hands fall to my swords, still sheathed. I begin to draw in power, ready to unleash my spell on the stalagmite creature.
Then it vanishes as darkness envelopes me. "Damnare," I curse, trying to keep my spell ready. I run forward, right arm outstretched and ready until my eyes blink in the sudden light. I focus on the creature with Wander in its jaws and flick my fingers, aiming at the ground next to it. "Knuse!"
Some of its tentacle limbs writhe and its grip on Wander loosens. It's enough for Wander to transform herself into a giant constrictor, though not enough for her to completely escape its grasp.
My eyes glance to incoming movement. It's Mordax, keeping two more creatures at bay, but being pushed closer to Wander and her captor. And then movement from the opposite side draws my attention.
Umatoko charges in, his pike grazing across the pile of solidified grit. The creature begins flailing around, its long reach on display. Sun's heat, no!
I kick myself into motion.
Umatoko rears his hind legs and kicks the monster square in the side of the face.
I take an extra breath.
The monster turns its maw to Umatoko, crushing him.
I focus, taking aim on the creature.
Umatoko vanishes from the battle.
"Knuse!" I release, but too late. The creature sweeps its tentacle limbs in a large arc. It catches Mordax, pulling him close and constricting. Wander writhes, trying to slither out of the creature's grip, but unable to.
I don't slow my pace.
The larger of the two creatures pursuing Mordax scoops up the smaller.
Almost there. I pull in energy, pressure building around me.
The large stone elemental chucks the smaller one at Mordax, leaving a thick cloud of dust and debris behind.
With mere paces left, I release my spell. "Tordenbølge!" The pressure around me explodes in a resounding boom, concentrated in front of me. A satisfying crack follows immediately after.
The tentacles of the entangling creature snap off, releasing Wander and Mordax. I draw both sabers as I pivot on my toes, closing the remaining distance to the creature with two quick slashes. I don't stop my spin until I face tall, broad, and rocky to my left. Drops of water splash my face as Wander wrangles and drops the stalagmite creature out of bounds.
I take in the dozen or so arrows embedded in the elemental I face. Luban has been busy. A smile plays on my face as I ready a spell.
"Viske," I whisper at the pile of earth. It dissolves into the floor. I frown. That's not what I expected. But a moment later, I find myself back in the pits. That must've been the last of that group.

---

I hold in a saber in each hand as I sit and wait for the next round, examining them. Overall, I'm relieved I didn't have to actually utilize them in battle. I sigh and let them sink tip-first to the gravel. Don't embarrass yourself. Trade it back for the short sword. No. No, I can do this. Feng Da—oh please.
A voice cuts in. "You're up next." I compose myself and sheath the swords. Moments later, the arena appears beneath my feet. I take in my opponents as my hands fall to the hilts of my blades.
A deformed troll begins its charge to Mordax. Mildred engages an ornately armored gold dragonborn. Closest to me is a large humanoid with a strange face. After a moment, I place the head shape. A hippopotamus. I'd run across those creatures in the wild once. But this one...
My eyes narrow on the two figures behind the strange hippo-man. A bloated demon hovering with the use of absurdly tiny wings, and a man. A man with cowlicked hair, dressed in a long, white coat. My pulse quickened.
Could that be Doctor Xew?