The gnome took a deep breath, her cheeks puffing out ever so slightly as she steadied herself. A determined gleam shone in her bright eyes as she raised a small, calloused finger, pointing directly at Jamie. "I wish to challenge you!" she declared, her voice high but firm.

Jamie arched an eyebrow at the unexpected challenge. He hadn't anticipated that, especially not by someone so unique. He didn't want to underestimate her, but he couldn't help but feel a twinge of surprise at her boldness.

'Does she have something planned for me?' Jamie wondered, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he rose from his seat. As he made his way toward the center of the platform, he paused beside Thomas, his trusted companion. "Are you sure she's not a child?" he whispered, concern and curiosity mingling in his tone.

Thomas chuckled softly. "Not for gnomes. That's just how they are. If she were human, she'd be on the verge of adulthood," he explained.

Jamie scratched his head, taking a deep breath to steady himself. 'The differences between races can be quite complex,' he thought. The myriad cultures and customs he'd encountered never ceased to intrigue and occasionally bewilder him.

Without rushing, Jamie positioned himself opposite the gnome. As he took his place, he studied her closely. She stood barely over four feet tall. Her hair was a vibrant cascade of copper curls, wild and untamed, held back by a pair of oversized goggles perched atop her head. The goggles were strapped securely, with the bands haphazardly woven into her hair. Despite the pair resting in her curls, she also wore another set of thick-lensed spectacles on her face, the glass magnifying her eyes and giving her an intense, almost fervent gaze.

Her ears tapered to delicate, pointed tips reminiscent of elven lineage, yet she was far shorter than any elf Jamie had ever met. Her attire was a far cry from the flowing robes, or sleek garments elves favored. Instead, she wore rugged, practical clothing befitting a seasoned smith or tinkerer. A heavy leather overcoat draped over her form, riddled with pockets of every size, each bulging with mysterious tools, gears, and bits of unidentifiable contraptions. The coat bore scorch marks, oil stains, and patches where the material had been hastily mended.

Thick, well-worn gloves encased her small hands. In one hand, she clutched a bundle of parchment, blueprints, and schematics.

"Are you ready?" Jamie asked, his eyes fixed intently on his opponent.

"Yes," the gnome replied confidently, a determined glint in her bright eyes.

"Begin," Jamie announced, his voice carrying across the hushed audience.

Choosing caution over aggression, the bard decided not to make the first move. Instead, he began to circle the edge of the wooden platform, his footsteps light and measured. By skirting the perimeter, he left the center open, inviting his opponent to reveal her strategy.

The gnome seemed to catch on to his tactic. Seizing the opportunity, she darted toward the middle of the platform with surprising speed. Her curls bounced with each step, partially restrained by the oversized goggles perched atop her head. As she moved, she slipped one hand into the depths of her voluminous coat pockets, fingers deftly searching for something.

'What have you got planned?' Jamie wondered, noticing her subtle movements. His gaze sharpened as he anticipated her next move.

In a swift motion, the gnome retrieved a small object and hurled it to the ground. The moment it struck the wooden planks, it erupted with a hiss, releasing a billowing cloud of dense, gray smoke. The fog spread rapidly, shrouding the platform in an impenetrable haze and obscuring Jamie's view.

'If it's hard for me to see, it'll be hard for you too,' Jamie reasoned, steadying his breath. But as he inhaled, a sharp, stinging sensation pricked at his eyes and throat. Tears welled up, blurring his vision further.

"Damn," he muttered under his breath. 'It's not just a smoke screen.'

Realizing the noxious nature of the gas, the bard swiftly covered his mouth and nose with one hand, pulling up the collar of his tunic for added protection. His mind raced as he summoned his own repertoire of spells to counter the gnome's ploy.

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Time to turn the tables.

He whispered arcane words, weaving intricate patterns with his free hand.

[Dancing Lights]

Tiny globes of ethereal light flickered into existence, their soft glow piercing through the murk. They bobbed and weaved, mimicking the movements of a person. Simultaneously, he cast another spell.

[Ghost Sound]

Echoes of footsteps and hushed movements came from multiple directions, bouncing off the arena walls. The illusions aimed to confuse his opponent, making it seem as though he was in several places at once.

Shrouded by his enchantments, Jamie began to move stealthily along the perimeter, eyes darting for any sign of the gnome.

But the reprieve was short-lived. A sudden, violent explosion shattered the eerie silence. The force of the blast rippled through the air, a shockwave that shook the very foundation of the platform. The dense smoke was swept away in an instant, replaced by a burst of searing heat and blinding light.

Jamie reacted instinctively, crossing his arms before him to shield himself from the debris and the fierce gust of wind that followed. Splinters of wood flew past him, and the acrid smell of burnt timber filled the air.

'The platform won't hold,' he thought urgently, feeling the structure groan beneath his feet.

Standing at the center of the platform, the gnome fixed her gaze on Jamie, her small hands now brimming with spheres identical to the one she had hurled moments before. Each orb gleamed with a subtle menace, reflecting the fading sunlight like the eyes of some predatory creature.

'If all of those are explosives, I'm done for,' Jamie thought, his mind racing to recalculate his strategy. Without wasting another second, he drew a dagger from his belt and charged forward, every muscle coiled with intent. He knew he had only moments before the tide of the battle turned irrevocably against him.

As he closed the distance, Jamie caught a flicker of surprise in the gnome's eyes. 'She wasn't expecting this.' The realization sharpened his focus. 'Did she expect me to dodge instead?' he wondered, sensing that his aggressive advance had unsettled her plan.

In a sudden, panicked motion, the gnome flung two of the spheres toward the ground between them. They struck the wooden planks with a resonant thud before erupting into violent explosions. Flames roared upward, and a concussive blast surged outward, nearly propelling Jamie off the edge of the platform.

The ground quaked beneath his feet, the timbers once more groaning in protest as smoke and splinters filled the air. For a fleeting moment, Jamie feared the entire structure might collapse. But his resolve remained unshaken. Pushing through the shockwave, he continued his relentless approach.

Now just a few feet apart, Jamie's gaze burned with a predatory intensity. His dagger gleamed in his hand, poised to strike. In the gnome's wide eyes, he saw the reflection of his own ferocity, a mirror of fear staring back at him. It was as if he were a force of nature, an unstoppable tide against which she could not stand.

Yet, just as his blade began its deadly arc, a commanding shout pierced the chaos.

"Stop!"

The word echoed across the arena. Jamie's blade halted mid-descent, the air thick with unspent energy.

'Did I lose?' The question flashed simultaneously through Jamie's and the gnome's minds, confusion knitting their brows.

Uncertain, Jamie turned toward the source of the interruption. High above the crowd, standing atop the spectator's seating, was Thomas.

"Silence!" Thomas called out, his voice firm and unyielding.

A hush fell over the assembled throng. The crackle of dying flames and the creak of the damaged platform were the only sounds that filled the void. No further explosions came, but beneath Jamie's feet, the ground continued to tremble ever so subtly.

'Again, the ground shook again,' he realized, a sense of unease prickling at the edges of his awareness.

Acting on instinct, Jamie broke away from the gnome, sprinting toward the side of the platform. He leaped down and raced up the steps to where Thomas stood, urgency propelling his every stride.

The crowd began to murmur, a wave of confusion rippling through their ranks. Faces turned toward one another, searching for answers in the growing twilight.

"Monster Rush!" Thomas shouted, his eyes fixed on the horizon.

As Jamie reached the vantage point beside his friend, his breath caught at the sight that met his eyes. Emerging from the eastern treeline, colossal figures thundered toward them, the earth trembling with each massive footfall.

They resembled humans but were grotesquely distorted. Gigantic beings with ruddy skin and coarse, matted hair. Their limbs were thick as oaks, their strides consuming yards at a time. Each stood at least twenty feet tall.

"Giants," Thomas uttered grimly. "They'll tear through the city walls like they're made of paper."

Jamie swallowed hard, a knot forming in his stomach. "Retreat!" he bellowed, his voice ringing out over the startled crowd.

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