Unlike Ardlan, Mickvus was proficient in cosmic energy—so much so that he could be said to be a genius. The Thelians were always particularly proficient in cosmic energy manipulation.
The match began, and Mickvus's team had the starting throw, and as expected the honor was given to Mickvus. He charged up the red rubber ball with cosmic energy setting it aflame with his blue aura and sent it flying.
A female alien colleague caught the ball, but not without skidding backwards a little. She threw it overhead and another struck with a potent wave of cosmic energy.
The exchange was ferocious and powerful, the opposing team were no slackers but eventually Mickvus's team won with just him and another left in the match.
Then came Ardlan's team. Throws began, and then were caught and exchanged. Though Ardlan couldn't charge up cosmic energy as his peers could, he knew well how to supplement it with his strength. Each throw felt like the impact of cannonballs. Impressive, but it was not enough.
To make it to the Tungfest intergalactic academy, an individual needed to be more than tough, they needed to have even greater potential than the rest of their populations. So Ardlan's throws, though they fazed his opponents, were not something they could not handle especially since cosmic energy was in the mix.
It didn't help that the opposing team had an alien with multiple large tentacles that were great for defense. In fact, Ardlan's team was the first to suffer a loss, leading to a team of three against a complete team of fight.
He glanced at the twins, they were holding their fort as expected. The tentacled alien caught a throw, squeezing it and holding it against its many tentacles. It acted as a sling as the tentacles stretched back and then recoiled forward as the rubber ball was sent hurling at incredible speed towards them.
The distance between both teams was just a little above fifty meters, making the ball approach almost instantaneously.
Domitia stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the aglow rubber ball. There was something she saw. She knew, if the ball was caught, it would burst from the collision and their team would be disqualified. The tentacled alien creature had intended to be so, and were it any of the other two but her, they would catch the ball and it would blow up in their face.
She ran and did a jump, backflipping and spinning, until she hit the ball with her ankle. The ball went back at double the speed it came. It struck the tentacled alien and the ball erupted with energy all over the team.
The team of Ardlan and the gold twins won.
The curveball went on and on, and to Ardlan, their first opposing team was the hardest as they easily defeated the rest.
Now, it remained four teams out of the starting eighteen. Many members were exhausted, but nobody wanted to lose a game of curveball.
It was Mickvus's team versus another. Mickvus spun the ball on his finger and wore a wicked smile on his face. He twisted the ball and then launched it.
The ball went spinning, dissipating its violent energy.
"See why it is called curveball!" He yelled, and the instance he did, the ball changed trajectory, curving as it spun until it slammed into the team by the side and the energy it contained unleashed, immobilizing them.
With a single move, Mickvus won the match for the team.
Domitia and Aelius did not take Mickvus's display of power lightly.
"Was he always this good with cosmic energy?" Domitia asked Ardlan.
"From what I remember, yes."
Domitia clicked her tongue. They faced another team and they won yet again with just Domitia, Ardlan and Aelius standing in the team.
It was time for the final bout, Domitia was not counting on their luck, Mickvus was great at curveball and cosmic energy, not only that, he had a few impressive classmates in his team as well.
They could lose, and Domitia knew she would not stand for it.
The gold twins were the best, ever since they were engineered, since they left their birth capsules, it had been known to them. To lose to another was humiliation, and a dent to their reputation.
Though Ardlan had mentioned that Mickvus was always as impressive with cosmic energy manipulation, Domitia found it hard to believe. He had been with them since year one and she had never recognized him as a threat, especially in a game of curveball.
Aelius could read his sister's distress, and he knew he could not fail her. Their reputation as curveball consecutive winners was on the line.
"I think it is time to unseat the gold twins. Don't you guys think so too?" Mickvus questioned his teammates and they responded affirmatively. They were quite confident in their winning chances.
What are you doing Mickvus?
It was beginning to seem that he had a vendetta against the twins. Not surprisingly, the entire class gathered about them, watching intently even though they could have left ages ago.
Mickvus made the first throw once more, beginning with his eccentric 'curveball' move. Aelius caught it without struggle and swung it to another.
The character caught the ball and rebounded it to Mickvus and he executed another flashy move. A faint construct of an arrow formed about the ball and came flying at the team.
Ardlan jumped to catch it. It fell on his hands, his jade rings flickering as a rush of green cosmic energy burst from his hands and surged into the ball.
He spun downwards in the air, building momentum and force and hurled the ball.
The ball soared in a linear path at supersonic speeds, and it looked sure to hit the team when the rubber ball imploded and a cloud dust of green masked everywhere.
The dust was suffocating, and the students were forced to make it out of the gym, coughing on their way. Once everyone was out, including the players, the teacher announced the winners.
"Group three wins!" He declared before coughing away from the scene.