7 Underdark's Rose

Bloodpit Arena. A place where dark elves would match their slaves against each other for the satisfaction of their masters. Unlike most arenas, no glory would be found here, only senseless bloodshed.

"Are you mad at me?"

Antani, who was leaning on the railing, asked her master which was right next to her.

"When am I not?"

The two exchanged a chuckle.

Ellamir wasn't really mad at her, she was mad at the fact that the Amazon saw what she would call 'a pathetic side of her'.

"Did you really mean it, what you said about me being the queen?"

"No. I only said it to enrage your mother. I'm an Amazon, you really think I would know what's best for a society of slavers who live underground? One thing I know for sure, is that you're one headstrong princess, put that energy into leading this kingdom and you'll do great. Probably."

Still retaining the smile in Ellamir's face, Antani's honesty didn't dampen the thankful mood she's in for standing up for her.

"Thank you."

"Hey! That's the second time you've thanked me!"

"You'll get a third if you win this fight."

"That's all I'm going to get?"

With a sly grin Antani questioned her master.

At first Ellamir was a bit pensive, but then she realized that she's not the only one with a stake in this fight, her slave was willing to risk her life for her honor. What kind of a master would she be if she can't reward that?

"Fine, you get one request. Ask whatever you want and I'll grant it."

Antani's grin transformed into a wide smile.

"Alright, now we're talking! That's one hell of an incentive for me to wrap this up quickly."

"Take this." Ellamir handed her sword to Antani.

Upon inspection, the curved sword appeared to be sharper than the plain one she owns. It will no doubt make her high chance of victory soar even higher.

+++

Down below, the Arena gate on the other side started opening. From there Queen Zorla's chosen fighters emerged.

There were about 15 of them. A minotaur, an orc, goblins, humans and dark elves.

All the colors on Ellamir's face were suddenly drained, her mother didn't want a battle, she wanted an execution.

"Relax, I can take them on."

Antani tried to reassure her master with her carefree demeanor but it wasn't enough to erase Ellamir's worry. She knows her slave is strong, is she strong enough to face that many foe?

"Hold this for me, won't ya?"

Before the dark elf could further ruminate on her thoughts, Antani handed her the golden necklace that she gave her along with her heeled sandals, before jumping into the battleground below.

Before facing her foes, Antani shouted, flashing Ellamir the most dazzling smile that she had ever seen.

"Master! Watch me, and don't you dare blink!"

At that moment she looked like a rose that bloomed in the underdark. Her beauty far eclipses the wickedness of the place.

It was the first time she knew what it meant to have your breath taken away.

Facing forward, Antani usheathes her blade. Her usual jovial expression had been replaced with that of hardened warrior's. After all, a rose by any other name still has its thorns.

The first one to step forward was the Minotaur, the Great axe he was wielding was heavy enough to split a person from head to groin.

"Nothing personal, Amazon. I've been in this shithole long enough, 'Ol queen over there promised to set us free if we kill you."

His companions sneered, their grips on their weapons tightened as they poured their bloodlust towards the Amazon.

They were confident that they would finally seize their freedom. No matter how skilled someone is, going up against 15 opponents at once can only lead to one conclusion. Death.

Antani redirects their bloodlust at them with her gaze. She has no allusions that this fight will be easy.

(If you want to be by my daughter's side then you should know what she is.)

She remembered the words of Ellamir's father.

Dark elves, a race that extolls strength. Antani is planning to put on a show with her strength on full display so her master won't be able to deny what she feels for her anymore.

The Amazon steadies her breathing, throwing her sheathe to the side.

Taking her stance, she dashes forward into embrace of those trying to claim her head.

+++

*clang* *clang* *shing*

The sound of metal clashing against metal filled the ears of antani.

She is surrounded on all fonts, yet she still manages to dodge, misdirect, and slip between the gaps of those trying to overwhelm her with their numbers.

*clang* *clang*

She circles around everyone, with every opportunity she sees she delivers a fatal blow to their heads, claiming two so far.

As soon as she tries to claim her third life a great axe cuts her path towards her lucky prey that was able to escape death only momentarily.

Channeling mana on her arms and legs, she charges towards the hulking beast. As he tries to bring his great axe down on her again, the amazon slides in between his legs, cutting his tendons on her way out - forcing him on his knees with a bestial howl.

(Fervent tiger!) With a mana infused slash she cleanly beheads the beast. Before his huge head could hit the floor, she grabs it by the horn, tossing it towards the orc.

The orc shoved it to the side with his cleaver, it was however a mere faint. The last thing she witnessed was the amazon crashing her full weight on her, stabbing his heart.

Their brutal dance continued, with her mana powered legs seeming like a whirlwind as she spins relentlessly to deflect and retaliate.

Ten…

Eight…

Six….

Her foes are now starting to trickle down, with it fatigue started to claim her.

Her black dress is now filled with numerous shallow grazes, staining it with blood.

Ellamir watches, burning the Amazon's ferocity into her eyes. Antani's struggle, her blood - it was all for her.

Three…

One…

Her last opponent charges at her with a spear.

She laughs, it was her sister's weapon of choice. Memories of her numerous times sparring with her came to mind. His attacker's form was sloppy compared to her sister's - it's like comparing an ant to an elephant.

With a simple side step she evaded, closing the curtain with the last beheading.

Even with all of her strength and mana exhausted she still managed to raise Ellamir's sword up high. Signaling that it wasn't just her victory, it belonged to them both.

+++

Antani tries to relax her still ragged breathing, relief washes over her.

She stares at the queen watching in her box.

Something is wrong, she wasn't perturbed in the slightest that the Amazon just downed 15 of her personal slaves.

Queen Zorla was grinning at her so maliciously it sent shivers down Aantani's spine.

She unsheathes her sword of lolth and jumps down into the arena.

Panic started to grip Antani's heart. All this time she was fighting for her master's honor when her opponent had none.

Shadows started to emerge from Queen Zorla's skin, morphing into armor as she approached. There was one glaring difference from the one that Antani had seen before. The one before her had the thickest shade of obsidian she ever saw; it was like she turned into the abyss itself. From below her waist was the body of a giant spider.

Blessed by the form of lolth, it was the final form of Shadow Armor.

Queen Zorla towered over Antani, even behind that armor the amazon could feel her sinister sneer, waiting for her to react.

Antani's instinct was telling her to run, run or she would be devoured like an insect.

"Speechless, huh. I would have preferred it if you started to beg for your life but I'll go easy on you so we'll have the chance to get there."

*clang*

Zorla struck with a swipe from her sword, Antani managed to block but the impact sent her flying.

With her speed augmented to unnatural heights queen zorla was able to loom again in front of Antani before she was able to get up.

Zorla impales the Amazon's left hand with one of her shadow spider legs.

"Gaaaaah!"

Antani howling in pain was like sweet music to the malicious queen's ears.

"You really think I'd let you talk shit to me and expect me to let you live? *cackle* Kihahahaha!"

With an ounce of her strength left, the amazon kicks the queen in her thorax.

Surprised by how unbelievably hard it was, the queen caught her leg before she was able to pull it back, sending her once again flying.

Antani's vision was starting to fade from the pain. Dread was mounting again as she felt the queen closing in on her.

"Come on, beg. Beg and I might let you live, then I'll snatch you from my daughter and we'll have LOTS of fun together."

Antani was at a deadlock. Words and Running will not do her any good.

Then she remembered the rest of her tribe.

(Have they settled well? Mother should really cut back on the wine. I bet Alara's still mad at me.)

She wondered why she was having those thoughts at that moment. The answer came, it was simple really, she was an Amazon - she must not die like a bitch.

With the last embers of her life Antani stands up.

"Still have the strength to stand up!? Kihahahaha! Alright, I'll indulge you one last time! Here I go, scream for me!"

The giant black mass of malevolence lunged with her sword. The amazon deflected, she couldn't help but fear the force behind that strike, it would no doubt mush her organs if it connected.

"*cackle* Kihihihyahahaha!"

The mad queen's cackling echoed throughout the arena.If she wanted she could easily end the fight. She was deliberately prolonging Anatani's suffering just so she could dance on her palm.

*Clang* *Shing*

Her strikes were unrefined. No training or thought behind them.

They were nothing but brute force with the strength of raw violence and bloodlust contained within.

She knew those strikes very well, she's faced them before. They were like Ellamir's, but the queen's was on an entirely different level entirely.

As Zorla decides to go for another thrust, she pours the last reserves of her mana on her sword.

Antani's timing and speed was immaculate as she went for the dodge.

The amazon jumps, aiming for the queen's head. It was supposed to be a miraculous turnabout.

However….

Her neck didn't even budge an inch. Either Antani lacked the necessary mana or the Queen's shadow armor was just too thick.

"I gave you an opening and that's all you got? I've grown bored, since you won't beg then how about we just end this."

Antani closed her eyes, accepting the inevitable end. She did all she could until the end, May Artemis accept her soul.

"Why the fuck are you trying to get in the way of my fun, Ellamir?"

It was the first time she ever stood up to her mother but at that moment she thought of nothing aside from the fact that she must keep Antani safe at all costs.

She wished for a form that could stand up to her strikes so she could save Antani, her armor answered. Although still not as obsidian as her mother's shadow armor hers was still a deeper shade of black than before. From her back were spider-like appendages that sprouted like wings, able to stand the full brunt of her mother's strike.

Still, she knew that being able to stop her mother's attacks is all she could do. For now.

"Your guests are waiting for you back at the palace, mother. What would they say if the queen took too long to dispatch a mere slave?"

Appealing to her vanity, Ellamir could only hope that her mother would bite.

Queen Zorla looked at the amazon and then at her daughter.

"I see what's going on here. Kyahahahaha! Did seeing your slave all banged up made you wet? Getting horny? Do you want to fuck her right now? Go right at it, I'm just going to sit back and watch. Let me guess, that's the only thing you've been doing since you brought her here, am I right?"

Her mother's provocations failed to stir up Ellamir. Her resolve to keep Antani out of danger was as strong as steel.

"If you want to get past me, mother, then you would have to kill me. But I doubt you would have any trouble doing that, it would be as easy as killing your own sister, won't it?"

Queen Zorla grasped her head, the headache she was experiencing was akin to her skull being split open. No it was worse as recollections of the time she spent with her sister, Nelessa, came flooding in.

"You little shit!"