Psych Up

"This time coming is very different from last time," Jukzuk commented aloud.

Xa'Gun gave a questioning grunt.

"Last time you were supposedly human, now you fight as an Orc... Remember what I told you the day you ate the berry... Blacktongue, Son... Now and forever." Jukzuk patted Xa'Gun on the shoulder, as he took off his son's hood.

"I'm sure you know the way... I'm going up to the stands. Look for me near the cheiftain." Jukzuk walked away from the service entrance and went around out of sight.

"Good fight today, brother." Gnarg held out his arm, just happy that this person was now a fellow Orc.

Xa'Gun looked down at the extended hand and slapped his on to embrace Grang's forearm in a warrior's handshake.

Xa'Gun grunted as Grang laughed behind his brother, "Let's go find a seat before someone else takes it. I'm betting it all on this brother... Slave or not! You better win me some mead money! Haha!"

"To right!" Gnarg laughed, and let go of Xa'Gun as the two brothers left.

Xa'Gun grunted in satisfaction. These two were good Orcs. He then turned to look into the darkened entrance that led into the underbelly of the Slavepits. As he stepped forward, the nauseating smell rushed forward as if to take hold of him... That eerie familiar smell of rust, grunge, and sweat.

Walking in, the guard that Xa'Gun questioned before called out, "Oy... I don't remember your face around here. What's your name and purpose."

"Ummm... Xa'Gun. Uh, the legbreaker, I guess." Xa'Gun rubbed the back of his head, as he spoke.

"OH!? I had heard the rumor, but you really are an Orc! That would explain how you could break an Orcs leg." The guard nodded to himself, "But to pull your teeth at such a young age... Humans are a bunch of bastards. Don't worry Xa'Gun. We Orcs will rise again and burn the human cities to the ground... If We are lucky, maybe me and you will be on the front lines, aye?"

"I'd have to live through this next fight..." Xa'Gun commented, not thinking so far in the future... But it would be a line if he didn't want to burn the world down on some nights he woke up in a cold sweat.

"Won't be a problem," The guard laughed loudly, "After the poison used last time, Ragnath personally beat and stripped every human. Haha!!! It was great! Deserved them right!"

Xa'Gun grunted in agreement, as his mind lingered if poison was ever actually used... He then left the guard to continue further in, before the heavy steps of a massive Orc alerted him to the one he came to check in with...

"Ah... Legbreaker, You've returned... Wait... No. What name are you now, boy?" Ragnath's fat giggled, as he stomped before Xa'Gun and sized him up again.

"Xa'Gun... Named by the spirits." Xa'Gun spoke when asked.

"Named... Named by the spirits!? Oh!? Now that... That wasn't mentioned at all! I wonder if certain upper echelons wish for others not to know, hmmm?" Ragnath squinted his eyes.

Xa'Gun gave a questioning grunt.

"Best not tell anyone else, boy... When you win this here slave pits... I'll call you by your name, until then... Put on a good show, even if you die... I'm putting you up last again today." Ragnath spoke, as his large sweaty hand pointed to the cell that Xa'Gun was meant to take.

Xa'Gun walked in, to listen to the metal bars clank behind him... A reminder that even if he was treated above all slaves... He was still a slave.

[Still a slave, but... This life is a hundred more times better than my last...] Xa'Gun sighed.

"Don't get soft on my boy... Remember to put on a show! Oh and, don't worry about any poison. I took care of that personally, haha!" Ragnath touched the blade that was impeded in the top of his head, as he walked away, with a staggering swiftness that did not match his size or weight.

Xa'Gun sat down on the narrow bench, as he looked over the rack of locked weapons again... Seeing the Axe in the rack... was crusted with blood that had dried and chipped.

[Is... That's the same axe!] Xa'Gun thought, and quickly looked at his cell... He realized this was the same cell!

Xa'Gun nodded to himself and began his mental preparations. As he stretched, as Hellie and Jukzuk taught him, a sharp pain stung on his chest. Looking down, he could see blood seep ever so slightly from the mark left by Demze.

[That bitch...] Xa'Gun thought and gritted his teeth. He rubbed around the area, as he stung and hurt more, the more he agitated the area. The more he touched, the more it stung, and the more Xa'Gun grew angry. As he thought of this, his mind traveled to other more anger-inducing memories...

It seemed as time passed in almost an instant, as the outside gate popped and clicked. The light from the outside flooded into the dark holding, and with it, the rank of weapons unlatched and allowed retrieval.

Xa'Gun gave a savage grin, as he stood and grabbed the axe. He took it in both hands, as he walked outside into the open arena.

Ragnath nodded in satisfaction, as he watched from behind.

"ORCS AND ORCESSICES!!! THE ONE THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN WAITING FOR! THE ONE THAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE HUMAN, BUT LOW AND BEHOLD HE'S REALLY AN ORC THRALL!!!! GIVE IT FOR ZAAAAAAAAAAAAA-GUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!!!!"

Xa'Gun walked out with bloodshot eyes, as he viewed the crowds, but it wasn't until he looked forward. His eyes locked onto the human that emerge from the opposite side of the arena holding cells.

"THIS HUMAN, BIG BEARD, LOVE HIM OR HATE HIM HAS TWO KILLS UNDER HIS BELT!!! CAN HE TAKE ON THE NEWLY RELEASED THRALL!? CAN XA'GUN HOLD...! HIS...! LIFE...!!!?!?!?!?!"

"WOOOOOOOO-WEEEEEEEEEEEE! COME ON, BABY! KILLER-CAN CAN KILL! MAMA NEEDS THAT MEAD MONEY! KILL FOR MAMA!" Hellie again screamed over the other Orcs in the crowd, though it seemed to be dull in Xa'Gun's ears

"So, this is your new toy?" A snooty female voice asked Hellie to the side.

"Damn right, so don't start shit with me, Shagadub, Or I swear I'll break your leg!"

"Jezzzz..." Shagadub bumped the Bloodletter sisters next to her and asked, "Do you see what's so great about this former human?"

Both the Bloodletter sisters peered over the bobbing heads of the Orcs to look at the tall, but chubby Orc in the arena. They were impressed with his kill last time, but physically speaking... He wasn't that great.

"No. Not really, but if Hellie likes him... All the better, right?"

"Right, all the better. Least, you and Ulith become mega bitches."

"Shut your whore mouth... Elements, I don't know why I hang out with you hoes." Shagadub fired back.

"Because no one will put up with your terrible attitude."

Shagadub folder her arms, and stood up to get a better view of this