Back to the Arena

"Go ahead in, I'll be up in the stands like last time... Know son, that I am watching you." Jukzuk consoled Xa'Gun and encouraged him at the same time.

Hellie leaned over in front of the Creator, the Spirits, and any orc or orcess that was watching, and, of course, Demze who had just come to the arena... Kiss Xa'Gun full on the mouth, though it was an innocent kiss.

Still innocent or not, after Hellie had disappeared dragging the irate Demze into the arena's stands, it was Jukzuk who gave Xa'Gun a hard slap on the shoulder.

"Close your mouth, boy."

Xa'Gun's jaws slammed shut, as his brows furrowed. This wasn't good. He locked up, just like that...

Jukzuk shook his head, wondering if Hellie had helped or killed his son, "Son, remember that's what you are fighting for..." He added and left Xa'Gun behind to enter the arena's stands.

[...Damn... Why couldn't I move???] Xa'Gun had the simple thought in his mind, as he punched himself in the jaw to straighten himself out.

"Oh! That's a good look," A voice rumbled from beneath the arena.

Xa'Gun looked to the darkened archway that led down, as a large orc lumbered forward and remained at the threshold, "Come on in, I got something for you."

Xa'Gun grunted in acknowledgment but wondered before what Ragnath would want to speak to him about and now give him something. What was his angle, and what did he want from Xa'Gun?

Xa'gun, with such questions in mind, trudged forward and into the darkness of the underground arena. That sickly metallic smell again rushed into his nostrils, and with a snort, Xa'Gun continued. The smell of blood wasn't new now that he had enough experience at the butcher's place.

Ragnath gave a deep laugh, as he led Xa'Gun to his cage, he enjoyed seeing an up-and-coming Orc. Lots of talk in the clan of this Orc, named Xa'Gun, and so it was his job to entertain the crowds of the arena. What best way than this...

Ragnath opened the cage and showed the rack of weapons, but unlike last time, these weapons gleamed in the light that filtered in from the ventilation of the underground.

"This... I commissioned Blacksmith Hammerfall to make new weapons, and this is now your personal cage at the arena until you retire. So these will be the weapons you will take." Ragnath spoke with a jovial tone.

"I'll pop the latch early, so don't tell anyone... Hahaha, Check which weapon you fancy today, and get ready. This will be a hard match."

"Can I take more than one weapon?" Xa'Gun asked as he looked over all the weapons, there were a pair of one-hand axes, a small one-handed hammer, a large war mace, a battle axe, two short swords, and a large two-handed sword.

"Take as many as you want, they will end up back here if you die, so know that you should only take what you can use... Alright, boy... Oh, and boy, when will they get you some new teeth? Orcesses love large tusks," Ragnath slapped Xa'Gun on the shoulder and sent him in... The cell's cage door slammed behind him, as Ragnath walked off, speaking as he was getting further away, "Don't forget to make it a good show, you're the last match again."

Xa'Gun grunted in understanding, as he reached his hand into the rack of weapons. He gripped the large two-hand double-sided battle axe.

As its edge glistered, Xa'Gun felt pleased, and gave a grand approving grunt, "Mmmmm-Uuuuh," as this axe felt good in his hand.

Xa'Gun took a breath, to clear his mind. Perhaps he was more nervous than he first thought. Not putting the axe back into the rack, Xa'Gun continued to look at the weapons.

Looking at the hammer, it wasn't a war mallet, but more of a large blacksmith's hammer. Unadorned, and unlike the axe in hand that was crafted so well... This blacksmith's hammer looked like a lump of metal on a stick.

Something stirred within Xa'Gun, as his blood circulated quicker, much quicker than before. He reached out and held the hammer. lifting it, and looking it over. It was light... Very light! Xa'Gun thought something was wrong, as it was almost like a feather in his hand. He dropped it, "Oof!"

The hammer made an impact that clipped Xa'Gun's big toe.

After a few breaths, Xa'Gun picked up the hammer again and looked it over.

[Strange... I-] Xa'Gun's thoughts were cut short, by the blaring horn above followed by the announcer's booming voice, "ORCS AND ORCESSICES!!!! IT'S TIME FOR A BLOODY GOOD FINAL MATCH OF THE DAY!!! WE HAVE THREE HUMANS ON ONE ORC!!! THAT'S RIGHT FOLKS!!! THREE HUMANS!"

Xa'Gun listened this time to the speech before he walked out of his gate, as taught by his master Gorzoc.

"WE HAVE ONE SWORD AND SHIELD HUMAN, ONE LONG SWORD HUMAN, AND FINALLY ONE SWORD DUAL-WIELDING SWORDS!!! WILL THEY WIN WITH NUMBERS?!?!"

The gate popped for Xa'Gun and started to rise. He stood still and waited.

On the other side of the arena, three humans carefully and slowly walked out. As they walked out, they began to spread out. One in the center, both going to the outside edges toward Xa'Gun's gate.

"AND THE OTHER!!!! IT'S THE TALK OF THE CLAN! YOU KNOW 'EM; YOU LOVE 'EM! GIVE IT UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP FOR ZAAAAAAAAA'GUUUUUUUUUN!!!"

"WILL HE HOLD! HIS-"

"Heh." Grunted in excitement.

"RRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH" Xa'Gun produced an overwhelming warcry and bolted out of his gate with one target in mind, the duel-wielding human.

The duel-wielding human attempted to dodge but realized this huge orc was far faster than it should have been.

Xa'Gun bounded to the front of his target, and then...

"STEP!" Xa'GUn took the first step of his Chopping block, as the human attempted to roll dodge out of the way, but... Lifting his axe high!

"AND THERE YOU HAVE IT FOLKS!!! THEEEEEEE CHOOOOOOPING BLOOOOOOOOOCK!!!"

""LEO!!"" Both humans cried out after they witnessed the easy death of their comrade.

Xa'Gun's axe cut the side of the head and neck into the shoulder of the human... It would take more than miracles to save him.

Xa'Gun attempted to pull his axe from the corpse.

"AAHH" Xa'Gun grunted in pain, as a sword bit into the meaty part of the shoulder connecting to the neck. Thankfully Xa'Gun's training paid off, as the sword could not bite deeper into Xa'Gun's trapezius muscle. Blood, nevertheless, spilled and gushed from the wound.

"AND THAT FOLKS IS WHY A THREE-ON-ONE IS BLOOOOOODY!!!"

The crowds were wiped into a frenzy. The killing of the first human was wonderful! The counterattack by the shield-wielding human was fun! Blood... More blood.

"TAKE YOUR STANCE! REMEMBER YOUR LESSONS!" Gorzoc, in a rare appearance, shouted from the stands. He was already proud of the first kill made today, but the following up carelessness grew an impatience within him.