True Monsters

Brutus watched the unfolding duel with a growing shock in his heart. He knew that when compared to beast, monsters, and creatures of nature, humans were inherently weaker, but this fight that he was watching only cemented that fact within his budding mentality.

Truth be told, Brutus was actually quite an inexperienced, and relatively new mercenary in the business. He had joined Eudora and her party a couple months ago, but that wasn't enough to shore up his inexperience. That was something that could only be supplemented with the passage of time. That was why when he first ran into the Lizardmen, he had seen them as ordinary, weak, E rank creatures. He was a D rank adventurer. If he was to be pitted against E ranked creatures, he would almost always come out on top, the only times he would lose being when he was on a magnified disadvantage. That was what he always told himself, but what he was witnessing was quickly changing his views on the world outside his narrow mentality.

The clash between the two different colored Lizardmen continually shook the cavern, causing red sand and dust to constantly shower down from above, staining his dark hair red. Beside him, his party members watched, no doubt entranced by the deadly dance of fangs, claws, tongues, and flames between the two warring Lizardmen. Michael, the yellow one constantly danced around the sides of the larger, red one that sought to crash, slash, and/or burn him, steadily inflicting wounds onto it.

Although it was clear that Michael was a rank lower than the red Lizardman, everyone could see that he was equally as powerful, if not more than the red scaled one. If Michael were to survive this and keep on growing, just how strong will he be? Wouldn't it be best to forge friendly ties with the blooming Lizardman community?

Brutus cursed himself and his stupidity as he realized his blunder. He had nearly ruined what future cooperation that might be possible between them. Perhaps the situation was still salvageable to some extent, he would have to do a whole lot of boot licking, if Lizardmen even wore boots. Nevertheless, there was a lot of work to do if he was to restore the already souring relationship between Michael and him. The Lizardman had already told them to forget the exchange that he was proposed earlier, but perhaps he might be able to push for Michael to take back his words and cooperate with them further.

Boom!

A loud explosion drew Brutus out of the conflicting vortex of thoughts that his mind had engaged in. In the middle of the cavern, Michael had just gotten slugged in the midsection, throwing him back into the wall of the cavern. The red Lizardman used a follow up attack of its flame breath, trying to pressure Michael, who despite the scorching bath of flames, jumped through the vortex of fire, emerging before his foe to deliver a solid kick to the jaw. The red Lizardman stumbled back, blood spurting out from between its lips to color the already crimson floor. Michael wasted no time, following it with a rapid combo of moves, forcing it back constantly.

Yet another sonic screech slammed into Brutus' mind, and he was barely able to push his was through the min splitting pressure that it was subjected to, his eyes immediately focusing on the battle. Michael didn't miss the opportunity his attack had presented, his chest puffing up, the yellowish-golden scaled taking on a faint purple tint.

Brutus immediately recognized the tell tale sing of Michael's strongest attack, at least, the strongest attack he had seen Michael releasing up to this point. Just like he predicted, it started with a lick of purple light, followed by an intense swirling shower of bright purple flames, a sure sign of those flames of death being corrupted by the poison Yellow Scaled Lizardmen were known for. The vortex of purple flames engulfed the Red Scaled Lizardman, obscuring his intimidating form from view. Brutus watche the bright swirling colors as Michael leapt back, giving himself some space from the red Lizardman with the thought, 'Why did he back down?'

...

Michael stood three meters away from Ignis with the intention of seeing what his attack had done. His Poison Flame Shower was a very potent attack, one that was sure to have done some very telling damage to Ignis.

Slowly, the flames at the center of the focus of the attack died away, revealing the slumped, damaged form of Ignis. The Red Scaled Lizardman was down on his knees, the hardy scales that he prided himself in melted away by the potent purple flames of destruction that Michael had bathed him in. He stared up at Michael, hatred and resignation present in his furious gaze.

"End my suffering, little lizard..." Ignis rasped, blood gurgling in his throat towards the end of his sentence.

"You were never worthy to be my foe." Michael replied, "But even still, rest well, Ignis." With a quick, decisive strike Michael clawed one of the open wounds on Ignis' throat, ripping his internals and ending his life. The cavern gained an eerie stillness as this happened, all eyes remaining on the victor of the duel that was meant to decide the fate of two tribes.

"As of today, the Red Scaled Lizardman tribe shall be known as an offshoot of the Yellow Scaled Lizardman tribe, of which I, Michael, shall rule both tribes. Any who oppose this declaration, I urge you to step up now, let your mind be known, and let us settle whatever dispute may arise from out conflicting thoughts!" Michael's voice roared through the cavern in the tongue of the Lizardmen. The adventurer party had no idea what Michael had just declared, only watching with a dumbfounded expression as every Lizardman, both red and yellow dropped to their knees, their heads bowed. As a great collective, they then raised their heads, roaring at the top of their lungs.