Page #38

“Welcome back ladies and gentle monsters It’s day two of the atlas annual bloodbath and wow wee what a show Atlas has set up for us today! Yesterday’s victors team Kota will be going up against a deadly combo that took second place at last year’s bloodbath. For those of you in attendance last year please no spoilers for our new attendees. Now ladies and gents put your claws together for Team Kota as they make their way onto the field.” Atlas’s announcer Eve has the talent for whip the crowds into frenzy. The air is filled with riotous applause as Kota, Azelf and Victor make their way out onto the field. Atlas glares at Kota from his seat on high and Kota doesn’t even acknowledge Atlas’s presence he focuses instead on the gate on the opposite side of the field.

“And now the opposing team for today’s match some of you might recognize this crew from their wanted posters all over Etherya. Other might recognize them from this very arena one year ago. Either way give it up for the Manticore gang! With their leader the Beast of wind vale, and his two shifter comrades King the scorpion and Queen the lioness.  A scorpion larger than most full grown dogs emerged from the pit first its tail brandishing a venom filled stinger the size of a melon. Second to emerge was a ferocious fanged lion its paws twice as large as Kota’s head. Finally wrapped in a dark hooded robe a lone man rests on hand on both of the terrifying creatures, calming them.

“Victor what do you know about this man this beast of wind vale?” Kota asked eyeing the scorpion warily.

“Well first of the beast is a she. Second is we are so dead.” Victor says while preparing a spell.

“Azelf what do you think…Azelf!?!?” Kota screams as the vampire begins to walk away smoking his pipe.

“Whatever you decide to do… do not summon a monster.” Azelf says as he waves goodbye walks over to the edge of the arena and slumps against the wall.

“You lazy good for nothing Vampire I should broil you ass alive!” Kota screams as Victor works and abacus suddenly very nervous. Kota grabs hold of both of Victor’s shoulders.

“Don’t worry …Victor hey Victor! Focus man look at me we just got to stick to the plan. Divide and conquer okay say it with me Vic divide and conquer.” Kota while the entire coliseum looks on.

“Divide and conquer okay Kota let’s do this.” Victor says grabbing his staff and beginning a chant. On the other side of the field the Manticore gang is getting ready as well the beast of wind vale removes her hood to reveal a young women wearing fur from only to hide her chest and legs. Her face and arms covered in green war paint and leather straps. She removes two poles connected by a chain each tipped with a spears head from her robes along with a small drum. Kota grips the trigger inside his gauntlet ready to invoke the first spell, his other hand on his hatchet waiting for the countdown to begin. 

Page #37

“Can you really do that spell our clothes?” Kota asked pulling on his pants then reaching past Victor and pulling out a gauntlet from the chest of armor.

“In theory yes I can spell a barrier that can withstand either projectile attacks or close range strikes but the barriers would have to be rather small or they could hinder movement.” Kota mulled that over for a moment. Azelf looked puzzled at Kota while Victor bit into an apple. “Okay fine what is the lightest barrier you can construct that can repel projectile attacks?” Kota asked as he began to tear through the chest of armor taking out gears and hoses.

“Well that would have to be a fire screen burns up physical objects that come in contact with the screen and absorbs magic and energy based attacks  but the heat from it would incinerate flesh in about five minutes six tops.” Victor said not sure how Kota expected to accomplish this.

“Great can you spell it on fly like in the midst of battle or does it take a minute to set up and do you need to make contact with the armor to spell it?” Kota found a pair of leather gauntlets and three other pairs in steel, bronze and copper.

“No I don’t need to have physical contact to the object but at least a clear sight of the clothing I’m spelling.” Kota slid one leather gauntlet on then a steel one over that one and repeated the process on Azelf shoving his arm inside both of the gauntlets.

“Great these should buy us about eight minutes after you cast the fire screen to drop these suckers before our arms burst into flames. Now this is what I’m thinking boys.” Kota says as he snaps on his goggles and straps on his power gauntlet.

Page #36

“Alright Kota that was funny and all but Atlas is a cold blooded killer, keep prodding at him like that and you’ll end up killing all three of us.”  Victor’s eyes conveyed the fear that Kota was inherently lacking. Azelf said nothing but nodded in agreement.

“Calm yourself Victor I promise not to tease the master but I meant exactly what I said. I am here for one reason and one reason only Self-preservation. The only thing I have left is my life I’m not going to spend it pleasing him.” As Kota said this both of his comrades seemed to look at him with a new found respect. Something Kota was glad to earn off the battlefield. “Now on to the next subject seems our most generous master has supplied us with a few medical necessities. Azelf jumped up when he heard medical, a bit too fast and the gnarly cut in shoulder made him jolt with agony. Kota leaned down in his bathing gear and handed the vampire a glass jar containing blood the life source for all vampires.

“You know not many men human or otherwise would jump in front of a blade for a stranger. That tells me more about you than could fill a book. But I do have to say thank you Azelf I hope to be able to return the favor one day.” Azelf smiled a wicked grin that sent shivers down Kota’s spine as he undid the lid to the jar and gulped down the contents. “Well you’ll get your chance tomorrow we have another six rounds coming down the pipe so I suggest we all wash up, get to bed and wake up bright and early to get some strategizing in before the next match. The men followed Azelf’s lead washed and went to sleep. Kota was grateful that these two men seemed like the sort he could trust but that lingering feeling of curiosity was gnawing at his innards. Who were these men really? What did Atlas have on them that they would both serve him blindly? How was he to ever get out of this hell hole? What challenges faced him tomorrow? All of these questions plagued him deep into the night. The next Morning Kota woke with a start his hand wrapped around the hilt of his hatchet. He began to swing and stopped just short of cutting off Victor’s hand shaking him awake.

“So not a morning person got it… but you might want to save that for the fight today.” Victor said sliding his hand off Kota and opening the chest left by Atlas last night.

“This armor is barely usable so by new I’m guessing Atlas meant new to us. Ughh just when I thought he might give us a hand up. At this point it would be easier to spell the clothes we have on.” Kota dragged himself out of the bed and half pulled on his trousers jumping over to Victor.