He was alone, his friends and companions slain or defeated. A quick glance told him that Errsai and Thorir were not breathing. Chase clenched his jaw, and tightened his grip on his shield and pick. There was only one thing left to do.

He was going to kill the kijin.

Chase dashed forward, the kijin with the katana swinging his weapon at him, and him barely managing to raise his shield to block it. Bringing his pick in an upward swing, catching the kijin in the thigh, just right of the groin, drawing a spurt of blood.

The kijin bellowed in pain, and retaliated with a backhand that sent him flying, his body colliding with the arena wall. The crowd was roaring, their voices almost drowning out his pained groan.

Pushing himself to his feet, his head throbbing, he saw that the naginata wielding kijin had discarded the corpse of Errsai, and the oversized chimp was advancing, its weapon held at the ready. He turned to look at the kijin with the katana, the chimp having recovered and was limping towards him.

His gaze shifted back and forth, between the two kijin, their intent obvious. He had to act quickly.

Making a split-second decision, Chase dashed at the naginata wielder, its weapon coming up, only for him to dive low, slamming his shield into its legs. The kijin yelped, tumbling to the ground, and him rolling forward, rising to his feet, and bringing his pick down onto the exposed chimp's head. The spike tore through the kijin's skull, the chimp going limp.

Before he could celebrate, a large hand closed around his neck and lifted him off the ground. He kicked at the kijin holding him, the one with the club, his feet smashing into its jaw, and drawing a grunt.

The chimp drew its arm back, and Chase felt the air leave his lungs as a fist half again the size of his head drove into his gut. His eyes bulged, and his vision darkened. The world spun, and he saw the kijin raise him high.

In a desperate attempt, he slammed his shield into the kijin's arm, the chimp roaring and dropping him.

The crowd was cheering, the noise echoing and booming, as the kijin with the katana stood over him, its bloody and broken sword held high, and poised to kill him.

Chase lay still, and stared up at the chimp. As the katana started to come down, he rolled out of the way, and drove his pick into the chimp's foot, causing the beast to shriek.

He rose to his feet, and swung the point of his pick into the kijin's eye. It stumbled, and Chase took the opportunity to bash his shield into the chimp's jaw, sending the beast tumbling, its body crushing the corpse of its dead comrade.

He raised his pick and brought it down, the point sinking into the kijin's skull, killing the second giant chimpanzee.

Panting, he yanked the pick free and turned his attention to the last kijin. The beast was rising, a growl rumbling in its throat, and its hand closing around the hilt of its katana. The blade was held at its side, like it was in a belt sheathe, and the kijin was slightly crouched.

He raised his pick and brought it down, the point sinking into the kijin's skull, killing the second giant chimpanzee.

Panting, he yanked the pick free and turned his attention to the last kijin. The beast was rising, a growl rumbling in its throat, and its hand closing around the hilt of its katana. The blade was held at its side, like it was in a belt sheathe, and the kijin was slightly crouched.

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Chase raised his shield, his other hand shifting his pick. Both combatants stood stock still, perfectly motionless, before Chase moved. He rushed the kijin, his weapon raised. The chimp swung, and Chase raised his shield, the katana tearing through the bone shield, but stopping before it met his skin. He stabbed the pick into the chimp's side, and the kijin roared, its foot kicking him away.

Chase hissed as he staggered back, having felt a crack in his chest. But he couldn't stop to do a more thorough inspection, as the kijin brought its sword down, and Chase was barely able to throw himself out of the way. Before the chimp could try again, Chase lunged, his pick stabbing the kijin's thigh and drawing a pained yowl.

The kijin raised its arm to slash him, but he ducked under the blow and slammed his shoulder into the chimp's knee, staggering the beast. He stepped back, and thrust the spike of his pick through the kijin's knee, the chimp going down with a pained yowl.

With a growl, he tore his weapon free and smashed his shield into the kijin's jaw, and then the chimp's nose. He drove the pick's spike into the chimp's other knee, and then into its gut. It had stopped moving, but he continued. He had been fucked around too much by the Uchmute, by Isushi, by this fucking Empire.

With a furious roar, Chase tore the spike free and jammed the point into the chimp's throat, blood spurting from the wound, and then he drove the point deeper.

He stood there, his breath coming in ragged pants, staring down at the dead kijin, and then he turned to the crowd, and let out a defiant roar.

“Are you not entertained?” Chase shouted at the top of his lungs, arms held out wide. “Are you not entertained?”

There was a moment of stunned silence, and then the crowd exploded in applause, their cheers ringing in his ears, and their cries of joy and admiration filling the air.

“That's enough,” Isushi called out, the audience going silent. The warlord smiled and walked to the edge of the balcony, cape fluttering behind him, and Chase turned his attention towards the Uchmute, his bloodied weapon gripped tightly in his hands.

“Congratulations,” Isushi said, and Chase had to clench his jaw to stop himself from yelling. “You've proven yourself to be the most entertaining human the arena has seen. Your prowess is beyond question, your power undeniable. For the first time in history, a human will leave this arena alive. You are free.”

Isushi made a gesture, and the gate behind him opened. Chase slowly relaxed his grip on his weapons, his eyes locked with Isushi's.

“What are you waiting for?” Isushi asked, a smug smirk on his face. “Leave.”

“There is one thing I want before I leave,” Chase said, glaring at Isushi with hatred burning in his chest, dulling the pain of his ribs.

“Oh, and what might that be?” the warlord asked, a toothy grin on his face.

Pointing his pick at Isushi, Chase answered, “You and me in this ring. To the death.”

Isushi chuckled. Then he burst out laughing. Chase glared, and the Uchmute stopped, a condescending smirk on his face.

Turning to his bodyguards, the warlord gestured at the corpses of the kijin, and then at Chase.

With a chuckle, Isushi turned back to him, and said, his voice full of condescension, “Do you honestly think I'm afraid of a mere human?”

“I really don't care if you are or not,” Chase answered bluntly. “I just want you dead, and I fully intend to give it my best shot. Either face me in the ring, or I will kill as many Uchmute as it takes for me to get to you.”

Isushi’s expression went from amused to annoyed.

“I am not a fool, human,” Isushi said, his tone harsh and his eyes narrow. “If I enter the ring with you, it will end with your death, and then where will my enjoyment come from? Why would I risk the greatest source of amusement for myself for such a petty reason?”

“Because you know you'll win,” Chase answered, grinning. “Because you know there's no way I can beat you.”

“There's no way anyone can beat me,” Isushi corrected, a smug smirk on his face. “You are a talented human, and perhaps under better circumstances, you could have challenged me. But we both know that you will fail. And the fact that you would make such a request is the reason why I won't allow it. You have wasted enough of my time.”

The warlord waved his hand dismissively, and the Uchmute surrounding him chuckled.

“This is my last offer,” Chase warned, raising his shield and pointing his pick at Isushi. “Enter the arena, or I will kill you here and now.”

“Enough,” Isushi growled, a deep scowl on his face.

“Fine, hard way it is,” Chase muttered under his breath, before tensing his legs and leaping towards Isushi’s box.

The bodyguards moved, their spears stabbing out and attempting to skewer him. With his shield, he batted the spears to the side, and then grabbed the shaft of one of the weapons, tearing it from its wielder's hands, and then slamming his pick into the bodyguard's skull, killing it instantly.

With the second guard, he was more careful, blocking the spear thrust with his shield, and then kicking the Uchmute in the knee. The Uchmute howled, and Chase drove his pick through the guard's open mouth, before turning his attention to Isushi.

“Very well,” Isushi said, reaching up and releasing the clasp holding his cape in place. “It has been some time since I got to have fun like this.”