The air was dangerous, a buzz overtook the crowd, Tadios clenched his hand, but remained silent.
“I’m right aren’t I? That’s what he gets for assaulting a xia on our side. Did you know about that?”
“What? Who? When?” Tadios said.
“Since you’re hiding identities it’s only fair for us to do the same. I wouldn’t wish to humiliate them publicly, but you’re protecting a predator in the end.”
“That ain’t possible.”
“Is it not? It’s a half devil noxa, who the hell could it have been?”
The crowd murmured in Anitus’s favor. Amaro glanced over to Kaara. She seemed distraught now.
“The devil you’re talking about rarely spent a minute away from me for the past few days. If someone in our camp was assaulted that aint something to keep to yourself and take into your own hands. Unless you’re just makin’ shit up to make yourself look good?”
“It’s true. He admitted it to us,” Amaro said.
“Where is the scoundrel anyway? Getting his wings checked by Shiira I presume? Personally I find it appalling you would try to defend someone like that, but perhaps you didn’t know. In which case, continuing to defend them is rather reprehensible.”
The Tibur were starting to talk, and Anitus was well aware of the change in their attitudes, “You’re in charge of the Noxa are you not? Why? Because you are the one who can keep them in check? Sounds like you’ve had too loose of a leash on them. They are outsiders. Hardly any more evolved from the monsters the Tibur are meant to destroy.”
Tadios was silent.
“Ah there you have it. Your side allowed a bunch of Noxa to run free in our game, thereby ruining the sanctity and honor of it. Even going so far as to debase and assault one of our members. If the victim was nobility, it’s only natural we would hide this matter. After all, weakness of mind body or soul in an heir would run the risk of war for a family. And the great shame of having a Noxa of all things…”
“I know you’re lying. I can’t prove it, but you’re telling lies. I know he wouldn’t ever do that.”
“Really? How?”
“Because I’ve fought him.”
The nobility laughed behind them. Even Deka smiled, “You fought him? So you know they would never violate someone? Just by the way he throws a punch?” The nobility laughed behind him, “Regardless, that is our side, and as the leader I find their actions justified. How about everyone else?”
Deka’s side shouted their agreement.
“I know people like you.” Tadios said, stepping forward, “Making up stories to justify the harm you cause. Turning people into monsters so you can cut them down without a single care.” A flame ignited between his horns as the snow around his feat steamed and melted away into the mud, “Putting all of your sins on others who can’t defend themselves.” He stopped in front of Deka, staring him in the eye. “Corvio, have everyone else do their fighting elsewhere. I don’t want nobody getting caught up in the crossfire.”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
“Tadios, are you certain?”
“I’ll talk to the people involved after all this is done. Right now, I got a lotta rage I gotta get out, and if you don’t get out of here with everyone else someone is going to get hurt. Do you understand?”
“But-”
“Do it now!” A wave of heat pulsed through the air, bringing a temporary summer to the clearing as the falling snow turned to warm rain drilling holes through the snow, “And that goes for everyone else too! Fight somewhere else. That means you too Kaara.”
Deka stood silent for a moment before raising his hand, “Do as he says. Vilka, they are under your command. Amaro and Anitus-”
“No.” Tadios said.
“Hm?”
“The three of you are gonna stay here. I don’t care if it’s one at a time, or all at once. I’m going to take all of you on.”
“Deka smirked, “Truly? You underestimate us.”
“This aint about winning anymore,” Tadios said, taking his stance, “It’s about knowing what you’re really made of.”
“Oh? So you’re taking a stance against the three of us?”
“I can’t beat your ass sitting down.”
“I see, then come and try it.”
Amaro took his stance, “We’ll make you see the truth, Tadios. For the victim’s sake.” He did not like this one bit. Not only had Anitus turned this game into something serious, but he had also created a three on one situation between them. The thrill of a fight he might lose was no longer on the table if they were simply ganging up on one opponent.
That was what he thought until Tadios lurched forward and took his feet off the ground with a thunderous blow to his gut.
Amaro felt the air escape his lungs as he crashed into the freshly dried soil below. A sense of dread followed the pain that washed over his body. Whatever expectation he had before of Tadios had been completely blown out of proportion by that single punch. His ears were ringing.
He watched as Anitus and Deka sprang into action. When Tadios had told them he was going to take them all on, he had never intended to lose. After landing a few hits on him, Anitus snapped his fingers, but only one explosion went off.
Fire consumed Tadio’s head before it was sucked into the flame at the center of his horns. Anitus’s technique was rendered completely useless. What kind of spell was that?
Tadios kept both of them in front of him, cutting and dodging, even forcing the two to get in each other’s way as they struck. The moment Anitus finally managed to get behind him, Tadios grabbed him with his tail and swung him by the ankle into Deka.
He ducked, weaved, and returned brutal counters. When Anitus tried to back up Tadios knew how to push the pace. And yet even though he pushed the pace, his strikes were measured. He was constantly protecting himself. Even when Anitus countered, he was ready. Deka came through to break that sequence, but with a quick violent spin, Tadios sent his elbow crashing into Deka’s jaw.
“You’re all fighting so half assed! At this point I can’t tell if it’s because you’re trying not to get knocked out first, or if you’re just a bunch of liars who thought gettin’ me mad would make me easier to fight.”
Anitus rushed him, but Tadios was ready. Amaro could barely even see the punch, but he did see Anitus’s head snap from one side to the other. He was on wobbling legs. Tadios pointed at him, “Half truths and half measures, but full of pride just the same. That’s all I see from your style.”
Deka came in but Tadios sent him stumbling with a leg buckling kick and a skull cracking knee to the head, “And you, trying to wait for the right moment. You’re conserving your energy to let the others wear me down so you can make me look easy and take all the credit. If you wanna fight, then come to fight!”
Amaro took a deep breath into his lungs again. Maybe this fight was not as easy as he had thought it would be. He felt that thrill of uncertainty filling his veins again. He activated every spell he could. If Tadios wanted a fight, he’d give him one.