It was unexpected to see a warden accept the challenge of a prisoner. They were the type to work from the shadows. Guarding us was enough proof to be considered top-notch dogs.

“I guess some of them really do love fighting too.”

I was itching to move, wanting to sink my fangs into his soul. I wanted to taste its juiciness. The taste that I haven’t tasted for years.

Two wardens stepped out from either direction of my cage. I looked at them curiously. How long have they been there? How much have they heard? The warden turned around as two more wardens stepped out of the shadows to stand behind him.

“Five wardens. Interesting.”

The closest two, opened my cage, ushering me out. I crept my way into the lowly lit light immediately placing my wrists behind my back.

“Get it over with already.”

A hand pushed me forward. “Move.”

“Huh?” I said with disgust as I looked back over my shoulder.

“Move, I said.”

“Alright. Alright. Whatever. Someone must be having a bad day” I replied, shrugging my shoulders, removing my hands from sight into the depths of my raggedy pockets of my pants. “It’s not like I cared anyway.”

“You should be honored that he is fighting you as an equal.”

“Why’s that?”

“You are the first prisoner to have their challenge accepted by a warden. Not even the grand champion himself that you just beat had his granted. He wants to fight you on equal terms. Not that you will win, since he is the strongest among us.”

“He’s the strongest?”

“Yes, you will soon realize his strength.”

Through the visible darkness, they escorted me to the arena, weaving in and around cells.

“Trying to confuse me since the changing already happened?”

The long reaching lowly light florescent bulbs flickered in and out. Little black bugs kept hitting it. Most likely flies. They probably hoped that on the other side there was an escape.

To my left, a small light caught my eye in the distance. Is that an exit?

A shove pushed me forward.

On instinct, my foot planted into the ground, my body stopped, snapping around. We looked at each other, face to face. A nasty look swept across mine as our eyes locked only a foot apart.

“I will kill you.”

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It was only for a few seconds but felt like several minutes.

“Keep your head forward.” One of the wardens in front of me butted in disrupting the silence.

“Tsk. Whatever.” I looked down and grunted with annoyance.

How did he know? He wasn’t even looking back. I turned around, taking a step forward but to only be halted yet once more.

“We’re here.”

Giant doubled-doored gates loomed in front of me. Light flickered from the top as it filtered through the darkness, giving the arena a halo effect. Was it moonlighting? Maybe today will be the day where I finally find out. One warden pointed both index fingers towards the gate. With a quick motion, he separated his hands. The gates slid open at an alarming speed, creating a loud bang as the doors stopped ajar.

Magic? Telekinesis?

However, for him it seemed to require directly pointing to the intended objects. So, his magic seems to be incomplete. Well, it doesn’t lack power like other users though.

“Step inside.”

Without hesitation, I made my way up the five small steps.

“Neat, magic trick.” I said with a small grin. “Maybe one day I can show you a better one.”

“Really now?”

“Jk. Jk.”

The tips of my fingers tingled. Was this excitement? Or something of less importance?

Chains sounded in the distance. A small shockwave swept through the entire prison, causing my pants and hair to ruffle. Gears could be heard, grinding and turning.

“Are they really shuffling again?”

Small amounts of movement could be seen around me.

The warden stepped into the ring from the other side as the gate closed behind him. All black, like every warden, whether they were male or female. Well, I guess I could say that they each had their own accessories that complimented their individual styles. For a moment, we locked gazes. I could see the seriousness within his burning eyes. Looking past him, I watched as two wardens stood at each end of gated doors, hands covered within their robes.

Who would make the first move?

“Arius. I’ve been waiting for this.”

“Oh?” I grinned a little as my eyebrows lifted pulling the lids of my eyelids, revealing slightly alert pupils. “Why’s that?”

“Over these few years, I’ve gotten the pleasure to watch you, studied you, but yet, I learned almost nothing. Your upbringing. Your past. Where you studied. What makes you tick. What drives you. Where your source of power comes from.”

“Creepy. You sound like a stalker.”

“In the discussions we’ve shared, you barely speak. In the heat of your battles, nothing’s revealed. Your secretive, hiding your true abilities. Maybe that is why our master is so interested in you.”

“So, what about it. Does this make me worthy to be your special specimen?”

“Yes. That is part of it.” He hesitated for a second. “I know how you slip out of your cell every night.”

“Really? Then why haven’t you stopped me?”

He gave a dark smile. “Where could you possibly run off too? There isn’t a place on this planet that we couldn’t find you.”

I stood there in silence for a moment. He was right, there wasn’t a single place to hide anymore. I could run forever and even that was limited. Air travel was only permitted to the needed and any individual who commits a crime instantaneously becomes part of the slums.

“Do you really enjoy watching this world?”

“No, I really don’t care for it.”

“You know there’s another?”

“Another what?”

“A world similar to this. A world where we soon will too conquer.”

“What do you mean?”

“I guess it doesn’t really matter explaining it to someone who won’t understand when they can’t recall who they are. Tomorrow it’s supposed to rain blood.”

“Is it? I guess the weather does change in short amount of times.”

“Ha, you fool. I would’ve thought you were smarter.”

“Who said it would be my blood?”

With one hand, I squeezed my stomach and looked down. I guess the worst-case scenario may happen soon enough. It’s not that I felt fear, because I couldn’t. I don’t even feel empathy to those who make me suffer because of what may happen. I don’t know exactly what it was, but all I knew was that it could never be released no matter what. At least that is what she told me.

“Right, mom? And here I thought I could finally die in peace. Dragging down this murderous intent with me. Hoping that they found a way to make the impossible, possible. But, I guess I can no longer do that.”

My head tilted back as I looked over my nose at him as the skin pinched together.

Saliva dribbled from the corners of his mouth. He looked excited.

“Your information was troublesome to find. No need to be ashamed. We all make mistakes at one point or another. Even professionals like myself have made mistakes. Ah…who am I kidding. I haven’t made a mistake since the day I was created.” He licked his lips with excitement.

“Created? What does that mean? Is he not a demon?” I mumbled.

“Pick your weapon Arius. Anything you want. I’ll be nice just this one last time, as the last face you ever see in your wasted life.”

I took one of my hands from my pocket, reached my arm back and put up two.

“Two swords. The dullest ones possible.”

“Why settle, when you can have something much greater? Show us your true power. Arius.” He chuckled. “Show us what it means to be Wrath.”

“Wrath?”

“Oh wait. You can’t, can you?!”

Both blades were handed to me through the iron bars.

“You’ve lost that ability long ago. Haven’t you.”

They were light in weight, easy to redirect. However, this was cheap metal with low durability. I flipped both swords through my fingers showing a great sense of handiwork until they pointed downward.

“It’s only a matter of time until that power rests in our hands.”

They were what I was used too.

“I will have what is inside of you. Even if I have to tear you, limb by limp so that I can devour your dammed soul! This is for the Black Cross Alliance!”

“I have no idea what you are talking about. But, I thought I was the insane one. You have surely surpassed me in that category.” I murmured.

He reached out his arm. I watched his extended fingertips, hovered with anticipation. His black glove shone within the light, the contrast between light and dark. An evil expression swept and took hold of his face.

“Watch closely, this only happens once in a lifetime, kid.”