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Ep. 228 The Arena Part 3

Lord Dra sits back down but he does not look happy about it, in fact he looks like he wants to kill Lord Shendaw. Maybe I can start a conflict between them after all, but first I have to deal with whatever beast is next. So I turn towards the door that is opening and wait to see what comes out.

At first I think it is some kind of bull, but that is only because it had to bend over to pass through the doorway. As it comes out and stands up straight I realize it is a minotaur, a minotaur with a big axe. It looks to stand around sixteen to eighteen feet tall and its humanoid body is heavily muscled.

It roars as it strides forwards towards me, raising the axe for a powerful swing. It may be awesomely powerful, maybe even stronger than me, but in my eyes it is just plain slow. I move slightly to let the big axe pass by me, then I duck between its legs and move behind it.

By the time it realizes that it missed me I have summoned my mind blade and cut across both its ankles. Its next roar is one of pain as its ankles give way and it collapses to the ground. Before it can even recover I dance up its back and decapitate it, when I do the crowd falls silent.

There are now four beast bodies in the arena and I still haven't even been scratched. I stay standing on the minotaur's back as I look around at the crowd, giving them and the demon lords the cockiest look I can produce. My look incites the crowd to boo at me and both demon lords look very upset.

"Is that the best you can do?"

Lord Shendaw says "Argh!!! Why won't you die!!"

Lord Dra says "Those were some impressive moves. You are definitely not an ordinary demon. Why are you here? Who sent you?"

"Didn't you get the memo? I'm here because I took a bite out of fatty's emissary and the weakling died from it."

Lord Shendaw yells "How dare you?!?"

Lord Dra says "Would you just shut up!"

"Yes, fatty, shut up while your betters are talking!"

At that Lord Shendaw starts screaming incoherently in rage and flailing around. I can't tell if he is having some sort of fit or trying to get his massive body on its feet. Several of the demons near him seem to be trying to calm him down, but Lord Dra is actually laughing at Lord Shendaw.

"Should you really be laughing at your one and only ally?"

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Lord Dra says "How could anyone not laugh at such a pathetic spectacle?"

"True, he is rather like a five hundred pound child throwing a tantrum isn't he?"

Lord Dra then throws a spell or ability of some kind that forces Lord Shendaw into a sleep-like state. Considering how close in power the two of them should be it is fairly impressive that Lord Dra can affect him with it. Either Lord Dra has a power to affect other demons or he has hidden his real power from the other demon lords.

If the latter is the case then the other demon lords are in for a much tougher fight than they know. Although, that could be a good thing for me, the more they suffer the longer before they invade. Maybe I can convince Lord Dra to kill Lord Shendaw, then the other five can attack.

Lord Dra says "You should watch yourself, he could still crush you with one hand."

"He would have to catch me first. I'm surprised you would let him live and bring such shame to demon lords."

Lord Dra says "What matter shame? All that matters is power!"

"There are many types of power. Which one interests you?"

Lord Dra says "All types of power are of interest to demon lords."

"Including the power of human minions?"

Lord Dra says "Of course!"

"Then Lord Shendaw lessens your power by lowering the image of demon lords."

Lord Dra says "You may have a point, but I am not foolish enough to listen to an enemy."

"Who says we are enemies? Fatso has a grudge with me but I bear you no ill will."

Lord Dra says "You may not see me as an enemy, but as the enemy of my ally I see you as one."

"How can he be your ally? An ally is an equal, the most he could be is your pet."

Lord Dra says "Flattering me and insulting him at the same time, you are trying to set us against each other aren't you?"

"What would be the point of that? You can obviously kill him as easily as I killed this minotaur."

Lord Dra says "Whether that is true or not, I will not be manipulated by such as you."

Instead of answering I just smile at him, after a minute it dawns on him and he looks around at the crowd. The crowd of demons and humans that all serve Lord Shendaw and will report our conversation to him. Even if Lord Dra won't turn on Lord Shendaw the same won't be true the other way around.

Lord Dra says "Ah, I see. Well played!"

Lord Dra and his minions all vanish, he must have had an escape prepared just in case. With him gone all I have to do is wait for Lord Shendaw to wake up and be told of our conversation. With any luck Lord Shendaw will fly into a rage and order his forces to attack Lord Dra's forces.

Even if he doesn't order an attack I doubt they are going to be working together anytime soon. All the demon lords really need is for Lord Dra not to come to Lord Shendaw's aid. At five against one they should be able to win fairly easily, then they can focus on Lord Dra.

That is all I really need to do to complete my part of the deal, that and survive here in the enemy's castle. Speaking of surviving, it's probably not a good idea to still be standing here when Lord Shendaw wakes up. So I jump down off the minotaur's body and walk over to the door I entered through, after a minute it opens.

I walk into my cell and sit down as the iron door closes behind me, now to wait and see what happens next. About twenty minutes later I hear lots of angry screaming from beyond the iron door. Sounds like fatty is awake and has been told about what he missed and he sounds pissed.