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King on The Sands One: BloodRock
Chapter 60: One Last Introduction

Chapter 60: One Last Introduction

Chapter 60

One Last Introduction

In spite of everything I feel good. I may have slept in a cell, I may not have eaten in almost a full day, but there is something inside me that sings when a big fight is close. Something that makes me feel like I can win no matter what, that I can rise to the occasion.

It’s honestly kind of weird but against lesser competition, my nerves flare up worse than they do when I’m fighting a real monster. Maybe it's a preparation thing? I’ve known for weeks that I would be fighting Klash and Embella at some point, so we have been preparing in some form or another.

I even feel confident in the plan that Xael and I have cooked up for these two. Granted it is going to be a little harder to pull off than our last plan, which really boiled down to ‘ throw an axe at a guy.’ But I suppose some of the best plans are on the simple side, since those are the ones that are easy to execute.

This plan is also on the simple side of things, but that won’t make it easy to execute. Not to mention I am only going to have one chance to make this work and if I can’t probably we both die fiery, skin peeling deaths.

“You ready?” the question comes from Muraab who has an axe in one hand and the keys to my cage in the other. I meet the old pitter's gaze, he was King on The Sands once. The most dominant fighter in the whole city for a whole year. They used to call him ‘Red Muraab’ and right now I can tell he’s still angry at me.

That isn’t what strikes me, Muraab is the master of BloodRock’s guards; he is often stern or angry. No, it's the other thing I can see in his eyes that takes me back. Muraab is worried about me, I can see it. I suppose I shouldn’t be as surprised as I am, ever since he brought me back to the compound from…wherever it was my parents lived, Muraab has tried to look after me.

I nod and raise my eyebrows at the master of guards but don’t say anything. He seems a bit off-put by my silence but doesn’t push me about it. Instead, Muraab unlocks the cage and offers me the type two medium axe he’s holding. I set my shoulders, let out a long nasal exhale, and take the weapon before striding out into the center of the pit floor.

Usually, I bite down on my distaste and make a show for the crowd, not today though. Today I stand and stare at the viewing cages holding the pair of HighSail pitters. They aren’t hard to spot, not with the group of HighSail guards moving to escort the pair from their cage.

I want this fight so bad that I’m starting to shake with excitement. Even Resh can’t say he has gone head to head with a flame witch and won. After this match things will start to change. I will get invitations to other minors, and then eventually the majors. Soon everyone will know just how fucking good I am at this. Already the fans who have been following The Storm Herald Invitational are starting to come around. I have my own dedicated cheer section now, and it feels like every time I catch sight of the ‘one directioners’ there are more kids sitting with them.

Xael that fop more than makes up for my lack of showmanship, rather than walking down the stairs from the viewing area like we have every other time. It strikes me as an unnecessary risk but the foreign boy insists on showing off his acrobatic skill.

Sword in hand Xael passes through the crowd unescorted, slapping hands with the fans as he passes, and leaping down from each layer of the seating. I’m genuinely horrified imagining him breaking a limb or something on the way down. I shouldn’t have bothered worrying, the dark-haired boy skips and flips down the stands like he’s from the World of Sky.

When the GodsRinger reaches the wall that separates the stands from the pit the crowd goes silent bar a few gasps. This drop is many times the height of the gap between levels of the various stands.

The height doesn’t stop him, it doesn’t even slow him down. Exactly the same as when I fought him the first time Xael leaps into the pit, landing in a roll before coming back to his feet in a sort of springing motion. Even after all these months training together watching the way he moves so effortlessly still makes me hate Xael just a little bit.

Sword pointed at the crowd he joins me in the center of the arena. I say nothing but offer him a nod, which Xael returns.

“This is it then.” He says wistfully. “I’ll get you in range, just don’t miss.”

That prompts a little glare from me. I would very much like to declare that he’s an idiot, and I don’t even need him to get me in range. Of course I don’t, this isn’t the time. Not with Klash and Embella marching down onto the sands and the announcer lady striding over to stand in between the two teams.

Not to be outdone by Xael’s display of athleticism the flame witch makes a display of her own. Just as they step onto the pit floor the Ittit’atti girl raises both of her hands and lets out a shrill sound of effort. For a heartbeat nothing happens, then the fire from basically every torch around the arena flows through the air to combine above the dark-haired witch’s head.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Initially its just an amorphous mass of flames, but quickly it resolves itself into a towering bust of both HighSail pit-slaves. The crowd are utterly flabbergasted as the light of the huge burning figures pours down on us all. I can’t blame them for that, I’m stunned enough that I have to actively stop my jaw from hanging open.

With a clap from the girl the burning self portrait vanishes and the arena’s torches come back to life.

‘I hope that was fucking exhausting you cocky bitch.’

As they begin their approach again the pair from HighSail are talking quietly between themselves. I can’t make any of it out as they stop maybe thirty feet away from us but whatever the Itti’atti girl says makes Klash laugh. At least until the elephant cursed set his gaze on me. Then his face darkens and his eyes narrow. I send an antagonistic wink back in his direction.

“Men, women, children, and all you degenerate gamblers out there! THE TIME HAS FINALLY COME!” This close to her, the BlackMist announcer’s magically enhanced voice is exhilarating and deafening in equal measure.

“After weeks of brutal combat, only two teams remain. It is my and House BlackMist’s very great pleasure to give you the final match of the Storm Herald Invitational!”

The crowd can’t contain themselves anymore at that point, they burst into rapturous cheering and I have to fight not to smile. Once the cheering dies down the announcer begins again.

“Fiiiiiighting on behalf of House BloodRock!”

I hate that we get introduced first, it implies that they are the bigger fan favorites, the ones everyone expects to win. They are those things but I still hate it.

“The Beast Of BloodRock! A pitter so out of control he tried to kill his owner this very morning!”

‘That is not what happened! And besides it was last night.’

“I give you NOOOORRRRTTTTHHHHH!”

“With this animal stands his only friend.”

‘Also not true.’

“The Angel of the GodsRing, The Divine Blade, the most skilled, most handsome, most charming free pitter to ever voluntarily step onto the sands!”

‘They make it so hard to like this kid sometimes.’

“XAAAAAEEEEEELLLLL DEBOOORRRRAAAAAANNNNTTTT!”

The cheer I got was pretty good, but Xael’s eclipses it easily. I try not to be jealous, and weirdly it kind of works. I suppose it's easier to do when the other team is already getting chants during our introductions.

With every call of ‘Klash’, ‘flame witch’, ‘colossus’, or even ‘burn them alive’ my irritation gets directed towards the HighSail team and away from my partner. Oh well, I’m going to get my chance to shut them up really really soon.

“FrOOOoooooMMMm House HighSail comes the most dominant pair this tournament has ever seen!”

She gestures at Klash.

“They call him the strrrrrrooooonnngggessst Youth pitter in the history of Far Mantys!”

‘Klash is crazy strong, but surely that isn’t true right? He did rip Tota’s arm out of its socket..’

“Having only ever tasted defeat once In over seventy bouts, I give you the enormous, the indestructible, THE HIGHSAIL COLOSSUS HIMSELF KAAAALLLLLLLLAAAAAAASSSSSSSHHHHHHH!”

It annoys me that they never mention that I’m his one loss. You would think it's the sort of thing they would want people to know all about, but evidently, the story the BlackMists want to tell is one of absolute dominance.

Wait, when did I start caring about things like storyline? I shake the idea from my head and try to spot VIscarra in the BlackMist viewing box for the hundredth time today. Also for the hundredth time today, I fail to catch sight of her. I know that a member of the House Lord’s family can’t risk showing any favoritism today, but I had still hoped the sorceress might find some clandestine way to see me before the match. I should know better, that's the sort of nonsense that almost never happens in real life.

“Finally! You know her, you love her, you know that she has never lost, and never fought a match where all of the opposition have survived!"

I flick my gaze away from the BlackMist viewing box and back to my opposition. I really have more important things to worry about than girls right now. Not when I have one specific girl right here in front of me utterly exuding arrogance and danger. She’s a bit more scarred up now after the beating Kalon put on her, but Embella still carries herself with the ego of the undefeated.

“The Desert Inferno! The Queen Of Sparks! The biggest betting favorite to ever compete in this fine event. I GIVE YOU EMMMMMMBBBBBBeeeeeeeEEEEEELLLLLAAAAAA!!”

I honestly think I’ve lost the ability to hear for a second when the crowd cheers for the Itti’atti girl. It’s a primal roar, a unified swell of aggression and support. Of everyone who has fought during this event only Resh’s appearance garnered a greater reaction.

‘Good. Let's see how they react after I’m done.’