As Xa'Gun and the Human Opponent sized each other up, the Orcess pointed out the crimson mark upon Xa'Gun's chest. Xa'Gun wore no armor or helmet on his torso or head, now that he had been liberated from his former container. He only wore a leather belt, that held up a cloth-like skirt that covered his undergarment. From his shin to his foot, he wore rusty metal greaves that came down and just over his leather sandals.
It was easy to see his lover's mark that glistened fresh sanguine dew in the light of the day in the center of the ring.
Speculation burst forth from the Orcs and Orcesses in the crowd.
"Not even an Orc for a month and he's already been claimed...!" One random Orc spoke in jealousy
"He couldn't have been claimed by the clan princess, Hellie???"
"She did fly to him after he was poisoned, last time."
Many of the crowd drew their attention to Hellie, as they watched her cheer... More of the astute Orcesses looked further up the audience to Hellie's sister...
"Oh! So, it was princess Demze that claimed this fighter!" Many thought and spoke, as they watched Demze sitting in proper Orcess attire. She wore a chainmail dress in the form of a Helter strap that exposed her green skin all the way down to her soft belly. On each of her wrists, she wore a red bangle, made of bloodstone. She even wore black lipstick and cat eyeliner. This gave her a mysterious and enchanting look, as compared to her usual plain face, though like her sisters she had a natural beauty. What captured the Orcs and Orcesses attention most were her ear cuffs... On her left ear, she wore a silver ear cuff with chain that attached to the gauge in her lobe. An Orcish symbol of attachment...
Even those on her right side, the other Orcs and Orcesses heard quickly of her ear cuff and chain... While ear cuffs were a symbol of different statuses among Orcesses and never Worn by male Orcs, as opposed to the male Orcs that wore gauges, and other piercings of a more warrior and martial nature. Ear cuffs with chain were only worn by Orcesses to show that they were taken...
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
"This could just be a coincidence..." Many echoed the thought.
Demze nodded, as she overheard the audience, and the moment she was waiting for was at hand. She rose from her proper seat, as she called out to Xa'Gun in the arena, "Show me your hate, Xa'Gun! Show me how much you hate me! Do it for me!"
Demze then sat back down with a smug look, as many Orcs finally understood this was her display that Xa'Gun was taken... Many knew that Demze was known as the Cunning Princess... And even in hushed tones the Princess of Malice, but this was all calculated by her for this moment. Though, honestly... Only the Orcess knew this was the Cunning princess's doing. The males of the crowd knew that Xa'Gun, this newly found Orc, was either a lucky bastard favored by the spirits or to be pitied as he would be bullied by this cunning Orcess for the rest of his life.
Xa'Gun heard Demze, as he looked up at the stands to focus on her... He gritted his teeth harder.
[You want to see my hate... ALL OF MY HATE?!?] Xa'Gun howled inside his mind.
It was not the best time to taunt his opponent, but the human named Erix Snyder spoke and jeered, "Ha! So, you're the bastard traitor that sold us out, huh? So, an ugly shit like you can only attract Orc Bitches?" The human looked into the stands to see the cheers... He might not have known the Orcish language, but he understood body language.
Xa'Gun tightened his grip on his axe's wooden stock... So tight, that the stock began to issue cracking sounds.
"Doesn't matter to me... I'm told that if I win enough of these, I get to walk... So, killing a traitor fuck like you suits me well." Snyder readied his short sword and shield.
The voice of Demze echoed within Xa'Gun's mind, [Humans killed your sister, Xa'Gun... Always, always, always remember who slights you...!]
"RAAAAHHHH!" Xa'Gun roared, and closed in on his target with a surprising swiftness that was unnatural for his size!
Snyder raised his shield just as Xa'Gun's stump of a leg smashed into him; knocking the human down to the ground.
"Step!" Xa'Gun took a step while grunting his words through his teeth, as he stomped the human's leg. The sick sound of bone crunched under heel.
"Raise!" Xa'Gun lifted his axe high into the air.
Snyder raised his shield in front of him, in expectation of the incoming impact, still shocked by the speed of this fatty.
Xa'Gun grunted with all his might as he brought the axe low cleaving the metal shield, the hand, and into the chest of Snyder... From the top of his chest to his waist, his guts squiggled out, and a flash of hot steam issued from his insides.
Xa'Gun swallowed the bile that rushed to his mouth, while still gritting his teeth. The Announcer and crowds were eerily silent with the ease of this kill...