A dull yet sharp metallic sound rang throughout the arena and its stands, as Xa'Gun's axe was deflected by the Shield-bearing human.

"IS THAT ALL?! THE CHOPPING BLOCK WAS DEFLEEEEEEEEEECTED!!!"

Gorzoc stood in the stands, "CORRECT YOUR STACE, BOY..! AGAIN, DAMN IT!"

Hearing and reacting were two different things, as the human's sword pierced Xa'Gun's ribs.

A searing burning pain erupted from Xa'Gun's left side under his arm, and as the pain burned, Xa'Gun's anger grew... Blood pressure rose, and with it, he inched ever closer to death.

Jukzuk stood up and spoke in a solemn voice, "He's losing too much blood..."

Hellie shouted until her voice was hoarse with curses of the most vile kind, as she was held back by Demze and her assistant; preventing Hellie from jumping into the arena from the stands.

Knarog snorted in a laugh, as he spoke to the Chieftain of the Blacktongue clan, Varbuk, "Doesn't look like I will get to woo your clan's princess. This tender piece of meat is done."

Varbuk rose a brow at the analogy, but understood and spoke, "It's not over until he stops breathing. The spirits named him, Knarog. I refuse to believe that he can't overcome this."

Knarog snorted and continued to watch. Other orcs believed the same, with even a small portion getting up and leaving the arena... One has to remember that these early leavers did not make bets.

Gorzoc shouted again, "YOU'VE GOT THEM DIVIDED NOW FINISH THE JOB!"

Xa'Gun grunted, though, unlike his master, his voice was drowned out by the remaining crowd however lesser the cacophony present.

[United they stand; divided they fall... They fall..?] Xa'Gun's mind processed as he rounded the shield-bearer sloppily deflecting his enemy's attacks with his axe.

"When did this orc become so good at the axe?" Varbuk questioned Urog who sat silently to his right.

"My wife states that Midka spoke of him. All he does is swing his axe on a piece of petrified wood... All day. All night. Everyday..."

"Every day..?"

"Every moment."

"Then how is he so damn good with an axe, what has his master Gorzoc fed to this boy?" Varbuk complained in a yelling whisper to Urog, sparking the interest of Knarog who strained to hear Varbuk's angry whispers over the remaining crowd.

Urog spoke quickly, "Perhaps he knew the axe before he came to us, you remember the chopping block."

Varbuk settled down, and rubbed his stubbled chin, "Perhaps... Perhaps..."

[But his technique was sloppy as all hell, prior... Midka will need to see his lessons with his Master Gorzoc.] Varbuk thought within his mind. It wasn't just Varbuk's strength that made him the chieftain of the Blacktongues, but also his obsession with gathering information.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"RAAAHHHH!" Xa'Gun bull rushed the Sheild-bearer attempting to knock him down but failed. He staggered back, holding his axe. Only now noticing that the sword of the human grazed his left arm, of which a small trickle of blood ran from the open wound, though it paled in comparison to previous lacerations. The stickiness of blood flowed from Xa'Gun's left shoulder and side, and now the arena's hard dirt floor was stained red on all but the outer edges.

Xa'Gun took his stance, and this time attacked with his axe. The swing missed leaving a small pit in the arena's dirt floor where it landed.

"What is he doing?" Jukzuk's voice trailed by Gorzoc's ears, "I'm not sure... Yet..."

"THAT'S ANOTHER MISSING STRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKE!!! BLOOD LOSS IS A REAL THING, ORCS AND ORCESSES! CAN XA'GUN MAKE IT!?"

[Again, and again!] Xa'Gun thought within his mind, as his voice struggled to carry his burden, "RAAAAA-AHHHH!"

The Shield-bearer deflected another attack which left a pit in the arena's floor.

Demze's grip on Hellie's shoulder loosened ever so slightly, as she watched Xa'Gun...

Feeling Demze's grip lessen, it was Hellie that turned her head briefly to ask, "SISTER, DON'T TELL ME HE'S GOING TO DIE!?" Hellie screeched above the crowd.

"No... No, I don't think that's it..." Demze spoke uncertainly, but she looked at the state of the arena where a human with a shield was circling Xa'Gun... The arena floor was badly damaged from Xa'Gun's misses. Something... Didn't feel right...

Midka walked into the arena and to the stands. She kept her eyes trained on the failing fight, as she made her way next to Varbuk.

Demze noticed, in spite of keeping her vision trained on the arena, that Midka had actually come...

Midka gave an orcish salute to the Blacktongue chieftain, and then a courtesy gesture to Knarog.

"Sit Midka... And watch how this Orc wins." Varbuk laughed and pushed Urog over a seat from the one next to him. Urog only aided Varbuk as he moved over to allow Midka to sit where he was previously, not feeling offended.

"IS XA'GUN RUNNING OUT OF BLOOD!? THAT'S ANOTHER MISSING STRIKE! I BELIEVE THIS IS COMING DOWN TO A WAR OF ATTRITIOOOOOOOOOON!"

Midka took her place, and spoke over the announcer, "Win? It seems he'll have more of a chance meeting the ancestors than winning."

Knarog laughed out loud, and interjected, "Now this is an orcess that understands! Hahaha!"

Varbuk cut his eyes, "Watch and learn, the both of you. Look at the arena's state... I have a good idea what's going on..."

Weakness... The feeling of the loss of strength began to pull on Xa'Gun. That sweet comfort known as darkness was coming for him again, and he knew it.

[Finally...] Xa'Gun thought, while he made his last strike which left a larger pit in the arena floor.

He stood up straight, holding his two-handed axe in both arms, though it was more propped on his left arm than 'holding.'

"Human, when you get down to hell, make a place for Simon." Xa'Gun spat in the human tongue.

The Shield-bearer disregarded Xa'Gun's taunt, as the Xa'Gun circled him.

Now with Xa'Gun circled to the other side of the Sheild-bearer, Demze finally understood, as she laughed out loud!

She touched her ear cuff, "Really interesting."

"WHAT'S SO INTERESTING!? TINCAN IS GOING TO DIE IF HE DOESN'T FINISH THIS QUICKLY!" Hellie spat, quickly, though as least she was no longer trying to jump into the arena.

"Just watch." Demze cooed, leaving Hellie feeling slightly off... When was the last time her smart sister sounded so... Feminine.

Xa'Gun rushed the shield-bearer again, dodging the blade this time, as he pushed on the human.

The human staggered back, and his foot misstepped into a pit on the arena floor.

The Blacktongue chieftain, Urog, Knarog, Midka, Demze, Hellie, Hellie's friends, Jukzuk, Gorzoc, and the arena crowd watched as the Human twisted his foot and fell to his back.

Xa'Gun, a bleeding tyrant, loomed over the fallen shield-bearer, "They fall..."

Shock crossed the human's face, as Xa'Gun took a...

STEP!

"THAT'S THE SETUP! OH, MY SPIRITS! THAT'S THE SETUP FOR THE CHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPING BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCK!!!"

Muscle memory took over, blood pressure high, vision blurry, the crowd sounded so distant, like a memory...

"VAAAAAAAAAAAARANNNNG!"

Axe cleaved through shield, armor, muscle, and sinew... Fresh sanguine pools sprang from the well of life that was now so quickly fading.

Xa'Gun watched as the blood, guts, and organs flowed from the shield-bearer's chest and stomach...

He watched until darkness came for him again.