The streets of the dock were always busy and packed with people, sailors and vendors. The city, aptly named after the Raison sea, is dependent on the sea route for most of the necessities.
Traditionally, the city of Raison is a fishing hub and less dependent upon farming. The sea routes that have been established for generations have guaranteed the survival of the city and is a major proponent in its prosperity too.
But, at night, these same docks turn into a lonely place. The once packed streets now lay deserted. A decade before, the city planners had moved all the taverns and inns from the docks and merged them all into the Raison market district.
Due to which, the streets are now less infested with drunk sailors and the utter chaos that would happen at night time has been silenced… save for one thing.
The docks were controlled by gang families who have divided the entire docks within themselves. Every few years, a purge happens and few gang families die during it and new gang families rise up and take their place.
Currently the docks are under the protection of four such families, two of whom have been in place for generations. They have built enough power and Rais to sustain their hold on the docks.
These two families also run an underground fighting arena known as the Pits. Fighters desperate enough andor bloodthirsty enough fill the ranks of the Pits.
In the Pits, Raisonians from all places in the society come to try their luck either in combat or in the unregulated betting on the matches.
Tonight though, the excitement in the Pits have reached a new height. At the start of the evening, it was announced that this year the fighter who emerges victorious in the Pit tournament will be given an invite in the upcoming invitational Orphan class tournament, the Clash of Orphans which is to be held at the Najral Arena.
A young woman, dressed in an all black attire walked gracefully within the fight pit.
There was an immediate hush in the stands as people took their seats and waited.
"The Pits welcomes you all fine Raisonians to this fine evening. We, the Pit, have arranged for you something special today.
Today! We will hold a 16 fighter tournament in this very arena. These 16 fighters will spill their blood, sweat and tears for your entertainment and as well as for an opportunity.
The opportunity to earn themselves an invite to the prestigious Orphan class Invitational tournament named Clash of Orphans.
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Never before such an invite has been placed as a prize in the Pit and these 16 warriors will have to give their all.
Only one can etch their name in the history book as the first invited fighter from the Pits!" She took a pause to let the excitement build in the crowd.
She smiled and said, "Let the fun begin!!!"
She turned around after finishing her speech and gracefully walked back to the safety of the guards.
The first two fighters emerged from two opposite sides of the fight pit. Once they stood face to face inside the fight pit, a bell rang starting the bout.
The young woman walked up the stairs of the stand and turned towards a cage door guarded by two men. One of them opened the door promptly, letting her inside the private space.
She walked the open hallway with the view of the pit from one side. The hallway ended into a big spacious floor half filled with people casually sitting in comfortable chairs, watching the show happening in the pit while being attended by servants.
She finally entered another secluded area where two men were chatting amongst themselves while watching the match.
"Did you have your fun, daughter?" One of the men asked the young woman.
He seemed rather fit with a bulky figure while very little hair on his head. A nasty scar on his left cheek continues onto his upper lip finally ending just above his right eyebrows.
The young woman sat beside the man and answered him, "I'd rather be out with my friends than do this shit, father". Her smile finally broke revealing the frown underneath it.
The man grinned and turned his head to watch the action happening below.
"It's always a good thing for the new generation to see where their roots lie. Eventually you'll have to take my place and lead our family, Neja".
"Let her live her own life, Rujen. She's still too young to burden herself with the matters of the Pit." The other person beside him spoke.
He had white hair with a large gut hanging out of his pants. His face had hints of many small cuts. His eyes fixed on the match below.
"I was quite surprised your son decided to compete today, Dijen" Rujen commented.
Dijen snorted and replied, "She goaded him into it".
His eyes pointed towards Neja, who had a coy smile on her face.
"Let's watch what he does this time" Rujen said.
Below in the pit, a man with an average build, brown skin with no body armour not any head protection had his opponents arm secured while crossing both of his feet around his opponents neck.
His opponent was desperately trying to free himself from the arm bar, but little by little his resistance dropped.
The man continued to wretch his opponent's arm out of his shoulder until a pop sound could be heard. His opponent howled in agony. The man released his grip on his opponent's arm and quickly wrapped his arms around his opponent's neck.
Little by little he choked his opponent in a rear naked choke. His opponent, unable to raise one arm, tried desperately to free the hold with the other arm. The man then pulled backwards leveraging the choke and continued to hold it until a snap was heard.
He broke his opponent's neck, rendering him unable to move or get up. He smiled a wicked smile as his opponent lay on the ground motionless.
"And your winner!
Benor!!!!!"
Most of the people in the Pit booed and showed their displeasure, but Benor laughed. He looked at his fallen opponent one final time before heading off to rest and wait for his next match.
"And he's vicious as ever" Rujen commented which elicited a belly laugh from Dijen.
All three of them continued to watch as Benor opened a path of agony as he kept maiming his opponents. In the final, he went on to stab his opponent in the neck with a small hidden blade. His opponent bled out on the fight mound as no-one came to help all the while Benor revelled at his handiwork.
He was declared winner of the tournament and was awarded the Invite to the Clash of Orphans event.