The Claws of Glora stood in a fighting stance, hands up and prepared to lash out or knock aside anything that came at them from the three. Taking them in, the gnoll could feel the threat that reminded her of her matriarch. The weight of age, experience, and a life soaked in more violence and death than any could properly imagine. The monk was not aware of this creature, but she knew it was something that wasn’t a slave or fighting beast. It was an intelligent monster that only acted on what it wanted. It would rather kill itself than be subject to the whims of another.
This beast was before her by choice. It wanted to fight. It wanted a challenge. He was a unique member of his kind and carried himself with that self-awareness and self-assurance it had earned. Once again, the monk decided she would wait and see what her opponents would and could do. To have them tip their hands first, so that she could react and then explore their responses. Oddly, however, the two on either side of the grey wolf simply waited, looking to their leader for permission.
He did not wait long. Spending only a few moments taking in the sights and smells, his large form shifted and pressed his forehead into the flank of the giant. From where their bodies connected, a soft, bronze light emanated for a moment and spread completely over the giant and giving them a similarly colored aura. The behemoth bowed its head in thanks and tensed its muscles. Before launching into a magically enhanced sprint that caused the entire pir floor to shudder as its weight and force dashed across it. Its paws the size of cartwheels crushed or brushed aside the few corpses in its way.
Charging forward, it lowered its jaws. In seconds, it reached a speed nearly double that of the monk’s and attempted to snap her up in its jaws. Its slabs of stone masked as a jaw snap shut on empty air as the gnoll steps to the side and swings their claws up to dig into the underside and flank of the behemoth until its momentum carried it past and it skidded into a spin and turning to face the monk again. But she was not exposing her back for nothing. Behind the hill covered in fur, both remaining wolves charged after. The grey leader trotted calmly and ducked out of sight behind the largest pile of corpses, hiding. While the armored beast charged without fear at gnoll. Letting out a skull rattling howl was it leaped and swung its metallic claws down. Only to be met by a redirecting sweep of the monk’s arms. Knocking them and their falling bite off course.
With the deafening charge of the giant as it closed again, the monk tore into the barding that clad the armored wolf. Claws raking over the exposed joints only covered by leather and cloth. The monk was turning from the injured mutt to face the giant when the air began to spark and heat. She threw herself forward, further into the path of the giant when a bolt of lightning sketched itself in a line from a random pile of wolf corpses. With barley a blink, the gnoll took in the wolf sprinting from its spot into the shadows of another pile. And she felt dread. As she was about to be on the receiving end of a treatment her sister would be most appreciative of.
Without the spare time to deal with that terrifying thought, the monk was faced with the descending claws and fangs of a giant. Its massive jaws closed on air again, but with a sudden swing of its head, the weight of a boulder crashed into the gnoll and threw it to the floor. Prone, the gnoll barely escaped the trampling hind paw of the giant that still tore a small chunk from her side. But the attack by the armored mutt was much harsher. Its jaw opened and clamped down on her shoulder as they fought to stand. With its claws trying to rake down her stomach but were caught just barely by her own.
Forcing the wolf up and off her, the monk rose to their feet while unleashing a rain of their own claws upon the plate covered wolf. Catching a lucky nick, a large part of the head covering was ripped up, exposing their face as the metal dangled. But they were forced to separate once again as the air began to tingle and the giant began to charge again. Throwing themselves fully to their feet, the monk rolled out of the path that marked a line from a pile on the opposite side of the arena. With no sign of how they crossed nearly 100 feet without being noticed.
Turning to face the giant again, the gnoll felt their eyes nearly fall from their skull both in surprise at the speed of the giant, and how close its closed jaw was when it swung and knocked the monk to the earth with another powerful slam. Again, the armored wolf was atop the monk, clawing and biting at them. With only the time to raise their arm and intercept the bite as it lunged, she managed to push the wolf off and away. Keeping the metallic claws barely an inch from their fur and burn covered chest.
Ripping her arm free, the gnoll began to attack and rip into the wolf as they straddled and stood over them. Tearing and trying to pull free pieces of armor, but only being so successful. Before the giant’s charge came again, she needed to get ready for it. But with the fading light of magic, the wolf used its bestowed powers to the fullest yet again, slamming their head and swatting the monk to the earth yet again. The damage reduced only from the monk rolling with the attack rather than contesting it.
As she was knocked away again, the air began to shudder and tingle. In part because the giant was breathing too hard as it collapsed in a moment of exhaustion. The other as the grey wolf appeared from a pile directly behind the gnoll and unleashed another bolt. It arced and slammed into the ground where the monk was just a single moment before. There was a growl of dissatisfaction before the armored wolf leaped onto the prone gnoll yet again. Growing more ferocious by the moment. Attempting to lock the prey down while the giant experienced a great moment of weakness. But in its injured state, their claw swipes and bites were slowing, growing easier to avoid and deflect.
It took one single palm strike that knocked the armored wolf senseless for a few moments. Stunning it with a single, devastating strike. As it froze, she began digging her claws into its sternum. Her hand finding its heart as she reached out with her ki. Pulling it from its dying body, she ripped its vital organ free of its still form. Felling a surge of power that centered on the metal armor of the now dead wolf, the gnoll hissed as they heard a wrath filled growl from the distance. Dashing away from the armor, and towards the giant as it slowly stood to its feet, the armor shattered with a deafening boom. Sending shockwaves and shrapnel in every direction for a dozen feet. Barely behind the monk as they escaped its reach and effects.
Taking the few seconds of advantage she had left, the monk threw herself into the side of the behemoth wolf, sticking close to it as the grey wolf left its hiding spot and began to charge after her to intercept and assist their remaining companion. The claws dug into the muscle and flesh, ripping holes that leaked blood like a stream. But in comparison to its size, the amount was trivial. But the impact and sudden leap for a grey wall of fur, was not. The elderly creature appeared in a puff of mist, mid lunge. And tackled the gnoll to the sands below and began to claw and bite into them.
From the tip of claw and fang came arcs of lightning that leaped from and into the monk as they lay prone under the large wolf. Struggling to hold back the claws that tried to sink through her sternum. And having the massive jaw bite down on their shoulder. Sending shudders of thunder and pain through the gnoll that made their teeth clack together. The giant finally came around enough to turn and lumber towards its leader and opponent but were unable to aid in crushing the pest for fear of crushing the grey wolf as well.
Siezing a moment as the grey wolf tried to growl something to the wolf, the monk manages to throw the wolf off and roll to their feet. With a flurry of blow, the gnoll dug its claws into the giant’s forelegs, ripping muscle and flesh in a series of strikes that left glimpses of reddened bone exposed. Only to have their dance of claws interrupted by a claw rake across their back that left a trail of sparking arcs through the air. Sending a series of spasms and jerks through the gnoll that limited their abilities partly. But she was still barely able to dodge the falling paw of the giant as it tried to slam her away like a rag doll.
As her body overcame the shocking strike, she let out a low growl before leaping up, using her claws to bring her higher and racking up the giant’s chest and neck. Scoring a massive cut along the throat wrenched a howl of pain from the bellows of the wolf’s lungs. It tried to swat the gnoll away like a flee, but only succeeded in preventing their leader from landing strikes to draw the pest free and back to the earth again.
With another set of ferocious raking, the gnoll was finally knocked free, falling to the earth again and immediately met with the same shocking scratch that racked their body with spasms. Interrupting her attempt to parry or redirect the jaw that transferred even more lightning into their veins before the wolf pulled away and allowed the giant to swing the massive paw across and slamming the monk into the earth yet again. The grey wolf growled in sadistic glee seeing their opponent knocked prone yet again. Only to have the gnoll rise yet again on shaky and spasming legs.
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With a steely glare, the gnoll started to smirk and chuckle in the same sadistic way as the wolf. Before the two lunged at each other. The wolf opened its maw with claws extended. But in a masterful display of speed and power, the monk leaped up while pushing the claws to either side and brought their knee up into the skull of the barely scratched wolf. Delivering a strike that stunned him, causing his vision to turn from clear greys to a series of shifting lights.
Leaving the mutt to fall helplessly to the earth, the gnoll kept charging at the giant who let out a cry of anger, seeing their leader stunned and cast aside like dung droppings. And met the approaching flee head on.
Resulting in the giant nearly losing its head along with its life. As the flurry of strikes reached out and cut through a major artery in its neck. And ripped free from its falling and spasming body a chunk of its ki to add it to the gnoll’s dwindling supply. The behemoth stumbled and collapsed to the earth, causing its still dazed leader to bounce nearly half a foot from the sand.
Not wasting a second, the monk dashed towards the wolf as it unsteadily stood on its paws. With a series of devastating strikes, the wolf was thrown across the sand. Skidding to a stop, he opened his maw and released from it a wave of shimmering light. Bracing to leap from the path of lightning again, a bolt that charged and scorched the air did not come, however. The air shimmered and the wolf vanished from its place in a final puff of mist. It had teleported away after turning invisible.
Growling in annoyance, the gnoll stepped away from the massive wolf’s corpse and approached the mostly clear center. Bracing for any attack, the gnoll searched while allowing their ki to flow and close some of her more serious wounds. But they did not have to wait long. As soon as the wolf recognized that they were trying to heal, they began their attacks again.
A bolt of lightning from the shadow of the broken ballista arched out and was evaded with ease by the prepared monk. Who charged without hesitation as the wolf attempted to flee and hide. Just barely, she could follow his speedy dash and attempts to duck under and hide in the piles of dead wolves. And was descended upon with extreme ferocity. The wolf and gnoll could feel it. This was the final engagement. After this melee frenzy, one of them would walk or limp away.
***
Tanny watched as her brother fought with a ferocity and brutality that she knew deep down she could not match. Her specialty was stealth attacks. Popping up or out of a shadow to deliver a strike, slash, or blast that would hopefully kill the target in a single moment. If that failed, they were more than over prepared to escape and fade back into the shadows to hide and escape her opponents. Just as the Great Grey Guardian, as the announcer had dubbed it.
They had claimed it was an intelligent child of Madra who sought new arenas of battle to hone their claws. They had come to the city a month prior and was being used as a private show piece in this arena for the most elite of the city. None of the Pit Kings were permitted to participate or even knew of the creature’s existence until this challenge. And it was the wolf’s first public appearance.
Glora watched the wolf without a word. She had commented on each of the monsters when they appeared, but when the grey wolf exited, she entered a state of silence and pulled out a cigar that produced a cold ember and blue smoke that smelled as if someone found a way to weaponize mint. It stung the lungs and nose in a unique way that led to Spoke using a cantrip to create a draft the kept the smoke spinning around their mother.
The siblings had exchanged multiple glances, and a hypothesis filled their fears. This creature might have once been an opponent of their mother. One who had either been spared or been strong enough to survive a meeting. Not seeking to disrupt her concentration, the siblings passed silent mental messages. Critiques of their brother below, and speculation on the wolf’s origins from the sparse information provided by Polite Prince.
When down below, the two opponents entered an intense melee frenzy. When their mother stood up and withdrew a rolled piece of parchment from her pocket. Opening it, she spoke a phrase in elvish and in a flash of light, no longer occupied the same place she once did. Franticly looking around, they found their mother across the way, standing on the back of the sofa of a surprised and confused Pit Master. There was a rushed, heated discussion as her eyes and one of the Pit King’s eyes were still on the pit below.
Seeing the lips move on her mother and then the minotaur, Tanny read them allowed for her brother.
“If he acceptsss, that can be done. But I will not ssstop the challenge for it. Sssaysss the Pit Master. Mother sssaysss, my ssson will tell him not to kill it.” The two watched as their mother’s eyes shifted up and glared at them sternly from across the nearly 200-foot gap.
Spoke worked franticly to extract a copper wire and quickly send a message to their brother below. Unsure if he would even be able to act upon it, or if it would distract him more.
“Morther says don’t kill it. Do not kill the wolf. If possible.” He spoke quickly and forcefully. The wire glowing and casting its message down below. As the fighting continued, Spoke frowned and spoke his brother’s reply. “If, If he accepts it?”
***
The Great Grey Guardian was once just a storm wolf who ran across the stormy northern planes. A normal wolf who would leave to form his own pack like many of his brothers and sisters did, or to find a mate. As a storm wolf, he had a connection to the elements and storm that few outside the storming planes could match naturally.
This wolf, however, would explore far to the west, traveling across the land of small two legs and into a land of dead and ancient ruins. Only to be put to sleep as he found a new home and mate. To wake up in the labs of two legs who stank of the Pack Mother, but corrupted. Surrounded by green water, he and many other animals would be tested and weeded out. A process of nature artificially expedited.
But to the wolf, and his many “companions,” they suffered greatly, but rather shortly. They had been there for less than a whole moon’s cycle before a group set them free. Only long after each of them had been changed and twisted into something they were never meant to be.
***
The gnoll slapped away the claws and jaws of her opponent, holding their claws at bay in a contest of strength when the voice of her brother echoed in her mind.
“Morther says don’t kill it. Do not kill the wolf. If possible.”
She did not respond at first as she met the straining eyes of her opponent, staring into them as they both pulsed, their hearts beating and pumping blood and strength through them in the contest. In the heat of battle, in the absence of words or language, two warriors could communicate entire books.
The monk could feel the excitement within herself mirrored in the wolf. It was a creature of nature’s brutality. And while it did not usually seek these types of battles, he knew this type of struggle was the only thing that could push them to new heights, or the final cliff. This monster was old, around twice the age of the gnoll. It wanted to die in search of strength and challenge, rather than the age that creeped in on it. So, she made the decision. And replied to her brother.
“If he accepts it.”
She was pushed back, knocked to the side where the wolf tried to leap onto and sink their fangs into her arm. Only to be grabbed and held with maw opened with her two hands. The two began another contest, struggling over and over. But the monk was faster, if not stronger. She could deflect, evade or intercept his claws or maw much easier than he could land a solid blow.
The contest was slowly draining them both as their struggle went long. Nearly two minutes of grappled combat where neither was willing to let up. Until finally, the strength of the beast faltered just enough. And the gnoll pinned it, her claws pressed and sinking into its throat. When their eyes locked. Wide, grey eyes full of age and wisdom, closed in submission and acceptance. He would finally die; he had met his match and better.
Retracting her claws, the gnoll grabbed the throat of the wolf, squeezing it until it went limp with lack of air and blood flow. Before grabbing its scruff and making a dash, pulling the massive monster up a section of the pit. Leaping and running up the wall while using the old metal light posts and even the scrying mounts to drag and toss the wolf into an empty booth before turning and jumping back into the pit.
“Bring on the next. I, hehe, require no potion.” She growled while falling. It had nearly been an hour. And she was going to make it to the end.
Ki pumped through her yet again. Providing another surge of vitality. But no mortal could fight without the feeling of exhaustion creeping in. She was no exception.
“Then, so be it. Bring on the second hour, and its third wave.” The Pit Master called. “Glora and their fighter have delivered mercy upon an opponent. A first for my time as Pit Master in a Blood Drowning. If Dagger lives and survives, his spared wolf will be allowed to live. If they do not, they will be killed, added to the number of corpses below. This battle no longer just holds Dagger’s life and the Glora Clan’s honor at stake. But the life of the Great Grey Guardian!”