POV shady person deep in a mountain

“Just tell me it will survive! I am paying you good money to patch it up enough to fight in the ring!” The haggard human that was kneeling in front of me looked very uncomfortable in his skin, “While I can guarantee its survival and good condition, we have run into a few problems.” This earned him a bit more of my attention, he squirmed like a worm that had been unearthed by a bird.

“No matter what grade, the collars have disintegrated, I can most certainly say that the beast is intelligent. If it is capable of casting and wakes up unrestrained it could prove a great danger to the enterprise.” Never had I heard of any beast that could prevent a slave collar to affect it. The doctor was right, if the beast proved intelligent it could greatly endanger our interests.

“If I may? I have found traces of an old seal that we could use to our advantage, I am not sure who had placed such a work of art but I am sure I can at least partly reactivate it. I must warn however, it is temporary at best, I estimate two weeks until it gives in. ” My personal magus announced his arrival. “Oh, that could help with a beast that is immune to slave collars?” The scrawny man in his robe gave me one of those twisted, thin lipped smiles I so hated. “It would inhibit its higher thoughts, if it cannot be controled with a collar we just have to guide its most primal emotions; We only need a ravaging beast, its instincts should be enough to deliver exactly that.”

“Place your seal then, as long as the beast can fight in the tournament tomorrow I am fine with everything. I have paid too much money to those hunters to lose my investment to some baseless fears. Some high ranking nobles have announced their presence, the fights need to be flawless!” I left the two men to their work, I had more pressing matters to attend, a tournament of this size attracted plenty of challengers to the pits. And with their blood would come the riches that those in power so liked to throw around them in their petty conflicts.

This time would turn out especially profitable, many merchants had paid to broadcast the fights across the lands with magical means.

POV Gale

“Welcome ladies and gentleman, to the PIT!” Deafening cheering echoed through the brightly illuminated stadium that had been carved from an underground cave. “Today we have some attractions for you, monsters and beasts from far and wide! Will our brave challengers win glory and riches or find their grave between the teeth of the beasts?!”

Another wave cheering thundered through the stadium, the announcer did a great job of riling up the masses. Never would I have imagined to find such a place in the hollow mountain mother had led us too. With unwavering conviction she had proclaimed “She is here!”, the guards had not given us any trouble after father had announced he was a challenger.

Like that we were led to the waiting area in the common ranks of an arena that had been carved from solid rock. Thick metal bars crisscrossed over the open pit, deep claw-marks and remains of blood on the walls told of past battles.

Generously placed magical lamps bathed every last corner in their unwavering light. The announcer was suspended over the pit by metal chains his magically enhanced voice thundering through the arena.

“As appetizer, we should feed the CHAMPION!” Once again the arena erupted in cheers. On one side of the pit a gate was opened, humanoids from diffrent races were herded inside the pit as guards with long pikes forced them into the spotlight.

The gate closed behind them. “But we should give those poor sods a chance what do you SAY?!”

Cheers boomed through the cave as a pile of short swords was dumped into the pit. The humanoids scrambled over each other to reach the weapons while the crowd ridiculed their plight. There were even less swords than humanoids which caused the weaker ones to not get one at all.

“Let us all greet the CHAMPION!” Painfully slow the gate on the opposite side lifted upwards, small clouds of rust came off as metal gears gripped into each other. Deep rumbling breaths could be heard, the red eyes glowing in the darkness were the first to tell of the beasts approach.

The triangular head covered in black scales was the first to appear, small clouds puffed from the flaring nostrils as the predator leisurely took in the scene in front of it. Small trails of drool began to leak out between the teeth as it identified the presence of an easy meal. Supported by six legs the massive body heaved itself into the open.

The light began to refract in the countless blade-like growths on its back, the thick tail dashing around in swift motions. Anyone that had thought of the beast as slow was deeply shocked as it dashed from one second to the next. In the blink of an eye two lives had been lost in the pit. A deep content rumble came from the beast as it proceeded to devour all the remaining victims, a male of obvious beast heritage was the longest to survive.

But the struggled was futile in the end, the swords they had been given were even unable to penetrate the inside of its mouth. Under the grand cheers of the crowd more spikes began to grow from the beast's back equal to the number of swords it had consumed.

“Ladies and gentleman the champion, the mighty ! For those new to this pit I will once again explain the rules. The arena houses five great beasts that can be challenged, each contender can demand to fight against one beast per day! If you bring your own beast to the pit you can challenge another owner to a battle of beasts for one of the five seats that control the pits! If your beast is victorious you will take his seat and the rankings will shift accordingly!”

“Without further ado do we have a CHALLENGER?” To the announcers challenge a man in silver armor rose from his seat. “I, Ulfar challenge the number four!” Cheers once again erupted in the cave.

Hidden under the sand of the pit had been another gate which now rose in preparation of the battle bisecting the pit in two equal halves. Shortly after the man called Ulfar entered through one of the gates. From the other side appeared a giant wolf with two heads, mottled brown fur covered its entire form.

“Ladies and gentleman, Ulfar has challenged the to a duel! Which conditions are gonna be placed on the ring this time? A gentleman has offered the mighty warrior cover!”

As if on command pillars and obstacles began to rise from the sand.

“The vote has been decided! Ten minute time-match with obstacles, our mighty warrior has to survive ten minutes, kill the beast or snatch both of the orbs attached to the collars of the beast!”

After a short pause for dramatic effect the announcer inhaled.

“LET THE FIGHT BEGIN!” His words had barely stopped echoing in the room as the gate that kept the fighters from each other fell back into the floor.

Carefully the began circling Ulfar, both deeply concentrated on the opponents movements. Ulfar was the first to budge, the wolf instantly took the opportunity to charge at him. Only a roll made the snapping teeth of the left head barely miss the warriors head. After the small exchange they began to circle each other again, the wolf began his offensive. Once again the knight managed to avoid.

The crowd began to cheer as he raised his arm in the sky, one of the orbs firmly gripped in his hand.

“The contender has acquired one of the balls, will he get the second one or end as a meal?”

Once again the wolf charged, this time Ulfar once again attempted to evade but he had made his calculations without the second head! Distracted by the assault of the left head, the right one had managed to get a hold of the mans leg.

A sickening crunch was heard as the armor offered no resistance to the bite of the mighty predator. The arena became a bloodbath as the honored its name and decorated the pit with remains of entrails and silver pieces of armor.

“The contender has found an early grave! Might his soul rejoice to have died in honorable battle!”

The wolf was led back into the hole he had appeared from, as the gate had closed slaves appeared from hidden doors to clean the pit roughly from any pieces of Ulfar that were left behind.

“Now we have something SPECIAL, seat one has been challenged! Yandour has returned with a new beast to reclaim his lost seat! Will Sazaeda once again defeat him or will he return to his old position? Ladies and gentleman a battle of beasts has been demanded!”

A commotion instantly broke out as the man in question appeared on the podium. “Hello Sazaeda I have come to reclaim what is mine! I demand a death battle!”

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The woman on the throne like chair in the upper ranks did not even react to his challenge. After a brief moment she gave a barely noticeable hand-sign.

“A battle of beasts til death! Prepare yourselves for a clash of titans!”

Once again the gate rose to bisect the pit. Both gates leading into the pit began to rattle open.

“On the left side we have our CHAMPION, the undefeated since his first appearance it has firmly carried the title of champion!”

The crowd showered the beast with applause as it heaved its body into the pit.

“And on the right side we have the challenger, an ! No further information are known, this battle is bound to become interesting!”

Long spears herded the Imoogi into the ring, immediately my breath got stuck in my throat. Only the firm grip my mother had placed on my leg prevented me to yell her name. Kai was alive!

Searching for joy on mothers face I only found deep worry, my eyes darted back to the furry form I had become so used to. Then it struck me, the eyes normally filled with a hint of sadness and intelligence were only home to feral anger as the cornered beast eyed its surroundings!

The beast bared its teeth against the drake, deep down I knew, that was not my sister but pure instinct unleashed.

Once again the announcer raised his voice.”As a battle of strength no additional conditions are allowed, the battle ends once one beast is dead! Let the battle BEGIN!”

The gate rumbled downwards, the metal had barely disappeared as the drake charged. Intent on ending the fight quickly is massive maw aimed for the Imoogi's neck. With a thundering snap the charge was deflected, a thin line of blood dripping from its wounded face the drake shook its head.

Now the drake had the full attention from the Imoogi, a few droplets of blood still rained from its dangerously raised tail as it slowly swung from side to side. Its eyes slowly contracted, the drake began to reevaluate its opponent, instead of a fast ending it had received a small but annoying wound. Claws digging into the sand it deeply growled at the impudent challenger.

Answering the lashing tail with its own, a flurry of attacks was exchanged, slowly but surely the more massive and larger tail began to overpower the thinner but longer appendage of the Imoogi. Droplets of blood rained into the lower ranks as the tails met again and again.

In the blink of an eye both beasts had separated again, while stronger in a direct confrontation the spikes and barbs on the Imoogi's tail had inflicted countless smaller wounds to the black tail.

Unwilling to risk more in a direct clash the drake's chest began to swell, its open maw released some smoke before a ball of flame took shape. Like a bullet it launched towards the Imoogi, nimbly it avoided the incoming fire. Resorting to quantity over quality small bursts of flame followed the larger ball, the Imoogi reacted by darting around the pit to avoid the constant stream of projectiles. Conserving its own strength the drake began to pressure the Imoogi even further, the frequency of fire increased. Again and again a ball of flame found its target, the smell of burnt fur filled the pit.

Blinded by the smoke released by its own attacks a green ball passed through the barrage and impacted at the base of the drake's raised tail. A few long seconds the drake did not even notice the green jelly that had clung to its back. Those close to the fight however could see as the scales began to disintegrate, when the acid finally burrowed into living flesh the drake roared in pain.

Unable to deal with the offending jelly and the Imoogi at the same time the drake turned its own flames against the jelly. The acid evaporated instantly under the barrage of concentrated fire-breath. Unable to defend against its own breath the wound was cauterized, the bleeding staunched.

But the short moment of distraction cost the drake one of its front legs, like lightning the Imoogi had used the short opening to latch onto the exposed leg. The crowd gasped as the limb reappeared in the Imoogi's maw. Like a bird swallowing a fish the leg disappeared never to be seen again down the beast's throat.

While limbs and wounds could be healed flawlessly in this world it had served to throughout enrage the drake. Overconfident for having taken the drake's leg the Imoogi underestimated the charge of the drake. Its massive maw closed around the Imoogi's neck. Retaliating, the entire length of the Imoogi tangled around the drake encasing its body in a deadlock of muscles.

Everyone expected the neck to snap, for the Imoogi to go limp but its spine held! The drake's teeth were penetrating into the scales but failed to end the Imoogi's life. Muscles bulged pointlessly as the teeth began losing their confrontation against the vertebrae and ribs. Cracking sounds filled the pit as the body of the drake began to twist in unnatural angles. Its trademark the razor spikes failed to penetrate the thick fur.

A last twitch ran through the drake as its rib-cage gave in. Both beasts separated again, the Imoogi roared its victory to the world which ended quite hoarse due to its wounded neck.

The Imoogi shocked the audience once again as it devoured the carcass in one go. The bag of crushed bones offered close to zero resistance as it disappeared down the long neck. The Imoogi only bloated shortly as it began visibly contracting again. Not a soul dared to disrupt the silence as everyone was shackled to the scene that played in front of them.

Ripples ran through the body as it began to change and warp. Wounds closed, fur regrew as its body began to transform. The fur on its entire back from head to the tip of the tail turned into a sea of blades that would have made the die of jealousy. Its original barbs evolved into a triple-layered column of death crowned by a singular blade growing from the head like a third horn.

In the end its whole body became more massive, shedding its snake heritage a third set of limbs erupted from its chest to support its increased mass. Then it was over, no one knew how much time had passed but everyone had been captivated by the scenes of pure power before their very eyes.

The commentator was the first to regain his ability of speech. “The Imoogi has won! Yandour is victorious! Greet our old and new first seat!”

The very foundation of the mountain shook as the pit bore witness to unrestrained applause. The approaching guards had little to no trouble to herd the surviving beast back to the deeps due to food induced lethargy.

“That was Kai, but I am very certain that she has been messed with, I have seen her feral side but that was something entirely different.” Ignalis voice brought us back to reality.

“Then the trace of Mana that I had sensed on my daughter may be related to her unusual behavior. Could an enchantment induce a feral state or was it caused by the explosion?”

“After devouring that drake all her conditions and wounds should have been healed, since she has not returned to her senses it should be something else. I would bet on a seal.” The conversation between our parents became quite fast paced as they switched to private.

Ere and I could only watch as they discussed between themselves. A single nod from father signaled they had reached an agreement. “The cause of this should be a seal, one of us with good Mana control has to get close enough. That means only Gale or me can try our luck.”

“The last time she was in that state she tried to bite me before she regained her senses, you have to be careful her jaws have become a tiny bit more dangerous since back then.”

“I will do it! Don't try to change my mind. My proposal to head for the pass has dragged us into this mess, had we taken Kai's suggestion to cross the mountains we would not be fighting for our survival here.” Mother smiled gently to my outburst, “Don't try to shoulder the burden alone, we are a family and we will get her back!” she whispered softly.

“We should prepare for tomorrow, the rules say that a challenged beast cannot fight twice a day. So she will be safe until tomorrow, then we can issue a challenge and get close enough to get rid of that seal or whatever is reducing big sister Kai to THIS.” The usually so silent Ere had brought up a valid point, to rest and prepare we took a room in the inn that was provided free of charge for all challengers.

Tomorrow I would have to face my own sister in a death battle, I was not sure what to feel besides uneasiness.

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dear god i am tired, 19 is up i am gonna head to bed, will deal with errors when i am awake again

chapter 19 done - enjoy

MfG : Dr_Dac