Hawk awakes in a hidden chamber, the pain from his chest still rings but not enough to cause a groan. It was only a rested days for there were no injuries marked on his, only far worse than a physical wound.
"Headmaster!" Cried one of his members.
"Where are we."
"We're at Ariendal’s secret chamber. It was master Tosh who order us."
"And him?" Hawk says, staring at the person, waiting for his report.
The man shakes his head. "I'm very sorry."
Hawk clench his fist so as his teeth, after minutes of him to vent his anger in silent, he then spoke. "How are the others?"
"Only 20 of us survived from the onslaught thanks to you and master Tosh."
"I would like to speak with Ariendal and find out who are the people behind this."
"Sh-Should we first inform to the other headquarters?"
"It's better not to since we still don't know who the enemies that attacked us."
"You mean?"
"I'm not certain but, I'm certain there's a traitor among us."
From where the traveler was...
"Move it, people!" The guard shouts, lashing the miners that consist of slaves and prisoners who are too sluggish to work.
Like worker ants there were, dying at every corner. Brutally oppressed by the guards, it was a hell place to be. From there on, Akatosh was tasked with putting the timbers on the newly tunneled mines. For days he called for his partner's presence but, still to no avail.
Two weeks passed when suddenly Tosh called to him his other self.
"Damn just what happened to you two."
"Where's--"
"He's safe if it wasn't for me, he would have been purged into nothing. But don't worry his resting in my care."
"You seem to be enjoying this."
"Oh, quite yes indeed. I would like to continue this conversation for a very good time but, your guardian angel is very greedy."
After hearing Tosh's word, Akatosh was quite relieved. Following a night's rest, he decided to escape this place. He knew that without his partner's knowledge and power, he was but a magot crawling through the darkness. Now an independent man he continues, waiting for clues and gathering intel from this place... until such time.
"Oi stupid!" One of his members in repairing the timber called to him.
Akatosh ignores his call and indulged in his work, carrying timbers and hammering them to the newly tunneled. The man that was calling his name was bald and seems to be the boss to their group. And the reason for him being aggressive towards Akatosh was from their last work that caused major injuries to the three of their members due to lack of manpower. For that, the man blamed him since the last man he constantly abuse was dead.
It was a silver mine owned by a powerful noble at Endregar close to a coliseum where prisoners would be freed from that place only to be eaten by monsters and butchered by gladiators.
Sometimes Akatosh would constantly get beaten by the guards for putting up a fight. Not just the guard but some prisoners who like to start a fight.
From there on, he constantly watches his back, and whenever riots would erupt unable for the guards to control the fight. That's when the collars take its turn, with just a few spells from the person who was in charge with the collars sends the men into a groaning pain. Electricity would surge only the part of their head, distorting their brains and systems.
However, for every prisoner, there's only one man whom they always avoid. It was a rumored fallen knight but also their one and only healer. He wasn't just an ordinary man; he was a man with a great body. Even in the quadragenarian age, there's still a great surge of energy for a fallen knight.
While keeping in silence, he learns that the fallen knight has his room to sleep and write as he pleases whenever they would rest. unlike Akatosh and the rest who only slept in a raged cloth. And within two months of living in mines, few of his members began to set their eyes on him till that one evening when a bonus food was given to them directly by the temple's gratitude and mercy.
While silently enjoying his meal, a set of meat, a slice of bread, and a sweet porridge. That's when he saw the bald person together with his two people straightly going through his direction.
As the fallen knight notice them, he saw Akatosh hiddenly snap his spoon. And just like that, the three slowly make an entrance, playing and putting dirt at his food till Akatosh was fed up and quickly skewered his opponent's neck right when the man challenged him.
His two men react quickly and dash in to put a fist in his face. But with years of experience, when the man grabbed his waste ready for a takedown. Akatosh with burning anger savagely elbows his opponent's nape. In just four hits, the man was on the ground... dead.
Now a one-on-one battle, the prisoners quickly make a ground for them to fight. And this time, he wanted to slowly beat him to death, as both filled with anger, they charge at each other. But for Akatosh, he quickly tackles his opponent mid-air and begins mauling his face.
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While enjoyingly smashing his opponent's life. One of the members of the temple who were giving food to the prisoners called to the guards.
"Son of a whore!" The man shouts, clubbing Akatosh's back which he quickly moves aside. "Showing a disgrace in time of her grace!" The guard continues, ready to club Akatosh again.
Being fed up with the guards and the bullies, Akatosh sprinkle dust at the guard's eyes. With an opening, he again pinches the guard on the ground and began hammering him with a club.
The viewers went high, cheering and shouting as Akatosh dives his fist at the guard's face. Four more guards came but with Akatosh let loose, he was like a tiger jumping around. Hit and running while he deliberately punches a blow at the guards.
When Akatosh was slowly constrained by the growing numbers of security. Beating him to death, a man came and shout.
"That's enough."
With just a single cast of his hand, the collar erupts and sends the whole prisoners on the ground moaning in pain. Even the fallen knight was on his knees apprehending the pain.
As for the traveler, he was the one at death's door. Being mauled by the guards and the collar that adds to his injuries, he was still concussions. It was luck since he protected his head when the beating started. Only his body took the damage.
"Send him to a room." The man says in a sharp tone, pointing towards Akatosh.
"Understood."
"And I see to it that there's no more setback from you to this man... Especially on this day." He implores, eyeing the guards in death's eyes.
"You one lucky punk, if that man hadn't intervened you would be dead by now." The guard spits at him after throwing Akatosh on a cell.
"Or maybe... Since the tournament will be coming in four days. It would be good to send this one."
"That's a great idea I would love to see this shit mauled by those monsters."
While they are laughing, the fallen knight came and convinces the guards to heal Akatosh's injuries.
"Thank you very much." The fallen knight implores, using the holy day of Endregar to persuade the guards.
When arrived he saw Akatosh groaning in pain. Covered in dirt and bruises, lifelessly lying on the ground. It took him half an hour to heal most of his wounds after that he quickly left without saying a single word.
"Bloody hell... what happens to you," Amaragnum says with a humored chuckle, finally coming out after a month.
Three days had passed Akatosh was forced to return to his job. And knowing that he would be thrown tomorrow for the upcoming events. The Guards didn't give him a meal to eat. But They forced him to work for a longer period.
Taking only five hours of sleep, four guards came to his cell and drag him out of his sleep. Hungry and tired, he looks behind to see a dozen prisoners coming with him. Some were being dragged, if not they would be beaten. And the closer they came; they could hear the crowds cheering the champions of the gladiators.
Since the mine was connected to the coliseum. Hundreds of prisoners came to join the view while they offer a path to those who will partake in the tournament.
Facing the large portcullis, and with enough view, he saw that the tournament was just beginning. With the exhibitions coming first, gladiators were introduced one by one. After that, different types of monsters were released from the other side of the gate. Griffins and manticores first roam the sky, circling the coliseum giving anxiety to the crowds.
"Fret not people, for they are well tamed by a powerful Beastmaster." The announcer implores.
After the griffins and manticores, came next are ground monsters. Trolls with sharp claws march out, great orcs and hobgoblins emerge.
"Oh?... but this is not the end of our second stage. For I bring forth, from the depths of woodland Valthamir. Hundreds of people were trampled by its power. It says that it took hundreds of men to capture this beast. Its hide is tough as dwarven steel, powerful like a mammoth. I give to you the Great Valtha boar."
As the gates roll up, immediately a very large dark boar with great tusks dashes out. Intimidating, colossal even in looks it was a monster to avoid.
Dire wolves, wyverns, large scorpions, and even a Delverish. But it wasn't the Delverish that Akatosh had last fought, it was larger and more vicious.
After the exhibition, the first stage was set between the large scorpions, wyverns, and dire wolves.
When he saw the number of monsters set on the stage, he knew that the party they would face wasn't just for the name.
"People of Endregar, let us welcome, 'The Drakecleaver'. Led by a dark elf, a party consists of a minotaur, a mage from Maginum, and a dark paladin."
From the start, the party scrambles and quickly fires their strength. As easy, the minotaur with just a single sweep of its massive battleax sends the dire wolves to death. When the wyverns dive at the party leader, the mage quickly sends magic projectiles. Having their attacks distorted the dark elf maneuvers like a fly avoiding the attack of the wyverns. And just a few cuts of his poison blade in just minutes send the wyverns on the ground unable to fly and move. As for the paladin, he easily dispatches the three large scorpions with his unholy power and weapons.
The crowd roars in thunder, entertained by the blood and skills of the fight, people were eager to see the next stage. However, when a party of seven people with no name to themselves. To shine like the ones who first set the first stage, they were obliterated in just five minutes. At first, they manage to stand their ground killing a few wolves and trolls. However, when the manticore snatches their leader's head who was the one organizing their movements. The part fell into despair, fear struck, and little by little, when they saw their members being mutilated by the hands, and mouths of the monsters they were annihilated.
The crowds fell silent as they saw the monsters feeding the carcasses.
After a while when the ground was cleared for the third fight to come. The prisoners who watched the brutality succumbed to despair. Some are shaking their legs; few were on their knees praying for their gods. While Akatosh was left standing still reminiscing what had happened. His hunger and fatigue were quickly replaced by the adrenaline of fear and hope.
The third fight came, and with a good balance of six-party members with calm determination, they were able to overcome their opponents. Sticking together, they corner themselves on the wall for them not to be surrounded. And with good thinking, the mage was at the back overseeing his companions while they protect her. As they set their position, the mage quickly cast magic armors and blessings to her companions.
Using shields and pole weapons, they slowly decrease the number of their enemies. Leaving only the two griffins to attack while the party patiently remains their position. And when the first griffin dives the mage quickly cast fireball not enough to kill, but enough to distort its maneuvers. And when it loses its flight, her companions send spears and projectiles. Skewered at every part of its body the griffin had no choice but to land on the ground. With enough power, they quickly send their attack towards the manned griffin. Poisoned blades and magic send the two griffins dead. With their victory, the party suffers a major injury. One of their members died while three more were left wounded.
Again, the crowds rejoice, but it was different for they follow a condolent for their fallen party members.
"Now people, before we go on the other round. Let us first give you all a break." When the announcer implores, from where Akatosh was, the large portcullis slowly lifts. "Thus... let us enjoy this first. Coming from the mines, you know them."
When Akatosh set out, the crowds quickly shout in disapproval. Not only their disgraceful voice, but the people also began to throw rocks at the prisoners.
"Yes...!!! These are the prisoners, people that are a shame to our kingdom. Murderers, bandits, rapists, heretics to our gods, and so forth. But on this day, they shall see what truly is a monster to them. I give you all, Great Valtha boar!"
"Oh fuck."