Why escape? This game was fun.

That was what Barbara thought as she fought her way through one of the many mobs that had formed down some random alley. She didn’t remember her goal of escaping the city or the chaos. Instead she was enjoying the slaughter.

They were weak compared to her. Mere insects to be cut down by her favorite blades. Many of her victims carried lethal scars on their chest or had lost a limb or two. The lucky ones died from the initial attacks as the blade ripped through their flesh. All the while Barbara smiled.

She was laughing as she cleaved some dog man in half before strangling a palace guard who had tried to stop her. What was she scared of again? Oh, look a rabbit, Barbara thought, remembering how much Jackson liked it when she killed those.

She left nothing but carnage in her wake as she continued to rampage. The walls were painted red from her victims and a trail of bodies formed behind her. Her laugher echoed in the streets as another fool fell to her. The only salvation for the capital was she had yet to get a single cut.

“Wow, did she do all this?”

Barbara stopped as she heard her next target speak from behind her. She turned to see a man and woman staring at her. The man was glaring at her while the woman was smiling.

“I think she’s dangerous Annabelle.”

The man spoke softly, hatred taking over his eyes. Barbara readied her blades.

“Dangerous? But she’s so cute.”

Annabelle said with lustful eyes.

“Cute?”

“Yes, cute. She’s adorable. Just like a puppy. I want one. I want one.”

“She murdered dozens.”

“But look how adorable she is. How can you be mad at her. Come on, help me catch her. I want her, I want her.”

“I thought you wanted the princess?”

“Can’t I have both?”

The woman looked confused. Her partner shook his head, holding his face for a moment.

“I can’t say no to you.”

“Yay! Now be a good girl and-”

Annabelle didn’t get to finish her statement as Barbara charged. Their swords clashed, echoing in the narrow alley. The woman blocked Barbara’s attack but slid back several feet from the impact.

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“She’s strong. I think I’m in love. Did you see Charles? Did you-”

Once more Barbara cut her off as she attacked again. This time the woman dodged to the side as Barbara thrusted her blades forwards. She continued the assault, making the woman dance around the alley avoiding several more attacks. Barbara noticed the man preparing a spell. She would not let him finish.

She moved to take his head. Her blade aimed for his neck moving faster then the human eye could see. Yet, the woman managed to move into her path and block the attack. She had been yards away, separated from her partner by Barbara, yet she cleared the distance easily. This took Barbara back for a moment as she readied herself. The man finished his spell.

Barbara was knocked back by the impact of a fireball. It was impressive, charring her skin and burning some of her armor away. She patted out Jackson’s shirt, trying to save it. Her anger boiled over as her vision turned red.

She had one objective, kill that man. She kicked off the ground and dived for him. Once more the woman intercepted, blocking her strike and moved to parry. Barbara withdrew, then tried to dodge passed. Another failure as the woman nearly impaled Barbara’s arm. Barbara knocked the strike to the side before countering.

She was forced to break off her attack as another fireball flew pasted her. She quickly dodged two more before attempting to get close once more. The woman continued to guard, smiling as drool dripped from her mouth. Her eyes were crazed and wide. But Barbara was no better. She was enjoying the challenge. She loved every moment of the fray. From the dodging to the sound of metal striking metal. The scent of blood was driving her forwards. She needed to make them bleed.

Jackson woke with a chill running down his spine. Her felt something in the distance that terrified him. The Berserker. That was the only thing that could make him feel this way. Her could practically see that monster before him. He hadn’t even thought of Barbara until that moment, something he’d scold himself for later. Yet now the horror of her being released on the Beast men capital was taking hold.

She would level this place. No one would survive. Worse, her secret would be out. Every nation would hunt her down. That stupid princess had caused this, Jackson thought. He needed to reach her, to keep her from going out of control. Only he could do it, only he could stop that monster.

Jackson quickly jumped to his feet and down the ladder. He was so focused on Barbara, he failed to notice the attack aimed for him. An arrow struck his armor, getting stuck in the dragon leather. He pulled it out and looked in the direction of the next contestant. His eyes, enhanced by magic, focused on the female beast men hero as she readied another attack.

The alley Barbara was fighting in was crumbling around them. In her frenzy, she had destroyed some of the walls around them. A dust cloud had formed, obscuring the fighters from view. Not that a normal person could track their movements. The woman could easily match Barbara’s speed and was playing defense while her partner continued to assault Barbara with various spells.

Barbara knew she was not winning. They were at a stalemate, and at this rate she wouldn’t be able to enjoy her game anymore. She was handy capped while focusing on her defense. Why did she care if she got hurt? She had armor. She was a living weapon.

She broke from the fray, taking a deep breath. There would be no going back. She knew this fact. Once she bled, she would win. A single cut. Thus she placed her blade just under her neck.

“What are you doing?”

The man asked while the woman screamed in horror.

“No, no, no! You can’t. I don’t want you to die. No!”

The woman moved. Barbara smiled brightly, knowing she was about to win the fight.

Then she stopped as she felt a presence. It was far away but calling her.

Barbara dodged the woman, staring off into the distance. The third was getting ready. The real fight would start soon. Barbara knew that as soon as the sunset, the real game would begin. Only a few more hours she thought as she retreated from the pair, in search of him.