Four.

That is how many days I've been here. Just three left. Because being wounded wouldn't let me be, 'entertaining' enough, I'd had a shifty man tap me with a stick and fix my injuries. It felt good, not having to hunch over every time I needed to move. I'd breezed through the flaming bull, the Light Lion, and even a Wind Leopard. When surrounded by my prayers, things like strength, speed, and stamina, became less important than skill.

And that is when I killed each and every one of them.

A man of god should not take pleasure in the killing of any creature, even monsters, but...it could be argued that monsters are the enemy of god, and thus I should take joy in their destruction.

My 'handler' Ren, came by and attached a rope to my hands and led me out. After I'd ripped off my cell door because the warden attempted to mock me, and then proceeded to forgive him when he groveled on the ground, I had stated, in no uncertain terms, that I was here voluntarily.

I also told them that they had six chances left to kill me, and that if they failed...dire consequences would be incurred. The same consequences would occur if they attempted to kill me in my sleep, attack with blunt force, or basically do anything besides lock me in a large box with a vicious animal.

So, these past four days, I'd been tied-up, drugged, and in a memorable fight with a leopard, weighed down by a hundred pounds of beef-armor. The joke was on them, however. I'd distracted the leopard by letting it chew on my left arm, then snapped its' neck with my legs.

I wonder what they'll do this time?

Ren led me up to a long length of wood, about fifteen feet long, with a cross-section of about half that. Ren had me lay down on top of it, and began to tie my arms and legs down. While doing so, Ren spoke absently.

"This is apparently the method of execution for criminals in the empire far to the west. One of those other religions also recognizes it as a religious symbol, but they're a bunch of crazies. Today, it will be another attempt to off you." While saying so, Ren took out a knife, and made thin slices in each of the ropes. Enough that I could break them with some force. I raised an eyebrow.

"Come now, Ren. Why trouble yourself over this? If you were discovered doing this, you would likely be thrown in with me. Perhaps you'd like that...?"

Ren ignored me and placed the dagger, now sheathed, behind the small of my back, pressed by my body into the cross. Then Ren whistled, and six burly men came forward and hefted cross, dagger, and me, all at once. I yelled over my shoulder to Ren, "...Take care of yourself. Reality chews up kids like you into bits."

Ren said nothing, and his face was covered by shadow as the gates opened.

From every corner of the arena, humans, beasts, and everything inbetween, howled for blood.

"Al-PHA! AL-PHA! Al-PHA!"

I chuckled a little at this, as the six men carried me to the middle of the arena and began to set up the cross. Alpha was the nickname the crowd had given me after I'd made the wolf-horse-dog-thing(which I was later informed was named a 'Hell-Hound.' Honestly, so unimaginative...) beg for mercy.

It'd be flattering in any other situation, but considering that half of the people yelling were hoping to see me ripped into tiny bits, I felt it would be presumptuous to take the nickname as a compliment.

They were comparing me to a dog, after all.

The opposite gate opened up, and I wondered what it'd be this time. Maybe a griffon? But, a creature like that could probably destroy the barrier protecting the crowd, so that's a no-go. I wonder...

A shape-no, shapes-came into view. Around thirty of them. All were slightly shorter than your average man, wearing nothing, holding swords, spears, bows, and shields, and was completely covered in white fur. Long ears were tied up in a tail behind the head of each one, and the red-eyes and inch-long fangs confirmed their identity.

Ah, hell. It's a tribe of Rabbid. Yet another imaginative name, but I approved of the choice of words. If I had to describe the Rabbid by any other word than 'bloodthirsty' it would be rabid.

I guess I'll have to kill them all, huh?

The owner of the arena was yelling something, but I just looked up toward the heavens.

"Forgive me, god. I know exactly what I'm going to do, and I will show no mercy."

I flexed my arms, legs, core, and curved my back. With a snap, the sabotaged ropes came loose. As I fell the couple feet to the ground, I took the knife behind my back and concealed it in the ragged bags they had given me for clothing. I then turned back to the cross and bowed my head, clasping my hands together.

"God whom I love and fear above all else, bless your unworthy follower with the [color=#3333ff]strength [/color]to carry your burdens."

I then ripped the cross from the ground, swung it around myself in a full circle, and then released it in the direction of the Rabbid.

Half got out of the way. The other half became very colorful blotches on the wall.

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I ran towards the right-group, as they were divided in two. Pulling the knife out from concealment, I deftly sidestepped a spear thrust and plunged the dagger hard, and deep, into the Rabbids' throat. Catching the spear as it fell from its' now-senseless hands, I casually spin it behind my back and around my neck, familiarizing myself with the weight.

A good spear. Something a knight would never say. Knightly weaponry was comprised of maces, swords, hammers, and very rarely, a halberd. knights don't use spears.

But then, even before my expulsion from the order, I had never really been much of a knight.

Swords were just so limiting-slash, stab-that's it. But a spear...

I moved forward, towards the seven Rabbid that were nearest me. I batted a sword out of the way, then impaled the owner through the mouth and out the back. I spun, using the momentum to rip the point out of its' head, and used the butt of the spear to wind a yelling Rabbid, its' sword raised above its' head. Twirling the spear to the right, I use the side of the tip to slash out the winded Rabbids' throat.

The Rabbid wore no armor because, quite conversely from their lust for blood, they're vegetarian, and abhor wearing the skin of other animals. They have also never advanced enough to mine the earth, so any metal they got was from foreging, and it was rare that any armor made for the other races fit the Rabbid.

The remaining four halted their head-long charge, and tried to group together-

I lunged forward, gutting the one on the right with a horizontal sweep, knocking away the lefts' panicked spear-thrust, then grabbing the spear in both hands, and driving it through the left ones' torso. As I let its' body-weight drag it clear of my shaft, I caught its' falling spear and held it in reverse. Behind me, I could hear the other seven closing in on me. I'd better finish this now-or I'd be faced with foes from in front and behind.

I lifted the reverse-gripped spear, and shot my arm forward in an over-head throw. It went in through the eye, and out the temple. Rushing forward while the downed Rabbid squealed in pain, I give my spear a quick twirl. The remaining Rabbids' eyes flick toward the motion, and before it can regain focus, I've raised the spear so that it's tip is pointing down, and jumped in the air. I enter through the collar, down through the ribs, displacing guts, and out the pelvis. The impaled Rabbid twitched and convulsed, then fell still.

Though, it didn't fall over, since it had something holding it up.

I step over to the spear I'd thrown, pick it up, and step on the head while pulling the spear out. The seven Rabbid eye me warily, and begin to move in a surround-

If one of them gets behind me, I'll be injured. If I'm injured, I'll die. I had learned from my encounter with the foolish street gangs-

Although waiting for your opponent to make the first move was honorable, making the first move could more efficiently solve problems.

Between honor and efficiency, in this case, I favor doing things quickly.

I yelled and charged, praying.

"God, Lord of Justice, grant me the speed to fulfill thine will."

I stab one, two, three, four throats, before the prayer wears off. I rip my spear from the throat of the fourth, and step out of range of the blood fountain.

Three were left. One had a large pack on its' back, but it didn't seem to have any weapons concealed within. Stepping forward, I feint an overhead thrust to the one on the right, parry the lefts' attack, then slam half the length down the rights' throat. I snap the spear with its' body weight, then take the jagged wood in my right hand, hold the lefts' left hand with my left, and plunge the three-feet of wood through the stomach, in between the organs, and into the heart, and out the shoulder. As left falls, I grab its' sword, and turn to the last, and final Rabbid.

It holds a bow, and trembles as it raises it. I step forward, cut the bow in half, then kick and break both knees. The wounded Rabbid falls and bends over. I raise the sword high, high over my head, and look at the ceiling.

"Oh god of Justice, receive the sinners soul in love."

Then I let gravity lead the blade, and lop off the Rabbids' head. A long stream of red follows. Something falls from the bag, and I reach out a hand and pick it up.

A strangely oval rock, probably volcanic as it was completely black. I quickly stuff it into my shirt, and go to have my hands tied again. They tried to knock me out the first couple times, as it was easier and less risky that way, but after a few injuries, they agreed that letting me do as I wished was best for all involved.

I leave a crowd yelling and screaming my praises, knowing that tomorrow, two thirds will want to see me killed.

Maybe I should make a bet with Ren about how many will want me dead on the last day?

Haha...I would, except I don't have any money. Oh well.

After I've killed off everyone in the building, I'm sure they'll have some loose change.