John’s body had been removed from the cage floor. The two men who had accompanied him were receiving medical attention from one of the guards. Crystal had walked over to them and spoken briefly, and they had both looked sheepish as she turned to walk back.
“I do not think we will have any further issues with them.” She said as she retook her seat next to Tabs.
Lars had returned from the cage and sat next to Crystal. He had received praise from many of the raiders, and a few clients had walked up to him and shown their respect for his fighting prowess. Shep had briefly come over and confirmed that the death match was concluded by acceptance of the parties involved, smiling brightly at Lars. “That was an impressive show. If you ever fancy a new gig, please get in touch, Lars.” He said as he turned to go back to the clients.
“That will never happen.” Crystal had said as he moved away. Shep just turned and smiled.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Tabs pulled the stub out of her jacket pocket and handed it to Lars. He shook his head and indicated towards the betting table.
“He cannot collect any winnings. You cannot bet on yourself.” Crystal added.
“Oh.” Tabs replied.
She had only witnessed a couple of raiders walk to the table, the majority expecting that a three-to-one fight was one-sided. She stood and walked over, handing the ticket stub to the man who had taken her bet. The man took her stub and began to count out the winnings. “107 bet 3 to 1 odds, so a return of 428 stacks. Impressive winnings. I would keep those safe if I were you,” he said, handing her a full pouch of stacks.
She hefted the pouch in her hand, never holding the amount that had been in the pouch initially before, never mind now. Four hundred twenty-eight stacks were a fortune, and considering that the group had only made just over that from the captive sales, it would mean that Lars alone could have covered the group's costs for at least an entire season. She walked back to their table and handed the pouch to Lars. “You are rich.” She said as she dropped it into his hand. Lars just shrugged and smiled at her.
“I have never seen so many stacks before.” She said as she sat down.
“Nor me,” Kyto said, unconsciously reaching into his pocket and counting the few that they owned between them.
“What will you spend it on,” Kyto asked Lars.
Lars just looked at him again, shrugging and pulling a face that Kyto read as meaning nothing.
Crystal watched the conversation, and Lars looked at her and made a few hand signals. She burst out laughing.
“What?” Kyto asked.
“He just said that he may buy a new pillow.” She said.
“Pillow? He could buy half a town with that many stacks.” He replied.
“Lars has everything that he needs. We do not really have luxuries moving around all the time.”
“If Lars does not need it, I am sure that we could spend it for him.” Tabs said, grinning at him.
Lars chuckled.
The fights continued, and as each bout concluded, Kyto started feeling resigned that the venom had not worked.
“TJ’s fight is four from now, " Tabs said, reading the list written on a board by the cage. There had been eighteen scheduled fights, with John's nineteenth fight being a bonus.
“He will probably be down soon. I know he has been working on something for his rematch this time, but he has kept it a secret, not sharing any details.” Crystal said.
The fights continued, and the raucous crowds screamed and hollered at the outcomes. The pit was buzzing with excitement as there was only one fight now, and Kilo had stood and started to stretch off. He was wearing what could only be called typical raider gear. A leather jacket and bottoms with boots. The only part of him that was uncovered was his face and hands. He was an absolute giant of a man, not height-wise, but his muscular frame bulged as though the material that covered him may burst.
The door to the pit opened, and Kyto glanced over, recognising TJ as he entered the bar. He was draped in a cloak which covered him from head to toe, with only his face visible. He slowly walked over to where they sat at the table, the heavy veil shrouding his appearance.
“You ready?” Crystal asked.
“Yeah, all set.” He said with a wicked smile on his face. “I heard what happened, Lars. Great job.” TJ added, turning to the tall man. Lars nodded in acknowledgement.
The current fight concluded with the unconscious form of the losing fighter being carried from the cage.
“Ok, ladies and gentlemen.” Came Shep’s booming voice, silencing the crowd. “It is now time for tonight’s prize fight. You all know the score by now. Kilo, the leader of the Falcons, is leading TJ, the second of the Blood Fangs, from 8 to 7. Final bets will close in 5 minutes, ladies and gentlemen. Kilo, TJ, if you can make your way to the cage.”
“Here we go,” TJ said as he turned and walked to the cage. TJ was not small, but as Kilo met up with him approaching the cage, the size difference between the two men was ridiculously apparent. Kilo was almost twice his size. They were chatting as they walked to the cage, laughing and sharing a joke.
They entered the cage, taking their sides. TJ was still draped in his heavy cloak.
Kilo continued to do some stretches once he entered the cage. He had drawn two wicked-looking blades from his belt, spinning them easily in his massive hands. He was dual-wielding, looking at the practice stance he took and the actions he went through. TJ just stood still, not doing anything.
“What is he up to?” Crystal said with a frown on her face.
Lars shrugged, and Kyto and Tabs looked on with apprehension.
Shep's voice again cut over the din. “Ok, bets are closed, and we now hand over to our referee.”
The man overseeing all the fights stepped in between TJ and Kilo, speaking to them both. They did not shake hands and then backed to their sides of the cage. It was then that TJ removed his cloak. Many in the audience gasped at what they saw.
TJ wore an everyday Raiders outfit jacket, trousers, and boots, but every inch of it was covered in sharp spikes. He looked like a pin cushion.
Crystal had just taken a drink of her nectar and spat it out, guffawing at TJ.
Kilo’s eyebrows rose in shock at his appearance, and TJ just smiled at him as he pulled two blades to accompany his outfit.
The referee dropped his arm for the fight to begin.
Kyto’s display triggered.
Jacob has ingested the venom paralysis inflicted.
He read the display, and his stomach jumped in excitement and nervousness. He looked around the room but could not see anything unusual. There were several exceedingly drunk raiders and even a couple of the clients who seemed to have been overcome due to excessive nectar consumption or stim use, and he could not tell who or if any had been affected.
He grasped Tabs' arm, who was staring at the cage. “What?” she asked.
“I just received a message about the venom.” He whispered.
Her eyebrows raised, and she leaned over to Crystal, whispering. Crystal turned and glanced at Kyto with wider eyes. Kyto shrugged in response, not wanting to say anything across the table. Her eyes also started to dart around the room.
Karl has ingested the venom paralysis inflicted.
Kyto caught Tabs and Crystal's gaze and showed two fingers.
The crowd was cheering and shouting at the fight, and Lars intently watched. Kilo was keeping his distance from TJ for obvious reasons. If TJ got into a grappling range, the fight would be concluded due to the spikes covering his body. They were wickedly sharp, and TJ lunged towards him, not concerned about receiving a hit from Kilo. Watching a man the size of Kilo dancing around the cage, trying to stay away from TJ, was comical. TJ dropped his arms to his sides, holding his knives, and ran at him. Kilo turned and fled, running in circles around the cage. TJ was laughing hysterically as he chased him and kept stopping, allowing Kilo to catch his breath again before he would run at him again. Kilo was not agile, and he was clearly suffering and tiring rapidly.
The crowd were in hysterics watching the comedy unfold, eventually after about 10 minutes of TJ chasing Kilo. Kilo stopped putting his hand out towards TJ and bent forward, placing his other hand on his knee. He was gasping for air. He dropped the knife in his hand and held it out towards him. TJ stabbed quickly with his knife, pricking the thumb of the giant’s hand. The crowd erupted in cheers and shouts, some screaming cheat, others laughing so hard they were struggling for air. The referee walked into the centre, carefully indicating to the blade-covered TJ and raising his arm in victory. TJ unzipped his spiked jacket and shrugged it off his shoulders before walking to Kilo.
He grinned and reached out, shaking Kilo’s hand. The big man's face turned red, and he struggled to compose himself. TJ climbed out of the cage and walked over to the table.
“You crafty bastard. That is going beyond the rules for a blood fight,” Crystal said as he came over.
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TJ just smiled at her. “I told you I was going to get it back even tonight, and I bet next time we meet, the rules will have been changed,” he said, laughing.
Kilo eventually regained his composure and, leaving the cage, walked over to TJ. TJ turned to meet him. Kilo had a smile on his face and clapped one of his huge hands on his shoulder. “Well done, brother; I was not expecting that.”
TJ laughed at Kilo, putting his hand on his shoulder. “I said I was going to win this time.”
“Yes, you did, although I am sure we may need to change the rules next time,” Kilo stated.
“Next time is next time. For now, we are even again.” TJ replied.
Lars stood, handing both men a nectar. They took the drinks and clinked glasses before downing them. “I need to change; I can’t sit down in these things,” TJ indicated at his trousers.
“Sure, we will still be here,” Crystal said.
Logan has ingested the venom paralysis inflicted.
Greta has ingested the venom paralysis inflicted.
Henry has ingested the venom paralysis inflicted.
As TJ walked to leave the bar, Kyto turned to Tabs and Crystal and said, “That is five now.”
They both gave him a knowing look and scanned the bar again.
They sat quietly, observing the room as Kyto’s display sporadically triggered. Lars frowned and looked at Crystal. She noticed his gaze and said, “Just watch.” He continued to frown and began to look around the bar.
There were probably three hundred people in the bar area, including clients, raiders, and guards, and now that the cage fighting had finished, the gaming tables were crowded. A young girl carrying a tray towards a client's table suddenly stopped and fell forward. The tray she held clattered to the floor, spilling the drinks of nectar she had been carrying. She lay unmoving where she landed. One of the clients got up and went over to her, bending down at her side. He poked her violently to no response, turning and saying something to his colleagues.
Kyto’s display continued to flare, and he had lost count of the number of messages he had now received until another message flashed up in his display.
Congratulations, your skill in Toxicology has increased to level 2 after successfully poisoning fifty targets. You now have a greater understanding of the duration of a poison's effects.
Karl has ingested the venom paralysis inflicted, duration of effect 2-4 hours.
Kyto excitedly ushered to Crystal and Tabs. “Two to four hours.” He stated.
“How do you know?” Tabs stated.
“Skill levelled.” He replied, smiling.
“Damn,” Crystal replied.
As more succumbed to the effects of the venom, uncertainty and panic started to spill into the bar. The time the poison had taken to affect people was different and was down to the individual metabolism and ingestion rate. From initial observations, the smaller framed and more active people were being impacted first after a second serving slave had collapsed.
Gradually, more started to drop somewhere they stood, and others staggered towards seats before falling. All around them, people began to drop like flies. There were still many conscious and shouting and arguing between those who were. They heard someone shouting that they had been poisoned, and a fight erupted off to their left between two of the other groups of raiders.
“If we are going to do it, we better move now,” Kyto said.
Tabs nodded and got up. “Crystal?” she said, turning to her sister.
“I will stay here and watch what happens, " she said. She turned to see Shep stumbling sideways. He then crashed into a table where other clients had been sitting, sending drinks and plates of food flying.
Kyto’s display continued to flash as they hastily moved to the exit. A raider staggered towards them, reaching out for Tabs as his eyes went blank, and he collapsed in front of them. They stepped over him quickly and continued. On reaching the exit, they went outside to see one of the guards at the entrance slumped against the wall with another guard bending down and shaking him. He turned, looking at them, but paid them no more attention as he moved to go inside, hearing the noise from the now open door.
General chaos ensued in the pit, and fights started to break out between all those who remained inside. Those unaffected accused each other of poisoning, and clients, guards, and raiders alike were at each other’s throats. A rifle rang out in the confines of the bar, sending clients diving for the floor as a guard shot a raider who had run at him with a knife. That triggered a heightened level of mayhem. Knives and weapons were being drawn. Thankfully, the raiders had not been allowed to bring firearms into the bar. Still, general weaponry was acceptable, and a bloody mess ensued between those standing. Lars and Crystal had moved from their table and stood behind the bar, avoiding the fights.
Kyto and Tabs ran down towards the auction house. As they got close, they could see three bodies lying prone on the floor. “It seems to be working so far.” He said to Tabs.
“Let’s just get them freed and get moving.” Tabs said.
They went inside, and it was dark as the generator had been turned off. It did not seem like they would waste fuel on the slaves who were inside. They could see well enough through the gloom and headed to the pens. A few captives saw them running over and backed away from the bars. Kyto noticed the padlocks on the cages securing them. “Shit. Keys,” he said.
“I’ll go,” Tabs said, turning back to the guards by the entrance.
“I am going to free you,” Kyto called at the captives. “We have disabled many raiders and guards, but others will resist. You can either stay here or fight for your freedom and take revenge against them.”
General murmuring and shouting broke out, and an older man stepped forward. “How are we supposed to fight them, and where will we go?” he said.
“Would you prefer to be here, or at least you have a chance at freedom? Where you go and what you do is up to you.” Kyto said.
“But you are a raider. Why should we trust you.” A woman shouted.
Kyto’s face flushed with rage and anger. “I am not a fucking raider.” He yelled in response.
Tabs returned with a bunch of keys from one of the guards, unlocked the first lock after several attempts at trying different keys, and then moved to the next cage. Kyto unlatched the gate, pulling it open for them to leave. As soon as she did, two men and a woman ran straight out of the gate, pushing him aside before others started to follow. A few did not move and remained in the pen.
“Go now. It’s your only chance.” Tabs shouted, but they would not leave, looking at them nervously. Tabs finished unlocking the final cage and opened the door for them.
“We need to move,” Kyto said, “The choice is now theirs.” His display had continued to trigger, and a new message popped up.
Congratulations, your skill in Toxicology has increased to level 3 after successfully poisoning one hundred and fifty targets. You now have a greater understanding of a poison's long-term effects.
He smiled internally as he and Tabs ran out of the auction house and returned to the Pit. The freed captives were split all over the compound, some heading towards the front and others heading straight towards the compound fences. Two men were crouched down by the guards’ bodies by the entrance, and one of them removed the automatic rifle that was lying across Sam’s still frame and pulled magazines from his belt pouch. He swung the weapon around at Tabs and Kyto, aiming it at them until he recognised them for freeing them, lowering the weapon again and nodding at them. The other man removed one of the guard’s helmets, pulled it on, and grabbed the nasty-looking mace he had been carrying. Then, with the retribution for the thousands of slave souls who had suffered at their hands, he brought the weapon down on the guard's face. The guard's face collapsed inwards under the force of the blow he struck with such might. He then began to strike at the other prone forms.
Kyto and Tabs ran back towards the bar area, followed by the man with the rifle.
“Quick, let's grab Crystal and go,” Tabs said.
The sounds of occasional gunfire were audible from inside the pit, and off to their right, a shotgun blast was heard where several of the captives had headed when seeing the trucks sitting outside. Kyto saw the body of a woman flung backwards from the blast, her body torn open by the pellets from the powerful weapon.
The man following them with the rifle had it pulled into his shoulder, and he looked like he knew exactly how to manage the weapon. He stopped at the bar doorway before glancing inside. He then turned into the door and let rip. He was firing indiscriminately into the interior. The automatic rifle thudded away until it clicked on an empty magazine. “Wait.” Tabs had called as he had started to shoot, but it was too late to stop him.
Tabs bolted to the entrance and quickly pushed the man aside, staring into the carnage that was now a pile of dead, screaming, moaning, and unconscious bodies all around the entrance. She looked over the bar and saw Crystal and Lars waving frantically at them. Crystal spotted her, and they moved over.
The man with the rifle had reloaded and was aiming the rifle back inside when Tabs pushed the barrel aside, screaming “No” at him. The barrel was hot to touch, but she was not going to let her sister be shot at point-blank range. Crystal and Lars reached her a moment later.
“We need to go now.” Tabs said.
“We need to grab the truck, our gear, and TJ,” She replied.
The man with the rifle pulled the barrel back towards where he had been aiming, and the deafening sounds of automatic fire rang in Tab's ears as they left the bar. Kyto called to them. He was crouched just off to the side of the entrance. Crystal dug in her pocket and threw the keys for the truck to him, “Go and get it,” she said. More captives were heading into the bar area as they moved further away towards the main gate.
Kyto sprinted across the lot towards the truck. As he did so, more automatic fire could be heard. He turned and saw one of the female captives who had taken one of the weapons, and she was shooting towards guards who were now heading towards them from the main gate. He noticed Tabs, Crystal and Lars heading in the same direction. As one guard approached the woman, he suddenly stopped and collapsed forward. The other, who had been carrying a mace, continued running at the woman and was cut down by the string of rounds that peppered the earth towards him before drawing a line up his torso. Captives were everywhere; of the 180 they had freed, a good portion had now headed to the top of the compound, having found the fence too much of an obstruction. One of the large trucks from another raiding group fired to life, and as Kyto crossed to their lot, he saw a captive sitting behind the wheel with a group of others starting to climb into the back.
He reached their lot and saw TJ coming from the building, holding his pistol. “What the hell is going on?” TJ called from the doorway to their area. He was standing half naked and wet, wearing just boots and new bottoms, having gone for a shower after his fight before heading back.
“Captives are loose,” Kyto shouted, “Crystal wants us to grab what we can and go; most of the raiders and guards have been incapacitated, and all hell has broken loose.” He shouted.
“Shit, how the hell did that happen?” he said.
“No idea, but you can see the chaos. Several of the captives have the automatic weapons from the guards, and raiders are fighting raiders, guards, and captives alike. It is a free-for-all-all. It’s chaos!” He said.
Kyto unlocked the vehicle and ran into the building. He went directly to their room, grabbed everything he could carry, and ran back outside, quickly throwing it into the truck's rear. TJ followed him, running into his room, pulling on a top and grabbing his jacket before he grabbed his pack and came back outside. Kyto took one more trip, grabbing the remainder of their items from the room before jumping into the truck's driver's side and firing the ignition of the vehicle.
“Come on, get in,” he shouted at a flustered TJ, who was standing watching the unbelievable scenes unfold. TJ turned and opened the passenger side door, jumping in.
The truck the captives had taken was roaring towards the gate by the time Kyto started to pull away, and as he followed in its general direction down the road of the compound, he watched as it smashed into the heavy metal gates. The gates buckled under the force from the impact and were thrown open. The truck careered straight across the road outside, its steering damaged, and ploughed directly into the treeline ahead. Flames erupted from the cab area, and the captives who had just been thrown around in the back started to climb back out of the rear of the truck.
Kyto spotted Tabs and screeched the truck to a halt by their side. They came out from the side of the building where they had sheltered and ran to the truck. Lars jumped into the rear as they both jumped into the middle section.
“Let’s go,” Crystal said.
“What the actual fuck is going on?” TJ asked, turning and looking at Crystal.
“We are leaving, " she replied calmly, turning and looking back at the bar area as Kyto started accelerating towards the gate.
“What about the group?” he said.
“They are big enough to look after themselves, and I am not staying here with that chaos. No one has a fucking clue who is who, and everyone is being attacked irrespective.” She replied.
As Kyto approached the exit, one of the captives who had climbed from the truck stepped out to make him stop. He was not slowing down and could not have in time, even if he had tried. He caught the man with the front wing as he turned onto the road, heading away from the site. He glanced in the vehicle's mirror, seeing the prone form of the man lying on the road behind him, and hoped he would be ok. His display continued to trigger as he drove, and he ignored it, concentrating on getting distance between them and the site.