The Anita Chamber

[Abomination]

Draug bared his teeth, grinding them with frustration. He knew that Jensen was immortal, that some force makes him come back the next day no matter what damage he took, but this was too fast. The Ixian propped back up almost immediately, it was as if the he was replaced with a body double right before the killing blow, and then switched back again after. He threw what remained of his back-arms in front of the daggers to absorb the hit, feeling the blades pierce completely through the flesh and emerge bloodily from the other side. The Abomination grunted and pulled an enchanted kunai out of the bicep of one of his main arms, using it to reach back and lop off the now useless extra arms.

Mother... my information was wrong. This one is far more troublesome than I anticipated. And that hammer...

He was sure that his strength still surpassed the immortal's, but the amount of effort that went into deflecting the maul was intense. He had heard of the weapon, of how it enhanced the strength of its wielder, but he never imagined that it could make Jensen almost equal to the Cult's Champion. If he took one clean hit from that hammer, his entire head would pop off like a grape. He stepped back and roared, a smile crossing his lips and a fire burning in his eyes. He was getting caught up in the moment, in the thrill of the fight. In the entire Lornius Corporate Championship his opponents were too weak. They would run from him, use tricks, summons, and always Draug found himself unable to finish the job. Jensen was different. He could take what Draug dished out. He could kill the Abomination.

Jensen charged him while cackling, preparing the maul for a strong swing into Draug's side. The Abomination dropped the kunai down his throat to re-assimilate it, and then pulled out another steel sword, readying it to meet the tip of the hammer. He gripped the blade with both hands and swung hard, the muscles in his arms crying out in agony from the attack. The maul met the blade head on and completely shattered it, and the only thing the attack accomplished was slowing down the hammer long enough for Draug to dodge away from the attack, jumping to his side and rolling on his shoulder. He landed on his feet and stood back up, looking down at what was left of his sword. I'm on the defensive?

It was then that he saw the creature known as Misery picking apart his competition one by one, disappearing just as quickly as it came. He knew what it was by its descriptions, but what was it doing in the arena? It could not be a competitor... Was Memnar right about this tournament being a trap after all? If the creature got its tendrils on him, he could easily be transported deep into an Ixian cage. He did not have time to think about it however, as the maniacal Jensen was already upon him. The plant monster did give him an idea.

Dropping the broken sword, Cassandra's son extended his right arm, feeling it transmute into a softer form and growing several feet in length, its shape more resembling a whip made of flesh. Its tip was still as hard as iron, but its purpose was not to match the maul. Draug threw his whip-like arm at Jensen's feet, hoping to wrap around it and entangle the immortal. Jensen noticed this move and jumped back, hopping backwards on the ground until he was a safe distance away from this new threat. The maul was lowered and touched the ground, eating into it like the dirt was made of water. Observing this reaction, he turned his other arm into a tentacle as well, holding them up and oscillating them to create momentum.

He may be able to revive repeatedly now... but even so, all I need to do is constrict his movements after his next death.

He could pull out his muscle fibers and tie the immortal up. That would eliminate him as a threat, but how would he even kill him again? He glared at the maul, and conjured a plan.

"Even immortals have to die someday," Draug quipped. He still did not have access to the memories he needed. He needed to get back to Memnar's laboratory to get a clearer image. The bits and pieces he acquired were confusing and surreal. Stephanie's presence was a constant, invading every attempt to access a deeper memory. It was like Stephanie was interfering with his very essence, the mere concept of her throwing Draug off. Who was she, anyway?

He threw his arms forward, having them fly at the immortal after winding them up for speed. If he made Jensen immobile for even a moment, the full bulk of his strength would come crashing down upon the immortal, rending him asunder.

"Don't worry, after I rip you apart I'll make sure everyone you know can go ahead and live through you!"

[Hysteria]

Two solid thumps in a row. The youth felt the black tendrils widely swinging behind him strike something. A crack of excitement rippled up his spine. He longed to turn, to see if he had brought down Adonis. His swords moved down towards his fellow Captain when something unexpected happened.

The impunity...

Talen had to stop his sword slicing through the oak staff and cutting down Kyle. The shock at having is own underling interrupt his fight filled him with barely contained rage. His 'subordinate' pranced away leaving Talen stunned. The youth's mask hid the confusion and contempt plastered across his face.

The moment disappeared as a sword sliced through one of Talen tentacles. The youth jumped to the side, moving out from between his two foes. Another sword stroke took its toll and brought Talen's back tendrils down to six. The black severed limbs twitched on the ground like a severed worms. Their form didn't last long after being cut and evaporated into the air. The respite was tinged with another distraction.

Sei.. get out of my head. You really think he needs my help? You have that much faith in him?

Talen skidded to a halt and lifted his eyes passed Arden to Jensen. A bloody spray of the Immortal's blood was visible even from a distance. Wait for it... Jensen rose from the dead, the literal resurrection, performed for twice daily if you had the right amount of money. Talen's acidic thoughts were probably loud enough for Sei to hear, at least it would have to do with his voice muted. The youth somewhat envied the Immortal's ability, his own similar one a shadow of a replica, literally.

The giant fly trap however was something Talen had not seen before. The youth didn't bother worrying about it. This wasn't his first Cell. The ones that were boring quickly found themselves disqualified. Talen would admit that the plant was more inventive than last time. Talen's eyes had found something more pleasing to look at. Adonis was clutching his side, and though he had cut off two of Talen's tentacles, he was looking much worse for wear.

The youth ignored Arden and charged towards his original opponent. His swords lifted in front of him in a suicide dash. The youth planned to run through Arden, and he didn't care how it ended. The ground pounded with each fast foot fall. The roar of the crowd, the smell of blood in the air and the fear of immediate and painful death. Talen was in heaven.

[Solar Haven]

Adonis smirked as he felt his blade rend through two of Talen's tentacles.

“Just a few more and we are on...” Adonis flinched as the wound in his side throbbed, he took a few steps back and looked up at Talen just as a Giant beast appeared, not just once but twice, removing what seemed to be idle contestants. “If you're boring you get removed? I guess that is one way to keep things interesting.” Just as quickly as it had come, the beast was gone.

Adonis looked down just in time to see Talen rushing straight towards him, Kamikaze style. Adonis had barely any time to react, he used the last of his magic to create a thin wall of dirt. It did nothing to stop Talen as he barreled straight through the wall. Adonis writhed in pain as Talen's sword plunged into his chest, rupturing his lungs.

Fear, panic and pain could be read across Adonis' face. Blood began running out of his mouth and down his chin. As the cloud of dirt cleared up, Adonis noticed on last thing: his sword was embedded deep in Talen's chest. It looked like it would have connected with his right lung, but as his vision faded out, all he could do was let out a gurgled chuckle. He may have lost but his opponent would soon be joining him.

[Hysteria]

Dirt exploded in every direction as Talen smashed through the small dirt wall. The youth expected his opponent to have moved, but instead came face to face with him. Swords pierced skin and in a flash Talen was rolling off Adonis. The youth felt a heavy feeling in his chest. For a moment Talen stared up at the sky. The sun seemed harsher as it beat down on the field. The momentary respite helped his mind catch up. The moment would have been peaceful, but the youth wrenched to the side and coughed up a mouth full of blood. Talen's skin was hard, thicker than last time when Sei had run him through.

It was adrenaline and force of will that made Talen stand. The black tentacles across his back drooped weakly behind him. His dark, thin limbs hung low. The roar of battle settled down on people, the constant endorphins rush subsided to leave only aching pain. The youth managed to hold onto one of his swords, his left hand was pressed against the wound in his chest. It didn't do much, but the pressure helped slightly with the pain.

“Fuck...” Talen paused and spat blood on the ground, the bottom of his mask was flicked with red. More blood ran down his chin and contrasted against the small smile across the mask, “Arden, you going to help Jensen or should we finish this?”

Talen didn't have the peace of mind to realise that he had left the area of the silence spell, he was focused on staying standing. The determined warrior lifted his sword up towards the swordsman. The youth was pretty sure he wouldn't last long, but it was better than being despatched by the abomination, or worse, Jensen. The calm falling over his body was a unique experience. Talen had heard that the brain releases chemicals near the time of death, creating a sort of euphoria. Having experienced it a few times, Talen could certainly attest to its truth. The sudden calm demeanour settling across him was even more proof.

[Arden]

Arden took a cautionary step back. The last few minutes had passed by in a blur. White lights danced in his peripheral vision. With Adonis’s death imminent, and Talen’s injury apparently severe enough to cause him concern, the swordsman fell silent. He did not need spell or command to cause his mouth to shut.

Ixian Knights still think themselves high and mighty, he mused.

Since his departure, and subsequent return, much had changed in his mind. His heart had healed. His mettle had become as hard as steel. His morality, unwavering. He had re-joined on Duffy’s behest, to ensure that the members of the knighthood did not stray too far from that ancient, odious ‘prophecy’ the Orlouge’s clung to like hope.

His plan was simple. It was working, too well.

“You finished yourself, Shadow Walker,” he spat. A gobbet of spit struck the sand like a meteor, an omen of portent for the boy, and one of resignation from proceedings for the blood mage. He gripped Kerria’s hilt tightly, took it into his right hand, and turned to Adonis.

“…help,” the boy groaned. He spoke with bloodied lips, and a glazed expression telling of failure.

“Learn one thing here today boy,” Arden spoke louder, stronger, and with an air of authority. “You are never alone, even when all around you wish you dead. Allies always come, when you least expect them.” He stepped forwards, careful not to expose his flank to Talen’s shadow magic, and held out a gauntleted hand.

“Friends?” Adonis burbled.

Arden shook his head. “Hold out your hand, and pledge fealty to the ancient gods of this island. If you would have another chance, and wield the strength you found, I can give you one more try at this idiot.” He nodded to Talen, and then held Kerria with both hands. He stepped forwards, gesturing for Adonis to let nature take its course. “Consent to this, and let death take you.”

“What are you doing, ‘captain’?” Talen seethed.

Arden smirked, his composure finding resolve despite the hellion cries and mad cackles echoing around the cavernous cell dome. His red eyes stared into Talen’s pallid orbs, piercing with the scrutiny and wisdom of someone-who-had-seen.

“Showing you some humility,” was his only explanation.

[Enigmatic Immortal]

Jensen's arms and legs were feeling like rubber yet he pushed his exhaustion back out of his mind. He had fought too many battles; in too many wars, to give in now. He had fought William Arcus enough times to counter the abomination's strength, but his speed was close enough to Jensen that he had to kick up the extra spurts of agility to stay one step ahead.

But he was one step ahead. Even with the whip like arms thrashing around trying to ensnare him, Jensen had felt his control was absolute. Druag was an opponent like never before. One who could assimilate his body to counter the immortal's attacks, but there in lied his flaw. He had to react to whatever Jensen did, and his offense was limited because of it. Jensen had fought many things that attmepted to ensnare him, the Blood Root from the Red Forest being one that immeadietly came to mind. All he had to do was keep moving, and the rest would work itself out.

He had ran out of throwing weapons already, their discarded, bloody remains kicked away from Jensen's reach or lost within the swirling melee. His eyes spotted Crozius off near the battle with-

When did the bed wetter get allowed to join? Jensen thought with a dark chuckle noticing Talen for the first time. He observed their fight for a split moment and his eyes suddenly sparked as he returned to leading Draug around the arena. Each time he dodged an attack a section of the barrier exploded in sparks, hairline fractures quickly sealing in the wake of the impact. Dirt ripped from the earth like an impacting cannonball with each smash of the abomination's fist. Jensen processed information at an alarmingly fast rate, and He took another peak at Talen and saw Arden Janelle. His mind formulated a plan immediately.

I really should thank Sei for all those Teamwork workshops... Jensen mused, his giggles returning in earnest. He had all the tools he needed to finish off Draug, he just needed the pieces to fall in the right spot.

((PM's sent to all involved guys. I need an answer ASAP.))

[Prophet]

From his point on the rock, Kyle watched the melee continue, and then raised an eyebrow in the weirdness, he was being ignored as a foe. Perhaps saved for later? He lodged his staff in a crack and leaned on it, his scarred back and chest burning from rubbing the wounds on his body with the shirt. He grimaced and then Kyle sat down, laid his staff on his lap, closed his eyes, and listened.

[Hysteria]

Talen's lowered his sword, the tinge of anger subsided and he let out a defeated laugh. He was passed caring about the eccentricities of the other Capitan. The youth even vaguely knew that he was the one asking for ridiculous requests.

“Fine, you'll do what you want.” said Talen.

The youth twisted on the spot and looked towards the last battle. It had drawn to a stalemate. Talen watched as Jensen moved with incredible speed to evade the flood of attacks. There was no mistaking it, the fight was going to be drawn out if the pair were left to their own devices. The words Talen had thought back to Sei would probably come back and bite him now. The youth swallowed his pride and decided that he would indeed intervene.

The black tentacles lifted up and wrapped around the youth. The flailing limbs curled around the spikes that protruded from his elbows and knees. With a slow pull they were free and each of his six remaining tendrils was now wrapped around a thirty centimetre spike. They moved slowly at first, lifted up into the air ready to strike. Talen almost looked like a multi-tailed scorpion.

The moments of watchful quiet had not been for nothing. Talen had given himself enough time to focus. Then, in the blink of an eye the youth disappeared. Moving through the shadow realm took an instant. A moment after he had disappeared the youth was standing behind Draug. From a distance Talen had been able to escape two facts, first just how disgusting Draug was. After the fight he looked even worse, like someone had stapled a man together from off-cuts of meat. The second was the smell. From a distance Talen had smelt blood. Standing behind Draug was like being hit in the face with a rare steak.

Talen couldn't afford the luxury of pausing. His tentacles slammed down, smashing their spikes through the abomination's legs and arms. Two tentacles smashed into his chest, but rebounded with a ring of metal. All six wrapped around the offending limbs as the youth did his best to keep the creature still.

Alright Vomit Face, lets see what you can do.

[Solar Haven]

Adonis reached up and grabbed the gauntlet of the man before him. Instantly, he felt a burning sensation within his chest. The pain was so intense he closed his eyes. His body went limp as the last of his life left him.

“You really are a weakling. no skill with your rusted ass sword... extremely limited magic that couldnt even protect you in your final moment... what the hell kind of fighter are you?” a deep voice chortled.

“I am not a fighter. I have never held the pretense that I am... I only do what I must to protect others,” Adonis said with conviction

“A Lover instead of a Fighter? I hear that all to often down here,” the voice said again. “Why were you enrolled in a tournament for Fighters then?”

“I went there looking for experience. If I don't know how to fight others, then how am I supposed to protect people from the evil?”

“From the evil? And yet here we are!” The voice roared with amusement “You want another chance against that Talen guy do you not?”

“I would relish another chance in that tournament, there is much for me still to learn”

“If only you knew how right you were” The voice faded out as Adonis opened his eyes and realized that Arden had his sword stuck into his chest.

Adonis stood up and grabbed his sword from the ground near him. His eyes were now glossed over and seemed to have changed from their usual Hazel to an Ice blue. Adonis nodded at Arden as Talen took off and grabbed a hold of the Freak at the far end of the arena and Jensen seemed to be looking at a weapon that was on the ground near Adonis. He looked at the weapon then at Jensen and nodded, Adonis' body moving on it's own towards the maul.

[Prophet]

Kyle, the Battlemaster by some. Insane by others, barely felt the knife enter his back, slicing through his lung and puncturing his heart. His eyes widened for a minuscule fraction of a second, he collapsed backwards, his staff clattering to the ground. His chest fell, he did not rise.

"Life has no meaning, when one is the first piece of the puzzle" was the last thought that passed through his mind. It described the life he lived after what happened that fateful day Sei had rescued him.