Kingdom of Bloodlust

Chapter 2

Vibrations shook through the dusty floors, small rocks tumbled out of tiny cervices from the ancient rock walls. Clacking of the rusted iron bars echoed through the dark hall as shouts and yells traveled from the only opening. The dense air clouded with the smell of blood and decay layered the floor as a figure tried to stand up.

Blood covered his body as he leaned against the cold brittle wall, his breaths coming out in ragged pants. Dark circles covered his visions and sharp needles dug into the top of his head as he shuffled his feet under him. Heavy footsteps drew closer, and the nearing sound rocketed around his head causing him to stumble onto his knees. The small rocks dug into his oversensitive uncovered knees and palms with an amplified pain.

"Get him up. The show is about to begin." A whiny voice said as three figures entered the cell with him. He could barely keep his eyes open as two sets of hand pulled him up by his armpits. His bare feet dragged along the dust covered floor as they dragged him up to the opening. The blinding light of the outside caused him to squeeze his eyes when he crossed over the boundary into the other side.

Screaming entered his eardrums with a punishing start as his felt the warm embrace of the sun. Slowly opening his eyes, the large expansion of a circular arena greeted him with swarms of people jeered from its many seats.

The hands that were holding him abruptly pushed him into the sandy ground. Soft burning sand meet his face as he heard a thud near his head. He pulled himself up difficult as he tried to also fight against the ache in his head. Looking down he found that the item that caused the thud was an old iron sword with a tattered handle. Grabbing the old sword, he noticed that were others around him. All looked tried and barely able to stand up, a variety of weapons in hand from swords similar to his to battleaxes. Some looked to have seen too many suns and others nearly too little.

A high-pitched tone screeched over the arena causing him to recoil.

"Welcome one and all to the Kitlton!" The screams of the crowds intensified at the announcement. "This day is quite the special event now isn't. Today to honor our great majesty Emperor Letativis, we acquired a truly one-of-a-kind creature."

The ground shook with a greater strength the stomping of huge footsteps thundered through the arena and the yelps of the crowds were drowned out. Some of the people near him stumbled back, running to the iron gate that he was dropped from. Their screams of terror were drowned out as he stared at the rattling of the iron gates across the arena.

Abrupt silence fell over the space as the shaking stopped. Sweat dripped from his forehead as the noon sun bared down. Slowly the iron gates pushed opened to the dark space. From the shadows huge tan legs stepped out, just the calf was the size of two men. Bright red eyes glowed as its face was uncovered, large fangs peeked from its snout like mouth. Reddish slough dripped from its mouth and its rocky body covered in a tan film of some kind. It unhinged its jaw and roared with a deafening roar.

The screams of the crowd joined in a sickeningly depraved chorus.

"Here is a ferocious beast for you all, see its distort snout and rows of razor teeth. Truly a deadly force! For once its bile touches you it will first paralyze you, then after a period your body will dissolve from the inside out. Perfect for the beast to eat you, and you are never fully unconscious. No, you're aware for every single last bit of the process." The disembodied voice said with a hidden level of excitement, no, a disturbing amount of it. "However, for our special event, the beast's incredible strength will be on display as it will be fighting against our wondrous fighters."

Before he could analyze the conceited tone of the announcer, the massive creature thundered over. He watched in horror as a poor man was trampled down by the creature's foot. His body unrecognizable flattened into the ground, blood seeping into the golden sand. A couple of men tried to rise their swords or weapons in defense but with a powerful wave they were sent flying into the thick walls of the arena. The screams of the men behind him drew him back to reality as he watched the wolf like beast's ears twitch and their red eyes turn to his direction. His body tensed in fear as the it quickly come upon him. It's hot, sour smelling breath filling his nose as he stared up at its growling face.

He closed his eyes waiting for his end. A whipping of air alerted his attention to his right. His feet quickly pushed him causing him to roll in front of him. The forgotten sword in his hand, slashed out cutting through a dense object causing his hand to push from force into the swing. A painful roar echoed through his ears as he clutched his head. Shaking his head, he opened his eyes, realizing that he was behind the great creature and the blade in his hand was covered in blood. Again, he felt his feet move on their own as he jumped to the right. A dust cloud covered the area that he was previously a huge, clawed hand in its place.

As if on instinct his body moved into crouch and his palms gripped the sword in practiced movements. His body stilled almost readying itself. The creature reared its red eyes to him with a snarl, it's massive legs crouched as it roared with its golden mane shaking.

"Tenkn." he said as watched it rush toward him. Jumping to the left, he felt the whipping of the air as its massive hands barrel downward.

Looking back, he saw that on the beast's back there was a portion of rotten flesh bulging out. A sharp pain in his head blinded him for a moment as information floated his brain.

Tenkn. Desert beast from the Sandu Endless. Usually burrows deeply in the sand and uses its tail to cause a sand whirlpool to trap prey. While yes it does have it's bile, that is mostly used as a self-defense mechanism. Humans are also not its preferred prey, if anything they display an apparent aversion to them.

Whatever the beast currently staring him down was, it was not a Tenkn. Something must have twisted it and he was guessing whatever that rotten growth was that must be it. Tucking and rolling again, he watched as the creature barrel into the ground with a deafening roar. Red eyes turned to him with a low huff, its bloody feet shifting in the coarse sand.

The dulled sword still in his hand, he stared down the hulking figure. A familiar stillness took over and silence's muffled embrace covered his ears.

Then the beast charged.

He felt the ground shake. He smelled the gore and blood that covered him. He saw the golden hair of the beast draw closer. But his legs only crouched in response.

White fangs opened to a decayed cave close enough that he could see the broken pieces of humans in its jaws. Before he could join the pieces, his body was taken over by a familiar dance.

His body jumped over the giant beast in an easy burst that left a cloud of dust. He could only look down as he flew, the ground now a forgotten thought as he reached his apex. Practiced hands swung the sword down toward the rotten bulge. His feet met the scaled covered back with a forceful impact that resonated through the stone arena. The dulled sword sliced through the rot with a clean cut. Dark, thick fluid then burst from the wound as the beast roared in agony. As the surface beyond him violently shook he couldn't escape the free-flowing fluid.

Instantly, he felt the energy of his body leave him as the fluid covered his body. Stumbling away, his vision started to darken, black spots started to envelope the light. The feeling of flying was his last thought.

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NOTE

Not dead. Sorry for the wait. I'll try to keep up with this one, but no promises. :)