IronGuard

CHAPTER 14

"Where is the IronGuard!" A champion angrily roared, breaking the silence inside the coliseum. 

Upon reappearing, they momentarily clashed blades with one another but when they withdrew. Marcus has mysteriously disappeared into a cloak of shadows. 

"High Lord Sarah! I pledge my loyalty to you and my entire faction will follow you!" A high lord proclaimed immediately. Kneeling and bowing his head from across the arena and his entire faction also got down on their knees. His champion steps back and raises his sword, "I do as my High Lord commands! Let the champion of High Lord Sarah recognize my support!"

The audience exploded in an uproar of discussions and arguments, even the high lords seem to be getting nervous. Amidst the clamor of the spectators, inside the fighting grounds. The champions carefully observe one another, looking for a chance to spot Marcus but their efforts are wasted for Marcus is not showing any signs of revealing himself. 

Under a black hooded cloak and his armor suddenly turned black as well. He stands among the confused waiting for more High Lords to renounce their titles and pledge themselves to Sarah. 

"I also pledge my loyalty to High Lord Sarah and I offer my faction's power to her!" Another High Lord announced. Later he is followed by three more High Lords. 

At first the High Lords of the Demal may look like cowards and weak but they are doing the smartest thing to do, they can always rebel later against Sarah when they deem the time is right. Marcus knows that his sister is far different for the little he grew up with and there is more to her than what the eye sees. He noticed it when they entered the arena, in a human political society a woman leading a faction is ridiculous and often looked down upon but here in the Demal. They look at her like a true threat and someone to be feared. 

"Four, that means ten left" Marcus thought in his mind. "I still can't let my guard down"

The four newly announced allies of Sarah has already moved to her side and now Sarah controls a third of the Demal. Tensions are rising and the high lords are getting impatient. They order their champions to start slaughtering the other champions. 

Again the champions disappeared and reappeared crossing blades with one another and Marcus still hiding under his hood. Since four champions are now working together, they easily put down two other champions and silences them. 

"Eight remaining" Marcus said, he disappears and kills two more champions. "Six"

Everyone looked at him with certainty. Marcus pulls back his hood and gives an eager grin to the crowd. The four champions stand behind him, proving their new found loyalty. The remaining six champions all look at their High Lords as if begging for a decision but little did Marcus know, the remaining High Lords are the most arrogant and proud of them all. They order the champions to continue the fight and they follow. 

This time they didn't disappear and instead charge straight for Marcus and the other four. They clashed one last time and gave it their all, striking heavy blows at one another. Sarah held her breathe for awhile, knowing that if her brother falls. Her reign will be the shortest in history but Mordin is still lurking behind the shadows, ready to rescue her and Marcus if they fail. 

Marcus sensed something in his hand, getting stronger and stronger. Without realizing it, he was moving faster and faster. At the peak of his strength, he strikes down his foe breaking its sword and cutting deep into its flesh and armor. His strike was so strong that it blew a sudden wind from his sword. 

The remaining enemy champions were stunned by Marcus' blow that they dropped their guard and are slain by the four allies of Marcus. A moment of silenced passed before the crowd cheered for the victors and the defeated High Lords fell back on their seats, their followers starting to move against them in the shadow of their chairs.