Chapter 26: Freak Encounter 4
“After six minutes of epic fighting, the match between two veteran warriors comes to a bloody end.” The Landlord announced with a grim voice filled with dark thrill, as both men needed to be dragged out of the arena by the other fighters.
“And now presenting the initiation of a new member in the arena, War Beast Lance is about to begin his very first fight, give him a great welcome folks!” Following the Landlords instructions, the audience began applauding and yelling his name, but they soon fell silent due to the state that Lance was in, when he entered the arena.
His body seemed weaker, as he held a hunched position while moving towards the center of the arena, his face was filled with sweat and his body was shivering beyond belief.
The Landlord ignored everything, knowing that this was Scorpio’s doing, and continued to present Lance’s adversary.
As the name was being announced by the Landlord, all of the cheers that were meant to welcome Scorpio turned to silence and few looked with joy at the man as he entered the arena.
“Hey now, a little appreciation for a veteran would be nice.” Scorpio said with a mean smile, as he knew that that would instigate hatred from the audience.
As the people started booing, Scorpio approached Lance and whispered to his ears.
“How is my poison doing, effective isn’t it?” Seeing Lance in such a weak state, excited Scorpio even more, as he couldn’t help himself from spitting another poisonous needle from his mouth straight into Lance’s chest.
Without flinching from the sudden pain, Lances hazy gaze managed to lock in on Scorpios form, and with the same smile he had until then he opened his mouth.
“Hah...You...hah...!”
“Already out of breath, hey don’t tell me it’s going to end with a forfeit?” Scorpio asked Lance, as he grabbed his face to ascertain whether he was even able to react to stimuli.
“At least hold on until I land a few good blows, shrimp!” As if brought back to life, Lance’s right hand grabbed Scorpios hand and removed it from his face.
“Don’t...hah...worry!” Lance said with great effort.
“Thanks! I knew you would understand, shrimp!” Once again mocking Lance, Scorpio started walking back to his fighting position.
As Scorpio turned his back, Lance fell on his knees. The public sighed disappointedly as they saw that, knowing that this would end fast and in Scorpios favor.
The Landlord gave the start of the match and just as Scorpio turned around to face his opponent, Lance was already upon him, ready to crush his skull with his fist, but his movements were sluggish and Scorpio had enough time to dodge.
Failing his attack, Lance fell to the ground similar to a puppet losing all the strings that made it move. Whatever force was moving Lance’s body moments ago, was gone.
Or so Scorpio thought, as he leisurely walked closer to Lance. It almost seemed like an insult to the public, how slow Scorpio moved. But Scorpio was throwing poisonous needles as he inched closer, not taking any chances of a second surprise attack.
As he finally reached his body, Scorpio took Lance by the hair and plunged his head to the ground several times.
Scorpio pretending to be nice, lifted Lance on his feet and approached the Landlord, asking to finish the match, but before Lance could say yes or no, Scorpio tripped him.
“Oh seriously, can’t you even stay on your own two feet?” Grabbing Lance once more by the hair, Scorpio dragged him in front of the Landlord who was sitting in his private luxurious seat, surrounded by half-naked slave-women.
“C’mon, up on your feet and apologize for your lack of manners towards the Landlord!” Scorpio said with utter fervor.
The Landlord smiled sadistically, as he saw the torture that Scorpio was doing to Lance. But his patience soon ended as Lance stood silent.
“So Lance, where is my apology?” The Landlord asked with authority.
As if sensing that Lance was going to apologize, Scorpio released him from his grasp and allowed him to step forward.
Without a word, Lance turned his face which still held that small smile, and looking straight into the Landlords eyes he lifted both his hands, showing the middle finger and saying “Fuck you!”.
“Why you little...!” Seeing his actions, Scorpio tried to hit Lance from behind.
“!!!” But to Scorpios utter shock, Lance bent his back unnaturally as he was looking at him with his face upside down, and the smile he had until now reflected his true emotions that were inside his soul.
Grabbing Scorpio with both hands, Lance jumped above him and finally landing behind. Having gained the upper hand he systematically dislocated both shoulder joints, causing Scorpio to scream in pain.
Everything happened so fast, the public could hardly believe how the tides turned so swiftly against Scorpio.
Trying to escape while his hands were dangling along his body, Scorpio ran towards the only safe refuge he thought he had.
“Ah! Landlord please stop him! Help me F…!”
“Where do you think you are going?” Grabbing Scorpio by the neck and lifting him in the air, Lance gave a quick glance to the Landlord, telling him not to dare stop the fight before throwing Scorpio back into the ground.
“What is this? You should be dead thanks to my poison!?” Scorpio said out of desperation.
“That poison was a good warm up, but that’s all it was.” Flexing his muscles, purple goo emerged from Lances skin.
This was the poison his body neutralized in all those moments of weakness.
“AH! YOU MONSTER!” Scorpio said as he ran once more from Lance.
“…I had enough.” Grabbing a small rock the size of his thumb, he threw it towards Scorpios head, making it explode in a spurt of blood, as it got hit by the rock.
Shocked the Landlord got out of his seat trying to figure out whether Scorpio was killed or not, but Lance answered him before he could ask.
“He is alive, but he will never be able to move his body ever again.
“He is scum, not worth my effort to kill.” Lance said as he finally retreated from the arena that left him with a sour taste in his mouth.
In the distance, a gloomy set of eyes belonging to Freakshow watched Lances every move, like an animal watching its prey.
“How could I have been mistaken? That man surely died from the poison, and yet he still lived and also defeated Scorpio.”
“I saw your death and yet you live…” Freakshow said with annoyance.
