Hammerfist: a Skyrim Fanfiction

Fall from Glory

The door to the fight club creaked closed. Cade figured it was another fan, come for an autograph of the "Hammerfist." He finished unwrapping his hands and rubbed the pain away with a blue mountain flower salve. "I'll be out in a moment. Just finishing up." Cade said. His muscles glistened with the wet, post-bath look. His dark, black hair had puffed into a small afro and his short curly beard framed his face.

"Cade! Just the guy I was looking for!" Naziek kindly patted him on the back. "Great fight tonight! Say, you wouldn't happen to have any tips for a fellow boxer, would ya?"

Cade didn't expect Naziek to be there. He didn't remember seeing his face in the crowd. Tonight was one of the largest crowds though, so he realized it was possible he missed him while focusing on the fight.

"Not much to it. Just stay alert, keep your eyes on your opponent, and don't try anything too risky. It's just a match, and at the end of the day, we are all friends." Cade smiled warmly. His golden brown eyes almost shined when he smiled.

"Wow! Thanks Cade—"

A fist landed hard against Cade's ribs from behind; it knocked the wind out of him momentarily, but he had received much worse in the ring. Another swing was aimed at Cade's head but he ducked out of the way and landed a punch to the gut of his assailant. He noticed really quick that there was more than one, though. Four sturdy men had him cornered against Naziek and the wall. Punches kept flying towards him, and he kept dodging and countering whatever he could, but soon realized that Naziek had joined in the fight, aiming towards him as well.

A knee connected with Cade's groin, a cheap blow to be sure. Cade sent a final punch to the nose of the man who kicked him in the groin, breaking the nose instantly. Cade fell to the ground holding his groin and sputtering. Three of the men grabbed Cade and held him. The youngest lay on his back holding his nose.

"My nose! He broke my nose!" He cried.

"Get up!" Naziek ordered. "This won't be the last broken nose, the way you fight." Naziek stood over Cade. Though Cade was normally about seven inches taller, he felt as though was only a foot tall after that fight.

"N-Naziek... why?" Cade asked between breaths.

"We aren't all friends here, Cade. In fact, I'd be surprised to learn you had any friends here at all. You have simply been at the top for too long. Some of us have been waiting for our chance on top for too long!"

"Naziek, my nose is really broken. It won't stop bleeding." Interrupted the youngest.

"Oh, shut it, milk-drinker!" Naziek's open palm swiftly met the broken nose again, and the only sound was a wet squish from the blood dripping down the boy's face before the boy's eyes rolled back and he fell, knocked out. Cade almost felt bad for the kid, but the pain in his groin reminded him why he didn't.

"Anyway," Naziek wiped the blood from his palm, "I am going to offer you the easy way out. Retire. Hang up the gloves and step away from the ring for good."

Cade spit at Naziek's feet. "What's the hard way?"

"Now, Cade. You are a smart lad. Why else would I have four... three toughs alongside me in this endeavor? We make you retire. For good." Naziek pulled a dagger from his belt and ran his finger along the steel blade.

Cade swallowed hard. "Wait. You want to be on top, right? How about we fight next week. I'll let you win. This way everyone will see you defeat the great Hammerfist in the ring, and I get one more payout. It goes to my parents. Please, let's do this right, without killing me. This way we both win."

Naziek was quiet for a moment. He kept eyeing Cade's neck and imagining the blade sliding through it, like killing a pig. Then he shrugged. "You'll leave for good? One more fight and you're gone?"

"Yes. I swear it." He said desperately.

Naziek thought for a moment. "Well, let's just ensure that I win the fight, shall we?" Naziek flung the dagger into the ground between Cade's knees. One hard punch to the jaw sent Cade sprawling. The three toughs joined in and started kicking and punching Cade's ribs and head. Smack after thud, spittle and blood, bruises and scrapes, all led to the darkness closing in around Cade.