Thranvalis Arena, Boulderkeep
"I'm not sure if I can go on fighting…" Tlandar said.
"I feel like I'm not supposed to be in this fight, in this war… I feel sorry for partaking in this war," Tlandar added. And in the fighting pit he was. Waiting what would happen next. Waiting for the asemeri male host to present to the audience who will fight next with Tlandar. "I have a feeling of guilt, I feel I want to back down…" Tlandar said. A female, asemeri Valkatlan warrior dropped and waved a Valkatlan banner, which had drawn into it a golden griffon, six stars and two crossed, asemeri khopesh swords. "Tal'Xera, you're next," Chieftain Val'katl said. Then the second pure-blooded asemeri female, one of his best generals in his forces, got up her seat and began descending on the stairs, walking to the fighting pit, where Tlandar was.
"Valiant warriors of Val'katl, I present to you now, Tal'Xera, mighty archer of Val'katl. Facing her, Tlandar, the Protector!" Vraek, the host of the arena, said. Then a Valkatlan male soldier blew a horn, which had been made out of a dinosaur horn. He blew the horn three times. Tal'Xera, dressed in kuprix scale armor and wearing an asemeri combat helm, drew out her bow. She drew out an kuprix-pointed arrow and placing in the bow, fired it at Tlandar. The arrow left behind an emerald, plasma beam trail on its path. Tlandar rolled to one side, and evaded the exploding arrow. Tal'Xera increased her pace, firing plasma, kuprix-pointed arrows faster at Tlandar; on each shot, Tlandar rolled on the ground, evading successfully. Then he got closer to Tal'Xera, deflecting aside every arrow fired at him, with precise timing. Each arrow exploded around him, lifting up the dust and earth from the ground. The pit shook after each explosion.
The crowd spectating the grow shouted wildly. The pit smelled like burnt gasoline and was darkened with smoke. Tal'Xera, upon seeing Tlandar was deflecting all her special arrows, said, "I will hunt you down in the pit with all my weapons!". Then she put the bow on her back, attaching it to a criss-crossed belt. She drew out a pair of curved, kuprix blades. She launched forward, tracing an X with her blades upon Tlandar. He deflected Tal'Xera's blades to one side, but on each time, Tal'Xera gyrated from any position; and one blade at least, always returned, trying to cut him down. Tlandar kept sweeping, deflecting all of Tal'Xera's cuts and rolling. "I need to seize an opportunity," Tlandar said.
Tal'Xera ran to the other extreme end of the pit. She continued firing more exploside, plasma arrows at Tlandar. One of the plasma arrows flew past Tlandar, very close to his right arm, and slightly cut the skin above his arm, leaving a cauterized line. "My arm, you've almost cut it off!" Tlandar said. But he kept rolling, evading each arrow fired at him. "You're lucky boy, I've got no more arrows!" Tal'Xera said. She had exhausted all ther arrows, 30 in total. "Excellent! Now its the time!" Tlandar said. He ran towards Tal'Xera, holding the asemeri broadsword aside, with one hand. "Surrender Tal'Xera, you're beaten!" Tal'Xera reflected for a moment, if she could continue to fight. "I don't like to beat women Surrender!" Tlandar said, as he put his blade on her neck, right in time before she could draw out all her other secondary weapons. "Alright Tlandar, victory is yours!" Tal'Zera said. "The bout is finished. Tal'Xera yields. Tlandar stands victorious!" Vraek, the host, said. The spectators shouted in excitement. Excitement spread throughout the crowd. The defeated opponent walked away and left the arena chamber. Tlandar sat in a kneeling position, by a wall in the pit. He put his asemeri broadsword beside him, in the ground. A crew of 30 temsek laborers descended into the pit, through the four stairs. They've carried cleaning tools and began sweeping the ground and removing any debris. The spectator crow sat idle, chatting, laughing, waiting for the next round.
The Chieftain's Spectator Box
Chieftain Val'katl had been watching all the time the way Tlandar had defeated his opponents until now. "I've got a good feeling about this. This boy is good. I'm starting to see him with good eyes. If he wins this contest, surely, I will make him a warrior in my hordes," Val'katl said. "I see your good sense, Chieftain," Vraek said. "Where is his family? Where does he come from again?" an asemeri male, the bearer of this asemeri khopesh swords, said. "Tal'Vak, I don't know who family is, yet, but I'd like to ask him this question, after the contest is over. He was sent by Chieftain Salgar; came from Salgar dominion, but as to where he is from, I'm not sure. I'd like to ask him this question too, after the contest is over," Val'katl said.
The Arena Pit Cleaners
"You're fighting well, boy," one of the male Temsek laborers said. "Thanks a lot," Tlandar said. "Son, your courage is admirable. You are swift and determined, keep it up," Another Temsek laborer, an older male, said. "Thanks, I surely will," Tlandar said. "Where are you from?" A third Temsek laborer, missing half of his arm, said. He was sweeping the ground and leveling the earth. "From Verdantis Nexus. I've came to acquire my place among the Valkatlan forces. I want to assist in protecting Val'katl dominion," Tlandar said. "That's an honorable feeling," the crippled Temsek laborer said. "Good luck, beat them up! I hope you achieve your goal," the third Temsek laborer said. When they all were finished cleaning the pit, walked away and left the arena.
Tlandar vs Gor'Vakor
The next round was to start. The third Valkatlan general was about to face Tlandar in the pit. "Warriors of Val'katl, the next fight will be Tlandar vs Gor'Vakor," Vraek said. He was near the Chieftain's Box. Gor'Vakor walked to the pit, he was a rare type of asemeri, with strong Xothek genetics. Tlandar got up, grabbed his asemeri broadsword, walked to face him. "It is an honor to meet, warrior, in this great battle," Gor'Vakor said. Excitement spread across the spectators. A Valkatlan warrior, blew his horn two time. "Likewise," Tlandar said. Gor'Vakor spread his dual asemeri broadswords apart, like a hawk spreads his wings. Tlandar rotated his asemeri broadsword, a type similar to Gor'Vakor's, downward, reversed, the tip pointing down. He formed his feet into a triangle, with one point pointing toward his opponent, and his whole body, positioned laterally aside. Both fighters faced each other, almost seven feet apart. They were ready to begin the fight. The spectators shouted with excitement.