Few guards went down dragging the corpses and cleaning the bloody floor. King Gerdon wasted no time, picking a piece of paper, "Ser Konder, self signed, one hand hammer user" said the king, out of the remaining 11 knights stepped that brae foolish warrior, hiding the worry behind his helmet, having a scar of red painted over it, worried it might be painted over his real face
King Gerdon wasted no time, throwing the dice, "Number 9" he said, the cage had a boy, no smaller than the rest, he picked a dancing blade, a very thin sword of shining steal, used in fast movement, but frail in his strength and defence, seeing it from a far you would think of it as a needle
"You got some weird warriors there, lord Brone" said the king to the great Reader of the Varish kingdom, not removing his eyesight from the cage pit
Entering the point of no return, the knight took a small shield from the guards, as they looked confused not accepting that, the king waved his hand in agreement for his choice. "These creatures think not of leaving this place alive" the night though to himself, of course he would think to stay alive, he is of low value with even lower chance to live, and he is yet to follow his dreams
The gates closed down, the air went still, they went closer step by step, but no too close, for the fight is yet to start, the bell rang suddenly, slashes from that needle like sword went raining on the armoured tank in front of the slave
The wooden shield managed to stop some that was heading to naked parts, the armour handled the rest, swift strike after a heavy one, the knight honour was getting drenched with each time he stayed silent taking hits like a training dummy, but he knows that wouldn't work in his favour, seeing an opening his right hand holding the little hammer he struck, it felt as if punching air, the Viking slave used his sword to direct it away as both of them stepped backwards
Circling each other, one side was worried, afraid, not fit in this place, the other's eyes flaming, it mattered not for him how long it would take, the eyes in front of him will lose all light, the Viking thought, at a sudden instant the Viking stepped forward continuing his rage spree, the knight managed to through some empty hits just to calm the king
They traded strikes, although one side was merely taking and throwing shallow ones in return, getting reckless the knight almost fell, trying to get back before kissing the floor, the Viking pierced his right knee, he let his own blade dance inside for a moment, making sure it gives as much damage as possible, the knight waved again getting him away
The bloodied knee licking and colouring the ground in red, while he tried helplessly to stay still on his left, he raised his shield and hammer, still on the ground, he looked like a hero in front of the noble eyes, for they did not see what lays behind that mask
Wide eyes, trembling lips, face turning into its own cloud for it was covered in rain of his own, the crowd clapped, whistled, encouraged the helpless little steel cube drenched in sweat. The slave's eyes grew angrier, but they stared not at the helpless creature in front of him, only his face did, his eyes looked sideways at the apes clapping following the crowned monkey above
As the knight managed to get some strength back as he tried to stand back up, he saw in slow-motion that Viking throw his weapon in the air, just to catch it by the tip, his hand went behind him, the knight understood that he was aiming at him so he guarded with both hands and weapons, the needle shaved the skin of the slaves fingers before it went its way, growing throw the shield, and then throw the armour
The stomach was bleeding everywhere, before the knight could have time stay away and try to leave the slave armless, the Viking warrior reached him, shoulder bumped him making him lose both weapons, taking his own and walking forward into the man flat on the ground before him
The crowd clapped and cheered, "Kill him!!" some said, "Stand up you chicken" others spoke
The Viking's eyes were cold, but at that moment he heard the knight speak as he tried to stand up "M-Mercy"
The Viking couldn't handle it anymore, "Mercy?" kicking him to the side, the helmet fell off his face revealing the pale skin caused by fear and blood loss, "I remember that word, too well at that" said the Viking getting closer, the crowd silent
"When the other crowned ape rained our home a flame, all I heard is these words" said the Viking, raising his hand and striking the unarmoured joints, the king was mad, but not at the defeat, at the insult he had to bury just now, "I was never a warrior" continued the slave by
"All I did was hunt--- shooting birds and striking fish, sometimes I liked to garden" said with a smile remembering about the past, until he got back to reality saying "But you, you had to just put your filthy hands in there" taking off the chest plate and striking him, both deep and shallow injuries covered him, alongside his own blood, that poor knight
"We were unarmed, although I trained to be a warrior, once, but our guards we no threat barley holding hard sticks to wave away the wild animals" striking and kicking the worm laying before him
"We surrendered, we raised the white banner "kicking him over and over, "and all that we received in return" said as he stopped smiling and looking at him, "Murders!!" hitting with the sword one last time, "but this ends now," said the Viking
Walking towards the hammer, he picked it up as he returned to the almost unconscious opponent of his, raising the hand up, the sound of the cracked skull was heard, silence still creeping in, before the king managed to clap, he noticed the slave reach down, the crowd dared not to clap before his highness
Picking the needle sword, he stared at his bloodied reflection for a moment, some guards yelled at him to drop down and walk to the cage, in that moment he looked back and threw it towards the king, the sound of metals colliding alongside the arrows that struck the slave from everywhere
The king was shielded by one of his Sigel knights, a shield one, the needle crawled on itself not handling the shield's solidity
The crowd broke out, everybody startled, worried, and scared, "Will the king stop this" some said
"What will happen now? They are daring to reach the crown not just with words, but with blood" others said
"Enough" Shouted the king as he stood up "Bringe me the damned jar" the servants ran towards him with it, he picked the paper" Dafer, shield and spear, self-assigned" he said with haste before picking the dice
"Number 1" said King Gerdon, the guards understanding how mad he grew to be opened it, but they looked hesitant, in it stood the largest of them all, he picked a two-handed club with one hand as they ran away
The knight with shaking bones entered the cage bellow, raising both his shield and pointing his spear at the beast he faced, the king having no remaining patience raised his had for the bell to ring, and it did
As the knight wanted to walk sideways, his upper half disappeared, more blood drenching the scene, the huge monster stared at the eyes of the king with an indifferent and a cold gaze, he threw the weapon down keeping eye contact, then he started walking back
The king clinched his teeth as he started raising his hand for the jar
"Stop there, big man" Lord Rafam, heir to this kingdom, and the eldest of the king's offspring "I have a suggestion, for my father the king"
As he got King Gerdon's attention he talked "We seem to be both short of luck and of time, if we continue this only pathetic and powerless people will continue to bring us boring fights"
"What do you suggest, speak of it already and stop the fancy talk," said King Gerdon
He smiled standing up pointed at the king "You will be one of the 4 Sigel knights for each round, to fight the remaining Slaves, without the need for the others, that would show us more interesting fights"
The king liked the idea as he stood up, stay there, giant, I will be naming my son's, another spear and shield user, lets see who smiles last"
The man was almost as big as those Vikings, but certainly as big as the masked man, he walked down stairs slowly as the giant stared at him picking his club, the body was dragged out, leaving only blood to divide their side
Both sides had no hesitation, both were certain of wining, the people knew already the capability of one, for they saw his skills, but they only have the prince's words for the other
Will the losing streak only continue for the kingdom's side, or will something surprising happen