"If you interfere, the Naziris will execute him. All you'll do is seal his fate. Don't insert yourself in his fight. This is out of your hands now."
General Naziri rises from his seat, and the audience falls to a hush. He states the rules of the gauntlet. Bastian is permitted to use his magic but is denied the right to any weaponry. Fatewill decide what happens here today. If Bastian loses, it would be considered a justified punishment and execution. If Bastian wins, then fate has decided to spare him and give him a second chance. Any interference during the fight will be met with death.
I gulp, bile rising in my throat. But I don't have another moment to spare wallowing in anxiety. A tortured scream echoes from the gate. They are unleashing the monster.
Thecruscorpiotramples through the now-open gateway and roars. Its high-pitched screech forces people, myself included, to cover our ears.
Bastian looks indifferent when the beast appears. I'm still unsure if he's going to fight back or not.
Like I had learned about, thecruscorpiomoves with lightning speed and shakes the ground, knocking Bastian off his feet when he runs him over. The only sound from Bastian are a couple grunts and groans. Dust and sand whirl around the arena grounds. There's no visual on Bastian or thecruscorpio. For the second time this morning, everyone is quiet, waiting to see if Bastian stands up or once the sand clears, if he got trampled to death immediately. As the dust settles, Bastian stands up in his beast form. He roars at the creature, and the audience erupts in cheers and boos and gasps.
Thank the Stars! He's going to fight.
Bastian takes off running toward the creature, claws out, fangs gleaming in the sunlight.
I press my hands to my face, spying through splayed fingers what's happening. My body is tense and shivering all at once. Nyx seemingly takes pity on me and drapes his arm across my shoulder and tugs me against him like a mother hen would comfort her chicks.
Bastian swipes a claw at thecruscorpioand takes it by surprise. He rips one of the beast's legs off and uses it to smash down on its armored head. Thecruscorpiobellows in agonyfrom its injury, but it's not nearly finished. Its tail spears down toward Bastain and he leaps out of range. Second, third, fourth smash of its tail in the sand as Bastian dodges the venomous blow. He uses his claws to break the creature's armor but is finding it difficult to destroy.
Panic flares in my chest when thecruscorpioswipes at Bastian's chest and crimson blood pours down his fur. Bastian roars, rearing his head back. But when he looks back down at the monster, there's a rage in Bastian's eyes that even takes me by surprise. For a man ready to die, he's putting up a good fight. I'm not sure if it's Bastian in control or his beast. I don't really know how Bastian's magic works. And if he dies today, all his secrets will die with him.
Bastian uses his brute strength to tackle the creature, putting it on its back. Its belly isn't protected, so Bastian uses his claws to rip the creature apart. Thecruscorpiotries to use his tail to sting Bastian but it's the first thing he tears off before spilling the monster's entrails. The creature twitches a few times before it stops moving all together. Bastian is covered in his blood and the beast's blood. He stands and takes a few steps in the Naziris' direction before falling flat on his face.
The fight is over. I leap over the banister in front of me and sprint down to the arena. There's nothing in the rules saying I can't come down once thecruscorpiois dead.
There are murmurs circulating amongst the crowd, but I tune them all out. Bastian is my focus. I slide up next to him and with all the strength I possess, try to push him onto his back. I'm struggling. I grunt and groan and grit my teeth but I still can't manage the move to check if he's still alive.
Suddenly, two hands join me.
"Nyx," I say softly, grateful he's followed me down here. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet," he grits his teeth as we push Bastian onto his back. "We don't know if the bastard survived."
Once he's laying flat, I flinch at the wound. From a far it looked like a scratch. Up close, it's a gash that will require stitches and will absolutely leave a scar. Suddenly, his beast form fades and he's lying naked in the sand.
"He couldn't have changed before we lifted his ass?" Nyx groans but mercifully takes his overlay off and covers Bastian from prying eyes.
I press my ear to his chest. "Come on, Bas," I coax. "Don't you die on me." There's a light pulse and slight breathing.
The Naziris come down as a collective unit. General Naziri's cheeks are flushed, and I can't tell if it's from the heat or anger Bastian killed his creature.
"He's alive," I inform them. "Severely injured. But I can heal – "
"If fate permits him to survive – "
"He slayed your creature!" I interrupt General Naziri before he can add another rule to the game. "Bastian earned his pardon. Fate has favored him. I am going to heal him." I put my hand over the injured area.
"Our laws clearly state – "
"Fuck your law!" I growl and my hand begins to glow. "I will not watch him die."
General Naziri takes a step forward, but Nyx stands between us. Instinctively, he reaches for his twin blades on his back, but when he realizes they're not there, he sighs and stands his ground. The message is clear. Touch her, you deal with me.
The Naziris don't move but I'm no longer focused on them. I pour all my magic into healing Bastian and slowly, his wound begins to stitch itself back together.
"If you do not stand down, you will be executed along with him." The General threatens and I know he's prepared to go through with it.
"He defeated your monster," I challenge, reminding him of the rules of the gauntlet. "Would you truly go back on your word to release him – "
