Gods of Arena
True King

{Earlier)........

Kwer walked into the hall, angry and confident. "I knew it!", He kicked against the wall, as he saw the bodies of the two soldiers laying on the floor. He glanced at Otto. Otto hadn't seen him coming till he walked through the passage so it was too late to run. "You didn't do this, did you?"

"N- No... I didn't. I swear", he blurted, trembling with fear. "It wasn't me"

"Oh, I know but you will pay for their sins. You understand that, right?", Kwei said, staring around. "It doesn't look like they are in here either. First, who did this?" "It's one of the f- fighters", he stuttered.

"Where are they hiding?"

"There is a plot to attack the larger figures and the soldiers while the arena is busy fighting the intruders"

Kwei smiled. "Good boy. Whose idea was it to do this? And you, why did you stay back?"

"I- I was too scared. I knew it wouldn't work", Otto replied. "It is the Blank. He and a larger figure are leading them out

"That is Ana. I'm glad you think straight, at least", Kwei said and turned, walking back through the passage. "We'll need a new batch of fighters anyway*

He glanced back and shot Otto in the head.

*** ***

The soldiers were blown up in flames, as the warships landed on the arena. Addax soldiers trooped out of the ships, armed and uniformed. They stopped and organized themselves in queues, facing the Dergon Arena and remaining at alert. A man walked out of the ship, gallant and relaxedly confident. He towered above all of the soldiers and the warships, having extremely long legs. He was the commander. "Hmm... Nice scent, it is", he sniffed in. "King is going to be happy to see me"

The soldiers remained behind him, silent and attentive. They were to wait for his order before making a move unless any of them sensed an incoming danger. Two soldiers rushed out through the passage. The commander stretched his hand and contracted his fingers. The soldiers dropped to their knees immediately and their guns. They groaned in pain, unable to control their muscles.

The commander gestured at two queues, sending them to the second section of the arena. He gestured at the others, sending them into the main section of the arena, while he waited out there. "I trust you guys are doing well, down there", he said, referring to the Dergon soldiers who were still under his spell. "Doesn't look like it. Sorry"

He turned his hand, quickly, making their necks snap. They dropped dead at his feet.

The soldiers showed up ahead so Ana hid behind Thomas. They weren't sure of how many soldiers they'd have to deal with so it'd be better not to attack head-on. With a closer view, they could see only three soldiers approaching them. They both had two gold straps on both hands already. Ana jumped out and they put the soldiers down. "That was easier than I thought", Thomas said, as they took a sharp turning, colliding with a person.

"Leila?", Ana muttered. "What are you doing here? I thought King had taken you back to the Other Side"

"Well, he's been too busy with the matters of the Arena. I managed to sneak out of the chambers", Leila replied. "What are you guys doing now?"

"We are going to take the arena down... You should join us and get free from Bane and King"

"Where are we going to go? The Cradlands?", Leila replied, doubtfully. "You know how much they hate the Arenas"

"We can work things out, Leila. If we don't do it now, we may never be able to try again"

"What's the plan?"

Three fighters walked in to them. "Guys. Who's the man?"

"I'm helping you out", Thomas said.

"Alright. It won't be nice to leave the second section of the Arena", one of the fighters said. "The fighters there are probably wishing for a way out too while trapped in the hall"

"We can't try that", Ana shook her head. "We are going to have to deal with the larger figures there too"

"And I think there are more Intruders now", Leila added. "In both sections"

"We can still try it", Thomas said. "You and I will go in. I will have to dress you up as a larger figure. I will go into their labs and make an announcement within the hall. They will gather where you can see them. Once they are there, you go in, tell them what is happening and lead them out with the gold strap in your hand"

"That sounds easy to say", Ana replied. "You didn't mention the part where we deal with the intruders"

"They are soldiers too; no difference. All we have to do is watch our own backs and stay alive", Thomas said. "What's your name, please?"

"Grill", the fighter said..

"Alright, Grill. Are you going to do this?"

"It was my suggestion. Let's get on with it"

The two of them ran along, leaving Ana, Leila and the other fighters. They would get Grill a costume of the Larger Figures before proceeding.

****

"It's so boring, waiting for King here", the Commander muttered. His body emitted light for a second, like a glitch, and he took a step backwards, leaving a figure of himself in the same position. He had become two. "You know what to do" "Well, don't tell me what to do", the second version of the commander, who seemed to be invisible, said and walked into the Dergon Arena. "Wait for King"

"Oh. I'm so proud, aren't I?", the commander muttered, silently, to himself. Staring in through the passage, it was too dark to be sure but something seemed to be approaching. He smiled. If it were the soldiers, they would be running towards him with their guns or they would have shot already.

"I was thinking Rocco should have the decency to show up", King walked out, with his hands behind him. "But he sent you. What's the name again?"

"Zayde. You must have heard of me, I believe", the commander replied, confidently. "Just so you know Rocco respects you, he sent me❞

"It still feels like disrespect, though. I can remember beating him up, back in the days"

"Well", Zayde smiled confidently and bent into a combat position. "I'm not Rocco.... And he's not me"

King clenched his fist and expanded in size, almost as tall as Zayde. "This is about to get interesting"

"What is happening, Kang?", Eddie asked, staring surprisedly at armed soldiers in different uniforms. "Who are those people?" "They are the intruders", Romeo replied. "Soldiers from Addax. We have to take them out as quick as possible"

They walked behind Kang, moving stealthily. "Say nothing", Kang muttered. "We have to know how many they are and take them out immediately"

They crouched to the soldiers who remained still in a position. Romeo and Eddie had their guns ready, as Kang stood up straight. He pushed the soldiers gently, as if suspecting something else. "They are not real", Kang muttered. "They are mannequins. It's a trap"

The invisible Zayde walked down the passage, not so sure of where to go but he kept moving. He walked past many soldiers and larger figures, unable to be touched or seen. He walked through the passage and entered the fighters all. "Wow!", he muttered. "It's a lot different here"

His eyes fell on Otto, who had a gunshot wound on his head. "Wow! They kill people too", the invisible Zayde added. "Our designs are definitely nicer"

"Who's there?", a voice alerted him. He turned slowly. It was the same dead body on the ground. Otto's neck straightened and he raised his back slowly.

"You can hear me speak", Zayde muttered, making himself visible to Otto. He stepped closer.

"Who are you?", Otto asked, timidly. "Please, don't kill me"

Zayde sneezed and stepped back. "You emit great power yet you have great fear", he commented, staring with awe. "The fear... it's holding back your true capabilities. I smell fire. What's your shin-zhu?"

Otto showed his palm and his hand burst in flames. "This is my shin-zhu"

"I will teach you", Zayde stood up straight. "We won't win this fight but I'm taking spoils with me"

****

King slammed his two huge arms on the ground, creating an earthquake. Zayde's leg sank into the ground and King shot a ball of energy at him, throwing him out of the trap. Zayde rolled back on his feet, still smiling and confident. "You really have a strong hit", he said.

Zayde straitened his palms, turning both into long blades. He rubbed the blades together, shooting a wave. King drifted back, heavily, pushing against the force. Zayde, with his extremely flexible body and long legs, sprinted behind King within a second, sliding King off the ground.

He created a shield, quickly, as King bounced back on his feet, coming at Zayde with an heavy blow. King broke through the shield, making Zayde stagger backwards. King extends his leg, kicking Zayde across the arena. King stamped a foot on the ground and a mound of earth propelled him into the air, towards Zayde. Zayde swiped his hand, throwing King back down with a wave. His blades went back into his palm, as he threw his hands forward. A rope shot out, grabbing King by the neck. He tugged at the rope pulling King closer to himself.

"You really are tough, King", Zayde said. "But-"

King expanded further, breaking out of the rope, and threw Zayde back. "This is going to be a long fight"