Bubbled and bruised, blood spewed from swollen lips. Pain ragged his shoulders, leaving his face open to a flurry of kicks. Heels and shins swiftly striking across his sun darkened skin.

  “Hiyaaaaa!” Ben Krow’s friend squealed in delight. His fifth knockdown of the evening. Urjohar slumped over, blood spraying from every orifice on his face.

  “Bluus,” Ben said.

  “Yeah?”

  “Take a close look at him. Do you see the blood at his feet?” Bluus turned with a glum face. “He’s up, heck, he didn’t even grab his knees!”

  “Hehehe, I don’t give a fuck if you throw a hundred of your lousy kicks at me…” Urjohar coughed.

  “Heh, really?” Bluus flew forward, his heel crashing into Urjohar’s sternum. As the two tussled…

  …Ben Krow had to ask. “So, tell me…” Ben leaned back, crossing his arms and closing his eyes, he addressed the young lady beside him. “How can you stand and watch what is going on so easily? Why don’t you ask me to stop this? Don’t you see that death awaits your friend?” The vermilion bird scrolled his arm as the crimson dragon tightened. His tattoos began to burn, a radiating heat opened unseen to all but himself, Ben Krow.

  “Urjo chose to fight from his own will. Who am I to stop him?” Cherry said.

  Walli smirked whilst Ben Krow opened his eyes in disbelief.

  “Thanks…Cherry…” Urjohar grinned as he got up once again. Nautilus quickly rubbed his sweaty chin once he heard the name Cherry.

  Cherry…Cherry… It couldn’t be, is she perhaps… Thoughts swirled within Nautilus’s mind, but just as he was reaching a conclusion, they had an interruption.

  “But…by now I can confidently say, this has now turned into my fight, too. And the fight of Ontiganel. That means it's definitely not gonna end with Urjo going down. Once he can’t lift his head anymore will be when I step onto the stage…” Her glossy lips spat like melting ice, a crackling aura began to surround her. Cherry placed her hand onto her hip, let the wind carry her hair, and stared lightning daggers into Ben Krow.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  “…” Ben Krow opened up his posture as his muscles slowly revved. “Does that mean you will be our opponent?”

  The eyes Ben Krow looked into flickered not a millimeter, nor did the lids shiver, a dead bolt like a doll. His own soul staring back, her black eyes reflecting his twisting stomach, the subconscious hesitation he held within.

  “Cherry…?” Urjohar looked back, unsure if he should admire in awe, or be fearfully concerned.

  That cold cutting speech, surely, no doubt about it. Cherry Soda from BACON!! As Nautilus concluded, Taiga walked in, his shirt slightly untucked and unbuttoned at the top, baggy black slacks with a worn belt, and hands that would stay in his pockets. A steel like aura separated the air as he walked past those shorter than him. Following behind was Horst with Fester holding onto Horst’s arm like a scared maiden.

  “That won’t be necessary,” Taiga said. “If Urjo can’t go on anymore, then it will be my turn.”

  “Ta…” Urjohar coughed, barely able to hold onto the spicy saliva swirling with the blood inside. His jaw popped on every breath he tried to take, inevitably leaving him in a coughing fit.

  “Ah, Taiga Vepkhia, how good to see you again…” Ben Krow said.

  “The vice-champ…shit!” Nautilus said with his face glistening more than a freshly cleaned fish-tank.

  Finally! He came. This indeed was worth the wait. Walli thought.

  “Oh-ho, I thought the Taiga Vepkhia didn’t do no fights for money. At least that’s what the rumors say…” Ben Krow’s eyes tilted without his lips pressing, his right cheek rose ever slightly, but the wrinkles were showing what he was feeling.

  With clear eyes Taiga pushed past Bluus without much concern. However, Bluus scratched his goatee, rubbed his sleep deprived eyes, twisted his beanie, and gave a mean face close enough for both Taiga and him to smell each other’s skin.

  “Stay still boy, this will be quick,” Bluus said casually. Blood sprayed into the air. Bluus spun, his face dragged along the ground. Crashing into the fencing, his mangled face was all that could be seen. Taiga’s hand glistened as if coated in invisible steel. With a stable back fist strike he had taken out a fly in his eyes.

  “Stay still.”

  “Wohohoho, Bu-bu-Bluus…with one punch. Incredible!” Nautilus said whilst cowering into a ball of frightened perspiration.