Vorza worked Kasar into the ground till the young Devil panted like a beaten and starving hound. Kasar soon realized that the sparring in the cell was only a fraction of Vorza’s skill intended on seeing where Kasar’s own skill ranked. He never wanted to face the real Vorza in battle.

  They trained in the training grounds, a large expanse of sand and dirt that mimicked the fighting pits. It’s where the gladiators trained for their matches to give the people of Akonai City a good show. They called the city the Bronze City in reference to the Bronze Guard, an elite fighting force who served the Bronze God-King Akonai, who the city was named after.

  Kasar laughed when he learned all of this. They warned to not push Akonai too far with his ridicule and disrespect. He liked the boy for his fiery impudence the first time because it fell into an acceptable amount. If he kept crossing the line, Akonai may just have Kasar killed for spectacle and spin a clever narrative around it.

  Kasar didn’t know about his gladiator peers and their rebelliousness, but he intended to push that boundary as far as he could on principle.

  The days turned into a blur of intense training, eating, healing, and sleeping. He grew a bond with several gladiators he thought at first he wouldn’t. Beregar the half Maharian half Akashtran blade master who moved far too fast for his size and rivaled Kasar despite not being a Devil. Sipha, the woman who Beregar claimed flirted with Kasar, though Kasar couldn’t spot it whenever they talked. She did like to touch him whenever she could. But he figured that’s how they treated friends in her homeland. She hailed from Valkenia in the east and bore their people’s olive skin and the peculiar enunciation of the last syllable of every sentence. They also loved to kiss cheeks, according to Beregar who seemed all too pleased by that notion.

  He met people from all over the world, places he’d never heard of, and places his parents and he had traveled through for survival. Mostly the mainlands where the two great empires stood, Mahar and Karth.

  Rhind was another gladiator who hailed from Ingstad who claimed that one day Ingstad would destroy Vrodia. He earned a bloody nose and a black eye from Vorza for that. Oshi from a land called Warvale, so far off the mainland continent most didn’t even consider it part of Ridden, despite its narrow connection southeast of Valkenia on an isthmus called Breaker’s Gate. Kasar learned what an isthmus was that day. Oshi bore her own set of superstitions such as how ghosts watched them at all times. She believed the ghosts would take their souls if they did not live well.

  When Kasar asked what her home was like, she said her home no longer existed. Many years ago a vile man known as Lord Torvic slaughtered her people and her queen and she is likely the last of her culture still alive.

  Kasar learned the word genocide that day.

  A month passed.

  A month since Kasar lost his family. A month since he found a new one in these hardened veterans of war. He held onto his ideals despite their teasing and jeers. At this point it became a humorous aspect of who Kasar was that they took in stride. However, to Kasarit meant everything. The last memories and lessons of his family.

  All the fun and games ceased as the day of Kasar’s first fight arrived against the gauntlet of Bronze Guards.

  ***

  The gauntlet consisted of seven fights back to back against the Bronze Guard, with the final one being the captain of their elite corps known as Grim. Grim was the one who glowered at Kasar the day the young Devil met Akonai. He swore to his God-King, Akonai that he would avenge his brethren. Never before had seven Bronze Guard fell to a single person. Vorza claimed it was because they never faced a Devil before.

  On the morning of the fight, Kasar could hear the horde of people assembling in the pits for the preliminary fights. Oshi would fight alongside Beregar against a freshly captured pack of Gnarl Hounds. After that, Rhind and a Rhodini fighter named Xinuba were set to fight an onslaught of Crala, dog sized carnivores native to the Rhodini steppes. They looked like beetles morphed with hounds with long limbs and sharp pincers.

  Vorza and Kasar stood in the sandy staging grounds under the stands where the audience roared. Vorza patted Kasar on the shoulders. “You’ve trained hard and are the best student I have ever had.”

  “How much have I grown since we started?” asked Kasar.

  Vorza grinned under his beard and palmed Kasar’s cheek, as if proud of the question more so than the answer he gave. “You will beat the first six with ease. However, I worry about your endurance and any wounds you acquire. This Grim… He is a wild one. A dangerous one. Play it safe and keep yourself able for him, lad.”

  “I will,” said Kasar.

  “Your skills are sharp and your instincts sharper still.”

  “I know,” said Kasar with a smile.

  “Go show them what a Devil can do.”

  The audience erupted as the announcer declared Beregar and Oshi the victors. Next up was Xinobu and Rhind.

  “Hope that Ingstadian bastard dies out there,” growled Vorza.

  Kasar made a note to ask his mentor about their nations’ history. He needed to focus and stretch.

  ***

  The Ingstadian did not die, much to Vorza’s disgruntlement. Vorza gave Kasar a nod as the announcer began the speech before his series of fights.

  “And now!” he cried. “People of Akonai City and beyond! I know you’ve all been waiting for the blood feud between Grim the Bronze Captain and the Young Devil! Grim has told me as per his guild’s custom, this blood fued has not only their honor and lives on it, but their names. If Young Devil can win this, Grim will relinquish his name and legacy to the victor.”

  Kasar raised his brow to Vorza.

  “These damn Bronzies love their bloody customs.” He cleared his throat. “So do Vrodians, but we’re a nation. They’re a bunch of guildies with bronze ingots shoved up their rears.”

  Kasar laughed and the soldier watching them gave him a hard glower. He stuck his tongue out at him and donned his helm.

  “Wait,” said Vorza. Some people hurried toward them. Beregar and Sipha. Beregar still had blood coating his armor and face. Sipha winked at Kasar. They both held a box and presented it to Kasar.

  “I wanted you to have this,” said Vorza. “Had it spun from some weavers in the city.”

  “You can do that?” asked Kasar.

  “With some gold and silver tongue,” said Vorza with a chuckle. “It’s Devil’s Garb.” He opened the box to reveal a grey set of padded armor to wear over his gladiator raiment.

  “Vorza… I’ve only heard stories of this garb,” said Kasar.

  “Put it on before the announcer’s done jerking the Bronzies,” piped Sipha.

  Kasar scurried to don the garb. The soldier looked like he was going to protest but the gates started to open and Kasar pulled the strap together tightening the garb around him. It served as a padded coat that flowed down to his calves. A hood rested at his neck to cover his face from the sun and weather. A true Devil didn’t need sight. His torso lay protected from extra leather wrappings protecting his stomach, back, and chest. The shoulder pads were heavy, but practical, and the overall flexibility of the piece felt perfect.

  “Vorza…” stammered Kasar.

  Vorza stepped back and the soldier shoved Kasar forward into the pits with his saber in his sheath. He heard Vorza’s words even as the old mentor whispered them. “Thank me after you kill Grim.”

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  Kasar closed his eyes in the blinding sun and walked over to the center of the pits where several of the Bronze Guard stood. He opened his eyes into a slit and spotted the captain called Grim. He stood a head taller than the rest, and his armor looked a shade darker, but still proudly bronze.

  “How do you not melt all of that plate?” asked Kasar.

  They did not respond and Kasar shrugged.

  “So here we have the Young Devil, captured in the northern deserts on the border of Karth. His story is tragic, but expected of his fallen guild.”

  Kasar spat on the sand and glared up at the announcer who used magic to enhance his voice for all to here. “Hey!” he cried. “Fuck you!”

  The audience jeered and clapped and hooted and the announcer stammered at the insult. “Looks like he is also a savage imbecile.”

  “Says the slaver,” said Kasar.

  The audience booed him and jutted their thumbs down.

  Kasar flashed a rude gesture at all of them, pausing at each of the sectioned stands where the people sat. He kept it longer for the Bronze God-King.

  “Our young devil is not really a favorite anymore,” said the announcer with a chuckle. “No doubt many are excited to see our brave and honorable captain bloody him.”

  “What’s so brave and honorable about a bastard who has his six armored whores fight before him, anyways?” asked Kasar, arms crossed. “He seems like a coward to me.”

  Now the audience raved and turned into a frenzied mess of shouts that meant nothing but audacious excitement. They didn’t know how to contain themselves. Neither did Kasar, for that matter.

  Akonai didn’t look annoyed, but pleased from his throne. He reveled in the animosity. Vorza explained that animosity meant money in this game.

  The announcer stammered to find his rhythm again. “Well, well, he is quite fiery I must say. Have you no respect for the great Bronze Guard?”

  “They captured me,” said Kasar, growling and glaring at Grim. “Forced me to march here to fight for your amusement. As far as I’m concerned, I was excited for this day. The day I make your guild a memory of shame and death.”

  Kasar drew his blade.

  The Guard drew theirs. An assortment of polearms and great axes.

  “Looks like our fighters are eager,” said the announcer.

  “We take him on at once,” cried Grim.

  The audience roared in agreement.

  Fear rippled through Kasar. He dug his own grave in the hot sands. Now he had to dig himself out. His eyes flitted to a sinister grin that split Akonai’s face from up in his safe, shaded throne. The God-King nodded and the audience erupted into excited pandemonium.

  “You really are a coward,” scoffed Kasar.

  Grim and his Guard advanced, uncaring of Kasar’s insults.

  Kasar fell into a stance and used his parents’ and Vorza’s lessons to full effect.

  A Devil senses more than anyone else.

  He sensed three of the seven fan out to flank him. The four in front, including Grim, pushed in a four pronged attack, with polearms jutting out.

  A Devil Dances because he is surrounded by enemies. Kasar let an axe glide over his head and clash with a stab from a halberd. He moved forward toward the halberdier Guard and slashed upward into his groin.

  He Dances to spite his enemies.

  Kasar spun to avoid another swing which clashed into the halberdier’s weapon, driving it down and out of his grip.

  He defies their power. He defies their authority.

  Kasar skirted around the howling Guardsman and lashed out with his saber, carving a chunk out of a second’s neck. His halberd plopped out of his hands and into the sand. Kasar dove for the halberd, letting the axes strike air, and Grim’s spear gutted his own Guardsman. His fingers wrapped around the weapon, and as he recovered to his knees, he planted the butt of the weapon into the sand and let a Guardsman with an axe run himself right into it.

  Kasar ducked under another swing, parried another, though the impact sent currents down his arm. The butt of Grim’s own halberd connected with Kasar’s jaw. Lights flash as his head snapped to one side. He staggered to a side and watched as the Guardsmen rose, tossing aside empty vials in the sand.

  “Potions,” he rasped, head hurting. “It’s like I did nothing to them.” And Kasar realized how spent he felt already.

  They advanced yet again and they fell into the same rhythm. Kasar knew where their weapons would land. He maneuvered them well enough to strike each other, or their weapons, or nothing at all. However, Grim had wisened up. He delayed his attacks, waiting for Kasar’s trickery to end before stabbing or shoving.

  The blade of the halberd managed to slice a gash into Kasar’s shoulder. His pad protected him, but the impact threw him off balance. This sent an axe blade through a chunk of his thigh. He staggered again, as the seven rounded up on him.

  He snarled like a cornered hound and lashed out in a futile attempt at striking Grim’s neck. Grim stepped back and Kasar spotted glee in his eyes through the bronze helm. However, Kasar let his blade continue and roared as it carved into a Guardsman’s underarm where the plate bore a gap. The Guardsman howled, and Kasar ripped free the blade, rolling away to create distance from the descending axes and halberds.

  The Guardsmen advanced again, but Kasar struck first. An axe Guardsman did not expect a sudden offensive so soon. His neck spurted blood as Kasar attacked. The body fell and Kasar snatched an axe swing mid arc, and used the curve of his blade and momentum to maneuver the Guardsman into his fall brethren. They toppled over and Kasar struck at the Guardsman’s hamstrings where the armor gapped to allow the knee to bend.

  The crowd cried out in shock as two Guardsman were dead or neutralized. Kasar did not halt his momentum. The last axeman stepped back, thinking he needed space, but he shouldn’t have cowered back. Though his halberdier cohorts thrust forward to skewer Kasar, the young Devil batted one halberd into another, letting them lock in place.

  He swerved in between the little nook the two interlocked weapons made, and used his saber as a launching off point. With a shouted curse, he shoved with all his might, forcing the two halberdiers to stumble forward. A clean swipe at the knees sent them to the sands, howling.

  From behind, the axeman struck, but Kasar dodged, and arced his saber around to slice into his neck. With a kick, he sent the sputtering and flailing Guard down on his rear.

  Two remaining and one of them Grim.

  Kasar dodged the halberd swing from Grim only to get cleaved in the shoulder with the second. His shoulder pad took majority of the blow, but Kasar felt his shoulder dislocate. A shove with the shaft of the halberd sent Kasar flying backward and into the sand. The lancing pain in his ribs forced a cry from his lips. He looked up to see Grim and his last cohort looming above him.

  “No one will remember you, whelp,” spat Grim.

  Kasar rolled to dodge one, but Grim launched the second attack soon after. Kasar screamed as he placed the saber between him and the halberd’s blade. It sank an inch into the flesh under his collar bone.

  The second Guard prepared to strike Kasar’s groin. He cackled maniacally. Before the halberd’s tip could pierce flesh, Kasar pulled back with his leg so the tip skewered his foot. The angle shifted and the point drove straight Kasar’s foot and into Grim’s knee.

  One Bronze Guard howled in pain, while the other roared in frustration. The pressure from the blade inside Kasar’s shoulder vanished, and the young Devil wrenched the weapon out of his body and flung it at Grim.

  It struck him in the face and sent him on his back. Kasar watched the second halberd descend onto his head. The young Devil caught it with his saber at a glancing angle, pushing it away from his skull and into the sand. He shot up to his feet. With a shriek he realized it’d have to be only one foot that carried him now. While the halberd rested in the sand, Kasar performed a feint which forced out a swerve of the Guard’s head. Now Kasar knew where the poor fool would be. The real strike clanged into his helm and sent the man face first into the sand.

  Behind, Grim tried to stand. Kasar limped over to his foe and placed a saber at his neck. “Yield,” he spat.

  The crowd went silent and Akonai leaned forward, intrigued.

  Grim stammered for a response, but couldn’t find one.

  “Yield!” roared Kasar. “Grim, you fool, you’ve lost!”

  “I am no longer Grim,” said the Bronze Captain with a sob. His eyes flitted to Akonai.

  Kasar glanced up to see the God-King cackle to himself.

  The announcer spoke with a booming voice. “The victor is Grim!”

  Kasar frowned and before he could react, the Bronze Captain slit his own throat against Kasar’s saber. The young Devil stepped back, speechless. “What the hell?” He looked around to see if anyone else looked astounded. They were too busy cheering.

  Blood loss and fatigue caught up to Kasar and he stumbled to his knees. Vorza and Beregar hurried up to him, Vorza holding a vial in his hand. He didn’t even remember taking the potion, but he remembered the agony of his ribs, foot, and other injuries mending over time.

  “You did wonderful,” said Vorza. “You stupid, stupid boy.” He said it through a mix of anger and relief.

  “What did we say about provoking Akonai?” asked Sipha. They loomed over him as they carried him away.

  “All hail, Grim!” cried Beregar and the rest of the gladiators and even the soldiers. “Grim! Grim! Grim!”

  “You’ve given Akonai a reason to keep you alive, that is for sure,” said Vorza, setting Kasar down on a chair. Oshi brought him water. Beregar continued the mythic chant.

  Kasar broke out of his stunned state and agonizing stupor of the potion. “I will make sure he regrets it.” He meant it.