The air was hot that day, the winds blowing between the mountain peaks of either side of the arena. Its stands were lines with hundreds of Genosians and other members of the audience. Most notably the Archduke, a bulbous freak in gilded attire and an entourage establishing his presence. His seat was much higher than any other in the audience, near the top of the arena, as he looked down at everyone. The sandstone dust was kicked up into the air as everyone began to cheer, signalling the beginning of the gladiatorial event.
A single Genosian flew to the center of the arena, having come from an opening in the walls of the stage. The actual fighting ring was set deeper than the stands above.
"Welcome! Friends and Newcomers to our Festival! Now as many of you may know we have a special event planned today, one of blood, daring, and Mayhem. We've set three rounds for our challenger from the Ascendant fleet we all have to thank for our lives." It said in an ever-cheery voice.
At this time a large feline-like beast entered, flanked by struggling keepers and with an introduction.
"First of these rounds will be met by a Nexu! A ferocious and terrifying creature, its maw of endless teeth and its legs of speed greater than the winds themselves. Few can best this housepet from your worst nightmares." The Introducer said. The Nexu snarled and yipped, its wide smile snapping at its captors. continuing its round through the arena. At the cheers and screams of the audience it sat in one corner of the arena and strained as it was chained to the walls. The handlers were visibly relieved, sighing and wiping their' brows, once they had returned to the entry way. Soon a large bull-like beast entered, puffing air through the ring in its nostril.
"Next we have the powerful Reek! Its thick hide and size making it a veritable tank, paired with those huge horns we know that things are going to get brutal with this one." The Introducer finished.
The Reek was almost immediately brought to the opposite side of the ring and bound facing the Nexu, both pointed to the center of the arena.
"Our final round is a mystery, one that will be earned once weve seen what our Plagueian can do. Speaking of which its time we introduce our Gladiator, Ahsik Warren of House Tyrannus!" The Introducer boomed, his voice echoing through the entire pass it had seemed.
Ahsik entered the ring, his staff whole and hanging in his right hand, a million thoughts racing through his head. The Zabrak bravely faced each beast and strode to stand at the center of the arena, alongside the Introducer.
"Now that we have our competitors its time for the Archduke to decide the first beast to face our champion, and to bestow his blessing." The Introducer explained.
The Archduke seemed indifferent to the entire affair, waving his hands for flair and resting a pointed finger on the Reek.
"And so it shall begin, Ahsik will face the towering Reek first!" The voice of the Introducer was drowned in the cheers of the people. The Introducer promptly flew up and into the Archduke's booth, shaking and speeding like a slug from a slugthrower.
"huh" Ahsik said, facing the Reek and igniting his electrostaff in both hands. The left end low and his wieght shifted to his back right leg, like a puma ready to pounce. The Reek's chains soon dropped around it, its bulging muscles strained as it let out a ground quaking roar, its bloodshot eyes locking unto the little red opponent before it.
Starting into a charge, the sight of the Reek made Ahsik realize a few things about his situation. Firstly, that this beast was drugged and enraged long before finding and enemy naturally sporting an aggravating color, and secondly, **ohboy that thing is big**. As the creature approached Ahsik held his focused much like his staff and patiently waited until it was within a striking distance. As the Reek dipped its head down to impale the poor fighter, the Gladiator leaped high and over its wicked lance, coming down with equal force on the base of its neck with the shocking pole. The stunned creature stumbled, its front feet seized and tripped over its own curled toes. The resounding crash kicked up dust all through the air of the arena, the Zabrak landed and began to cough through the dust, sure that his enemy had not yet fallen. The head of the Reek began to shake off the effects of the Sith's unorthodox weapon, grunting and beginning another charge. This time Ahsik only raised his left wrist, firing 3 shots into the eyes of the beast, its pained shouts and failed charging giving way to an opening. Promptly the warrior ran up and leaped unto the face of the beast, one arm around its top horn and feet planted on each of its downward horns. The beast began to cry out and opened its mouth in an attempt to begin shaking off this passenger, however it was cut short as the end of the electrostaff was shoved in, causing the beast to tense up and collapse under its power. Still pressing its end unto the roof of the beasts mouth, it laid there convulsing for another 4 minutes before Ahisk took it out and laid a hand against the creature's neck. The blood that had pooled from the wound then made by the hidden dagger in Ahsik's bracer confirmed that he had succeeded in slaying the beast.
"Are you not entertained?!" Ahsik cried to the cheering and roaring masses above. With the sound of the Nexu that awaited him, Ahsik heard the Archduke himself speak,
"Well done Gladiator, now it is time for you to slay the other, only then can you see the end of these trails."
The news sank in Ahsik's heart, sparking an annoyance as Ahsik split the staff and prepared for the next beast.
The Nexu was more than eager when the chains gave way, its dazziling speed caught Ahsik off guard as it raced to him. Ahsik threw up a visage of himself charging the beast, its resuklting confusion had bought the man some time to consider this nightmarish beast. It turned to snarl at Ahsik, who reformed his staff and grabbed a detonation grenade from his belt as he charged the beast. A brief moment before the beast followed as well, leaving him with a brief moment to toss the grenade and leap off his staff, both propelling him high into the air. The Nexu emerged from the blast bloodied but more enraged than before. Its tail whipped back and forth as its eyes closed in on the falling Zabrak. Ready for its approach, Ahsik threw his Staff, coupled with the illusion of 7 more. The feline monster stopped again and was unable to decide the real threats from the mirages and was struck by the falling lightning bolt that was the weapon. Its cry was brief as the staff bounced off its head, but the Zabrak followed his weapon, planting both feet against its skull and grabbing his weapon again in the process. The attack was weaker than intended as the creature had reaction enough to grab Ahsik in its maw, locking around his left leg. It thrashed its prey about, ripping into its opponent's thigh and causing it to bleed profusely. Turning and planting both hands against the skull of the beast, Ahsik drove his hidden blade into the eye of the Nexu and emptied the magazine of his wrist lazer into its other. His hatred pushed the Nexu's sensation of such damage to such extremes that it instantly was killed, dropping its corpse on top of the Plagueian.
The arena was dead silent, all breaths were held in favor of the search for some signal of life, some hope that the warrior had bested his prey.
Then a single hand emerged from the beast, followed by the struggling figure of the limping, bloodied, but still very much alive Zabrak.
"Well done warrior, well done. Now its time for me to introduce my personal pet. I hope you can manage with your injuries because its unlike youd survive against my Acklay!" The Archduke cheered to himself almost.
"Are you Freaking kidding me?!?" Ahsik was exhausted.
Promptly falling to his knees and drawing on the force, in the time it took for the handlers to fetch the huge mantis-like beast, Ahsik had mangaed to alter his blood flow and restore his energy before rising and splitting his staff once more.
"Okay, Lets Go!" The shouted as he began a battleroar, rushing to this massive beast. The only thing that Ahsik would meet would be the barbed claw of the creature as it swiped him aside, and into the corpse of the Reek he had defeated. The pain flashed along his ribs, with only a moment to avoid the sharp leg of the Acklay attempting to spear him, accomplishing only to stick the corpse of another. Ahsik threw his left staff like a javelin and held the remaining end with both hands. The flying shock stick struck the Acklay along its main body, the shock managing to inflict only a small crack in its exoskeleton. Ahsik charged and struck its closest leg with all his might, breaking the joint and causing the beast to lose its balance a moment. Ahsik unfurled his Baton in his other hand and entred a stae of pure, wild hatred. Swinging with each weapon and his voice breaking under the endless growling roar that followed his every move, the poor Acklay soon cried and crumbled under the assault, its sticky body fluid covering Ahsik and his weapons. Standing over the nody of the beaten creatures Ahsik once again raised his staff over his head and let out one final cry before promptly passing out.
"And so ends the Combat event of the Evening folks! We will have something for you to see once again tomorrow but for today, our new champion is Ahsik Warren. And Once he recovers from this battle you can all have a meet and greet later on" The Introducer said to finish out the night. The Archduke's eyes narrowed and thought.... **maybe he shouldnt be allowed to survive this.... hes too dangerous....**
"nurseman, may i have a word before you go treat that boy?".....