It was almost hard to rember life before everything had beco a total ss. Yet those precious mories from before were the things Devon clung to the most. mories of comfort and community. There was little enough of each in his current life.
His accommodations were ever so slightly better than they had been in the Irvin arena. The bed was nearly tolerable, the floors were cleaned almost monthly, and the food was more abundant. The danger was more variable.
In the Irvin arena he had to fight for his life primarily against wild beasts. Sotis they were starved, the effects of which varied by the animal. If they were too starved they were easier to fight, which suited Devon just fine. He didnt mind killing an easy opponent. He would even do his best to make it look sowhat difficult. He didnt care about the crowd but when his life was in control of soone else, he had to adapt. There had also been a few fights against humans there. Not all of them were to the death- slaves cost money after all.
After hed been casually given an admittedly poor cultivation technique, he quickly grew stronger. A cultivators body was much stronger than anyone else, and the versatility and power of energy couldnt be overco by simply having a stronger build. He ended up against stronger opponents but he himself grew quickly enough to defend himself. Enough that the Irvin arena was running out of opponents for him- and the guards were barely higher cultivation than himself.
Then he had been bought by the Potenza family- or more specifically by a daughter of the family, Tonina. His grandfather Anton had found him and planned to purchase his freedom, but she arrived before the deal was finished and used her familys influence to coerce him into a duel- and when she lost that one, a second duel at a ti most convenient to her advancing cultivation.
After that he had been thrown into an endless series of matches against other cultivators and magical beasts. He had to grow stronger to survive, and so he did. Sohow he ca through it, and a few weeks later things cald down. Hed thought he would be pushed until he died, but it seed to not be the case. Perhaps they had plans for when he grew in cultivation.
Just because they were going to send him against greater opponents as he grew didnt an he could stop. They would do it anyway- and Devon preferred to live. He had little in the way of discussions with others about cultivation since talking with rivals wasnt good for his own safety. He knew he had pushed himself from mid to late Body Tempering, but not to the peak according to the cultivation thod he had available. He wasnt sure if it was a mismatch between himself and the technique or if sothing was simply wrong with it, but he couldnt manage any more advancent.
Even so, he survived. He was fortunate to find himself matched against beasts he could kill or kept out of death matches entirely. He thought perhaps he might survive until he could grow strong enough to escape, or until his grandfather returned.
Those hopes had been shattered when his next match was announced. There was a giant man nad Moreno, more than a head taller than any of the other n and coated in rippling muscle. His build was secondary to his cultivation at the peak of Body Tempering. More than that, even. The rumors werent entirely clear on whether he had a foot into Spirit Building or had fully stepped into it. Devons only ti seeing the man he hadnt felt like hed completed a full level of whatever cultivation technique he used, but that could have changed in the last few weeks.
Regardless, it didnt matter. Moreno had more than just higher cultivation than Devon. Moreno wasnt a slave, or at least not fully treated like one. He was the man chosen to end most every arena combatants streaks- permanently. Devon didnt know what sort of bets were involved, but anyone involved would be foolish to bet against him. The matches werent fair. He was always equipped with better gear- high quality and enchanted. Even if his opponent was more skilled or nearly as strong, even a lucky hit by them wouldnt be enough to change the tide of battle.
Devon had found out about the match only three days before, directly from the lips of Tonina. The evil grin on her face told him that he was going to die just as much as her words did. If hed had a weapon nearby he would have tried to stab it through her heart, despite her presence in early Spirit Building aning he had no hope to kill her.
So he was going to die. Three days wasnt sufficient for any sort of breakthrough. The only solace he had was on the training field. Moreno had his own place to train secretly, with outside opponents. He was still able to watch the others train to inspect their weaknesses. It was clear he hadnt been inford of the match any sooner than Devon- he hadnt been watching him fight at all. In fact, he was out of town.
One of the other n used the sa sort of weapon- if it could be called that instead of a torture device. A chain with spikes along its length designed to cause maximum pain. Devon had convinced him to help train- since Devon would be dying in a few days regardless any secrets couldnt be used against him later.
His goal was still technically to win and kill Moreno, but Devon didnt think it would happen. He had no control over the shadow of death looming over him, but if he was going to die he was at least going to go down swinging. That might be exactly what the arena wanted, but he never had a choice in the matter. If possible, he wanted to take out an eye or at least chop off a finger. Sothing lasting to remind the world he had been alive.
He held his head high as he walked towards the arena floor, only to be thrown for a loop one last ti. He wasnt assigned his typical weapon, but instead a fencing sword and small bucklers. Soone didnt even care if he was entertaining as he died.
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The walls of Khonard lood before the small group. So of the less fit mbers were falling behind, unable to keep up with the pace Anton set. Kohar was able to keep up with the pace, but she gave a side-eye to Anton. Why are you pushing so hard? Were here, are we not?
We are, Anton acknowledged. But I have a feeling last ti I ca here, if I had arrived just minutes earlier, maybe a quarter of an hour, things would have been different. I just feel that- his eyes caught a figure in the distance. He turned to the few forr villagers of Dungannon hed been able to gather on their route to Khonard. All of you have your papers, your pouches? They nodded. The inn is two blocks that way, big sign. Well et you there later. Go ahead and get rooms, and a al. Kohar, with .
Sprinting through the streets of a city was considered rude, but Anton didnt care. Half a minute later he stood in front of Elder Varela of the Grasping Willows. No ti for formalities, Im afraid. Elder Varelas long white beard fluttered as he turned his head. Kohar, I presu. If you could find Elder Rocha in the governnt district and tell her Anton is present, we will be heading to the Potenza arena imdiately.
That urgent? Kohar glanced at Anton, then back to Elder Varela, I will return with as much haste as I can manage.
Kohar split off from the others, and Elder Varela began to explain as they were on their way, weaving through the people on the street. You were right about the Potenza family taking things poorly- or rather a certain foolish girl. My contact was able to convince them to restrict the sorts of combats Devon ended up in, but the elder mbers of the Potenza family are out of the city for the next few days. I did not know that until Tonina refused to release Devon, even when I showed her the copy of the docunt. It seems we accidentally provoked her into quick action. That was three days ago, and Devon was scheduled for a deathmatch imdiately. One that is about to start at any mont.
I can go faster, Anton declared. Trusting that Elder Varelas advantage in cultivation would be sufficient for him to do the sa, he rushed through the streets. His eyes picked out the way people were moving and where they would be when he arrived. He avoided their movents before they even knew he was there, and when soone noticed him and made uncoordinated movents that would have resulted in a collision he was prepared for that too. Was there a slight flow of energy along his path, guiding him, or was that his imagination? He couldnt be sure, and simply relied on his Insight to avoid people.
As they approached the arena, Anton was able to sense many sources of energy. Guards with cultivations around the peak of Body Tempering. Further in he sensed at least a handful of those in Spirit Building. So might simply belong to those watching the match, but Anton sensed Tonina and the guardian shed previously had with her as well. If the information was correct, he was known as Masozi. Then Anton sensed Devon, combating soone unknown.
Anton unfurled a docunt as he stopped in front of two guards who had spears drawn to block the entrance. You are illegally holding a man and will release him at once.
Bring that up with the Potenzas, said one of the guards.
I know Tonina is inside, bring to her now.
Cant. Match is happening.
The guard seed awfully confident Anton wouldnt do anything to him, despite him being weaker. Even as his eyes drilled into the man, he stood firm. That match involves a man illegally taken as a slave. Take to him. The n continued to block the entrance. Do you intend to ignore the rule of law?
Like I said, the guard stood firm. Take it up with the Potenzas.
Anton turned to Elder Varela. There was just a simple nod response. Then there was a blur of motion. On the left, the shocked head of a man landed sideways on the ground, shortly followed by his body. On the right there was a snap as the mans neck was twisted completely around by Elder Varelas seemingly innocuous long hair and beard- unthreatening before they latched onto him like giant hands.
With a powerful flick of his handaxe Anton cleaned the blood off, before returning it to hang at his side and drawing his bow. Should we announce ourselves more clearly? Anton asked.
Theyll be able to put up an organized defense. Dangerous. But it will help justify our actions and might help your grandson. Elder Varelas hair and beard wriggled around in the air in front of him and to the sides. Ill support whatever choice you make.
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