Vir couldn’t wait for the day. He turned his eyes to his fallen foe.
It would be so easy to kill him now, Vir thought. A single strike of his katar would sever the Kothi’s spine, ending his life instantly.
It would also get Vir disqualified, and attempted murder or not, Vir would not take the life of this Chitran.
At least, not today.
Vir made a fist with his left hand, and Empowering it with as much prana as he could, he Blinked again, closing the distance and punching the Kothi’s back.
Vir could swear he heard a crack as his fist crumpled the plate metal armor that protected his opponent’s back.
Annas was thrown forward yet again, slumping to his knees.
The katars fell from his hands, and his face hit the stage.
The arena was silent.
Vir approached the demon slowly, refusing to let his guard down. Against a foe who used poison, no amount of caution was enough.
Placing a foot on Annas’ back, Vir brought his katar to his neck.
There was no admission of loss. No pained whimpers of defeat.
Annas had fallen unconscious.
The commentator was the first to break the silence.
“Winnnnerrrrrrr! Vaaaaak of the Aaaash!”
The arena erupted in noise, and for the first time in his fights, the applause drowned out the booing, but Vir didn’t yet address them.
Instead, he kneeled next to Annas’ ear.
“What’s this? Is Vaak paying respects to his opponent! What a stunning display of sportsmanship! Truly a gracious winner, Nakin.”
“Absolutely, Samik. It’s rare to see anything like this in the tournament. Let alone from a newcomer.”
Vir’s lips drew taut. It was a good thing no one would hear his next words, because he was about to let them down.
“The next time we meet,” Vir whispered, “it will be on a battlefield where no poison or trickery can save you. So pray that we do not soon meet again. For when we do, I swear to Adinat himself, I will end you.”
Vir didn’t know if the Chitran heard him, and he didn’t rightly care. He stepped off his vanquished foe and raised his katar to the crowd.
“The victor greets the crowwwwwd!” a commentator said. “And what’s this? The Ravager is rising from his seat! Does the legendary champion recognize this young upstart?”
“Well, Samik, we know these two have quite a close relationship. Nobody knows for sure what that is, but I’d bet good coin that the Ravager has groomed Vaak personally.”
The cheering redoubled, but Vir didn’t care about that. His eyes found a certain four-armed giant, who stared back with his undivided attention, blazing with the full might of his Crown Chakra aura. For the first time, Cirayus regarded Vir not as a doting godfather, or as a mentor, but as the Ravager. As an opponent.
The greatest challenge of Vir’s life was about to begin. The fight that would alter the future of the Demon Realm was upon him.
Vir smiled up at the Ravager. The Ravager smiled back, as they shared the same thought.
This is going to be fun.
114BRINGING HOME A GODDESS
“Knocked out!” Cirayus roared for what had to be the tenth time. “Ah, to see the look on his face when he wakes up. Can you imagine?”
“I can! I really, really can!” Aida replied, slurring her words.
Cirayus was, of course, drunk, and he wasn’t the only one. Aida also had her fair share as well. The level of alcohol required to get a giantess and a heavyweight like Cirayus drunk was something else. Vir wondered just how they made enough ale and mead to service the whole tournament. The operation must’ve been staggering in scale.
“What’re you smirkin’ about, eh?” Cirayus said, clapping Vir on the back.
“Oh, nothing,” Vir replied with a small smile. Just a little surprise. “You’ll see soon enough.”
Cirayus replied with an, “Eh?” but didn’t ask further. He’d likely forgotten all about that conversation by the time the two giants stumbled into Cirayus’ home.
Both froze. The house was not empty.
A gorgeous black-haired, red-skinned demon woman stood at the other end, idly stroking the fur of a half dozen wolves, who lay lazily around her. A couple jumped to their paws when Cirayus arrived, but relaxed upon seeing Vir. The rest were content to regard the newcomers with a haughty suspicion.
Cirayus was the first to recover. “To what do I owe the pleasure? For such a peerless beauty to grace my abode, I must have done something right on this day?” he said, without the faintest trace of his prior stupor.
How the giant managed such a feat, Vir would never know. He rolled his eyes while Ashani laughed softly into the back of her hand.
“Did you not see the wolves?” Vir asked. “You know? The Ash Wolves, all bigger than Shan?”
“Why, yes,” Cirayus said, scratching his nose. “I take it these are your friends, milady? Quite interesting company you keep.”
“One could say that,” Ashani replied in her melodic voice, which seemed to captivate both Cirayus and Aida.
“Well, as much as I appreciate the fine company,” Cirayus said, “I must admit you have me at a loss. May I inquire what you are doing in my home? I have a feeling someone as strong as yourself isn’t just here to chat.”
There was an edge to his voice that conveyed his meaning perfectly—explain yourself. It seemed not even Ashani’s beauty and copious alcohol could subvert Cirayus’ centuries-honed battle instincts.
“Relax, Cirayus,” Vir said, stepping forward. “She’s a friend. I brought her here.”
Cirayus’s eyes widened. His posture slackened and he let out a breath. “Well, why didn’t you say so! Any friend of the lad’s is a friend of mine. Come, lad, introduce your lady-friend to me. Do I need to inform Maiya you have a second mistress?”
“How rude!” Aida admonished, promptly kicking her grandfather in the shin.
“Ow!” Cirayus yelped, exaggeratedly hopping around, cradling his leg. “What was that for?”
“I would never do that to Maiya, Cirayus,” Vir said, meeting the giant’s gaze. “And you might just come to regret those words in a few seconds.”
“Oho? Why’s that?”
Instead of answering, Vir turned to Ashani and gave her an awkward smile. “Sorry about that.”
“Oh, ’tis no problem at all!” Ashani replied with an amused expression. “I see you enjoy quite the warm relationship with your vaunted godfather.”
“I suppose you could say that,” Vir admitted. “Would, uh… Would you mind changing back? I think that would probably be the best way to show them.”
“Change back? Show?” Cirayus asked, looking thoroughly confused.
Ashani nodded, and her red skin turned pale white all over her body. Her eyes reverted to their brilliant blue. The black armor melted away, reforming the white one-piece dress she always wore. Completing the transformation, her hair shifted from black to platinum blonde, bordering on white, and her whole body seemed to glow.
Both Cirayus and Aida’s mouths hung open.
“Lad?” Cirayus asked, his voice trembling.
“Cirayus? Aida? Meet my dear friend, Ashani. Ashani, Cirayus, my godfather, and his granddaughter Aida.”
“A pleasure,” Ashani said, bowing her head to them.
“L-likewise,” Aida replied, flustered.
“Um, Cirayus?” Vir asked after the giant failed to respond.
“Lad? This wouldn’t happen to be the same Ashani you met in the Ash, would it?”
“It would, actually,” Vir said, feeling his lips creep up.
“The one who sucked you through that Ash Gate?”
“Yep.”
“The person you said was a being from the Age of Gods?”
“The very same.”
More than Cirayus’ expression, it was Aida’s that amused Vir the most. With every exchange, her eyes widened even more, until her face was etched in a comical expression of shock and horror.