Chapter 15 - Scene 1 - The Pit

Walking along the streets four had eaten all sorts of delicious food from the various vendors lining the sides. The stall owners seemed to be in at the three siblings bottomless appetites moving with a swiftness.

The four traveled for a while twisting and turning on the path, enjoying the surrounding until they went to a certain street in which Dela smile mischievously, “We’re here! Remember that this place is a secret so don’t tell anyone!”

Of to the side of the street lay a dark alleyway that didn’t sit with Saren, yet nonetheless the three siblings followed Dela into the dark alleyway. Walking for a few hundred meters the cheerful surrounding grew quite.

At that point, Saren couldn’t take and ask, “Where are you taking us?”

Dela stopped at Saren question and turned around placing a finger on her lips with a wink, “A place to test strength!”

Without another word, Dela ran towards a close by the door that was crude and rusted etched with faint runes. Dela knocked on the door with a secret beat pattern; after the 18 knock the door opened up to reveal a man cloaked in black.

He spoke in a monotone voice, “Entry is permitted. Please step inside.”

He moved out of the way as the three siblings pondered about what was going on. Dela told them to follow her, they had their doubts and asked what this place was.

In a hint mysticism, Dela said with a glow in her eyes, “It’s a secret! You’ll understand when we enter.”

A little further in they saw a lone spiraling staircase leading downwards carved out of stone. Dela walked in confidence down the stairs without much of a choice the three followed suit interested. After about one hundred steps they reached the bottom of the stairs. The siblings began to hear a faint cheering almost as if it was a crowd.

Walking along the underground path the closer they got it an excited crowd cheering at the top of their lungs! The surroundings made the siblings open their eyes wide; the ceiling had floating crystals that lit up the area. With a smell of exotic food and wine hanging in the air and the crowd that gave off the air of warriors around them gave them pressure. But the most eye opening scene came from the large pit in the center of the room who held to warriors facing off in combat.

Yelling full of bloodlust was a middle age man who fought tooth and nail against a lion-man who roared in ecstasy eyes glowing a savage red. The sound of the two men for a mere moment overtook the excited crowd before they crowd sent a wave of cheers becoming even more frenzied.

Shocked, the siblings watched on as the beast man from the lion race was kicking and punching toe to toe against the human man. Their faces were bloody; eye’s red with blood shot, as smiles covered their faces beating each other bloody.

Sol yelled with stars in his eyes, “Go lion man! You can do it!”

Seeing her brother go for the lion man's side Luna coldly snorted rooting for the other side, “Kick that lions butt uncle!”

The two twins cheered in awe as the fight became more intense with the fighters taking larger and larger risks. Finally, the Lion man saw an opening and landed a clean punch squarely on the other man's chin knocking him straight out.

An announcer with a loud voice counted down from 10, “3… 2… 1… Ladies and gentlemen the winner of our bloody fight is! Mai the warrior who hails from the Kingdom of cats!”

The lion man grinned waving his giant hands to the crowd. With a helpful hand, Mai helped his opponent onto his feet. Shaking hands they exchanged words of praise. Then they walked to their respective tunnel entrances.

Saren who had been quiet all this time spoke up, “Did you guys notice?”

Sol had a smug look while Luna was in a sour mood they both said at the same time, “They’re cultivators!”

Saren nodded in response, “Very good. But have you noticed where Dela went.”

Suddenly noticing this point Sol and Luna searched around to no avail until Saren spoke up, “She went over there to that desk guy and showed an iron metal most likely she came to…”

Interrupting his words the announcer spoke up, “Ladies and gentleman! Two crowd favorites have appeared tonight to fight! The Maiden of Wrath, EmberShine! And in the other corner is our substitute Bread Maker! Give a yell of welcome to these two fighters!”

Two figures walked out of their respected tunnels taking fighting stances. A girl in her late teens wore a serious expression across her face. She wore simple clothing that was stained with dry blood; her eyes were cold brown and her hair short. This was EmberShine! In the other corner was someone the siblings already knew… It was Dela! She stood looking calm; holding her hands behind her head without a care in the world.

Although Dela’s Amber looked relaxed her eyes shone a fighting spirit. If the siblings knew what EmberShine was thinking they would know the girl cursed her luck for fighting this monster. Still, EmberShine gritted her teeth and readied her stance holding her hands close to her face opened handed she stepped forward on the dark brown stand; holding her hands in front of her ready for the dong to ring.

Seconds pass as the two stare down the crowd on the edge of their seat growing silent awaiting the clash about to come as excitement filled the air. It came off as electrifying.

*Dong*