Many became deterred by the stipulation placed upon the blade, as it was required to serve the one who offered the weapon until they were either dismissed or if the weapon broke. Therefore, many droves left the Colosseum with the belief that this was unreasonable, but to Zabartik? A few years of servitude to regain his title of Divine was nothing to his mind. Thus, he stayed and waited for his chance to fight in the melee.

However, due to the lack of substantial challengers, everyone who participated would fight in a major free for all which would begin at the edges of the arena, and continued onwards until one reached the portal containing Greatsword. Though there were several loyalists to the new Divines fighting, the rest were Lesser and Greater Shades. Whereas himself, even though he was brought down to the rank of Lesser, still had years of experience and held much of his strength when he was classed as a Divine. Which would mean he had more of an advantage against those who would be his opponents.

When the Shades had been gathered, though, their number had reached well above 200. Many still held a fiery desire to hold Greatsword, even if it meant servitude. Though, if the stipulation wasn't in place, then the Colosseum would have been packed with thousands of participants. Therefore, it was a blessing for these who still remained, meaning they had less competition.

Eyeing the others, Zabartik frowned as another Divine brought low had emerged. One that was a female who used her guile and body against her male counterparts in order to gain the upper hand. With most of the contestants being of such a gender, he would not be surprised if their bodies laid dying upon the shadowed sands and dirt beneath their feet.

Once the free for all began, however, he had to duck and weave as many sought for his life. Other dashed forward, desiring to reach the portal before all others could with their arms out as though reaching to be within the arms of a loved one. As the used such a tactic, however, others noted this and launched their own attacks at their backs with the intent to kill. Only a few managed to survive this dishonorable onslaught, and fewer still turned to fight back whilst a couple decided to continue onward.

Whereas the Divine brought low fought with all his might, destroying his opponents with a few jabs to their bodies and watching them fall to the sands. Many, if not most, would wake up upon the morrow with stomachs full of their own blood if they were lucky to survive this. If not, then there would be less mouths to feed in this land where only the strong and the most cunning survived. Therefore, if one was neither, nor a child training, then what right do they have to living within the realm?

In any case, the battle continued, whittling the contestants from hundreds of Lessers and Greaters to just a few dozen of both each. At this time, each stood nearby the portal in their own fighting stance. Though this brought more than a few to attack one another, the rest eyes the rest. Whereas the two former Divines moved closer to one another out of respect for their strength.

Whereupon Zabartik placed his two palms together before his chest, taking on the Equal's Bow for a moment before straightening his back once more. Here, he noted the woman also performing the same ritual, but smiled with crooked features before hissing in their own language, “”

“” he responded as his body took on the Viper Stance, ready to strike at a moment's notice, “”

“” she laughed with a melodic and melancholic voice, “” Upon so saying, she launched herself into the air, her body flowing from Crane to Tiger as she fell to the ground with claws extended.

Noting this, Zabartik dashed off to one side just as she who was once considered as his rival crashed into the ground. Here, she tore away chunks of the earth as her body turned in order to slash at his retreating form. Himself, on the other hand, moved away just in time to watch as an unlucky Greater was caught by the claw's after-effects. In that the air was also cut up to ten metres away from the one who unleashed its power, and caused their body to explode from the impact.

Those nearby, such as the Greater's opponent who was about to have their head removed, or those conscious, noted this and banded together in order to face such a terrible opponent. For they saw her as an obstacle in their path to reach Greatsword, which would then open a path of blood to their desire of being called a Divine. Therefore, they would need to deal with her quickly before facing one another once more.

Once the former Divine noted this, he dashed away so that they could enact upon their plan, causing the woman to curse both himself and her luck for having to deal with so many opponents at once. Which meant he was free to do as he wished, despite such a tactic being seen as cowardly. However, since the introduction of Dagger, Axe, Saber, and Greatsword, cowardly acts were becoming prominent in their world. So what is one more?

Immediately, he saw that the group was dealing with the other Divine brought low, bringing her to her knees several times with their own attacks. Whereas he took it upon himself to rush off towards the portal with a great desperation he had not felt since he was a young beggar living in the streets of his home town. He remembered this feeling, along with the pain of his empty belly. It hadn't rumbled since entering the Divine Realm of his world, but still, it was there.

Just as Zabartik was within three lengths of arms did he hear the screeching of she who was his rival as a Divine. Turning to give a scant glance towards her, he saw that her head was flying freely through the air, and her opponents were now howling at him. They desired his death, but he could not deal with them with his prize so close. Therefore, he pushed the last of his energy into his legs, and leapt towards the portal just as a Greater tried his best to grab onto the old Divine's leg.

Failing to catch him, the other let out a screech of rage just as the older made it into the portal. Whereupon the group released a howl of anguish as they surged forward with desperation and desire for both the removal of Zabartik, as well as to grab onto Greatsword so that they may fulfill their contract and return home to begin their own journey to become Divine.

*****

Sia watched with horror as a shadowed creature emerged from the dark vortex-like portal and proclaimed its desire to serve Karas. Her horror only increased as her eyes spied the many dozens of red cracks flowing throughout his body as he commanded in a crazed and haunted voice, “...SlAy mY EneMIes!” Which led her to glancing towards the children. Each of whom clamped one another's ears down upon their heads as the little bat squeaked incessantly atop Lupa's head.

“Go, Little Mother,” he called out, pointing towards the frightened bandits just as the Qreatsword wielding Shade took off and began its wanton destruction against the living, “Eat your fill, and let them learn the hard way what happens when others threaten what is mine!”

To which the little creature gave a happy squeak before zooming off towards the closest bandit before burrowing into their flesh. Whom then shouted and screamed about it being inside them before falling over as the creature burst out of their back and dug inside another. This method was repeated as the Shade reaped the living with its blade, a booming laughter echoing through the forest followed its path as more than one sought to escape. However, the woman wielding the Greataxe rushed to meet the other, and the two fought with such ferocity that she believed would have killed her if she came too close. As evident of one over enthused male who had rushed to his leader's aid, only to be blasted to pieces from the radiating force of the blows emanating from the impact of one another.

Sia then turned towards the children with intent and desire to flee with them. No. This was a need she wished to make true, and moved to reach for them.

Warning!

You feel a great Killing Intent!

Threat Level: Alpha

However, the placard appeared before her eyes, which meant her passive had gone off. Not knowing what had caused it, she glanced at the children who were still huddled together. Which led her to believe that an enemy was nearby, and after a quick glance to her left and right showed her nothing, the Wolfwoman knew it was behind her.

Slowly, she turned 180 degrees, only to leap away with a startled, “Yip!” One that took her body a metre away from them, away from the children. For before her was Karas, his flesh falling away to reveal dark grey fur, the snout of a canine, and the long, triangular ears of the same species. What is more, his eyes were glowing a fierce and crazed crimson, causing her body to shiver in fear.

“WhaT dO You thINk YoU aRe DoIng?” his voice was full of Madness, as his lips stretched themselves into a sneer.

Gone from him was his tanned, old Human self, and in its place was a Foxman who was radiating with power. The eyes of which bore holes into her being, and she believed her essence would be on its way to the next life if this was a truth and not a feeling. “WeLl?”

“Y-y-yo-you're a m-mon-ster!” Sia stuttered out, desiring to both flee and take the children with her. However, her body was moving away as he advanced at a slow and gentle pace.

“You state the obvious,” his voice returned to normal, but the eyes were still a bright red. Whereas the world around them still held the screams of the dying all around them.

“P-plea-ease,” she managed to voice out, “Th-e chil-dren need-”

“No they don't,” Karas's head cocked a little towards his right shoulder, “They're my children, not yours. Therefore are of no concern to you.” A hand was waved at her person, telling her to go away, “You are no longer needed, Sia. So go away or be removed by force.”

“What?!” she practically shouted at him.

Sighing, Karas rolled his eyes at her before explaining further, “You're a hindrance, and are no longer needed to accompany us to the next town. You are not in my employ, anyways, and are far too nosy for your own good. Besides, we have a new Warrior with us, and it knows how to wield a weapon, not being struck down by a pair of Farmers.”

Again, a hand was waved in her direction as he continued to watch her. Only when she moved down towards the road, then fled the scene, did he return to watching the rest of the events which led to the slaughtering of a large group of Bandits between Stonewall and Stormhaven. Whereupon he chuckled, then laughed which was soon filled to the brim with the flavours of Madness and Chaos that would continue to haunt the living and the dead.