Killing intent. It’s a thing that Len had heard about plenty. She’d seen it in the eyes of a few assholes over the years, guys just looking for the slightest excuse to pull the trigger, knowing that they’d get away with it. She’d never given it to them, no matter how much she’d wanted to, no matter how the injustice of the situation rankled.

This time, in this foreign yet familiar place, she’d gone a different route. Sure, this time it wasn’t a would-be killer with a flimsy excuse for keeping her from going about her day, but it was still something she could have avoided, something she probably should have. Really, what would’ve been lost by doing poorly in this farce of a competition? But the thought hadn’t even occurred to her. Instead, she’d gone all-in on bravado and anger and she’d gained what, exactly?

Well, an extremely angry opponent with a broken arm, for one. It was strange having this new body. She had been in damn good shape when she’d been a human, but this Dark Elf had honed herself to another level entirely. There would’ve been no chance in hell of her pulling off that first move without that extra strength and agility, and she was grateful for it. If only she could get the impulsiveness and adrenaline under control, she’d have something to really work with here.

Vrek had shed some of his own bravado, having been quite firmly planted when he’d tried a careless charge. Now he stalked her, light on his feet as he advanced, matching every move she made. With his dominant arm crippled, he kept his right arm up in a clumsy guard. The two of them circled warily, neither one interested in having their back to Krel for very long, though he seemed perfectly content to let them wear each other out.

“What,” she said, taunting him “out of words already. Not so long ago you were promising all sorts of pain coming my way. Big strong Troll like you, I bet it’s eating you up that I did that to you. I’m about to do worse.”

“Oh, don’t you worry,” he said, hatred burning in his eyes “the things I’m about to do will be talked about for years to come.”

“Then come on and show me, big boy, I don’t have all day.”

Snarling, the troll closed in on her. It wasn’t the careless charge from before, but it was something she could work with. She didn’t want to risk another throw just yet, so opted for strikes. The instant he reached her, she spun around his left side, dodging his grab and delivering three quick blows to his lower back, about where his kidneys would be if he were a human. The blows felt good, but were more about changing his focus than doing serious damage. As he whirled around to grab at her again, she flowed away, leaving him swinging at air.

“You can’t run forever, little girlie.”

“Who’s running? I’m just having some fun with this. Gotta give the crowd a show, don’t ya know?”

That got a roar out of him. Instead of charging, though, he slammed his fist into the granite, sending shards of rock in every direction. Caught off guard by this, Len barely managed to get her arms up in front of her face to protect her eyes. Chunks of rock tore into her skin, not digging too deep, but stinging painfully.

She heard him charging even as she brought her arms back down to look again. In an instant, he’d closed the space between them and plowed into her with a haymaker swing. She was launched across the arena with more force than she’d ever been thrown in her life. For a second she thought she might pass out from the shock, but it passed as instinct kicked in. One thing you get used to from practicing martial arts is how to take a blow and how to take a fall. She let her whole body absorb the impact, keeping it from getting too concentrated in any particular part. It hurt like hell and she shuddered to think what it would feel like in the morning, but she didn’t think anything was broken.

“Hah! All those words wasted and this is the best you’ve got? Pathetic.”

He was taking his time getting over to her, nothing good would happen if he got there before she was back on her feet. No ref handy to call the match, no pause to wait for her to stand back up. Hell, she doubted that she’d get any mercy even if she did throw up a surrender. Shaking her head violently to clear away the daze, she levered herself into an upright position, then forced her legs back beneath her.

“Oh, what’s this? You want some more? I’m happy to oblige.”

He started charging at her again, another haymaker but this one aimed at her head. She didn’t actually think one could be decapitated by an arm swing, but she really didn’t want to find out, either. The cobwebs mostly gone from her mind, she managed to get herself ready by the time he was upon her. Ducking just under the strike, she grabbed his arm with her left hand, locking it at the wrist. At the same time, she dropped low and kicked her right leg out in front of him while swinging her left around into the back of his knee. His balance gone, Vrek tumbled forward, the full force of his charge redirected into a downward motion with his face smashing into the granite with a satisfying crunch. Panting, Len slipped herself out from under his leg and kicked him again in the head for good measure, he didn’t respond.

“How’s that for some more, jackass,” she muttered.

“Oh, that was very good,” said Krel standing up from his restful squat. “Gotta say, that’s not at all how I figured that would go. Tell me, where’d you pick up moves like that? Don’t think I’ve ever seen an elf that moves quite like you.”

“Keep wondering, pal. You’re next.”

Krel’s eyes narrowed and he advanced.