Legacy of Chaos

by Jackson Bale

Memories---resurface---of---his---time---in---the---army.---He---had---joined---in---unregistered---fights---between---soldiers---and---has---even---joined---in---the---gambling---side.---He---was---young,---stupid,---and---cocky---until---he---fought---someone---who---was---actually---trained.

  Nodding---towards---Zeek,---Artyom---turns---and---heads---towards---a---well---dressed---man---who---looks---to---be---the---one---to---talk---to---regarding---joining---the---fight.

  Artyom---walks---up---to---the---man---and---moves---his---body---so---as---to---cover---the---fight---that---is---currently---ongoing---in---the---arena.

  The---suited---man---frowns,---“What---do---you---want?”---he---asks---as---he---looks---at---the---man---without---anything---on---his---chest.

  Artyom---points---behind---him,---“I---want---to---join---in---on---the---fun.”

  The---suited---man---raises---an---eye,---taking---a---better---look---at---Artyom.---He---already---has---plenty---of---fighters---for---the---day,---many---bigger---and---probably---stronger.---But,---his---[Sense---Capability]---skill---is---going---off.

  “[Analyse]”

  The---words---come---out---of---the---dressed---mans---mouth---which---is---followed---by---a---feeling---of---Artyom’s---mana---being---suctioned---off---into---Zeeks---ring---on---his---finger.

  The---well---dressed---man---frowns---for---a---moment---before---blooming---with---a---smile,---“I---have---a---good---feeling---about---you,---so---I---will---let---you---join---in---the---competition.---What's---your---name?”

  “Artyom.”

  The---man---lifts---an---eyebrow---at---the---simple---answer,---but---shrugs.

  “Artyom---it---is---then,”---he---points---towards---a---door---in---the---back,---“enter---through---that---door---and---tell---the---[Fightcaller]---to---add---you---to---the---roster.---Tell---him---Gerek---sent---you.

  Artyom---nods---and---turns,---moving---to---the---door.---On---his---way---there,---he---looks---at---the---fight---which---is---going---on.---Two---men---are---punching,---wrestling,---fighting,---but---lacking---any---and---all---training.---Artyom---is---not---ignorant---enough---to---believe---that---the---fights---are---going---to---be---easy.---Strength---matters,---but---more---so---skill.

  He---opens---the---door,---taking---a---quick---whiff---of---blood,---sweat,---smoke,---and---alcohol---before---entering---into---the---torchlit---stony---cavern.

  Chapter---fifty---Six:---Fightclub

  The---time---is---a---little---afternoon,---but---few---would---be---able---to---tell---considering---the---fighting---arena---is---located---underground.---The---arena---itself---is---nowhere---near---the---size---of,---say,---the---coliseums---in---the---city---of---Olympia,---but---that---is---an---unfair---comparison---considering---the---former---was---designed---for---a---couple---of---fighters,---while---the---latter,---with---its---massive---size---and---powerful---enchantments,---was---created---for---thousands---of---fighters.

  Still,---the---size---of---the---current---arena---is---decent---enough---that---many---of---those---present---that---had---come---to---watch---the---fights---are---able---to---sit---comfortably.---Alcohol---and---food---are---served---by---scantily---clad---[Servers],---while---[Dealers]---go---around---the---audience---taking---bets.

  Some---of---the---more---upper---classes,---wealthy---[Merchants]---and---[Traders],---find---themselves---seated---at---an---elevated---location---surrounded---by---glass---which---is---lit---by---mage---light---instead---of---torches.---And---of---those---wealthy---individuals,---one---old---man---by---the---name---of---Zeek---chuckles---with---a---smile---towards---a---very---wealthy---[Storekeeper].---The---storekeeper’s---hands---glide---across---the---smooth---high-quality---Frost---Bear---Cloak.

  “You---are---rather---confident---that---this---Artyom---will---be---able---to---defeat---Machenoss,---let---alone---even---get---to---the---finals.---I---fear---your---fighter---won't---get---very---far,---and---I---will---end---up---keeping---this---very---fine---cloak.”

  Zeek---shrugs.---The---amount---of---money---that---was---given---to---him---by---Artyom---would---have---been---enough---to---earn---him---far---more---than---two---barrels.---Unfortunately,---Zeek---isn't---used---to---betting---with---only---pocket---change.

  “WELCOME,---all---of---you.---I---am---Gerass,---the---[Ringleader]---of---this---rather---pleasant---establishment.”

  Gerass,---a---tall---man---in---a---rather---flamboyant---suit,---yells---with---confidence---and---authority.---He---is---standing---on---a---platform---above---the---arena,---smiling---towards---the---rather---large---audience.

  The---audience---screams---and---laughs,---many---of---them---already---as---drunk---as---they---are---excited.

  “Now---then,---today,---we---will---have---twenty---fighters,---some---new---and---some---old.---But---all---will---be---the---best---around.---And---of---course,---our---champion---Machenoss---will---be---present---for---the---final---fight---to---defend---his---position.”

  At---the---sound---of---the---champion's---name,---the---crowd---starts---yelling---loudly---in---excitement.

  Gerass---steps---forward,---his---hand---resting---on---the---railing---as---he---leans---over,---“Now---then,---I---saw---some---new---faces---come---in,---so---let---me---first---explain---the---rules---before---we---begin.---Fights---are---fought---with---no---weapons---and---no---skills,---except---for---passive---ones.---All---classes---are---allowed.---All---bets---are---made---before---a---match---begins---and---coin---earned---will---be---distributed---immediately---by---the---[Dealers]---present.”

  Gerass---finishes---his---explanation---and---takes---a---moment---to---study---the---crowd.---Most---scream---in---delight,---laughing---and---enjoying---themselves.---Others,---which---are---more---conserved,---look---on---at---the---arena,---thinking---on---what---bets---to---place.---Then---his---eyes---turn---forward,---towards---those---far---richer---than---the---riff---raff---at---the---bottom.---They---sit---and---drink---wine---while---eating---fine---food---made---by---his---chef.---They---laugh---amongst---each---other,---and---Gerass---can---only---smile---as---his---eyes---focus---on---a---rather---old---man---who---is---smiling---back---at---him.

  “Now---then,---let---us---first---introduce---the---combatants,”---Gerass---begins,---leaning---back---and---pointing---at---one---side---of---the---arena,---“Our---first---contestant---is---a---man---known---as---Arrange,---a---former---level---71---[Soldier].”

  A---large---man---passes---through---the---door.---His---features,---primarily---his---large---size---and---huge---muscles---designate---him---as---someone---native---to---the---north.---Clearly,---the---man---has---a---[Minor---Strength]---bloodline---considering---his---large---muscles.

  Looking---around,---Gerass---immediately---notices---those---that---are---looking---at---Arrange---and---taking---note---of---the---man's---large---muscles.---But---those---people---don't---interest---him,---instead,---his---focus---is---on---those---with---sharp---eyes.---Eyes---that---are---mentally---attempting---to---ascertain---the---man's---stats---and---strengths.

  These---people---are---[Gamblers],---and---they---are---the---ones---that---Gerass---despises---the---most.---They---are---the---least---profitable---because---of---how---they---think.---Chance---and---numbers.---Right---now,---they---are---probably---ascertaining---Arrange’s---stats,---or---at---least---attempting---to---do---so.---Gerass---frowns---and---looks---down---towards---Arrange---as---well.

  A---[Soldier]---is---fit,---so---their---physical---stats---are---naturally---far---above---average.---Either---19---or---20.---A---level---of---71---in---the---[Soldier]---class---would---give---about---7-10---points---distributed---among---physical---stats---depending---on---the---[Soldier’s]---focus.---But---the---biggest---impact---will---be---the---[Minor---Strength]---bloodline,---which---gives---a---point---of---strength---every---three---levels---in---any---class.---Which---means---that---Arrande’s---strength---can---be---anywhere---between---42---and---53,---a---rather---significant---
amount---for---anyone---without---a---bloodline---to---surpass.

  Turning---away---from---the---fighter---with---his---hands---up---and---yelling---to---the---cheering---crowd,---Gerass---smiles---as---he---raises---his---hand---to---the---other---side---of---the---arena,---“And---on---the---other---side,---we---have---a---new---contender---by---the---name---of---Artyom,---a---level---41---[Fist---Warrior].”

  It---is---here---that---the---crowd---becomes---rather---confused---as---they---watch---Artyom---stroll---on---to---the---arena---grounds.---He---is---bare-chested---like---Arrange,---but---not---as---big,---nor---is---he---wearing---cloth---wraps---around---his---fists.---They---are---bare.

  The---crowd---is---also---confused---because---of---the---level---difference---between---the---two---fighters,---but---more---so---over---the---fact---that---Artyom---doesn't---have---massive---bulging---muscles---as---would---be---dictated---by---someone---who---would---have---the---bloodline.---But---then---again,---a---[Fist---Warrior]---would---be---a---much---better-unarmed---fighter.

  It---is---here---that---the---crowd---is---divided,---though---most---will---automatically---choose---Arrange---as---the---winner,---precisely---because---of---his---bloodline.

  Gerass---smiles---wide---as---he---notices---that---practically---all---of---the---[Gamblers]---bet---on---Arrange---for---the---win.

  With---a---quick---flick---of---his---finger,---one---of---his---[Dealers]---notices---the---movement---and---checks---his---board---of---bets---and---frowns.---He---shakes---his---head.

  Gerass---had---signaled---his---dealer---to---bet---on---Artyom---until---it---equaled---the---bet---for---Arrange,---but---it---seems---that---someone---had---inflated---the---bet---already---quite---significantly.

  Gerass---eyes---swerve---to---the---upper---stands,---matching---smiles---with---the---old---man---from---earlier.---It---seems---he---won't---be---making---as---large---a---profit---as---he---was---expecting.

  “Now---then,---please---place---your---bets---so---that---the---match---may---begin.”

  The---[Ringleader]---gazes---at---the---crowd,---taking---quick---peeks---at---the---two---below---him.---Unlike---Arrange---who---is---moving---around---and---screaming---towards---the---crowd,---Artyom---is---stretching,---his---eyes---fully---focussed---on---Arrange---the---entire---time.

  ___________________________________________________________________

  “The---bets---are---in.---Are---the---fighters---ready?”---the---[Ringleader]---asks---while---holding---a---hammer---next---to---a---gong.

  The---[Ringleader]---looks---down,---getting---a---loud---yes---from---Arrange---and---a---nod---from---Artyom.

  “Then---begin!”

  The---[Ringleader’s]---hand---swerves---and---the---hammer---strikes---the---metal---gong---loudly.

  The---fight---begins---with---both---contenders---circling---each---other---with---their---fists---up.---Though---Arrange---is---confident,---he---is---still---a---seasoned---veteran.---He---knows---that---overconfidence---can---lead---to---a---lucky---strike---that---could---easily---knock---him---out.

  Artyom,---on---the---other---hand,---is---constantly---focusing---on---Arrange’s---feet.---In---a---fight,---the---positioning---of---someone’s---feet---is---vital---to---know---how---the---person---will---react,---and---what---moves---they---are---preparing---to---make.

  Which---is---why,---when---Arrange---lunged---forward,---Artyom---was---able---to---lean---to---the---right---and---dodge---the---fist.---But---Artyom---already---knew---that---the---fist---was---a---Feint.---Thus,---when---Arrange---kicks---off---from---his---left---leg---and---raises---his---right---knee,---it---is---met---with---Artyom’s---fist.

  A---fist---with---the---[Steel---Fists]---passive---ability---already---applied.

  *Craaaaaaaaccccckkkkkkkk*

  Arrange’s---leg---cracks---as---it---meets---Artyom's---fist.---The---flesh---rips---apart---while---Arrange’s---knee---bones---bend---under---Artyom’s---much---stronger---fist.

  But,---before---Arrange---can---scream---and---realize---what---happened,---Artyom's---other---fist---strikes---the---[Soldiers]---face,---not---only---knocking---him---out,---but---also---sending---the---body---reeling.

  The---crowd---has---gone---silent.---They---expected---a---good---old---beating---that---would---last---several---minutes---between---the---two---fighters.

  They---were---not---expecting---it---to---finish---in---only---three---moves,---and---especially---not---with---Arrange---defeated.

  But,---blood---is---blood,---so---the---silence---only---lasts---a---moment---before---screaming---and---cheering---are---heard---from---the---audience.---It---may---not---have---been---a---long---fight,---but---it---was---exciting.

  “Well---then,---that---was---a---rather---short---fight.---It---seems---that---Artyom---here---has---the---[Steel---Fists]---passive.---A---pretty---good---passive---skill---for---these---fights,---wouldn’t---you---say?”

  The---crowd---yells---loudly---towards---Gerass---who---can---only---mentally---frown---at---the---fact---that---such---an---injury---to---Arrange---is---going---to---cost---a---decent---bit---of---a---regeneration---potion.---Gerass---turns---away---from---the---crowd---and---looks---down---towards---Artyom---as---he---walks---through---the---doors---to---await---his---next---match.

  “It---seems---I---underestimated---you.---Looks---like---I---will---need---to---make---your---next---fighter---a---better---challenge.”

  _____________________________________________________________

  Artyom---walks---through---the---door,---passing---down---the---torch---lit---hallway---and---entering---a---large---chamber---where---many---fighters---are---seated.---They---turn---to---look---at---him,---but---most---turn---away.---The---few---that---keep---their---eyes---on---Artyom---are---the---ones---that---Artyom---must---be---most---wary---of.---They---are---the---ones---that---noticed---his---uninjured---body---and---bloody---though---uninjured---fists.

  “Artyom,---good---job---on---your---first---match,”---exclaims---a---man---by---the---name---of---Gerek.

  Gerek---is---a---[Fightcaller],---a---class---that---is---very---good---at---ascertaining---a---person's---capability---in---combat.

  Artyom---grunts---towards---Gerek---before---taking---a---seat---on---the---bench.

  “Did---you---go---easy---on---Arrange---as---I---asked---you---to?”

  “No.”

  Artyom---answers---Gerek---with---a---one-word---answer.---He---is---here---to---fight---and---win,---not---to---make---friends.

  “Awww,---well,---I---hope---it---isn't---costly---to---fix---Arrange.---The---Boss---doesn't---like---to---waste---too---much---coin---on---healing---the---wounded.”

  Artyom---ignores---the---rather---friendly---[Fightcaller]---and---instead---looks---at---his---competition.---They---are,---like---his---previous---opponent,---big---and---brawny.---Of---course,---his---abnormally---high---strength---is---not---something---they---would---expect---or---would---be---able---to---deal---with.

  The---only---person---that---Artyom---believes---he---might---have---trouble---with---is---the---largest---of---the---men---here,---the---one---named---Machenoss.---He---is---big,---muscular,---but---most---of---all,---confident.---He---has---the---look---of---someone---who---has---had---much---experience.

  Which---means---that---Artyom---won't---be---able---to---rely---on---his---strength---alone.---Heck,---considering---the---guy---that---just---walked---through---the---hallway---without---a---scratch,---it---seems---he---won't---find---it---that---easy.

  ____________________________________________________________________

  “I---must---say…---Zeek---was---it?---Your---fighter---is---very---talented,---even---compared---to---some---of---the---veterans---here.”---the---[Shopkeeper]---voices---from---his---stand,---gazing---at---Artyom---as---he---defeats---another---fighter---far---less---quickly---than---his---former---opponents.---Apparently,---word---has---gone---around---that---Artyom’s---strength---may---very---well---be---in---the---triple-
--digits.

  Whether---that---is---because---of---a---rare---bloodline---or---a---skill,---people---do---not---know.---[Analyze]---has---been---failing---on---the---man,---which---means---he---is---protected---by---some---enchantment.

  “Artyom---will---win,---so---do---not---worry,”---Zeeks---says---confidently.

  The---[Shopkeeper]---snorts---at---the---confident---tone---coming---from---the---old---man.---Clearly,---the---old---man---hasn't---seen---Machenoss---in---the---cage.

  “I---will---enjoy---watching---Machenoss---destroy---that---confidence.”

  Before---Zeek---can---answer---back,---Gerass---addresses---the---crowd,---silencing---them---with---what---is---most---likely---some---form---of---skill.

  “As---of---right---now,---we---only---have---four---fighters---left,---which---normally---means---two---matches---before---our---finale.---I---am---sure---all---of---you---are---interested---to---see---who---comes---out---on---top---and---will---be---allowed---to---challenge---Machenoss!”