Gods of Arena

Kang sighed, as he turned, walking towards the staircase with the horde. He wasn't among the fighters, this time. That gave him enough time to train for the impending fight Ana told him about. "Crane?", he muttered, as he looked around for the new boy. Crane was supposed to remain there and wait for him.

"Crane?!", he raised his voice a little, wondering where he had to go.

But he couldn't get lost, right? There was no way out for any of them so Crane had probably walked back to the room or he probably had to use the bathroom. He headed straight to the room. He glanced at the gym for a second and proceeded to their room.

Immediately he opened the door, his eyes fell on Ana, staring back at him. He walked in slowly and closed the door. Crane sat calmly in front of her, as though he was getting schooled. Kang stared at the both of them, while Ana kept staring into his eyes with a look of disappointment without saying anything. "Uh... what's up? You look like I just did something stupid and you are about to teach me how to lay my bed", Kang said.

"Oh. Your bed looks perfectly alright. It makes me wonder if you can do anything better than that", Ana replied, meanly.

Kang smiled, walking to the bed, and sat beside Crane. "Since you already know how useless I am, it's nice to hear I can do one thing right, even if it's just laying bed"

"What were you trying to get the boy to do? Even after we made it a rule not to hide from the spins?"

"You wouldn't have known if he wasn't my roommate"

"Yes. That's where you realize how stupid you are. You know I had my eyes on you and I know he is always with you", Ana said. "You could have just let him stay on the staircase without coming up but you let him come up first. I could see you making gestures for him to go and hide. If there was anyone to be punished, you would be the one"

"If?", Kang scoffed. He knew she wasn't going to do anything. "You really will punish me again if you get the chance?"

"I have the chance now, Kang", she retorted. "And I might give you special privileges but you shouldn't misuse it. I can withdraw it whenever I want to"

Kang sighed. "But that doesn't change the reason I got the privileges anyway", he said, as she stood up, walking towards the door. "He has no Shin Zhu... all I did was help him stay safe, the same way Jin helped me stay safe"

She turned and faced them. "Look, Kang. I asked again and they told me it's not possible for a fighter to be created without a Shin Zhu... I think you just have to train hard enough till it comes out"

"I've been training for a while, Ana", Kang said. "Maybe there is a chance for him but it doesn't seem like I'll ever be able to do anything than lay my bed"

"But you're surviving, aren't you?", Ana said and stood up. "I can imagine what would happen if Jae or Jordy slam their stone fist on my head. Larger Figures are mortal and destructible, unlike the fighters... and I watched the fight, Kang. You probably should watch the fight too. You didn't seem like a mere mortal at all"

She walked to the door and opened it. "They are not meant to know I'm here or contacting any fighter at all so I blocked the cameras... Good luck, Kang"

"Thank you, Ana", Kang smiled back. "It was nice having this chat"

She nodded and walked out. "I think she's right", Crane said.

"What part?", Kang said and returned to his bed.

"I didn't watch the fight but I watched the start", Crane said. "When Jae pulled you back and you told me to go to the room, I looked at your face. Your eyes were glowing brightly... I can't do that and I think the fighters only do that when they want to use their ability, just like Jae when he shapeshifted"

****

Kang meditated, once more. He didn't take his time to wonder if Ana was right or if what Crane saw actually meant anything. He had bothered about that a lot of times and he had remained just the same. He couldn't stop thinking about how he almost defeated Jae in a fight though. Now that he thought of it, he could imagine how overconfident he seemed standing up to a top-tier fighter without a Shin Zhu.

It was time for the fight. Kang and Crane sat next to each other on their stand. "Wow! It's really big", Crane said, when they walked in. On the opposite side of their bleachers, the Gamblers and the Larger Figures were seated. He didn't need to ask before he knew they were Larger Figures. Their appearances were totally different.

"It's big", Kang replied. "And it's limitless when you are standing in the middle of the Arena with an armed opponent"

'... it's a brand new day. We have the Sand Wave, Argus, fighting against living grinder, Dennis. It's an unpredictable battle, as the two fighters are rarely found on the field so you can't tell their limits.... But you can guess from their terrifying names. Stake your bets while you can. Sit back and enjoy the game'

"That's the girl that caught us. What's her name again?", Crane asked, pointing at Ana who was seated among the Larger Figures.

"That's Ana.... and stop pointing", Kang said and pushed his hand down. "Watch the game. You won't be able to hide from the next spin."

"So what's going to happen if I get picked?"

"Well, I survived my first and only fight on the Arena. We are going to do the same for you"

Dennis ran at Argus with his sword. Their swords clanged against each other, swiftly, moving around on the field. Dennis kicked Argus by the knee and swung the sword, cutting him by the arm. Like hitting a pile of sand, the cut only emitted a bit of dust and covered up immediately. Argus stepped back, as Dennis swung the sword again. The blade cut across his second arm, emitting dust and covering up just like the first one.

"Oops! Ain't that surprising?", Dan said, smiling as he glanced at Romeo beside him. "Why do you keep looking like you're not enjoying the fight?"

"Must you ask questions? Why are you sitting beside me?"

"Because I have the right to do it, dummy."

Dennis stared at Argus for a few seconds, wondering how he would beat someone who healed so fast that he could barely do any damage. Argus clenched his fist. His hand turned to sand and enlarged, as he punched Dennis back, throwing him against the wall of the Arena. Argus got up quickly and clenched his fist too. Dennis ran at him with his huge arms of sand and threw another punch at him. Sharp thorns sprung out of Argus' fist. He made the thorns swirl speedily around his arm, as he punched into Dennis' huge fist of sand. Argus dived at him, breaking the sand down with his grinding arm. As soon as he got close to his body, he pulled himself up with Dennis's arm and flipped, throwing a kick at his mouth. Dennis fell backward and his arms returned to the normal size unhurt. Argus walked around him, wondering how to put him down finally. Dennis rubbed his hand over his mouth. He was bleeding in his mouth. Immediately he sprung up, Argus. swung the sword, cutting Dennis in the face. That was all he needed. He smiled, as Dennis wiped the blood off his face. Dennis' huge arm swung at Argus' feet, sweeping him off the ground. With Argus on the ground, Dennis enlarged his two arms and raised them up. He brought down his arms with great force upon Argus. Argus brought out his grinding thorns quickly, breaking down the large mold of sand.

"He has your ability, Romeo", Dan said. "Unfortunately, this Dennis guy is too strong for him"

"Watch the fight. All he has to do is go for the head", Romeo replied.

Argus flipped back and fired darts out of his fists at Dennis. One of the thorns cut across Dennis' face. He enlarged his arms into sand again and blocked the thorns from getting to his face. He threw his arms at Argus, blowing a wave of dust at him. The wave threw him back against the wall. Immediately he sprung up, Dennis dug his hands into the ground and the sand was troubled.

Argus could see a rapid movement towards him beneath the layer of earth. He clenched his fist, keeping himself alert and expecting something to jump out. The movement stopped right at his feet and sand molded his two legs up to his knee. He tried to move his leg but it was impossible. The sand was almost as hard as concrete. Dennis smiled as his body turned to sand completely, except his head. His body enlarged, towering above Argus, while his head remained the same size. Dennis clenched his fist making sand swirl around his huge arms. He was going to throw another wave at Argus and it looked like it would be a lot heavier than the first one. Argus shook, helplessly, stuck to a position. If the wave should hit him, with the sand mold still covering his knee, it would bend his body backwards and he would probably break a bone. "Do something, idiot", Romeo muttered.

Dan scoffed. "You want to go out there and help him? 'cause it looks like he's about to get a knock out"

Argus' eyes turned black completely. He snarled and his mouth enlarged. The thorns emitted from his entire body, including his legs, breaking through the mold of sand on his legs. Dennis threw the wave at him, throwing him back against the wall again. He flipped back up quickly and ran towards Dennis.

He leaped into the air, jumping so high towards Dennis. The thorns on his arms got bigger and broke through Dennis' sand arms. He threw a punch at Dennis's face, creating multiple tears at once. Dennis' left arm grabbed Argus from behind and flung him back on the ground. His enlarged body shrunk back to it's normal size, as he groaned in pain holding his brutally torn face. The wound wouldn't heal fast enough.

Argus smiled, as blood gushed out of the wound he inflicted. He shot darts at Dennis' face quickly. Dennis flung back his arms, throwing back a wave of sand. The wave flung the darts back at Argus' face. Immediately he raised his hands to block the darts from hitting his face, Dennis dug his hands into the ground, making sand mold Argus' legs again. This time, the sand molded up to his waist, making it a lot harder to move.

Dennis dashed at him immediately, before Argus could regain his balance, and threw a punch at his face. Argus bent backwards, almost breaking his back. Immediately he stood straight, Dennis grabbed his head with his huge arms and held Argus' mouth open.

Argus struggled in his grasp. His eyes turned black and the thorns spring out of his body, breaking the sand mold from his waist. His teeth enlarged and got sharper, looking exactly like the thorns that covered his body. Dennis kept Argus' mouth open with all his strength, trying to pull it apart. Argus threw his elbow backward hitting Dennis' stomach repeatedly with the thorns. It only shook dust off his body, healing up immediately.

Dennis shouted, as he pulled with all his strength. Argus also pulled Dennis's hand back with all of his strength. Dennis enlarged his body and pulled Argus' mouth apart easily. Dennis stepped back, shrinking back to his normal human size, as Argus dropped on the ground lifeless.

"To be honest, that is the strongest display of power I have ever seen", Kang said. "Jin didn't do this much"

"So this guy would beat Jin if they got in a fight?", Crane asked.

"No. Jin can beat everyone"

"The scene is horrible"

Dennis raised an arm, as some of the gamblers stood up hailing him.

"What's up, Gandhi?!", a voice called loudly, from behind, as they all walked into the hall, heading back to their rooms.

It was Dennis. He was coming back, already. Gandhi looked back at him.

"I told you I was going to win the fight, didn't I?", Dennis said, proudly, looking around. "There is a reason I'm the only one with my power. I'm special"

"You won, Dennis. Everyone already saw that", Gandhi said and turned, walking to his room. "Go to your room and celebrate"

Dennis walked up to him and pulled him back. "I'm not done talking!", he said. "You both boasted of strength and, now, I want to do mine.. in fact, I'm hoping we meet on the Arena so I can show you what true power really -"

Gandhi turned again. Immediately Dennis pulled him back, he threw a punch at his shoulder and dust fell off. His palm enlarged and he held Dennis in the neck, squeezing tight. "If you ever try to pick a fight with me, I will give it to you", he said and kicked him back.

'Fighting outside the arena will no longer be tolerated', a voice made the announcement, from the speakers in the hall. 'Every fighter found in the act will be punished. Keep in mind that your moves are being watched and every unwarranted violent act against one another will be severely punished.........

"Stay away from me", Gandhi said to Dennis and kept walking towards his room

****

They stared at the ceilings, silently, till the lights went out. "Kang?"

"Yes?"

"What if I want to pee?", Crane asked. "How do I get to the bathroom without the light?"

"You walk there", Kang replied. ".... There's a torch on the nightstand❞

"Oh... thank you", Crane said and switched on the torch, pointing at the ceiling. "How do you sleep comfortably in the dark?"

"Because we have no choice. You can't keep the torch on till dawn, Crane. Don't ask❞

"Let's talk"

"We are talking, already", Kang said. "I can't get myself to sleep, anyway"noveldrama

"If I get picked in the next spin, am I going to win?"

"You will", Kang smiled. "You'll be surprised at how things will turn out. Don't worry"

"Alright. Thanks", Crane said and paused for a few seconds. "The girl that caught us. What's her name again?"

"This is the ten millionth time you are asking that question", Kang replied. "Her name is Ana. Do you like her?"

"Yes", he said. "Yes, I like her"

"That's pretty sweet, isn't it? ..... and dangerous too", Kang said, smiling as he remembered Jin and Dea. "Are you about to make a request?"

"Yes, maybe... are we going to be seeing her often?"

"Sorry, Crane. Her presence is meant to be always official so you can't guess if she will be back soon.... And if she comes back for her usual horrible task, you definitely can't have time with her... she tried it once with me and she won't be doing it again"

"Alright"

"Also, she seems pretty disciplinarian. She might not take it lightly when you tell her that so you should probably tread slowly with it"