Circles and other strange tales prologue

>The circle of white lights grows larger as the platform is raised

>A small part of your brain that isn't freaking the fuck out notices the roars of the crowd above

>The lights sparkle down, radiating, almost imitating a halo.

"oh the irony" you mutter

>The spotlight snaps off, and in the dark afterglow one hundred thousand pairs of eyes watch closely

>At least some traditions hadn't been abolished

>You still had your full armour and an ancient set of non-projectile weaponry

>You try to ignore the stench of the arena; blood, rust and sweat seemed to hang in the air

>Your eyes focus on the giant black gate at the other end of the arena

>You knew what lurked on the other side, you didn't need the earthshaking roar of confirmation

>The crowd went nuts at the beast's pre-battle cry

>You remain perfectly still. You mind is wiped blank as you were taught all those year ago. No emotions, no distractions

>The 8 inch chains bolted to the giant gate grind back, opening agonisingly slowly

>Your left arm falls to rest on the hilt of your sword

>Considering in the last few millennia no man had ever beaten a fully grown Parnox, your odds were not good

>But there was one thing on your side

>There may just be a chance

>The gates are now fully open, the smoke stumbling out, as a massive shadow slowly becomes visible

>A fool's chance.

 

>You barely have time to react as a huge conglomeration of muscle, fur and tusks come crashing towards you

>Pivoting clockwise, you raise your shield with right hand as your draw your sword with your left and smash the alloy tip of your sword through the shield

>The Parnox smashes into you with the weight of a small building

>You register that you were flung into the opposite wall a few milliseconds before the pain of the impact blinds you

>Coughing, concussed and confused, you get up

>The noise from the crowd is deafening. But the screams of the Parnox still manage to drain them out.

>It's forearm was covered in blood and a green-yellow stain

>You had filled your sheath with some nasty chemicals, and it seems as if the beast got its fair share of them

>The nanobots in your armour are already fiercely repairing the damage of the impact

>Taking advantage of the confusion, you sprint towards the beast

>Its dark eyes bore into you before it charges

>Just before impact you hit the ground, sliding underneath its snarling tusks

>As you go, you jab your sword into its belly

>But you hadn't caught its soft lower torso, you had caught its rough upper

>Halfway in, the sword buckles and snaps

>You curse as the beast roars in pain

 

>You done fucked up, there wasn't any plan b if that failed

>Getting up, you dash towards the nearest wall

>You can hear the beast snarling, and then it smashes you once again

>Your back smashes into the wall full-force this time

>The sickening thud echoes around the arena

>You hadn't noticed how quiet it had become

>Your legs are in pure agony, and you can feel the remnants of your ankle somewhere near your toes

>'Self-healing armour' was nice and all, but another impact like that could cause fatal damage to your organs or straight-out kill you

>The Parnox roars in triumph, now strolling in for the kill

>You were effectively cornered and immobilised

>The crowd was thundering again, some were probably in standing ovation

>Fuckers.

>Blood was oozing out of your feet now, the cardinal fluid running down your azure armour

>This was almost definitely the end

>Instead of panicking, you relax, leaning back, as if you were sitting underneath a tree in an orchard

>You almost laugh as the Parnox approaches, mouth now agape and dripping thick, gluey saliva

>Your start eyes lose focus as you start lose consciousness

>The roars become a soft ringing, the world becomes a circle of lights and the smell of blood and sweat becomes the smell of fresh grass

>Wait what