"Hay Grimm, I've been meaning to ask, how did you manage to survive? And how the fuck did your arm grow back? Are you related to Piccolo? I thought you were killed after this dude shrunk?"
Kane was talking to the green Orc, obviously bringing up an awkward topic, especially when Alaric was sitting across from them and staring at him.
Before they begin their self-coached team training, Kane decided that it would be a good idea to get to know everyone. He is the strongest of the group, so the rest naturally agreed.
The green Orc that miraculously survived introduced himself as Grimegog Borahag. Kane decided to just call him call him Grimm, much easier for him to remember.
Grimm came from a place called Bhu Ghubol. Apparently Bhu Ghubol was one of the last Orc settlements that still defied the Humans who are slowly taking over all of Ariya.
But Bhu Ghubol was suddenly wiped from existence around 20 years ago and nobody knows what happened to it. A whole city, completely disappeared over night.
Grimm was just one of the few lucky Orcs from Bhu Ghubol who was not in the city at the time of the Great Disappearance.
Grimm awkwardly scratches his head as he sneaks a glance at Alaric and looks back at Kane.
"I don't know who this Piccolo is, but I am half Orc and half Geckian. The Geckian race are known to be able to grow back severed limbs as long as it's not a vital organ."
Grimm peers at Alaric again before answering, "After he attacked me I was blown away to the edge of the Colosseum. I managed to hide myself underneath a broken shield to stay alive."
"Oh that was pretty smart of you. Good thinking there, Grimm."
Though Grimegog did not like the nickname Grimm there was no way he was going to correct Kane, who could wipe the floor with Alaric with ease.
"Winnie, what's it like to fly? Can you fly for ages? And how many people can you carry while you're flying?"
The dark elf had introduced himself as Wyn Virran, half dark elf and half Wyrm.
A Wyrm is an offshoot of the Ancient Dragon race. Though they are not nearly as strong as Ancient Dragons, the Wyrm race was still known to many as the Terror of the Skies.
Though elves are naturally loved by nature and predominately use wood and wind energy, Wyn is able to utilise fire energy from his Wyrm bloodline.
"My name is Wyn. I can only fly for ten minutes or so after I activate my first bloodline limit. I can probably carry one person, but the increase in weight will increase the energy expenditure."
Kane nods, "Cool. Yo Thor, now tell us about you."
"My name is Thovor Gragur, son of Balvor Gragur of Galtadur."
"Okay Thor."
"..."
Thovor is speechless. Kane's incessant need to change people's names baffles him.
"As I was saying, my name is Thovor Gragur..."
"Thor."
"... son of Balvor Gragur of Galtadur. My weapon of choice is the Hammer Axe. Many have fallen to my mighty Hammer Axe and many more will fall if they choose to stand in my way. I will do whatever it takes to be reunited with my beloved."
Due to the subject of Thovor's ranting, Kane's vision slowly blurs as he remembers his past; more specifically his wife.
Maria Reed.
"Kane, did you take the dishes out of the dish washer?"
"Kane, did you get the milk I asked you to get?"
"Kane, can you put your smelly shoes on the shoe rack?"
"You may be the world heavy weight boxing champion but trust me when I say this Kane Reed, that I will whoop your ass to next Tuesday if you keep leaving the damn toilet seat up! Just try me!"
A tear slowly forms on the corner of Kane's eye.
"My Dulora is the most beautiful Dwarf of all of Galtadur..."
Kane was startled awake by Thovor's gross description of his wife. Slowly gathering himself, he begins to ponder and looks over at all the warriors gathered in front of him and an odd thought came to mind.
"Thor shut up for a bit."
Thovor who was about to continue explaining why his wife was the most beautiful Dwarf in the world was stunned. He was little unhappy being told to shut up but he kept his mouth shut.
"I've got a question, how come you guys are way stronger than the other guys that could break their first bloodline limit? Is there a different ranking for these powers that you guys get?"
Alaric, who had been quiet all this time, finally spoke up, "Though it's true that half breeds are weaker than pure bloods, there are some odd cases where the bloodlines fuse and become something entirely different."
Kane looks over at Alaric and nods encouraging him to continue.
"Take the half Orc, half Geckian for example. In normal cases, a half Orc and half Geckian half breed would only take on the trait of the more dominant bloodline. So nine times out of ten the Orc bloodline will come out on top. But in Grimeg... Grimm's case, his Geckian bloodline some how bonded with the Orc bloodline and gave him another skill that is uniquely Geckian. The Orc Race can transform their bodies into fighting machines, add on the Geckian ability to grow back severed limbs, this unique combination is truly a miracle of the Gods."
"Ok, I understand that part, but why are half breeds supposed to be weaker? Shouldn't they be stronger since they could awaken two different bloodlines then?"
Alaric shakes his head.
"It's not as you think Sir Kane, though the Gods are cruel, they are also just. Yes, a half breed that could awaken two different bloodlines like these freaks may be strong, but their cases are rare. There is probably one in a few millionth of chance that a mutation in two bloodlines could occur. For normal half breeds, only one bloodline could be awakened and even then, they can only ever awaken fifty percent of that bloodline."
"Only fifty percent?"
"Yes. So imagine a half breed Orc with a dominant Orc bloodline that can only use fifty percent of his powers, go up against a Pure blooded Orc who can unleash it all. Who do you think will win?"
Kane ponders for a moment then looks over to the others in the group.
Alaric nods and explains "Not including an oddity like you, the others here all seem to be half breeds that had both of their bloodlines fuse and mutate into something completely different."
Kane looks over at Thovor questioningly. Thovor shrugs, "I'm half Polarian on my mothers side. Polarians are an ice type humanoid bear race that dwells in the North."
Then Kane looks to Yoshi.
"Half Night Walker and half Human. Humans innate ability allows them to copy or assimilate techniques or even bloodlines as their own. Kind of like a parasite." Yoshi replies candidly.
Kane was stunned. "So a humans bloodline ability makes them a parasite? How fitting."
Kane nods his head in understanding. Everything is slowly starting to make sense to him. These guys who are standing in front of him seem to be outcasts of their race, but yet they were lucky enough to grow stronger because they were different.
"That just leaves you then. Why are you in here?" Kane said as he looks at Alaric.
There was an odd silence throughout the training ground. Alaric kept his head down and clenched his fists. Through gritted teeth, he manages to tell his story.
"Me and my people were betrayed" a tear falls from Alarics eye.
"The Barbarian race are not as united as others would believe. I was the Alpha warrior of our tribe, besides the Chieftain there was no one else stronger than myself. I was the most trusted subordinate to the Chieftain, he even granted me my own village with my own people. But it all came crashing down when the Chieftain's son became of age. He feared my power and was jealous my position in the Chieftain's heart. That bastard son set me and my people up as traitors. We never saw it coming. I barely manged to escape with my life when I ended up here. The other Barbarians were already here when I arrived. I hoped I could use them to build an army then go back to avenge my people. But you guys showed up. The rest was as you saw.."
Letting out a deep breath, Alaric wipes his eyes and looks up. He spotted Kane looking at him strangely.
"What?" Alaric was confused.
"Is crying like a big thing here? Why do you all cry at every chance you get?"
A little mad, Alaric snaps, "Though you maybe stronger, that does not give you the right to humiliate me!"
Kane, surprised at Alarics outburst, realised that his words may have come across offensive.
"Look here Al, I'm going to call you Al from now on, I'm not trying to humiliate you. What I'm trying to say is, if you have time to cry, then you have time to train. Train till can't cry no more. Train till your obstacles are finally out of your way. Train till you have enough power to get your vengeance. If you have time to cry, then you have time to get stronger. Am I wrong?"
Stunned Alaric doesn't know how to respond and he wasn't the only one. The others in the group stared at Kane in deep thought.
"If you have time to cry, you have time to get stronger?" Such a simple phrase, yet powerful at the same time.
"Since now you have all introduced yourselves, let me introduce myself. I am Kane Reed, you guys can call me Kane. Not sir or Mr Kane, just Kane will do. I'm a boxer and...."
Just as Kane was about to continue with his introduction, Yoshi quickly interrupts.
"Sir... Kane, I think it would be wise for us to continue this discussion at a later time, and maybe somethings are better left unsaid. Since we will be working together as a team, we need to work out how we can co-ordinate together to make our attacks more effective."
Kane wasn't an idiot, he knew Yoshi was hinting that it was unwise to tell the others about where he came from. With some thought, maybe Yoshi was right. Maybe Kane had been a little hasty in telling his past to others he'd only just met.
Kane looks at Yoshi and gives him a nod in thanks.
"Ok, any suggestions then?"
There was silence all around, though they were strong warriors individually, team work wasn't their strong suit.
As Kane was looking at his team mates a light bulb suddenly flashes through his head.
"Hold on! Grimm can you use a shield?"
"umm, yeah?" Grimm responds in confusion.
"So we have a Tank who can grow back limbs. An Archer that can fly. With a Mace or a club Al could be the Warrior. Thor can be our Mage, cause he can use that hail storm magic thing. Yoshi is the Assassin. And with me as the Fighter we've got a Nerd's Dream Team! All we're missing is a Paladin and a priest" Kane thought to himself.
Kane looks over at the others and smiles.
Looking at his creepy smile, a shiver goes down everyone's spine.
Mustering up his courage, Grimm asks warily "Sir.. I mean Kane, have you figured something out?"
Kane smiles "Let's do some team building."