How long was my body going to be in this state? It was still locked up and I know that I have been here for some time. But, I had to admit, it was somewhat amusing at first. I was an experiment, one whose shell was impenetrable!
At least, until recently when they started using tools made of gold... That damn thunder-gold from the Anvil-Peak's molten sea of it... With that, they have been able to extract my blood and cut pieces off. For now, though, it was just that, a little test here and there.
They even seemed to have caught on to the fact I was once human. Something that has now led to me constantly getting a faceful of curious scientists. Some proposed foreign species doing this, they were right. Others seemed to think it was just magic that did this, oh, and how I wished they were right.
I was not the only one here, however, there were quite a few other species. Most notably, this creature with a mostly red colour scheme from what I could see. And only really because they were hooked up to all this armour and other bits of heavy metal. They also stood out because she was constantly screaming as shocks were sent through her.
"Oh... That's better..." I groaned in pain as I finally moved my mouth a bit. It seemed that wanting to speak so much has allowed my mouth to move. But, it also seems to have locked up other parts of me a lot more. So I likely just relocated what magic I had left in me.
"Alright, Gladiator-27, let us see how you are doing." one of the scientists mused as he moved about my cell. A bunch of blocky devices in his hand that made all kinds of clicks and ticks.
"That's not my name." I then told him as I tried my best to follow his movements.
"Oh, ho, ho! It does it again." he happily commented before noting it down on paper.
"It will kill you at the rate you are going." I pointlessly threatened with a sigh. Mostly wishing these magic-restraining chains would get taken off. They were not helping my current situation and unfortunately, these people weren't idiots. They had probably figured out my lack of magic and kept them on because of that.
"Assuming you get the chance, Gladiator-27. Gladiator-12 is still reigning supreme and she is likely to tear you apart instead." the scientist told me without any concern. This lack of concern was then emphasised by the fact he stabbed me with various tools. And, as it was getting past my shell, it hurt, it hurt bad.
"Stop that!" I tried to roar before I ended up straining my jaw. And, as I could not shudder or move in discomfort, I found myself relying a lot more on heavy breathing.
"Ask her, instead." was all I got before he walked off. His hand gestured over to Gladiator-12 before he disappeared again. Then, an alarm sounded and the entrance to my cage opened. Even the chains came off just like that... And, as his words would imply, the cage to this other experiment opened up.
We both staggered out of our cages but for different reasons. I was in pain because I was an idiot who vented nearly all their magic. They were stumbling because they had some kind of electrical system hooked up to their chest and crotch. Why there, I would never know.
Yet, given the name I was given, I had a feeling that I would need to fight. So I tried my best to properly position myself. Even if I was seemingly frozen in place, every part of me carved deep into everlasting stone. My legs worked, though, so, as long as I could build up some momentum...
This Gladiator-12 did not charge at me, though. Instead, she collapsed before me and looked up at me with tears in her eyes. And then, she shook her head violently while holding her armoured hands up. She was backing away in fear despite the fact she was nearly as tall as me but also larger.
Maybe it was just the armoured plates she had on her arms and tail, but she was a big one. Large-chested and shapely with the figure but also similar in ways to Salahma. Instead of toes, she had long claws that had been carved into a little and she also had a pair of small horns on her head. Finally, from what I could see in this badly lit arena we were in, I could see her reddish skin and bright green eyes.
"Don't worry, as long as you don't try anything..." I told the scared creature that was panicking more and more. Until, then, all of a sudden she collapsed into a fit of spasms and screaming when something shocked her. Blue lines arced off of her during this and she cried even harder. And then, she got up and said something.
All I heard properly, though, was a single name, that of the Singular God. All I could understand her say was the name of the god I once saved in a church. Did that mean she was one of Iderim-Ovi's people? The red-scaled creatures he supposedly fought on the behalf of before Thurnmourer beat him?
"So this is how it is going to be...?" I slowly asked as she got up once the shocks ended. And just like that, while it was clear she was still reluctant. She was now ready to go at me with both her held weapons and her attached-to-the-tail one. I could not fight like this, however, so I tried to retreat.
She said something again just as she charged me and pinned me. Her large hands pushed down on my head once she brought me to the ground. It was not a steady grip she had at all, she was shivering and whimpering the entire time. Like she did not want to see my face when she killed me.
"Now would be a good time to still have that earth magic." I commented as I tried doing what allowed me to speak to my arms. And, surprisingly, it worked. I was able to move them again and I easily overpowered her applied weight. Then, when I got up again, she just spun her tail right at me and gashed open my gut.
If I hadn't moved my magic to my arms, I would be roaring in pain a lot. But I had moved the magic away, so my mouth was shaking violently while my hands clutched my cracked open belly. And, just like that, my tolerance for this creature vanished. If I wanted to live and get rid of Iishar, I would have to kill this thing.
Now if only I could figure out how to spread what magic I had left more evenly. I could then move somewhat decently and not be stuck in pain and be a statue. Those shocks my opponent was getting, however, did offer me some hope. If I could get them into me, I might be able to get some magic!?
Assuming they were magical sparks, that is... I was mostly assuming that as this creature seemed like one that could use magic. It was too big for it not to be, right? Those armour plates were thicker than a construction vehicle's plates!
Now if only it wasn't whimpering the way it was. This thing was terrified of what I might do and what it had to do. It made me want to kill it a bit less likely as that was a new expression for me. Most things I have killed looked at me with anger and rage...
They genuinely wanted to kill me, this thing? No, it did not want to be anywhere near me. Let alone trying to kill me! Luckily, for the pair of us, a new alarm went off.
Several goldhands came into the arena just then as brighter lights went on. Their hands alight with magic as they steadily moved in closer. I did not resist their grip like my opponent, however. She was struggling bad and ended up decapitating one with her tail.
"This one is calm, handle it." they said before most of them tried to restrain my opponent. And, interestingly enough, they moved me to a new cage near the creature. Possibly because they were bleeding men trying to secure her. And, frankly, I wish she would calm down, the goldhands had a very healthy touch...
I could feel my body taking in all that magic like a man who had been baked alive. Each drop of it relieving some of the dryness the baked man's throat had. Yet, as I was now being moved right next to her cage, perhaps I would be able to speak to her. To plan with her even if my goal was selfish...
"Th... That... Could work." I struggled to get out as my gut continued to bleed. Focusing my magic around the injury seemed to help. But it did nothing beyond clotting the blood. Which, admittedly, was better than nothing.
There were no chains in this cage either! So I could at least sit comfortably this time. Assuming I did not get chained up at a later date. They also just finished with that other creature as well.
Because a loud bang echoed throughout the area as it had just lashed out at the cage. It did not damage it, however, which made me slightly curious. Were these bars actually quite tough or was it something else? A lot of the metal here did have a slight brown shine to it.
"Thunder-gold alloys?" I asked out loud before looking at my neighbour who had broken down crying. Something that made me grimace uncomfortably as the lights had also dimmed. This atmosphere reminded me a little too much of a certain place. So I tried to see if I could do something.
I knocked on the bars between us to try and get her attention. Knocking on them a bit louder every time until she looked over at me. And once I had her attention, I raised my palms at her, hoping it would calm her down. Because she still looked like she wanted to tear apart others.
The blood still stained her weapons well and its coppery smell filled my nostrils alright. My yellow blood was still on her tail blade as well. Mixed slightly with the colour red from when she decapitated one of the goldhands. With that sightseeing out of the way, though, I gestured her over.
She would come over, in time, it took her a while, but she was now here. Just before the double set of bars separating our cages. Then, I gave her a wave to see if she understood it. And she did, but the fact her armour hadn't come off made her bang it on the bars.
"Nin." I then said as I patted my chest. My claws make various sounds depending on if they hit shell or soft bits. I would repeat this until I felt like she understood it.
"Liadanann..." she quietly says once her hidden finger points at her face. Her filthy, filthy, tear-stained face. One that was quick to focus on my gashed open belly. And I assume what followed was an apology, she seemed like she was apologizing as she was wincing at the sight.
"It's fine, do not worry." I say to her as I put a thumb-claw up while trying to make sure my smile was seen.