Hadorix was taken to a room near the cells for all the creatures. Hadorix requested a tour of the cells, he wanted to see what types of beasts resided there. His request was granted. When he toured the cells, Hadorix felt like he was back on Earth visiting the zoo. There were varieties of all species of beasts, many of which there were no equivalents on Earth. There were even humanoid creatures and humans in the cells. Hadorix felt that his trip to the cells was time well spent as now he at least had an idea of what he may face. He then returned to his room. Hadorix pulled out his basic spellcasting book and began to study. He was rather interested in the spell called Vindings. While the name was cheesy, the spell was not. It would enable him to create leg bindings on any creature within his direct field of vision. How far that would be is debatable and would differ from person to person. He was sure it would be beneficial in the arena. With that in mind, Hadorix spent every moment available to learn it.
The following morning, the wolves that had brought him down to his room brought him down to the arena. Thus far, Hadorix had been in his Lion form every time he left his room. He figured this would cause the least amount of curiosity among the other beasts. The wolves slowly brought the lion Hadorix down to the arena. Upon seeing his size, all the wolves around the arena expected this to be a rather interesting fight. The druids on the other hand were unsure of what to expect. They had not seen the creatures in the cells. They were wondering what manner of beast Hadorix would be fighting.
As Hadorix was the first to enter the arena. He sat on his end and observed the crowd, patiently awaiting his opponent. Suddenly the cell wall on the other end of the arena opened. In walked a nearly naked man, completely unarmed and vulnerable. This was not what Hadorix expected to face. This was no beast; he could not eat this… Nor could he kill him in good conscious. The pitiful human looked like he would soil himself when he realized he was to fight a lion.
Hadorix charged at the man. He would not hesitate or reveal his true nature. Not yet. With a single paw swipe to the head, the man was on the ground and bloody, completely unconscious. Per the agreement, he would now belong to Hadorix. Hadorix felt cheated, don't get me wrong, he was grateful to have been able to save the man. But he had hoped to gain a more powerful ally. This guy looked like he had no power at all. Hadorix went back to his side of the arena. The guard wolves came to him and brought him back to his room. Shortly after Hadorix arrived he had a surprise visit from Casper.
Upon arriving, Casper was in a rather jovial mood. He offered to allow Hadorix and his people to occupy a wing of rooms near to the arena. This would give them more space and the ability to speak in between matches. Hadorix accepted and requested that the creatures that he managed to knock out be brought to his wing of rooms. Upon hearing this Casper had a counteroffer.
Casper said, "I will have the creatures you knock out brought to your room and all items or spirits they own placed in your care. In return, I ask that you fight in the arena for the next 4 battles of the day today. The audience were rather underwhelmed with your battle. You knocked out your opponent too quickly. They had hoped to see more of a game of cat and mouse. I admit, even I was surprised at your ferocity. I thought you would shapeshift into human form and try to talk him down. Never would I have guessed you would knock him out on the spot and nearly kill him."
Hadorix accepted. Casper called the wolf guards and explained the new living arrangements to them. Hadorix was taken back to the arena. He hoped this would prove to be a profitable trip. Only time would answer that.
Hadorix was again the first to enter the arena. He sat down and awaited his next opponent.
The cell on the opposite side of the room opened, but this time, it was not a single human that entered. This time a harpy flew in. The harpy had the lower body of a great eagle and the upper body of a beautiful woman. On its back were the wings of an eagle.
Hadorix had never seen such a beast. From the stories he had read on Earth and the games he had played harpies were supposed to be ugly. This creature was beautiful. Hadorix could only think to compare it to an angel with its long black hair and majestic wings. While he was lost in this train of thought, the beast flew ever closer, its murderous intent rather evident on its face. Its mighty talons were aimed at Hadorix's face. The Harpy clearly intended to strike the first blow.
Hadorix waited until it was just within his reach, and he swiped with his massive right paw. The harpy flew to the side, narrowly dodging. Unfortunately, it had to move just far enough that its attack missed Hadorix. It flew past Hadorix and turned to make a second attack. When it turned around to face Hadorix, it was surprised to see that he had pounced towards it. With the power in his legs, he was easily able to reach the height of the Harpy. When she saw him coming towards her, it was already too late to dodge. Hadorix landed on the harpy and drug it to the ground.
He then swiped at its beautiful face with his mighty paw, knocking it completely unconscious. Hadorix returned to where he had entered and plopped down. Waiting on his next opponent.
Soon two wolves entered and removed the harpy. It did not take long for another cage to be moved up to the entrance.
The cage door again opened. This time two large snakes entered. Hadorix charged at the snakes. This was chance to gain more upgrades to his body. Upon reaching them he showed no mercy. He lunged and one and snapped its head off with his great mouth and struck the other with his paw at virtually the same time. They were both dead in an instant.
· Dexterity +2
· Gained poison affinity +2
Flashed across his eyes twice. Consuming a whole creature was far more effective than consuming the broth was. Hadorix was surprised by the poison gain. He had not realized he could gain elemental affinity by consuming beasts; this visit had already been more profitable than he had expected.
Hadorix then returned to his side of the arena and waited on the next opponent. He hoped it would be another set of beasts.
A new cage moved up to the opposite side, this time however, the two side walls opened, and cage doors were revealed there as well. Before Hadorix could consider this to much, all three cell doors opened. Out of the one opposite Hadorix came a nearly naked human woman. Out of the one to the left side came a wild dog similar in appearance to a black and white Siberian husky except it was much larger, out of the one to the west came 3 more snakes.
The woman sat there shivering in fear. Sensing the fear, the snakes and husky both moved toward her. Hadorix charged at the husky. It was moving the fastest, Hadorix feared he would not be able to get to it in time to save the woman. The husky lunged at the woman, Hadorix pounced toward the husky, the snakes continued to creep toward them both, the woman ran back towards the cage. She was looking around for anything to use as a weapon. The husky landed; the woman threw up her arm to try to block its teeth. The husky latched onto the woman's arm. Hadorix landed, his paw barely missing the back of the husky. He had not been able to make it far enough with his jump.
At that moment, the snakes arrived. They struck at Hadorix back legs. Hadorix winced in pain.
· You have been poisoned; health will decrease by 1 point every 15 seconds.
Flashed before his eyes. He had not been paying attention to the snakes, his focus was entirely on trying to save the human woman. He turned back and swiped at one of the snakes. He was too fast for the snake to dodge and its head detached from its body. He then bit toward the other snake. It rapidly moved its head backwards, Hadorix had missed. He was however faring much better than the woman. The husky had her arm in its mouth shaking back and forth. It hit her face and body with its paws. She was bleeding all over and screaming in pain. If Hadorix did not hurry, he knew she would soon be dead.
Hadorix made a great swipe toward the snake with his paw. This time it was unable to dodge, and it also lost its head. He then moved toward the husky. The woman had stopped screaming. To Hadorix this meant she was likely dead. He struck the husky's back with his paw. It released the woman and began to focus on Hadorix. The swipe had hurt, but not crippled it. The husky began to circle back around the arena. It wanted to get an idea of how its new opponent would move and find a weakness.
Hadorix charged for another attack, swiping with paw after paw at the husky. He knew if he did not end this battle quickly the woman had no chance. His first 3 swipes landed directly on the husky's face. The power from those blows made it start to get dizzy. It shook its head to try to clear it and bit towards Hadorix. When it moved its face in, Hadorix swiped it with his paw as hard as he could, claws out as far as he could put them. His claws ripped into the husky's jaw. The blow had knocked it back several meters. It did not get up.
Hadorix shapeshifted into his human form and walked toward the woman to feel for a pulse. He had not yet learned any healing spells. At this moment he felt rather useless. The woman was breathing but just barely. Hadorix ripped her clothing and bound her wounds as best he could. This left the woman topless but alive. He hoped it would be enough to keep her alive until she could get to Obcha. Hadorix hoped Obcha would be able to heal her. Hadorix then moved over to the husky. It also had a shallow pulse. Hadorix was unsure if he should allow it to live or to kill it. He decided to leave that to fate. If it lived, it was meant to join the Mystic Orchard, if it died, it would strengthen the druids. He shapeshifted back into a lion, and again ate the snakes.
· Dexterity +2
· Gained poison affinity +2
Flashed across his eyes thrice.
Hadorix returned to his corner and sat down. He still had one more battle to go, and he felt weakened from the poison. Had he not gained the poison affinity; he likely would not have been able to fight another round. As it stood, he hoped it would be something simple. He could not handle another 3-way battle.
This time 4 wolves came in. 2 removed the husky and 2 removed the human woman. After they were removed, the walls shut to the left and right, and a new cell was placed across from Hadorix. It took 10 minutes before the cell door opened. Apparently, Casper was giving him a moment to catch his breath.
Hadorix decided to summon Monk. He figured this would prevent him from getting attacked from behind again. Monk would be the eyes in the back of his head.
Then the doors to the cell opened. This time a massive boar entered. It was completely orange and had tusks the size of Hadorix's head. If he were gored by it, he likely would not get up. The boar charged at Hadorix. Hadorix charged at the boar. When the boar was almost close enough to gore him, he dove over the boar and landed on its back. He bit down on its rear and began to rip and tear with his claws and his teeth.
· Constitution+1
Flashed across his eyes several times. Hadorix did not count, he was merely trying to disable the boar.
Monk began to walk across the boars back towards its head. Hadorix could not see this, as he was ripping and tearing into the beast. Monk dove up and raised his cute little paws and struck down between the boars' eyes. Within seconds he had already struck the beast 10 times with his paws. The beast dropped like a rock. Between the blood loss and the strikes Monk had delivered it was completely dead. Hadorix climbed off the beast and slowly moved back to his corner. Monk climbed on his back.
The two wolves returned; they removed the corpse of the boar. They then returned and took Hadorix to his rooms. He had survived his first day.