[Wolf Kin]. It's the meta race for Garden of Days. Boasting high physical stats, this literal beast is used as a tank or as a damage dealer. They also have a special ability that could help a party win in a desperate situation. This is why when they were released, many try-hards deleted their accounts and started over with this race. It's a decision that meant massive losses but their returns outweighed them quickly. That's the kinda existence I picked a fight with and that's why Luna is talking my ears off right now.
"What were you thinking?!" she yells while slamming the table of the dining room. "A [Pack War]!? Really?"
"P-please, Miss Luna, calm yourself," Adresin tries to defuse the situation in his usual way.
"How can I calm down when this guy bound himself to a [Pack War] without discussing the terms?" she rebuts. "For all we know, Brock's gonna ask that we hand over Elder Sister to him if we win."
"Of course he will," I chime in nonchalantly while eating my eggs and bacon. "Why do you think he accepted? He thinks I'm easy pickings and despite his tantrum earlier, he still wants Nifa."
"Then. Why. Did. You. Agree?" she says with murderous intent.
"Because that's what we planned," Nifa enters wearing her usual uniform.
"Hey, good timing," I greet her. "Tell your lackey here to have some confidence in me."
"Confidence?!" she exclaims. "You're just a human. Without any of your fancy suit!"
"Luna..." Nifa puts her hand on her friend's shoulder. "Thank you for being concerned for me, but Richard's far stronger than you think."
"But-"
"Believe in him," she insists.
Seeing the seriousness in Nifa's eyes, Luna glares at me and exits the room.
"Geeze, where do you pick these kids up?" I sigh tiredly.
"Luna has her circumstances," she replies. "Well, let's put that aside. I'm curious what you plan to ask Brock when he loses."
"'When' huh? I see your confidence in me is unshaken," I chuckle.
"Well, what could a mere mutt do to you?" she smiles.
A "mere mutt" huh. Leave it to one of the strongest demons I've fought against to say that about one of the strongest races ever created.
"Alright, I'll tell you what I want. Come closer," I say to Adresin, Grace, and Nifa who curiously lean in.
"****************"
"!"
"Fufufufu... you sure know what you want." Nifa chuckles mischievously.
"Uncle Adresin... Will we be ok?" Grace asks nervously.
"I don't know, child..." he replies.
[Time for the Fairytale Ending Arena]
It's late afternoon right now and the event will start soon. Camp Theta Chi and Camp Sigma Phi used a clearing to set up the arena made out of spiked logs carefully placed to form a circle. Around it, both camps set up different stalls for food and games.
It's like a festival out here!
We have some time before the fight so Grace, Adresin, and I go around and have some fun.
"Get your grilled pork here! Freshly caught this morning!"
"We got some good weapons made out of monsters here! Get one for yourself!"
The energy in this place is buzzing! Everyone has something to peddle or something they like to do.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WE HAVE OURSELVES AN INTERESTING FIGHT HERE!"
The announcer, who's a wild-looking woman screams into a megaphone.
"HENRY, FROM CAMP SIGMA PHI IS CHALLENGING MICHELLE FROM CAMP THETA CHI TO A DUEL OF LOVE."
The crowd cheers as the two fighters enter the arena.
"This is weird..." Grace cringes as she takes a bite of her candied apple.
"Shush, child," I chuckle. "Don't knock on other people's fun."
Henry, who's a rather buff man bows down respectfully as he meets Michelle in the middle of the arena. I'm assuming he's a half-orc due to the green hue of his skin despite having normal human features.
"Please receive my feelings," he says with earnest passion.
"Oh what should I do~" Michelle replies coyly. "I'm a hard girl to chain down you know~"
"AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, A DUEL OF LOVE IS FOR THOSE WHO PREFER TO CHOOSE THEIR MATE THROUGH A SHOW OF STRENGTH. THIS IS INVENTED BY NONE OTHER THAN ELDER SISTER HERSELF."
Damn that Nifa. What is she teaching her girls?
The two ready themselves for battle. Henry got himself a great axe and brandishes it around effortlessly. Meanwhile, Michelle stays unarmed and instead does the typical boxer stance.
"READY, BEGIN!"
"Aaargh!" Henry does his battlecry as he lunges at Michelle first.
The [Sanctuary] spell was cast on this arena to prevent death but having a 250 lbs. guy run at you like a truck should send anyone shivering. However, Michelle calmly observes her enemy and swiftly dodges while using as few movements as possible.
"Wow, that girl's no joke," I comment.
"Indeed," Adresin adds. "Since we Elves aren't as sturdy as other races, prefer to fight while keeping our distance. Meanwhile, she's facing him head on like it's nothing.
*Thud*
"AND THAT'S IT FOLKS! GOOD TRY, HENRY."
In the blink of an eye, Henry's lying face down on the dirt.
Woah that was fast! If I was distracted, even for just a bit, I would've missed those two shots she threw on his side. It's not one of Nifa's [Breath] techniques so I'm puzzled as to how she took down someone who's literally built to take hits.
"I couldn't see it..." Grace says in disappointment.
"Don't worry Miss Grace," Adresin responds. "I barely saw it myself."
After her victory, Michelle waves at the crowd. Eventually, she notices us and heads to our direction.
"Hey there~" she greets. "Did you like the show?~"
"That was impressive," I reply. "Did Nifa teach you that?"
"Oh no~" she chuckles. "She tried to teach me her style but it's too much for me you know~. I think Luna's the only one who could keep up with her."
"So that's your own style?" Grace leans in curiously.
"Ya!" she replies cheerfully. "I fell in love with boxing after seeing how much humans have studied and perfected it~. Then, I just use [Aura] with it and the result is just as you saw."
Frightening...
This girl is saying something many people would take years to perfect yet she's acting as if it's natural to her. Just how much time and effort did she put to get to this stage?
"That's awesome..." Grace says with admiration.
"Why thank you honey~" she replies. "Well, shouldn't you three be getting ready? Your fight will come next."
"That's right!" Adresin exclaims. "Let's go, Sir."
"Alright. Goodbye, Michelle," I say as I follow the anxious Elf.
"H-hey, Richard?" Michelle calls out to me before I got too far. "S-sorry for spreading those rumors..."
So she's the one who gossiped about me and Nifa. She looks like she regret doing it. Makes sense since she wouldn't have known that her little rumor would turn into something as big as a [Pack War].
"Don't worry about it," I reply. "In fact, I should be thanking you. I've always wanted to beat up a Wolf Kin."
She looks at me with surprise and then chuckles.
"Is that so~? Well, I do hope you're as strong as Elder Sister says you are."
"Just keep your eyes peeled," I declare as I walk off to the preparation area.
........
It's time. The crowd is bating its breath with anticipation as they watch the still and empty arena.
"NOW EVERYONE, THIS IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR! ALPHA. RICHARD. VS. ALPHA. BROCK! THE FIRST [PACK WAR] OF OUR SETTLEMENT! LET'S GET EXCITED!"
"Wooooooh!"
"Brock! Beat his ass!"
"Richard, die in a ditch!"
"Woah, woah, why am I being dissed harder than Brock?" I complain audibly while an arena staff leads us through the crowd.
"I think it's because everyone thinks you slept with the princess," Adresin replies.
"TO START THINGS OFF, ALPHA RICHARD, ALPHA BROCK, STATE YOUR TERMS IN THE PRESENCE OF THE BLOODSTONE."
The announcer says as she presents the gem made out of my and Brock's blood.
Having our name called, the two of us step into the arena and face each other once again. Being the only two in this open space, it's clear to everyone how much of a physical difference we have. Brock's huge, both in terms of height and muscle. Meanwhile, I'm just a tiny human who can't help but look up at him. It kinda pisses me off.
"Can you stoop down a bit? You're making my neck hurt." I say with a hint of annoyance
"OH?! PROVOCATION RIGHT OFF THE BAT! IT SEEMS THAT ALPHA RICHARD WANTS TO SHOW HIS DOMINANCE TO HIS RIVAL."
"Hahaha leave it to a puny human to be disrespectful with his words!" Brock replies with a hearty laugh.
"Whatever, just get this over with," I say as I wave dismissively. "State your conditions."
"I want Nifa, of course!" he announces.
Everyone gasps and murmurs among themselves.
"Also... her!" he says as he points at Grace's direction.
The murmurs grow louder from the sudden addition.
"WHAT'S THIS?! ALPHA BROCK IS STATING THAT ON TOP OF ELDER SISTER, HE WANTS ALPHA RICHARD'S FIFTEEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AS A WIN CONDITION!"
"Sure," I reply nonchalantly.
Then, everyone goes silent.
"A-AND ALPHA RICHARD AGREES?! IS HE THAT CONFIDENT OR IS HE JUST A TERRIBLE DAD?!"
"Boooo!"
"Leave the kid outta this!"
"This is child abuse!"
"Hahahaha! You'll regret not using your [Veto] on that one!" Brock laughs in satisfaction. "Now, let me hear your condition."
I smirk. I wonder how he's gonna react to this?
I stomp my foot forward and say, "If I win, you will lick my boot and the entirety of Camp Sigma Phi becomes my lackey."
Everyone, including Brock, collectively had their voices muted for a bit there.
"WH-WHAT A PRETENTIOUS CONDITION! SURELY, ALPHA BROCK WILL [VETO] THIS RIGHT?!"
Brock looks at his boys and at my foot then says, "O-of course I-"
"Oh, what's this?" I say as I invade his personal face while wearing the most devilish grin. "I agreed to have my daughter, my own flesh and blood, to be a prize for this [Pack War] yet you're chickening out from betting your own pack?"
The once proud Wolf Kin is now sweating slightly. "N-no I-"
"Yeah that seems kinda unfair if he vetoes this..."
"I wonder if he's too scared? Isn't he against just a human?"
The crowd's getting to him. Their comments are starting to pluck at his pride. After a bit, he grits his teeth and at that point, I knew I got him.
"Fine!" he finally announces with furious intensity. "I'll agree to your conditions!"
As he said that, the bloodstone floats from the announcers hand and plants itself on the ground. Then, a red, crystal-like plant sprouts from it and a singular eye blossoms at its apex.
[The Judge of Duels Is Looking Intently]
"I'll make sure to take care of your girls reaaaally well," he says creepily.
"Not my girls, and as if I'd let you put your paws on them, dipshit," I reply. "But don't worry, they'll watch you lick my boot reaaal clean."