Damien stepped onto the platform, the cold stone beneath his feet feeling rough and unfamiliar. The crowd immediately erupted into a mixture of laughter and jeers. He caught snippets of their insults as they echoed through the arena.
"Look at this one, a puny human?"
"He thinks he can fight a vampire?"
"How many hits before he drops? I'm betting on two!"
"Maybe one if he's lucky!"
Damien gritted his teeth, his jaw tightening as he kept his gaze fixed on the stage ahead. He could hear their taunts, but he forced himself to block them out. He wasn't here for them. He was here for himself. To test his limits, to see what he could do in this world where power was everything.
The taunts coming from the crowd became louder and a group nearby started placing bets. "Five mid-grade primal stones say he doesn't last more than three moves," one vampire shouted. His friends snickered, holding out their primal stones.
