Pain shot through his left arm as he felt the limb go limp and lifeless, his hand spasmed for a few moments as he winced in pain. Those few seconds were enough time for Groka to step in closer, jerking his knee upwards into Kor'Ak's chest. He felt his armour bend under the force of his strikes. This beast wasn't a man, any of his strikes could leave Kor'Ak dead in a single, clean blow.

The Djaal coughed, another splatter of blood erupting from his lips, Kor'Ak backed away, his back pressed against the shield of one of Groka's bandits. The robber weakly shoved Kor'Ak back towards the Drauga, it was a pathetic push, but enough to send the blood-vomiting Kor'Ak hurtling at the Dragonman. A grey fist sprang forward again, Kor'Ak's body went low, he tumbled across the stone, but under the punch. Scrambling to his feet, he managed to secure himself a bit of distance from the scaly murder machine. Enough time to trigger every passive skill and martial art he could manage. Iron Will could keep his HP up, and his Adrenaline Boost gave him about fifteen seconds until he emptied his entire MP pool. Fifteen seconds to shrug off his wounds and fight through the pain without feeling it, fifteen seconds of enhanced physical abilties. With hope, it would be enough.

He lost most of his hope when Kor'Ak threw his first punch, a straight shot aimed at the Drauga's chest. This was when Kor'Ak felt every bone in his right-hand break, Adrenaline Boost could keep him going through the pain, but it was hardly going to mend his shattered skeleton.

His strike was met with a headbutt, Groka's muscled hands gripped around Kor'Ak's wrist. They tightened.

Something snapped.

The Djaal's strength gave way as Groka's battering ram like skull smashed into his jaw, sending Kor'Ak clattering to the stone again.

The Dragonman grinned wide as Kor'Ak's vision blurred and spinned, the Drauga turned to his audience, arms raised. He was met with applause, laughter and cheers.

"KILL HIM! KILL HIM! KILL HIM!"

The Drauga chuckled. "Luke, your sword and shield, pass it to me"

A young boy pushed slightly past the others, an old-looking shield and slightly rusted blade was handed over to the Dragonman as the boy scurried away.

Groka chuckled to himself again "Perhaps we make this fight a little more fair?" he turned to Kor'Ak as even more applause rose around him, the sword and shield left his hands, leisurely tossed to the beaten and broken warrior. The metal bounced against the stone, and Kor'Ak scrambled to grab the equipment.

The Dragonman was kind enough to give Kor'Ak the three seconds it took for him to slide his arm into the shields straps and grip the blade in his left hand. There wasn't a chance in hell he could grip the hilt with his dominant hand, with most of it's bones being shattered, and instead opted to fight in a way he wasn't used to.

The blade was old, and felt unusually unwieldly and heavy in a hand that he'd rarely held a sword in, whilst the shield was small, an embossed steel round shield, probably looted; the thing looks like it was once someone's prized possession. It was a shame it didn't protect them from these guys.

Groka's nostrils flared, charging towards Kor'Ak again, this time, the Djaal did not charge back, for a split second, he turned off Adrenaline Boost, instead activating Bulwark and Unbreakable Guard. The shield on his arm hummed, and he felt his body become heavier, sturdier and solid.

The stony fist crashed against Kor'Ak's shield, a brilliant blue light burst forth at the point of impact and the Drauga recoiled, batting his hands wildly. Blinded.

This was his chance, Kor'Ak tightened his grip on the sword in his hand, and he brought it down towards Groka's shoulder in a wild, desperate slash.

The blade bounced off of his grey shoulder, like it had bounced off of the stone road.

A flailing fist caught Kor'Ak in the stomach, the Dragonman's hand opened as he made contact, his claws caught on Kor'Ak's breastplate, with a little resistance, the Djaal was tossed a few feet to one side, taken off his feet. He raised his shield to protect his face as Groka leaped forward, a fist that could be more accurately described as a sledgehammer struck the shield, he felt the steel bend, groaning against the stress, Kor'Ak could hold out.

Another furious blow, he felt his arms weaken as vibrations shook him to the bone.

Another.

Maybe he couldn't.

The rim of his shield was smacked against Kor'Ak's skull. Vision blurred, narrowed, and darkened. His heart kept on beating in desperation, and another fountain of blood was vomited from his mouth.

Too weak to resist, the blade was taken from his hand, his mana was empty, his body flooded with pain as his bones screamed and his heart beat violently in protest, trying to keep him conscious, trying to stave off death.

"You fought well Djaal. But no mere man can defeat Drauga!" Another barrage of cheers and applause as the bandits watched on.

Kor'Ak was lifted by the throat, gargantuan hands easily seizing him and lifting him upwards and off his feet. He was tossed backwards, by the time his vision and senses returned to him, a blade was pressed against his throat, Groka was still circling around him, arms raised to be greeted by applause. "I am a man of my word, for your failure, you shall all die."

Kor'Ak tried to retort, but his mouth quickly trickled more blood from it, his jaw felt numb and weak, his tongue with it.

"Wait!" It wasn't Kor'Ak that spoke, but Kelvin, still pressed to the floor. "B-b-before you kill me... Please... Let me see it one last time, the thing in the box, the valuable thing... P-p-please... It... It was my mother's..."

Groka laughed "Yes, Yes! What sort of honourable man would I be if I did not grant someone their dying wish!"

The Drauga laughed, picking up the box and sitting on the other end of the circle the bandits formed. Kor'Ak had been dragged over besides Kelvin, and put in the same position, chin pressed against the ground.

Groka turned the case so that when it opened, Kelvin could look easily at it's contents. The Dragonman was about fifteen feet from them, a victorious grin still plastered on his scaly face.

He unfasted the iron latches on the case, and opened the container wide.

Kelvin chuckled.

The sound of metal scraping against metal, a spark shining beneath the shadow of the case's lid as it swung open.

Click

The air rippled for the briefest of moments, Groka's face contorted into a frown as the very air around him became a scorching inferno. Then his face was gone. His scales were hidden under roaring flames and black smoke as a shockwave shook the ground.