“We shall fight, one by one in the order given to Colonel Heria. At any time the member of the team can surrender, or the leader may choose to surrender in their warrior’s stead. There will be no killing, this is but a friendly spar to show off to the other side. We will fight only within this area, the edges have been marked by my ring. Are we fine with such a statement?” Ares asked, looking out to Beor and his ten warriors.

Beor’s warriors were quite the mix. They had those that were still within their prime, and then that were much more older and wisened. There was even a single woman that was barely passed her teens, their first warrior for the gauntlet. She was a catfolk of some kind.

Beor nodded his head and growled something towards the girl who stepped forward. Ares had ordered his warriors. It would go Gantal, Jiaga, Saykkera and then himself.

They fought with their giant weapons and gear. Gantal had chosen to use an axe and shield, she seemed to be more comfortable with such a thing. Ares had allowed it, even though he had her train with a spear and shield. The woman opposite Gantal had a shield and sword and wore heavy furs, whereas Gantal wore her own heavy furs, choosing to step out of her heavy gear.

Heria slammed a small drum, which began the fight. Ares and Beor each had a drum as well, which would be sounded for the surrender.

The young woman charged at Gantal, keeping her sword behind her so no one could see where it was. Gantal waited and then right before they met, she charged forward with her shield. The young woman managed to veer off just in time, almost striking Gantal with her sword, but was taken aback by the charge.

Gantal leapt forward towards the young woman and slammed her axe down against the shield, though it bounced off it. The pair continued to exchange blows for a short time, with either one pulling back to regroup allowing the other to follow through aggressively. They changed back and forth like this for some time, but eventually the younger woman lost her breath and Gantal slammed her shield against the woman’s head, causing her to fall back until the axe dug beside her head into the soil, cutting off some hair.

Heria slammed her drum. “Gantal is the winner.”

Beor growled. “We did not choose to surrender.”

“If that axe had dug into her skull she would have been dead.” Heria replied back, narrowing her eyes towards Beor.

Beor slammed his drum and then growled out further. “Come.” He said to the young woman who rolled over and then stood, walking back to Beor with her ears fallen. Beor slapped her. The sound cut through the air as though it was his axe.

Ares did not react, though he grew cold with shock, though quickly relaxed again. Beor barked for the next soldier to step forward and then an older man stepped forward. He was a bearman just like Beor.

Gantal had taken the time to rest up as the man took his place ahead of her.

“Good job, Captain.” Called Ares.

Gantal turned back to look at Ares and then nodded her head. “Your words are too kind.”

Ares laughed and then looked out to her opponent before looking back to her. “Good luck.” He said.

Gantal raised her shield and once the pair were ready, Heria struck her drum. Gantal and the older man leapt to one another with great speed and began an extreme cash. The older man used a large hammer, and within moment Gantal found herself at a disadvantage. Her arm quivered after a particularly harsh blow against her shield, a crack echoed through the air.

As the bearman wound up for another blow, Gantal tackled the man ground. The pair struggled against one another before he managed to grab onto Gantal’s horns and then, with shaking arms, struggled to bring her head to the ground, only to have Gantal knee him against his lower back to hand him roll over. However he kept his fists around her horns and then started to drag her along with some great effort, with Gantal now punching him against his thighs and torso before he finally rolled her onto the ground and then stuck her horns into the ground.

He pressed his knee against Gantal’s chest and then reached back to grab the heavy maul weapon and then hoisted it up.

Ares’ eyes grew wide as he assessed the situation. Gantal’s horns were dug into the ground and she struggled to pull out of the earth, not realising the maul was about to come crashing down. He grabbed the drum and then slammed onto it.

Gantal grew still, though the bearman continued to bring his hammer up for a moment before he then froze as well. Ares had a hand out just in case the bearman continued.

“We surrender this round.” Ares said clearly. His heart had been pounding quite harshly but began to settle.

The bearman pulled back, breathing quite heavily as Gantal forced her head out of the earth and then looked over to Ares. Ares could see the conflict on her face before she finally stood up and then marched over to Ares, saluting him.

“I am sorry to disappoint you, Ares-kin.”

“Nonsense, you did very well.” Ares smiled placing a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “It was a good fight to watch, spectacular.” He nodded. “You deserve a rest.”

Gantal walked away to her fellow Marching Blades, her face painted with disappointment.

Ares looked over to Jiaga. “Good luck.”

Jiaga nodded his head and then grabbed onto his shield and his axe, marching over to the battlefield.

Ares straightened up, holding the drum close, though also paid keen attention to the beastfolk opposite. They grew agitated that a human had walked over to them, and then the older bearman growled something towards Beor, causing a wave of laughter to take over his folk.

Ares narrowed his eyes. “Jiaga!” He called out, causing the human to jump before he turned to face Ares a little confused. “Out of the hundred, Abdan allowed you to fight in front of everyone.” Ares said before nodding his head.

Jiaga inhaled deeply and then bowed his head. “I will honour Azni.” Then he planted his feet into the ground and raised his shield up, gripping his axe tightly before then relaxing it.

Ares sighed as Heria slammed the drum and the fight began. A roar echoed and Ares tensed up. His attention snapped to the beastfolk ahead, but none moved. The roar was from the bearman that was fighting Jiaga, who had planted his feet firmly into the ground as the bearman rushed him.

‘My god what a roar…’ Ares thought as he reached up and then brushed his hair.

The bearman was upon Jiaga, slamming his hammer into the shield. Jiaga flew back, though as the bearman had slammed into the shield with his hammer, Jiaga slashed at the bearman’s arm with his axe. He managed to sink in enough that the bearman dropped his hammer.

Jiaga was on his ass, though quickly stood back up as the bearman grabbed his hammer with his other hand and then spun the hammer around. Jiaga coughed as he hopped backwards away from the swinging hammer. The bearman left himself quite open, but Ares could see that Jiaga’s shield arm was shaking.

Ares crossed his arms and absentmindedly tapped his fingers against his bicep. The bearman was tired, that was for sure, but he was also injured now.

However as the bearman kept swinging, eventually he began to slow. It was then that Jiaga took the chance and then leapt up, slamming the shield against the bearman’s head. The bearman managed to duck, but Jiaga slammed his knee against their head, causing the larger fellow to stumble back before Jiaga slammed his shield across their head.

The bearman shook with each blow, and with each blow he stumbled backwards, and seemed to be on the verge of passing out. Jiaga continued to slam the shield as the bearman did not surrender and Beor didn’t bang his drum.

“Jiaga!” Ares shouted out and Jiaga stopped, bringing his shield up in front of the bearman, waiting. “Your fellow seems to be out of it.”

Beor waited a short while before he banged his drum and then snarled. The bearman needed a few moments to gather himself. Beor let out a roar and then the bearman finally stood up, stumbling his way over to Beor. Beor slapped him across the face, and with that the bearman was down.

Then Beor brought up his axe before the next warrior grabbed onto his soldier. The panther woman whispered something into Beor’s ear, which had caused him to stop. He placed his axe aside and then growled something before the unconscious bearman was dragged away.

“Jiaga, how are you feeling?” Ares asked.

“I am well.” Jiaga replied calmly.

“If you would like to surrender, please let me know.”

“I am able to fight.”

“Alright.” Ares waited patiently as the panther woman slunk her way towards the arena.

The panther woman drew her curved blades and licked her lips. “Human flesh is always so tender.” She said.

“Is that true?” Ares asked to Saykkera beside him before realising who he was talking to. “…”

“…”

Then the drum was sound and the panther formed a blur. Ares raised his brows as she had gone feral. She stepped onto the shield with a paw and then swiped down across the side of Jiaga’s helmet, scratching his cheek as she hopped off the shield and then crouched low many metres away. Jiaga was displaced from where he was by about a metre himself, the dirt underneath had shifted when he was forced back by the hop.

‘Such power…’ Ares had forgotten that the beastfolk could go feral. He wondered why they hadn’t during the fights earlier and why they had started to now.

Jiaga help up his shield, though was panting. He steeled himself as the panther woman blurred once more and then this time slunk around his left side where he couldn’t see and then slapped the side of his head.

However, much to Ares’ surprised, though she had managed to strike at Jiaga, Jiaga kicked her gut as he flipped over. She stumbled back in surprise as Jiaga rolled up onto his feet before then charging forward. She hissed at him and then slunk around, though Jiaga as quickly pivoted and chased her, though she managed to clear the space with her great speed and Jiaga remained with his shield up.

The panther woman licked her lips once more as she returned to normal and then began to circle around Jiaga until he was on the opposite side with Beor’s people at his back. Ares cleared his throat, just in case. She looked back and smirked. “Don’t worry, I’m just playing.” She said as she then went feral and tossed her weapons over to Jiaga before she darted forward.

Jiaga charged forward so the weapons were behind him. He crashed his shield against her paw as she stepped on the shield and then she front flipped over him and slashed at the back of neck, but crashed against his armour. He turned quickly, only to find the two blades slash against both of his legs, sinking deep against his bone.

Jiaga gasped for air before he grunted, falling down as the panther woman licked her blades and then darted them down. Ares slammed the drum, but she pushed both blades into Jiaga’s cheeks and then twisted her blades.

Ares grabbed her shoulders and gave her a icy death glare. “We had surrendered.”

“Aaaaaaaah, I didn’t hear it. The blood rushed into my ears.” She said as her ears flickered.

“Take your swords out of him, or I’ll skewer you with my blade.”

“Sounds like a fun time.” She said, pulling her blades up and then licked at her blades.

Ares dropped down to a knee and placed a hand onto Jiaga’s mouth and then shifted his hand into flames to try and heal the man’s wounds. They rapidly healed and he did the same to the human’s legs. “Had fun?” Ares asked.

Jiaga panted for air as he reached up to feel his cheeks. “My thanks to you, King Ahreez.”

“You’re most welcome.” Ares nodded. “Would you like to watch as Rivea’s strongest fight?”

Jiaga bowed his head. “It would be my honour.”

Ares turned to Beor. “What say you, a little alteration to our competition? Myself and Saykkera against the remaining nine?”

Beor growled. “That does seem unfair.”

“You’re right. Maybe Saykkera can sit this one out.”

Beor narrowed his eyes. “You are one arrogant phoenix.”

“I spit fire and facts.” Ares replied simply. “So? What do you say? Two against nine.”

“Fine.”

Ares turned to Heria. “You ca-” He ducked as an axe swung by his head and a nearby soldier smacked it with his shield. Beor kicked Ares across the face in his feral form, causing Ares to fly back.

“Oof.”