The arena gates shuddered open. Five demon clans marched in, led by their champions:
Clan of Scourge [Vorak: skinless horror, whip made of spines]
Clan of Bone [Gorath: 10-foot skeleton-warrior, knuckle-dustered in skulls]
Clan of Embers [Zara: ash-wreathed sorceress, breathes cursed smoke]
Clan of Venom [Slithis: serpent-tailed, spits paralyzing ichor]
Clan of Shadows [Nyxxa: incorporeal, steals faces of victims]
First Challenge: Kenji of the Melt Clan stepped forward. Flames coiled around his arms like living serpents.
Vorak [Scourge Clan] licked his blade-teeth: "I ate three fire Wardens yesterday. Their fear tasted... spicy."
Kenji [cracking his neck]: "Weaklings. I melt mountains.
The Duel Vorak lunged, spine-whip cracking. Kenji sidestepped—
"Sido 7: Magma Geyser."
Lava erupted under Vorak, searing his legs.
Vorak screaming: "I'll wear you skin!"
Kenji dodging acid spit : "Stage 10. Melt the World."
He clapped his hands—
A wave of white fire vaporized Vorak's whip, then his arms, then his torso.
"Next."
Commanders' Respect Tsuneo (stone-faced): "Kenji cleared the Crimson Tunnels alone last cycle."
Kaida flame eyes glowing: "His control... perfect. A true Melt Clan heir."
Hayate: "He's toying with them. Vorak was just an appetizer."
Tamotsu (masked): Silver eyes glinted from a shadowed skybox. His hand trembled—fighting the mask's control.
Hisoka: Whispered to Bone Clan warriors: "Aim for Kenji's legs. Melt Clan's balance is their weakness."
Demon's RevelationGorath [Bone Clan] entered the arena, cracking his neck-bones:
"I was Stone Warden Captain Borin... before I embraced real power."
He stomped—sido shockwaves shattered the arena floor.
"Weaklings like you refused the demon gift. Now? You're nothing .
Kenji flame-wings igniting: "Keep talking. I'll make your bones into cutlery."
Vorak: [Scourge Clan] not so fast cracked his spine-whip, licking charred lips:
"I'll string your bones over my—"
Kenji [white flames coiling]: "Save your breath. You'll need it to scream."
Gorath [Bone Clan] slammed his hammer down:
"Sido 9: Grave Crusher!"
Spikes of black bone erupted toward Ren.
Ren sidestepped, flicking a droplet at Gorath's brow:
"Drip. Drip. Annoying, isn't it?"
Kenji feinted left—then blitzed right at Gorath:
"Sido 10: Solar Spear!"
A lance of white fire shot toward the bone demon's chest!
Gorath bellowed:
"Ember Shell !" A powerful shield for Kenji attacks reduces the fire impact.
A carapace of cooled magma hardened over him. The spear shattered.
Simultaneously, Ren spun toward Vorak:
"Sido 10: Tidal Guillotine!"
A blade of pressurized water sliced the air!
Vorak sneered:
"Tide breakser!" A powerful parry for Ren water attacks.
His whip dispersed the water into harmless mist.
Vorak : "Your flames are kindling, boy."
Gorath "I've pissed stronger streams than your Sido!"
Vorak's spine-whip cracked like thunder.
Ren's right leg shattered below the knee. Bone fragments tore through skin.
"GAAH!" He collapsed, blood pooling on arena stone.
Vorak loomed, grinning. "Soulwarden legs break prettier than human spines."
Gorath's Hammer
Kenji's fire-shield flared—
—too slow.
Gorath's bone-hammer smashed his ribs.
"Bone crusher: Skull Grinder!"
Kenji flew backward, collarbone snapping, lung pierced by splintered bone. He choked on blood. "Tch... barely tickled."
Vorak raised his whip to finish Ren.
Gorath leveled his hammer at Kenji's skull.
Kenji grinned, flames flickering blue:
"Ren! Now!"
Ren nodded, hands weaving:
"Sido 8: Torrential Bind!"
Water chains yanked Vorak toward Gorath!
"They swapped?—"
Kenji's fist plunged into Vorak's gut—
—Sido 7: Fire spear.
Blue fire arced past Vorak...
...and Ren pivoted right blitzing Gorath with a whirlpool slash : sido 9: Abyssal Impact "Ember Shell" shattered under the blade.
"IMPOSSIB—" Gorath choked as it vaporized his ribs.
Simultaneously, Ren's water chains became razor-wires:
"Sido 10: Abyssal Filament!"
A single drop hardened into a needle-thin blade—
—slicing Gorath spine as he gaped at Vorak corpse.
Vorak collapsed, whispering:
"We... trained here... before the void promised us power..."
Gorath's fading eyes met Kenji's:
"The arena... was home once..."
Their bodies crumbled to ash.
Aftermath Silence choked the arena.
Kenji's flames cooled to white, exhaustion lining his face.
Ren caught him, offering a water-flask: "Fire needs balance."
Kenji smirked: "And water needs fire to make steam."
Stone Elder stood, voice thick:
"they were captains here. The void stole them."
Flame Sovereign raised her fist:
"But today souldwardens stood together!"
Aero of the Sky Dancers landed lightly beside Nyxxa:
"Your turn, face-thief."
Wind-blades hummed in her hands.
The Hidden CrackTamotsu's mask split further—silver light bleeding down his cheek.
The blue flames... the arena's ghosts...
"Remember the vows," whispered the voice in his mind.
"Remember us."