LoS Episode 3: Resolve

"THE OPPONENT IS THE UNDEFEATED BEAST OF RAGE!" The announcer screams at the top of his lungs.

The crowd begins to cheer, almost like an uproar one would hear from a riot. It nearly deafened the Half-elf, half-demon boy. But as he gained his composure, it began moving. It didn't take long for it to reach him, but it seemed like almost forever as its first attack was a massive down ward strike. Rolling out of harms way, he took deep breaths as sand began to float into the air. This sand was harsh, and would get into any wounds, should he get any. Combating this thing without losing an arm might be impossible. He gritted his teeth and began to run at the beast's feet, as it recovered from it's first swing. But it moved fast, it's next swing was to the side, to knock Bal off his feet. Bal jumped as high as he could, practically landing on the sword for a moment, before losing his balance on the moving weapon, and falling into the sand. He rushed to his feet, anticipating another side sweep swing with the claymore, but instead a large fist hit his entire body, sending him flying into the Arenas side wall. He bounce off it, and did his best to regain his footing. This was going to be his toughest fight to date, and more than likely his last.

Clapping his hands together, Leer giggled to himself, watching the boy struggle to his feet. This fight was going to end quickly, and gory. He intended to see it through until the last drop of blood was spilled. This child was going to get what he deserved. Liza couldn't help but grit her own teeth at the battle. She had seen the Undefeated Beast of Rage slaughter people in mere seconds. Bal's quick thinking kept him alive longer than most, but how long would he last, to just end up another victim. Interfering was illegal and would eliminate him from the proving and sully her name as a Guard Lieutenant.

"Come on Bal! You can do it!" Liza screamed at the top of her lungs.

As he struggled to his feet from the massive hit, he held up his sword with both hands and held his ground against the next big swing, which he just managed to hold. The pressure and weight was intense, but he wasn't going down without a fight.

Pushing against the sword, Bal rolled to the side as the claymore soon struck the sand again. Now he ran for the beast's feet, striking at it a few times, cutting up the ankles as well. Swing left, swing right, downward slash. Nothing. Nothing happened, his blade was pushed back. The scales of the beast were that similar to a demon's..... impenetrable by a normal blade. Heavy breathing, he didn't see the next swing that knocked him off his feet as he hit the ground, now with a cut in his left leg, the sand immediately entering the wound. Grabbing his leg, he looked up to see the beast strike back down. Barely having time, he dodged the swing, and ducked the side swing that came afterwards. Lying on the ground, all he could do was wince at the pain that ached his whole body. Liza's voice was heard from the roaring crowd, as he turned to look at her. Big mistake. The beast used its spare hand again to smack him into another part of the circular wall. The crowd grew silent. Bal didn't move as he fell from the hole, onto the sand once more. This was it. He looked up to see the beast's evil grin. It knew it had won. Bal closed his eyes and sighed. The memories he had of training, of enjoying his life, all of them flashed in his head. This was... the... end.

"No. This isn't my end." Bal said, as he remembered something.

This was his day. His time to prove he was worthy to be like those he lived with. Spitting up blood, He picked himself and stared at the beast who had just now started its next swing. Grinning, Bal pointed his sword at the beast's face. Now what happened next, shocked everyone. Jumping to the side, Bal avoided the downward swing, and then forced himself on top of the claymore. He began to run up the large blade, his own sword cutting the air. Yelling with his lungs, he jumped up and made it very clear. Today was his day. Hovering in the air, both hands on his blade he point it toward the beast's forehead.

"Demon's Roar!" He shouted. This was not a skill he had invented, but inherited. His demon heart glowing a bright purple.

With the force of a rushing ox, and the speed of lightning, Bal shot through the beast, landing on his knees, blade dug into the sand as the beast came to a large crash behind him.

Bal began to think to himself, 'What the hell was that?'

As the beast came to a large crash, and it was clear Bal was still alive, the crowd was dead silent, and then in an instant, it began to cheer with its heart out. The main event had ended.

LoS Episode 2: Beast of Rage

Bal stood in front of a mirror as he took his time to gear up. The Black leather armor matched his hair as it was strapped to his chest and legs. He tried to test his pulse again, breathing deeply. There was still nothing there as he stared into the mirror. His own red eyes haunted him, as if thought about the rumors of demons. 'Could I really be one of them?' He asked himself, gripping the hard rock that was his heart. He only sighed as he faced his room, looking at what was left inside. His queen sized bed still stood there against the back wall. Its comfort was that of temporary when he tried to sleep. The mattress was rather old and the metal below was rusted by now. There rested a wooden training dummy that had withstood several thousand blows to the chest, as was evident with many scars in the wood. Speaking of chest, there was a large one that had several clothes in it, many from his childhood, and some of them were clothes for Beastials only. There was one pair of pants with a hole to where his butt was that made one school day the most embarrassing of his life. A small knock on the door was heard as he continued reminiscing.

"So many old memories." Bal whispered to himself.

"Careful you don't kill the beast with words." Liza said, announcing her presence to him.

"Gah! Damn it Liza." He said, holding his chest in shock.

She chuckled to herself and held up a necklace. "You've got a lot of new memories to make kiddo."

"You guys have been so... nice to me..... my whole time here. I....  thank you." He couldn't really make out the words clearly, as he looked down at his leather shoes.

Liza rolled her eyes as she put the necklace around his neck and clipped it together. "It's a nice fit."

Bal took the pendant of the necklace and stared at it. It had the same design as the necklace in the store, but the gem was orange. "What is it?"

"In the days of old, our ancestors fought monstrous creatures like that one. The pendant is supposed to indicate that you're one of the few to do so." She stated.

"But I'm not-" He tried to say.

"Ah-ah-ah. No take backs." She gave him a big smile.


As they made their final preparations, a carriage arrived for all of them to take a few hours later. The horses were a nice chestnut brown, and the carriage's colors were maroon and gold. The man who drove it was a nice old rabbit with grey fur. As they stepped inside, the trip became a long journey, going through several forests and towns before arriving to the capital Yeirn. Bal looked out the window on his left thinking about the many hours to come. The Proving happened once a year, for every boy to become a man in the Beastial nation. It was never held at a local town, always in Yeirn. These boys would become men by facing tough adventurers, beasts, and sometimes monsters from the depths of the underground. The ones who got those were always killed. That made fear settle into him for a short moment, until he thought about Liza's uncle Greg. He was a crazy old Bison that had to face a horde of rats. It was pretty funny watching him charge, run and scream like a lunatic until he finally gave up. Bal began chuckling to himself on the rest of the way home. All Liza could do was grin and stare at the boy. A future brighter than most.


The carriage soon stopped, and they had arrived at their destination. The Capital city Yeirn. It was massive. Lot's of tall buildings, along with resident homes that were a bit smaller. Business bustling everywhere, but what stood in front of them was the Arena. It's green marble foundation gleamed in the sunlight. All different types of Beastials were entering the Arena, and it was a long line to get in. Bison, Bears, Foxes, Deer, Rabbits, Goats, Cats and many more. There was already others proving themselves in the Arena as they stepped out of the carriage.

"Come on kid, we've got to get you to the locker room." Kail said, as he put his hand on Bal's back, leading him along.

 Liza stood behind them, walking with her hands on her hips, close to her daggers. She wore a grey chain-mail outfit, along with light grey armor and the blue Cozack Guard sash. Kail wore the same thing, but over his chain-mail was a light-grey and red armor, showing him as the leader of the Cozack Guard. Bal's black leather mde him quite the opposite of his guardians, but he only chuckled at this. It seemed appropriate, since he really wasn't a Beastial. As they walked inside and went through many hallways, they finally reached the locker room. What passed them were yellow sash guards, carrying a Beastial fox kid, who was dead by the looks of it. Blood was everywhere on this kid. Bal tried his best not to pay attention, but he could hear the crowd from the gate that let one enter the arena. This might be tougher than even he expected.

"That's another one that bites the dust!" A man shouts, probably with amplified voice magic. It certainly didn't sound beastial, more like human.

What astounded Bal the most was the royal elf that stood there with his arms crossed, walking straight up to Bal-Savi and grabbing him by the arm.

"Come on kid, you don't need to be this close to the action." He said with a pompous accent.

"I'm not a kid! Today I become a man!" He yells as he rips his arm away from the royal.

The royal looks at him puzzled, and then sighs, holding his hand against his forehead.

"Ah... so you're the elf from Cozack. The one that thinks he's just like these beasts." He says.

"Beastials." Liza corrects him.

"Yes, yes, whatever. Boy, you don't belong here with them. You should come with me to Elven territory. You'll be treated so much nicer there." He says, attempting to reason with the boy.

"No. I've worked my whole life to get this far and I'm not just quitting because some pompous ass thinks I deserve better. You can take your royalty and die miserably." Bal says, as he walks away, overlooking the swords they have for him to use.

"Why you little-" He begins.

"I remember you. You're that new Elven Council member, Leer, right?" Kail says, with his hands on his hips, elbows out far.

"Yes, what of it?" Leer says.

"Why don't I find you a seat close to the action, I'm sure you'll enjoy the show my young friend will give us!" Kail says in a cheery voice as he grabs Leer and begins dragging him out of the locker room,

That just leaves Liza and Bal in the room. The silence is awkward, and she knows he's focused on just surviving, so she walks away, to join her father until he speaks up.

"Hey." He starts.

"Yeah?" She asks quietly.

"Don't worry about me. I'm born to do this." He says, with a fake grin on his face.

Liza only smiles back, and jogs away to catch up with her father.


"Ladies and Gentlemen! This is the last Proving for the day! Enjoy the show!" The announcer yells over the cheering crowd.

Leer chuckles to himself as he sits down next to Kail. His mint green robes darkened by the shade. He rubs his hands together, an evil grin on his face. "And what a show it will be."

"Opening the gates!" shouts a guard.

Bal-Savi steps out into the dim sunlight, longsword drawn and ready. His hair moving along with the wind, Bal's face is that of seriousness as he stares at the other end, which houses a gate as large as the buildings in Yeirn.

"Give a warm welcome to Bal-Savi! The Elven warior trained by the Cozack Guard! And would you look at that, it looks like a final salute!" The announcer yells.

Bal sees the saluting men, including Liza and Kail, and gives the same, a grin on his face. The confidence was setting in.

"The opponent today is..... wait... hold on a minute... we've got a change of plans folks! What an unlucky break! THE OPPONENT IS THE UNDEFEATED BEAST OF RAGE!" He screams.

Bal's face turns almost white as the large gate opens. What comes out of it, is an orcish like being, that is more than ten times his size, wielding a massive claymore.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. I'd duck for almost every swing this guy makes and be warned of how quick decapitation is!"

Staring at the 20 foot giant, Bal takes a deep breath and gulps. 'Why me?' He thinks to himself.

'An Elf is only as good as his resolve,' Leer chuckled to himself. 'Let's see how much you have child.'