Arkon

ARKON

I stepped into the common room, my senses immediately assaulted by the stench of sweat and pheromones. The fighters lounged on worn couches, their bodies a patchwork of scars and cybernetic enhancements. Conversations died as I entered, replaced by wary glances and barely concealed hostility.

A Krelaxian spat on the floor near my feet. “Look who decided to grace us with his presence. Zhen’la’s pet Vinduthi.”

I ignored the taunt, scanning the room for Renak. The Mondian sat in a corner, nursing a drink that glowed an unnatural shade of green. His scales glinted under the harsh fluorescent lights as he watched me approach.

“Renak,” I said, staying quiet. “We need to talk.”

He snorted, a plume of smoke escaping his nostrils. “About what? How you’re going to crush us all in the arena?”

I leaned in closer, my words for his ears alone. “About getting out of here.”

Renak’s eyes narrowed, but I detected a flicker of interest. He gestured to an empty chair. “Sit down, Vinduthi. Let’s hear what you have to say.”

I took the offered seat, acutely aware of the eyes boring into my back. “I have a plan,” I said. “But I need allies. Strong fighters who can hold their own.”

Renak laughed, a harsh, grating sound. “And why would I want to leave? I’ve got it made here. Three square meals a day, all the fights I can handle, and no one trying to collect on old debts.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like you’ve given up, Renak. I never took you for a quitter.”

His scales rippled, a sign of agitation. “Watch your tongue, Vinduthi. I could snap you in half without breaking a sweat.”

“Could you?” I leaned back, a smirk playing at the corners of my mouth. “From where I’m sitting, it looks like you’ve gone soft. Too many easy wins against weak opponents. When was the last time you faced a real challenge?”

Renak’s eyes flashed dangerously. “You’re treading on thin ice, .”

I pressed on, my voice dripping with mock concern. “Oh, I understand. It’s safer in here, isn’t it? No need to worry about real competition. No risk of failure. Just the same old routine, day after day, until you’re too old and broken to fight anymore. Then what? Will they give you a nice pension and a pat on the back?”

Renak’s claws dug into the armrests of his chair. “You think you’re so clever, don’t you? You waltz in here, acting like you’re better than the rest of us. But you’re just as trapped as we are.”

I shrugged. “Maybe. But at least I haven’t given up on getting out. On making something of myself beyond these walls. Can you say the same?”

For a moment, I thought Renak might lunge at me. Instead, he leaned back, a calculating look in his eyes. “Fine. You want to prove yourself? You want me to even consider your little escape plan? Then you’ll have to pass a test.”

“What kind of test?”

Renak grinned, revealing rows of sharp teeth. “The Gauntlet Flag Run. It’s a little game we’ve set up in the training facility. Capture four flags while evading the Blue Skulls team. If you can do that, maybe I’ll listen.”

I nodded, my pulse quickening at the prospect of action. “When?”

“Tonight. When the guards change shifts. Be ready.”

As night fell, I headed to the training area, every muscle in my body coiled with anticipation. The room had been transformed, makeshift obstacles creating a multi-level course that stretched from floor to ceiling.

Somewhere in the shadows, the Blue Skulls waited. I had to be faster, smarter, and more ruthless than all of them.

A whistle sounded, signaling the start of the challenge. I launched myself forward, immediately ducking under a swinging weight to roll past a series of automated training dummies, their metal arms whirring through the air where my head had been moments before.

I caught a quick glimpse of movement. The Sylphid, its translucent body nearly invisible in the murky darkness. I closed my eyes, relying on my heightened hearing to track its approach.

The whoosh of displaced air was my only warning. I spun, catching the Sylphid’s wrist as it lunged for me. We grappled in silence, each movement precise and deadly. Finally, I pinned it against a wall, using a nearby resistance band to secure its limbs.

With the first opponent neutralized, I climbed to a high platform, snatching the first flag from its perch. One down, three to go.

I sprinted towards the sparring area. The Volcryn waited, its multiple eyes shifting and blades glinting. As I entered, it lunged, forcing me to weave between the sparring dummies.

The training blades whistled past my head as I ducked and rolled. The Volcryn’s movements were erratic, almost impossible to predict. But as I dodged another strike, I noticed a pattern in its footwork. A slight hesitation before each lunge, a tell I could exploit.

I feinted left, purposely leaving an opening. The Volcryn took the bait, overextending as it moved in for the kill. I pivoted, grabbing its wrist and twisting. The blade clattered to the floor as I locked the Volcryn’s arm behind its back.

With a swift kick, I sent it sprawling and snatched the second flag. Two down, two to go.

I entered the storage area, a labyrinth of towering shelves packed with equipment. The Gorak was in here somewhere, hunting me. I moved silently, using my heightened senses to track its movements.

A crash echoed from my left. I grabbed a nearby weight and hurled it in the opposite direction. The sound of metal on metal reverberated through the room, and I heard the Gorak’s heavy footsteps moving away from me.

I slipped through the maze, setting up more distractions as I went. But the Gorak was persistent, and eventually, it cornered me in a dead end between two massive shelving units.

The behemoth charged, its massive fists swinging wildly. I ducked under the first blow, feeling the air displacement as it sailed over my head. The Gorak’s fist slammed into the shelf behind me, sending tremors through the metal structure.

I used the confined space to my advantage, redirecting its powerful but clumsy attacks into the surrounding shelves. With each miss, the Gorak’s frustration grew, its strikes becoming more reckless.

Seizing my chance, I leapt onto the lower shelf and began to climb. The Gorak roared in anger, reaching for my legs, but I was already out of its grasp. I scaled the shelves like a ladder, my fingers finding purchase on the cold metal rungs.

At the top of the storage stacks, I spotted the third flag and quickly snatched it. But my heart sank as I saw all four Blue Skulls converging on my position. I was trapped.

Thinking fast, I grabbed a container of protein powder and hurled it down. The canister exploded on impact, filling the air with a thick cloud of dust. In the confusion, I leapt from shelf to shelf, weaving through the Blue Skulls’ grasping hands.

I hit the ground running, sprinting towards the rehabilitation area where the final flag waited. My lungs burned, muscles screaming in protest, but I pushed on. I was so close.

Swift movement startled me. The Sylphid, somehow free of its bonds, made one last desperate attempt to stop me. I saw the final flag just beyond its reach.

Without breaking stride, I grabbed a nearby resistance band. I looped one end around a support beam and stretched it to its limit. The Sylphid lunged, but I was already airborne. The band catapulted me forward, and I snatched the flag from its perch as I sailed past the stunned Sylphid.

I landed hard, rolling to disperse the impact. I lay there, chest heaving as I struggled to catch my breath. Then, slowly, I rose to my feet, all four flags clutched in my hand.

The challenge was complete. I stood victorious, battered but unbroken. Around me, I heard the murmurs of approval from the observing fighters.

Renak lounged in his corner, his scaled form a study in nonchalance. But I knew better. I’d seen the glint of interest in his eyes during my performance.

“Well,” I said, tilting my head to the side. “Are you ready to talk now?”

Renak’s eyes narrowed, his forked tongue flicking out to taste the air. “Maybe,” he rumbled. “You’ve certainly proven you’re not just Zhen’la’s lapdog.”

I snorted. “I’m much more than that. And I think you know it.”

A slow smile spread across Renak’s reptilian features, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. “Alright, Vinduthi. You’ve got my attention. But the question is...” He paused, his gaze boring into mine. “What are you going to do with it?”