Chapter 2: Battlerage

Dane was still recovering from his strange episode as Cartman continued talking.

"Alright, Douchebag. If you're going to be a Fighter, you're going to need a weapon. Go buy a sword from Clyde." The fat wizard instructed.

Dane went over to the Armory and talked to the kid in the helmet, who was apparently was called Clyde. He was pretty average looking up close.

"I'd like a sword, please." Dane said.

"Alright, that'll be about three dollars." Clyde said.

Dane instantly grew angry. First they blackmailed him into their game and now they're extorting him!?

"THE FUCK? I have to pay real money!? You're kidding right?" Dane exclaimed.

"Sorry, Douchebag. It's just how the game is played, and I feel you, this helmet cost me ten bucks." Clyde apologized.

Dane growled as he reached in his pocket and handed him the money. "That's practically all the money my parents gave me. Now I only have a dollar."

Clyde handed him a crudely made wooden sword. "Many thanks, hero."

"Yeah, whatever." Dane stated bitterly, holding the sword up to inspect it. Despite its poor craftsmanship it looked like it would last a few hits. "Speaking of which…" Dane then looked towards Cartman, who was impatiently checking his watch. Dane gripped the sword and imagined breaking it over his head, but took a deep breath and calmed himself. "He's not worth it, Dane, just relax and get through this, who knows? I might even have fun." He thought optimistically.

"Yo, Douchebag! Hurry the fuck up already! I don't have all day!" Cartman screeched. Dane grumbled as he walked towards the self-proclaimed wizard king.

"Ah, excellent, you have procured a might blade! Now to teach you how to fight and- "

"I already know how to fight." Dane interrupted.

Cartman raised anm eyebrow. "Oh really? Well then, how about we test your might? Clyde! Get over here!" He yelled, Clyde then walked over. "Fight Sir Clyde and let us see your skills, Douchebag."

Clyde readied himself, lifting up his sword, which looked a lot better made than Dane's it appeared to be plastic and even had a silvery sheen. "En garde!" Clyde exclaimed, readying himself. Dane got into a stance, lifting his sword in front of him and preparing for an attack. A small crowd had gathered, the kids Dane had first seen and some ones he failed to notice, all wearing different sets of armor made of junk, formed a circle around Dane and Clyde. Murmurs came up from the crowd.

"Who's that kid?"

"He's the new one, Cartman calls him Douchebag but I think he said his real name's Danny or some shit."

"Huh, he's fighting Clyde, think he'll lose?"

"Nah Clyde will, he's a total pussy."

"I'll take that bet."

Cartman raised his hand. "Think you're a badass huh? Well let's see you play the game without knowing the rules Douchbag." He thought, then threw his hand down on the arm of his throne and yelled aloud: "FIGHT!"

As soon as Cartman spoke Dane charged, swinging his wooden sword at Clyde's abdomen. The boy caught it with his own blade barely, and skidded back a few feet. "Holy shit!" He exclaimed. The kids around them started cheering and hollering. Dane continued to push, trying to get Clyde out of the ring they were in. Seeing what he was trying to do, Clyde broke the struggle and jumped to the side quickly, causing Dane to fall on his hands and knees. Clyde took the opportunity to swing his sword into Dane's back, causing him to cry out. Cartman laughed.

Dane growled as anger and pain coursed through his body. Figuring that Clyde was getting ready for another swing, Dane pushed himself off the ground and slammed his body into Clyde's, who was indeed preparing to swing at him again, Clyde cried pitifully as Dane quickly turned the tables and had Clyde on the ground.

"Yield." Dane stated, point his sword at the downed Clyde.

"Never!" Clyde yelled defiantly. He quickly gathered himself and jabbed at Dane, who sidestepped his attack and tried to knock the blade out of Clyde's hand with a swing downwards on it. Clyde held fast however and slash at Dane's face, hitting him and cutting his lip open. Dane cried out and held his mouth. "OW! Time out! I'm actually hurt!" The kids around Dane laughed, the new kid became confused.

Cartman laughed again. "What a pitiful excuse for a Fighter! Here in Zaron, we fight through any pain, any bloody wound! If thou canst bear the sight of thine own blood than thou don't belong here! Clyde! Finish him so we can throw his ass from ourst realm!"

"Yes, sire!" Clyde agreed, grinning.

Realization dawned on Dane. "These kids don't fuck around. If I'm going to get through this, I can't hold back." He then charged at Clyde as the other boy prepared to jab at him again. Dane dodged and swung his sword at Clyde's ribs, not caring if he broke any. The boy cried as contact was made and staggered.

"Payback time, bitch." Dane stated as he quickly followed up his attack with a slash to the stomach that actually tore the kid's jacket. He then swung the flat of his blade at Clyde's face three times and followed it up with a series of jabs at his abdomen, then gripped his blade with both hands and spun around, delivering a blow that broke his sword and sent Clyde flying from the ring, the crowd of kids parted as he fell to the ground, moaning, his sword at Dane's feet. Putting the broken wooden sword in his pocket he picked up Clyde's weapon. "To the winner go the spoils. Sorry, Clyde, but that's just how things go in Zaron, right, oh Wizard King?" Dane said cheekily, turning to Cartman.

The fat boy was stunned; he hadn't expected Dane to have any skills. Everyone looked at him expectantly.

"U-Uh yes! Well done, Douchebag. Sir Clyde, pick up whatever is left of your pride and balls and get back to the Armory." Cartman ordered as he approached Dane. Clyde did so, glaring at Dane as he went back to his post, everyone started murmuring again.

"Holy shit! Did you see that?!"

"Yeah! He mopped the floor with Clyde! I've never seen anyone fight that good."

"His Dad probably taught him those sweet moves, maybe he's a vet."

Cartman put his hand on Dane's shoulder and guided him inside the tent. Within was a throne and tons of miscellaneous stuff. The two approached one at the center of the room on a crudely made podium, it was a stick on a velvet pillow, a light hanging above it. Dane raised an eyebrow.

"This is the Stick of Truth, said to be the toothpick of Bahamut, it fell into the Valley of Stardust long ago. Imbued with the power of the gods, it gives whoever holds it unbelievable power. Many wars have been waged in pursuit of it over the last millennia. We managed to retrieve it from the drow a few days ago. Our dying kingdom was restored by its light." Cartman explained.

Dane looked at it, the stick didn't appear to be anything special. "They could have decorated it or something." Dane thought.

"Don't look at it for too long! Its power can blind you!" Cartman exclaimed, turning Dane around. "I'm sure your very excited to be a part of MY kingdom, Douchebag. Now, however we need to talk business. You see, being a member of the K.K.K. requires a payment of thirty dollars a month with additional related fees of- "Cartman began to explain before Clyde came in.

"Sire! The drow are attacking!" He yelled frantically.

"What?! So soon? Crap! Douchebag come with me! Clyde you guard the stick!" Cartman barked. The two then left the tent. Outside was chaos, dozens of kids were fighting. The "drow" looked like the kid from before, some had wreaths of leaves and orange robes and were throwing rocks, others had shields made of wooden planks and others had bows and arrows.

Dane was momentarily confused. "These are the drow? They look more like regular elves. Do these guys even know what a drow elf is?" He thought, but quickly snapped to attention as several "drow" noticed them and converged.

"It's the New Kid and the King! Kill'em!" One of the "drow" yelled as the group charged. Dane took count, there were five, three with swords and shields and two with bows. Dane charged forward and slammed the pommel of his sword into the nearest one's temple, he crumpled instantly. "Holy shit!" One yelled to his left, he switched hands and slashed behind him, following the kid's voice. He apparently made contact as he heard the same voice shriek. Dane then cried out as he felt several sharp thing stab into his body. He looked at where the pain came from, his legs, and saw two toy arrows with real arrow heads tied to their ends. They were poorly carved and didn't cut too deep, but still broke the skin enough to stick there. A "drow" elf swordsmen swung at his side and Dane cried out again, falling to his hands and knees, still clutching his sword. The one he struck before joined in, battering him with strikes to the back, his comrade soon joined him and they beat him hard.

"This'll teach you shit!"

"That fucking hurt you asshole!"

"Make him pay for what he did to Max!"

Dane clutched his sword tightly and pushed his body upwards slamming his head right one elf's jaw, dislodging a tooth. He then ran jabbed his blade into the other's forehead and followed it up with a head butt. The pain in his legs reminded him of the archers, who were readying a second volley. Dane roared and charged, kneeing the one on the right hard in the crotch with his forward momentum, causing him to cough blood.

"You make me bleed…" He said darkly, turning toward the last one, who looked scared. "I make you bleed." He then took one of the arrows from the fallen archer and rushed his friend, stabbing the arrow into his arm and then smacking him to the ground. Dane's vision began to go red as he turned his attention to the rest of the elves. Beating them mercilessly.

Soon a horn rang across the battlefield. "Retreat! Retreat! This kid's fucking insane!" An elf cried. This caused the other elves to flee.

Dane began to calm down as he saw them retreat. He then looked down at himself, his clothes were torn and apparently a few arrows had wound up lodged in his right arm. He also had bruises all over his body that caused pain he was only now noticing, his sword also had some blood on it.

"The…hell?" Dane asked tiredly as exhaustion came over him, he then collapsed, the world turning black.