Familiarity with her new surroundings was graduallyforthcoming and it was time to stretch her body around in terms of preparing for this tournament everybody had been talking about for days now. As her skin crawled from the sensation of her blood rushing through her veins, she looked around and was not disappointed with what she saw.

There was an arena in the fortress that had been populated by many others and within it was a warrior in green and reptilian skin. He was called what he was but perhaps he had a true name unrevealed to everyone here. His fighting style was strange, different, and ue. He had used substances from his m,outh, claws and from biting thtoin order to enhance his strength and abilities.

He was battling against a woman in golden yellow, her skin curved and deepened with strange features. She was like an insect, beautifully ornate and strange. She had claws that resembled needles and in her hand protruding limbs from her back that were sharp and deadly. Kalliste watched the fight with interest as she observed their fighting techniques.

The two warriors, one ancient and one so new, both so alien, both so fascinating.

They moved in the arena with grace and speed and both were beautiful to watch. The spilled blood, red and blue as their groans were the results of their flaws.

In the daze of the observation, she had noticed that she hadn't seen Shang Tsung in some time, every so often he would check in with her like some pestering father, although he wasn't like one at all. The fight ended in a blink of an eye and the winner was the insect lady, she was like a strange insect herself, beautiful and deadly.

She smirked in her victory as the defeated one recovered from their injuries. There was an opening that piqued interest in Kalliste, she wanted to fight next so she entered the open arena and looked around, awaiting her unknown opponent. The person in charge approached her and asked for her name to which she promptly replied, "Kalliste."

The conductor nodded and said, "Here comes Kalliste, a new fighter enters the arena! Who challenges this newcomer into battle?" He raises his hand and glances around the arena, awaiting the next opponent.

"I will."

A voice replied. Out of the crowd was the militant Kollector. She was surprised but excited by his answer. He entered the battlefield with his jaunty stance, a smile upon his face that was intended with certainty.

His arms reach deep into his frequent satchel that hung from his back and equips a chained mace and two pairs of curved swords in his upper set of arms. His feet were planted firmly and confidently upon the ground and his sanguine eyes stared down the length of his weapon's path towards Kalliste.

She kept her distance as she watched him walk toward her. Kalliste adjusts her mask and carefully watches and studies his movement.

"Are you prepared to kombat me in battle, pest?" He says with determination.

"I am." She replies with a low voice.

FIGHT!

He launches an attack from his curved swords, swinging at her head while she dodges his attacks. He continues to swing his weapons which she easily dodges. . He was a well-honed machine, each part working in unison to become what he was. His movements were crisp, precise, and powerful but not enough to stumble into her light body soaring around him onto the battleground.

He swings again, this time missing her head but his attack connects with her left shoulder, causing her to hop backward in pain.

She quickly got up from the ground and readied herself for another attack. He swings again but she leaps forward and lands a light blow to his side. She lands on her feet and readies her claw which manages to hit him again on the same side that was once gored.

Kollector blunders but is not set on giving into defeat as he gains his bearings and his confidence. He launches a strong attack on her neck from his mace but she simply dodges. It catches her off guard when he quickly launches his chained mace directly at her head causing her to falter from the thrust and twist her neck from the blow.

She collapses to the ground and tries to regain from the impact. To him he saw an opportunity to finish her off, knowing that he had defeated her in this heavy fight between them.

A firm step into the ground and he throws a final thrust of the hand at her... and before he could land it, she suddenly sweeps from underneath him and catches his lower arm. In the blink of an eye, she launches herself upwards and twists his arm as she did so. She throws him to the ground and she lands on top of him.

The tar and grimness of her left arm dug into his arm, pinning him entirely where the pain was too unbearable for him to relinquish himself. Kollector growls in pain, his face shrouded with scorn and his eyes, full of the pain of his injury. Kalliste quickly presses her attack, she pressed her claw deep into his neck, using all her strength to do so. Then, the impulsive applause around her softened her muscles.

"And there you have it! Kalliste wins!" The conductor approaches her as he lifts her arm in a stance of triumph. The crowd cheers loudly and the announcer speaks. The state of blankness on her face slowly drifted into a soft smile, realizing her win.

She gives Kollector a snaring smirk, sneering at him as he scowls in aggravation. Everyone then gradually scatters from the area as it made a satisfying finish to the day's fight.

Kalliste glances at Kollector who slowly recovered from the battle, she decides to approach him and she promptly extends her hand out to him.

"Well done." She smiles, he glares in anger and swats her hand away. Although, she wasn't fazed by the decline.

"You were fortunate enough to win that battle." He said through gritted teeth, his face still bruised and bloodied.

She crossed her arms, "Maybe fortune was in it, but I know it's a matter of skill." She says with calmness, "We both did our best, no need to be petty." She replies while giving him a soft, but firm look.

"Petty?" Said Kollector. Kalliste nodded, as she gave him a look of expectation.

"You are not privy to insult me when you are far from my station, pest." He spat with irritation. Kalliste then rolled her eyes as her smirk washed away, "Have you forgotten my name? It's Kalliste, not pest."

"I will call you what I am pleased with." He had enough of this conversation with her that he began to walk away although, she was not finished with him. "I understand. I should respect you to respect me. And I truly mean it, you were fun to fight against, and perhaps in another duel you will beat me." She followed him through the golden corridors.

"Yes, if in any other duel, you will be dead." He sneers and the grimace aura flows roughly in him. Kalliste was almost taken aback by his dark remark but comprehended his unwelcoming attitude.

"Enough of the cold. I really don't mean to be a nuisance." She says, then Kollector suddenly turns around. "Yes, a nuisance you are. You are below my station to even speak to me." He spat.

Kalliste sighs, "Then, maybe you can help me. Learn the ways of serving... under Shao Kahn. To be in your position then." He turns his back on her and continues to walk away. "I doubt I will be of any use to him, but I can at least learn from you." Suddenly, he lets out a chuckle, "I do not serve my time in aiding others. I collect and take." His words were sharp but Kalliste did not give up. "Please, I can be of use to you, and I will not bother you again, I promise." She continues to follow him into the golden hallways.

He continues to ignore her, her eyes staring at the back of his frame, noticing his satchel that was full of... something. "If I were to give you something... in return." Kalliste states.

Then, he stops abruptly, slowly turning to her with his sallow eyes of blood. They are filled with interest, filled with the desire for what she could offer to him. "What is it... you offer to me?" His words curl with inquisitiveness.

Kalliste was trying to think of the best way to word this, but she couldn't think of one.

"I... don't know." She says with a loss for words. Kollector snarls as his patience grows thin. "You do not know what it is you offer to me, or what it is I receive from you?" He asks, an edge of hostility in his voice.

She lifts her shoulders helplessly, "...I will offer you the place on my master's island. The treasure room." Then his eyes widened even further open, this certainly piqued his interest. A smile came through his sunken lips. "Is that so...? Does Shang Tsung approve of this proposition?" He asks.

Kalliste was clearly in doubt of Shang Tsung's knowledge. "No." She replies. Even if she lied, perhaps Kollector would be in doubt otherwise.

He lets out a breath, "You would risk your trust with Shang Tsung so that I may... oblige you under Shao Kahn's rule?" He says in disbelief. She nodded, "Yes." Kalliste looked away for a moment, understanding the risks that would lead up to the end of the deed. She didn't exactly care, she had no further empathy for her master, even if it meant punishment.

"I see. I shall have what is in Shang Tsung's treasure room." He hisses through his teeth, "You will keep the end of your bargain when the time comes. I value my time."

Kalliste's lips curved in a small smile then began to hold her hand to him, "I will keep the end of the deal. You just have to... help me." Kollector looks at her hand, and Kalliste curls her head. Does he know how to do a handshake? In a moment, he shakes her hand, then releases it.

"If I must bound you to me. Then perhaps you will be collecting debt with me. You will soon comprehend the rule of Shao Kahn."

Kalliste cocked her head in perplexity, "I... have to collect debt with you?" She scoffed in amusement.

"Yes. Or perhaps I shall tell your master that you will carelessly let his riches be ravished."

Kalliste purses her lips, furrowing her brow at him then sighing, "Very well. Whatever you want."

"Good. I anticipate my hands on Shang Tsung's treasure room." He gives her a scornful smile then finally, the two of them depart, terminating their discussion.

Kalliste rolled her shoulders and arms, the aching from the recent battle was tiring but satisfying at the least. Her deal with Kollector was possibly pathetic or even treacherous but she felt like this was an opportunity to part ways, to find something else to hang onto. She felt like she was forever bound to Shang Tsung's string and she despised it. Her steps were steady and her eyes were bright.

She felt... liberated. Free. She felt happy. Kalliste exited the golden halls and made her way to the outside world. Outworld's skies were bright, cloudy, and fumed with the scent of blood. The world wasn't getting any better, but in a way, it felt as if it were.

The skies were still warm, but she felt a certain hopefulness, certain freedom that she had never known before. It was the same as it was when she was just a young girl but look how far she had gotten. A grown woman who killed just for someone else's pleasure and got paid for it.

It was nothing like she had ever thought it would be. She looked at the skies and laughed. The sun was too bright. It hurt to look at it.