The two rogue Utaru men shoved me into the arena, and threw my bow and lance at me, before locking the cage door behind me. Both of them had sadistic grins on their faces. I could hear a roaring crowd of enthusiastic denizens.
"Good luck, Nora scum." both of them said, before bursting out in laughter. In retaliation, I spat at their feet. I turned away from them, to face a thunderous crowd, sheltered from the sun by a rusted overhang, and by the looks of it, eager to watch a fight.
If it's a fight they want, a fight they will get. I thought, as I looked around the arena. The tentacles of an ancient Metal Devil sprawled around the arena. Underneath the computer core, a man held up his arm to demand silence from the ruckus crowd. All went silent on his command. I looked up to see Saskwani, standing on the balcony.
"Attention all, attention all!" Saskwani shouted, and watched as everyone watched and listened. " Welcome to the Embrace of the Mosaic! The day has come to witness a grand sacrifice!"
The crowd cheered with roaring approval.
"We have found the slayer of Redmaw, the legendary Thunderjaw from the South. Here she is!"
Two guards standing beside Saskwani walked behind him, and pulled a burgundy cloth off of the cage. Inside the cage was a wounded Talanah Khane Padish, her black hair mangled and tattered. I looked up in horror at what I was seeing, as the crowd began to boo Talanah.
"Later in the evening, she will be sacrificed to the machines that come from the Heart of HEPHAESTUS beneath, and from the moment of death, HEPHAESTUS shall bless us with food and a bountiful harvest!" The crowd cheered with glee.
I rolled my eyes, walked up to the balcony, and looked up to him.
"Are you going to shut your mouth, and release your machines, or are you going to run your mouth some more?" I shouted.
Saskwani looked down from the balcony to look at me.
"Oh, how could we forget about the intruder from the foreign lands, come to rudely interrupt the sacrifice!" Saskwani said, sounding surprised. "Everyone, look! It is the famous Aloy of the Nora!"
The crowd began to show hostility towards me.
"You're the one who sent goons to put an arrow in me, capture me, and bring me here to fight four of your fiercest machines, for Talanah's freedom." I shouted back angrily. "Are you going to live up to your promise, or are you going to cower away and do nothing?"
Saskwani held up his arm again to demand silence.
"Very well, Aloy." Saskwani stated sternly. "You have your wish. If you can defeat four of HEPHAESTUS's fiercest creations, I will release your friend. You fail, you you will be sacrificed alongside your friend."
I flashed a half-smile, and encouraged him to release the first machine.
Saskwani raised his hands, and looked up the orange tinted sky.
"Oh HEPHAESTUS, bless us with the presence of one of your great beasts!"
The door underneath the balcony opened, and as it opened, I heard a loud growl. Out of the door came a Sawtooth.
I looked around the area as the Sawtooth neared me, and spied several supply crates around the arena. I rolled out of the Sawtooth's way as it lunged at me. I scrambled over to one of the chests, and grabbed some chillwater sitting beside the crate. But before I could open it and examine the rest of the contents, the mechanical paw of the Sawtooth swatted me high into the air, much to the crowd's delight. I landed with a thud into the rocky ground, clutching my side. I reached back into my quiver, which was surprisingly still there, and loaded up three hardpoint arrows into my bow, anticipating a lunge from the Sawtooth. As I had predicted, the Sawtooth towered over me, exposing its undercarriage. I pulled back sharply on the drawstring, and launched the three arrows into the armored undercarriage, peeling away the armor. The Sawtooth roared out in pain, and began to run after me. As I was running, I turned, and tripped over my own feet. I kept scrambling backwards on my hands and butt until I hit the back of the arena. The Sawtooth cornered me.
Damn it, Aloy! Load your arrows! I thought, as I quickly reached for the arrows in my quiver. Again, I quickly loaded up three arrows into my bow, and pulled back on the drawstring. As the Sawtooth reared up on its hind legs, I fired my arrows into its exposed heart. As the arrows hit, the Sawtooth convulsed, and fell onto its side, dead. Shocks were coming from its carcass. I stood beside it, and raised my fist into the air, a half smile on my face. The crowd began to boo and throw mushy tomatoes at me.
Saskwani approached the ledge of the balcony, with his arms crossed.
"Aloy of the Nora comes out on top. How unexpected." He stated sarcastically. "The next machine HEPHAESTUS will bless upon us shall bring you nothing but misery!"
"Will it now?" I asked sarcastically. I looked up at him, and began to craft some freeze arrows from the Chillwater I had found earlier.
"Oh, Great HEPHAESTUS, bring forth another mechanical beast!"
I looked up after crafting several freeze arrows to see the door beneath the balcony open. From the door came a Ravager. The Ravager growled upon seeing me. Much like the Sawtooth, the Ravager charged at me, covering several meters with every leap and bound. I rolled to my left, and caught sight of the Ravager's freeze sac.
The freeze sac could cause an explosion of frost, I thought, as I loaded up three freeze arrows. Here goes nothing. I pulled back on my drawstring. The Ravager reared up on its hind legs as I launched my arrows into the freeze sac. The explosion of the sac knocked me away a few meters. I got up from my butt to see the Ravager covered in frost. I loaded up three hardpoint arrows, and fired them at the Ravager's frozen face. The machine fell on its side. I approached the machine, and finished it off with a critical hit from my lance.
Saskwani looked down at me, clapping.
"Well done, Aloy." Saskwani stated, as the crowd was booing me. Saskwani held his arm out to command silence. "You're very fierce. But will you be as fierce as the third machine? HEPHAESTUS, bless us with another beast!"
The door beneath his balcony opened. I tried to look into the door, to see what I was about to face. I got my answer when a projectile mine whizzed over my head. I watched as it sailed over my head, but I wasn't prepared for the second mine, which exploded a few feet in front of me, launching me backwards. I landed hard on my stomach, and wiped the blood from my stomach. As I got to my knees, I turned around to see what was launching the mines. Emerging from the door was a Scorcher.
I thought Scorchers were native to the Cut, I thought. This arena must be built atop a Cauldron. I quickly loaded up two tearblast arrows into my bow, and aimed for the mine launcher. The arrows landed flush on the launcher, but it wasn't enough to remove it. The Scorcher, unfazed, stomped its feet into the ground, and sent out a radiant ball of fire. I shielded my face from the brightness and the heat. The heat was so strong, it felt like the heat itself cauterized all my open cuts and wounds. The Scorcher charged at me, and as it charged, I dodged its claw attack, while loading three fire arrows into my bow. From one knee, I pulled back on my bow's drawstring, and launched the three arrows at the blaze canisters on the Scorcher's back. The arrows found their mark, and the blaze canisters exploded. The explosion gave off a deafening sound. Along with the rest of the crowd, I plugged my ears. The Scorcher let out a loud roar, and began to swipe its claws at me. I did my best to dodge the machine's attacks, but it did catch me on my left arm, under my breasts, and just grazing my forehead, all of the wounds drawing blood. I looked down, to see the bottom of my shirt torn. I took a few deep breaths, and exhaled.
All right, you bastard. Let's finish this, I thought as I quickly made my way over to a supply crate. Looting through it, I found some Echo Shells. I grabbed them, just as the Scorcher lunged at me. I dodged the oncoming attack, and crafted three tearblast arrows from ridge-wood and echo shells. I loaded the three arrows into my bow, and pulled back hard on the drawstring, aiming for the mine launcher. The arrows latched onto the launcher, and after a few moments, separated the launcher from the Scorcher's body. The Scorcher roared, and charged again at me. As it lunged at me, I rolled underneath its legs, and ran for the detached mine launcher. I picked it up, as the Scorcher turned around to face me.
"Come at me, bitch!" I shouted, provoking the Scorcher. The Scorcher roared, and began charging towards me. Backing away, I quickly shot two mines towards its its legs, with the explosions crippling its front legs. I looked into my quiver to see several freeze arrows I had crafted earlier. I rapidly shot several of the freeze arrows at the Scorcher, and watched as frost slowly develop on the Scorcher's armor. I picked up the mine launcher, and scattered mines beside the fallen Scorcher. The mines exploded shortly after, destroying the machine. I let out a deep breath, and turned to face Saskwani, who looked down at me from the top of the balcony.
"You are to be commended for your resilience, Aloy." Saskwani stated. "But the next question remains. Are you able to defeat the last of HEPHAESTUS' creations, to ensure your friend's freedom?"
"Whatever comes out of that door, I will slay, and mark my words, I will end you for what you have done." I shouted back at him.
Saskwani laughed, and again looked up to orange, dusty sky.
"HEPHAESTUS, bless us with your most gracious creation!"
My eyes were fixed on Saskwani, and I was completely oblivious to the door opening. I could hear the crowd roar with excitement. I looked back down to see a machine tail coming straight for me. I had no time to react, as the tail connected with me square in the stomach, and sent me flying across the arena. The crowd cheered with glee. I grasped my stomach in pain, with my right forearm drenched with blood. I got to one knee, and looked ahead to see a Thunderjaw eyeing me across the arena. The Thunderjaw let out a deafening roar, followed by several shots from its mandible laser cannon. I dodged all of the oncoming attacks by way of rolling, which hurt my stomach even more.
I've got to dislodge the disc launcher, I thought, as I reached back for three tearblast arrows. I placed the arrows into my bow one at a time, and pulled back on my drawstring, launching the three arrows towards the disc launcher. The arrows found their mark, and after a few moments dislodged the launcher from the Thunderjaw. The machine whirled around, roaring in pain as it lost its launcher. The launcher coincidentally landed in front of me. I smiled as I picked it up, and shot discs at the Thunderjaw, peeling off its armor with each disc I shot. The Thunderjaw roared out in pain as a disc I launched removed the armor surrounding its three hearts. I dropped the launcher, as it was out of discs to launch. As soon as I dropped the launcher, the Thunderjaw fixed its gaze on me.
I braced myself as the Thunderjaw prepared to lunge at me. As it did, I slid underneath its head, and to its body. I jumped up to grab some cords dangling from its undercarriage. Holding on to its undercarriage, I spied its exposed hearts. I pulled out my lance, and began to override the Thunderjaw. I smiled as I saw the color blue weave its way through the machine's armor. Saskwani watched in horror as the last of the Thunderjaw's armor fell off. I began to lose grip on the undercarriage of the Thunderjaw, and looked to see a large cut on my hand. I fell, and landed hard on my left side. I looked down to see that my wound had reopened, causing it to bleed, along with the other cuts and scrapes on my body. I looked up at the Thunderjaw, and pointed up towards Saskwani. The Thunderjaw craned up its head to face Saskwani.
"No! You are supposed to face her!" Saskwani ordered the machine, pointing at me. "Kill her now, for HEPHAESTUS commands it!"
All the machine did was sit there, and nod its head with disapproval. I quietly put my lance on my back, and pulled out my Banuk Striker Bow. I made my way to the back of the Thunderjaw. I leaped up on to its tail, and began to run up its back, while loading up three hardpoint arrows into my bow. I timed my jump, and as I leaped, pulled back hard on my drawstring, and shot the three hardpoint arrows into Saskwani's chest. I landed on his balcony underneath the Metal Devil computer core, and watched as he landed on the floor, with my three arrows in his chest. I walked up to his body.
"Goodbye, and good night." I said, in between heavy breaths. I then made my way over to Talanah, who grimaced at the sight of me covered in blood. I began to fidget with the lock on her cage.
"Aloy!" Talanah exclaimed. "You came all this way for me?"
"Remember, a Thrush should never be separated from her Hawk." I replied, between heavy breaths. Instead of picking the lock, I broke the lock with the butt end of my lance. The lock shattered into several pieces, and fell to the ground. I swung the door open. I entered the cage and lifted Talanah onto my shoulders. I turned over to see that the Thunderjaw had lost its overridden state, and had begun to devour several rogue Utaru soldiers trying to kill it in the arena. I spied a rappel point not too far away from the balcony. I set Talanah down and grabbed her by her waist.
"We've got to get out of here." I told Talanah. "That Thunderjaw is doing us a favor in distracting the guards, so now would be a great time to escape."
Talanah turned to me, and planted a large kiss on my lips, which left a little bit of my blood on her face. I felt a rush of dopamine hit me as her lips touched mine, it felt right in so many ways. After she kissed me, Talanah and I approached the rappel point.
"Hang on!" I exclaimed, as I started to run towards the rappel point. Talanah grabbed my waist as we jumped down. The rope tightened itself, allowing us a safe descent out of the arena. After our descent, I started to feel light-headed, and my vision was starting to get a little blurry. I fell down to one knee, and through my blurry vision, spied a Strider herd grazing in a field to the north. Talanah approached me, and placed her hand on my shoulder.
"Aloy, are you alright?" Talanah asked, as I handed her my lance, and pointed towards the Striders.
"You want me to override a Strider?" Talanah asked, pointing at herself. I nodded my head, and watched as she crouched, and made her way to the bush near the Strider herd, limping. I heard her whistle to get a Strider's attention. The Strider approached the bush Talanah was hiding in, and I smiled when I saw her successfully override the Strider. Talanah hopped on, and after a little bit of a struggle, brought the Strider over to me. She looked down at me, and noticed my stomach wound was bleeding.
"You're still bleeding, Aloy." Talanah stated. "Keep pressure on your wound. I don't want you to bleed out."
I returned a look of sarcasm towards her.
"And I don't want you to blow out hamstring." I replied, as Talanah helped me onto the back of the Strider. "As for my wound, I will be fine."
Talanah hopped onto the Strider, and snapped onto the reins.
"Where are we heading, Aloy?" She asked.
"Brightgrain." I replied, as I clutched my stomach wound, taking deep breaths. "I don't know how far away it is, but all I know is that it is south of here."
Talanah took a deep breath, and gave me a look of concern. I smiled back at her, reassuring her that I would be fine. Talanah returned her focus to the road, while rubbing her injured hamstring. I noticed my vision was again getting blurry. I laid my head on Talanah's right shoulder, shut my eyes, and passed out from the pain.