FATE/CURADH BEAG
"Little Champion"
Chapter 10: Hard-Headed Steeling
Throughout the following morning, the excitement among Galway's citizens was readily apparent by how everyone talked about each of the matches, and of how long the lineup was in front of the coliseum's front gates. It could have potentially turned into a frenzy if Medb's Braves were not around to quietly intimidate the spectators into behaving. It didn't help that scalpers were making a steady profit from illegally selling counterfeit tickets at inflated prices in back corner alleys, meaning the organizers had to work even more diligently to flush out the fake entries from the genuine ones. Even the nobles' quarters were bustling with activity as the wealthier citizens placed bets and debated on who the newest Champion was going to be.
Despite the obvious crime and corruption surrounding the event, none of that seemed to matter to Conall. Sure, he was nervous about losing in front of so many people, but when he heard about what happened to Connla the previous evening, his anxiety disappeared as he grew apoplectic for her sake.
"What the hell!?" he shouted at the Brave who was making the report. "How could you guys let that piece of shit target children like that right under your noses!? Aren't you Braves supposed to be watching out for your citizens, or are you just glorified cult members who only obey your queen!?"
"The culprit has been apprehended and is currently being interrogated," the Brave said, fully brushing aside Conall's furious questions. "There will no longer be any threat of that man harming the populace. By my estimation, he will be executed for his present crime as well as to atone for the culmination of his previous misdeeds."
"That's not the point! Sure, you nabbed one guy, but what about the rest of them!? I thought Galway was supposed to represent the best of Ireland's culture and civilization! As far as I can tell, it's showing me nothing but the worst!"
"Our prerogative is not to flout any sort of culture or civilization. It is to protect Galway as the queen deems fit. Any sort of criminal activity that may take place will be handled at her discretion."
"By the gods, don't you have even a single thought of your own!? No wonder this city's gone to hell! Its protectors are too busy kissing their queen's feet!"
Connla grabbed Conall's arm and implored, "Please, stop! No one got hurt, and the culprit is facing his justice! Shouldn't that be enough for you!?"
"… Tch!" Conall spat to the side and stormed away from the Brave, with Connla following him. Once they were out of earshot, he cursed aloud, "They're all so fucking useless! If I didn't have to fight my matches, I would have abandoned this godforsaken dump a long time ago!"
"But you said you wanted to become a Champion so you could make a difference somehow. Why not see this as an opportunity to improve Galway's safety so stuff like that doesn't happen again?" she asked.
"Well… you may be right. I just don't think it's going to be so easy when everyone has to take orders from a queen who cares more about pampering herself than managing her country."
"Yes, I'm aware it won't happen right away. But wouldn't it be foolish to just walk away from it all after making such a declaration? Or were you lying to me, and your hatred of Connacht is more important than following your dream?"
"Gh…" Conall flinched. "Of course I wasn't lying. I just sort of feel… conflicted."
Connla took a moment to ponder what she would say next. Eventually, she replied, "Either way, you won't get anywhere if you wind up losing the tournament. How about you focus on that first, and then worry about the rest later?"
"Yeah, you're right. All of this is meaningless if I don't become a Champion. Don't you worry – I might be feeling a bit lost, but I'm definitely going to give it my all today. Just sit back and watch Conall Cernach blow the competition away!"
"Be careful. Just from observing the other three opponents, I can tell that they are very skilled. Not only would you have to defeat two of them, there's also the final match with the previous tournament's Champion. Do you think you can handle so many fights in a row?"
"I'll be fine. I've already got a good feel of how each of them fight. If it gets dangerous, I'll hang back a bit and find an opening."
Connla nodded, then left him to go find her reserved seat in the stands. Conall's match was first, so he headed out into the ring to greet his spear-wielding opponent. Although the stocky armored fellow was renowned for his ability to use the spear in unconventional ways, Conall was already prepared for it thanks to him asking Connla to mimic how this warrior fought during their training. Thanks to that, he could anticipate when his opponent attempted any sort of tricky maneuvers that would cause many others to lose their balance. Since Conall could maintain such a solid defense without much thought, he could concentrate on finding openings for nonlethal blows to eventually incapacitate the spearman.
After his victory, the second match between another swordsman and a druid versed in combat proceeded. Although the fighter was valiant in his efforts, the druid was astonishingly agile with his movements, fearlessly blocking heavy sword strikes with his wooden staff. His Runecraft stymied the soldier with surprise fireballs and vines shooting from the ground everywhere, quickly overwhelming him and making him fall to the ground unconscious. Compared to the finesse and elegance of Conall's fight, this one seemed unnecessarily brutal, and many worried if the swordsman was going to survive. Fortunately, the druid was quick to provide a panacea to heal his opponent. Many suspected this was not a show of altruism, but rather to abide by the primary rule of no killing so he could stay in the competition.
Once the contestants had rested for an hour, Conall and the druid faced each other as the final opponents. The spellcaster was so sure of his victory that his sneering and taunting expressions slightly irritated Conall, but he maintained a stoic glare to not show any sign of trepidation.
Stay calm, and don't let his bullying get to you, he silently encouraged himself.
The spellcaster initiated the match by conjuring a row of Ansuz Runes, flinging numerous small fireballs at the swordsman. They exploded on the ground that he stood on, but he was already jumping over them and heading straight for the druid. He delivered a vicious stomping kick to the scrawny man's face, throwing him backwards across the ring, and he skidded along the ground in a desperate attempt to regain his footing. As the druid vaulted back onto his feet, Conall chased after him. A volley of fireballs burst from the caster's hand as he tried to stave off the warrior. However, he bravely weaved and ducked through the assault, even batting aside a couple of flaming projectiles with his sword.
The mage was flabbergasted by how calm Conall looked as he warded off each magic attack like they were nothing. Of course, Conall didn't have too much experience with fighting druids since there weren't many who were capable of both close range combat and rapid-fire Runecraft. Once again, it was thanks to his training with Connla that helped him hone such skills. He suspected that this particular druid would be in the finals, so he asked her to mimic his style as best as she could. She did so, warning him that he needed to pay attention to his environment since Runes could be silently planted on the ground without anyone noticing.
During the fight, Conall always kept at least one eye trained on the dirt in case the mage tried to play any tricks on him. His cocky opponent spun his oak staff upon his hand and initiated a duel with him. One would think it'd be foolish for a wooden weapon to be used against a steel one, but druids had clever ways of reinforcing their staves with Runes that Conall always had trouble understanding. The caster twirled and twisted his body about in inhuman contortions as he used his staff as a spear to push Conall back.
As Connla watched the match, she noticed something shining on the ground just behind Conall. She gasped lightly, recognizing it as an Ansuz Rune. If he stepped on it, he would be blown to bits no differently than if one triggered a land mine. She wasn't sure if he noticed it or not, but she knew this was what his opponent's tactic was, and that it was way outside the boundaries of the tournament's rules. Although she didn't want to interfere, she felt this was an exception. If the druid wanted to break the rules, why shouldn't she? It wasn't like anyone was going to notice anyway.
Connla closed her eyes and focused on silently casting a spell.
Eihwaz!
It was a Rune that represented protection, resistance and determination, and was also capable of repelling anything negative. Since the mage's strategy was considered 'evil', her desire to protect Conall from such a dirty trick activated a small Eihwaz Rune, which she conjured atop the Ansuz Rune to cancel its effect. The druid noticed this and became alarmed, wondering who was capable of seeing his trap and dispelling it. Conall had no clue why his opponent was so bewildered, but he took this chance to go on the offensive, throwing the scrawny caster back with a mighty clash of his sword against the reinforced staff.
Without thinking, Conall immediately swung his sword at the druid's neck, coming dangerously close to chopping the poor fellow's head off! However, he stopped short of doing the grisly deed, and the entire audience exhaled a resounding gasp of relief simultaneously. The mage was so shocked by this close call that he collapsed onto his buttocks and trembled uncontrollably.
"Match set! We have a winner!" the referee shouted.
Everyone cheered and clapped in feverish congratulations for Conall. His heart pounded and he thought his nerves would go flying everywhere if he didn't keep himself in check. In the stands, Connla stood up and clapped for her friend's victory, although she knew that the tournament wasn't truly over yet. She glanced over at the royal suite where Medb, Fergus, Cathbad and their attendants watched.
Beneath their seats was an embellished chair designated for the Queen's Champion that the tournament's winner was to fight to earn their blessing. The one who sat in that seat was a muscular brown-haired man who wore little more than a red cape with golden pauldrons, an armored kilt, and heavy leather boots. His body was covered in various Runic tattoos, indicating that he was versed in magic as much as he was a deadly fighter.
Even just by looking at this Champion, Connla was starting to become worried for Conall. There would be no time for a rest before he would have to fight this behemoth of a man, most likely designed as a test of the new Champion's endurance. Of course Conall already knew, or else he wouldn't have participated to begin with. Even so, her nerves became tense as she watched the burly fellow leave his seat and silently enter the field. He was obviously no braggart, but he didn't need to be – his presence was so powerful that he practically commanded the entire coliseum to be silent without needing to say a word. Connla was sure that everyone was just as nervous for Conall as she was.
The giant man stood several feet away from Conall, then folded his arms and declared, "First of all, I must congratulate you for overcoming so many obstacles in your path to greatness. You have demonstrated the necessary valor, courage, and restraint that the queen seeks for her Champions. I will not deny that you have earned your reputation as one of Ireland's greatest swordsmen. However, there is much more to being a Champion than just swinging a sword. There is also the ability to make decisions that you may find too difficult, but must be done for the greater good of the country. You must show unwavering tenacity when faced with insurmountable odds. There is no such thing as an impossible task, so long as your mind is clear and your sword is sharp."
"I understand," Conall said in a firm tone.
"Very good. Now let us begin, Conall Cernach. Your final opponent is I, Cu Roi mac Daire, King of Munster and the Champion of Queen Medb."
With that, Cu Roi tore off his cape and pauldrons and chucked them aside, while Conall got into his combat stance. The swordsman inhaled several sharp breaths, trying to compose his erratic nerves. Seeing Cu Roi up close like this, Conall realized why so many warriors before him were utterly intimidated whenever they had to challenge the King of Munster. Still, he had a plan, and he was going to go through with it no matter what.
Cu Roi initiated the battle by energizing his Runic tattoos, causing his body to shine with bright red energy. It was like his very blood emanated a grotesque glow as he let out a bear-like roar and charged at Conall. The king delivered an enhanced roundhouse kick at his smaller opponent's side, but he used his elbow to block it. He thought the bones in his arm would snap under the pressure, but they held strong and allowed him to stab at Cu Roi's exposed leg. He reacted in time to save his leg from being skewered, twisting on his heel and whipping his body around so that he performed a rising high kick to Conall's chin. The audience couldn't believe how swift Cu Roi was despite his gargantuan size, and cried out in awe.
Conall was also quick to react, vaulting on his free hand backwards before Cu Roi could attempt to stomp on him. Conall used the momentum to propel himself forward suddenly, jamming his elbow straight into Cu Roi's solar plexus. The king gasped hard as he felt all of the air rushing out of his lungs. He balled his hand into a tight fist, then punched down on Conall's spine. The pain was so intense that Conall thought he had blacked out for a moment. He felt himself hit the dirt, but then instinctively rolled aside before Cu Roi could smash his foot directly onto his opponent's back. Conall slashed his sword as he rolled, gouging into Cu Roi's leg despite the Runes protecting his flesh.
"Hmm!" the king angrily grunted. He was surprised that he suffered an injury even after he took precautions to avoid it. His instincts told him that Conall wasn't just lucky or an extremely skilled fighter - his sword had to have some kind of secret property that allowed him to bypass Runic effects somehow. Cu Roi decided that if he couldn't wear Conall down through a defensive battle, he would have to pummel him into submission as quickly as possible. It wasn't his favorite tactic, but given the situation, he couldn't think of anything better.
Cu Roi raised his hands before him, and raw energy crackled between the palms. Conall noticed it and jumped high without thinking. Before he knew what was happening, he was being blasted back toward his opponent due to an Ansuz fireball that Cu Roi launched from his hands. Conall flipped forward and chopped his leg on Cu Roi's shoulder, dislocating the joint with a painful crunching sound. While Cu Roi was disoriented, Conall delivered a series of kicks that sent the king toppling away clumsily on his feet. Although he took quite the beating, Cu Roi hunched down and pressed his good hand upon the earth. His tattoos seemed to ebb like water – or perhaps blood flowing through veins – as he cast a healing spell that borrowed power from the land itself. Any cuts and bruises he suffered patched up quickly, and even his dislocated shoulder popped back into place on its own.
Shit, Conall cursed to himself. The old duffer can regenerate.
Once Cu Roi was fully healed, he cracked his knuckles before getting into a low posture. Then he leapt high like a grasshopper, falling upon the bewildered swordsman with his fist raised, ready to punch his face clean into the earth. Conall inhaled and glared at his sword with sheer anxiety written all over his face.
I was hoping not to have to use this, but I don't have a choice!
He clenched his teeth, then concentrated. The world seemed to slow down around him. Even Cu Roi plummeting upon him appeared like animation frames being played one-by-one. Conall found the perfect moment to attack. If he was too early, it would miss. If he was too late, he would be crushed to death. Everything relied on this one precious instant to go right.
"Curaidin Catutchenn!"
His sword emanated a brilliant light, making it resemble a torch in blade form. He swung in a wide vertical arc, producing a blinding flash that burned into every audience member's eyes for a split second. Even Connla had to shield herself by throwing her arms in front of her face. Cu Roi wasn't so fortunate, since he was caught directly in the path of this magical sword's surprise trajectory. Although he was suspicious, he never anticipated Conall to actually possess one of Ireland's treasured weapons from the era of the Tuatha de Danann and Fomorians, and his shock prevented him from taking any measures to block this strike.
SHING!
Cu Roi didn't feel anything cutting into his skin…
Then, his chest suddenly exploded with blood flying everywhere in a gory spectacle!
Many women and children screamed in horror at the sight. Men who weren't accustomed to battle were stunned into silence. Those who were let out cries of astonishment. Connla's widened eyes blinked fervently as she watched in a bewildered daze. Not once during her training with Conall did she ever suspect his sword was actually Curaidin Catutchenn, also known as the Hard-Headed Steeling, or the Light Sword of Judgment.
She had heard of it from Scathach during her studies into Ireland's Age of Gods, but since they were in a Lostbelt, she didn't know where it had ended up in this timeline. In Proper Human History, it belonged to Cuchulainn before he became infamous for using the Barbed Spear, Gae Bolg. In the well-known illustration Cuchulainn's Death by Stephen Reid, the sword that Cuchulainn wielded while tying himself to the standing stone Clochafarmore during his final battle was indeed Curaidin Catutchenn. If he was ever summoned as a Saber-class Servant, this was the sword he would wield in battle.
Well, Connla now knew who its possessor was in the Lostbelt. She wasn't entirely sure how it came to belong to Conall, but she was sure there had to be a good reason for it. Cuchulainn had disappeared with Gae Bolg so long ago, and the rest of his armaments must have been scattered throughout Ireland. Was there some sort of connection between Conall and Cuchulainn that she didn't know about? Or did he just happen upon it by chance and gained a reputation for himself with it?
Similar thoughts raced through Cu Roi's mind as well. He collapsed onto his back and clenched his gaping wound tightly, forcing it shut so his innards wouldn't be exposed to the frightened spectators. Luckily, he was also an accomplished druid who knew advanced healing magic, so he used Runes to rapidly close up the gross injury. His inherent nature as a superhuman being also played a factor in his otherwise impossible survival. Although it was absolutely excruciating, it didn't take long for the injury to reduce itself to a harmless vertical scar running along his chest.
"Guh… Uuuu~uuungh!" Cu Roi growled deeply as he struggled to sit back up.
Curaidin Catutchenn's luster faded, becoming a regular sword once more. Conall exhaled a deep breath and stared at Cu Roi in complete silence. Although he was afraid he had taken it too far, he also didn't want to show any sign of concern or regret. No matter how brutal it was, he had to demonstrate his commitment to making hard decisions like this, just as Cu Roi declared earlier.
"Heh… heh heh…"
The King of Munster started to chuckle.
"Hah hah hah hah! Splendid! Absolutely splendid!" he howled with joy.
Although taken aback by this sudden display of mirth, Conall extended his hand to help the king stand back up. Cu Roi remarked, "This whole tournament must have felt like a mere formality to someone as skilled as you!"
"Not at all," Conall said. "To be honest, I'm still quivering in my boots. I'm having trouble accepting this victory as real."
"Then rest your nerves, lad. I, Cu Roi mac Daire, King of Munster, hereby bestow my blessing upon you, Conall Cernach, to become the newest of Ireland's Champions."
Cu Roi withdrew a short scabbard bearing an embellished silver dagger. It had little purpose as a weapon, but mainly served as a status symbol among the Champions. As long as Conall kept it with him, he would be recognized as one of Medb's top warriors no matter where he went within Ireland. The bewildered fighter lowered his head and let Cu Roi gingerly rest the scabbard on his hands, then murmured, "Thank you, sire."
"Come now. Let us dispense with the formalities," the king assured. "You're the man of the hour, so enjoy it while you can."
"Right…"
As the men exchanged pleasantries, the crowd had already erupted into thunderous applause and cheers for Conall's victory. While Connla didn't shout or scream, she clapped for a short while before ducking out of her seat to meet up with him in the contestants' waiting rooms.
Along the way, one of the Braves barred her passage and declared, "Halt. No spectators are allowed past this point."
"Oh, my apologies," she said. "It's just that Conall gave me a pass, so I thought I could just go through."
"Show me."
She handed a small piece of paper to him, and he read it briefly. He soon acknowledged it with a grunt and said, "Very well. It's just that at the moment, Conall may have to accept his awards and make his formal pledge as a Champion before you are able to see him personally. Since this note makes mention of you being the target of a participant's kidnapping plot, I will escort you in the meantime."
"Thank you, sir."
He brought her into Conall's quarters, then explained the situation to a second Brave. He nodded and left, allowing the first soldier to remain on standby as Connla's guardian. As they waited, she kept sensing the faint amount of magical energy emanating from the Brave. Unable to hold back her curiosity anymore, she wondered, "Um… Can I ask you something?"
"You may, though my ability to respond to sensitive matters is strictly limited."
"Well… it's just that… I noticed that you must have some kind of 'magical aura' surrounding you. Or rather, among all of you Braves."
"…"
She fidgeted, then murmured, "Is that considered a sensitive matter?"
He suddenly glanced away from her, then blurted, "Just a moment."
"Huh? Oh, sure…"
He closed his eyes, as if in deep concentration. About a minute later, he glanced at her again and said, "Queen Medb has permitted me to relay this message to you – 'if you wish to know, then win tonight's match and become my second newest Champion.'"
Connla grew apprehensive. The queen knew so much about her already when they had never met in person yet. The Brave became suspicious and asked, "Do you disapprove of the queen's decision?"
"No, not at all. I was just thinking of something else."
"I see. I am aware of a private match being held this evening, but I did not know you were the participant in question. One of my brothers has been selected to be the opponent."
"Really? I'm going to fight one of you?"
"Specifically, the queen has chosen Maine Lasta."
"Which one is he? You guys look so similar that it's hard to tell you apart."
"I believe you encountered him during the registration period."
She thought back for a moment, and realized that it was the very first Brave she met. She then asked, "What about the rest of you? Don't you have names of your own?"
"We all bear the name Maine."
"All of you?"
"Indeed. The queen once had seven sons, and she named them all Maine in order to fulfill a prophecy of a son named Maine killing her enemy Conchobhar mac Nessa. Unfortunately, the third son Eochaid, or Maine Andoe, wound up slaying a different man named Conchobhar. Of course, that is a story long in the past, and the seven princes are no longer with us. Thus, we Braves are considered her secondary set of sons, and are thus all named Maine in honor of them."
"Interesting. So the one I'm going to fight is Maine Lasta, or the 'Crimson Maine'. What about yourself? Or the Brave you just sent away? How many of you guys are there anyway?"
The soldier became bewildered as he was assailed with so many questions at once. "W-Well… My individual name is Maine Faireach, or the 'Watchful Maine'. Some of my brothers include Maine Dian, the 'Strict Maine'; Maine Matan, the 'Muscular Maine'; Maine Glorach, the 'Shouting Maine'…"
For the next hour or so, the Brave kept answering such inquiries to the best of his ability. She was starting to get a good idea of how these imposing men operated, though she wasn't sure on how Medb was able to directly communicate with them. She was surprised by their lack of individuality though, only being able to discern them by their names and slight personality differences. She was sure there had to be some reason for it though. After all, they were incredibly effective at working together as a uniform unit of soldiers. Maybe things like unique identities, personalities and beliefs interfered with the job. Perhaps that was something she would see should she join the knighthood when she grew up. For now, she simply didn't understand the concept.
Night soon came upon Galway. Once the day's celebrations wound down and the majority of the audience had returned home, the coliseum remained open for Connla's scheduled battle. Unlike with Conall's match, where the entire city was present to witness his victory, only a select few people were allowed to observe this fight due to the sensitive nature of exposing a young child to such a brutal contest.
Faireach, the Brave that Connla chatted with that afternoon, assisted in getting her ready. Once she was versed in what she needed to do, she entered the ring wielding her spear. Although the sheer size of the audience was not something she had to worry about, it was the ranking and social status of her observers that caused her some trepidation. Naturally, Queen Medb and King Fergus were present. Conall sat in the new Champion's seat beside Cu Roi. The King of Munster was interested in what Conall's training was like, and he explained about his previous adventures plus his meeting with Connla. Cu Roi had a hard time believing that a child could be skilled enough to tutor a grown man, so he wanted to see if Conall's claims were true. Another person present was Culann, who had been informed of the match due to him being Connla's sponsor. Other than them, a small handful of nobles whom Medb personally told about the fight showed up to fulfill their curiosity.
Regardless of the spectators, Connla's attention really had to be focused on the Brave standing opposite to her. Just as Faireach said, his 'brother' Lasta was the Brave she would have to contend with. As Connla's anxiety grew, she suddenly heard Conall whistle and encouragingly shout, "Stay calm! You don't have to force yourself to win! Just show 'em what you've got!"
She nodded. Since this was just an exhibition match, there really was nothing on the line for her. Lasta brandished a heavy two-handed axe and glared at her beneath his steel helmet. His attempt at intimidation didn't really impress her – she fought Demon Boars many times this guy's size before.
"Match set!" Fergus bellowed. "Contestants, prepare yourselves!"
Neither fighter budged nor made a sound during this tense moment.
"… BEGIN!"
Upon his call, Lasta and Connla ran straight for each other. The Brave swung his axe in a sweeping motion, and the child warrior hopped over it. Lasta smashed his weapon into the ground next to her, sending her and some earth flying into the air. He then attempted to slice at her while she was caught in midair, but she swung her spear to parry it. She snagged the axe's hilt, spun her body around it, then planted her feet against Lasta's chest and bounced back before thrusting a small Ansuz Rune at him, causing him to violently tumble backwards along the dirt. He lost his grip on his weapon, and Connla placed her hand on the ground to activate some Runes. Before Lasta could retrieve his axe, a bundle of tree branches snaked out of the earth and wrapped themselves around it, preventing him from picking it up. While he was preoccupied, he failed to notice her take out her slingshot and relentlessly fire multiple Runestones powered with Ansuz symbols. They exploded like miniature bombs around him, either making him lose his balance or pummelling him back further.
"Whoa… That didn't last long," Conall murmured in surprise.
Cu Roi mumbled to himself as he analyzed Connla's performance. He then remarked, "A little rough on the edges with the Runecraft, but the spontaneity of their casting seems to suit her rapid style of combat."
"Oh, come on. Do you expect a little kid like her to be a top-class druid so suddenly?"
"Considering she's supposed to be Scathach's pupil, I had some fairly high expectations given how horrifically strict she is."
In her own seat, Medb rested her cheek upon her fist and sported a blasé expression. She didn't like how quickly this strange girl was beating up one of her best soldiers. This was supposed to be a special occasion, and Medb wanted to milk it for all it was worth. She smirked to herself, then secretly snapped her fingers.
All right then. If that's how it's going to be, I should liven this party up a little.
As Connla watched Lasta stumble back to his feet, she saw the heavy wooden door open up again. She became perplexed as four more Braves entered the ring wielding various weapons, and they joined Lasta in surrounding her in a circular formation. Conall suddenly became worried as he uttered, "What's going on?"
Cu Roi frowned and murmured, "I had a feeling this was going to happen."
The nobles whispered to themselves, wondering why the additional Braves were joining the battle. Culann trembled with silent fury, unable to fathom how Medb could be so callous towards such a young child. Fergus stared at the queen in disbelief and asked, "What is the meaning of this?"
"Oh, come now," she giggled. "It's just a little bit of harmless fun."
He obviously didn't agree with her as he turned his attention back to the battle. Along with Lasta, his brothers Matan, Glorach, Dian, and another one named Fuilteach, or the 'Bloody Maine', intended to gang up on Connla at their queen's behest. Medb didn't specify if they should keep her alive or kill Connla, so they went with the assumption that she was to die. Despite the overwhelming odds, Connla kept her cool and at least analyzed each weapon they used so she could determine how to fight against each one.
Lasta and Matan charged at her from opposite sides. At the same time, Dian fired multiple arrows from his bow, forcing her to either dodge or bat them aside with her spear as the others approached. She then jumped over the two men as they swung at her low, and performed a series of elegant-looking kicks to both of their faces, dizzying them as she knocked them aside with a final double roundhouse blow. The moment she landed, she thrust a Hagalaz Rune in Dian's direction, pelting him with a flurry of hailstones that dug into his skin. Glorach came running at her using only a large spiked shield, but he could use it as both a battering ram and a piercing weapon. He managed to bash against Connla's shoulder while she was busy with Dian, and she skidded along the ground in a daze.
Fuilteach, obviously the most vicious of the Braves judging by the blood staining his clothes, stood over Connla and pointed his sword at her chest, intent on stabbing her to death. The instant she saw this, she suddenly shone a Dagaz Rune at his eyes, shocking his retinas with an intense burst of bright white light, then spun on her hand and kicked his leg to topple him while he was distracted. She vaulted back to give herself some distance from Glorach as he chased after her. She used the same trick as she did with Lasta's axe, restraining one of Glorach's ankles with some tree roots conjured from an Eihwaz Rune. As he struggled to break free, Connla performed a drop kick to his face, throwing him backwards and freeing his foot at the same time.
An arrow whizzed past her cheek, lacerating the skin and causing a small trickle of blood to flow. Dian had recovered and was pelting her with projectiles once again. Her mind numb from the adrenaline rush, she dashed at him with an eerily blank expression on her face. He panicked and carelessly fired as many arrows as he could to hinder her progress, but she weaved through them and vaulted onto his shoulders, then detonated a small fireball at his back to viciously hurl him clear across the arena.
"Eh he he he… Yes, this is more like it!" Medb chuckled exuberantly. "I love it! This is what a real fight should be like! Chaos, bloodshed, and mayhem galore! The outcome doesn't matter, so long as it is a real spectacle! More! More, more, more! Show me more! Suffer for my entertainment! Ah hah hah hah hah!"
"Medb…" Fergus moaned under his breath. He was fully aware of the queen's brutal nature, but it was during moments like this that he wondered if she was even human anymore.
During the violent battle, another spectator watched from high atop the coliseum's ramparts, well-hidden from everyone else's view thanks to the night sky plus his dark clothing and black scales covering his body. Cuchulainn could see Medb from this vantage point, and an incredible rage welled within him as he watched her relish in the carnage. It was far too tempting for him to just lunge in and tear out her heart without mercy. However, he needed to be patient. If he acted recklessly, Medb could use everyone around her as meat shields, preventing him from getting in too close.
He might have degenerated into a monster that destroyed the rest of human civilization, but he still had a soft spot for his fellow countrymen.
Besides, Cuchulainn's focus was more on Connla as she struggled against the five Braves. Although she was an excellent fighter, he was worried that she would be slaughtered for Medb's amusement should she keep on summoning more Braves to challenge her. He needed to interfere in a dramatic fashion without making his presence known just yet, and he had the perfect means of doing so.
It's time…
Cuchulainn raised his hand for a moment. Then he thrust it forth, pointing at the arena and the small audience surrounding it. Although nothing was visible, and it was a windless night, his hair and clothing rustled as multiple invisible 'things' rushed past him.
As the dizzied Lasta clumsily tumbled forward, Connla vaulted onto his shoulder and pommeled her body on one hand, performing a breakdance-like series of kicks to Glorach's face before beating him back with a rising kick. She used the momentum to upright herself with a somersault, then bunny hopped off of Lasta's back, smashing his face against the ground moments before Matan's axe cleaved into the air where she just was. Once she landed, she flung an Ansuz Rune at his armored midsection, blasting him away with a small explosion.
Conall was so dumbfounded that he screamed at Medb, "For crying out loud, woman, stop the match already! Hasn't she proven herself enough for you!?"
She was having such a good time watching the chaos unfold before her that she blatantly ignored his protests. However, Fergus stood up and said, "I have to concur."
"Aww, you too?" the queen moaned in disappointment. "She's supposed to be Scathach pupil, right? Surely a challenge like this should be nothing for her."
"You relegated me as the master of the tournament. Any decree I make within these coliseum walls is law."
She rolled her eyes. "How boring. The nobles betting on my handsome little Braves are not going to be pleased about this."
Fergus raised his arm and was about to bellow his order to make the soldiers stand down…
"YAAA~AAA~AAAH!"
One of the noble ladies unleashed a deep and bloodcurdling shriek of absolute terror. Everyone turned their eyes toward what she was looking at, wondering what would prompt such a frightening reaction. A horde of translucent skeletal ghosts flew straight for the stunned crowd, coming at them so fast that barely anyone had time to react. Connla's eyes widened to saucers and her jaw dropped as she recognized what this new onslaught was.
Angry spirits… from the Land of Shadows!
