Chapter Twelve: The Crucible Part Two
After fighting his way through a round with Bandits followed by a room full of skilled Highwaymen Connor could feel him getting a little tired.
In the hallway with a trader Connor bought and chugged down an entire health potion pulling out his phone to check a message he got from Seth.
'The Patrol is outside the Crucible, we need to grab Kyler then use the Seals to take us back to the Sanctuary, I have a bad feeling,' Seth wrote.
Entering the next arena Connor entered what looked like ruins in the forest which made him realize what floor he was on and quickly pulled out his pistol.
"And we're back! There is only four round left! Not since we saw the Iron Fist first enter the stage have I ever seen anyone make it this far! Remember ladies and gentlemen to stay behind the security fence for your safety! These beasts are quite the jumpers and you do not want to lose a finger! Let the match begin in three-two-one! GO!" Brock announced.
Beams of light then formed and several Balverines began to emerge running at full speed towards Connor learned from his fight in Howling Halls with these beasts.
"SLOW TIME!" Connor yelled speeding himself to dodge their claws and to impale two Balverines with his sword.
Watching above Seth crossed his arms glancing up to the VIP area where Brock sat and saw Kyler walking his father in before leaving. Shortly after leaving a black-haired woman in an elite Guard Patrol uniform strolled in and took a seat behind Kyler's father.
"Oh shit!" Seth growled pulling up his hood.
"What?" Roscoe asked with Nova riding on his back.
"That woman in the VIP booth, that Verruca Lyle she the warden of both Ravenscar and Bargate Prison!" Seth whispered noticing the patrol were making their way into the crowd and placing themselves near exits and entrances.
"Why would she be here?" Roscoe whispered watching Seth pick Nova up and put him safely into Roscoe's dog pack pocket.
"Reaver must have sent her, she here to collect Kyler and Connor, me as well if she spots me," Seth whispered turning back to the match to see Connor dodge roll then shoot another Balverine in the head sending brains and blood hitting a nearby wall.
"OH NASTY! If I didn't know any better I'd say this hero has some experience killing Balverines!" Brock said getting an eye roll from Seth.
Jumping high away from Connor a White Balverine began to circle charging fast towards him, where he countered by jumping in the air rolling over its back before landing behind it and launching the Blades spell.
Stabbing into the White Balverine it got impaled into the wall of one of the ruins winning him the match.
Heading to the stairs to the next floor Connor phone vibrated where he looked at Seth's message and his eyes widened, 'the warden of the prisons is here! There Patrol everywhere!'
"Shit!" Connor growled trying to think of a plan, "Gabriel what are the odds looking?"
"With the threat here you can not allow yourself or Kyler to be captured. I've sent Ginjer to your location, use your Guild Seals and let her know when you need a distraction, she is rather too excited to blow up anything," Gabriel spoke.
"Hey Ginjer do you read?" Connor asked waiting for a response.
"Hear you loud and clear Troll Bait!" Ginger spoke high above the spectator booth in the rafters watching below and making her way higher to the other floors.
"You be ready for that distraction and once you do get back to the Sanctuary," Connor spoke putting his seal back to his side when the gates to the next round opened.
Stepping out to the cheers of the crowd Connor entered a large dirt and stone-covered arena looking towards the mound in the middle where the Rock Troll emerged with a roar.
"Are you excited ladies and gentlemen! I am at the edge of my seat to see the hero's face against the mighty Rock Troll! Let this bloodbath begin in three-two-one! GO!" Brock yelled the sound of the horn making the troll roar and chuck a boulder at Connor.
"WHOA!" Connor yelled dodge rolling the rock that smashed against the wall behind him.
"Come on Connor," Seth spoke aloud watching nervously down below to see the troll chuck another boulder the hero barely dodged, "oh come on! USE YOUR BLOODY MAGIC!"
Panting Connor slowly stood up waiting till the troll threw another rock only this time he threw up a green shield in front of him, "COUNTER!"
Deflecting the boulder and sent it flinging back and slamming into the Rock Troll's face making it fall over, being knocked out exposing its nerve tendrils on its back.
Running over Connor quickly climbed onto its back and drew his sword slicing away at the nerves.
Waking up the Troll stood back up making Connor hang on and get flung around when the troll tried to shake him off.
"Oh my! The suspense! The Hero hanging on for dear life! This troll was not happy with being hit with that rock! Hang in there, hero!" Brock yelled watching the troll reach back and grab Connor pulling him off and holding it in front of its face and roaring.
"RAAAAH!" Connor yelled back pulling out his gun and with two quick shots he took out the Troll's eyes making it roar out in pain dropping Connor and covering its face with one hand then took a swing at him with the other that he dodged by ducking.
Running under its feet Connor shot at the last of the nerves using his whip spell to grab its fist to launch himself in the air high above it and come down stabbing his sword down into its head and breaking through its stone-hard skin.
Pulling out his sword when the troll began to wobble Connor jumped when it fell over dead and landed a few inches from it is head turning to look down at the dead troll and hearing the room erupt in cheers.
"Amazing! Incredible! He took out the troll! This had got to be the best season of the Crucible yet! Now ladies and gentlemen we have a special treat for you, while the hero waits to see what horror lies in the next arena you the good viewers at home will get to see our Iron Fist take on this new floor! Enjoy!" Brock spoke.
"What do you think it is?" Roscoe asked following the crowd with Seth to the next arena where all gasped to see the arena was designed like an old dock near the sea and the entire floor was covered in deep murky water.
"The arena is too small to capture a Kraken," Seth said studying the arena and watching the lights dim a bit.
"Smells like ocean waters," Roscoe spoke watching the waters below move with something under its surface.
"This is it everyone! The moment you have been waiting for!" Brock spoke with the gate opening and Connor stepped out on the old dock looking around at the water that surrounded him nearly fell over when something collided with the dock.
"Whoa! Bloody hell!" Connor spoke drawing a sword trying to locate what was hiding in the waters.
"Now it is my pleasure to introduce from the darkest depths of Albions oceans, the vile Sea Witch! Let the match start in three-two-one! FIGHT!" Brock yelled as tentacles emerged from the water and swung at Connor who dodged and used his sword to slice off the tip of one hearing a roar under the water.
A massive arm with massive black sharp claws grabbed onto the dock shaking it, spectators gasped when a large head with white hair began to emerge from the waters nearly as tall as the troll, a monstrous creature with large white eyes and a jaw full of sharp needle-like teeth similar to an Angler Fish roared with its tentacles trashing behind it.
"Oh, come on!" Connor yelled watching the Sea Witch dive back into the waters and begin to circle, keeping his sword ready.
"They captured a Sea Witch?!" Seth spoke in shock watching the beast in the water dive deeper under, "Now I wish were outside so we could have seen how Kyler took on this thing."
With his sword ready Connor jumped back when the Sea Witch stabbed its claws into the dock taking out a chunk and pulling it under making it more unstable.
Narrowing his eyes Connor was ready when tentacles came out and tried to wrap around him, using his sword he sliced off another tentacle enraging the Sea Witch that burst out of the waters and hopped onto the deck making it lift a bit and almost made Connor slide towards the beast.
"Shit!" Connor yelled watching the witch reach its claws towards him and roared.
Stabbing his hand through the witch's hand the witch roared using her other claws to smash the side of the dock Connor was on and sending him falling into the water.
With the Sea Witch diving under the water, all was silent watching the waters settle while under the surface all could see the water become electrocuted with a Shock spell showing an outline of the Sea Witch twitch and flailing around under the water till all went black.
"This is it folks! Will our hero emerge victorious or has become the first victim of the Sea Witch curse?" Brock spoke breaking the silence a bit till Connor emerged out of the water with a gasp grabbing onto the broken dock.
Coughing Connor glared back to the waters where he saw the Sea Witch's body floating to the top of the surface still twitching slightly with sparks of electricity before sinking back below.
"He's done it! We have another who has defeated the vile Sea Witch! Now comes the moment we've been waiting for everyone! Our Hero will now have a chance to take on the champion of the arena Iron Fist! Stay tuned after a quick word from our sponsor Reaver Industries!" Brock spoke switching to commercial.
Panting Connor made his way towards the stairs to the next round walking into a large air dryer that began to dry his soaked clothes while he waited for the doors to the final round to open.
Hearing cheers growing loud the gate to the next arena opened where Connor walked out to a bright light to find himself in the middle of a stone arena that reminded him of a Gladiator ring, but instead of dirt, it was a solid stone floor.
"This is it everyone! The final round! Will our hero beat our three-time champion or will another of our fighters get a chance to take on the Crucible? Ladies and gentlemen let me proudly introduce to the arena our champion! THE IRON FIST!" Brock announced where spotlights moved towards a gate on the other end of the arena where the fans saw Kyler step out wearing his mask of iron that covered his face and head with his large war hammer laying on his shoulder.
Stepping out with heavy footsteps he made his way to the center of the arena holding up his hammer in the air and getting a loud cheer from his fans above.
"Congratulations are in order for you, hero," Kyler spoke, "you are the first in my three years as champion to get to this point to take me on."
Setting his hammer on the ground Kyler began to crack his knuckles and neck watching Connor approach from the other end.
"Listen the real reason I entered was because I need to talk to you," Connor spoke watching Kyler pick up his hammer off the ground and point it at Connor.
"In my arena, we talk with our fists, show me your strength or die," Kyler spoke spinning the hammer before getting into a fighter stance.
"Are you ready?! Let the fight begin in three-two-one! GO!" Brock announced and with the horn, Kyler launched himself in the air swinging his hammer down that Connor barely dodged watching Kyler smash the tile floor below smashing the tiles and creating a small crater.
"KICK HIS ARSE CONNOR! I GOT A LOT OF MONEY ON YOU!" Seth yelled getting a look from Roscoe, "Oh, and also the mission."
"Mmmhmm," Roscoe glared watching below as Connor dodged another swing of Kyler's hammer, who then moved with fast speed grabbing Connor by the face and slamming him hard into the ground.
"NGH!" Connor grunted grabbing Kyler's arm, "SHOCK!"
Electrocuting Kyler the large warrior lifted Connor and threw him across the ring sending Connor rolling with a grunt before shaking his arm to get the feeling back.
"Ow, ow, ow," Connor grunted getting up and touching the back of his head and looking at his fingers to see blood, "alright, game on!"
Charging again Kyler swung again but this time his hammer collided with Connor's Counter shield deflecting his hammer back and creating an opening for the other who pulled his fist back, "Force Push!"
Hitting Kyler in the chest he sent the warrior flying across the arena and slammed hard into the wall where he shook it off and chuckled.
"Impressive, but if magic is all you have up your sleeves then this match will be mine to win!" Kyler grinned charging again.
Charing as well Connor swung his sword locking weapons with the other both pushing against the other weapon but Connor was showing he was struggling more against the other brute strength.
"TCH! You haven't won yet!" Connor growled watching Kyler dig his feet into the ground then with one push he sent Connor flying back and slamming into the wall and hitting the ground hard.
With blurred vision, Connor pushed himself up to see Kyler charging again and quickly grabbed his sword rolling just in time to dodge Kyler's swing that created another crater.
With dust as his cover, Connor used Time Control to move fast to confuse Kyler who tried to locate the other before appearing before him and pulled his fist back.
"FORCE PUSH PUNCH!" Connor yelled using the spell to propel his fist into Kyler's face and with a hard punch sent the other skidding back and sent his mask flying off but also in the process broke Connor's arm.
All was silent when Kyler's mask hit the ground with a clink and Kyler's face was still turned from the force of the punch.
"NGH!" Connor grunted holding his broken arm and looked toward Kyler who slowly turned his head with narrowed eyes reaching up and touching blood that now hung at the corner of his mouth with his thumb.
Looking at the blood Kyler's frown turned into a large grin across his face, "bloody hell! That actually hurt! No man has ever been able to do that to me before!"
"You're happy about getting punched?" Connor asked with a raised brow in confusion watching Kyler walk over and pick up his mask looking at the dent in the metal and staring at his reflection.
"It's more than a punch, all my life no man has been able to make me bleed, only the creatures of the world, seems blondie may have been onto something with you," Kyler spoke tossing the mask and pointing his hammer, "shall we finish?"
"I think not," a woman spoke getting their attention both looking up to see Brock getting pulled away from his spot at the mic and watching the warden Verruca approach snapping her fingers and making the guards shut off all the cameras in the room.
"Uh excuse me lady who the bloody hell do you think you are? We are in the middle of a fight and show here!" Kyler yelled up at her watching her snap her finger and a guard approached shoving Mr. Blade next to her, "HEY! DON'T TOUCH HIM!"
"Shit!" Seth growled seeing no protective barrier to the arena below and turned to Roscoe, "Get ready to move on my count."
Healing his arm Connor narrowed his eyes watching the warden study the two warriors, "By order of Lord Tirich, President of Albion I am here to place you under arrest."
"Ok great you can arrest him after the match!" Kyler yelled seeing her narrow her eyes at him.
"That includes you Kyler Blade, drop your weapon and comply or we will have no choice but to use force," Verruca spoke seeing Kyler chuckle.
"Arrested? Under what charges?" Kyle smirked pointing his hammer, "You want me to drop my hammer? You are gonna have to pry it from my cold dead hands!"
"Let me rephrase myself," Verruca spoke pulling out her pistol and then holding it to Mr. Blade's head making Kyler and Connor's eyes widen, "drop your weapons."
"I swear to the gods if you hurt him I will break every last bone in your body! Do you hear me bitch?!" Kyler yelled watching Guard Patrol jump down and enter the ring making Connor draw his sword and move to the center with Kyler both surrounded.
"Kyler!" Mr. Blade spoke making Kyler look up to his father who mouthed the words 'I love you son' before using his cane to swing at Verruca who dodged and fired a shot at Mr. Blade who stumbled backwards and fell over the rail.
"NOOOOOOOO!" Kyler cried out watching his father fall and hit the stone floor hard.
Gasping Connor watched Mr. Blade lie lifeless on the ground with blood starting to pool under his head.
"Stupid old man," Vercuua spoke glaring at the heroes below before snapping her fingers to give the next order, "kill them."
"GINJER NOW!" Seth yelled jumping down into the ring with Roscoe and before any of the guards could react the roof exploded dropping stone debris down on the Gaurd Patrol below.
With dust all around Connor and Seth regrouped running through the confusion to find Kyler knelt down next to his father's body and slowly picked him up before glaring up with tears in his eyes, "HEAR ME NOW! YOU WILL PAY! THAT A BLOODY PROMISE!"
"Kyler we gotta go!" Connor yelled grabbing the man's arm and leading him to the exit of the arena.
Running through the hallways of the employee area Kyler while carrying his father took the lead and went into his room where he shut the door behind him and broke the handle off.
"There is a switch on the side of the bookshelf! Hit it!" Kyler ordered watching Seth run towards the bookshelf and felt around hitting it and opening a switch.
Seeing a secret passage open up Kyler went in ducking down to fit in before being followed by Seth and Connor who hit the switch to close the secret passage behind them.