As Desmond views the many different areas, he had always wondered, what life could be like back then. For a boy like him, could he have found himself in a different path, maybe instead of a gun for hire he would have been a sportsman like those of old. He was strangely curious, as he walked he viewed the many things and found himself heading towards the Barracks of the Ancient Gladiators.
The Barracks, the one of many names applied to this place, including the great underbelly, and the hive of scum and villainy is home to the handlers and their fighters. There are various discussions and heated exchanges as a few are rather annoyed at how the Academy is co-opting the colosseum for their own ends interrupting a hotly sought after pre-arranged match last night. It seems a local one-armed champion was going to have a high stakes match and much coin had already flowed. There has been a series of underground fighting occurring in the Practice Arena, as bets are being wagered on small pickings. There is a vendor with glowing eyes seeming to meet out a dozen amulets in quick succession as the eager purchasers line up for being next to duke it out. The Binder’s clinic is currently being well used with people groaning out pleasantly as binders reattach limbs and other various body parts make to near perfect condition, depending on the coin, and those less fortunate are stripped down and taken away in sheets. However, the local champions seemed to have secured an area for themselves in the Gladiator’s Bath, an area known for its rumoured healing and strengthening powers as strapping gentlemen, young and old, with grizzled burly bears, all impressive fighters, oil themselves in preparation for future combat. Some making use of the shared Foricae room.
As Desmond seems to find himself in a place all too familiar, every major city had it, dens of dark dealings. As he moved through the area he noticed the many different people. Handlers, fighters, dealers, and thieves. He heard the sounds of healing that he was all too familiar with. The low rumbling of combat in the distance of the practice Arena. Then finally there is the smells of warm waters and herbs that seem very enticing. Desmond makes his way towards the gladiator's baths to take a soak before his big fight.
Where Desmond makes his way to the public bath, an area set aside for the Champions of the Underbelly. Whilst it is not clearly signposted as such, there is very much an unwritten rule that those who don’t meet the criteria are strongly unwelcome. This fact becomes more salient as Desmond dresses down to go for his soak, he is confronted by an individual who grabs him upon the shoulders and turns him around.
Fortunately, Desmond had the natural inclination to look upwards as he is confronted by what can only be described as a muscled gorilla which resembles a man. Desmond, being who he is and his connections to the area may even be able to recognise who this individual is as well.
“You are not welcome here, son. You are no champion.” The man was short and sharp.
“I would know, because I am the champion.” The others in the area continued to do their thing, unfazed by the comments as they went unchallenged.
“Any who have a problem with that, can prove it in the ring.”Desmond is able to recognise the individual as one of the reigning champions who was scheduled to have a bout with his rival, Jorge. He is a large Muganza man known for wearing his Golden Breeches, Gabari.
It is said that Reshta has blessed him with fortune in the arena since adorning his signature apparel and known for his bravery in combat.
Many are able to recognise him due to his distinctive Breeches. Now Desmond, for better or for worse, can now recognise him without.
As a man grabbed Desmond's shoulder, Desmond turned to the man he was looking for, the Champion. A smile crawled on Desmond's face as he saw the man, a little known thing about Desmond, he has fought in many underground rings, and himself was a champion of many, but none of this size. This was one of the few times he would get to be down here without an in, so for him it would be a time to make an impression to venture down here more and be able to do more as he pleases without needing to go under a Handler.
Desmond spoke with a smile,
"Is that an invitation for your Title? If so, I accept. This seems like a nice place, I'd like to come here, and as you said, this is a place for Champions".
Desmond, a boy not willing to back down so easily, not only met the champion tier fighter’s gaze, but even met that challenge right on. He has just issued a declaration.
Now the others in the changing room have turned their heads as they peer towards him. Has the boy lost his senses? That is a death sentence
Gabari simply laughed out loud,
“Do you hear that, this boy dares to issue me a challenge. He has spunk!” He simply smiled menacing as he spoke lowly to him,
“I may like you, but that doesn’t mean I won’t kill you.”Gabari yells something in his native tongue, loudly. There is suddenly a flurry of activity as word is being spread.
“Our fight is up next. If you dare to back up those words, meet me there. If you somehow beat me, I will even give you my iconic golden breeches!”. Again, his voice lowered.
“If you run, there are worse fates than death”.
Desmond looked the man in the eyes and smiled, as if this was exactly what he bargained for. Desmond responded to the man's talks of him running,
"I wouldn't dream of it".
As the breeches were put on the table, Desmond's smile stayed as it was exactly what he wanted. Desmond said in a low tone getting slightly closer,
"You sure anyone's gonna recognize you without them?" After which Desmond turns and leaves to prepare, as he gets his clothing on and begins to prep. Desmond already had what he wanted to bring in.
He had wrappings for his hands, his gloves he got from the other day, and now he limbers himself up. Stretching and exercising slightly to work himself up to prepare for his fight.
Before Desmond enters the ring, he is treated to the fast-paced 'Elth 'n Safety talk by the resident Yasoi as Desmond forgoes all and every right to his existence whilst in the arena.
"By entering the Arena, you legally acknowledge you are exposing yourself to great danger, including, and/or, death. You forsake any right of restitution through the Ersand'Enise legal system including the Lamplighters and the Golden Century. In accordance to the first rule, you don't talk about the arena, and the second rule, you don't talk about the arena, you acknowledge that when someone says stop - taps out - goes limp it is over, fights go on as long as they have to. Anyone playing possum would be subjected to a count of 10 and at the stroke they are gone and forfeit any eligibilities they may have earned."
As Desmond is at the entrance and about to enter, he hears Gold Breeches already stirring up the crowd and getting them on side. The Gold just shines brightly, appearing immaculate, as they live up to the man's stage name.
"Ya'll hear what go on? Some punkass skinny Enth boy challenged me, Gold Breeches, to a fight! He thinks he is going to take them away for himself!". The crowd laugh and howl. They have been deprived tonight of watching Jorge v Gold Breeches in action, but newcomers make great sport.
Desmond enters the arena with fashion, he knows how to show a crowd a heel. He steps forward with a smile on his face, as smoke looms behind him. As the area around Desmond is slightly darker than normal as if a Dark Horse has entered the arena. Desmond is right now using the upper limits of his power but still adds some awe to his entrance.
The moment he neared his competition he looked to him with his same almost large almost wicked grin as he says,
"I hope your Rival won't be too upset about you not showing up. After all, Gold Breeches without his Britches is nothing at all".
As Desmond looked to his prey as he is ready for a fight.
Gold Breeches smiles wide as he displays his competition to the crowd. He gives a loud roar as he listens the crowd whooping and cheering.
"I sure do love the cocky ones! Look at him strutting in here like a peacock."Gold Breeches starts showing some of his moves, moving in a rhythmic manner as if he was dancing on the spot. WHOOP-WHOOP. The crowds cheer as he does his trademark warm up routine. He means serious business. Perhaps Desmond really pissed off the man, but after a careful examination, the Champion was more excited than angry, and perhaps that was even scarier. The fight with Desmond was blood sport, preying on the victim for the sheer thrill of it.
Desmond has seen the man without his breeches on and he knows he is big. The muscles upon his stomach could crush a nut, and now, with his moves, he is displaying that flexibility.
The moment the fight is called to begin Desmond darts in to get the first strike. The moment he steps into his range Desmond throws a long spear like kick to strike the man dead in the stomach.
Gold Breeches had intentionally left himself open. He didn't imagine Desmond to be much of a threat at all. In fact, he fully expected the boy to do a puny punch and give it him for free, to try to make the fight 'interesting'.
So when Desmond comes running towards him and does a kinetically enhanced spear kick to the stomach, he falls back winded temporarily. THE FUCK? races through his mind. The crowd stops cheering as it grows silent, did Desmond's opening shot injure the champion.
The gloves were not metaphorically off. It is time for Desmond to have a taste of his Doom Fist.
Desmond perhaps feeling a little cocky after that first kick lowered his defences enough that the Champion was able to punch right through them and sucker punch the boy. Desmond was able to take the hit like a man, but with a name like that, it seems like others have fared worst fates than him on the receiving end of that throw.
Desmond's head twisted as he took the hit, he felt his eyes rattle for a moment yet knew well how to fight through such feelings. As when his leg came back down, he shifted from his slightly awkward leaning stance to a sweeping rising hook to slam into the mans lower side.
It was a sight that the audience was unused to seeing. Gold Breeches is down upon the floor! It only took two hits and he is down! The Champion who was set up the match as a rookie crush was absolutely being wrecked himself. The humiliation, the embarrassment!
The Crowd goes absolutely frantic for Desmond as Gabari is upon the floor. He doesn't even deserve that title. This boy... how dare this boy trick him like this... he must be one of them
Gold Breeches moves to the side of the arena as he whips on the glove he was saving for his bout with Jorge. To make a pact with the fiendish devil in Glow Eyes, and to be forced to resort to such methods so early on. He will show this newbie who the real champion of these parts are.
Desmond wins Round 1 - but wait, the fight is not over
Desmond despite not resorting to such methods was able to keep pace with the soon to be former Champion. He is ducking and weaving between the blows. Gabari was coming after him in full Force and Fury, and despite the best efforts, he was able to break that defence, for a moment, catching the boy.
Through the shifting and weaving he could feel something is off, like something had changed. As Desmond felt even a glancing punch, it felt as if it could scrape off his skin, and in that same moment another hit landed this time more solidly as it made Desmond's head go back. yet even that was Desmond trying to mitigate the damage as Desmond throws a tight hook to slam into the man's temple.
The tight hook was predicted. The man was moving at a lightning pace that Desmond struggled to keep his hands on him. It was in that moment Desmond saw the light at the end of the tunnel as the counter came, being able to pull up at the last moment as Gabari scratched that itch that had been plaguing him for weeks.
Gabari roars as his attacks grow more frenzied in their bloodlust. His temples are pounding as the veins are visibly throbbing. He charges towards the boy.
Desmond is lifted up from the floor during the charge as he is physically thrown into the side of the arena with an almighty thwack that feels like at least 3 bones may have been broken, and he is still counting.
Gabari moves away as his eyes grow bloodshot. The crowd go silent again, they haven't returned to cheering for the reigning 'champion'. A rather petite boy with blond hair squeaks up,
"Get up Desmond! Beat that bully!"Desmond could feel his body, it was crying, his heart was wailing, and his head was whining. It was hard to hear, everything seemed quiet,
...no...that was the crowd...they're quiet. As Desmond put his feet under himself, he felt his arms push, he needed to get up. This ain't the time to go down, as he heard a voice punch through, as it was a kid calling to him.
He grit his teeth, today wasn't the day he was going to lay down. Fuck whatever he was doing, this motherfucker needed to pay. As Desmond stood up and the moment he felt himself balanced, he bolted forward and went to upper cut the Golden Panted Bastard.
Desmond spurred from the crowd as he makes a desperate attempt to upper cut Gabari. Like a knife through butter, there was no resistance as he punched through the air, Desmond tried, and tried again... the man was less of a man and appeared to be more like an Eskandish Berserker was coming to full throttle him. The crowd lets out a collective gasp as the Champion goes to squeeze the life out of the Enthish boy.
Desmond was being lifted up by Gabari's hand as the fingers are like a vice around his neck. The Enthish boy was being choked, his body kicking and he isn't able to reach. Desmond moves instinctively to wrap his hands around the hand choking him.
It is the hand with the glove. The jewel upon it growing evilly towards him. He can feel the last of his consciousness, there is only time for one action.
Desmond lifts, his hands grabs unto the man shaped beast's hands and he felt the life being choked from him. Desmond had to figure something out as he noticed his gloves,
they're magic...Desmond takes the one moment he has to grab the man's wrist with his off hand, and his other hand goes up to grab onto the jewel. Desmond had one chance as the moment he took hold of the jewel he boosted himself with all the magics he can muster. Using kinetic and chemical to boost himself as he gripped the jewel as Desmond wrenches both his hands away form each other to rip the jewel from the hand.
Desmond wrestles with the jewel. The man is not thinking, he doesn't protect it, this was the perfect moment to wrestle it free. Desmond grips upon it and pulls, he is flickering in and out of consciousness. He can feel the heat upon his fingers as he does his best, but it is not good enough, he cannot detach it! The power of the jewel becomes overwhelming as Desmond feels as if his own life-force is being sucked away. The jewel grows even stronger, its glow getting brighter...
The crowd gasp and scream out in horror as Desmond falls upon the floor, almost limp. His body feels like it has been drained of all of its manas, many ache and pain imaginable was being felt.
Desmond lies there, just waiting for his death.
The referee was not even counting as there is chaos around him. He forces his eyelids to part, as he looks up to the ceiling of the ring, Gabari was not even there. He slowly starts to pick himself up, as he hears that young voice squeak again.
"It is Desmond! He is alive!".
The audience turn towards him. The referee comes towards him and holds up his hand.
DESMOND CATULUS, the Arena's new CHAMPION!
The crowds are cheering, people celebrating. There are flower petals being thrown into the Arena. He may be black and blue, but he is still standing.
Desmond... has WON!
Desmond, now crowned a Champion of the Arena and now has the privilege to access the Champions Baths legitimately.
The rank of Champion was not a unique title in the underground arena, it is one with a set criteria. It is earned after winning 10 fights in a row, or it can be challenged for directly and taken from an existing champion.
Perhaps in his hubris, Gabari has not simply staked his Gold Breeches on the line, but his title too.
Desmond sighs as he feels his body aching as he wished to go to the infirmary. He needed to know,
...what the fuck was that?Inside of the infirmary, it had been cordoned off. Many people wanted to see Gabari and what is going on. As Desmond tries to enter, a man with glowing eyes pushes past him with a shove and a snarl, making their way quickly from the infirmary. However, as the staff there see Desmond, they force a space to open to allow him inside as a legitimate customer in what could generously be called a depilated chop shop.
A voice can be heard from the entrance, "Wow, look at what you did to him". Desmond looks around as he struggles to make out where he could be, in fact, he couldn't see him at all. He was about to give up when he noticed the Gold Breeches on the side. What strikes Desmond is how they have not lost any of their allure and appear to be immaculately clean as if still brand new from the day they were made.
Desmond listens over to the conversation. "They rejected him. What ever that explosion was..." there are bits and pieces uttered, but he can see at how Gabari is now missing an arm. "Give him milk of the poppy. Not even a binder can do much at this point, there is nothing left to bind." Desmond tilted his head, are they really going to kill someone for losing an arm. It was when one of the nursing staff started to carry away the mans legs, the significance of his injuries became more apparent.
Desmond shook his head, the man used something beyond normal, something that could do such things, that is not a tool to use lightly. Truly there was nothing to be done, an arm, legs, and more, that is no way for a man to live. There was no way for a man like him to live, even if they could seal up his wounds, he's a fighter, he's already as good as dead.
Desmond sighed as he grabbed the Breeches he had won and then found an empty area and sat down. As he waited for them to see to him. They seem like they have their hands full trying to fix the man or at least try and do what they have to do.
Fortunately, the rules are the rules, and the Breeches would have been delivered to Desmond regardless. Perhaps a kind hearted soul would have chased after the Enth as he tried to leave without them. Though with them collecting payment, Desmond has the opportunity to sneak out of there without being followed.
As Desmond examined his new Gold Breeches, he began to notice runic symbols upon the length of the hem. These were not some ordinary gold coloured breeches, they were a bonafide magical artefact. These were in fact Breeches worthy of a Champion.
Obtained: The Epic Breeches: runically-imbued underwear that are not only virtually indestructible, they also immediately absorb and bind away all foreign substances that try to seep into them.
Desmond leaves with his new title, prize, and sense that this place trully is not what it seems. Such things hide in the dark.
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