"Aylmer! How are you? It's been-"

"Roland, please. Where's Grant?" Aylmer interrupted the guard outside the station.

"Out with a patrol. What can I get you, a drink or two?"

"Business," He clarified, stepping inside with a nod to the other guard. "Lady Xilhur is here."

Ja'see's ear twitched, and she turned around to look at the kid a few spots up from her. Man, this place was empty. "Oh well you see, dragon noses are really sensitive! Isn't that right Ymira?" She stated, poking the side of Ymira's nose.

"Stop that." Ymira replied calmly with.

Troy agreed, but didn't vocalize it yet.

The announcer said "Round 2 The Snake Dragon, Slithers! Wins: 15 Losses: 15" 



Slithers walked out silently as he eyed Megan who was looking at her up and down. The Announcer said "Begin!" 

Megan and her began to circle each other like wolves as Megan said "Bit of a lackluster introduction there"  Megan tested the waters a bit by thrusting her still sheathed cover sword as Slithers jumped back and then kicked at Megan's face who barely dodged then paused as she saw the wall far behind them cracking. This wasn't just normal martial arts, she knew how to mix magic into her strikes. This will be tougher than she thought, though why is she half and half. 

With the swordswoman and the serpent dragon jumping back to gauge distance as Megan and her began to circle each other again, the other looking for weak points in their movements. Slithers said "You're a Nocturne in you. I can smell it." Megan grimanced as Slithers took advantage of Megan's button punched her in the stomach sending Megan flying as Megan thought fast and used her blade as a brake, still unsheathing it. She thein jumped out of the way of Slithers coming in with a slamming stomp. Slithers smirked as she said to Megan "Touched a nerve" 

Megan grew quiet as she said "My bloodline is not who I am" was her response. She shook her head, remembering Gilly. Gilly didn't see Nocturne Number whatever...she saw Megan. As long as one person sees the woman and not the blood, Megan should be happy. Reacting quickly, despite a brief distraction from that thought Megan blocked one of Slithers's strikes, and pushed her back. 

After Megan pushed her back the two started to get more offensive with each other, both blocking each other. Megan using her keen eyes to keep up with Slither's martial arts, and Slithers using snakes uncanny ability to almost have a radar in their head to avoid strikes when needed. The Two jumped back as Megan kept her mind clear as she made conversation quickly "So is your name REALLY Slithers?" 

Slithers bolted suddenly in a rage as Megan landed her own strike across her face as Megan smirked as Slither's proved she was far more durable than Ragnar as Megan retorted "I found your button" 

"Clever girl," stated Slithers as she wiped the blood off her cheek. Megan and her went back to their dressing down circling, once again trying to find weakness in guard "But no, my name isn't Slithers, if you even care" 

"I do care actually" was Megan's response as Megan jumped back from a quick strike from Slithers and asked "What's your name?" 

Slithers paused seeing that Megan wasn't mocking her as Megan went to take advantage of the distraction she caused, it was still a fight after all, but Megan jumped back from Megan's strike as Slithers said "It's...Orochi." 

"It's an honor to meet you, Orochi. After this, we should go and get some sushi. I'm a sucker for it" Megan stated with a smile as Orochi struck from the distraction this time, as Megan once gain carefully avoided each other. Orochi smiled back at her, accepting her offer in silence. 

The action picked up again as Megan and Orochi started to strike more as Megan and Orochi struck with a horizontal sheath covered slash, and a mystical strike coming from Orochi's power. However, Megan felt the power coming from Orochi's strike on that one, proving she was putting more mana into it. Megan then blinked in shock as Orochi kicked the swordswoman's weapon out of her hand the sword landing behind her.

Orochi started to strike more and more rapidly that stomped as the power caused the Arena to shockwave up as Megan started to jump across them trying to get her sword while dodging Orochi's striking from above as Megan dived down and rolled grabbing her sword and thein gripped the hilt and scabbard as Orochi was at Megan who once again used her opponents momentum to strike Orochi sending her crashing through the pillars Orochi created from her power. 

Megan than saw Orochi stiring, getting slightly concerned with how much power she was exerting in only round two, she now sees why these are called the Trials of the Mighty. 

However Megan's thought process was interupted as Orochi got bigger. The Snake Dragon became longer and more slender and more green as she coiled into a snake looking at Megan almost begging for the young swordswoman to attempt to do the same to do the same as she did to Ragnar to end the battle. 




Megan started to get moving as she dodged Orochi striking faster with her massive head. Orochi opened her mouth and started to spit out purple gunk that hit the rock pillars left over from her previous power attack earlier in human form. Megan jumped on Orochi's head and slammed her scabbard covered blade on the top of Orochi's head. However, Orochi merely shook her head flinging Megan into the air. 

As Megan was falling Orochi slithered into place and rammed her head up sending Megan into the sky slamming against the sky barrier  causing herself to fall. Orochi went to catch her, but Megan smirked revealing it was fake out landing on Orochi's tail as she slid down it landing across from her. She held her side as she looked at Orochi who suddenly burrowed under the ground. Megan  started feel the arena rumble and rumble as she looked around for where Orochi was going to pop out assuming it was below her. However Orochin bursted up into a leap and dived down from the air clamping her jaw around Megan as she smirked about to swallow then paused as she started to gag. 

While inside Orochi, Megan used the face her sword was still in it's scabbard to her advantage since it was wider and jammed it into Orochi's throat and using it to try and keep herself stable though her fingers were slipping. IT didn't matter as Orochi upchucked Megan into the air recoiling from such innovation. 

Megan gripped the hilt with both hands and slammed down, on the stunned Orochi's head, her height and momentum giving the strike extra power as it sent her opponent into the ground. Megan sat down next to Orochi and smirked at the slowly losing conciousness snake dragon "I can't wait for sushi" which caused Orochi to smile before she was knocked out. 

Gilly watched the fight quietly, noting Megan’s proclivity to make friends, rather than fight. But her attention was drawn back to the ground and she listened to their conversation, intrigued. So they were strategizing.

"This one is easy, we hardly need to consider strategy for him." Darst stated, looking rather bored with this one.

"Agreed. This will be the fight I rest my arms on, it seems." Darius stated.

"So this one involves me and the barriers, right?" Owain asked, pointing to himself as he looked around Darius to Darst, who sat in the middle of the group.

"Correct Owain. We close off air flow by surrounding the area with a barrier. Ymira can exploit the size advantage in a close space to tear him apart, or I can simply teleport to him and puncture a hole in his lower jaw to stop him from using breath attacks anymore, as the forced pressure would tear at his jaw each time and disrupt his focus."

Learning from before the Announcer said "Introducing next, one of the only two remaining members of the Triscale family..." There was a noticable boo that was heard from regular Radiance members. "Keep it civil" the announcer stated and give it up for Ebony Triscale." 

Megan waited as she blinked a few times seeing her next opponent for a little bit. She seems more calm and relaxed. However unlike Orochi, her expressions couldn't be read she also couldn't make out how she did combat. She also was ignorning the booing that seem to happen every step she took. She also got ready since she remembered her panflet said that Ebony over here is a master of Acid Breath. 



Megan readied herself as the Annoucner said to fight but Ebony did not move. Causing Megan to wonder if she was beign under estimated again. She then paused as she heard the crowd say "Hey! Don't knock these next two out! We want this blight gone!" 

That comment got cheers as Ebony had no reaction...at least from the stands. Megan who stood across from her on the other hand noticed small tears coming down. She was repressing her emotions. Megan said to her "Why do they hate you?" 

Ebony said "I'm a Triscale, the daughter of Bathos the Destroyer." 

"The Dragon who stole the Staff of the Arcane" commented her now kindred spirit as Ebony looked away, Megan was suddenly at her inches from her face. Megan stated "We aren't our family" 

"How do you know that?!" She shouted back "You're a Nocturne! Everything was handed down to you! Everyone sees you as a hero! While we're just seen as...monsters despite doing the best we can!" 

Megan stated "Being praised isn't all it's cracked up to be either" Ebony looked at her listening to her sorrowful tone. She said "You're expected to be great, you're seen as entitled, privileged, and that your accomplishments are only due to your blood." The crowd was beginning to get restless as to them it was just two people staring and only those with super hearing 

(Like Gilly for example) 


would be able to hear this conversation at all. "Sometimes it makes it feel like you don't matter, that you're the next link in the chain." Ebony looked away from her "Or even worse, that you don't know...suffering because you were supposedly "handed' things."  Megan shook her head "Even though in your heart you know it not to be true." 

Ebony said "Then what do people do...to escape the shackles of their blood?" 

WIthout skipping a beat Megan said "Find even one person who sees you for the person and not the legacy. I don't care that you're a Triscale, I care that you're my next opponent, I want Ebony to give me everything she's got. I want to see how far my skills have come from back home." 

Ebony looked at her in stunned silence and got even more quiet as the crowd got more and more pissed off since they weren't fighting. Ebony asked "Do you really mean that?" 

Megan nodded and said "Yes" though it was clear she was getting tired, Orochi being a technique fighter like Megan and her trying to play Trag's arrogance to his detriment did give her a lot of nicks. However, she came to test her skill, even if it's against a kindred spirit like Ebony. 

Ebony suddenly hugged her out of no where, which did catch Megan off guard a bit as she felt a bit of wet on her shoulder. Ebony broke and said "I can't fight you...how can someone fight someone else who has made them so happy" 

Megan said "Orochi did" 

"We'll I'm not Orochi" Ebony looked at the announcer "I submit" which...yeah didn't go oever well from the crowd to say the least. They didn't evne see her Dragon form at all as Megan watched Ebony walk away,, taking the geeering in stride. 

Megan sighed a little in relief given that she got a little break but she got on guard knowing that she doubted big brother was going to submit too. 

"Well, that was interesting." Ymira commented. Darius and Ja'see nodded in agreement.

"...Any chance you three will explain what happened there?" Darst asked, as he and Owain were the only ones without some way to hear/see what was being said.

"I'll explain later." Ymira replied. "I see an easily exploited weakness, however. She'll likely enter her fight against us with a renewed confidence, meaning she'll be fighting differently than she's used to. Without hatred backing her attacks, she'll have to adjust to her attacks not having as much speed and power behind them. Her mindset will be different as well. She'll be a fresh faced fighter, and we can exploit her forced evolution to bring her down easily." Ymira stated. "Not to mention, she starts in human form, and I'll likely already be in dragon form from the last fight. If we pressure her as soon as she enters the arena, we can take advantage of the moment of vulnerability transforming leaves or otherwise bring her down before she can."

"Hm, an interesting plan." Darst nodded. "You always were one for tactics of the mind, I'll trust your instincts on this."

(Slithers was the most interesting fight so far for me)
"Wow, they're all dropping surprisingly easily." Darst stated, sounding a bit disappointed. "If these are legendary dragons, then I'm surprised you're not world renown for your durability Ymira."

"Yes, I...didn't expect them all to be so pathetically soft." Ymira commented. "I could practically take them on myself if one good hit is all it takes to fell most of these."

"Well regardless, the obvious plan here in lieu of his apparent lack of durability is for you to destroy the arena with lightning while I and Owain play defense. Darius and Ja'see, its the job of you two to keep track of which are clones and which are not. When Ymira exposes him, I, Ja'see and Darius will fell him quickly."

(Orochi, (I did give her a real name you know) was my favorite upon re reading. I really hope I didn't did the best on Fight 2.) 

The announcer stated "Up next is, Vladimir!" there was rockus applause, unlike with the Triscale siblings, as Vladimir emerged from the shadows and there was a noticable dim around the arena. They must make it darker when he battles so he won't be handicapped. Megan also remembered that Gilly and Ivan knew Vladimir, as Vladmir emerged at last. The blood from the beaten Dragons swarming  as Vladimir showed a fraction of his power. This is the second half of the arena, these are the fights that will seperate Warriors from Legends.



"Six Rounds on your own" stated the vampire dragon, as he watched Megan holding her blade in defense. "Impressive work, most get overwhelmed by now...even teams of five usually fail. Especially if they form some form of strategy...not knowing well..strategy is usually the first thing to die on the battlefield" 

Megan kept her blade up as Vladimir kept talking then smirked "Your odor...you smell like Ivan and Gilly. Do those names mean anything to you?" 

"Yeah, they're my traveling buddies" Stated Megan who still kept her guard up. 

"And how is my little Gilly Willy" stated Vladimir as Megan couldn't help but just laugh. Oh she has so much mileage on that. If she lives through this, win or lose, she is never going to let Gilly live this down. 

"She's fine" was Megan's response "She's actually watching the fight, Ivan would be too but he's kind of asleep." 

"Sounds like him" was Vladimir's statement to that. 

Vladimir looked at the Announcer as the Announcer said "Begin!" 

Suddenly Vladimir was at Megan like he teleported and punched her in the face sending her for a loop as he was behind her and kicked her in the back quickly. She kept her blade ready and tried to slash but her own blood from some of the hits she's been taking leap off her body and slammed into her as Megan felt like she was being pelted by rocks. Vladimir turned and kicked her to the ground, then kicked her in the back again as the ground cracked Megan coughing up blood. However Megan was suddenly grabbed by that blood forming into a hand and gripping around her neck. Holding her in place, the blood lifted her in the air as Vladimir casually walked forward to her before getting nose to nose with the surprised Megan. 

Vladimir stated "Friend of Ivan's or not, I'm not holding anything back. We actually watch the fights...and I know..." He ripped Megan's sword away from her hand and tossed it FAR away from the arena. "That without that, you can't win." He then started to tea off on her left and right with blistering fast shots as blood started to spray on the ground left and right. 

Vladimir stepped back as Megan's spattered blood formed into fists and Vladimir sat down and they just started wailing on her. Each shot, even from fists that small, sounding like cannons going off as Vladimir tossed her into the air and then before Megan could hit the ground. Vladimir drove her head into the ground and smirked, standing up. Then paused looking behind him as he saw movement, all be it groggy. Vladimir suddenly moved as Megan did try to make for her sword as she got blocked off by the powerful Vampire Dragon, who shook his head. Megan swung her fist as Vladimir blocked her fist with ease as Megan  struggled to get her hand free.

"Daddy?" Said a Young Megan in her head. "Why do I have to learn how to fight?" 

"Well Megan, learning how to fight is important to our family. The Nocturnes have a legacy of defending Arenith when new threats arise." Her father stated speaking to her "That is why I am teaching you to fight Megan...when that threat comes. You have to be ready...and you must master the Heart of the Sword" 

With a defiant scream she slugged Vladimir something fierce as Vladimir had to break his guard but didn't move to much. Megan grew quiet as she started to get calmer. She had to listen, she had to shake off his advantages over her at the moment or Vladimir is just going to overwhelm her. Vladimir decided to vampire speed punch her as Megan suddenly blocked with her wrist throwing a punch, but missing, front flipping to avoid an attack from Vladimir who smirked. 

Vladimir and her started to guard in Vladimir having offense to Megan's defense, though the advantage was still clearly in Vladimir's playhouse and he was clearly toying with Megan. While it's clear she knew hand to hand, Vladimir clearly had more experience as Megan started to lose momentum and was starting to take hits again. Megan started to back up as Vladimir punched at her and she had to block but then felt a kick that sent her flying back. He then dropped from the sky and a tried to stomp her face in but Megan grabbed his feet as they impacted sending her into the ground but Megan pushed up and flipped Vladimir on his back. 

Megan was about to spit out the bitter taste of blood in her mouth but swallowed it instead, knowing that Vladimir would just use it as a weapon. She then kept moving backwards as Vladimir started to punch and kick at her, Megan's defense improving a bit as they got closer and closer to one of the Arena's walls. When she was there Megan sprung, barely avoiding a punch and flipping Vladimir so he would crash head first against the wall as the swords woman scrambled towards her blade grabbing it, flipping back and keeping it drawn as Vladimir got bigger....and angrier. 



Vladimir wasn't messing around as he let out a horrifying scream and his blood as well as bits and pieces of Megan's own started to form into balls. Megan got herself ready, and started to slash and dice against them, the things were harden like stone. Her comfort restored her, her tactic style of fighting was beginning to move into overdrive. She had to find Vladimir's weak point. His fatal flaw in his defense that would allow one decisive strike to end the fight. 

Megan thoughts were interupted as Vladimir was suddenly in the air and reared his head back, as Megan jumped back to avoid whatever the hell was about to come out...when suddenly a torrent of blood spewed from his mouth, blasting against the Arena floor. Megan kept moving back further and further. Then started to realize that Vladimir was planning something as suddenly the Vampire Dragon was behind the latest Nocturne and swiped at her with his claws but Megan slashed at him, but his body turned into mist as both attacks went through each other. As Vladimir smirked and suddenly Megan was slapped across the face with his wing then paused and realized she was in the center of a pool of blood with the only spot of dry land. 

Vladimir stated "It's been fun, but this is where it ends." His eyes glowed as the blood all floated in the air then turned into pointed spears and started to rain down like crazy. Megan started to slash and swipe but was getting cut up pretty badly and then realized that she has her chance, he had to focus on the spell. However he'll be seeing her coming a mile away and then turn into mist to block her strike. So started moving then threw a rock at him. 

Bemused Vladimir let the rock hit him as Megan was suddenly at his face switching the blade to blunt slamming him into the ground head first as Megan sat back a bit and sighed with relief, as the blood knives stopped. 

Before Vladimir was declared unconscious though, Megan was stunned and gripped by Vladimir in his claws. He smirked and started to squeeze the sword enthusiast tighter and tighter, to the point where her bones were audibly popping. Megan struggled and struggled breaking free as she finally got her sword out and stabbed Vlad's hand. He recoiled in shock and in a desperate wild frenzy Megan leaped up, her morals switching the blade to blunt again, and just started to wail on Vladimir, no rhyme or reason to any of her strikes, just keep hitting and hitting. Until finally she slammed him into the ground with a two handed sword strike. 

Megan kept her guard up, oddly sheathing her blade again, then watched as she got into a position as Vladimir just got back up again, but Megan struck fast and hard with a quick, decisive, strike against Vladimir, using the blunt edge at what would have been a lethal area. Megan kept her sword drawn, stumbling a bit, as Vladimir fell behind her and Megan looked at the gate waiting for the next fight.  

Gilly winced. That was a rough fight, she never knew...Uncle Vlad could fight like that. Megan was looking really bad.

"Oooh Oooh!" Ja'see bounced in her seat, shaking Darst with her grip on his arm. "She's part cat, I can control her! I can make her surrender and go away so she doesn't trigger my cat allergies!" Ja'see stated excitedly. "I just need someone to keep her at the entrance, and I'll have her under my control as soon as she hears my commands! Yes!" She cheered, before the ear blockers landed in their laps.

Darst quickly took the ear blockers and put them on Ja'see's ears, since her hearing was far more sensitive than the rest of theirs.

"Oh, thanks Darst, I didn't even notice!" She remarked, giggling as the others were putting theirs on.