Chrysalis

Like I said, the Folk seem like they’re down to fight at pretty much the drop of a hat. Before ten minutes have passed, I find myself in an arena, surrounded by hundreds of spectators, while the dog-kin is stretching and taking some practice swings of his blade.

[How many of these arenas do you have?] I ask, a little bewildered.

[A lot,] he says. [We hone our skills in battle constantly against each other, and then against the Dungeon. Sometimes there are demonstrations where captured monsters are brought in so our warriors can test themselves against them. Most of these people probably assume that is the case here.]

He waves to the crowd and they cheer.

I wave to them with an antenna and get no response. Rude.

[Alright, what are the rules?]

[Fight, but don’t kill.]

[... That’s it?]

[That’s it. Use your full strength, because I will be using mine.]

So saying, he takes a firm grip of his sword and lowers himself into a grounded stance. The atmosphere becomes serious in an instant. A hush descends upon the crowd, as the audience holds their breath, waiting for the moment the battle begins.

the world, but I’m

It would be seriously embarrassing

slight shift of my opponent's foot is all the warning I

FAST!

CLANG!

warning, my nerves fire and I shift my position, angling my head to the side just in time for the blade, which would

react, pushing off my thorax with both feet to create some distance before he readies himself again. Not wanting to be caught out,

Whoa!

CLANG!

ground like a guided missile. I shift my head and again, the blade strikes hard against my gravity compressed diamond carapace, sending sparks flying high into the air. This time, I’m not going to let him reset himself

insanely fast move, he parries one of my mandibles in mid air, using the force of the blow to bring himself back down to the ground. Legs tucked, he

try a

again. And again. And another five times after that. I don’t manage to land a hit. Even though the spell itself is invisible, he

he activates a Skill. A wave of crystalline sword-light is formed

my reactions are on point and I angle my carapace perfectly. When the light hits, I feel the impact through my whole body, but my

Gweheheheh.

gasps as one, shocked that the mighty cut wasn’t enough to get through my exo-skeleton, but the dog-Folk

sword-light flying at me. A roar of approval bursts from the crowd, but it soon quietens as I roll deftly out of

a