"Stahl Aschefell. Dargot Phitz." The slender she-wolf rose with a smile plastered upon her muzzle. Not only was she getting to go first today, but she had a good opponent, one she had specifically wanted to be paired against.
Dargot was a humanoid komodo dragon that was a dual wielder just like Stahl, only he swung two hefty hammers instead of swords. The she-wolf's smile grew as she sized up her opponent. This was definitely going to be a interesting match.
Aster was a bit worried partway through his new friend's round, Dargot had even managed to score a point on the she-wolf and was putting up a powerful fight.
In the end, the ashen wolf secured her victory with a quick flick of her wrist by finally managing to disarm the reptile's right handed hammer, and striking through the opening she had made.
Aster would never say it out loud, but he found himself often strangely comforted by the powerful and graceful movements of the slender she-wolf during a fight.
The human offered his congratulations as the proud she-wolf made her way back to him. No matter what his next match put him up against, Stahl had made it into the Elite King's Guard. However, that victory celebration was short lived as Aster's own opponent was named just a few short matches later.
"Straga Raxos. Aster Venatus."
Stahl's ears perked and her eyes went wide when the names were called. The she-wolf quickly glanced over to her smaller friend, and saw a very serious look on his face.
Aster was clenching onto his staff so tightly, his knuckles had turned a bone white. Stahl understood, of all the entrants present for this year's Selection, Straga Raxos was the only one the she-wolf didn't really believe she could best...
Her human friend definitely stood no chance against such a monster. Aster was well aware of that fact also.
Straga Raxos was not only a noble born between two of Alora's most powerful warriors, he was a true brute and a giant compared to most beastmen.
The nearly ten foot tall black humanoid dragon was considered the number one ranking competitor at The Selection, one that had crushed each opponent that was placed before him without ever taking a single point loss... One who had immediately disarmed any who opposed him on their opening attack, all while electing to fight without his weapon of choice.
His towering frame was covered by diamond-hard ebony scales dotted with small, flesh rending bumps. He had a spiked horn on the end of his snout, and two larger horns protruding from his massive head.
Straga had crimson red scales along his belly and chest, with the same red tint upon the tips of his claws and spiked horns that faded into the darkness of the dragon's other scales like a river of blood flowing over his tremendous frame.
The most impressive feature, however, was the giant set of wings protruding out of his back. A rare trait even among humanoid dragons.
He may have been the son of Cerula Cascus, the majestic, wingless blue humanoid dragon who had acted as a judge in the human's trial the previous day, but her stark cerulean eyes seemed to be the only similarity the two shared.
There wasn't a beast present that hadn't prayed to the gods they wouldn't be matched against him, and now the human was deemed his latest victim.
"You need to forfeit. You can't beat him, Aster. You would have better luck next round against ANY other opponent. He will destroy you...EASILY!" Stahl had began pleading with the human as he finally stood to meet his opponent in the ring.
Aster looked to Stahl with sadness, but also with a tinge of appreciation for the fact the she-wolf had worried about his safety.
"Stahl... I think we both know that this wasn't JUST a random pairing... I could run, but that's only going to make it all worse on me. If- if I won't fight now, then I will never be taken seriously as a warrior. My family will continue to bear the consequences and responsibility of protecting me. If I won't face him, they beat me here. I lose here."
The grey she-wolf looked carefully at the human's expression before she finally yielded. Aster was right. This was very much a test, albeit an impassable one.
Still, the she-wolf moved aside and allowed the human to make his choice. To make his way to the ring where the malicious terror stood with his arms crossed in waiting.
The humanoid dragon flashed a deviant smile showing off a maw full of pointed teeth larger than Aster's own fingers.
The boy shuddered at the sight, but took his stance despite the fear. Despite the roars from the crowds.
"TEAR THAT HUMAN APART, STRAGA!" "TEACH THAT MONGREL HIS PLACE!" "GIVE US A GOOD SHOW, NOBLE DRAGON!"
The crowd was relentless. They thirsted for blood. Stahl had managed to silence a few of the Closer ones with a stern glare cast their way, but they persisted in their taunts for the most part, even as the judge called the start to the match.
"May the superior reign. Fight!" Neither fighter moved, as if they hadn't even heard the command. Instead, they stood sizing each other up for a while longer. When Aster had finally shifted his weight forward and began running towards the dragon, the beast's foreboding smile intensified just a bit. This was going to be fun. For him anyways.
Aster propelled himself further towards his opponent. He had closely watched the great humanoid dragon in his previous rounds, and had devised a plan.
Straga made no move, and simply let the human close in. As the boy made it into striking distance, he held his staff in front of himself, much like one would hold a joust.
The human thrust his staff forward, and quickly snatched it back by the very end, letting the pole glide back through his loosened grip just as the large humanoid dragon went to snatch it from his grasp.
Aster used this fake out to grab the base of his rod with his other hand, made a quick turn, and spear into the side of the beast's massive chest, being the first among all who had faced the monster thus far to both keep his weapon beyond the initial strike, and to secure a point... Or so he had believed.
As Aster's staff made a sharp 'Clank,' against the humanoid dragon's thick armored scales and slid off mark, the boy realized the point hadn't been called.
He knew the beast would attempt to disarm him right out of the gate, and had acted according to that astute observation to take the lead early on. It was a solid plan, and it was well executed... But the human had overlooked something important. Something the humanoid dragon had known before ever taking the stage.
This wasn't a match. This was just a message. One he was hand picked to deliver.
As Aster hadn't expected a follow up, since he assumed his point would be called and their positions would reset, he was unprepared for the dragon to grab a hold of his weapon as it deflected off of his polished scales.
Straga easily snatched the staff from the stunned, weaker human's grip with a sneer, and carelessly tossed it over his shoulder behind him where it landed in the dirt outside of the ring.
Aster had been disarmed. His point wasn't called and he now stood defenseless within grasp of the great beast due to the unfair ruling.