A bony, malnourished child hunched over a lantern-lit street, rain soaking her to the bone keeping her trembling. She hugged herself beneath an oversized tunic draping over her like a blanket. The fabric fought to keep her warm, just as stubbornly as she fought to keep breathing. Its seams were stained with old mud and grime, every thread a testament to survival.
She didn't move, not even to brush the wet hair from her eyes. That would cost her heat, and she had little enough of that left. The itch could wait.
Instead, she stared across the street at a single window, locked in a staring contest with the flickering candlelight behind the glass. It seemed warm in there. Alive. She imagined it was looking back at her.
Out of the corners of her vision, the street moved in blurry bits; odd shapes and passing families, brief flashes of laughter or argument. A man begging a woman not to leave him, a child crying for a pet. Simple things. Strange things.
How do people even get a family? she wondered. Do they come of age and just… get appointed one? Are they chosen randomly? She pondered the question often. There wasn't much else to do. And then the candle in the window went out. She won.
"Grimm!"
The shout cracked through the fog of her thoughts. Her eyes snapped back into focus, and the rain-soaked street vanished.
The scent of blood, sweat, and smoke replaced it. Roaring crowds. Blinding divine orbs. Dirt beneath her shoes. The ring. She turned her head to see Scroff hanging agains the ropes from the outside, looking up at her with a scowl of worry and annoyance.
"You look like you just saw a damn wraith," he snapped. "Get your head in the fight, woman… I've got money on you!"
"Yeah yeah yeah, shut up you greedy pig." She half-playfully snarled, baring her teeth at him before turning her gaze to the far end of the ring. In the opposing corner stood a shirtless ogre, the bulk of him more muscle than wit. Their eyes locked, and he smirked. Slowly, he dragged his thumb across his throat, his grin widening. Grimm felt no fear, nor any response. She simply moved on.
The arena was packed. Every seat was filled, and more stood on the edges, eager for the event. This brute had earned his reputation in the underworld. They called him—
"The Exception!" The announcer roared through a funnel, his voice amplified as the crowd erupted in a deafening cheer. Things flew into the air, and chants echoed through the arena. As the noise subsided, the announcer's voice cut through once more, his energy persevering.
"In the other corner, a new blood who has quickly risen to infamy. A woman feared for what she is. The 16-0 killer, the one they call—THE CURSE FROM THE CREATOR'S THEMSELVES! THE ANGEL. OF. HELL! THE VASILISK!" The crowd roared—not with excitement for her, but with a venomous hope that today, she would finally get what was coming to her. The air was thick with hateful jeers.
"You're gonna die, devil!"
"Go back to Velsin, you freak!"
To them, she had cheated her way to the top. But now, they thought, there would be no tricks, no schemes—only the sweet satisfaction of watching her fall.
"I want a good fight, you two," the announcer boomed, his voice rising to stir the crowd once more. "I think the patrons deserve it! ISN'T THAT RIGHT, PEOPLE?" The crowd's response was a deafening roar of approval, and with a final clang, the bell tolled, signaling the start.
The ogre stomped to the center of the ring.
"Am I really to fight such a puny vasilisk girl?" he sneered, struggling against the thick accent in his throat as he taunted her. He worked his tongue around his back teeth, as if savoring the insult, then looked to the crowd for their support.
"I mean, come now, I could—" The sound of clanging iron cut him off as two padded fists slammed into the side of his jaw. The blow sent him flying, his body slamming into the ground with a resounding thud. A grunt escaped him as he lay there, dazed.
Before he could even rise, barely on one knee, Grimm was on him. She stomped over, lifting her fists in unison, her swing confident and deadly. He barely had time to raise both arms to block her. The two struggled after he got ahold of her wrist, but Grimm wrenched her arms free with a violent pull. She swung again, and this time, her punch struck with devastating force against the underside of his jaw. The ogre crashed back to the ground, groaning.
Grimm didn't pause. She planted her feet on either side of his torso, dropping to her knees, pinning his struggling arms beneath her. Her gloves came down like hammers, striking his face with brutal force. The weight of her punches, amplified by the weight of the iron chains she held in her hands, echoed through the arena. With each blow, her anger surged, her grunts turning into feral screams. Again. And again. And again. And again. Until the sound of glass shattering escaped the clashes of iron.
Glass shattering?
She'd stop confused, huffing to catch her breath, staring at the half unrecognizable Ogre who began snickering.
"What's so funny, huh?! Is getting your ass beat by a vasilisk that amusing to you? Cause I think it's hilarious! See I'm laughing too, Hahahaha!" She'd scream in his face, but all he could do was keep giggling, it grew louder until the entire arena could hear the blood in the back of his throat. It was only when he opened his mouth did Grimm understand why.
"Hey. Vasilisk. I know you've got money from begging, you leech. Hand it over before you get hurt!" Two men stood in front of the small girl. Tall, skinny guys, grins from ear to ear, showcasing rather unkempt sets of teeth. The guy in the back slowly moved his hand into his coat, just keeping it there.
"Money? Like hell I'd ever give a cent to you freaks. Go beg on your own street." Her voice was high pitched and frail, but she spoke with fire. She'd weakly stand up and spit in front of the front man's feet. She had absolutely nothing for money. She didn't beg on her street, not that anyone would get too close to her anyways. She just really liked looking at her favorite house. Despite that she still gave rebuttal,
"Y-you damn brat, give me your coin!" He'd wind a kick to send straight into the girl's chest. Having no strength to defend herself she was sent flying into the building behind her. She'd gasp as she fell on her knees, and then to laying on the ground gripping her stomach, unable to inhale. He'd walk over to her and squat, beginning to search her oversized shirt for coin.
"Where is it, damnit?! I know you have some. Tell me!"
"Go to h-hell.. Bastard." With the last of the breath she had in reserve, the wind still being knocked out of her, she cursed him. The man stood up and started kicking her as she was against the wall.
"You wanna keep talking like that to me? That's fine I got all night. I'll make sure you're down for good fore I take your money. And if you don't have any I'll sell you!" As he gave his violent monologue he'd continue stomping on her.
"What about now brat?! Wanna hand over that mon-"
"Hey." The attacker snapped his head up hearing an unfamiliar voice so close. Before he could react he felt a hand grip his shoulder, spinning him around. Quickly followed with a fist into his gut. He dry heaved, desperately swinging at the mystery figure. They reacted quickly, dodging with little effort. In a flurry of attacks the robber was punched, grabbed by his shoulder, and pulled into a knee in the chest. After his body went limp the mystery hero threw the him onto the street. Both of the men who attacked the little girl were out cold on the ground.
"Hey kid you with me? Are you okay?" A bulky mystery man entered the girl's blurry vision. She could make out no face, only a trench coat and meaty hands. They looked like a pigs'.
She'd feebly reach for his hand, gripping as tight as she could, begging him to save her without words as she still couldn't breathe. Her pitiful attempts at gasping for breath audible.
"Uh-oh okay here we go kid this is only gonna hurt a second." He'd turn the girl on her back. Feel around the bottom of her ribcage for a moment before finding the problem area.
"One two three!" He'd push into and up her ribs in one hard motion, and for some reason it worked. She took a huge gasp of breath followed by coughing.
"Just take a second you're alright. Your lungs were spazzing 'cause he hit you good. My name is Scroff got it? I need you to trust me right now cause you need a doctor." He'd take a look at the beaten girl. She was frail, and finding her rib was no issue as her body fat was non existent. She'd finish coughing, breathing in short bursts to make up for lost air.
"I-I was about to hand them their asses.." She pushed from all fours to finally sit up, leaning her back against the building wall.
"Y.. yeah sure you were kid. Listen I need you to tell me where your folks are. We need to find 'em so they can get you checked out. Can you tell me your name?" Scroff needed her to stay awake. He was worried the guy cracked her head too.
"Grimm, and.. dunno." She said. Her vision getting more blurry by the second. She'd keep blinking trying to reset her eyes.
"Dunno what kid?" Scroff asked.
"Where... they are. My "folks"."
He stayed squatted beside her as he thought frantically about his next move. Though there wasn't really an option, he needed to get her out of there.
"O-okay that's fine kid, you still need a doctor so I'm going to take you alright? Everything's gonna be just fi-" The sound of glass shattering was heard behind him. He'd turn his head around to see one of the guys on the road with their arms above their mouth. Positioned like he had just dropped something in it. The air was silent, broken only when the man started giggling.
"What the hell? Okay we're leaving kid you ready?" He'd turn to see Grimm passed out lying on the ground, and he'd turn his head again after hearing the man burst out into laughter. He was already getting up. One of the street lanterns kept the man out of the dark allowing Scroff to see one prominent change in the man's appearance.
"Black teeth..." Grimm froze for too long as the Exception pulled his arm out from under her leg, swinging with faster speed than she could react to. His hook connected to her side launching her towards the ropes on the edge of the ring. The force alone bounced her off the ropes and into the ground. She'd barely dodge his pounce, scrambling out of the way as he slammed the ground she just left. She'd jump up and react to his next swing by catching it with both of her hands. She'd push it out of the way and throw a punch. They connected swings, and then again. Quickly a flurry of punches unleashed in the ring, dust clouds being kicked up by the commotion. Finally The exception went for a grab. With one of his hands he caught hers, and with the other he snatched the iron chain connected to either of her wrist. He'd pick her up by the chain and then slam into the ground. Back and forth from one side of himself to the other. Ending it by picking her up and dropping her back against his knee. Grimm's vision was getting blurry as the dusted collected in her fading eyes.
"T-these people wouldn't give a damn even if I told them he took Hail Mary Ink. Hell they probably... know. I need to get these damn chains off." She thought to herself as she stood once again. Staring down the noticeably bigger and more rabid Ogre.
"To answer question Vasilisk. I do think beating ass is funny." His big smile flaunted his crutch. Hail Mary Ink had been an illegal drug since before her time. It was made to boost features temporarily in battle, but the sudden increase in testosterone made whoever took it crazy for the duration of the effects. It was banned in medicine, but found its way into the black market. And in turn into the mouth of the Exception.
"Then come get your punchline funny guy." Neither of their eyes moved away from the other. stepping off at the same time they pushed dust out of the way to rush towards each other. Grimm threw the middle of her chain at the ogre who instinctively caught it. She swiftly wrapped the chain around the Exception's right hand and pulled it away from him. struggling to keep the strength needed to control where the hand went. He'd swing with the other hand, but Grimm would wrap the other side of the chain around his other hand. Wasting no time she jumped up and planted her shoes on his gut, and start pulling away. Either the chain was giving or the Exception's arms were. Either worked for her.
They'd both grunt and scream as they struggled against each other's strength. He'd drop to one knee, lift her up and slam her back against his knee as he did a moment before, but she didn't budge. If anything she got her knees pushed out a little farther.
"G-GAH! Puny Vasilisk! Let go! Let go!" His face scrunched as he began to plea, swinging her around frantically. He could feel things popping that shouldn't be.
"Shut the hell up!" She'd struggle to get the final push in completely stretching out her legs, and when she got it the chains snapped. She'd fall to the ground but quickly recover. On the other hand the ogre dropped to his knees wailing as he looked to the ceiling. His arms looked as if they had come out a foot too far. She'd stand in front of him as he cried. Half of her face swollen. Just looking at the noodles he had for arms.
"Y-you devil! I kill your kind Vasilisk! I have teeth from war! You all deserve death! You all will-" She grabbed him by the top of his head with her left hand, with her right, albeit out of breath and desperately, hooked his jaw until he quit grunting. Grimm finally stepped back and watched the Exception fall flat on his face. The fight was over
No one dared cut the tension in the room too soon. The outcome was just too unbelievable to say anything. Desmond refused to let someone else be the first to cheer for her. His scream started a chain reaction and soon the entire arena was filled with noise. Food was thrown from various places, Grimm kept her eyes on the Ogre and the chains she had broke. The announcer scurried into the ring, leading a few bigger guys who came to drag the Exception away. The announcer watched as he was carried off, He was just as dumbfounded but the show had to continue.
"Ladies and gentlemen. For better or worse, by destiny or a cruel joke. The winner of this years arena tournament is... THE VASILISK! Do you have any words for the fans in the arena right now?" The announcer would turn to Grimm. Words? Fans? They wanted her dead just as much as she wanted them, She'd walk up and grab the funnel.
"If I hear you speak to me like that ogre did I'll kill you myself." She'd hand the funnel back to the announcer, and turn around to walk off."
"Well uh.. there you have it folks from your victor! Now for a break, followed by an undercard match! Two up and coming fighters showing great-" One of the doors leading to the arena burst open.
"We're being raided everybody run!" The man warning was tackled by a walking blade. A divimechanical soldier. In quick succession the other entrance doors burst open, Walking Blades pouring in by the dozens. The arena instantly turned into chaos. People running, fighting, hiding. One by one the Walking Blades would capture anyone in the arena. Grimm sprinted for the fighters hallway, but as soon as she stepped on the entrance of the tunnel she saw a group of Walking Blades appearing from its shadows. She'd turn towards the arena to see one tackling the announcer in the ring, and more moving in to her location. She was surrounded. She'd take her gloves off, and when they got close enough she tried to fight her way out. Exhausted and dizzy she'd claw and swing, but one divinity powered swing knocked her out cold.