Amari Abara
Ah, it is war then! The sheep scatter before the lion.
Amari tore his eyes from the small girl, from his prey. She nearly shit herself just from the flash of a glance. But, no. It was not the time for snacks. It was time for a meal.
Power.fl
An aphrodisiac.
Power is what creates order. It is not friendship. No. It is not Cooperation. No. It is necessity. The power to get what you want, and the necessity to do what others won't.
This is what he would promise. But nothing is free, he would have to earn it as he had everything in life. He stood in silence while the crowd split around him. A herd in panic. He stood quiet, eyes closed, a smile on his face. It had been too long since he had to struggle; since he was challenged.
Well, except for her.
A problem he let grow out of control.
Then, as though the reaper heard his thoughts, death appeared. Sweat gathered on the back of his neck, a fist tightened his gut and his pulse quickened. It couldn't be. Across the room he saw her. Quick feral movements, lithe as a panther, low to the ground.
Just like he taught her.
It couldn't be her.
Curse you spirits. Do not taunt me.
His thoughts spiraled.
Control yourself. Do not become the prey you hunt.
The crowd surged, a herd of buffalo crossed the expanse and in a moment she was gone.
No. Show yourself demon!
Amari's eyes assaulted the crowd, looking for any sign of her, but there was a tug. Someone was grabbing Oya, his shotgun and first love. Rage surged and instinct took the wheel. He spun, teeth grit, long hair whipping around, and slammed his elbow into a jaw. It shattered on impact. He cared not who it was. Nobody touches Oya.
Amari looked down on a man half his age, skin like charcoal, eyes rolling into the back of his head, fingers twitching. The day you pulled your punches is the day you died. Amari had nearly decapitated the brave bastard.
Time to finish the job. Mercy was not something he offered or expected.
In one swift motion he pulled Oya free, leveled her.
"Listen to the Lion's roar, child."
Amari squeezed the trigger and he felt Oya buck in his grip. She screamed in fire and lead. The crowd around him screamed and scattered.
A smile cut across his peeling lips.
This is home. It is good to be a King.
A cone of gore spread out from the corpse. The man was red paste and bone from the shoulders up.
The pleasure of a kill washed through him, but he shook it off. It was time to focus. He looked back towards the crowd, but she was gone. If she was ever there to begin with.
"You test me today, Spirits. But I will rise above." he announced. It was time to hunt. These robed men had promised him power and he was going to get it.
Tch, Arcane catalyst.
Tis shamanic nonsense.
That's what he thought. Or at least it was before the old man had turned away every attack Amari sent his way before subduing him with a gesture.
This is what true power was. He wanted it.
Amari headed for the nearest door, caring not for where they led. He fingered the belt at his waist, cocked the empty shell from his shotgun and walked through the door below the flame sigil.
The halls beyond were victims of war. Cracked brick and blasted mortar held together by the weight pressing down above it. The art that wasn't torn from the walls showed destruction. Men wielding the powers of creation. Vast plumes of fire, living snakes of lightning, and spinning cyclones of earth. Amari would hold this power in the palm of his hands. He would sit upon a throne and nobody would ever control him. Amari would serve no man ever again.
The castle opened up, halls branching off in every direction. He continued on straight, wasting little time on decisions.
Most doors he passed were cracked, hanging loosely in their frames. Inside there were only dusty classrooms, a washroom, and a closet filled more with spider webs than equipment.
Eventually, one door stood out from the rest, made of interlocked stones of magma, living fire dancing between the cracks. Amari stopped, considering it. There was no handle, no switch. Just a collection of rocks.
Above the door he saw the english word "Reward". He scoffed and prepared to move on. Rewards were earned, not given, and he had done nothing to earn it. Yet.
Amari continued on until he heard a sound he was familiar with.
Battle.
He traced it to a room with an ornate wooden door. Inside was an interesting tableau.
The room was expansive. Large enough to fit a library, but not a book in sight. Instead a platform of lacquered wood rose up in the center, shaped like a barbell. Two large circles on either end with a thinner 5 foot wide path connecting them. Seats were stationed around the stage in raised rows.
A sparring arena.
Above the whole thing was a glass ball, sealed as far as Amari could tell. Within were a handful of dull blue stones. They looked like smaller versions of the massive stone that sat within the hall they entered, though these lacked the radiant glow. Just dull, dark blue rocks.
Amari knew little of the world of magic, but he would wager good coin that these were the Arcane Catalyst he was looking for.
Off on the side of the room was a group of people. A small child, no older than 11 or 12 stood next to a man that looked like he spent days lifting only to sleep and dream of gyms. Opposite this strange pair was a diverse group of men, ranging from lands of different colors and cultures, but regardless of their origin they all looked to be the type that would serve Amari back home.
Ruthless. Merciless. Selfish.
And most of all Cowards.
A leonine grin clawed at the corners of Amari's lips, "Hello my friends. Tell your new friend Amari what is the problem here?"
The group froze, taking in the newcomer. The gym rat's eyes filled with hope.
Foolish boy, do not expect a savior. I am a survivor and you are an obstacle.
"Thank god you're here. These brute vant to fight zis child."
Amari cocked his head at the accent. Germanic he thought, but wasn't sure. Maybe Austrian? He cared not. Death sounded the same on all men.
"Oy mate, just step aside, we don't want to hurt you, just put the kid on the stage and it'll be over quick. We'll go easy on him. Swear on me mom."
"Zat is not happening. If you vish to fight, I vill be your opponent."
"Mate, I don't care how many reps you get in. You're not fighting all of us. Get out the way."
This man, he protects this child.
Amari nodded to himself in approval. They would not be friends, but he could respect him. He recalled when he was a child, men like this had protected him. Village warriors standing in front of him, taking bullets meant for him. He still remembered the smell of their blood before he was shackled to the other children. Iron and sweat still lingered in his nose years later. Amari was content to lay waste to the five men and move on, but he needed a blue rock. He needed to understand.
Necessity precedes desires.
"Child, explain to your friend Amari why these men wanna fight you."
The kid looked up, eyes dilated, fingers clenching; white knuckled. The young had a knack for sensing danger and Amari was 230 pounds of danger.
"There's writing over there" the young man said pointing towards a golden sign below the stage. "It said the winner gets one of those arcane thingies."
Ahh, Amari understood. He even agreed with the five men. They didn't want to face a challenge. This germanic man looked as though he could snap them like twigs. One on one they'd stand little chance. They wanted an easy win over the kid.
Honestly, were Amari a less capable man, he would do the same exact thing. Winners become winners by stepping on losers. But to Amari, these men were the twigs.
"Ahh, thank you child. I understand now. Well don't worry, you won't be fighting today."
Amari walked over to the group, and they all took a step back. Even though they were all close enough in size to Amari, he stood proud, unafraid.
He flashed forward like a snake, his face flashing to a fierce grin, veins bulging on his temples. His hand clutched one man's neck like a vice and dragged him towards the ring. With a heave, he tossed him into the ring.
A transparent blue wall formed around the perimeter as the man entered. Amari watched as his prey threw himself against the shimmering wall but found it unyielding.
Amari smiled at that. Good.
He casually climbed into the other side, taking his time. Savoring the moment. He passed through the barrier easily, it felt like cold water washing over him. It reminded him of the waters back home, cleansing him of the day's necessities.
Across from him the man scratched against the far wall, a caged animal.
"Stand up. Die on your feet."
The man turned around with wide eyes, back pressed against the wall, feet sliding on the woods surface, doing whatever he could to create distance, but his efforts yielded little fruit.
"It doesn't say we have to fight to the death, mate."
Amari smiled, and shrugged.
"I don't care."
It wasn't a fight.
It was a slaughter.
Amari continued bashing the man's face into mush long after the barrier dropped and a single blue rock dropped from the cage.
Amari stood. A small breath eased out of him. From chest to thigh he was splattered in crimson viscera.
Taking his time he strolled over and scooped up the rock. He felt nothing special about it. He tried to place it in the belt and the metal came to life, expanding to absorb the stone before contracting once more, locking it in place. But he wasn't finished. He cast a glance towards the group.
They looked at him the same way those back home did. As though he was a monster.
Good. It was time this place learned who Amari Abar was.
He took Oya off his back and pointed it at one of the remaining four men.
"You, get in."
"W…what? You already have one. Y-you got it. Just leave me alone, please."
Amari smiled.
"Get in or die where you stand." His finger began pressing down on the trigger.
The man hesitated and his chest exploded. Oya moved her sights to the next man and he quickly scrambled into the ring.
He spared the child a glance. His eyes were glossed over with tears and fear.
This is the world. Learn it well.
The second match was over faster than the first. The man tried to put up a fight but Amari easily dodged his first few blows before burying a knee into his stomach. The air left the man's body in a whoosh. He simply wrapped his large arm around the man's head, locking him in a choke. With a quick jerking motion the neck snapped. Amari put out his hand and caught the blue stone as it dropped.
The other two men had fled soon as this match started, not wanting to be next.
The Germanic man remained however, standing in front of the child.
Their eyes held each other for a long moment before finally Amari smiled.
"What is your name protector?"
"I am Gunther."
Amari sauntered over to the two still smiling. They both took a step back, the young lad pressed against the wall.
"And you child? What is your name?"
"I'm Leo. T-t-thanks for helping us mister."
Ahh, Leo. Amari liked that. He liked it a lot. He took the boy's hand in his massive paw and pulled it towards him, dropping the stone in it. "You will not always have men like this to protect you. You need to grow strong. Use this opportunity. Do not squander it."
Amari turned to leave the room, ready to go find some more stones. The robed men didn't say you had to stop at one.
"Thank you." Gunther called out.
Amari turned to look at him and smiled.
"Today, bravery was your shield. The next time we meet, do not confuse me as a friend."