A Stupid Idea
“I have an idea. A very stupid idea.”
Kayel glanced up from his drink and his communicator. He’d been messaging with some of his old friends, namely his old captain, who had wanted to get back in touch after Kayel’s… adventure. And, just like everyone else in the building, he was...Read More »
Team Confirmed
There was always something about the Raptor that unsettled Retvik. Sure, he had fought a multitude of beings in all the years he had been working for her, heck, he had even been face to face with literal deities, but the Raptor had an unusual, almost ancient aura to her....Read More »
A Simple Strength Check
“Hit me.”
The four very different beings stood in the middle of the hall. The floor was made from a springy, wood-like substance, while the walls were insulated, to protect from loud noises. Along one wall was a wide array of various blunted weapons and equipment, all meant for practice and...Read More »
Aiming Difficulties
Kayel cursed at himself as he yet again failed to hit the centre of the target. He’d been at the aiming range at the back of the training hub for the Great Arena for a couple of hours now, and he was starting to get frustrated. While Kayel was perfectly...Read More »
Chat With A Fellow Gladiator
“Where have you been all this time?”
Retvik scooted over on the steps, making space for the rather tall, emerald-plated Skyavok to sit down next to him. The House Fighter Cafe was barely an actual cafe, more a small kiosk and some concrete stairs overlooking the larger training grounds, but the...Read More »
Measuring Interview
“So, tell me about yourself, Tenuk.”
Tenuk didn’t answer at first. He was busy watching the handful of Ksithans work. He was standing on a stool, being measured up. When it came to the Twelve, most species were either scaly or furry, not both. Tenuk himself was very furry,...Read More »
Hearty Meals
“Eat up, we have a big day tomorrow.”
Four plates appeared on the table, and Retvik sat down to join his friends in their meal. Nyssi eyed her dish suspiciously, while Kayel glanced awkwardly at the meal Tenuk was happily tucking in to.
“Not hungry?”
“No, just… confused… What is Tenuk eating?”
Retvik smiled....Read More »
Unlucky Battle
Vel rubbed their eyes, trying to work out what had just happened. Everything had been going swimmingly. They had been fighting this weird team of beings, one of which Vel was sure was the Lightbearer, except there were only three of them and the other two were definitely not Rethans....Read More »
Celebratory Drinks
“Uh, were you expecting anyone, Retvik?”
The exhausted Rethan peeled himself off the sofa, giving Nyssi a tired tut as an answer. While their battle today had only lasted half an hour, the crowds continued to cheer for nearly an extra twenty minutes, demanding to know who they had just witnessed....Read More »
Race Against the Clock
The Tainted Fangs were a menace even compared to other Temthan teams. Vicious and somewhat cruel, they openly used pheromones and toxins to knock their challengers out. Unfortunately, it seemed that Kayel hadn’t read the tactics sheet that Retvik had printed out for his team mates, and now he was...Read More »
Caging A Beast
“Oh hello there, beauty!”
Nyssi couldn’t help but smile as the colossal True Thrack glided from pillar to pillar. She’d helped capture the beast not too long ago, and was wondering when she’d finally see it in the Great Arena. She just didn’t think she’d be trapped in the same stadium...Read More »
Bloody Family History
Nyssi crossed her legs awkwardly, trying to hide her nervousness as as she sat on the stool in the Raptor’s office. The Raptor had wanted to speak to Nyssi specifically, and she was not exactly sure why. She had some idea, but, as far as Nyssi was concerned, she’d been...Read More »
Capture the Flag
“Is that Lightbearer?” Kama whispered to Matu as the four Lanex entered the arena. The Imperatorai Hordikai were the second highest ranked Lanex team fighting in the Great Arena, and considered one of the best when it came to Capture the Flag matches, beaten only by those with rather… unholy...Read More »
Another Chat With A Fellow Gladiator
“So, you guys got kidnapped again.”
Retvik grunted as he sipped awkwardly from a small can. Like most Rethavok, Retvik very rarely drank caffeine, because it gave him headaches. But he was still recovering from some sort of amnesia-inducing sedation, while at the same time trying to catch up with his...Read More »
Sickening Confusion
Most Vohra didn’t really use names. Since Vohran nests were all telepathically linked, actually calling out a name was somewhat needless, and only higher ranked Vohra and their Vahyra Queens would have some sort of name, which was used when speaking to non-Vohra races. However, the Vahrga, the adult males,...Read More »
Unwanted Challenge
Kayess-En, Kass for short, was a huge being. Standing at nearly 3m tall, she towered over most, even her fellow Rethavok, and had the strength to back herself up. As the leader of Retha Squad One, Kayess-En had lead her team to victory over and over, to the point that...Read More »
Angry Explanations
Nyssi, Tenuk and Kayel all glanced nervously at each other as Retvik paced back and forth, his tail swishing angrily from side to side.
They’d just finished a Capture the Flag match against a Temthan team, and had ended it swiftly despite the hideously bright lighting set up to prevent Kayel...Read More »
Unwarranted Prayer
Kayel was exhausted. Ever since his team had accepted the challenge from Retha Squad One, the four of them had been training non-stop. Kayel in particular had been practising more efficient shadowjumping, something that was both physically and mentally draining. Doubly so if Kayel was shadowjumping while carrying someone else....Read More »
Shapeshifting Tricks
“Hello Tenuk, you wanted to…”
Nyssi didn’t finish her sentence, watching in awe as something reptilian but not a Thraki soared around the small, closed off arena. This place was supposed to have been a small stadium for bloodless arena battles, mostly beast-catching stuff, and Nyssi had recently been in it...Read More »
Retha Squad One VS Xeno Dessaron One
Retvik took a shallow, almost unwanted breath, then regretted it, an unfamiliar taste in his mouth. One he hadn’t experienced in a long, long time. He was lying in a bed in the recovery bay for his team, a screen to his right, three beds to his left. As Retvik...Read More »
After-Battle Depression
Retvik, Nyssi, Tenuk and Kayel all sat in their private training area, none of them really knowing how to feel. There were excited beings wandering around, hoping to catch members of the team Xeno Dessaron One and get interviews and selfies with them. Not just normal beings in the public...Read More »
Gold Suite
Despite having been a gladiator for the entirety of his adult life, Retvik had never been to the fancy suites rented out to rich viewers. Sure, he had watched battles himself, but house fighters had their own viewing area, closer to ground level, and even then, it was mostly there...Read More »
Lightbearer's Fury
“Lightbearer, I challenge you to battle!”
Retvik glanced up to see who had just spoken to him. He didn’t quite recognize the voice, mostly became it came from the internal microphone of a gladiator helmet. But, weirdly, not his own. This was doubly strange because he had literally just finished a...Read More »
A Sweet Return
“Retty!”
Retvik did not expect the welcome he got as he returned home. Nyssi, Tenuk and Kayel had all rushed out to hug him tightly. Clearly they were worried sick about him. The large black and red van behind Retvik slammed its doors shut, before driving off, its occupants not sticking...Read More »
Fangs of the Whenvern VS Xeno Dessaron One
“Tenuk, are you sure all those energy drinks are good for you?” Retvik asked as Xeno Dessaron One prepared for battle. They should have been nervous, but ever since Retvik and his team had taken down Retha Squad One, fear and anxiety before battle no longer seemed to be a...Read More »
Chat in the Medical Bay
“Heya, mate!”
Kayel frowned as he straightened himself out. He and his team were supposed to have been going home, but he was currently sitting around outside the Dessaron team medical bays, as Retvik had been dragged away by the Raptor to discuss something important, and Tenuk and Nyssi were busy...Read More »
Catching Up With The Team
A knock on the door woke Retvik from his slumber. He’d forgotten that he had fallen asleep on the big sofa in the living room, and his friends had all just somewhat moved around him, not wanting to disturb the colossal, armoured, snoozing beast. Thankfully, someone else was up and...Read More »
Late Night Confessions
“What are you doing awake?”
Retvik had been meaning to get that creaky middle step fixed for years. It had always bothered him whenever he got up for his early morning snacks, and while it hadn’t woken any of his new housemates, the death god lounging in the living room had...Read More »
The Banikan Team
While tour guides were common around the Great Dessaron Battle Arenas, there was one area where visitors were forbidden to go, where challengers feared to tread and only the bravest of house fighters were allowed to visit. The Panicked Wardens was a heavily barricaded area where the Banikan house fighters...Read More »
Big Bad Offer
Tenuk was rather confused as he reached the private training area for his team, Xeno Dessaron One. The lights were all off, and there was a strange, meaty, rotten smell coming from somewhere in the room. However, he could definitely hear movement, and as Tenuk opened the door, the lights...Read More »
Gifted Blades
As far as everyone was concerned, today had been a good day. As Retvik, Nyssi, Kayel and Tenuk returned home, they all relaxed in the living room, the central hub, filled with soft sofas, covered in cushions and blankets. Sure, the house belonged to Retvik, but after nearly a decade...Read More »
Yet Another Chat With A Fellow Gladiator
“Hello, Psiksi!”
Psiksi glanced up from what he was doing. He was currently eating lunch and watching a match in the arena below, while also fiddling with his health meter. He was pretty sure he’d damaged it during his last battle against an overly arrogant Temthan challenger, and was trying to...Read More »
Watching From The Rich Seats
“Hey big brother!”
Levik hated being called that. As far as Levik was concerned, he had no family, he was a single, unnamed, unknown individual trapped in a body that wasn’t his. But the rest of the universe constantly told him that he was Levik tou Ahvran, the second son of...Read More »
Rethan in the Garden
“You cannot hide forever, you have to come out at some point, and the more you hide, the more people are going to stay weird and confused and demanding.”
Retvik sighed, not liking how the Raptor was berating him over the phone. While she had admittedly done a lot to keep...Read More »
Grand Reveal
“Before we go out there, I got some questions?”
The Raptor paced up and down, inspecting her four gladiators. She was a little upset that she couldn’t get their customized armour ready in time for their big reveal, but it was probably for the best. The world knew Xeno Dessaron One...Read More »
Return of the Rethan in the Garden
Retvik didn’t want to wake up, he was very comfy, dozing on the sofa with one of Kayel’s hoodies wrapped around his head, and Kayel himself purring, half asleep by Retvik’s side, wearing a bright pink and salon striped hoodie of his own. But something was poking Retvik in the...Read More »
A Lack of Opponents
“Boys and girls, we have a problem.”
Nyssi glanced at the rest of Xeno Dessaron One, wondering why the Raptor had used the word ‘girls’ when she was the only actual girl present. Then again, despite the other three all using the same pronouns, technically, Tenuk was the only boy present...Read More »
More Chats With A Fellow Gladiator
The force of the heavily armoured Rethavok sitting down on the bench next to Psiksi nearly made him fly into the air and drop his sandwich. Despite being a famous gladiator, Retvik was an exile and didn’t really have many friends outside of work colleagues, and Psiksi was probably the...Read More »
Planning A Trip
The Great Dessaron Battle Arena was the main form of entertainment for the twelve intelligent races of this small, cozy universe, where people would watch, either in person or on live streams, gladiators fight against each other, with real blood and injuries, but also none of the death. Everything was...Read More »
Twisted Palms
Kolasi, despite its name referring to a place of fire and brimstone, was only really slightly better than a non-existent afterlife. It was an abandon-world, meaning that most of the jungle-laced planet was free from civilization, and the megafauna was allowed to run wild. That being said, there was a...Read More »
Attempts at Relaxation
Xeno Dessaron One were supposed to be having a relaxing day before they set off into the treacherous jungles of Kolasi, but Retvik was struggling with that simple request. While Nyssi was sunbathing by the pool, Tenuk was getting a special treatment for his fur and Kayel was getting a...Read More »
Jungle Clearing
“Alright, here are your health metres, here’s where the trail starts, you guys got a tracker on your GPS to lead you back here, have fun!”
The team of Lanex and Temthan researchers had very quickly driven off, leaving Xeno Dessaron One somewhat perplexed. Sure, they had just been given a...Read More »
Camping Under the Stars
Things had taken longer than expected, and the sudden arrival of night had forced them to slow down, and a well-hidden tree stump had forced them to stop completely. The 4×4 vehicle was fine, but Kayel was insistent that they take a break and camp for the evening. Not because...Read More »
Sinic Wyvern
For a mountain, Mount Helvede wasn’t very mountainous. Sure, it had a steep point, but the incline was relatively low, to the point that you could drive up parts of it with ease. In fact, that was kinda what had happened, since Kayel had been somewhat blindly just following the...Read More »
Fight Above The Trees
A burst of flames erupted from Thassalin’s jaws as the colossal Thraki set fire to a very specific patch of forest, then circled above, watching for moment. Weirdly, as he had slowed down, the weird screaming noise from behind him had stopped. Thassalin had forgotten he had passengers on his...Read More »
Mission Accomplished
“So, uh, Retvik, can you actually drive?”
Retvik frowned as he awkwardly sipped from a very tiny champagne glass. After their stupid adventure, the four of them were now sitting in an extra large jacuzzi, eating fancy food and drinking fancy drinks. The locals were very happy that the big scary...Read More »
Potentially Exposed
“Fuck no, no way, no fucking way, no no no!”
Tenuk had wished he’d not checked his messages before the flight. The flight had been delayed by half an hour, so everyone was kinda stuck on board, waiting for, well, something. Things weren’t too bad, since Tenuk and his three friends...Read More »
Breaking the Truth
Kohra and Levik both felt somewhat uneasy as they waited in the narrow hallway. Sure, they had ten bodyguards with them, two of whom were Rethavok supplied by the Great Arenas, but they were also sharing a hallway with the mighty Lightbearer, a living legend that even the two Rethan...Read More »
Catching Up With Recent News
It was nice being back home. Sure, Retvik needed to go shopping, but he could finally take off his armour and just wander around in a stomach wrap and loin cloth. In fact, his housemates had already gone and done something similar. As soon as they’d stepped back inside Retvik’s...Read More »
Awkward Morning Call
“Hey babe, what’s up? Long time no speaky!”
Nyssi twirled around the house, letting her breasts flap about freely, only a pair of bright pink knickers covering her modesty. She’d gotten a phone call and had picked it up instantly. Normally her old buddy Kinigos was allergic to phone calls, so...Read More »
Blast to the Brain
“For the one of you who hasn’t been here before, welcome to the Torn Islet.”
Nyssi’s truck rumbled over a very rough, bumpy bridge that led to the large island. Really, it only just counted as an island, because the Asprokremmos river had split in two around it before rejoining on...Read More »