Page 77 of Xeda

Kaxek let go only to send his fist into Xeda's face. Xeda tugged his tail from under him and stabbed Kaxek in his side. Before he could do it again, Kaxek caught his tail and gripped it tight. Then he slammed his hand into Xeda's jaw and forced his head back.

Kaxek laughed, bringing the end of Xeda's tail up, meaning to kill him with his own spine. Before he could send it into Xeda's throat, Xeda twisted with all his strength, turning his head while sending his knees up. Kaxek's hand slipped on his jaw, and Xeda caught it in his teeth, crushing it in his mouth, tasting blood.

Kaxek let go of his tail to hit him while trying to tear his other hand away. As Kaxek ripped his hand out, Xeda grabbed it, pulling him down while shooting forward and elbowing him.

Kaxek took the blow, then bit once again into his arm as they rolled.

Like an animal, Kaxek tore at his already messed up arm, shaking his head, knowing it caused Xeda immense pain. Xeda roared, trying to shake him off, hitting him across the face, striking him with his tail.

Through their struggle, they got close to the edge of one of the large open faults along the roof, spewing smoke and fire.

Kaxek didn't seem to notice as he pulled, and Xeda knew then he was trying to maim him, knowing once he did, Xeda would be no match.

Xeda couldn't tear him away. Kaxek pulled him across the surface.

The fault was growing closer. Kaxek would kill them both.

There was no other choice.

So be it.

Without a thought, Xeda pushed himself up, then, with all his strength, sliced his own arm using the spine of his tail while tugging away. His arm tore off and, as Kaxek stumbled back in surprise, Xeda kicked him as hard as he could.

Kaxek went flying into the fire, his eyes wide with terror as he fell to the edge, falling into the fault and down into the fiery arena below, his shriek consumed by the flames.

Xeda stared at the fire, sinking to his knees. He clutched the stub where his arm had once been, where blood now spilled.

The ground shook beneath him, and he shot up, then flew once more for the end of the arena. He didn't look back as he rushed across, fire flashing on either side of him. The pain was numbing now, and all he could think was getting to the building before him. He looked up to where he had seen Ophilia and no longer could see her through the smoke.

When he reached the end of the roof, he leapt onto a wide bridge connecting the arena to the gaming center. It was broken apart at one spot, meaning Aeriz, Niks, and the others had already been through. He ran on past the broken doors into the building.

The place looked as if a storm had blown past. Walls were smashed away, debris littering the ground. He charged past it all without a second glance until he made it to the central chamber.

The banners had been ripped away, pillars broken, the floor blackened by fire. Men lay all around, their guns either taken or broken.

Tazyn was there waiting for him.

His eyes flickered down to Xeda's arm, then back up at him. "Kaxek is dead, isn't he? You actually did it?"

"I did," Xeda said. He knew he didn't have the strength to take Tazyn on. But he would do whatever he had to do to get past him. To get to Ophilia. "Stand aside, or I'll be forced to kill you too."

Tazyn gripped his weapon in both hands. "We both know you don't have it in you to fight me now. Bow down and name me the victor, and we can be done with this."

Xeda moved closer, but he didn't bow. "The games are finished. Let it go."

Tazyn pointed his spear at him. "They are not until you bow or fight me."

Xeda growled. "You're a fool." He was ready to lunge, to take him on too, when he heard something whip through the air.

Tazyn howled and dropped his weapon as a slender object flew and severed several fingers on his hand.

A dark blade.

Aeriz came out of the shadows, his other blade in hand, ready to throw or strike. He looked to Xeda and bowed his head, before eyeing his arm.

"That looks bad," he said.

Xeda growled again. "Why are you still here?"

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