*In the infirmary at the observation deck, Jin was lying in a bed where he slowly started to wake up. Once he opened his eyes they were blurry, but he slowly started to focus and see clearly. He then sat up and looked around at his surroundings. He saw that he was in a room with medical equipment*
(Zia): I see you’re awake.
*Jin looked to the right side of his bed and saw Zia sitting by it*
(Jin): AHHHHH~!
*Jin quickly jumped out of the bed to his left where he quickly felt pain coursing through his body and grabbed his sides as he fell to his knees. Zia quickly got up to check on Jin*
(Zia): Easy Jin. Slow and deep breaths now. Slow and deep breaths.
*Jin did what Zia told him to do and the pain slowly started to subside*
(Jin): What happened?
(Zia): You were knocked out by Brodie in your fight. That last shot he delivered to you cracked a few ribs.
*Jin looked down and saw bandages around his stomach. He then touched his forehead where he felt bandages as well*
(Zia): He also busted you open a little with the forearm shots.
(Jin): Oh man.
*With the help of Zia, Jin was able to return to his feet as he was starting to remember everything and then a look of panic appeared on his face*
(Jin): Gael! Did he-
(Zia): He won. Thanks to you. Your distraction allowed him to come and take Brodie down.
(Jin): Yes! Wait, if you’re here, does this mean you’re going to chop it off for losing?
(Zia): Relax. I’m not going to harm you. Not after that magnificent performance you did. You sacrificed your body for the victory and fought with all your might. I couldn’t be more proud of you.
*Jin took a sigh of relief as Zia smiled at him*
(Jin): What about everyone else? Is the battle still going?
(Zia): See for yourself.
*Zia motioned with her head to a TV on the wall which was showing highlights from the Kragnarok. The last highlight showed Dust taking down Saber*
(Jin): We won?
(Zia): Yes. It was a 7 to 1 victory. You were the only member on our team to lose. Come, everyone is gathering for the ending ceremony.
*Zia led Jin out a door and toward an elevator where they rode it up*
***
*After riding the elevator, Jin and Zia were back at the observation room where everyone was waiting for them*
(Dust): Hey! There’s the MVP.
*The members of Shadow Eye circled around Jin to welcome him back*
(Ryuuji): You performed excellently out there.
(Amarti): Yeah! To sacrifice your body like that to take down Brodie took a lot of guts.
*As everyone was praising Jin, Gael stood off to the side with an upset look on his face. Once Jin made eye contact with Gael, he got a serious look on his face and walked over to him*
(Gael): Glad to see you’re feeling better.
(Jin): Yeah, thanks.
(Gael): Did you know you were the only person to get eliminated on our team?
(Jin): Yeah. It’s frustrating. But it was the only way I could think to get you an opening to take him down.
(Gael): We were supposed to win together.
(Jin): I know. I screwed up. There were so many things I could have done to lessen the blow. It won’t happen again. I swear. We cool?
*Gael’s stern look faded away and a smile formed on his face*
(Gael): We’re cool. As long as you understand your mistakes. I could have done a few things better as well. And we did get the win.
*Gael and Jin fist bump each other*
(Raika): Don’t let his tough guy act fool you. He was crying after you were eliminated and worried about you.
(Gael): No I wasn’t! I wasn’t crying for him at all!
*Gael turned away embarrassed*
(Korone): Alright, everyone’s attention please~. Now that everyone is here we can begin with the closing ceremony. First off, good job by everyone out there. You all fought hard. I’m sure some of you are ashamed at your losses today. Good, remember that pain, learn from experience, and use it to make yourself stronger in the future. Moving on, to the winners, I give you the deeds to the area around the Gavivi District that was originally owned by the White Tiger Knights. Congratulations on your victory.
*Korone hands over the deeds to Amarti*
(Korone): Now to close out this Kragnarok on a high note, everyone please shake hands.
*The members of Javan and Shadow Eye shook hands with each other*
(Brodie): That was a good fight you two. I haven’t felt my blood pumping like that in years.
(Jin): Thanks. But I still feel like you won in the end.
(Gael): You may have been eliminated, but we didn’t beat you. Somewhere down the line, we’ll face off again and this time it’ll be a one-on-one fight.
(Jin): Count me in too. I want a rematch and it’ll just be me and you.
*Brodie couldn’t help but laugh and be happy at the determination of the two young knights*
(Brodie): I like these two. You found yourselves some good ones here. I accept your challenge. Keep growing and learning. Whenever you’re ready for a rematch just let me know. This old man ain’t going nowhere. I’ll be waiting with excitement for the rematch. We can grab a good drink after it. Your drinks will of course be cola.
*As Brodie was chatting with Gael and Jin, Wato was handing his wind sword to Sanada*
(Sanada): Are you sure you want to give this to me?
(Wato): Yes. A wager is a wager. It appears that I still have much to learn before I can become a grandmaster. Until then, keep this sword. For it will serve as a beacon of the dragon I must surpass and when I do, I will come to claim it back.
(Sanada): Very well. I shall be waiting for you.
(Pennie): Congratulations on your victory, Raika. I still can’t believe I got to square off with the legendary Ranger herself.
(Raika): *Chuckles* Don’t be so modest. You were also very impressive out there. Your footwork was way better than mine’s. Maybe you can show me some tricks in the near future.
(Pennie): Wow, the Raika wants me to teach her.
*As Pennie was fidgeting, Lola and Jade were shaking hands firmly*
(Jade): Quite the grip there, little girl.
(Lola): Shut up. You got lucky out there today. I demand a rematch.
(Jade): No problem. I could use a sparring partner when I’m bored.
*Lola gritted her teeth in anger as Jade laughed. As this was happening, Indigo was handing Dust a piece of paper with her number on it and blushing*
(Indigo): This here is my personal number. Please give me a call sometimes, cutie.
*Indigo winks at Dust before getting pulled away by Violet*
(Violet): That was a clever move taking me out so quickly. I did a fortune reading on all the members of Shadow Eye for today, yet your fortune was the only one I couldn’t do. You truly are a mystery of fate.
(Dust): A mystery of fate? I don’t know about that. I’m just a simple elf living by his own rules.
*Morgan and Lukas were conversing with each other*
(Lukas): I must say, using the queen ant to control the other ants was very smart. I’m curious how you trained your spirits to handle lightning damage?
(Morgan): With Raika’s help. We helped each other train. My spirits would fight against her building up a resistance to lightning damage and she got training partners.
(Lukas): Brilliant. A beautiful game indeed.
*Amarti and Saber were the last to shake hands*
(Saber): This truly was a complete defeat. We really have a lot of training to do. I seriously underestimated you, Amarti.
(Amarti): Oh, you’re too kind.
(Saber): I still can’t believe I lost to the one man I didn’t want to lose to. This will go down as being one of the greatest shames of my life.
(Dust): Damn, I failed. I wanted this to be your greatest shame ever.
(Saber): Laugh all you want for now. Our paths will cross again down the line and I will make you humble, Dust. Don’t think for one second you and I are through. Javan! Move out!
*Saber heads for the door followed by the other members of Javan who say their goodbyes to the others*
(Amarti): She still hasn’t forgiven you hasn’t she?
(Dust): Nope. I’m beginning to think she never will.
(Bradley): Okay. Enough of this tainted victory. I don’t know how you guys pulled it off, but you did. It’s now time for this mutt here to the return to the kingdom.
*Bradley holds up the collar*
(Bradley): Don’t worry mutt, I kept it nice and warm for you.
(Dust): Hmph. Alright, we’ll celebrate back in the kingdom.
(Hibana): Good idea. Bradley’s odor is starting to smell like bacon from all the sweating he was doing.
(Dust): So that’s what that smell was.
*Everyone gets a good laugh including Korone and the Blue Knights accompanying Bradley. Bradley stands there fuming*
***
*In an unknown location a group of demihumans were sparring with each other. On the walls and mats were an image of the moon dripping blood. Fighting on the mat was a male kangaroo demihuman with short brown hair and black eyes and a male fennec with blonde hair and blue eyes. The kangaroo demihuman was winning thanks to his boxing style of fighting, quick feet, and lightning infused punches. The fennec demihuman was easily outmatched and went down*
(Kangaroo demihuman): Yeahhh~! I win~!
(Zebra demihuman): Nice one Cain!
(Fennec demihuman): Yeah! Your punches have gotten faster and stronger.
(Cain): Haha. Just stick with me guys. We’ll take out those humans with ease. I don’t even see why I need to keep practicing, I’m already strong.
(???): Oh~ is that so?
*A chill went down Cain and everybody else’s back when they heard that voice. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned around to see a tall bear demihuman with grey hair, black eyes, and a scar over his right eye enter the room. He was wearing black business suit pants with suspenders and a long sleeve white shirt*
(Instructor demihuman): Mr. . .Mr. Silas. I didn’t think you’d be here today.
(Silas): I had some free time and wanted to see how the young recruits were doing. Tell me, what’s your name?
(Cain): Uh, Cain, sir. I joined Blood Moon three months ago. Me and my family were forced out of our home by humans. Burnt my mom’s arm and nearly killed my dad. I won’t rest until they all suffer the way my family has.
(Silas): Good resolve. So, you think you’re strong enough to be on the frontlines?
(Cain): Yes sir!
(Silas): Why don’t we test your skills.
*Silas steps onto the mat and rolls up his sleeves*
(Silas): Come at me with everything you got. Don’t hold anything back.
*Cain nods. At the command of the instructor, the fight begins with Cain charging at Silas who just stood there. As lightning formed around Cain’s fist he struck the stomach of Silas where he saw his punch had no effect on him*
(Silas): What was that? Is that really all the power you can muster? You really think that’s going to be enough to defeat the humans who harmed you and your family?
*Cain grew angry by Silas’s words and struck him again with a lightning fist. Once again the attack had no effect on Silas. Cain punched Silas four more times before Silas had enough and swiped at the boy who fell to the ground. Silas grabbed the boy by hair to pick him up and delivered a punch to his stomach and across his face to send him back to the ground*
(Silas): Come on! Get up! Fight me! Show me your pride as a demihuman!
*Cain was slowly trying to crawl away before Silas grabbed his leg and pulled him back towards him. Silas flipped the boy around so that they were face to face and Silas began to punch him in the face repeatedly. The whole room was silent and stood still as they watched Silas mercilessly beat Cain within an inch of his life. Everybody was too afraid to move or make a sound. After about ten seconds of unsettling hitting, Silas stopped and embraced Cain. His face was bloody, unrecognizable, and he was unconscious. Silas was crying and wailing as he embraced Cain*
(Silas): You fool! What were you thinking? You’re not ready for the frontlines yet. You must continue to keep training! Never be satisfied with your current level! That’s what the humans want. Keep getting stronger. So strong that you become unrecognizable!
*Silas laid Cain down and got up to leave as everyone in the room stood there stunned at what they witnessed. Once Silas left, everyone rushed to Cain. Once outside of the room Silas took a deep breath to compose himself and began walking to his office. Once he reached his office he sat down and prepared to have a drink before he heard a knock on the door*
(Silas): Come in.
*The door was opened by a short weasel demihuman who was bald and had brown eyes. He wore a white preacher robe with the logo of Blood Moon on his back. Following behind him were two more demihumans who were mice. One was a boy with black hair tied in a ponytail and red eyes while the other was a girl who had her black hair in twin buns and red eyes as well. Both were wearing light purple cheongsams with white lining*
(Silas): I’ve been expecting you, Han. What do you have for me?
(Han): I bring good news. Our message has reached Muta in prison. He and the others will be ready to go at your command.
(Silas): Excellent. Let him know that the operation will begin one month from now. Cassidy. Casandra. Can I assume your men will be ready to go by then?
(Cassidy): Rest assured sir, Midnight Fang will accomplish its mission and free our brethren.
(Casandra): We will not make the same mistake as the Red Fang before us.
(Silas): For all of your sakes you had better be right. We failed to capture the sword of the legendary hero as well as lost Dr. Khaos and the Red Fang in Orion City. Two big operations back-to-back and both of them ending in failure and the capture of our brethren to those disgusting humans. I will accept nothing but success one month from now. Am I clear?
(Han, Cassidy and Casandra): Yes sir!
(Silas): Good. Now go. And keep me up to date on the procedures. If there’s a change in the air I want to know about it.
*Han, Cassidy and Casandra nod before leaving the office. Once they were gone, Silas returned to making his drink which was a cocktail with honey. Once he finished making the drink, he guzzled it down and let out a sigh of satisfaction before sitting back in his chair and staring up at the ceiling*
(Silas): Enjoy this time of peace you filthy humans. Your time will come and it will be by my hands that you will meet your end.
Author’s Notes: Hello everyone. This chapter was a short one and serves as a transition as we prepare for the final arc this volume. Get ready, it’s going to be a big one and everyone will get a chance to shine. I’ve also got surprises lined up as well. I apologize for not having any comments in the last chapter. I had some business to handle and didn’t get a chance to write them down. So, here are my comments for the last chapter. This was a brutal affair between Dust and Saber. I based this fight on wrestling deathmatches. I’m not the biggest fan of deathmatches in wrestling but I do see the appeal of them for some people. They are a bloody spectacle to watch. This fight in particular was based on the exploding barb-wired deathmatches that became popular in Japan. It’s ridiculous but at the same time so cool. I also used this fight to elude to their past and why there’s so much hate between these two characters. It goes a lot deeper than just different viewpoints on what it means to be a knight and we’ll continue to explore that down the road. Well that’s all for now. Thanks for reading and look forward to the next chapter. I’ll see you next time.