"To think that we would run into the ash-haired girl." The man in the overcoat said to his companion with the three trailing them. Now two other cars from the blockade were following the car that was transporting the three. "It's rather bold of you to come into this city in a car; it seems like you're wishing to be robbed with the attention you're drawing to yourselves!" The man let out a small chuckle as they made their way through the rundown city roads."
After a series of twists and turns, they made their way to the city mall, which seemed to have been turned into some form of hideout, with people on look out and others scouting the ground. On their way here, buildings, if not lit up, were in dire conditions or ransacked for supplies. The three were forced out of the car, with Andrew and the two ladies taken in different directions. "They'll be in safe care, don't worry about them, but you…there's something we need to look at before we decide whether or not to kill you."
Brittany's gun was confiscated, hauled away with Lara while Andrew was taken inside the mall. Stores inside now served as supply stores, some offering food, clothes, healing items like gauze, and many more. "Looks like you've got a fresh one there, Jared!" A man stopped the two, an ear to ear smile on his face. "Yeah, he was driving like an idiot. I couldn't tell you what he was thinking!" Jared shot back, his hand on Andrew's restraint and the other shaking the overweight man.
Andrew looked around; people were different, and the person in front of him was no exception. The man had tusks emerging from his mouth, brutish and gnarly, which seemed normal given the many other deviations around him. "Hey! Don't look around when we're talking to you!"
The man landed a punch to Andrew's gut; the latter let out a heave and crumpled to the ground. "You can't bruise the package too much; after all, we still have to test his skills!" Jared said with a smile as he brought Andrew back to his feet. "Hey! Dipshit! Can you fight?" His question met with a nod.
*BAM*
A punch landed on Andrew's face. "When I'm talking to you, you say yes or no! Don't think too highly of yourself for you to ignore the people around here!" Andrew looked at Jared, his face apathetic as usual. "I can fight!" Jared narrowed his gaze, taking interest. "That's good to hear." Jared turned to face the tusked man. "He should be ready; have him face one of the fiercer competitors to get rid of that arrogant air he has!"
Jared handed Andrew over to the tusked man, who seemed pleased. "Of course, I'm sure that we should have someone who could beat some sense into him!" The tusked man urged as he got a hold of Andrew. Jared bid his goodbyes before the man turned his attention to Andrew. "First, you should know that this place doesn't operate on the rules or fairness the old world had! Here, it's all about strength, and if you can't keep up, then you can only wait for death! Welcome to the Blighted Boar base!"
The tusked man threw Andrew to another man who, after a quick glance at Andrew, threw him into a cage-like structure. Andrew looked around; the cage was at the center of the mall, the ground now filled with sand, and around him a makeshift audience bench had been formed. His presence immediately garnered the boos of the crowd.
"Welcome to the Blighted Boar caged fighting arena, people!" A voice boomed through the mall speakers, cheers filling the air. Andrew brushed the sand off his coat, his gaze indifferent as he looked around. The ring was lit up lit floodlights and the air bombarded with cheers and jeers galore. "Today we have fresh meat! An idiot who was driving through the city only to run into one of us! Well, his misfortune will be our entertainment, as he'll be required to fight a familiar fighter. The golden panther!"
The lights panned to a man in his mid-thirties who had bold golden eyes. His skin was tanned, with a dangerous smile perched on his lips. He had panther-like features, a well-defined jawline, bold cat-like eyes, and a playful air about him.
"What an unfortunate turn of events, kid! You'll have to die here!" The man cackled, looking at Andrew, who seemed bored.
*Whoosh*
"Begin!!!" Glints flashed in the air and before the panther-like man. The two stood unmoving before Andrew's opponent dropped to the ground. The cheerful air instantly died; people wishing to see Andrew's brains splattered all over the sand were speechless. "It would seem that we have our winner." The announcer said, half shocked and half disbelieving what he had seen. The tusked man was left speechless, unsure of what had happened. 'Looks like he isn't as useless as I thought! But what exactly happened?'
Jared, who wore his smug smile, felt a chill run across his scalp. He had placed a bet on Andrew dropping in a matter of minutes was now left stunned. 'It would seem that I may have encountered a gem in the dirt! But if he was capable of something like this, then why didn't he attack me back then? Is it because he didn't know if there were others and didn't attack? Questions piled up in his head as he made his way to the cage entrance where Andrew was waiting.
"What ability do you drop that man like that?! I know you threw something at him, I saw the glints of silver so don't play dumb with me!" Jared urged, his face stern as Andrew got out of the ring. "How much for this one? I don't mind taking him off your hands, Jared!" The tusked man said, his smile mixed with hidden fear. "I'm not crazy to sell someone like this!" His words elicited a groan before the two were left alone.
"Speak, dammit!" Jared turned his focus back to Andrew. "Oh, looks like your arrogance has a source. I wonder how long you can keep it though!" Jared's fists crackled with lightning; his movements were hard to track to the human eye, but Andrew easily dodged his attack. 'What? There's no way that he actually dodged that!' So far the only people who have been able to dodge my attacks are people like…'
He furrowed his brows, seeing Andrew as a threat than a commodity he was testing before forgetting. 'What if he goes on a rampage and kills everyone here? Not to mention he has that white-haired girl! Marcus could request my head if he finds out about this!' Jared's state grew worse before he was interrupted in his panicking state. "Jared, Alastair wants to see you!" The tusked man from before came back, his face serious.
Jared and Andrew left the cage and went to the back of the mall, which was less populated and the air heavier than it should be. The guards allowed Jared's entry, urging that Andrew remain at the entrance. "Jared, it would seem that you've got something interesting this time!" A man spoke up, his words making Jared's entire figure stiff. Alastair was in his forties, a man who lacked animal-like features like Jared; his eyes gleamed with an unquenchable fire.
"Yes, sir! I too was stunned by his performance back at the pit! If you really are interested in him, I don't mind if it's you taking him, sir." Alastair, seated in his chair, leaned back, taking in Jared's features before letting out a small laugh. "I have no interest in taking Andrew from you; however, from what I've seen, I don't think that you can handle him, so how about handing him over to the Blighted Boar, of course you'll be paid your appropriate reparations." Jared looked up, a nervous smile on his lips. "Ah! Thanks a lot, sir!"
Alastair wore his low smirk like a favorite coat. "Though I'd like a closer look at your findings." Jared gave a quick nod before disappearing and reappearing with Andrew. "Alastair took a long look at Andrew, trying to read his facials however, nothing he wished popped up. "Andrew, right? I was thinking from your earlier feats that you could be of great use to us. You'll be given a place to rest and tasks to carry out for the Blighted Boar." Andrew looked into Alastair's eyes, one with intrigue and the other with no intent.
"I'd like to make a request. The two girls that I came here with to be left alone." Jared stole a glance at Andrew. 'Does he really think that Alastair would agree to something like that? Here, women are treated like slaves.' Alastair tilted his head, unclasping his hands and rose to his feet. "That's a very interesting request, Andrew. I have the power to have your request come through; however, I'm not running a charity here. Do something for me. Something that should take a man like you no effort to accomplish."
Jared had a look of confusion on his face as Alastair inched closer to the two, his interest on Andrew. "There's a man who thinks he's untouchable; I want you to bring him back to reality. His name is Kovak, once a runner for us, now turned rogue after stealing some supplies from us. He's going to be rather tricky to get. Can you do it?" Alastair placed his hands on Andrew's shoulders, his smile clashing with Andrew's neutral line. "It won't take long," Alastair let out a small chuckle, pleased with his response. "That's what I want to hear. Jared will fill you in on the details. I want this done by today. Any later and I can't promise you what happens to those two."
Alastair made his way back to his chair, his arrogance and detachment rolling back in. "Now leave; next time I want to see you is with his head." His hand gesturing the two to leave.
. . .
"Don't think because the deputy said that he'll keep your ladies safe means that he'll go through with it. After all, the men around here are rather ballsy." Jared grunted as the two made their way to the tusked man from before. "Hey, do you have an image of Kovac? Deputy wants him to take him out." The tusked man let out a surprised chuckle. "I have something of the sort; however, I don't think placing trust in someone new is what we want." Andrew, however, didn't wait any longer and left. "Where the fuck are you going!? You don't even know who you're hunting!"
Jared shouted in frustration before letting out a heavy sigh. "Seriously! Does he think that asking around will give him what he wants?" He grunted as the tusked man placed his hand on Jared's shoulder, his skin tough and gray like. "So far this kid has shown us nothing but surprises; maybe he could do it! After all, we still don't know exactly what his abilities are!" Jared palmed his face. "Maybe he'll get it right! Seriously, his arrogance is unbearable. How did those two even keep up with him?"
. . .
"So you're the two Andrew came with, huh?" Alastair gestured the two ladies a seat, his interest piqued. Lara and Brittany looked at the man in front of them, the former afraid while the latter ready to shoot the man dead. 'To think that this place would be full of horny bastards! Just glaring at us the moment we got here!' Brittany sighed with her hand supporting her head, Lara with her fingers fidgeting. "I'd like to ask the two of you some questions, and then you'll be on your way, so relax." His hands offering the two wine in which they shut down, their guard up.