THE VENOMSWORN

Pitch black! That was all I could see. We hardly ever experienced night time here on Vxxrrtoea, and if we did it was for a very short period. In fact, we referred to those periods as The Noir. None of us really knew what it felt like to be in complete darkness. It was a strange feeling. The darkness was so complete, it swallowed all sound, leaving only a hollow ringing in my ears. I tried to open my eyes but they felt very heavy. The massive blow must have done a number on me. Time seemed to have paused and everything was moving in slow motion. 

So, I harnessed the power of time, and tried to pull myself up. But, the air was heavy and thick, pressing in on me with an immense weight. Just then, my eyelids opened up a little and soon, sight! I defied the wind, struck my eyelids wide open and braced myself up for the next impact. “Next impact?” I thought to myself. “How about I become the next impact?” I looked Dallaxxs Blaxskn straight in the eye as a derisive smirk formed on my face. He was bigger than me alright and I had lost to him countless times but I wasn't going to let that happen this time. 

So, I picked up my vxx-spear and positioned my right leg in front of my left. I could feel the anger growing from within me as I felt the intense heat of the soil beneath my bare feet and then with a very loud cry I charged at him as I held on tight to my vxx-spear. Everything happened so fast. The next thing I remember was a loud thud. Dallaxxs Blaxskn had fallen to the ground. It was a fight to the death and I won. 

“Am I dead?” I asked myself. I was so sure that I was or at least that was what it felt like. I had passed out for a moment and in those moments every single second of the last three hours of my life flashed before my eyes. Eventually, I regained consciousness but everywhere went quiet for a few minutes or maybe it was I who had lost my hearing due to the intensity with which Dallaxxs landed on my body. With the last atom of strength in my bones I pushed his lifeless body off from mine and to the ground. He sure generated lots of dust—my whole body was covered in it. 

I smiled to myself, “I won!” I couldn't believe it. I actually beat this large overbearing beast. The crowd was still silent, not a single sound could be heard. It was almost as though they had been frozen in time. I guess they thought I was dead as well. I mean that was the school of thought then. No one could ever beat Dallaxxs Blaxskn in a combat. It was either he crushed you to pieces or you both end up dead—and of course you'd be considered more dead than him. It was then I realized that I had to stand up. 

I tried to get on my feet a couple of times but my strength failed me. After a lot more attempts, I finally stood up. I pulled out my vxx-spear which was locked between Dallaxxs’ eyes and deep into his skull, swiped a good quantity of his blood with my right hand and smeared it across my forehead. In Vxxtorrea, nothing spells victory more than the mark of your opponent’s blood on your forehead. We believe it carries with it their fear and eventual defeat. With a loud roar I lifted the spear towards the sky and immediately the crowd went wild. 

I had never heard anything more melodious than the chants of a happy crowd and the continuous beating of drums in my honor. The rhythm of the drums—deep, resonant and thunderous—throbbed in my chest. The chants rose and fell like waves, each voice joining a chorus of praise. It was a language of triumph, a powerful, rhythmic cry that echoed off the cliffs and across the jungle canopy, turning the very air into a living thing. 

The happiness of the crowd was indeed a palpable force. I saw it in the ecstatic smiles and the flashing eyes of the people and my fellow young male vxx as they beat their hands against their chests and their spears against their shields. 

This wasn't just any combat; it was the penultimate trial of four wicked trials. At the end of which a number of us, young male vxx would be chosen to join the Liberated Liions. It was every boy's dream growing up—to be among the glorified ranks of the Liberated Liions.

The Liberated Liions are not just an army; they are the living embodiment of Vxxtorrean honor, a fighting force composed of the most resilient and formidable warriors the planet has to offer. They are the Vxxtorrean elite, forged in the fires of the Crucible of Vxx, and the sole guardians of their people. They are the pride of every clan, the stuff of legend, and the future of Vxxtorrea.

This particular trial had just ushered me and the rest of us who had successfully passed this stage into our final trial. The chants began again, a thunderous rythmic pulse that rose from the crowd. Only this time, it was my name. Kaelen! Kaelen! Kaelen! As they chanted my name, I couldn't help but recount every detail of my most recent victory. The feel of the soil beneath my feet as I charged at Dallaxxs, the triumphant smear of blood on my forehead and the deafening thud as his body hit the ground.