Cobra

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Cobra was once known as a venomous man, a malicious dragon who wanted nothing more than wealth and glory. He was strong enough to back his pride, and he ran one of the biggest fighting rings to the east[?] of the Spire. His arena was full of pitiful dragons who had lost in battle to him and his gang. Cobra ruled over all his men with a binding curse. His venom ran in the veins of those who belonged to him, a single mistake and they would fall dead at his feet.

While his ice magic may not be the most potent, Cobra is able to tie spells to his venom, the display of blood and ice when Cobra activates a curse is a gruesome mess of carnage. While his own magic may be weak, his strength lies is his ability to manipulate others mana. Cobras spell works by inserting poison made from his own weak ice mana. This poison circulated the body of the victim and begins to eat the hosts mana until it becomes a part of the curse. Once the curse spreads there is no cell in the body that has not been touched by the spell. The curse when activated sets off a chain reaction that consumes all the mana it has infected, freezing every contaminated cell and tearing them apart as the ice crystallizes in their body. The ice doesn't meld together quickly, it stays in shards that grind upon each other as they expand and tear flesh.

His Arena is common knowledge, however not many have ever dared to challenge his reign. While he may own the lives of his people, he is not so cruel as to kill those who keep his business booming. The higher you ranked, the more wealth you would acquire, sure you may never leave, but the best fighters lived a life of luxury. For the weak however, there was only death. Those who could not keep up were pitted in matches against the strong, used to display the power of others with their lives. If you couldn't make money, you were unnecessary.

Cobra had a few fighters that he had bought from another coliseum, their owner had faced a terrible loss of their main attraction years back and had never recovered. They always warned him of a sly dragon with devious blue eyes and monstrous strength that would steal away the strong for his own evil needs. He never paid them any mind, after all he was much more cunning than the average dragon, no one dared to stop him yet!

But he should of paid attention, should've been wary of those blue eyes. Those blue eyes that felt like oceans, sparkling blue on a handsome face, teasing him with that half mask as he wondered what it would look like uncovered and up close. What was this feeling? The young man hadn't even spoken to him yet and his heart was racing! The young man had requested an audience with him, it would seem that one of his belongings had taken a fancy to a stranger he had met one day in the crowd. This stranger unfortunately happened to belong to this young man, and he wanted what was his, so he ran to his boss for help.

As much as Cobra would like to own this young man, he would not back down and let one of his best men leave. However he would accept to talk to the young man, just to get a good look at him. "Anndera, bring him in."

"RIght away Master." Anndera was a strong and capable woman, and Cobra used her handsome beauty to his advantage in many situations. Above all else however, he utilized her undying loyalty for him, she was his first choice as a guard. Well, strength wise he had better options, but she never spoke against his choices, so that was a plus.

She returned through the lavish scarlet curtains with a group in tow behind her, "Guests, here before you is the Master of the Arena, Cobra."

His breath hitched in his throat. He was even cuter up close! He had to hold it together! After all he was warned this man is trouble! He waved his hand towards a lavish table he had had set up, "Take a seat guests, who do I have the pleasure of welcoming into my humble Arena?"

The young man smiled coyly, "My name is Titus, I bring with me a few friends, I hope you don't mind." He gestured to the four dragons with him. They each in turn introduced themselves.

"I am Roma, mage and adviser to Titus." She was small and cute, in a little sister sort of way and seemed like the smallest threat.

"Blanco, guard." Short and to the point, typical from an ice dragon, she looked capable.

"A pleasure, I am Taegan, mage and emissary for the clan." It was him. This was the one who had instigated all of this! He had captured the heart of one of his strongest men, Frost, and was here to fight for his freedom!

The last dragon was the most suspicious, "Hyun, sorcerer and slayer." Slayer, so he was extra firepower, if someone like this was brought along then they certainly didn't come just to talk.

Titus ordered them all to take a seat "I will get straight to the point"

I hope you're not

"It has come to our attention that your people are tied down by strict regulations, and your fighters are unjustly denied access to the outside world. While this may have been acceptable in the past, I have decided that we cannot turn a blind eye to your deeds. Many dragons have met their deaths here have they not?"

Cute but naive , what a shame. "Dear Titus you can't possibly think you can change the way I run my business do you? Each dragon that walks in here to join the Arena knows the outcome, they are well aware that death only comes alongside failure. The strong live well and are pampered after each victory, where is the wrong in that?"

"Lavish as they lives may be this is still a prison, that they are not allowed to leave for a break is cruel."

"Breaks are provided when they choose not to fight, but no fights means no income, they know this and thus work diligently for their pay." He waved over Anndera, "Do you hate your life?"

"No, I would live a hundred more for you Master."

"See? There's nothing to worry about here, they live well enough and I bought them all fairly, when I tire of them, they'll be free but I have to make a living you understand."

"Then why don't you fight in your ring."

"That defeats the purpose. This arena is my life's work, I spent years putting it together, promoting, scouting, there was a time that I did fight for my Arena, but I do not need to anymore. I have reached a point where my work no longer needs me to involve myself in such a manner. I am the Master of my work, you cannot take it from me."

Titus was silent now, as were his vassals until the girl Roma whispered to him in a voice so quiet it was almost as if she had just mouthed into his ear. Titus nodded and cleared his throat. "You run bets here correct?"

"Correct"

"Then I'm willing to bet my own life and freedom that my men with me today can beat any of the warriors you choose. If my words do not hold true then the five of us will be yours to use, but if I win then you must let your men free."

"I refuse." his blatant refusal clearly wasn't expected as Titus slightly recoiled. Cobra knew his men were strong, but he also recognized that none of them had fought enemies of their own strength level. He would swallow his pride than lose his possessions.

"Then lets compromise." They all turned to look at Hyun, he really didn't look like he wanted to be there, or like the type to make decisions. "If the Boss will hear out my idea."

"Go ahead."

Hyun exchanged looks with Taegan, who in turn shrunk into his seat. "If what we want is as simple as the right for your people to come and go, then why don't we settle on that instead of ruining your business. If we win, you must develop a system so that your people may come and go, I understand you'll want restrictions and as long as they aren't too unfair then that should be fine correct? If we lose then we lose, I don't believe that we will, so I don't mind what Titus set, we will become yours."

Titus nodded in his direction and turned to Cobra, "There shouldn't be anything wrong with this wouldn't you say? If you'd like I could even assist you with the system, if you'll have me that is."

Cobras face was calm, but his mind wasn't, have him? have him? Yes please and thank you but shouldn't he feel a little angrier? This pretty man was speaking like he'd already won, like his victory was inevitable! So what if it was, that was kinda rude, Cobra wanted to keep some face and sass him back but he could also probably do with having this man sit next to him, so close they were touching, his hand over his as they wrote new regulations.....Dang it he couldn't be daydreaming about this! He had to save some face!

A smile lightly tugged at the corners of his lips, "Well then I suppose we can put on a good show." He waved over Anndera, "Let the coordinators know that in 2 days time we will be having guest fighters, prepare the stages, level S set up, advanced PR if we have the people, bring me the artist and see who can participate from our side. You know who is not to be allowed on the roster. Send for rooms to be prepared, the red wing for our guests please." Turning back to address Titus he rose from his chair. "Please allow me to accommodate you for the night, I will have rooms ready soon, an artist will approach you there to begin the process of designing flyers for the show. I will prepare my men and let you meet them in the evening over dinner. I assure you, there will be no foul play with your food."

Titus rose along with his group, "Thank you for your hospitality, I would like to make it clear however that I will not be fighting." He waved to the others behind him, "Only they are necessary, or is there a certain amount of matches you were hoping for?"

"Five at least, odd numbers are better, if you'd like to throw in a flashy but less efficient fighter I can pull a lower tier from mine as well."

Titus looked at his men and rubbed his chin, "Flashy huh, I may have to revise my roster." He gestured to Blanco, "I won't need you to fight, bring another few options and we'll decide from there." With a nod Blanco jumped out the window, transforming mid fall and flying into the darkening skies.

---

Come dinner, Titus had a brought in his lineup. Cobra could barely hide his excitement, the chosen five all looked like unique characters, they would definitely make a great spectacle! From the original group he had escorted in there was Hyun and Taegan, the other three had just arrived at Titus's summons. They each approached him and introduced themselves.

The first was the agreed tag team pair they had decided on after Titus suggested it, a pair of a lithe woman, beautiful in her features with piercing eyes, and a handsome man with a wild countenance, his uncovered torso catching the eyes of everyone present. He was a little too tall for Cobras tastes but still very beautiful, the crowd will love him. "I am Bakal," spoke the woman, "and this is my partner in crime Anthrus."

Anthrus nodded in his direction and a coy smile spread on his face, "I look forward to meeting your fighters, I've heard great things about them."

They stepped aside as a young man stepped forward, his beauty was more feminine, yet his shoulders were rolled back, chest out as he clearly carried himself with great pride. A single blood red blade hung from his waist, reflecting light as it swung, casting pink light on other surfaces. With a salute he introduced himself, "Cerise, here to have fun and be a part of the show!" His eyes were clear and sparkling with youth, bright and beaming with energy. Titus set his hand on his shoulder immediately dimming down the child's excited radiance.

"Cerise is one of my youngest members, he may not have perfect form however, he does a great job of catching peoples attention and still puts up a good fight."

With a pout Cerise brushed off his hand, "Boss i'm not a kid, I know i'm cute but i'm not a baby."

Titus smiled and pet down his hair. "But you're still weak." With that he shooed him along as the final guest laughed and stepped forward.

Before they spoke Titus grabbed their wrist forcefully, causing them to wince. "You. You are not who was supposed to be here." At those words tears began to fall from the girls eyes, at first she was pale figure, dark hair and dark eyes, but her colors began to change, until a fair skinned girl with bouncy white locks was all that was left.

"I'm sorry Titus but I really wanted to come!" She dropped to her knees, he dress pooling around her in waves, her visage delicate as she appeared to be a dainty flower plucked and then forgotten on the stone path. "I train and train but I never get to go out! I know Desir won't mind me taking her place! She told me to do what I wanted!"

Titus looked displeased but not angry, his expression of worry like that of a mother watching a child cry. "Bilu you know why I didn't want you out, Desir most definitely could win any match up but you, you don't have that experience."

"That's why I'm here!" she huffed, voice raised as the atmosphere seemed to cool. Titus patted her hand in an attempt to calm her down.

"Alright alright, but you understand that you're the weak link here right?"

Bilu jumped up and beamed, "I understand!" she turned to Cobra and introduced herself with a curtsy, "I am Bilu, forgive the intrusion but I am thankful for the opportunity!" She then triumphantly walked off towards the desert table.

Cobra couldn't help but smile. "You have quite the menagerie of personalities in your care."

Titus walked over and stood by his side to look over the crowd, his crew mixing in to mingle with the guests and converse over food. "They mean a lot to me, I wouldn't have them any other way, yes even my spoiled Bilu."

Cobra looked over to Titus, so close to him now he could see the sparkle in his eyes that conveyed pride and happiness. He could see the care in his gaze as he kept a close eye on where they could start trouble. What Cobra wouldn't give to have him look at him like that.