The Deviant Dominant

The morning sun shone down on the arena. The seats were packed with spectators who were eager to witness the first match of the tournament. Lukas and his five girls were lined up in the cove of the oval arena wall. The carpeted red stage was gone, leaving behind a finely-grated sandy surface with smaller, stone obstacles. Each half of the oval field offered a couple of man-sized pyramids to dodge behind and a pair of round, stone platforms, just large enough for a single archer to be perched on top.

 

An observation platform had been crafted on top of the wall, providing an unobstructed view of the battlefield for the tournament staff. Lukas felt as prepared as he could be. He had rehearsed the battle plan repeatedly with his girls. Gwyn had prepared breakfast for them and a fresh load of his sperm had been shot deep inside Gemma. The time to prove that they belonged in the tournament had come.

 

Lukas and his girls did not waste a single second against the five mages. As soon as Jaren signaled the start of the match, Laera triggered Submissive Silence, luckily before the enemy’s golem came out to play. Lukas activated his Praise ability and lunged forward with unnatural speed, presenting himself as a tempting target. After giving Lukas the boost from her collar, Gwyn made the team’s scary warrior woman invisible. The crowd gasped as Lucy gleefully stripped off her top, exposing her tits to the entirety of the arena. The gasps were quickly replaced with loud, mostly male, cheers.

 

From the edge of the playing field, Fiona watched Lukas sprint out to the center, hoping the mages would take the bait. A grin crawled across her face as the magic began to fly.

 

With a terrifying display of power, four mages waved their staffs at the lone Adventurer charging them. All at once, spells of immense and dangerous energy were launched at Lukas. A purple flaming projectile smashed into Lukas as a beam called down from the sun engulfed him. Javelins of ice raced through the air to skewer him and an ethereal ruby ball of crackling energy formed a few feet above his head, striking him with red lightning every half second. The audience gasped in horror, bewildered by the young Adventurer foolishly charging headstrong towards the mages. If Lukas had been anyone else, the Arkmere Mages might have gotten disqualified for breaching the fatality clause in the first match.

 

The horrified audience shifted into a mystified audience as the bright, magical bombardment paused. Standing tall and confident amidst the barrage was an unscathed Lukas. More than slightly baffled, the mages began cycling through their skills, trying to find their opponent’s weakness as they unleashed a variety of spells at the lone challenger. Another fireball flared as it collided with Lukas’ body. Discs of white light swerved towards him at high speeds, shattering instead of slicing into his chest.

 

Lukas wasn’t about to stand idly and let them use him as target practice. He barreled into the closest mage and began slicing through some very expensive robes. Meanwhile, another of the mages realized too late that they were an invisible assailant’s target – one that worked up close and personal. Fiona watched from the edge, eager to join the fight. Lukas had borne the brunt of the magical attacks, creating an opportunity for the freckled assassin. She popped an Aegis Orb into her mouth, teleported behind a third mage, and backstabbed him with her Night Dagger.

 

After launching both a fire and a lighting spell, Laera refreshed her cooldowns and silenced the fourth mage, who, according to Elvira’s intelligence, was a healer. Missing their usual stony tank and wasting a massive amount of firepower on a magic immune Lukas, the mages were helpless. They frantically tried to find a solution that would stop the younger Adventurer, but eventually resorted to attacking alternative targets.

 

A fireball was flung towards Gwyn, which only benefited Lukas. A volley of ice javelins rocketed toward a half-naked archer who was atop one of the stone platforms. The javelins were effective, knocking the Ranger off the high ground – but, unbeknownst to the harangued mages, it wasn’t actually Lucy. It was her replica. 

 

Ironically, the first thing that caught Lukas and his team by surprise wasn’t anything their opponents did. The mage that Gemma had been hacking away at was suddenly encapsulated in an icy cocoon. Shortly thereafter, the elven wizard Lukas was attacking was petrified, their skin taking on a grayish tone. They had eliminated their first two enemies.

 

For a brief second, Lukas wondered if the tournament’s overseers would be able to freeze him with his enhanced magic resistance, but he evicted any distracting thoughts from his mind. He wasn’t planning on finding out. He turned towards the silenced mage, who was gripping his purple staff with a vexed scowl on his face. The trio of archers and Laera had been working away at his health, and Lukas was keen on neutralizing him before the silence expired. He and the invisible Brawler blitzed and, within twenty seconds, were able to knock him down below ten percent, which summoned the icy cocoon.

 

Meanwhile, the redheaded assassin had completed her task, removing her target from the match with a swift swipe of her blade The final Arkmere Mage cursed, still debilitated by a silence of length unknown to her. Realizing she was facing an enemy she couldn’t hurt – even with active magic – and another foe she couldn’t see, as well as a lethal support system of ranged fighters and a nimble assassin, she reluctantly conceded the match, signaling her surrender.

 

It took the crowd a moment to realize what they’d just witnessed. When they did, it was like a dam had burst. A cheery applause roared from the stands at the astonishing display of anti-mage dominance from the young team. Ironically, many had predicted the match would last only a couple minutes, but the resulting victor was truly an unexpected revelation.

 

Gemma remained invisible; their fight hadn’t been long enough to outlast Gwyn’s hidden skill. Fiona was beaming, having lived out her ultimate non-sexual fantasy: completely – and publicly – dominating and humiliating a bunch of high-level Anoran Adventurers.

 

On the topic of fantasies, Lucy ran up to Lukas, still half-naked, and embraced him. “I’m so fucking riled up right now,” she said in a needy whisper. “I’ve never been this wet for your cock.” She glanced at the myriad of spectators with eyes still on them. Some of the younger men in the crowd had been mesmerized as soon as her shirt had come off. Lukas doubted they even realized the match was over. Lucy started grinding her clothed but heated sex on Lukas’ leg.

 

Fiona rushed over to intervene. “Are you fucking serious? Why do I have to be the adult here? You can’t fuck now. Flashing your tits is one thing, but we’ll get disqualified for sure. Please, please keep it in your pants.”

 

Lucy groaned in desperation, pulling Lukas towards the exit. Once inside the staging room, she stormed down one of the many corridors, practically dragging him behind her, until she found a vacant planning room. As soon as they entered, Lucy ripped off his pants, not bothering to lock the door.  Her hands gripped his shaft, and she began stroking him at a frenzied pace. Her eyes were crazed and her moans were filled with hunger as she knelt down in front of her Dominant.

 

"How many people do you think were ogling my tits out there?" Lucy asked, her voice quivering in anticipation. "How many guys would kill to be you right now, knowing that my tits, my entire body belongs to you and only you? I wanted you to take me in front of all of them. I wanted to show everyone how much I love being your slut."

 

Lukas reached down and wrapped her ponytail around his hand. He pulled it taut, yanking her eyes upwards with the rest of her head. Desire flooded her dilated eyes.  "You’re such a good little slut, aren’t you?” he asked, and Lucy nodded her head in agreement, opening her mouth wide.

 

Lukas pushed his cock into her warm mouth, immediately intoxicated by both the sensation of her wet tongue and warm cheeks sliding up his length, and by the power he felt over her. His cock had become the center of her world, and she was desperate to please him.

 

Her head bobbed back and forth on his shaft, her cheeks hollowing out as she sucked him. Lukas started pumping his hips, driving his rod deeper into her throat. A moment later, he felt himself hitting the back of her throat and she gagged, saliva dripping out of her mouth and down her chin. As pleasurable as it felt to him, however, he wanted something else.

 

"Get up," he commanded, and Lucy hurried to her feet, panting breathlessly. She eagerly complied when Lukas ordered her to bend over. He tore down her pants and underwear in one fell swoop, and she arched her back, pushing her ass up towards him. With her legs spread shoulder-width apart, she was practically begging him to fill her tight pussy with his cock.

 

She didn’t need to wait long, as he grabbed her hip with one hand, lined up his dick with the other, and then thrust forward, plunging into her cunt. The sensation of her warm, wet pussy tightening around him as her inner walls struggled to accommodate his girth drove him wild.

 

"Yes," she whispered, "you’re so big."  She moaned, as Lukas slammed his pelvis against her ass with each drive. She loved being stretched open by her Dominant, and he was more than happy to oblige. The slap of skin on skin was loud enough to echo in the chamber. He gripped her ponytail and tugged her head back as he fucked her.

 

“Your body is so hot,” he seethed. “You’re so fucking sexy.”  Her whimpers only added to the experience. “I bet all of those boys out there wanted a piece of this ass.”  He spanked her hard, making her squeal in pain. “But you’re mine – all mine – mine to fuck whenever and however I want.” He thrust his hips forward, burying his cock inside her, eliciting a groan of pleasure.

 

“Yes,” she moaned in submission. "Only my master gets to fill me up with cock." She cried out as another spank landed on her ass. Lukas could feel her pussy clenching, greedily enveloping his member. He sped up his rhythm, wanting to make her cum harder than ever before. He reached between her legs and started rubbing her clit.

 

“Cum for me, my little slut,” he demanded, and Lucy’s pussy tightened around his cock like a vice. Unable to stave off her orgasm any longer, she erupted into a fit of moans and gasping breaths.

 

The pressure was too much for Lukas to handle. He let out a primal groan, and shot rope after rope of semen deep inside his slut’s cunt. She loved it when he filled her with his cum, knowing it belonged there; the feeling of it splashing against her molten walls and quivering cervix lengthened and strengthened her submissive climax.

 

Lucy collapsed onto the table, panting for breath and gasping in ecstasy. Lukas stood above her, savoring the sight of his spent slut, still shaking with pleasure. His cum dripped out of her pussy and onto the table.

 

After a few minutes of basking in the afterglow, they got dressed and headed back to the other girls waiting in the staging room. yThe atmosphere was lively; Lukas’ other girls were more than happy to savor their victory, even if it hadn’t been their turn to savor his cock.

 

The team of young Adventurers wandered over to a section of the stands that was reserved for tournament participants. As they found empty seats, Lukas couldn’t help but notice the attentive gazes they were receiving from the other competitors. Feeling the weight of those curious stares, Lukas exchanged glances with his teammates, each of them radiating a blend of pride and nervousness. Elvira hadn’t been exaggerating; they had just secured one of the biggest upsets in tournament history.

 

The third match of the day was underway. Lukas watched a capital team rip apart a Trident Harbor team. The fourth match paired the other Anoran team against a Pegasus Guild team. After the Anoran team soundly defeated their opponents, they received a visit from Elvira.

 

“I can’t believe you actually did it!” Elvira said cheerfully as she confidently sat herself on Lukas’ lap. “Actually, I totally knew you were going to do it, but witnessing it live was a whole different level of incredible.”

 

“I did it for you,” Lukas jested at the dainty Anoran on his lap.

 

At that moment, an usher approached Elvira. “Ma’am,” he said, “this area is for tournament competitors only. I’m not sure how you got in here, but I need you to leave.”

 

“I’m a Guildmaster, though,” Elvira tried, but there was no placating the usher.

 

“Fine,” Elvira agreed reluctantly, not the least bit worried as she stood up and turned back to Lukas. “When the sixth match starts, come find me in front of the private suites area. Just head north on the concourse, pass three stairwells, and you’ll find a brass gate with two well-dressed guards. I’ll be waiting for you there.”

 

“What if I want to watch the sixth match?” Lukas complained in a light tone.

 

“Then you’ll be swarmed with the press when you try to leave and won’t get a chance to eat lunch,” replied Elvira.

 

The impatient usher prodded the elf. “Ma’am–”

 

“I’m leaving!” she snapped.

 

***

 

Without much complication, Lukas and his team found Elvira waiting for them outside the gates to the private suites. She led them through the gates, down an empty concourse, and out into the open air through an exit that was reserved solely for the elite.

 

“Hurry,” Elvira warned, glancing over her shoulder. “The moment you get spotted, you’ll find out just how popular you are.”

 

Lukas glanced at his teammates. Hints of anxiety were etched on their faces. He quickened his pace to keep up with Elvira, who moved with purpose, and his girls followed suit. They followed their fast-walking Guildmaster for three blocks, weaving through throngs of pedestrians, until they entered a restaurant that was humming with collective anticipation. 

 

“Private room for Elvira Silverbreeze,” she said, her voice firm as she addressed the host at the front podium. The host met her gaze with a knowing nod, a hint of respect in his demeanor, and guided them past several tables filled with patrons enjoying their meals, into a formal, closed-off dining room.

 

Once they were seated, a waiter swiftly approached to take their orders, not missing a beat in the flurry of activity that surrounded them. Lukas scanned the menu, his stomach growling in response to the delicious scents wafting from the kitchen. 

 

“Make sure to order something hearty,” Elvira said, glancing up from her own menu. “You’ll need to fuel up for the next round. Are you feeling confident about your next match?”

 

“I am,” responded Lukas before he relayed his order to the waiter.

 

“I think we should avoid the press until after your second victory,” Elvira said. “Once we secure that win, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll be moving on to the second round. You won’t have to answer any more dumb questions about what you’ll do if you die in the first round, and I’ll get to gloat about how I took a chance on a young team. This will be fantastic for my personal career and the Wyvern Guild.” She paused thoughtfully. “Is it okay if I use you for my own moment of fame?”

 

Lukas nodded. “Thank you for asking.” Elvira had come a long way since he had first met her.

 

The waiter returned, placing steaming plates of food in front of them. All six recent victors dug in, shoveling food off their plates and down their gullets.

 

“Speaking of proper table manners,” Elvira said with a smirk, “my parents and grandmother would like to host you all for dinner tonight.”

 

Lukas paused as he processed what Elvira just said. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

 

“You can’t spend your whole life avoiding them,” the elf chided. “They might think you fear them.”

 

“I fear my hand will never recover from how hard I will smack them across their faces,” Fiona quipped, earning a chuckle from Lucy.

 

Elvira pursed her lips. “I know you don’t owe them anything, but this could be a good opportunity. They’re at least extending some sort of peace offering.”

 

Lukas glanced over at Laera and saw that she was in deep thought. “It might be good for us to go,” Laera said, “but on the condition that they apologize to the team.”

 

Elvira burst out laughing at her younger sister’s request, and then calmed herself. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

 

Laera nodded resolutely.

 

“You know Mom and Dad, sis,” Elvira said. “They don’t know what an apology is.”

 

“Maybe for the team that will win the tournament,” the younger Anoran said in a firm tone, “they’ll learn.”

 

“Oh, you’re confident you’re going to win the whole thing now, huh?” Elvira jested, looking around at the team of young Adventurers. Her grin grew wider as she observed the ardent expressions on everyone’s faces. “Well, alright then. Let’s win a tournament.”

 

***   

 

Lukas and his girls readied themselves for their second battle. Meatloaf and his team stood across the fighting pit from them, looking equally ready for a brawl. Appreciative cheers could be heard around the stadium as Lucy revealed her breasts to the crowd for the second time that day.

 

On the signal, Meatloaf surged forward, ready to take on all six of the opposing Adventurers. Fiona flashed him a smile and then teleported across the field, triggering her Ultimate behind enemy lines. She caught three out of the four opponents grouped together in an icy blast. She deployed her smoke screen, and wreaked havoc on the squishy elves. 

 

Meatloaf pivoted back to defend his team's flank, only to be ambushed by the fierce duo of Lukas and Gemma. Gwyn's Dire Wolf charged into the swirling smoke of the assassin's domain. In mere moments, a moderator summoned a frosty cocoon that enveloped the elven mage, Geo, as Fiona's dominance claimed its first victim. Loren, the Brawler, ferociously tried slashing away at the redhead, but found it incredibly difficult to land a hit on the dodgy redhead.

 

The dagger-wielding Ellie tried a different approach. While the Brawler sparred Fiona, Ellie evaded the assassin's frosty grip and dashed toward the far side of the arena. With grace, Ellie executed a flawless front flip, unleashing two lightning-infused daggers that crackled through the air and struck Laera’s torso. The Anoran mage gasped in agony and moved to begin desperately weaving across the sandy floor in an attempt to evade the expertly hurled blades. With Gwyn's healing ability on cooldown after Lukas had taken a heavy blow from Meatloaf, Laera fought to buy her team precious time. But in the end, Ellie’s skills proved too formidable, landing four more daggers into the body of the beleaguered mage. On the fifth strike, Lukas lost his vital magic damage dealer.

 

Fiona snarled as she dispatched Loren with the help of Gwyn’s wolf. Spotting the defeated Laera exiting the arena, she quickly teleported to confront her assailant. Caught off-guard, Ellie tried once again to flee from the assassin, heading towards Lucy – another ranged damage dealer she hoped would be a softer target. Lukas summoned his Ultimate, tying the elf down. The redhead unleashed a fury of quick and deadly slashes, the dagger thrower succumbed to the same fate as Laera. The crowd erupted in cheers as Fiona showcased her prowess, having expertly eliminated three-quarters of the opposing team.

 

Lukas and Gemma had undertaken the most grueling task. They worked together to wear down the armored tank. After making minimal progress, Lukas took a deep breath and extended an offer to Meatloaf. “Your team is out. How about we cut this short?”

 

The giant man gave him a toothy grin and shook his head. “This is my chance to show everyone what I’m made of. I’m not going down without a fight. May the best man win.”

 

Lukas sighed and nodded. He figured that would be Meatloaf’s response. “Gemma,” he called out to his partner, “remember that demon fiend we faced?”

 

“Hey! I’m much better lookin’ than a fiend,” Meatloaf bellowed out with laughter, and he countered Gemma’s sword. The tall Brawler didn’t respond verbally, but she did spread out until she and Lukas were on opposite sides of the tank. Gwyn and Lucy scrambled to get into position perpendicular to the three combatants.

 

Arrows came flying in, striking Meatloaf as he made his last stand. Their lone adversary caught on to their strategy, and glanced around for any hints on how to disrupt their groove. Without much warning, he charged directly towards Gwyn with tremendous speed. The half-elf gave him a friendly wave before vanishing from sight. The massive tank let out a deep groan as he struggled to rein in his momentum. By the time he turned around, Lukas, Gemma, and the Dire Wolf leapt on to the bulky warrior, bringing him to the ground.

 

Meatloaf struggled to get back to his feet, becoming overwhelmed with the punishing strikes from the warriors’ blades and the sharp teeth of the summoned lupine. FIona joined in, slipping her dagger into the tank’s weak spots as she sought after a full-team wipeout. It still took another minute, but the team’s collective efforts finally paid off as an icy cocoon enveloped the last opposing combatant. They’d won their second match.

 

The crowd went wild as the team of young Adventurers exited the field. It seemed the majority of the audience was overjoyed at the prospect of seeing the Wyvern hatchlings compete in the next round.Lucy did give them some extra incentive to support the new team, juggling her tits in her hands before departing the field.

 

Lukas first checked on his lovely blonde mage to ensure she was fine after losing over ninety percent of her health. Gwyn tagged along, with her healing skill at the ready. Though bruised and battered, Laera was in high spirits due to their victory.

 

THen Lukas caught up with Meatloaf. The oversized warrior was recovering from his own injuries inflicted by Lukas’ team.

 

“Well fought,” Meatloaf admitted, giving him a tired, but friendly smile. “I can’t believe that assassin of yours took out my entire team.”

 

“We helped out a little bit,” Lukas said with a chuckle.

 

With some help from the medic station, Meatloaf’s team got patched up, and they followed Lukas’ team out to the designated viewing area. Their match had been the fourth one of the afternoon session, so they watched the last match and a half. In the sixth and final match of the day, the Archmere Mages walloped a team from the Pegasus Guild.

 

Elvira found them on one of the concourses seconds before the press did. As the seven Wyvern Guild members made their way towards the exit, they were swarmed by reporters and newly-minted fans alike. Elvira pushed through the crowd with surprising force, her voice rising above the commotion. “The Wyvern Guild will be holding a press conference in the lobby of The Golden Griffin! Meet us there!”

 

Lukas and the others followed closely behind their fearless Guildmaster, hearts racing both from the adrenaline of the match and the chaotic excitement of their newfound fame.

 

Disregarding Elvira’s desires, a young reporter called out, pushing to the front of the throng, her notepad clutched tightly in her hand. “What strategy did you use to defeat the Arkmere Mages? What are your plans for the next round?”

 

Elvira didn’t break her stride, but glanced back over her shoulder. “Save your questions until we are ready to properly field them!” 

 

With her words hanging in the air, Elvira led them through the throng, and they finally emerged into the fresh air outside the arena. The sun hung low, casting a golden hue across the bustling streets. They rushed toward The Golden Griffin – though not necessarily towards any kind of respite.

 

Once inside the lobby, the atmosphere shifted. It was less chaotic, yet anticipation buzzed like static as fans filled the area. Most of them were either whispering or pointing at the Wyvern Hatchlings as they sat behind a table. David slipped into the lobby and joined the team. He glanced over at Lukas and gave him a big thumbs up; he was positively beaming with admiration.

 

Elvira stood in front of the group, prepared to address the settling crowd. The noise subsided, and all eyes turned to Anoran. “We appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm and support. As the Guildmster of the Wyvern Guild, I have prepared a statement. After which, we’ll be taking questions in an orderly fashion.”

 

The young guild leader’s presence captivated the audience, buying her and her guildmates a bit more time to collect themselves. She took a deep breath, feeling the enormity of the moment weigh on her shoulders while knowing she had to carefully manage her persona.

 

“As the youngest Guildmaster ever elected,” she began, “I am a passionate advocate for recognizing potential and nurturing it into something extraordinary. I knew this young team was exceptional, and I followed my instincts when I threw all of my support behind them. I fought tirelessly to give them this opportunity, standing firm against fellow guild officers, tournament leadership, and even many of the members of the press who are here today. It was a tough battle—more challenging, even, than their match against the Arkemre Mages, though, let’s be honest, that wasn’t much of a fight.” Laughter and cheers erupted from the audience.

 

“I trusted the same instinct that got me elected as Guildmaster, and now we are showing the world that they should watch out for us.” Elvira bowed as applause filled the room, though it wasn’t long before the first question rang out.

 

“How did your sister influence your decision to select this team for the tournament?”

 

“My sister is a formidable mage in her own right, though I plan to tease her about being the only member of the team to be eliminated in a match so far,” she quipped, eliciting chuckles from the crowd. “However, it was actually the team leader, Lukas, who did a phenomenal job of showing off the team’s strength and proving that they belonged at this level of competition.”

 

“Question for Lukas,” another reporter butted in. “How did you manage to survive that astounding display of magic?”

 

“My team has many strengths,” Lukas answered. “We are all very close, relying on our teamwork and rigorous training to create a winning combination. I won’t discuss specific strengths or strategies, as we still want to maintain a competitive edge for the remainder of the tournament, but we have more to show to the audience and our competitors in the coming rounds. We will do much more than survive the Arkmere Mages.”

 

“Let’s talk about the surprises we’ve already seen,” a third reporter said. “Could you explain to us why Lucy fights with her breasts exposed?”

 

Lukas sat quietly and glanced over at Lucy with a smirk. “Maybe it helps me shoot better,” the Ranger offered. “Maybe it’s a distraction – a pretty effective one so far, I’d say. Maybe I’m just a kinky slut. I'll let the mystery linger. Besides, it seems plenty of fans enjoy the view." A few cheers erupted from the male members of the crowd, adding to the lighthearted atmosphere.

 

“I think we all witnessed another commendable show of strength in your second match,” yet another a journalist remarked. “Fiona, do you have any tips for other young Assassins out there who were impressed by your performance?”

 

Fiona blinked, momentarily taken aback by the easy question, and by the fact that anyone wanted to talk to her in the first place. A hint of a smile crept onto her face, and one that was quite unlike her usual smirks or coy pouts. “I believe it is important to focus on both skill and strategy. Every assassin is given a set of skills that are meant to synergize with each other, even before one takes into consideration how they might complement other team members’. Learn how to use your skill set in a lethal sequence and practice it over and over. However, be careful to remain adaptable to the many situations you can find yourself in. An assassin’s most effective weapon is the ability to think on her feet.”

 

Fiona’s smile only got wider as she saw several reporters furiously scribbling down notes.

 

The questions kept coming for the next half hour, before Elvira wrapped up the session. The Anoran sent them up to their room, informing them that they had twenty minutes to get ready for dinner. Once they were all set, Elvira led them out of the lobby and onto the streets. They traveled several blocks, transitioning from the central district to a high-class residential area. The streets became less populated, with no trace of the hustle and bustle that the tournament had only inflamed. A soft glow permeated the evening air as they arrived at a large, luxurious house, lit with tastefully placed lanterns.

 

Elvira knocked on the door. A few moments later, it swung open, revealing an older-looking Anoran, whom Lukas did not recognize.

 

“Grandma!” Laera exclaimed, rushing into the arms of the elder.

 

“I’m so glad you made it!” ‘Grandma’ embraced the young mage and kissed her on both cheeks. “My my, you must be getting taller than Elvira!”

 

“What?!” Elvira scoffed. “No way!” The two sisters quickly found themselves standing back-to-back in a height competition, which Lukas and Gemma both found amusing, towering as they did over all three of the elves.

 

“Don’t worry my dear Elvira,” her grandmother said, comforting the losing sibling. “No Anoran will ever be known for their height.” Her eyes then turned upward, finding the one male in the group. “You must be Lukas. It’s a damn shame it’s taken this long for us to meet. I’m glad to see you are wearing the lion pendant.”

 

“It is very nice to meet you,” Lukas offered, bowing. “I never got the chance to thank you for such an extravagant gift.”

 

“You can call me Grandma Velda,” she said, ushering in the rest of the young Adventurers.

 

They all made it into a grand entryway before two familiar Anoran figures emerged. Laera straightened her posture, her expression firm as she addressed them. “Thank you for inviting us, but before we go any further, you owe my team an apology. I know that Elvira has relayed our condition to you.”

 

“Oh, Laera,” her mother said. She waved dismissively, her tone light but her annoyance apparent. “Surely we don’t need to waste time on such childish requests.”

 

Laera narrowed her eyes, determination etched on her face. “Do it now, or we’ll turn around and leave.”

 

A heavy silence settled in the room as Laera stood her ground. After a moment, she pivoted on her heel and marched back toward the door. “Flora!” Velda barked sharply, commanding Laera’s mother’s attention.

 

“Fine!” Flora exclaimed. She called out to her younger daughter. “I’m sorry for leaving our relationship in a tense state back in Eberlorn.”

 

“The apology is not for me, mother,” Laera replied, her voice resolute. “Both you and father must apologize to my team.”

 

The elven patriarch grunted and placed a hand on his wife's shoulder, attempting to hide his reluctant expression. “We would like to extend an apology to all of your teammates. We were only looking out for our daughter’s best interests. It appears, however, we were too quick to judge. Please accept our invitation to dine with us as a gesture of our reconciliation.” Even as he spoke, a sour scowl remained etched on his face.”

 

Elvira’s jaw dropped in astonishment at her father’s unexpected apology. Velda, sensing that the initial confrontation had been resolved as amicably as any of them could have reasonably hoped, quickly stepped in. “Lukas, have you ever had a traditional Anoran dinner?” she asked, ushering everyone deeper into the house, through a hallway, and into an elegant dining room.

 

“Laera has cooked before,” Lukas replied, glancing around with curiosity, “but this will be my first time experiencing an official Anoran feast.”

 

“Well, you’re in for a real treat!” Velda exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. The family and their guests settled comfortably around the beautifully set table as the meal was laid out before them. At the center, a perfectly roasted bird gleamed, invitingly golden and succulent. A server deftly carved it into thin slices, serving the tender meat alongside a hearty portion of buttery mashed potatoes, crisp asparagus, and a rich gravy.

 

"This is a wild fowl found only on the slopes of Arkmere Peak," Velda explained with pride. The feast was completed by a vibrant salad featuring exotic greens, delicately tossed with a sweet and tangy berry dressing. The conversation around the table was light, the tension finally dissipating as the evening went on.

 

As they finished the meal, Velda continued to lead the family in hospitality. “If you’re interested, I’d love to have you join us in our private view suite tomorrow morning to watch the first few matches.”

 

Lukas glanced over at Laera’s parents to see how vehemently opposed they were to the invite, but to his surprise, they seemed excited. “Yes,” Flora chimed in, “we would love to introduce our daughter’s team to the other Anoran elites. The young team from Elvira’s guild has certainly been the topic of many conversations.”

 

“The view is quite good,” Velda added, knowing that speaking with a bunch of rich Anorans was not going to be a selling point for Lukas, “and there’s food.”

 

“We do have a match in the sixth slot of the morning,” Lukas said, scanning Laera for any sign of hesitation, but she only shrugged her shoulders. “...but we could probably join you for the first few matches.”

 

“That’s right,” Laera’s father spoke up. “You are facing Edricht’s team tomorrow. He’ll be a tough opponent to beat, but he has strayed from Anoran doctrine – I can’t imagine his team will be more of a challenge than the Arkmere Mages.”

 

“Straying from the traditional Anoran style might actually make them more difficult to handle,” Elvira said. “I’m afraid sticking to ‘our’ battle doctrine has made your teams too predictable, father.”

 

The elf huffed at his daughter’s provocation. “Hardly seems fair to discount a strategy that consistently gets our teams into the final rounds year after year.”

 

“The Arkmere Mages at least won’t get the undefeated advantage,” Laera commented. Her parents gave her a pair of puzzled looks. “Teams who win all three of their matches in their first round will get an advantage in the next round. We’ve already secured a spot in round two. Tomorrow, we are fighting to earn an advantage.”

 

“Speaking of our fight tomorrow,” Lukas said, “we should head back and get some sleep.” What Lukas didn’t announce to the Anoran hosts was that he was going to be railing one, if not both, of their daughters before going to sleep.

 

“We will see you all tomorrow morning then,” Velda said, rising up to give Laera a hug goodnight. The team of young Adventurers thanked the Anorans for the meal and returned to The Golden Griffin.

 

***

 

Lukas and his team arrived at one of the arena’s private entrances A guard escorted them to their suite, where Elvira was waiting. She greeted them with a warm smile and gestured toward a row of plush seats. Then she indicated a generous spread of pastries and beverages.. No sooner had they settled in than Flora arrived, bringing a few Anoran nobles over for introductions.

 

Laera and Lukas fielded several questions before the morning’s first match started. Everyone returned to their seats, though Flora quickly scanned the seating box with a furrowed brow. "Where's Dreyfus? He's going to miss the first match." 

 

The question went unanswered as Lukas watched Meatloaf and his team face up against a much stronger capital team. His heart sank as he watched the match unfold; Meatloaf's team was quickly overwhelmed by the onslaught of powerful melee fighters. It was disheartening to see Meatloaf himself fall within just a few minutes, his tank-like frame unable to withstand the ferocity of the opposing team. Lukas had come to see Meatloaf not only as a fellow competitor but as a friend, and though he had suspected the outcome, he had secretly hoped for a better result.

 

Lukas watched the next couple matches with interest, trying to familiarize himself with the victors. After the fourth match of the day concluded, Lukas and his girls ventured down to the staging area to prepare for their upcoming fight. They were to be the sixth and last match of the morning session. As they reached the entrance, Horvoth intercepted them to deliver a hurried and hushed message. “Be careful in your next match. I saw their fight yesterday. They have a guy who pulls some weird shit with his opponent’s abilities. You’ll want to be careful using your skills around him.”

 

Lukas quietly thanked him for the warning and then glanced over at his team. He was more grateful for Horvoth’s intentions than the actual intelligence provided, but was unsure about how to effectively use it. They would need to use their skills, no matter what ’weird shit’ their opponents could throw at them.

 

After some preparation in the staging room, Lukas’ team was ready to fight their final match. They filed out onto the arena floor and positioned themselves, evaluating their opponents situated on the other side of the field.

 

Five platinum blonde elves stood, primed for battle. The team leader, Edricht, sported a bow and a full quiver of arrows. He was flanked by two elves, one armed with a pair of daggers and another wielding a spear and shield. Behind them, two mages stood, ready to support their physical fighters.

 

Lukas had discussed their strategy with his girls prior to their match, but there were still many unknowns. The signal kicking off the fight came all too soon. Fiona used her ability to spring an ambush on the backline mages, activating her Ultimate. Laera silenced the elf who they had guessed was the team’s healer. Lukas activated his Praise ability and then charged across the sand with an invisible Gemma. The twin Lucys and Gwyn lobbed their first volley over his head.

 

Their first surprise came when the assassin-looking elf teleported over to Lukas’ archers, mirroring Fiona’s stunt. Lukas’ gut wrenched when Fiona’s icy Ultimate was again triggered – against his own team. Laera unleashed both a lightning and a fire spell before her magic halted. She frowned as she guessed correctly that her own silence had been used against her. The spell-stealing assassin made quick work of the two Lucys, who had both been caught up in the frozen vortex. A loud portion of the audience booed as the topless archer shuffled off the field.

 

Thanks to her friend’s sacrifice, Gwyn was able to escape the killzone and summon her Dire Wolf to help defend. However, her move also granted her enemy the ability to summon his own wolf companion.

 

Lukas was both frustrated and curious by how much magic the one foe could steal, but then considered the possibility that Laera had cast her refresh skill, gifting the copycat additional opportunities.

 

Lukas felt it best to press on with Gemma, hoping Gwyn and Laera could handle the lone rogue creating chaos in their supporting lineup. An arrow whizzed through the air and struck Lukas’ torso. Another one followed close behind. Lukas winced as the elven archer’ strength and accuracy was demonstrated on his chest. Edricht’s attacks had a painful bite to them. 

 

Stolen lightning magic hit Lukas from behind. Edricht witnessed the spell fail to affect the young Adventurer in any way, confirming what he had observed in the first match of the tournament when the young team had dismantled the Arkmere Mages. “Don’t use magic on the ugly one,” the elven captain shouted out to his team.

 

“Ugly one?!” Lukas exclaimed.

 

The rival Anoran shot him a smile. “Just comparatively. Have you seen your team? The other five are far prettier. I think the crowd is pissed that we eliminated the naked archer first.” He launched another arrow at Lukas.

 

Fioan joined in on the fun as she slashed her Night Dagger across the thigh of one of the mages. “He still won’t tell us who the prettiest is,” she complained, though she was already breathing heavily.

 

“I’m sorry,” Lukas grunted. “I’m kind of busy right now.” 

 

He tried to dodge an arrow from Edricht, but it still caught him in the arm. He activated his minotaur armor as more arrows flew his way. The young leader knew they should target Edricht; his ranged attacks were too damaging to leave unattended. The opponent's tank, however, stood in his way. Luckily, he had brought along an invisible Brawler. “Gemma! Take out the Ranger.”

 

Edricht growled when he felt Gemma’s fiery sword slice away at his HP. He triggered an ability that created a powerful swirl of wind around him, pushing the invisible Gemma back and kicking up sand. Edricht peered speculatively into the dust cloud, seeing a disturbance in the swirling particles.

 

“Get dust up in the air!” Edricht ordered. “We’ll catch the invisible Brawler.”

 

Lukas eyed the elven archer, who fired an arrow at a flutter in the dusty air, hitting the concealed Gemma. He was done being distracted by the tank. “Fiona,” he called out. “Whip!”

 

A magical whip cracked through the air, striking the tank that Lukas was struggling to bypass. Lukas used the stun to circumvent him, heading in Edricht’s direction. “Thanks, Fiona!”

 

The redhead smiled at him, and then applied a finishing blow to the mage she had been engaged with. A petrification spell from the moderators seized her victim, signaling his elimination. Lukas grinned with new hope as he and Gemma converged on the elven archer, primed to take him down as well.

 

Their advantage was short-lived, however, as Gwyn became encapsulated in an icy cocoon after losing her battle to the elven assassin. She had sacrificed her Vigor boost to Gemma, leaving her vulnerable to the practiced slashes of her Anoran opponent.

 

Then the blonde-haired Ranger that Lukas and Gemma had worked so hard to pin down suddenly sprouted wings and shot into the air. “Of course he can fly,” Lukas muttered in frustration.

 

Edricht began to strafe Laera from the sky as the copycat struck with his daggers. Lukas cursed under his breath, realizing why the opposing team intensified their efforts to eliminate her quickly. Laera’s magic was about to light up the fighting pit once her silence ended.

 

In a split-second decision, Lukas chose to cast another skill, fully aware of the risk that it might be copied and turned against them. He unleashed his Ultimate on the airborne archer, watching as Edricht plummeted to the ground. The young Dominant had hoped that the menace who was stealing their spells would either be preoccupied with Laera or would attempt to throw the skill back while Lukas was still boosted with magic immunity.

 

The mimicker did indeed replicate Lukas' skill, but instead of reflecting it back to him, the enemy targeted the agile redhead. In an instant, Fiona was stunned, leaving her vulnerable. Seizing the opportunity, the enemy’s remaining mage cast a spell beneath her, transforming the sandy ground into a small pool of bubbling lava. Fiona screamed as her feet sank into the molten rock. The tank, wielding a spear, rushed forward to unleash a flurry of piercing attacks.

 

Just as Fiona broke free from the treacherous restraints, she teleported to Lukas, desperate to escape. However, a well-aimed arrow from Edricht struck her, dropping her health below ten percent. Fiona was frozen for the very first time. Dejectedly, she limped off the field once she was free from the spell, wincing with every step as her badly burned feet struggled to bear her weight.

 

Lukas grimaced and then turned to Laera, hoping for good news, but he was sorely disappointed. Edricht’s arrows had given his dagger-wielding teammate enough of an advantage to best the mage, and Laera was hit with a petrification spell from the moderators.

 

The tide of the match had turned definitively against Lukas’ team; only he and Gemma remained. His own health was in dire straits, having absorbed a flurry of arrows from Edricht’s bow over the course of the match. To make matters worse, the effect of his Praise ability had worn off, stripping him of his boosted magic resistance – but that was a detail the enemy didn’t need to know.

 

Lukas considered converting some of his Dominance experience into much-needed HP using his skill, but hesitated. For one, his pool of Dominance experience was limited; he preferred to invest it in upgrading his girls. For another, he wasn’t certain it would be sufficient to turn the tide. The timer on Gemma’s invisibility was ticking away and they were outnumbered. They were already moving on to the next round, so a victory wasn’t critical. Still, Lukas had one more plan to put into play.

 

“Keep them off my back!” Lukas shouted in the general direction he hoped Gemma occupied. Fortunately, his instinct was spot on; the Brawler sprang into action, ambushing the enemy tank. The spear-wielding Anoran reacted swiftly, activating magical armor that cast a faint glow around him, helping to mitigate the incoming damage.

 

Lukas zeroed in on Edricht, determined to eliminate the opposing captain. With the mage back to casting magic, the Anoran archer received a supporting heal as he attempted to flee from Lukas. He was quick, but Lukas’s extensive training kicked in; he pursued relentlessly, eventually cornering the archer against the edge of the arena field. Edricht let out a grunt as he attempted to spin away from Lukas' blades, but the tall Dominant was unyielding. He deftly maneuvered to the side, effectively blocking any route of escape for his prey.

 

The elven Ranger made one final desperate attempt to evade Lukas, but it was in vain. With a swift and decisive strike, Lukas landed a significant blow to the Anoran's neck, prompting the moderator to cast the icy protection spell on the defeated elf. Not wasting a single moment, Lukas turned back to his teammate, who had valiantly covered Lukas’ flank. A slight frown crossed his face and Gemma emerged back into sight – both Gywn’s boost and invisibility were gone.

 

An unintended consequence of Lukas’ mage-slaying prowess quickly turned against Gemma with a vengeance. All the magic that the elves didn’t want to waste on Lukas suddenly had a second target. A spell from the mage locked heavy metal manacles onto Gemma’s forearms, drastically reducing her attack speed. The copycat spellcaster struck her with a dazzling bolt of lightning, ‘borrowed’ previously from Laera. The spear in the tank’s hands began glowing brightly with a golden hue and then jabbed towards Gemma, landing a punishing blow. Gemma triggered her Ultimate, hoping to deter her attackers, but they pressed on with their attacks. After all, the elves still had their healer in play.

 

Lukas grimaced, knowing he couldn’t save Gemma. Instead, he resolved to make the most of her distraction. He charged towards the mage, who didn’t spot him until it was too late. Lukas managed several quick slashes before the terrified mage threw her healing spell on herself and scrambled backwards in retreat. She was extremely vulnerable, granting Lukas the perfect opportunity to eliminate another foe if it hadn’t been for the two melee fighters that rushed to her aid.

 

Frustrated, Lukas cursed under his breath again as he caught a glimpse of Gemma's defeated form unconscious on the sand. He shifted his focus to the two melee combatants. With a roar, he activated his lion pendant, calling on its strength. He parried their brutal onslaught for nearly a minute. Despite his skill in dividing his focus between multiple opponents, the little nicks and cuts that Lukas let slip by began taking their toll on him. Although he landed several hits on the dagger-weilding Anoran, a timely heal from the mage in the background all but negated his progress.

 

With every path to victory appearing blocked and his health waning dangerously close to the ten-percent threshold regardless, Lukas made a difficult decision. He took a step back, tossed his twin blades to the ground, and conceded the match. Surrendering left a bitter taste in his mouth, but he understood that his teammates had endured significant injuries and that it would be beneficial for everyone if he wasn’t likewise incapacitated. With the match over, he helped a badly injured Gemma hobble off the field.

 

***

 

Back in the staging area, Edricht’s team sat on the other side recovering from the fight. Lukas’ team was far worse off. Gwyn had taken the health potion their team had brought along for emergencies and was working on distributing her healing ability amongst the remaining five team members. A healer from the medic station was also granting assistance, but Lukas, Gemma, and Fiona were still in bad shape.

 

The victors of the match approached them. The mage glanced down at Gemma and, deciding she looked the worst out of anyone, waved her staff to help with her own healing magic. “You guys really did a number on her,” the elven mage commented to her two melee teammates.

 

“She was a tough nut to crack,” the tank responded. “I’d love to have that porcupine ability.”

 

“I almost tried it out myself,” the opposing assassin said, “but I think there’s a Passive that goes with it.”

 

Lukas groaned. “No more stealing for you.”

 

Edricht chuckled at Lukas’ complaint. “Vaymor has that effect on people. I don’t want to give away too much–”

 

“I don’t mind telling them,” the skill-stealer butted in. “Fighting them was a blast. You guys have so many cool skills. I wanted to take the Ranger’s duplicate ability, but I would’ve had to strip off too much armor. I know why she fights topless now, it’s not because she’s kinky.”

 

“Not solely because she’s kinky,” Lukas corrected, flashing him a weak grin.

 

“My main class is Mimic,” the Anoran explained. “It’s in the Deviant branch.”

 

“You should find yourself a Deviant,” Edricht said. “This rascal here is one of my best recruits – an absolute game changer in a battle.”

 

Lukas smiled knowingly. “Thanks for the tip, although I’m pretty attached to my current team. They’re impressive in their own way.”

 

“That they are,” Edrict admitted. “It was a good match. A few more years and you might have a chance at beating us.”

 

“Oh, I think the fight was much closer than that, Edricht,” Vaymor mused.

 

“Hush now,” Edricht gave his teammate a feigned scoff. “I wasn’t going to tell them that.” He turned back to Lukas. “Do you mind keeping our secret? We still have another match.”

 

The young Deviant nodded, confirming his confidentiality.

 

“Bruiser!” Lukas heard Lucy’s cheery voice call out as the Council Guard captain approached them with urgency.

 

“You six! I need you to come with me now.”

 

Lukas frowned at the sudden request. “We aren’t under arrest are we?”

 

The captain gave him a nervous chuckle. “Sort of. We don’t have time, I need you to trust me.”

 

Edricht frowned as he stared at the captain. “Fuck. He got it already?”

 

Bruiser just gave him a subtle nod.

 

Lukas looked at the captain hesitantly. “What’s going on?”

 

“Everything will be explained later, but we need to go. Now.” Bruiser wasn’t being all that aggressive; indeed, he was almost begging. That sent a wave of unease through the entire team.

 

Lucy leaned closer to Lukas, gripping his hand tenderly. “I trust him. I believe it’s in our best interest to go.” With a quick nod, Lukas made a snap decision and agreed to follow the captain.  They exited the staging area and hurried down a long concourse, passing through a doorway monitored by a Council Guard soldier before entering a dimly lit maintenance hallway. They dashed through the passage and emerged out of a nondescript exit.

 

Yet another Council Guard soldier ran up to them just outside the arena with a bundle of clothing. Bruiser handed each of them a cloak and instructed them to cover up. Then they followed him down the street weaving through the blocks until they arrived at a regal-looking building near the palace.

 

They entered through the entrance and into a lobby. Bruiser instructed them to shed their cloaks before they passed by an interior guard station. Out of the corner of his eye, Lukas caught a small figure dashing out of the lobby back onto the street. Bruiser caught it too.

 

“Shit!” the captain cursed. “We are out of time. Hurry!”

 

The group rushed up a stairway in the lobby. Then Bruiser directed them up another stairway to the third floor. They blazed down a hallway and reached the end, where a large imposing door stood, protecting what was promised to be an important room behind it. The captain tested it, confirming that it was locked. He glanced back down the hallway nervously as he tapped his foot nervously. “Come on…”

 

They waited in a high state of anticipation for about a minute before three figures arose from the stairway down the hall. Lukas observed a prominently dressed Anoran flanked by two elven guards strolling towards them. “Fuck,” Bruiser cursed underneath his breath.

 

“Captain Bruiser!” the Anoran called out, a bitter arrogance in his voice. “I appreciate the earnestness you’ve demonstrated by apprehending the murderer so quickly. It’s a shame your reputation is already blighted by your negligence in allowing her to return.”

 

Laera scowled and muttered one word. “Dreyfus.”