Dink walked to meet Axion in the middle of the crowd, who circled to enclose the pair. People began makis on who they believed would win. Dink was the clear underdog, he barely reached above Axion’s waist i. No one could see any way that an ordinary goblin could beat the rge attuned beastfolk warrior. Most of the punters were practical a on Axion, but a few couldn’t resist the long odds and made rge wagers on Dink’s victory.

  “With everyone making wagers around us. I ’t help but feel a little left out. How about we make one of our own?” Axion suddenly offered.

  “What did you have in mind? Women, gold, humiliation?” Dink responded.

  He goward Lady Estra before looking toward the catgirl with an open expression of lust. He could feel Lady Estra’s distress through their bond in respoo his words. Axion held up a hand to dee.

  “No, no, no. Lady Estra is like a little sister to me. Plus my mistress would use my hide as a floor mat for wheertains guests if I ever dreamed of toug her favorite pupil. I have something a lot more iing in mind. Look over there, do you see that cage oable? That’s an awakened mushroom from the expanding woods. They’re a monster species known as ‘Myids’. I just won it off that unfortunate fellow lost in his cups at the bar,” Axion replied, nodding in the dire of a dejected mage slumped over the bar.

  Axion theured toward a small cage oable stacked precariously on a pile of copper and silver s. Ihe cage, there was a creature that Dink had never seen before. It was a strangely cute mushroom making mewling sounds from an adorable, tiny mouth. Its mushroom cap was a deep maroon colour, decorated with white dots in the shape of hearts. Its eyes drew Dink's attention. They were captivating, mesmerising him as soon as he made eye-tact. Dink instantly felt a e to the creature. Hearing its cries, he felt a strong sense of empathy along with a desire to free it from the cage.

  “I want to accept, but I have nothing of simir value to offer. Except Murkuk. How would you like to be the proud owner of a goblin mage?” Diiated.

  “Ha! That would be a first for me! I accept!” Axion agreed with a booming ugh.

  “Excellent, shall we get started then? Wait a moment, is that Magebahat I smell?” Dink replied, sniffing a bitter st ing from the oil smeared on Axion.

  “I don’t want anyone acg me of cheating when I win,” Axion stated, causing the crowd to erupt in ughter.

  "No ons. I don't want any more of my escort to die," Lady Estra interjected

  “You insult me, Axion. I’m not ignorant. Magebane won’t affect you as an attuned. It’s to restrict mana leaving the body,” Dink said with a sneer as he removed his bastard sword scabbard, tossing it carelessly to Murkuk.

  Dink could feel Murkuk’s acceptance of his fate through the bond as he clutched the bastard sword in his arms. It wasn’t unusual foblin chieftains to exploit their underlings. Loyalty was a fn cept to all of the monster races.

  “Peace. Magebane oil affects mana tattoos. Notice that as it’s massaged into my fur, the pathways close. It’s only a ret discovery. See. Do you actually think you win, ons or not?” Axion asked as he attempted to pcate Dink. Lifting a palm to rub his muscles vigorously. It caused the faint light emitting from the mana tattoos to flicker and dim.

  “You may regret doing that. A good fighter always believes that they’ll win. Half of them are wrong. Even attuned have regretted uimating me on the arena floor. You will be no different. Let’s begin,” Dink stated with a disappointed sigh.

  “First, we need an impartial party to hold ers. Lady Estra, may we impose upon you to act as the bookie?” Axion asked, walking to retrieve the caged mushroom from the pile of s.

  “I guess so,” Lady Estra relutly agreed with a frown.

  “Murkuk, you just tio stand where you are. I don’t io lose,” Dink instructed with a toothy grin.

  Lady Estra walked to tentatively accept the cage taining the Myid. Dink dodged under her elbow to peer ihe bars. He curiously poked a finger ihe creature’s tiny mouth. The mushroom moopped mewling to begin sug Dink’s finger. Di a small portion of his mana begin to be syphoned as it drank. He sniffed aig aroma ing from the Myid. He cmped his hand over his mouth to prevent himself from breathing it in.

  Spores spread outward through the tightly packed crowd, causing Dink to look around curiously. Onlookers began to tremble as they breathed in the spores, their eyes taking on a purple hue. Murkuk used his cloak to cover his face while watg the spores suspiciously. Dink became aware of Lady Estra’s emotions through their bond. Her fwless face had bee bestial, torted by lust with purple-hued eyes. She licked her lips hungrily as she prepared to poun Dink. His finger fell out of the Myid’s mouth with an audible pop as Lady Estra dropped the cage to the floor.

  “Restrain yourself!” Dink hastily anded.

  It had the intended effect as the are tract activated to enforce his order. Lady Estra appeared visibly distraught as she clutched her arms across her chest, creating aig dispy. She shuddered while crossing her legs together, slightly bent. She closed her eyes before biting her lip to trol her ragiions. Dink attempted to ignore her through the bond to iigate the rest of the room. He was interrupted by an enraged roar.

  Dink shoved Lady Estra to the ground as he leapt in the opposite dire. A cw flew overhead where the pair had stood only moments before. Dink tucked his shoulder as he hit the floor, rolling to his feet in a fluid motion. Axion stood above the nguid form of Lady Estra, looking down with extended cws. Dink could hear his low, hostile growl.

  He pced his fio his lips and unleashed a pierg whistle to draw Axion’s attentioared into the Beastfolk’s purple-hued eyes. A fident grin formed on Dink’s face as Axion turoward him, his eyes narrowing in tration.

  “It’s time to get this show on the road,” Dink said, dropping into a fighter’s stance.

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