Battle of Dogs pt 1.

At the edge of the pit stood the demon chief with his hand still held high. The demons surrounding him cheered and chanted, yet his expression remained stoic as his six eyes were focused solely on Alexander.

Feeling the gaze of the demon chief, Alexander looked over his shoulder to meet his gaze. 

As the two locked gazes, Alexander felt the world slow to a crawl. The unified chanting of the crowd faded into the background, replaced by the sound of his heart beating like a drum in his ears.

The demon chief gave Alexander a subtle nod, the universal sign between men who want to confirm something without speaking.

Pulling his lips back into a frown, Alexander gulped.

There's no going back, you nod your head and that's it, it's fight or die.

Alexander took a short series of sharp breaths as he stared at the demon chief's hand, poised in the air like the axe of an executioner. 

There's no going back Alexander, are you sure you wanna do this?

Alexander bit his lower lip as he dug his heel in the dirt beneath him, his subconscious had arrived, forcing him to choose between battle and retreat. 

I… I have to do this… 

Do you?

Alexander closed his eyes, clearing his mind as he calmed his nerves. 

Doubt was attempting to seep through the cracks, but Alexander refused to let it take over.

Not after everything he lost, not after everything he worked for. Not after the promise he made to himself. 

Yes, this is my choice.

Open his golden eyes, swelling with determination and conviction, Alexander returned the demon chief's nod. 

And without thought or hesitation, his hand dropped, swinging down in one swift arc. 

Guttural cheers raged through the crowds as the elder guards dropped their ropes, thick woven material dropped on the ground with a thud. 

They then moved to scale the walls of the pit, while the war hound slowly realized its freedom.

Alexander quickly turned to face the hound, both hands on his spear as he backed himself against one of the pit walls. 

Pushing itself up, the war hound began to shake the ropes from its body, snarling as the ropes slid from its large frame. 

After freeing itself from the ropes that held it hostage for so long, the war hound let out a long and low growl, while stomping its front paw on the cage floor. 

The hound quickly locked eyes with Alexander, its eyes simmering with hatred and hunger, and sizzling dripped from its maw filled with jagged and sharp teeth. 

Alexander took a sharp breath as he slightly bent his knees and angled the head of his spear towards the dirt. 

Focus, analyze, and plan. 

As the two opponents faced each other, the crowd's screams seemed to climb louder, a symphony of bloodlust and excitement. 

Then suddenly, the beast quickly lowered itself, crouching low to the ground as power circled its legs, charging for pounce. 

Here, we, go…

The hound launched forward, its powerful legs kicking off the ground and sending the beast flying into the wooden cage door. 

Shards of wood scattered across the air the beast crashed through, a blur of chaos and fury.

Alexander, quick on his feet, lept towards the right. Landing on his feet, he watched as the war hound crashed violently against the pit wall, kicking up a cloud of dust and rock. 

Alexander narrowed his eyes as he scanned the dust cloud. 

He quickly spotted the beast thrashing to get back on its feet, pushing itself off the pit wall before rushing him again. 

The hound's speed was alarmingly quick. 

It barely gave Alexander time to dodge, as before he could even pivot, the beast was leaping at him. With a wide maw and crazed eyes, the hound chomped down on the air Alexander occupied a mere second ago. 

Shit!

Alexander gritted his teeth as he barely missed losing a chunk of flesh. 

The war hound snarled and barked as it crashed into the ground for a second time. Its frustration was evident by how hard it stomped the ground as it rose.

Alexander was surprised at how durable the beast was. It crashed into the ground twice, yet shrugged off both impacts.

I'm guessing this spear won't pierce the skin, not if it's surviving that, repeatedly. 

Alexander realized that he'd need to call on his world energy sooner than expected.

He first moved to slow his perception of time, as the war hound was already coming at him for another attack. 

Seeing the hound soaring towards him in slow motion, Alexander instinctively gravitated towards the right. As he did so, he caught a brief glimpse of the hound's belly, exposed black flesh.

A weak point perhaps, it's better than attempting to break through matted fur.

As Alexander cleared himself from the hound's attack, time snapped back to normal. 

The war hound slammed against the dirt once more, its claws digging deep. The beast hurriedly pivoted towards Alexander, attempting to charge him once more.

Alexander's golden eyes narrowed as he stared the beast down, rapidly forming a strategy in the short time allowed between charges. 

If I'm getting to that stomach, I can't keep dogging out of the hound's range, I need to stay close and be quick.

As Alexander prepared himself, the hound was already hunting him down again. Snarling as thick saliva drops splattered across the ground.

Alexander again slowed his perception of time, while simultaneously charging his feet with potential energy. 

White lights began shining from the soles of both his feet, as world energy rapidly began gathering.

As the hound soared towards Alexander a third time, Alexander bent his knees low and aimed his spear high. 

With the beast's form looming over him, hurtling like a giant wrecking ball, Alexander focused solely on the beast's black belly. The visible white lights at his feet grow brighter, ready to unleash their energy like coiled springs.

Then, when the hound was at the height of its leap, Alexander sprang up and forward. 

He Cracked the ground beneath his feet as he thrust his spear forward with all his might. 

The tip of the spear quickly found its large fleshy target, sinking deep as Alexander twisted the spear tip.

A loud, primal howl echoed from the hound's maw as both it and Alexander came crashing down into the pit. 

The force of Alexander's thrust pushed both him and the hound off their trajectories, allowing them both to impact the dirt with distance between them. 

As Alexander smacked the ground, he could feel every bone in his body shaking from the impact. The pain was almost unbearable, but it wasn't wholly unique, thanks to Zara's training.

Pushing aside the pain Alexander quickly rose to his feet, unsure if the hound was ready to assault him once more.