The Ring of Blood is the third episode of the second season of Ghostverse Adventures, premiering on May 17th, 2019. In the episode, the Hopebringers get involved in a gladiator tournament on the journey to awaken the Titan.
Plot[]
The scene opens with a shot of an arena. Spectators of various species are cheering and shouting, with two krexxon in particular eating popcorn extremely quickly. In the arena proper, three individuals can be seen fighting together: a hooded, feminine figure firing off blasts of green energy, a brutish krexxon with cybernetic implants, and a slim mechanical warrior with orange energy flashing throughout their armor. The trio are facing off against several Konsai, and seem to be winning, with two of the three Konsai on the ground dead. The last one, which resembles a beetle, looks nervous.
Announcer: And it looks like the Conquerors of Blood are taking the lead! Just one last opponent to go!
The krexxon barges in front of his teammates, readying his wrist-mounted energy sword. However, the orange armored figure puts out his hand, ordering him to stop.
Orange Figure: Don't. I want to see if he has the balls to surrender.
The orange figure walks over to the nervous Konsai, kneeling down towards him. His face is concealed by a mask of sorts.
Orange Figure: Why did you come here?
Konsai: I...I needed to make money...
Orange Figure: Profit? Why not try a more safe job?
Konsai: Nobody...would hire me...
The orange figure stomps his foot down onto the Konsai as he stares down at him. The Konsai seems even more nervous.
Orange Figure: You're pathetic.
The orange figure brandishes a blade from his hand made of what appears to be an energy-like substance, before slashing at the Konsai. It penetrates his beetle-like armor, and leaves a head on the ground.
Announcer: And it looks like the Conquerors of Blood have won!
The orange figure high-fives his teammates as they exit the ring, confident in their victory. Meanwhile, in the stands, some familiar faces can be seen watching.
Volta: That was too quick of a fight. Didn't enjoy it.
Kaiden: Well, they are the champions of this league. You'd think they'd be strong.
Solotus: Eh, I could probably take 'em.
As the others talk, Elina looks out towards the arena, puzzled. She hadn't been one for spectating fights in the past, and this was no different. However, something about this planet was intriguing. She sensed energies similar to those on the planet Kalnar, where the Hopebringers formed.
Elina: I feel like there's a secret to this arena. It feels familiar.
Kaiden, who's just turned around to her, listens intriguingly.
Kaiden: Think it might be important to the mission at hand?
Elina: I think so. I hear muffled voices. It's worth checking out.
Kaiden: By checking out, do you mean...
Before Kaiden can finish his sentence, Felton and Trent barge in, having eavesdropped.
Felton: Are we gonna fight here then?
Elina: I mean, what else can we do? It's the best way to figure out what's going on.
Kaiden winces slightly upon hearing those words, but maintains an outward appearance of approval.
Kaiden: Alright...then. We'll register for the battles here.
The Conquerors of Blood enter their locker room, taking off their equipment. The krexxon in particular seems to be switching out his weapon-like cyborg arm for a normal one. A closer look at his face is also shown, and he seems to have a robotic "monocle" of sorts over his left eye, which shows a holographic heads-up display.
Krexxon: Gotta say, it feels much better to be fighting in an arena like this than being a meatshield for Doomuli soldiers.
The hooded woman, who's just taken off her hood, stares towards the krexxon. Her eyes are pure black, with no pupils, and her pale grey face looks to be torn slightly by magic.
Woman: It also beats being forced to use shadow magic to bring about the apocalypse Xelnak. My powers can finally be used for something other than annihilating everything.
Xelnak: Good for you Nasni. Your magic is useful to have even if it's illegal.
Nasni: That's why you make it subtle. Only use the legal side of it.
The camera then pans over to the orange-armored figure from behind, whose orange hair can be seen. He's sitting on a bench, monitoring some sort of screen displaying from his wrist.
Orange Figure: Impossible.
Xelnak and Nasni immediately turn towards the orange figure.
Nasni: Disguising the magic or-
Orange Figure: No, not that. It's just that...
The orange figure sighs briefly.
Orange Figure: I detected an energy signature here. One that belonged...to her.
Xelnak: The runt who threw you in that prison back on Earth?
The orange figure nods, still facing away from the camera.
Orange Figure: I have a chance to gain my revenge. To make her suffer for the impact she had on my life.
Nasni: And we'll be right there to help you.
The orange figure laughs to himself as he turns around. His face should be familiar to those who played a certain Ghostrealm Studios game.
Akun: I know you will.
Within another locker room, Kaiden and his allies are preparing for their first bout in the arena. Sharpening weapons, sparring with one-another, et cetera. Kaiden in particular is sparring against Taikari, managing to keep up with her broadsword and dual-pistol fighting style. He sidesteps past a blaster bolt before stabbing forward, taking Taikari off-guard and allowing him to kick her to the ground.
Taikari: You really have improved since Jalgor.
Kaiden: Training does that. Got a lot of it during a trip to the Zaxinian Lifts.
As Kaiden and Taikari shake hands, Elina walks towards them with what appears to be a piece of paper in her hand.
Elina: So our first match is against a group known as the Big Bad Wolves. Seems pretty obvious as to what we should expect.
Taikari: Should be no problem. Me, Kaiden, and Volta in there?
Elina: Sounds good to me.
Kaiden gulps slightly.
Kaiden: Yeah, sure. Seems...seems reasonable.
Elina: Well that's good to hear, because the fight starts...right now.
Kaiden: Wait, WHAT?!?!
The scene immediately cuts to Kaiden, Taikari, and Volta standing at one end of the arena, glaring around. There seems to be a large crowd around the central stadium, with onlookers cheering as Kaiden covers his ears and breathes in to himself. Taikari and Volta look to him curiously.
Volta: You doin' okay?
Kaiden looks up at them with a fake smile. In reality, he was incredibly nervous.
Kaiden: Oh yeah. This'll be fine.
The camera quickly moves over to the trio's opponents: three humanoid wolves. They seem to have primitive equipment, but it also seems Astrium-enhanced, with the ore's energy present along their armor.
Wolf 1: Remember boys, we'll huff...
Wolf 2: And puff...
Wolf 3: AND BLOW THEIR HEADS UP!!!
The wolves laugh as Kaiden, Volta, and Taikari gulp.
Taikari: Shit, they have a catchphrase. Why don't we get one?
Volta: We can try.
Kaiden: That's a shit catchphrase, no offense.
Volta: That wasn't intended to be-
The gong rings in the arena, signalling the beginning of the battle. Kaiden's eyes open up extremely wide as he grips his swords in fear, shaking nervously. It seemed very unusual.
As the battle begins, the Big Bad Wolves charge at the heroes, armed with their Astrium-enhanced weaponry. While Taikari and Volta rush head-on, Kaiden stands open-eyed and nervous. He can only think of one thing.
A shot of a small arena-esque room can be seen with several people around it. What appears to be a younger Kaiden can be seen as well, visibly shaking. Next to him, a taller platinum-blond-haired man can be seen, smirking.
Man: Nervous guardboy?
Kaiden looks up towards him, looking frightened. He's quivering and breathing heavily.
Kaiden: Um...yeah. I don't do well in front of crowds Vanga.
The man now known as Vanga emits a clicking noise as he stares down at Kaiden, who gulps in response.
Vanga: Funny how the one who's the top of our class has stage fright.
Kaiden: Sh-SHUT UP!
Kaiden's outburst attracts the view of everyone else in the room. He then gulps as what appears to be the instructor of the cadets can be seen.
Instructor: Something funny going on over there Damuth?
Kaiden: N...no sir.
Kaiden is still shaking as the instructor lets out a sound of contempt.
Instructor: Well then, let's see how you do in the ring.
Kaiden's eyes suddenly widen as he shakes even more. He then gulps as he enters the ring, looking around.
Instructor: Vanga! Get in here!
Vanga smirks as he walks through, brandishing his giant axe and grinning.
Vanga: Stage fright got ya, didn't it?
Kaiden nods as he grips his swords, before lashing out at Vanga while screaming. Vanga parries several sword strikes, before quickly swiping at Kaiden's legs, knocking him to the ground. He then points his axe towards Kaiden.
Vanga: First rule of combat: watch where you step.
Back in the present, Kaiden is still shaking after having that flashback. His fear of being in front of crowds still held true. In front of him, Taikari and Volta were holding off their lupine opponents.
Volta: What is Kaiden doing?!?! He's the backbone of this team!
Taikari: No idea!
As Taikari finishes her sentence, she's shot by one of the wolves, who wields an Astrium-powered sniper rifle. It managed to crack the glass in her helmet, and a fair bit of blood is pouring out. Taikari fell to the ground injured, but still conscious. Volta knocked away her current opponent as she rushed towards Taikari, Kaiden still in the back.
Volta: Taikari? TAIKARI?!?!
Taikari: We...can't...
Volta looks towards Kaiden, who's still in shock and stuttering. Meanwhile, the Big Bad Wolves have suddenly stopped fighting as they watch the drama.
Volta: What the fuck man? She's bleeding out!
Kaiden: I...can't...
Kaiden suddenly collapses to the ground, having fainted. Volta looks towards the two of them as she stares at her opponents.
Volta: We surrender.
The wolves look at Volta before laughing hysterically.
Wolf 1: Surrender? HERE? Buddy, nobody surrenders in a battle on Scarval. It's to the death.
Volta: My two friends here are both severely injured. You've won. What do you gain by killing us?
Wolf 2: She does have a point you know. Maybe we should let 'em go.
Wolf 3: We have to consider the marketing side of this though. We have a brand deal with Forgelight Industries and it'll look bad if we let 'em go. We have a fanbase to cater to!
Volta: Consider this then. If we were to offer you a rematch, we could make it into a major sporting event here that would attract the masses. The Scarval Super Bowl.
Wolf 1: Let me call them up first.
The wolf pulls out his phone as Taikari's head jerks upwards.
Taikari: I'M FUCKING BLEEDING HERE!
Volta: Hold on Taikari. I'm negotiating for our lives first.
The phone finally answers.
Wolf 1: Hey, it's me, Zuffntuff. We have a business proposition for you. How does a major arena battle between us and this team we're fighting sound? We can market the shit out of it too.
Zuffntuff waits for the guy he's calling to say what he has to.
Zuffntuff: Interviews, alright...trailers...gambling...sounds like a deal. We'll keep in touch.
Zuffntuff ends the call as he stares towards Volta.
Zuffntuff: We got ourselves a deal.
Back in the locker room, Kaiden is shaking on a bench with a towel wrapped over him. He seems completely out of it and unresponsive. Nearby, Elina and Volta are observing him.
Volta: Out like a light. Wonder what's got into him.
Elina: He's never been like this. Normally Kaiden's super up front about stuff and rarely keeps things to himself. This isn't normal.
Volta: Well, he needs to wake up soon. We've got a fight soon.
Volta unleashes a quick electric shock from her hand that causes Kaiden to jolt awake. Seeming fearful, he looks left and right at Volta and Elina before expressing a face of relief.
Kaiden: Finally, we're out of that awful arena.
Elina: ...awful?
Kaiden: Oh, you guys don't know. Right. See, the thing is...
Kaiden breathes in to himself.
Kaiden: ...I don't do well in front of crowds.
Elina: Then why didn't you say something? We could've easily swapped you out for someone else!
Kaiden: I didn't want to make a big deal of it. Fear is something that usually causes you to make irrational decisions. Like this one.
Kaiden sighs as he sits down on the bench.
Kaiden: At least we're not fighting here again.
Volta: About that...
The camera shifts to outside the locker room as the word "FUUUCK" can be heard from outside.
The Big Bad Wolves can be seen preparing their equipment in their own locker room as a knocking sound can be heard from their door. Zuffntuff in particular seems to be signing business contracts.
Zuffntuff: We're not signing autographs right now, fuck off.
???: Oh, we're not here for that.
The door bursts down as Akun, Nasni, and Xelnak enter the room. Nasni uses her magic to suspend her foes in place as Akun observes them.
Akun: I'm sorry gentlemen, but this is our fight.
Zuffntuff: But we have a contract! If we don't fight the bureaucracy is gonna be coming for our heads!
Akun: Oh, I'm well aware. In fact, we've already prepared a solution for that.
Akun motions for Xelnak to bring him several small chips. He then places them onto the necks of the three wolves. Their eyes gloss over and simply begin to glow orange.
Zuffntuff: MIND CHIP X-001 IS NOW IN PLACE. AWAITING FURTHER ORDERS.
Akun: Activate the slavery protocol.
Zuffntuff: AS YOU WISH.
Zuffntuff shakes his head as he suddenly regains consciousness.
Zuffntuff: Wh...what was that?
Akun: Mind chips. Put them on your necks to essentially make you my slaves. We're gonna be using you guys as cannon fodder to weaken the resolve of our opponents when the battle comes.
Zuffntuff: And if we disobey?
Akun snaps his fingers as an electric shock consumes the three wolves. It then stops briefly as he chuckles.
Akun: You die. Don't try removing them either. I made them using tech that was used to cancel out my own superpowers back when I was in prison on Earth, so they're pretty much impossible to take off.
Akun motions for Nasni to release the wolves as they exit the room.
Akun: Make sure you train well enough to fill your purpose in this operation.