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Chapter 31 - Day 5 (Part 6) - Flowers and Fighting

An announcer's booming voice sliced through the din, and the lights dimmed, silencing the crowd instantly. "Ladies and gentlemen, beasts of all shapes and sizes," the voice echoed, emanating from an unseen speaker, "welcome to the main event!"

A spotlight pierced the darkness, illuminating a figure standing at the center of the pit. A pelican man, his beak gleaming under the harsh lime-light, spread his wings wide in a dramatic gesture.

"Tonight's first fight," he declared, his voice a theatrical crescendo, "will be a clash of titans! A battle between a ferocious rhino-man and a grizzly bear-man!"

The crowd erupted in a frenzy of cheers and whistles, their excitement palpable. The pelican man, clearly a seasoned showman, reveled in the attention, his every move calculated to build anticipation. He paced the pit, his voice rising and falling in a rhythmic cadence as he described the fighters' strengths and weaknesses, their past victories and their burning desire for dominance.

Kev, initially taken aback by the announcement, quickly realized the true nature of the entertainment Fang had promised. This wasn't a performance or a theatrical act; it was a real fight, a raw and visceral display of strength and aggression. He glanced around the room, his eyes adjusting to the dim lighting. Upon closer inspection, he noticed the subtle details that transformed this space into a miniature coliseum – the reinforced walls, the fence to hold back enthusiastic viewers, the faint red stains that marred the sunken walls of the pit.

A wave of unease washed over him. He wasn't sure he was ready for this, for the brutality and violence that was about to unfold before his eyes. But a part of him, the part that had been drawn to the club's primal energy, couldn't deny a flicker of morbid curiosity.

With a flourish, the pelican man introduced the first contender. "In this corner, weighing in at an impressive four hundred and forty pounds, the unstoppable juggernaut, the rhino-man, Crusher!"

A spotlight followed the pelican's gesture, illuminating a hulking figure emerging from one side of the pit. The rhino-man was a behemoth, his muscles rippling beneath his thick, gray skin. His single horn, a formidable weapon honed to a deadly point, protruded from his snout, casting an ominous shadow on his face. He wore nothing but a pair of tight-fitting shorts, his massive physique on full display for the eager crowd.

A collective gasp echoed through the room as Crusher stepped into the pit, his every movement radiating raw power and unbridled aggression. He pounded his chest with a meaty fist, letting out a roar that shook the room. The crowd went wild, their cheers and whistles reaching a deafening crescendo.

The pelican man, his voice barely audible above the din, continued his introductions. "And in the other corner, weighing in at a lean and mean three hundred pounds, the ferocious grizzly bear man, Barry!"

A collective groan rippled through the crowd, a mixture of disappointment and disbelief. Barry, the bouncer who had failed to protect Kev earlier that night, stepped into the pit, his expression a mask of grim determination. He, too, wore only a pair of tight shorts, his muscular physique a testament to countless hours spent in the gym.

The pelican man, sensing the shift in the crowd's mood, quickly regained control of the narrative. "This is a fight to the finish, folks!" he declared, his voice booming through the speakers. "No holds barred, no mercy. The battle will continue until one man surrenders or is unable to fight!"

Kev's stomach churned with unease. "Is this... a punishment?" he asked Fang, his voice barely above a whisper.

Rex snorted derisively. "Barry asked to fight," he scoffed. "The human doesn't understand how a real man thinks."

Fang remained silent, his gaze fixed on the pit below. The anticipation in the room was palpable, the crowd buzzing with excitement as the two fighters circled each other, their muscles coiled and ready to strike.

Kev, despite his reservations, couldn't look away. He turned his attention to the unfolding spectacle, his heart pounding in his chest as the fight began.

The fight was a fast brutal, visceral display of raw power and primal aggression. Crusher, the rhino man, charged forward with the force of a battering ram, his massive horn aimed at Barry's chest. But Barry, despite his smaller stature, was surprisingly strong. He sidestepped the charge, his powerful arms wrapping around Crusher's neck in a chokehold.

The two behemoths grappled and fell to the ground, their grunts and roars echoing through the room. Crusher, fueled by rage, attempted to throw Barry off, but the bear man's grip was like iron. He squeezed tighter, his muscles bulging as he constricted Crusher's airway.

The rhino man struggled, his face turning a deep shade of purple. He flailed his arms, his legs pounding against the sand-covered floor. His elbows struck at Barry's sides and rolled him against the hard floor trying to scrape the bear off of himself but he couldn't break free from Barry's relentless hold. Finally, with a desperate gasp, Crusher passed out, his massive body relaxing suddenly in the bear's arms.

Barry released his grip, standing over his fallen opponent with a triumphant roar. The crowd erupted in cheers, their excitement reaching a fever pitch. The pelican man, his voice booming through the speakers, declared Barry the winner.

As the adrenaline subsided, Kev noticed the toll the fight had taken on Barry. His fur was matted with blood and sweat, his once-pristine shorts ripped and torn. Deep scratches marred his back and arms, and a nasty gash oozed blood from his shoulder. He looked exhausted, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

Kev's heart ached for the bear man. "Is he alright?" Kev asked, his voice filled with concern.

Rex, ever the critic, scoffed. "He could have won faster," he remarked, seemingly unimpressed. 

Fang shook his head, a hint of disapproval in his eyes. "He did fine, Rex," he countered. 

Kev's gaze followed Rex's as he noticed Barry, the bear bouncer, looking up at Fang from the pit. The bearman's expression was a mix of hope and trepidation, clearly seeking his boss's approval. Fang, however, seemed just as interested in Barry, his eyes lingering on the victorious fighter as he was led out of the pit by the announcer.

Rex, sensing Fang's distraction, leaned closer. "Did you want a stronger opponent, boss?" he asked, his voice a low growl. "I can arrange something for next week."

Fang shook his head. "No, that's enough," he replied, his tone dismissive.

Rex nodded, a predatory grin spreading across his face. He turned to Kev, his eyes gleaming with a suggestive glint. "Hey, human," he purred, "if you ever want to see me fight, just let me know. I'll even let you give me a massage afterward."

Kev's cheeks flushed, a mix of embarrassment and a strange thrill coursing through him. He managed a weak smile. "Maybe some other time," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

Rex chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that echoed through the booth. "Anytime you want it, little guy," he said with a wink, before sauntering away, his muscular frame disappearing into the crowd.

The announcer's voice boomed through the room once more, cutting through the lingering excitement of Barry's victory. "One more cheer for Barry, folks! A decisive victory for the grizzly bear!"

The crowd roared its approval, their cheers and whistles echoing through the cavernous space.

"And now," the announcer continued, his voice rising in a dramatic crescendo, "prepare yourselves for the next thrilling matchup! A battle of aerial agility versus brute strength! In this corner, soaring high above the competition, the magnificent eagleman, Talon!"

A spotlight illuminated a figure, much smaller than Barry or Crusher, standing in the pit. The eagleman, his feathers gleaming like polished bronze, spread his wings wide, his sharp eyes surveying the crowd with a regal air.

"And his opponent," the announcer bellowed, "weighing in at a monstrous five hundred pounds, the unyielding force of nature, the ox man, Ox!"

Another wave of cheers erupted from the crowd, their excitement palpable. The ox man, a mountain of muscle and fur, lumbered into the pit, his massive horns lowered in a gesture of challenge.

Fang leaned closer to Kev, a thoughtful expression on his face. "This will be an much interesting fight," he remarked, his voice a low rumble.

Kev, still a bit unsettled by the earlier display of brutality, frowned. "Why?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"There's even more of a weight difference between these two," Fang explained. "And… Barry chose to fight Crusher to redeem his failure yesterday. This eagleman, however, is choosing to fight the ox for a measly sum of prize money. I'm curious to see how far his desperation will get him."

The fight began with a blur of motion. Talon, with a powerful flap of his wings, launched himself from the ground. He was on eye level with the spectators, hovering for a moment before diving down towards his opponent. Ox, his massive frame rooted to the ground, bellowed a challenge, his horns poised for a counterattack.

Talon's agility was mesmerizing. He darted in and out of Ox's reach, his sharp talons raking across the ox man's exposed flesh, leaving bloody trails in their wake. Ox, though powerful, was slow and cumbersome, his attempts to land a blow proving futile against the eagleman's aerial assault.

The crowd roared with each successful strike, their bloodlust fueled by the spectacle of violence. The air crackled with a primal energy, the scent of blood and sweat mingling with the smoky haze that hung over the pit. In and out, the eagle's wings flapped and tucked giving him a nearly unreadable reach. Every time Ox thought he would get the bird in his grip he would slip away, dodging by inches with a gust of air.

Talon, sensing his opponent's weakening resolve, pressed his advantage. He landed on Ox's back, his talons digging deep into the thick flesh, his beak tearing at the ox man's neck. Ox's bellows of rage turned into pained grunts as he stumbled, his massive body finally succumbing to the relentless onslaught.

With a final, triumphant cry, Talon ripped his talons free, sending a spray of blood across the sand. The ox man collapsed, his body a broken, bloody heap on the floor of the pit. The crowd erupted in a frenzy of cheers and applause, their excitement reaching a fever pitch.

The pelican announcer, his voice booming through the speakers, declared Talon the victor. But the eagleman wasn't finished. He strutted over to the fallen Ox, his chest puffed out in a display of dominance. He raised a foot, his talons glinting in the dim light, and drove them into Ox's back, eliciting a pained groan from the defeated fighter.

The crowd went wild, their cheers reaching a deafening crescendo. Fang, his eyes narrowed, leaned closer to Kev. "A magnificent fight," he murmured, his voice a low rumble. "Commanding. Efficient."

Kev, his stomach churning, forced a smile. "It was... something, to say the least," he replied, his voice strained.

As the medics rushed in to tend to the fallen Ox, Kev's gaze drifted back to the pit. He caught Talon's eye, the eagleman staring at him with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine.

Fang's gaze followed Kev's, landing on Talon, who stood triumphantly amidst the chaos of the pit. A flicker of disapproval crossed Fang's face, his lips tightening into a thin line. He turned to Twitch, his voice a low growl. "Go," he instructed, "tell Rex to bring that eagle up for a drink."

Twitch nodded, his ears twitching nervously. "Yes, sir," he replied, his quiet voice barely above a whisper. "I'll tell Rex to meet you at the VIP table right away." He quickly disappeared into the crowd, his small frame weaving through the throng of excited patrons.

With the main event concluded, the crowd began to disperse, their adrenaline-fueled excitement slowly dissipating. The pelican announcer's voice boomed through the speakers once more. "Winners, please proceed to the counter to collect your prize! The odds were 10 to 1 on Ox. There will be some happy gamblers tonight!"

Kev overheard snippets of conversation as the crowd filtered out of the room. Some expressed their admiration for Talon's skill and ruthlessness, while others grumbled about the ox-man's apparent lack of effort, suggesting he'd thrown the fight. Kev shuddered, his gaze drawn to the bloodstained sand in the pit. If the Ox man had thrown the fight… he deserved an Oscar.

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