Chapter 436 The Grand Champion
Also big thanks for @Christian Johansen for joining the Stone Rank.
You people are LEGENDARY!
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"MORTAL, I MISS YOU!"
"Oh, dear God!" Jon sighed, "What now?"
"Mortal, Mortal, I need your help with something."
"Not now, Xikil. If you notice the situation around us, it will be not good for my image to talk about those things here."
"Things? What things? Oh! Those things! But no, I am not talking about those things."
"Then hurry up, man. We’re killing someone here."
"Right, you know that Dremora I told you about? Vaxzarl?"
"The name rings a bell."
"Well, Vaxzarl told me that Shelkil from the Black Fortress has heard from Zelmax that Vixiv heard Kaxvav saying that Koxara of the clan Xalx has met with a vampire called Serana..."
"Oh! So you heard from Serana."
"... You’re smart indeed, Mortal. Right, I heard from her."
"Sorry, guys. Will take just a second." Jon excused himself from the Arena business for a second.
Somehow everyone was so polite and didn’t retort to him... or so he thought.
"Go on."
"Yes, Koxara from the clan Xalx told Kaxvav who told Vixiv who told Zelmax who told Shelkil from the Black Fortress who told Vaxzarl who told me..."
"How can you be so idiot and have an exceptional memory at the same time?"
"Eh! Don’t know."
"Fine, what did Vaxzarl hear from Shelkil from whatever it was, I completely forget!"
"Shelkil from the Black Fort..."
"The POINT, Xikil."
"Oh, Vaxzarl told me that she is doing alright.
"Oh, really?"
"You asked me if I have information about her last time, right."
"Okay, is it just that or there is another legendary fable I need to hear about?"
"No. Just that she is doing alright in Coldharbour. She goes to the Hollow City to spend time in secret to and that’s all. No one discovered any passage to the Hollow City or anything."
"Well, that’s assuring, Xikil. I don’t know what could I have done without you..."
"Right? I know too."
"... being a complete waste of my time. You could have just... Nevermind! Where was I? I’ve arrived at the Imperial City, had a party, sex sex sex, well that’s too many sex, challenged the Grand Champion to save Mirren’s chastity, beat them all the way to him, had the fucker cornered and he summoned a big ass Storm Monarch."
"... Mortal, you are getting good at this."
"Goddammit! Your idiocy is contagious. Just Fire Breath that Storm Monarch and get lost."
"Gladly."
And the fight continued... or rather ended.
Xikil spat out a chunk of the Essence Draining Flame at the Storm Atronach then went after it and started punching the stones of its body while Jon went after Darius.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"... You monster!"
"Been hearing that a lot lately." Jon replied at the dumbfounded Darius who couldn’t still be healed from Xikil’s appearance and yes... it is that scary.
Jon’s attack was still full of vigor and power while it seemed that Darius was already drained after Jon’s beam attack.
"Die for I, your daddy." Jon shouted while waving the glaive at Darius who took the impact with his axe and retreated.
"Bas... Bastard! They’ll get you for this!"
"Who’s they?"
"Ask! Your! Maker!" Darius lashed out waving his axe with all the strength left in him but Jon evaded easily while leaving a big cut on Darius’s back.
"Was it the ones who invested all these Master level scrolls? It can’t be the gambling lords since they are mostly cowards?"
"..."
"Interesting! Things are finally escalating." Jon smiled and waved the glaive upwards down attacking the head.
"ARGH!"
Darius tried to defend but the blade went through his helm and cut his face taking his left eye. He completely staggered from the pain but kept distance from Jon.
"Come on, fight back. I know you run out of scrolls but you can at least wave that axe, right? I am not killing a sheep right here." Jon said with a stern tone rather than being his provocative self.
"SHUT UP!" Darius was angry knowing that he was bested.
Ever since becoming the Grand Champion, he knew this day would come but not while he is in his prime. Not too soon.
Life doesn’t wait for anyone to make amends, that said, Darius was now in the same position he put many in before.
Someone younger and stronger will appear, that’s the iron rule of the Arena, but Jon was just too hateful.
A man with so many skills and abilities should keep to himself and leave the world of normal decent folk to decent folk and live among the monsters he is one of. That’s what was in Darius’s mind.
Jon realized that and now that fear got into Darius, it was no longer fun.
"Sigh! Fine."
Jon teleported from his place and appeared behind Darius waving the glaive at his neck.
"No!"
Darius refused to surrender and defended but Jon’s actions were more of a cold assassin rather than a gallant fighter. He disappeared from his place and attacked from another before Darius realize.
An arm was taken.
Darius tried to defend with the one that is left but it was taken too.
This level of attacks... Jon actually had more in his sleeves than what he showed!
Jon, however, would disagree. In a fair fight, he is well matched with Darius but if he was looking to kill from the start, Darius wouldn’t have even realized what hit him.
The [Ebony Mail] concealed Jon’s presence and didn’t hinder any of his movement as the armor was almost weightless. Having such an armor means Jon’s assassination skill has jumped a few notches up. [Ahzidal’s Boots of the Apostle] made him fast as wind. [The Shadow Stone] made him even faster and sneakier.
Jon may have never practiced being an assassin but he has the aptitude, the potential and the ability. Darius was being dismantled by all manners of sneaky swift attacks.
Last what he saw was the glaive’s blade coming out of his chest through his back. The [Absorb Vitality] enchantment on the [Ebony Blade] ended everything faster and quicker.
Darius fell on his knees with a face full of wounds but not a shred of agony.
Jon was confederate. Even though he didn’t like Darius, making him shit himself while calling Jon a monster and shouting to heaven is no proper way for a Grand Champion to die. A swift cold death is better than a miserable one if he couldn’t give his enemy the proper death of a heated fight.
By the time, Xikil was also done with the Storm Monarch and excused himself back to Oblivion.
Jon looked around to see the crowd that was looking at the Arena with shock.
"Darius died?"
"This fast? No way, he just summoned a big Atronach."
"Impossible! Don’t you see that Jon Dare has summoned a Dragon."
"That’s not a dragon you idiot. Dragon’s don’t get summoned like Daedra."
"But that... he killed Darius like that..."
While some questioned the end of the match, others didn’t think of anything and just cheered. These were Jon’s die-hard fans.
"Jon!"
"Dare!"
"Jon!"
"Dare!"
"Jon ... Jon ... Jon ... Jon ...!"
"... Dare ... Dare ... Dare ... Dare!"
Jon took his helmet off with a slight smile and looked at the announcer who was surrounded by many people. It seems like things were not going as smooth as he thought as some nobles seemed to have another say in the match.
This wasn’t the stereotypical corrupt noble thing but it wasn’t that far either. It is simply when someone loses a hefty sum of money, they tend to do anything to not let that money slip away if they have the power.
Jon focused his Aura on his ears and heard them talking about not letting a wanted exiled person represent the Imperial Arena. One also said that the Thalmor Arrest Force should be on the Gates of the Imperial Capital right now.
Jon smiled and shook his head.
He can just summon a fucking Daedric Titan and shoot Master level spells yet these idiots want to take the meat from the lion’s mouth.
"HEY!" Jon shouted.
His voice carried a lot of fighting spirit and killing intent that woke many out of their dreams. Of course, he can’t go on a rampage in the Imperial Capital, not if he is not afraid of the hidden masters in the Empire, but if he decided to swiftly and effectively kill them without anyone knowing, who can stop him.
The announcer was freed from the clutches of the Nobles and arrived at his platform and blew his trumpet.
*Trumpet Music*
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Duncan of Daggerfall, your humble and loyal minstrel. It is my honor and my privilege to announce the new Grand Champion of the Imperial Arena, the Grandest Arena of Tamriel. By defeating the former Grand Champion in a legendary Fight, we present to you the Grand Champion, Jon Dare!"
***
"I think it is time!" Jon said.
"I can’t believe we are saying farewells in the Bloodworks. You are horrible, Jon. You could have at least stayed for the night." Vittoria said.
"I know but as far as I was told, his Imperial Majesty seems to not be appreciating my innocent visit to his glorious city." Jon said.
"I’ll deal with my cousin."
"I prefer to let you have less trouble to deal with. I’ll see you again in two years or less if we are lucky."
She nodded without replying.
"Well then, I hope the last trick is ready."
"Yes." She replied, "Mr. Duncan, I believe that you are familiar with Sir Jon Dare."
"Duncan of Daggerfall, a humble bard. It is my meet to see you in person, Grand Champion."
Vittoria introduced the Arena Announcer, Duncan, to Jon.
"Thank you. I understand that you are the man Miss Vittoria recommended for the job."
"Indeed."
"And you understand the risk?"
"Grand Champion, I may be not an excellent fighter such as yourself but I am still a member of the Arena."
"Good man." Jon said and handed Duncan a chest of a few Potion Vials, Scrolls and a small staff.
"These are 15 Transformation Potions, something that can make you take my form, and these scrolls have spells only I known to cast. As agreed on, during the next two years, I want you to make at least ten appearances in my form all across Cyrodiil. Appear, attract attention, and you will be rewarded. I left your pay with Vittoria and if anything happened to you, your family in Daggerfall will be given A Thousand Gold Coins for the risk you have taken."
"I am not sure, Grand Champion, but I think you are tempting me to die as soon as I can."
"Hahaha! Good man." Jon laughed.
He looked around and then at Vittoria.
"This is goodbye."
"I will see you again."
"Fare thee well, Grand Champion."
Jon said as he left the to a secret entrance.
"Where do you think you are going?" But someone shouted behind him.
"God, no!" Jon exclaimed.
The old Arena Master was right on Jon’s heels.
"Here! You’re the Grand Champion, take your [Raiment of Valor]!" The old man tossed a heavy plate armor at Jon with the Empire’s Crest on it.
"I’ll keep it with Duncan." Jon said.
"Now scram! Some Imperials are here to give you a warrant of surrender. If they catch you, you will be officially banned from entering the city and will be stripped from your Grand Champion Title."
"Okay! See you."
Jon walked out of the Arena to find his companions waiting for him outside in their fancy carriage.
"Mirren, my friend, no one is after our gay scene anymore." (Jon)
"I told you we should leave before he says it." (Mirren)
"Too late! We have Thalmor on our twelve and Imperial on our six. You guys know what that means, right?" (Jon)
"What?" (Isha)
Jon drove the carriage at top speed in the middle of the Imperial City and made the bystanders jump around in fright. Not until he reached the City Gate did he see the Thalmor arrest team.
"Gentlemen! This is the day you’ll always remember as the day you almost caught..."
*Crash*
"..."
"..."
"..."
"... captain jon dare."
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