Toko was done playing with these apes. While Raze ran off to cause havoc, his job was to focus on the main fighters.

  “Time for a grand hunt!” he growled aloud with barely contained glee. He could smell their fear as he started towards the big man with the hammer first. He had goaded him multiple times in the fight so far, forcing his anger to cloud his judgment.

  Micah ran towards Toko with his mighty two handed hammer raised high. His friends had fallen and his loved ones were all dead. He knew he had to buy time for his brother to get back into the fight.

  Meanwhile Toko did the one thing that always destroyed the pride and willpower of a fighter, he caught Micah’s hammer mid-swing. “You’re using this wrong, let me show you how it’s done meat.” he growled, tearing the hammer from Micah’s grip.

  The amount of force required to stop a swing from Micah, who was very well known as one of the strongest left, was astronomical. As the hammer stopped, Micah was pulled forward by the momentum. The large wolf used the force of his swing against him and with his massive rock like fist counter-punched; sending the large man to the ground in a slump.

  The blow stunned and silenced the area as the wolf grinned, then he immediately shot towards Zero before anyone could get their bearings.The boy tried to raise a shield of ice to block but the great wolf swung Micah’s hammer with such force that the ice shattered inward. Zero was peppered with shards like a shotgun blast and he slumped, unmoving, to the ground.

  Toko dropped the dead caster and continued to rampage with a jagged sword in one hand and the large hammer in the other. He gripped the hammer in a pitching motion and threw it into the battlements, killing many in tumbling debris.

  “Now this is a battle!” he thundered. He wore a happy expression, until the message popped.

  Enemies 1 of 2 slain.

  Your planet has drawn added attention.

  Rewards and contributions are being recalculated.

  Update: Sufficient requirements met for upgraded reward.

  Good Luck Humanity.

  Toko was but a boy when his uncle Raziel, or Raze as the tribe called him, returned from the Great Forest. The old ones in the pack had always said that he had lost his heart to the Giant Spider Matriarch of the forbidden land.

  When he returned limping and alone from that terrible place, a great pain entered Toko's heart. He kept looking behind his uncle, frantically searching for his brother, Maza. None of those that had ventured into the forest ever returned, that included his Uncle’s mate and unborn child. His uncle’s sanity had been lost since his escape from The Great Fiend. He might’ve escaped death, but it clung to him all the same. The smiling hunter was gone and replaced with a beast, constantly on edge. He acted the part very well, but everyone knew that he was just looking for a place to die. Uncle Raziel didn’t deserve this backwater death.

  “There is no honor in this place.” Toko murmured, as he stared around at the remaining pink apes. “I will avenge you uncle.” he decreed, while staring into the sky.

  “For the Golden Claw Tribe of Beastholme! For my mighty God Ursus! For all of my realm of ArcFauna!” screamed the great wolf.

  Joshua stood from the rubble without a sound, glancing to the right at Morgan’s headless body. He then swung his head to the left, witnessing his brother's ragged breaths. Something broke inside of him at that moment. He looked down at his hands, wondered why he felt nothing. It was as if he had finally been freed from his shackles.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  He could do this.

  Walking towards Toko with a casual stride, Joshua decided to give up trying to force the power. He could feel the energy with each step coalescing around him. The rage from his face dropped into a smile as he walked slowly towards the large wolf. Dropping his shield Aegis in an indignant show of force, he merely clinched Legion with both hands.

  Toko could instantly tell that the ape had changed somehow. This was not borrowed power, but enlightenment; in the middle of battle no less.This had become a worthy foe. “Now you’re finally showing the face of a real warrior!” said Toko with a massive grin. “Let’s finally have a real battle to determine your species’ fate, no more stealth and magic. I challenge you to a duel!” he said, pointing his sword at Joshua.

  Joshua continued his slow walk forward, not even dignifying the wolf with a response. He was not the same, he would no longer serve the old world or its weak customs. 'I am a Conqueror now.' he thought as he strode forward with Legion held parallel to the ground.

  “Honor less ape!” spat Toko as he burst forward, raising both the jagged blade and Micah’s hammer high for an overhead smash.

  Joshua had no way to describe the feeling that he experienced in that moment. He could actually see the wolf’s energy flow up through its body and the tenseness of its muscles beginning to contract. Joshua let out a loud and course laugh. All of his burdens were gone; all chains broken. 'I can be free!' he thought in maniacal glee.

  As Toko smashed both weapons forward, Joshua slid back effortlessly right before the moment of impact. With lightning-fast reflexes, the wolf looked sideways in time to see Joshua executing a horizontal slash. The blade was white hot. Toko could feel the heat from the blade as it sliced cleanly through his left shoulder. Micah’s hammer tumbled from his grasp.

  Joshua had stolen the wolf’s inertia and used it as his own with frightening speed. As the wolf jumped back while slashing upward, Joshua dove into a roll while simultaneously grabbing his brother’s hammer from the ground.

  “I’ll be borrowing this brother.” he muttered with a bloody smile.

  He sheathed Legion while taking up the powerful hammer in a low stance, similar to an umpire’s. Joshua exploded into action while winding the hammer up like a bat, slamming into the side of Toko’s face. For the first time since his adulthood ceremony, the scarred Chief was knocked from his feet.

  The hammer hummed in the air after the blow. The power of a force imbued hit reverberated throughout the Killing Fields.

  Toko stood and brushed his lips, blood gushing from his shoulder wound. It slowly started its regeneration. Toko spat out a tooth as he started growing a new fang. “Did you ever wonder how we killed so many of your kind so quickly?” he asked, stalling for more time to heal.

  “Did you hear Raze or I yell out our abilities as we massacred your friends and family? Your ignorant species doesn’t even understand how to properly use your abilities.” Toko said taking on his customary snarl.

  “Your usage of power is pathetic. Our slaves don't even shout out their skills in the middle of a fight. Are you monkeys stupid? Why would you tell your enemy of your intentions?” he laughed. “You’d all be slaughtered the moment you left this place and stepped into the real world.” he said, taking a few steps forward and regaining his balance.

  “Besides, did you ever wonder why they only sent two of us?!" Suddenly Toko burst forward, wounds healed. "Trust me, it’s better if I kill you all now!” He yelled as he swung his massive claws towards Joshua’s exposed face.He knew he was faster than the ape and figured he’d at least get a gash in, before ripping his throat out.

  Joshua felt the transference of energy before the wolf burst forward. He moved his head a few inches to the left...

  Toko’s piercing claws met complete air, shocking the wolf. Before he had time to correct his posture, Micah’s hammer solidly connected with his rib cage. It's force had been magnified and the mighty blow flung him into the sky.

  “This makes no sense!” Toko thought as shook the delirium of the blow.

  Flipping himself for his descent, he activated his skill once more mid-flight. His continued use of his Controlled Fury skill burned through his remaining life force at an accelerated pace. The pain he had been blocking started to emerge and he knew this would be the only time to use his final trump card. He needed to activate his full Berserker skill, completely giving up his intellect for power.

  He had already lost his uncle and failure here would only spell doom for his people. Those were the words passed by the shamans from mighty Ursus himself. Toko knew this victory would be a great story to tell to his ancestors in the Great Den. First though, he would eliminate this impudent ape. The wolf bared his claws and fangs as he dropped all reason and hurtled from the sky, like a comet trailing a great blood mist.

  Joshua dropped his brother's hammer and drew Legion. Toko started to glow bright red as his ability began to activate, his cells burning and regenerating at an accelerated rate. As the wolf descended from the sky, Joshua steeled himself to meet the charge head on.

  Both were so focused on their last attacks that no one noticed the Silver arrow that streaked through the darkness, finding its target.