"The keys, grab the keys," Amir said and pointed at a bunch of keys on the floor. Aria grabbed the keys and they ran. They got to the collectible room, where they tried a couple of keys.
Amir turned a key and the bolt turned. He pushed it open, and they all rushed in. They looked around for their swords.
"We should take some things we might need," Aria said as she browsed through The Butcher's stuff.
"No, we only take what belongs to us," Amir barked and turned to look at Aria.
"Found them," Oroc said, and Amir rushed to see their swords in a glass case. Oroc broke the glass with his fist.
"It's unlocked," Amir said after he lifted the lid. They took the swords and ran out.
Outside was The Butcher, in his right hand was a panabas. He was still in his butcher uniform. A pair of trousers and a tucked-in shirt. Over that was a black tarp apron that reached his knees.
They watched as a cattle prod materialized in his left hand. Oroc created a liminal space and placed his sword in it. Aria did the same, and Amir, on the other hand, materialized his wakizashi.
He lunged at The Butcher with it along with his red sword.
Aria stepped back and fired a number of arrows at The Butcher. Which he swatted away with his panabas. It had a huge blade that looked like an oversized meat cleaver.
They kept their formation, Aria stayed long-range, Oroc stayed mid-range and Amir was in close quarters. If Art was around he would have been switching between them.
Amir swung his red sword at him and blocked with his short sword. The Butcher did the same, blocking with his cattle prod.
After a series of clashes, Amir's short sword disappeared during a block. The Butcher ended up cutting him on the shoulder. He retreated as Aria and Oroc covered him.
Oroc swung his weapon at The Butcher's head. He tried to block it with his cattle prod. An 80-centimeter metal rod with an insulated tip. At the tip were two probes which were electrically charged.
The Butcher put up his prod, letting the chain of Oroc's weapon wrap around it. Oroc ran towards him. He swung his oversized cleaver at him. Oroc slid and pulled on the chain.
This forced the prod into The Butcher's eye, frying it.
A sizzling sound shushed everyone. This made The Butcher's scream echo across the hall. He dropped his panabas and dropped to his knees. His prod disappeared and he covered his eye with both hands.
They all ran past him to the stairs. Not looking back they climbed as quickly as they could.
They only noticed the guard followed them when they got to the first landing.
"Why is it following us?" Oroc asked and looked at the guard who stared at them. Aria grabbed it and pushed it to the edge of the stairs.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Amir said, getting Aria's attention.
"Sending him back down. He could be a problem,"
Aria held him over the edge.
"He helped us remember. I am not sure it is like the others. I'm sure it would not be a problem…,"
"I won't," the guard said and startled Aria, who let go of him. Amir lunged to grab him but Aria quickly grabbed him before he could fall.
She pulled him away from the edge.
"What do we do with it?" Oroc asked, and the horn sounded immediately after.
"Let's focus on getting more keys now," Amir said and walked into the landing. The others followed him. They walked to the pit.
"I don't think any of us can win against Grotesque. We should bet for Grotesque," Amir said and they nodded in agreement.
"I can win against him," the guard said out of the blue. Amir ignored him and went to the betting counter.
He got back with a frown.
"The odds are stacked against us even if we bet against us. They don't believe anyone can win against grotesque.
They would multiply our amount by a thousand if we win against Grotesque.
If we win a game betting against Grotesque's opponent. We only get double our staked amount.
"I think we should give the guard a chance. We can bet only two of the keys," Amir suggested, and Oroc hesitated. Amir and Aria were able to convince him after constant persuasion.
Aria took the guard and the betting counter.
"This is my fighter, two keys for him against Grotesque…,"
"Minimum bet is five keys," the attendant said cutting Amir off mid-sentence.
"Fine, five and ten for Grotesque," Amir agreed, he was about to walk away when the attendant asked,
"What's the name?"
"Name, Phobia?" Amir said and the attendant nodded. Amir walked to Aria and Oroc to relay the information. They escorted Phobia to the pit.
The crowd cheered immediately Groyesque got into the pit. Grotesque lunged at Phobia, with a blow he knocked him out.
The cheers died down immediately. Aria, Amir, and Oroc looked at each other.