Connections, Money and Secrets [Almaz]

[Nox]

There was no wound to gauge the infection. There was only the growing intensity of the hordes presence. It pulled at Nox's mind. His control waned and he wanted to give in. His ribs ached from the crash. The blood in his mouth tasted glorious. The scent of battle embroiled the horce. Nox closed his eyes and felt the pressure of the man as he scurried away from him as Nox felt the charge of the giant gorilla shaped horde beast clambour towards him. Anger. Fury!

And then Nox opened his eyes and the beast was inches from his face snarling and saliva dripping from its mouth. A giant fist pounded to the side and Nox smirked as he pushed his will onto the horde. It obeyed his will. The power of the gods and the weight of the horde he could reign the world with an iron fist.

Memories of past deeds flooded his mind. Horrors of things he'd done -- things he'd seen his father do. Some were worse because he'd been so young to witness such deeds. They weren't evil. But eviscerating bodies of men and women for being born the way they were. Sentients, wolfkin, sirens, furia, gods were just the latest of the deluge upon which the Atharim slaughtered...

His grip faded and the gorilla roared in his face. Chains rattled and the beast took his leave -- leaving Nox for friend not foe in this moment.

The man from the dirt was scaling the fence that separated the ring from the crowd. Nox blinked. His mind returning from the haze of the horde just as the giant beast leapt to the fence and the man was tossed to the ground with a loud thudchunk, his head splattering with the force.

Nox quickly wove a cap of air above them, and shouted towards the crowd. "Off the fence." Anyone who didn't listen would regret it as he ripped a single cable from the lighting above with air and tied it to the fence electrifying it with a sudden jolt.

Hair and flesh burning filled the air as it popped, and the gorilla was catapulted back into the ring. It turned to glare at Nox. The fire of the hordes fury and rage weighed on Nox. He could feel the burning from his hands and feet as the horde relayed the message to his body. He shook his hand and stared back defiantly at the creature with whom he now shared the bond. One of them would not make it.

The wolfbrother was the only combatant left in the ring and he rushed towards the gorilla. The giant beast turned to look at the wolf man with human teeth lunging at it's giant self. Nox flung a wall between the two and growled at the creature. "Leave him alone!" Nox threw a fireball at the beast and it splattered across its chest and he bit back the pain of burning flesh that recoiled in his brain.

The pain didn't stop the horded gorilla as it pounded its large fists against its chest and Nox felt each blow as if he were being beaten to a pulp below. His breath caught in his chest and he gasped for air. The gorilla saw the moment of weakness and bull rushed Nox.

A form from the side knocked Nox clear out of the path of the clambouring beast. Nox gasped for breath as he pulled himself and his would be rescuer to their feet. Nox didn't have time to catch his breath before the beast was rushing towards them again in a fury. They parted ways and the beast crashed between them into the walled ring.

Nox was seeing double. His head hurt. His mind was dazed with confusion from the pain and the horde. It was trying to gain control. Trying to win to fight and Nox held on to the power inside. He pulled on it deeper than he'd done before. He remembered the searing pain of the Ijiraq. And the pain of the night he lost Nova. It seared his soul. Poured pain and anguish into his mind and he held on to it and pushed the horde back.

Nox hadn't killed in the ring -- others had died. He'd done his best to save those he could. Not this time. Fueled by the fire of the power gifted to him and the evil he hated about himself Nox unleashed a flurry of blows. The makeshift iron shaft smashed into the face of the gorilla with a loud crack followed by a lashing around its neck of razor sharp firy wire made of the power of the gods. It snaked around the creatures neck and drew tighter.

And one last tug the head of the horded beast tumbled to the ground and blood splattered everywhere. Nox collapsed to the ground spent from the power and the pain of losing his head. He clutched at his throat with his good hand and he didn't care that the tears flowed hot down his cheeks in pain and loss. Someone helped him up. Nox didn't see who through the tears -- didn't care. Fury and anger washed away left only the emptiness of loss.