The night was as exquisite as others deep down into the belly of Jayou's underworld. Many seedy establishments thrived and preyed on the weak and unsuspecting, where the stakes were much higher than those simple games up on the surface. Playing it safe and breaking even…what a pathetic way to go about things. The true games could only be played at places such as The Furnace.

The deafening roar of cheers as the patrons watched the deadly battle between the combatants continue. A lawless place where the only rule is to make your opponent submit or die, the choice really didn’t matter as long as the crowd got what they wanted- blood and broken bones. The warriors would have to no only deal with their opponents, but also the boiling heat from the furnaces pumping from below the arena.

From the luxury box, a slender woman of raven hair watched on gleefully from her seat as her hand held onto an empty glass that was soon filled with wine. “Everything going accordingly, my mistress?”, the servant asked once he was done pouring. The lady took a fairly quick sip and removed the glass from her plump, crimson lips. “Yes indeed, Greiger. We did well to find these two for entertainment. The vampire was easy to obtain, but the other one…well.” Before she fully replied, another round of cheers bellowed as the human combatant sliced open the vampire’s arm with his sword, and blood erupted out. “Getting him to comply took some more effort. But I suppose that when your family is taken, you can even get a vampire hunter to follow through with such an easy request.” Her lips fell onto a playful smirk before indulging in another few sips. The battle waged on and fatigue was soon falling onto the hunter. He put up one hell of a fight but before long, his quarry was able to get the upper hand on him. The vampire dodged a strike and maneuvered behind him and sank his fangs onto the side of the neck where an artery rested. The excitement of the crowd peaked and she was sure that a fair amount of people had just lost their bets.

Oh well.

The kill was long and agonizing, which was what people wanted in this business. “Looks like the vampire defeated his predator, my lady.”

“Indeed. He has earned his sought after reward. Release the hunter’s family into the arena…”, she commanded two guards that stood by. They nodded and went to fetch the new widow and her children from their imprisonment. Sadly they would have been safer had the hunter complied in the first place. It would have been much simpler for everyone present. But her hazel eyes watched passively as the prisoners were escorted to where the vengeful vampire was waiting, hunger still in his eyes.

“A simple bloodbath…no I don’t think that would be very sporting, would it?”, she pondered verbally to herself. Not that she cared whether they lived or died, but it would have been boring to watch for her. She quickly made her way to the ground floor and soon the arena grew silent at her presence.

“Hey, what are you doing here?”, the vampire snarled but his words were entirely ignored.

“Ladies and gentlemen, before our victor partakes in his reward, I’d like to offer an opportunity to take him on!” In her left hand was a large sack of silver pieces. “The winner will not only get this money but will determine the fate of this ill fortunate family!”

“That wasn’t part of the deal…”, he growled.

“You didn’t read the whole agreement, did you? And besides, I had actually expected you to lose, my friend”, she spoke softly before turning attention back to the crowd. “Come on now, don’t be shy about it. This is one hell of an opportunity, and the bets will start anew!”

The roaring of the spectators, the searing heat.  The stench of boiling blood in the air.  This was the Furnace.  An underground fight club in the underbelly of this river city, Jayou.  A righteous warrior would probably not go anywhere near this place.  Hiro Kouen considered himself a righteous warrior, but when he heard about a place like this, he wanted to see it for himself.  He watched the fight from the spectator's stands.  There was a vampire fighting a vampire hunter.  At first, it seemed the hunter had the advantage, but the his prey slowly whittled him down.  Hiro figured it was a combination of the heat and fatigue got to him.  But something was keeping him going.  Something kept the Hunter going until the end.  And it did end.  The vampire got behind the hunter, and plunged his fangs into his neck, finishing him off.

It was a damn shame.

Though the hunter probably should have not fought the vampire in an underground fight club.  What made him want to challenge him here?

And there it was.  The hunter's family was carted out in front of the audience, and in front of the vampire.  The vampire looked at the family with hungry, greedy eyes.

The woman in charge of this arena offered a challenge.

There was his righteous cause.

Hiro stood up from the stands and raised his hand.

"I accept this challenge.  If I can free the family, I challenge this vampire," Hiro's voice boomed outward.  He seemed to be the only one to accept this challenge.  Hiro leaped down into the arena, showing himself to the crowd and this woman who ran the joint.  Even if this turned out to be a death trap, even if there was some sort of stipulations, an unfair contract involved with this, Hiro had to do what he could.  Because it was the right thing to do.

Hiro wore a crimson cloak, adorned with phoenix feathers.  Under his cloak was a suit of ruby red, ornate armor, adorned with a crest of a golden phoenix.  Sheathed on his belt, there was a large sword, a magical weapon, in a gold and silver scabbard.  It appeared to be a bastard sword, long and broad enough to be wielded with two hands, but also capable of being wielded with one.  Hiro glared at the vampire.  He looked at the family who was brought here, wrapped up in this death game.  Hiro smiled and nodded to the family, as if to say: "It's okay, I am here."

For a few moments, the lady of The Furnace didn't believe that anyone would take her up on the challenge. While she preferred to watch this ongoing tale continue, Livana knew that there were other fights planned later and that the vampire was growing more impatient by the second. He was only willing to put up with so much because she was in charge (not to mention that she had the means to flat out kill him if he misbehaved). Just as she was about to retract her challenge, someone finally took the bait. 

The other patrons turned their heads towards the direction of a young man clad in armor, as did she. She painted lips curled as she watched him descend into the arena eagerly. This one would probably prove to be more sporting that the now deceased vampire hunter. Speaking of which, her eyes fell upon the corpse and gestured to one of the guards to retrieve it. He took hold of it and slung it over his shoulder with ease before taking his leave. Despite the lack of entertainment, Liv knew that he was still a capable fighter, and his body would serve her well… 

"If that's your request, then so be it. You will have your gold and the custody of the family will fall onto your hands."

"Hey! And what do I get?", the vampire said, the annoyance was clear in his throat over having to fight for his reward twice.

The lady sighed and waved him off with one hand and placed the other across her eyes. "Fine, fine. You will get them and this knight if you want." She peeked enough to look at the newcomer, "After all, the other rule here is to make your opponent quit or kill them." She gestured to the other guard and he took the prisoners with him as they made their exit. "They will remain close by until the outcome of this fight is reached." Greiger joined her with a fresh glass of wine in hand, carrying a grim look towards the combatants. His mistress retrieved it and savored it as the heat pumped from the furnaces below grew more evident. It was fortunate that this time around, she didn't have to pull any tricks and this man had come willingly. Now let's see if he could back it up.

Reluctantly, her sore winner was accepting of the new terms and licked the blood of his last foe off his lips as he glared at the knight. The party then left the two on the battlefield but stood close by to watch it up close.

"Let the fight commence!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, the vampire charge in, zigzagging the closer he drew in an attempt to throw him off his game. The battle had left him more tired than what he let on, but one swift and the decisive strike would be all that he needed. Perhaps he grew a little too arrogant quickly because the man was young and probably didn't know what he was getting into. Once he was close enough, he lunged, his right arm stretched out to rake at the man's face with his claws, hoping to maim his eyes. 

Hiro watched carefully as the woman, the kingpin of this Furnace, agreed to his terms.  She as a seductive, sultry woman, she had to have some kind of power to keep warriors and monsters like the vampire under control.  It couldn't JUST be her guards keeping power under things.  If he played his cards right, maybe he could send the whole tower of cards tumbling down.  The woman also agreed that if the vampire won, he'd get the hunter's family, AND his own life.  Hiro was unphased.

"So be it!  He can take my life if I lose, assuming this vampire can win.  I agree to your terms, m'lady." Hiro said with a confident smirk.  He noted the body of the hunter was being removed from the arena.  Good, then the vampire couldn't use his body to replenish his strength anymore.  The vampire himself had been fighting for quite some time, he was probably tired from the fight, and would be looking to end this fast.  Hiro, on the other hand, was fresh for the fight, and he had watched the whole battle quite studiously since it began.  "Sure you want to fight me?  I'll give you a chance to just give up.  You won your fight, but do you really think you can win twice after a fight like that?  You don't know who I am, or what I'm capable of.  I think you're about to get gypped by that woman."

He waited until everyone had evacuated the arena, and the word to begin the match had begun.  Hiro figured what the vampire was going to do before he did it.  The vampire started a zigzaag pattern, quickly closing the distance between him and the young Phoenix Knight.  Hiro was wearing a full suit of armor, the vampire was pissed, he was going to go for a fleshy part of the knight's body, his face.  As soon as the word was given, Hiro had his hand on the handle of his sword.

"Shining from the highest heavens, Empyeran!" Hiro drew his blade in a blinding flash of light and flames from it's sheath, in an instant, he swung the blade to counter the vampire's attack at his face.  He aimed the blade to protect his face, an arc of sacred flames erupting from the sword to attempt to cleave straight through the vampire's arm in a single stroke.  "Come on, is that all you got?"

It wouldn’t be the first time that a man of his status had entered The Furnace, but his reasons for coming here were as unknown as the previous ones that ventured into her lair. She had no recollection of summoning the likes of him to participate so as far as she knew, he came here voluntarily. But from the looks of things, this didn’t seem to be like the sort of scene that fit him. Suspicions were raised deep within her, but as always, she kept a cool head and gave him a simple nod.

The vampire jeered at the knight, “Keep on yappin’, boy. It will be really funny when I slice that tongue out your mouth!” He was agitated that he had to fight again as it was. The last thing he needed was to be shown up by the latest combatant. Already he could taste the blood of those innocent people in his mouth. “Don’t worry, I’ll feed on ya last. That-a-way, you can watch me drain that little woman and her poor children.” Surrender was the farthest thing on his mind and he made his moves as soon as the command was given.

Livana kept a close eye on things and watched with her drink in tow. Greiger stood silently with both hands behind him, ever waiting for his next order.

While the vampire thought himself to be clever in his maneuvers, he was sorely mistaken as the knight counterattack. It was only then that Liv’s servant, her most loyal one, was stirred from his silence. “Incantations? For a youngster, I find it odd that he relies on such an old art.”

“Indeed. A rare treat”, she spoke with a Cheshire cat’s grin the moment the vampire’s arm was deflected and sliced off from the rest of him. The crowd went wild and unholy excitement filled the air as the brokers attempted to keep up with the increased odds of the knight. There were certainly about to be even more losers than in the last round. “Not to mention, he wields holy magic. Can’t fathom why he would be in my establishment, though.”

The vampire snarled in pain and soon in anger over being made to be a fool. He held onto what was left of his arm. “You got no idea of who you’re messin’ with!” He nodded, sending out a signal for two other vampires to come from the crowd. Apparently, he had planted them earlier as a precaution just in case. “Can’t come to this place without a few friends, boy.”

One of them had a spiked chain in hand and another a dual pair of short swords. The former spun around and released some of the chains to attempt to wrap it around the knight’s leg while the latter charge in from the opposite side to meet up and unleash a fury of blows, hoping to land at the exposed parts of Hiro. The leader fought through the pain and went on to continue his own assault with the one good arm he had left.

"Big talk for a blood sucker.  You know what else sucks blood?  Mosquitoes.  Maybe leeches?  Parasites?  I don't know, pick one," Hiro taunted the vampire before the fight began.  The vampire came at him, and Hiro countered, slicing the vampire's arm straight off with holy flames from his sword, Temenos.  The bloodsucker gritted his teeth, snarling in pain and rage.  That pissed him off.  But it seemed there was a trump card in the vampire's sleeve, and not the sleeve Hiro just amputated from him either.  The Phoenix Knight saw two shadows lunging out from the crowd.  They were either two vampire friends or thralls, or some such.

"Heh, mosquitoes it is.  They tend to come in groups.  Never just one of them."  Hiro saw the chain coming, he jumped high over the chain, backflipping over the enemy that was coming in from behind.  Maybe they'd hit each other with their attacks, but it didn't matter.  "Raging Winds, Fire Blaze, Flare Razor!"  Hiro swung his blade with two hands, channeling mana not only from himself, but from the very Furnace itself.  A searing wind was unleashed, fiery flames mixed in scattered through the air, capable of rending flesh from bone, needless to say an area of effect attack.  "And just like mosquitoes, easily swatted away."  Depending on how durable these other vampires, thralls, or whatever they were, they were likely sliced by winds and burned by flames at the same time.  Hiro landed on the ground, and plunged forward with great Agility toward the leader of the vampires, his target.  He was likely still "alive," Hiro was going to subdue the monster by charging in and striking a decisive, though non-fatal blow before he could recover.  His time would come when he would be finished off.

While shooting insults at one another was often a product here, Liv cared very little for the jabbering between the two. The vampire was running low on gas; she could practically feel the energy slipping away from him from his brawl with the vampire hunter. Even the blood he had eventually drunk from him still needed time to disgust before he could heal his wounds. His barking, at least in her mind, was stronger than his bite. The knight, on the other hand, was fresh as can be but his choice of words in a den that was filled with malice creatures, vampires included, may have proved unwise. Perhaps he would have the skills to back up his talk and perhaps dissuade the crowd from jumping him.

The fight had already begun and yet the current victor was having some trouble against the young gent. Already he had lost an arm to him and was forced to call on reinforcement. It was a sad sight to see, yet not against the rules as the trio attacked him. It was curious that even with all that armor he boasted, the knight was able to jump so high over one of the vamps. The one that was approaching from behind swiftly dug his heels in and followed suit while the chain from the other one failed to capture anything and he reeled it in before giving chase himself. Not that it mattered once the knight unleashed his second attack and scorched them with a combination attack. They weren’t the only ones that felt the heat magnified by his magic; the crowds were burning up a little as well. Even Livana felt the unnatural heat while Greiger glanced over to her. “Should we escort the heathens out from the arena.?”

“No. They came here on their own, and the consequences will fall onto them.” She didn’t care what happened to them; they weren’t part of the deal and if they died, oh well. The two were knocked away, their exposed flesh partially burned and the leader was barely able to avoid getting hit himself.

“Looks like it might be curtains for our blood-drinking friend…” It would be a pity as she watched the knight strike him down as well. She had no use for a vampire’s body since it was already technically undead. But such was life. The vampire fell onto the ground hard and she soaked in the cheers and chants to finish him off. “Go on, dear knight. You are one move away from earning that family’s freedom…”

Maybe Hiro was a little overzealous with the fire (he did want to give a good show), but he did his best not make the area of effect TOO large to actually injure any spectators.  He didn't want to burn down the whole place, or kill anyone not involved in the battle.  Hiro moved fast for someone in full armor, the armor was designed to be light, despite providing superior strength and defense.  It allowed him to cut loose and move as he wanted.

Hiro took out the two minions, and he had the main vampire in his sights.  He charged ahead at him, striking him with his sword, taking off his other arm.  The vampire hit the ground,  The vampire tried to get up, but Hiro stood with one leg on the vampire, preventing him from going anywhere.  It was at this point, Hiro heard the chants of the crowd to finish off his opponent.  To finish the vampire off.  Hiro looked about the arena, watching the bloodthirsty crowd chanting.  The woman running the Furnace spoke.  He was one move away from earning the freedom of the Hunter's family.

If only he had more time, maybe grill the vampire for info about this woman, what kind of leverage she had on the vampire to keep him in line.  But with an entire crowd of people watching, including this kingpin of the Furnace, he did not have that luxury.  Not to mention, he had to secure the family's safety.  They took priority.  He looked down at the vampire, frothing at the mouth with blood, practically.  He raised the sword above his head, blade pointed downward.

"Last words, Vampire.  Tell me, before I kill you, why would you fight for this woman, to fight for this crowd's entertainment.  Surely a vampire like yourself has better things to do than play gladiator.  It'd be safer to hide in the shadows and pick off easier meals, than . . . this," Hiro whispered, just loud enough so the vampire could hear him.  He waited for an answer, whether it was the answer to his question, or if the vampire told him to go screw himself, or some other sort of response.  After waiting for a response, Hiro plunged the sword down into the vampire's chest, aiming for the heart.  "You are avenged, Sir Hunter.  Have some solace in the afterlife that your family will live on safely."  With that, Hiro raised his fist in the air to hear the crowd's cheers.

Curiosity held onto her for a moment; pondering why he was hesitating just a little. He seemed to be in a hurry to fight this battle and get the hunter’s family their freedom. But the weapon was poised but no final act was committed just yet. Oh, she supposes that he had played his role, after all. He had been entertaining for a very brief time, and before long, the faint memory of him would leave her mind forevermore. There would be others that would grace these magnificent halls and whether their memories would live on in glory or infamy would depend on the amount of blood was stained on their hands as well as in the arena.

The crowd was getting impatient as they bellowing became one, singular, booming voice, “Finish him! Finish him! Finish him!” Liv spotted his comrades still incapacitated from the vicious assault from earlier; there would be no salvation for their ringleader. No way out.

The vampire could faintly hear his opponent’s words as clear as day. He coughed up some of the blood that was pooling in his mouth. “Probably, but I wouldn’t have to worry about finding a meal or two here. The woman there offered me an opportunity to never go hungry again as long as I fought and win. It’s simple as that, kid.” He knew his time was up, but at least he would die in a fight rather than wilting away into nothingness. He soon felt the cold steel enter his body and a long inhale took hold before he faded into the black.

The crowd erupted once more in cheers and hoots, coins were exchanged through the betting system and the booing of the losers were no match for sounds of applause ringing throughout the establishment.

Liv motioned for Greiger to follow her towards the battlefield and her eyes glanced down to the dead vampire. “Looks like we have our winner, folks!”, she exclaimed as the prisoners were escorted once more to join them. The guards left their side and took hold of the vampire’s body and a few more took custody of the two weakened ones. “You know what to do…” Livana sent the men away with the losers and then turned her sights to Hiro. “As promised, they are yours.” They were grief-stricken and fearful, but otherwise unharmed.

Perhaps the man just wanted to continue the show to its climax, maybe that’s why he delayed his foe’s demise temporarily. In any case, she tossed over the bag of silver and smiled. “And who shall we call our champion of the evening? I have to admit, I’m impressed with your skill. Even more, so that you won me back not only the money I lost from the last bout but nearly tripled it by picking you as the winner.”

". . . Well, hope you've had your fill,"  HIro pondered the vampire's words as he finished him off.  She offered the vampire an opportunity to never go hungry again.  The vampire was likely not the one to have kidnapped the slayer's family,  Was this woman's minions kidnapping people to fuel this arena?  He could talk to the slayer's family, and get more information about what happened.  He assumed that the slayer was lured here to save his family.  At any rate, the woman entered the arena, and the attendants started taking care of the clean up.  He was the victor, and the slayer's family was brought out too.

They were certainly grieving, scared, but they were unharmed.  "You guys are safe now, I won't harm you," he said, to comfort the family.  He turned his attention to the woman who addressed him.  She was very attractive, dangerous looking.  The kind of woman who'd probably sink her teeth into you, and never let go until it was too late.  He caught the bag of silver, weighing it briefly in his hand.  "My name is Hiro Kouen, madam, Phoenix Knight," HIro replied politely, bowing his head briefly, "and may I have the pleasure  of knowing your name, m'lady?"  He looked kind, though he definitely appeared on guard.  His deep blue eyes were cautious, he brushed back his red streaked, black hair.  For someone who appeared to be in his late teens or early twenties, he was definitely strong for his age.  "Well, glad you were pleased with my skill and performance, and lucky for you that I came along and decided to participate.  Might've come up with a big loss.  I was wondering what would've happened if the hunter won the last round.  You might have won money, but I can't imagine him being happy about his family having to have seen such . . . sights here.  Nor being offered up as vampire snacks.  I wouldn't have been happy if my family was offered to be fed to such denizens of the night.  Though I imagine that's what all the hired muscle is here for?"