Disbelief surged through Cedric’s mind. He refused to believe this was how it would end. His fingers fumbled at his side, blindly searching for the dagger sheathed at his waist. Finally, they brushed against the cool metal of the hilt. A flicker of triumph ignited in Cedric’s chest...
Just as the creature collapsed onto him. And did not move again.
Groaning, Cedric rocked under the monster’s crushing weight until he got enough momentum to roll the body off himself. His brows shot up when he realized someone else’s sword was buried in its side. A pair of worn black boots stepped into the periphery of Cedric’s vision. He followed them up, taking in their owner’s crimson skin, a leather cuirass that was slightly too large, and finally the pair of short horns, half-hidden under sleek black hair.
One of the nocterrian champions, Dissidua Pyr.
“You have my gratitude.” Panting, Cedric rose to his feet, his eyes pinned on the fallen beast as he retrieved his sword. He turned to Dissidua, his hand extended in thanks.
The nocterrian eyed Cedric’s hand as they used the creature’s lifeless body to wipe black blood from their blade. “Keep it.”
Cedric barely had time to react before Dissidua’s blade was slicing down at him. He threw his own sword up just in time to block the blow. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like, human?”
Cedric gritted his teeth as he threw his weight into his sword and pushed Dissidua back. So much for unity. That didn’t take long.
The nocterrian released an irritated noise as they spun their sword back toward Cedric in another attempted strike.
Prepared this time, Cedric parried it easily. “I am not your enemy in here.”
“You are my enemy everywhere.”
Another strike, another clash of steel on steel. Only now the nocterrian suddenly had a long dagger in their other hand, crossing it with their sword to form an X as they bore down on Cedric. Cedric cursed as he felt his knee quiver. He was still recovering from being crushed by that beast. But he knew if he let Dissidua get him on his knees, it was over.
Mustering his remaining scraps of strength, Cedric dug his heel into the dirt andshoved.Dissidua was forced to retreat several steps.
The reprieve could barely be called as much. Mere seconds passed before Dissidua was launching themself at Cedric again, fast, vicious—a wolf lunging for its prey.
Cedric blocked one relentless blow after another, muscles screaming in protest. “Why are you doing this? You save me just to kill me? This is madness!” he shouted.
Dissidua’s crimson lips twisted into a humorless smile as they pulled back. “You misunderstand,” they said. “I didn’t save you. I took your kill. Now I get to add you to my tally and cut down another champion standing between me and the prize.”
Another?Cedric held his sword aloft, its sharp tip pointing at the nocterrian’s throat. “This isn’t that kind of competition.”
“Isn’t it? Only one of us will walk away with the power of the crown. Do you truly expect us all to hold hands and waltz through this Crucibletogether? Noctis take me, humans are even stupider than I thought.”
“Yet I am not the one picking needless fights with my fellow champions.” Cedric gritted his teeth. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Dissidua snorted, lunging forward with weapons raised, aiming for the tender flesh above Cedric’s chestplate, where his neck met his shoulder. The nocterrian’s mouth curved with what Cedric was sure was another acerbic retort poised at the tip of their tongue.
He would never find out.
A savage growl was their only warning as another blur pounced from the shadows—a second beast, slightly smaller than the first but just as fierce. Just as deadly. It sprang upon Dissidua, who screamed as its claws shredded their leather armor like it was made of paper.
Cedric hesitated for less than a heartbeat, slashing his sword down against the new beast, its leathery hide tinted green by the aurora’s light. Despite everything, he couldn’t just leave the nocterrian to die.
The beast’s roar was bloodcurdling as Cedric’s sword connected, its barbed tail thrashing, eyes wild as it looked for the source of its pain. It twisted as it leapt into the air, landing deftly to Cedric’s left. He readied himself to take another swing at the creature, but with a howl, it loped off.
The air was laced with the scent and taste of copper as Cedric sucked in several panting breaths. A nauseating gurgle filled the air. He looked down at the prone body of Dissidua Pyr, their hands clutching at their throat, torn open and gushing a river of maroon. The nocterrian’s eyes were pinned open in fear and pain as they exhaled a final, wet breath.
Cedric sheathed his sword, hands shaking. His heart beat a thunderous tempo behind his armor.
It was so needless. If Dissidua hadn’t wasted their time fighting Cedric, they never would have been caught off guard by the second creature. It’s not as though Cedriclikedthe Arbiter’s pronouncement. He didn’t relish the concept of being forced to work with the Arcanians any more than the next champion. But he certainly didn’t see the point in killing each other, either.
Not when it was clear the Crucible would do that for them.
A high-pitched screamrent the air. Cedric raced down a sloping dirt hill toward the source of the sound, adrenaline pumping through his veins. He didn’t think he was too far from the archway now, but he couldn’t ignore the sound of distress.
