Asher: (Shouting) One Ninety!
About A Month Later...
North Western Side of Pentagram City, One of Leo's Fighting Arenas...
Asher: (Shouting) One Ninety-One! Come on! Ten more!
[A fair bit underground inside of one of the fighting arenas owned by the Demon Overlord known as The King, or his actual name Leo, is Asher shouting for some yet-to-be-determined reason. The large circular room which is usually filled to the brim with demons cheering on a fight is completely empty aside from a few of Leo's well-dressed Henchmen wearing full suits, boots, and white gloves patrolling the barren arena ensuring everything is in order. Most of them seem to be surveying the arena with pistols in hand while a few look to be holding some brooms sweeping up dirt, dust, cigarette butts, empty alcohol bottles, and a few other assorted objects into a pile. The lights that illuminate the arena are slightly dimmed, only the ones at the center of the arena lighting up the fighting ring are at full luminosity. Like the arena, the commentator booth above the fighting ring is also completely desolate along with the private observer booth across from it. Back down in the arena, one of the King's Henchmen seems a bit preoccupied as he leans against one of the upper railings of the spectator seats looking down at the spherical chained ring below. Whatever he's looking at seems to be keeping his interest pretty well.]
*Squeak*
Asher: (Shouting) One Ninety-Two!
[A door squeaks open behind the Henchman leaning against the railing. The Henchman looks over his shoulder towards the door and sees another King Henchman standing in the doorway. The Second Henchman walks out of the doorway and lets the door swing close behind him.]
King Henchman 2: *Groan* Ugh...
[The First Henchman watches as the second one starts approaching him. The Second Henchman is rubbing his head around where the horns on his head are. Judging by the expression on his face he looks to be a bit in pain but doesn't seem injured.]
King Henchman 2: Are they still at it?
King Henchman 1: Yep...
[The Second Henchman walks up to the railing the First one is leaning on and leans against it as well. The two look downwards towards the center of the fighting ring.]
King Henchman 1: They've been at it for almost two hours now...
King Henchman 2: Fucking hell! I can hear them yelling all the way in the back rooms! It's starting to give me a damn headache!
Asher: (Shouting) One Ninety-Three!
King Henchman 1: It's Bruns who's been doing all the shouting since they started. Leatherhead has just been lifting weights while silently tolerating his obnoxious shouting.
[Down in the center of the arena, inside of the chain sphere surrounding the ring, is the arena champion Croc Leatherhead, and a newcomer fighter Asher Burns. They're both standing in the very center of the ring surrounded by dozens of dumbbells and weights of various shapes and sizes.
Both of them are wearing their fight club "outfits" which just consist of being shirtless with their normal pants and having bandages wrapped around their feet, hands, and arms. Asher's skin shines a tad bit under the beam of the lights above. It looks like he's been sweating a fair bit recently. Croc on the other hand doesn't appear to be sweating but his scales are reflecting a tiny bit of light. Oh, and in case I forgot to mention Asher is–]
King Henchman 2: Why the hell is he standing on the barbell?
King Henchman 1: I have no fucking idea...
[The First Henchman drops his head a bit against his left hand. The Second Henchman is right in his statement. Asher is standing on top of a barbell connected to two large weights that Croc seems to be lifting with both arms above his head. He appears to be perfectly balanced on top of it with his arms crossed. The weights seem to be made out of some sort of heavy material and are around the size of Asher. There's some white paint on the side of each of the two large weights that read "1–T". Croc seems to be struggling a bit given by how heavily he's breathing. Or... Panting would probably be the better way to describe it. He's raising the weights above him. Well, he's trying to at least. Asher looks down at him with a glare while keeping his arms crossed.]
King Henchman 1: I can't tell if he's doing it to try to add more weight and make it more challenging for the lizard, or he's just adding more weight just to piss him off.
King Henchman 2: It looks like he's trying to do both...
King Henchman 1: Seems like it, and it looks like he's succeeding.
[The First Henchman gestures over towards Croc with his right hand.]
King Henchman 1: Just take a look at Leatherhead's face!
Asher: (Shouting) One Ninety-Four!
[The two look closer at the large demon in the center of the ring. He seems to be snarling and showing his teeth. Even though Asher is looking down at Croc he can't get a look at his face. But there's no doubt he can't hear the crocodile demon growling at him.]
King Henchman 1: I swear I can hear him snarling at Burns from here.
King Henchman 2: So that's what that weird noise I heard in the break room was. I thought someone was cooking eggs.
[The First Henchman looks at the Second one.]
King Henchman 1: Did you really?
Asher: (Shouting) One Ninety-Five!
King Henchman 2: No.
[The Second one looks at the First.]
King Henchman 2: But I'd rather have Croc growling in my ear than listen to that damn news anchor's constant complaining.
Asher: *More Shouting and Counting Upwards*
[The First Henchman raises his right hand and scratches the back of his head.]
King Henchman 1: He's still here?
King Henchman 2: Yea. Says he won't leave until he finishes his coffee.
[The First Henchman stops scratching his head and places both of his arms against the railings. He looks at the Second one a bit annoyed.]
King Henchman 1: Then fucking kick him out! We're closing up for the night soon anyway...
King Henchman 2: I fucking will if he's still in there when I get back!
Asher: (Shouting) Come on! ONE NINETY-NINE!!! ONE MORE!!!
[The two Henchman hear Asher yell and both look back down towards him and Croc. The two haven't moved from their previous position. Croc is still standing in the center of the arena holding the weights above his head with Asher standing on top of the barbell.]
Asher: (Shouting & Chanting) ONE MORE! ONE MORE! ONE MORE! ONE MORE!
Croc: (Shouting) I FUCKING HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME!!! (Exhausted Grunt) GRRUUUUHHH!
[Croc begins to slowly raise his posture and the weights above him. He seems to be struggling a fair amount made obvious by the amount he's panting through his mouth with his arms and legs slightly shaking. The weights he's holding slightly wobble as well, but Asher doesn't seem to budge at all while standing on top of it. He then crouches down so he can get closer to Croc's face all while keeping himself balanced on the weights barbell. He seems to be a bit irritated given his glare towards the person he's standing above.]
Asher: (Whispering) Come on you prolonged expired dinosaur...
[His expression immediately changes from one of irritation to excitement.]
Asher: (Shouting & Chanting) ONE MORE! ONE MORE! ONE MORE! ONE MORE!
[Asher's chanting seems to just anger Croc as he starts growling and scowls ahead.]
Croc: *Growling* GGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!
[With a jolt of adrenaline, Croc is able to raise the weights above him with Asher still crouched on it. As Croc extends his arms upwards and finishes the rep, Asher stands up and thrusts both of his arms high into the air.]
Asher: (Shouting) YEEEEEESSS! YOU DID IT!!!
[Croc seems to start falling backward toward the ground. Before he falls any further he quickly repositions his feet and strengthens his stance the best he can to catch himself.]
Croc: (Aggravated Grunt) GGGGGGUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
[He then seems to place his right foot back behind him and bites his mouth closed. He angrily grows through his teeth.]
Croc: (Incredibly Obvious Irritated Growl* GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRUAAAAAAAA!!!
Asher: Oh shit.
[Croc in one swift motion takes a large step forward with his right foot, rotates his body, accelerates both of his arms forward, and throws the weight, and Asher, with all the strength he has left. The weight flies through the air, with Asher still on top of the barbell, and loudly smashes into the chain dome around the arena.]
*SMASH!* *THE SOUND OF A SHIT TON OF CHAINS BREAKING AND HITTING THE GROUND*
[The impact of the weights against the chain dome causes a portion of it to collapse and create a massive cloud of dust and dirt in the area around it. All of the King Henchmen scattered around the arena stop what they're doing and look towards the incredibly loud noise that was just created. Croc looks at where he threw the weights, which also included Asher, panting and looking absolutely exhausted. His eyes are barely open and his mouth is completely gaping open. The two King Henchman who were talking to each other before Croc destroyed part of the arena stare at the large cloud of dust and newly created destruction. They both look at it with annoyed glares.]
King Henchman 2: We're gonna have to clean that up, aren't we?
King Henchman 1: *Exhausted Sigh* Probably...
[Croc remains standing in the center of the fighting ring slouched forward completely exhausted. As he tiredly stares at the destruction he just caused, someone docs under the chains and walks into the ring beside him.]
???: I think that's enough for today, Leatherhead.
[Croc swiftly turns his head to his right where the voice came from. It's just a King Henchman holding a broom who seems to have been startled by Croc's swift head movement. He stops walking for a second before continuing to walk towards him.]
King Henchman 3: It's, uhh– Getting kinda late and the boss wants damage after hours to a minimum. Or...
[He walks beside Croc and faces toward the large cloud of dust which seems to be beginning to settle.]
King Henchman 3: Less than the damage caused during the day...
[Croc stares at the Henchman with his still tired expression. He then lets out a tired groan before standing up straight and fixing his stance. He looks exhausted but seems to be trying to play it off to the best of his abilities.]
Croc: (Panting) *Tired Groan* Fine... *Panting*
*Multiple Satisfying Cracks*
[He rotates his shoulders around a bit causing his bones to crack just before letting his arms go lax. His panting continues on just as heavily as before. The King Henchman looks back at Croc.]
Croc: (Panting) That was– *Pant* my last set anyway...
*More Multiple Satisfying Cracks*
[He tilts his head to the side causing some more satisfying cracking sounds.]
Croc: (Panting) And I think Burns is done for the day as well... *Panting*
[The King Henchman looks over to where Croc is looking at the now settling down dust cloud. After just staring for a few seconds, a silhouette can be seen in the dust making its way towards them. And just a second later, out comes Asher. He looks completely perplexed with widened eyes. He's caked in dust but looks mostly unscathed.]
King Henchman 3: Huh... He's– Oddly unharmed...
Croc: Unfortunately...
[Asher puts both of his arms out in front of him and looks at them just to be sure that he is still alive. He then looks down at the rest of his body before beginning to rapidly pat himself with his dirtied hands. He pats his legs, chest, his arms, his head, his horns, then most importantly his ass just to make sure that they're all still there where they should be.]
Asher: Huh...
[He then lowers his hands and turns to his normal stance and unfazed expression. He lets out a relieved sigh as well.]
Asher: *Relieved Sigh* I wasn't expecting to make it out of that unscathed...
[Asher then looks over towards where Croc and the King Henchman are standing and smiles. He begins to wave at them like nothing just happened.]
Asher: Hey Croc! You did it! Great job!
[Both Croc and the King Henchman stare at Asher with questionable expressions.]
King Henchman 3: That guy has a few screws loose.
Croc: Bastard doesn't have a tight screw in him.
[Asher walks away from the destruction Croc caused as the dust behind him settles completely. As said before the weights he threw collapsed a portion of the chain sphere and some of the stands behind it. He makes his way over to the two demons in the center of the arena while cleaning the remaining dust of his pants and chest as he approaches.]
Asher: Great workout today Croc!
[He gets the last bit of dust off.]
Asher: I think we deserve a drink!
[He stops walking as he reaches a fair distance from the two demons. Asher looks at Croc with a cheerful expression while he glares back.]
Croc: We? What the hell do you mean we?!
[Croc points at himself with his thumb. He seems to have stopped panting and regained his breath.]
Croc: I'm the one who did all the heavy lifting today to reach the goal you set!
Asher: Yes well– I contributed in my own ways!
King Henchman 3: Listen... I hate to cut this argument short because I would love to see where it's going–
[Asher and Croc look at the Third King Henchman.]
King Henchman 3: But we are about to close up completely for the night and the King wants this place emptied out of any patrons or fighters as soon as possible.
[Asher puts both of his hands up in front of him defensively and makes a "settle down" gesture with his hands.]
Asher: Woah, woah, what's with the hurry? Is Leo gonna show this palace off to a date or something?
[The Henchman glares at Asher a tiny bit.]
King Henchman 3: Don't use the boss's name like that so casually. He's a Demon Overlord and a respectable one at that. So you should show him some courtesy and refer to him with his title.
[He stops glaring.]
King Henchman 3: But to answer your question, we can only keep the arena unmaintained for so long before those filthy asshats that plague the city dirty it up again. Because of that, the King wants it emptied out so a clean-up crew can wipe the scum off of the seats and make the place somewhat sanitary.
[He shrugs.]
King Henchman 3: It's gonna take a few days to get the entire place clean so The King wants the crew to get started working on it as soon as possible.
[Asher shrugs as well.]
Asher: Eh. Fair enough I guess...
[Asher checks himself once again to make sure he's not missing any dust on him or any injuries he could have sustained.]
Asher: (Enthusiastically) Alright then! *Clap*
[Asher claps once enthusiastically before pointing over towards where Croc just threw him and the weights. Beyond the destruction and destroyed spectator stands looks to be one of the hallways the fighters walk down when entering the ring.]
Asher: I'm going to go and change back into my normal clothes.
[He turns his head to look back at Croc but continues pointing.]
Asher: Croc? Care to join me?
Croc: Get out of my sight Asher.
Asher: (Enthusiastically) You got it big guy!
[Asher then spins around towards where he was pointing and starts walking off towards the hallway. He raises up his left hand and waves back at both Croc and the King Henchman.]
Asher: See ya later then!
[He then lowers his hand and continues walking away rather happily. Croc and the King Henchaman remain standing in the center of the ring and watch Asher walk away and disappear into the hallway. They stand there silently for a few seconds in disappointed silence.]
King Henchman 3: What a weirdo.
Croc: You've only seen the tip of the spear...
About Five Minutes Later...
[A few minutes later in the locker room of the fighting arena, the two tired demons Asher and Croc clean themselves up and prepare to leave for the day. A line of backless benches accompanied by some rather large-looking lockers on both sides fill the room to each end. The locker room looks identical to how it appeared the last time. Except the tiled floor might be a bit dirtier than usual... Asher takes a seat on one of the benches and begins to unwrap some bandages covering up his arms but mainly the ones around his hands. He looks to have cleaned himself up from his workout and put his shirt along with his shoes back on. He finishes unwrapping the bandages from his hands and begins to spin them up into a spool. He speaks to himself quietly.]
Asher: (Quietly) I don't feel much stronger... But I do feel better...
Croc: As if...
[Asher glares out of the right corner of his eyes. Standing a few feet to his right is Croc who seems to have cleaned up and gotten dressed as well. His outfit is rather basic. He's wearing dark tan jeans that look pretty dirty and have a few tears and small holes near the lower legs. The leg openings look to have been torn rather brutally a long time ago, then poorly stitched together, and then torn again. He's wearing a black leather vest on his upper body which also appears to be scratched and torn, over a plain white shirt. Besides the previously mentioned clothing, that's all he's wearing. He seems to be substituting proper shoes or boots for some bandages wrapped around his bare feet. Or... Bare-clawed. He also still has bandages wrapped around his claws/hands. Both wrappings of bandages look to be pretty clean meaning he must have changed them out recently.]
Croc: The only thing you're going to be feeling is my scaled fist in your face.
[Asher stares at Croc silently while continuing to wrap up the bandages. After a second he looks back down at his hands and the dirty bandages he's unwrapping.]
Asher: Slow and steady Mr. Leatherhead... Slow and steady...
Croc: If you get any slower than you already are you'll be dead.
[He finishes wrapping up the bandages and places them on the bench next to him. He looks back over at Croc and gives him a rather confident-looking glare.]
Asher: I may not be able to kick your ass today...
[He pushes himself up off the bench and turns towards Croc. He tilts his head to the side a tiny bit, leans it back ever so slightly, and gives Croc a charming sinister smile.]
Asher: But one day... One day I might just have to...
[The two glare at each other in a disgruntled/unnerving silence. After a few seconds, Croc lets out an annoyed grunt and responds.]
Croc: *Annoyed Grunt* You're out of your league–
[He raises his right claw and points at his head.]
Croc: –and mind! You flame-happy psychopath.
Asher: Say what you want now, but remember!
[Asher walks over to Croc rather confidently. The two quickly get up into each other's faces. Aggressively... Asher has the same sinister smile as before looking up at Croc. While Croc is just glaring downwards at him incredibly irritated.]
Asher: (Musically) ♫You're talking to the guy who could potentially be kicking your ass in the future!♫
*Distant Muffled Explosion*
[Something explodes outside above ground directly above the two Demons causing the ground to slightly shake. It immediately gains their attention causing both of them to look up towards the concrete ceiling. Croc glares at it like he was previously at Asher while Asher himself just stares at it with more of a surprised smile, unlike the one he was giving Croc. Some dust falls off the lights hung on the ceiling and onto Asher's face. He blinks a few times seemingly ignoring it.]
Asher: Is that the midnight boom?
[They both stand up straight, getting their faces away from each other while still staring at the ceiling. Asher shakes the dust off of his face, still smiling.]
Asher: A bit early for that don't you think?
Croc: ...
Asher: Croc?
[He looks at Croc who's still examining the ceiling. He's just staring at it suspiciously. Like something is off. Asher raises an eyebrow and stares at him a bit confused.]
Asher: Are uhh–? Are you ok there scaley?
Croc: *Annoyed Growl* Hmmmm...
*Muffled Explosion*
[Asher looks back up at the ceiling. He stares at it quietly alongside Croc. After a few seconds of silence, he squints at it suspiciously. Then, after several tense seconds of silence–]
*Boom*
[Another explosion. But this one was much more vocal than the previous two. It sounded closer... Much closer... Asher's toothed smile changes to a closed mouth one as the tone in the room completely shifts from tense to confusion.]
Asher: Alright... Now I get it...
[The two look down from the ceiling and towards a large double door on the right side of the room. Both of them eye it suspiciously.]
Asher: Somethings not right...
Croc: No shit...
[Croc begins to make his way over to the door as Asher watches him before deciding to tail behind him. Croc arrives at the door and grabs onto the small metal handle with his large claw hand. He gently turns the handle and pushes one of the two doors slightly open. He pokes his snout out and sniffs the air of the next room.]
*Sniff* *Sniff*
[He then pokes the rest of his head out of the doorway and glares into the next room. The door seems to lead to the bottom of the arena directly into one of the hallways in front of the ring with the sphere of chains around it. The room appears to be completely empty from where he's standing. All of King Henchman who were either patrolling or cleaning up the room seem to have disappeared. Croc makes an uneasy growl.]
Croc: *Uneasy Growl* This aint right...
[He looks up at the ceiling of the arena. The lights that were on before above the ring are still on while the ones on the outer ring of the arena are off. Croc squints at them before looking down at the seating around the ring. He scours them for any sort of life, but it's the same result as when he first saw the room. No one, it's empty.]
Croc: Some of the lights are still on but the arena is completely empty...
*Muffled Explosion* *Multiple Faint Bangs*
[Another explosion goes off followed by multiple faint bangs in quick succession. It's hard to tell where the noise is coming from. It sounds like it's coming from a different room nearby.]
Croc: Were those–
Asher: Gunshots?
[Asher comments in incredibly close proximity to Croc surprising him. It almost sounded like he was talking from directly above him. Croc looks over his left and right shoulder looking for Asher. However, it doesn't seem like he's there. Croc looks back forward into the arena not being able to find Asher. He then glares forward angrily. Incredibly angrily. He looks above him and sees Asher where he thought he heard his voice coming from, directly above him peeking out of the doorway into the arena. Croc gives Asher a glare that might just kill him.]
Croc: (Infuriated) What the–?! What the hell are you doing?!
[Asher, who was examining the arena, looks down at Croc casually.]
Asher: What's it look like I'm doing? I'm trying to find out what's making all that noise.
Croc: So am I! So keep your voice– Wait, what are you standing on?
[Asher raises an eyebrow.]
Asher: What do you think I'm standing on? It's the only thing I can stand on.
Croc: What? The only thing you can–
[Croc cuts his own sentence short and looks back over his shoulder into the locker room he's peeking out of. He didn't see anything behind or beside him before and there still isn't anything there now. Instead of Asher standing on something, he's standing on top of Croc's left shoulder and is peeking out of the doorway into the arena like the larger demon below him.]
Croc: What the–
[He glares at Asher looking absolutely infuriated and continues talking in a similar manner.]
Croc: (Infuriated) Get the hell off of me!
[Asher blankly stares at him.]
Asher: Croc, not ten minutes ago I was standing on top of you for two full hours. If this somehow bothers you now then I honestly don't know what to tell ya.
Croc: ...
[They both stay silent for a few seconds. Croc looks away from Asher and back into the arena. He seems to have calmed down.]
Croc: Just... Shut the hell up...
*Multiple Faint Bangs*
[More sounds of faint consecutive bangs get the attention of the two demons. They both search around the empty arena for the source of the noise but can't seem to pinpoint exactly where it's coming from. The faint muffled noises and the acoustics of the empty open arena make it really hard to tell the origin of the noise. It still sounds like it's coming from a completely different part of the underground fighting arena. After a few seconds of searching, Asher's eyes stop on one of the exits. It's one of the exits that leads into one of the arena's bars. Like the one Asher entered when he first discovered Leo's arenas.]
*Slightly Louder Muffled Explosion*
[Another muffled explosion goes off in the area. But this time it sounded a bit louder. Not only did Asher notice that the sound was louder, but he noticed something coming from the exit he was looking at. It was a bright flash of light that shined out through the double door's circular windows for a second before quickly disappearing. Then only a second later–]
*BOOM* *LOUD METAL RATTLING*
[An explosion obliterates the wall to the bar creating a large cloud of smoke and sending debris of stone flying into the arena. The flying rubble collides with the benches and seats in the area damaging or completely destroying a good portion of them. They also fly into the chain sphere around the center of the ring causing half of it to collapse and come rattling down to the ground. It caused more damage than when Croc threw Asher into it. Suddenly, a few figures run out of the newly created smoke cloud into the arena. One of the figures that ran out of the smoke trips on some loose rubble and falls on their ass.]
???: OUCH! DAMMIT!
[Now visible, Asher and Croc are able to get a look at the figures. There appear to be five of them that entered from the bar through the smoke cloud. Most of their clothing and outfits look similar, all various colored work shirts and jeans with bandanas around their necks or covering up their faces. Their clothes look rugged up and unkept with dirt and rough tears all over them. Besides their clothing, all of them seem to be sporting some sort of weapon, either a rifle, a tommy gun, or some kind of blunt weapon like a bat or crowbar. (I have great weapon variety if you haven't noticed.)]
*Bang* *Bang* *Bang*
[The one in the middle of the five raises his rifle toward the ceiling of the arena and shoots at it three times. He then yells out.]
Rifleman Demon: YEEEEAAAAA!!! THIS PLACE IS OURS NOW!!!
[The one that fell on his ass stands up and shakes his head getting the dust off of him like an animal. The Demon who shot at the ceiling lowers his rifle and looks around the empty arena. Two of the other demons beside him begin to carefully make their way down the spectator seats of the arena while keeping an eye out for any movement. The other one and the one that fell over begin surveying the room from the top.]
Rifleman Demon: The boss wants us to light up any king we see!
[The three begin to descend down the spectator seats like the previous two. As they do, three more emerge from the bar through the dust they made when they destroyed the wall. The newly entered demons begin to search around the arena for anyone who isn't one of them.]
Rifleman Demon: Make sure this place is cleared out!
[As he finishes his sentence, two more demons looking like the others, properly exit the bar through the double doors and walk into the arena. Both of them seem to be holding some sort of bottle of liquor in their hands. They also both seem to be intoxicated.]
Intoxicated Demon 1: (Intoxicated) yEAAA!!! Whooohoo!!!
Intoxicated Demon 2: (Intoxicated) Let's DRINK lads!!!
[The Rifleman Demon hears them talking rather loudly and stops walking to look back towards them.]
Rifleman Demon: Hey!!! The boss said to raid the place first! Then we can celebrate!
*Clink*
[The two Intoxicated Demons hit their bottles together and cheer.]
Intoxicated Demon 1 & 2: (Intoxicated) *Intoxicated Cheering* YEAAAAAAA!!!
[The two then stumble forward continuing to cheer and drink. The Rifleman Demon shakes his head annoyed and continues to look around the arena.]
Rifleman Demon: (Muttering) Buncha idiots...
[Asher and Croc both raise their left eyebrows and slowly slide back into the locker room out of view. Croc then closes the door leading into the arena as Asher hops off of his back and faces towards him.]
Croc: It looks like a turf war...
Asher: (Questionably) A turf war?
[Croc grabs onto the door handle to the double door, pulls it closed, and locks it. He then crushes the door handle, destroying it completely. Asher crosses his arms a bit intrigued by what Croc said.]
Asher: Really? I mean, I know turf wars are usually pretty loud and destructive but they usually take place up in the city right? Not tucked away underground in some fight club where a bunch of weirdos meet up a few times a week.
Croc: Most of the time yes...
[Croc turns around and looks at Asher who is just mindlessly standing in the middle of the hallway.]
Croc: But sometimes when there isn't much of a choice they take place out of sight. Usually inside of some building or occasionally below ground.
[He walks past Asher and begins to make his way back towards the locker room. Asher pursues him and walks beside him in the same direction.]
Croc: Most of the lion's territory is underground out of sight to the normal moron in the city. Whenever someone starts a turf war for his territory the fight usually starts above ground in the city but quickly makes it down into the underground.
Asher: So this is just a normal turf war for Leo?
Croc: Pretty much. The explosions we heard earlier must have been the fight starting in the city. And now it's made its way to the heart of the arena.
[The two open up the doors leading to the locker room and walk inside.]
Croc: Which means he's losing...
[The doors close by themselves as they make their way back over to where they were standing before the first explosion. Croc opens up a locker and starts rummaging through the contents of it.]
Croc: So if you don't want to get caught in what the Kings consider "good publicity" for their fighting arenas, then you should get the hell out of here.
[He takes out some metal bracers and straps them around both of his forearms. Asher can't really see what they look like from where he's standing. He strokes his chin and slowly nods his head in a manner that conveys that he understands everything Croc is saying. Does he?]
Asher: I see...
*Snap*
[Not in the slightest. He then snaps his fingers and points at Croc's arms.]
Asher: Neat gauntlets by the way.
Croc: Their bracers–
[Croc turns towards Asher while holding both of his arms crossed in front of him.]
Croc: Warner had to make them for me after he lost a bet.
[Now that Croc is presenting them to Asher he is able to get a good look at them. The bracers have three blades attached to a metal plate with leather straps on the bottom wrapped around Croc's arm. The three blades stretch beyond the gauntlet and Croc's hands a little bit in front of them. The tips of the blades are bent at a sharp 45-degree angle downwards towards the ground almost like claws. There also appear to be a few small spikes on the bracers. Not big enough to do any damage so they must be for show. There are also a few scratches here and there showing some wear and tear on the equipment. The metal making up the blades and the bracer itself look familiar to Asher. It looks like the same metal used to make his knife and pistol, the ones Jerry made and gave him.]
Croc: They're made out of the same tough metal as those damn spears.
[He swings his left arm blade over towards Asher but suddenly stops with the top blade of the bracer right below his chin near his neck. Asher just stands there unfazed.]
Croc: They can cut clean through pretty much anything...
[He lowers the blade towards Asher's chest and pokes him a few times with the tip of all three blades.]
Croc: Anything...
[The two glare at each other. Croc looks like he is ready to fight at a moment's notice. Asher just stares at him unmoved by his obvious threat. He then raises his right hand, carefully grabs the tip of the center blade, and moves it away from his chest. He smirks.]
Asher: Alright I get it, you want me.
[Croc lowers his left arm and the blades beside himself and closes his locker with his right arm.]
*Clank*
Croc: Watch it.
[He then faces beside Asher and quickly walks past him. Asher turns and watches him walk away. He looks to be making his way towards another pair of double doors on the opposite side of the room.]
Asher: Where are you going?
Croc: I'm leaving. This is the lion's problem, not mine.
[He approaches the door and grabs onto the handle. He turns it carefully and pulls on it, opening the door allowing him to peek into the room it leads into.]
Asher: Shouldn't you be at least a bit concerned about what happens to this place?
Croc: Nope.
[Croc opens the door completely and walks out into the hallway. He looks both ways before turning back towards Asher.]
Croc: I couldn't care less about what happens to this place or any of that hairball's men.
[He grabs the door and begins to pull it closed.]
Croc: If you're smarter than you look which isn't really much to begin with, you should get the hell out of here while you can still walk.
*Slam*
[Croc slams the door closed behind him leaving Asher in the locker room alone. He can hear Croc's heavy footsteps stomp down the hallway away from him. After a few seconds, the weighty noise is gone. Asher stares at the two doors Corc just walked through. He still has the same unfazed glare as before. He then raises an eyebrow curiously.]
Asher: Hmmmmmmm...
[He then shrugs and uncrosses his arms. He turns back around away from the doors and starts walking towards a closed locker.]
Asher: I can't tell if he wants to fight me or just wants to kill me.
[He walks up to a locker and opens the door.]
Asher: Either way, I'll kick his ass.
[Asher begins to search through the contents of the locker. After a few seconds, he takes two objects out of the locker and brings them towards his neck. It's his gas mask and his silver locker. He puts his locket around his neck and hides it beneath his shirt and vest. He also straps his gas mask around his neck and lets it hang in its usual spot.]
Asher: Now...
[He reaches back into the locker with his right hand and pulls out an object wrapped in some cloth. He grabs the edge of the cloth with his left hand and rips it off of the object revealing it. It's his pistol Jerry gave him. He tosses the cloth aside and grabs onto the pistol's slide. He pulls it back halfway revealing a bullet resting inside the chamber.]
Asher: I should take Croc's advice and get the hell out of here!
*Clack*
[He lets go of the slide allowing it to slide back into place with a clack. He holds the pistol upwards towards the ceiling and eyes it confidently. He then smirks.]
Asher: Nah! *Chuckles*
[He begins to chuckle to himself as he starts walking towards the door Croc walked out of with his pistol confidently in hand.]
Asher: Ya know, I can't imagine a club out there in Hell as fun as this one! *Laughs* HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!