Azrael returned to the forum, still feeling the aching sting of his wounded pride, feeling heat blazing in his chest for the upcoming battle. It would not go the same way as the wrestling. It would NOT. He had nothing to hold back, now. He had no limits. He should have won that fight, but he had been SHACKLED. He would NOT be shackled any longer!!

Snarling, he stepped out to the same place that he had been during the wrestling tournament and waited. If she didn't show up...then he would make a sport out of hunting her. He would find her. And she would wish she'd never hatched.

A part of him hoped that she wouldn't show up. To let all forms of honor die sounded ideal to him. He very much desired to peel her apart form the inside out, if only for the satisfaction of revenge. But he was better then that. If she showed up, he would give her the fight he promised and demanded.

Manic joy rose in his chest as Relic appeared and stepped out onto the forum. A part of him was disappointed - he would miss out on the hunt after all. But no, this was better. He was better then a rabid animal. He was not a child that had been robbed of his favorite toy. He was simply a beast starved of blood, that which sated his restlessness.

He would crush her in this ancient place of combat. No rules this time. No limits. He was going to enjoy this.

And oh, how kind of her to give him the first move. His arms lifted as he called his magic - yes, he had never said it would be a fight without it - and his chest gleamed powerfully for a moment. And then the glowing in his heart went dark as all of the lights in the cave shut off at once, leaving the two of them in utter black darkness.

Which, for Azrael, was exactly what he liked. Darkness was no hindrance for him.

His own eyes, adapted better for darkness then light, saw her coming and knew what she was gonna do. She'd done it in the wrestling match, and that was what had given her an edge. But this time he was going to let it happen and make her regret it.

So excited that he got while she was racing forward, though, that he let himself lose control. All of this was just Azrael losing control. So when he allowed her to slam into his leg again and tumble to the ground, the magic he was supposed to cast to rip the ground up around her, just ended up ripping it up around him.

The ground shook, yes, but he was the epicenter and the rocks beneath shattered and roughly cut into him as he fell on top of them. His eyes widened with shock. What is going on?!

Embarrassing though the failure was, this was not a limited-time fight. This was not a caged match, where he had to listen to rules or only use his fists. One failure would not lose him this. HE WOULD NOT LOSE THIS!! He heaved up from the ground just as Relic fell upon his leg, teeth sinking into the more vulnerable parts to try and...what, tear his leg off? Damage the ligament? She tore at the skin, sure, perhaps damaged a bit of the muscle, and it was enough for Azrael to want to get her off immediately.

She probably could do more damage if he let it continue. But instead of ripping her off, he opened his jaws. The glow reignited in his chest for a moment and Relic would have only a couple seconds to react as the glow burned red-hot from the fire traveling up his throat. A single, large gout of flame erupted from his mouth, just high enough that he didn't singe his own leg, but Relic would be caught right in the crosshairs.

It worked, and although the fires didn't burn her to a crisp, she released his leg and back off, which gave him the opening to lunge forward. He didn't even bother standing all the way up, just rolled onto his hands and knees and lunged forward like an animal.

Claws and teeth bared, he threw himself forward to swipe and snap at the hyena. This was no wrestling match - he did not strike with fists. It was not nearly as effective here on the ground, he couldn't quite reach with the lower set of arms, but the upper set, well, they were sharp enough to strike.