Her wounds had tied up through vines and magic, battered from her previous flight on Khavur's back. Now, she just had to wait to see who she would fight- someone her size, someone large? Draconua was against the meat thing, which was a little disappointing, but it would keep her from immediately keeling over.

She still had to get back to Aethril after all this. Couldn't do that when you're dead.

Pollen had been rather excited for this match, no matter who she went up against. Everyone else was watched from the stands and marked off in a mental list. Not that one, and that one was out... About three matches in, she'd eventually made her way down to the backstage to prepare herself instead, her fur tingling with energy.

"WE'VE GOT A TASTE BEFORE..."

She tightened the vines around her arms again. They wrapped around her fingers, she tugged at them and she tensed, and she worried at them to no end. The last fight was hard- she barely hit Khavur herself, only hanging on by these plants. Maybe a repeat performance was in store- especially if the other person decided to fly, too...

"BUT CAN SHE KEEP HER HEAD IN THIS ONE?"

Breathing in hard and tensing her digits around the amulet about her neck, Pollen stood at the gates for her match, ready.

"GIVE IT UP FOR THE UNDERDOG, THE GARDEN KNIGHT, OUR OWN VALKHAND'S PET, POOOLLEEEN!"

The call had gone out. The gates dropped, and Pollen was thrust into the field again, prepared for anything. Lurching down, the Muta surged on her paws on the floor of the arena, digging in and widening her stance as she watched the other side for just who she'd be against. A rush went to her head already at the thought of it. There were a few her size, her fighting style, but it was a split on what size she'd be going against. Weapons? Tooth and claw?

Shoving up to her back feet, Pollen rolled one arm back, teeth bared to the world as she made herself ready for anything.

@Morganoth

"AND NOW, HE WHO HAS CLAIMED VICTORY ONCE BEFORE! THE HEART-EATER! THE SOUL-DEVOURER! HE OF A THOUSAND HEADS! MOOOOORGANOOOOOTH!!"

Smoke curled out from the opposite gate, darkness falling over the arena. One pair of red eyes glowed from within the darkness, then a second pair, and then dozens more. A chorus of roars bellowed from within as the gates dropped before the monster lurched forward.

A beast the size of a school bus emerged, with seven heads and seven pairs of wicked antlers, each pair extravagant and deadly. Its scales were as sharp as razors and shiny with health, the monster's flat, exposed teeth giving it a permanent, terrifying grin.

Two massive wings spread from its back as it reared onto powerful hind legs, three tails whipping behind it as it roared once again, each head's maws opening to reveal rows of dangerous, sharp teeth. Every inch of this creature was dangerous, it seemed.

When it thumped back down onto its wings it shook itself out, snorting softly before offering a wave with one of its small front legs.

"Good luck," they said, oddly soft-spoken for such a violent looking monster with Sabor's blood still sticking to their scales.

Morganoth lunged into an offensive attack immediately, charging towards the small muta, intent on ending the fight quickly. They threw themselves forward, absolutely intending on crushing her into the ground.

@Pollen

ROUND 1/5

100%

ATTEMPT: Annihilate Pollen with a body slam apparently
DEFENSE: Venomous spines, sharp scales, pointy horns
INJURIES: N/A

Content Warning
This post contains potentially sensitive material:

violence

When Pollen saw more than two heads, she knew what was in store. Again? Pollen's stance drew down as she watched the entrance, her long ears pinning to her skull. Of course she'd go against something so big again. Of course Nemean would pair her like this. Was it even fair?

Or, well, maybe it was just a good challenge. Hissing in through gritted teeth, Pollen gave a single, determined nod to Morganoth's well wishes, a brief smile curling her lips. There's wasn't much time for her to note what Morganoth was about, only to see the beast go straight for a charge. She wouldn't survive if she didn't get out of the way- she had to dodge and fight like how she did with Khavur, with her whips and relying on Draconua's finisher.

Too bad she couldn't be paired against someone more fitting. But, well- Nemean was Nemean, after all.

Dropping down to surge away, Pollen stretched to the side, but was no match for the barrelling monster that was Morganoth. In an instant, the full brunt of the hydra's weight slammed into her, trapping her and breaking her, pain lacing through her back legs as a crackling noise reverberated from her tiny body. She was flattened, and pinned in place- completely at Morganoth's mercy.

She couldn't even think. The only thing she could do was scream, her throat ripped raw as pain flushed out every other thought in her mind.

If she didn't do anything, and fast, this match would be over sooner than expected.

ROUND 1/5

60%

ATTEMPT: get out of the way
DEFENSE: none
INJURIES: crushed legs

@Morganoth

Morganoth was just a touch concerned when they flattened Pollen like a pancake, but quickly pushed that thought away. Now wasn't the time for worrying, now was the time for fighting!

They pulled away, all four heads rearing to assess the damage done. Pollen was still breathing though so instinct dictated they stop that immediately. All seven heads shot forward to grab, mouths opening and secondary jaws reaching out past their blunt outer teeth to grab and pull back into their maw, should they actually catch Pollen.

Hopefully they didn't kill Pollen, but it was likely.

@Pollen

ROUND 2/5

100%

ATTEMPT: Shake Pollen around like a chew toy
DEFENSE: Venomous spines, sharp scales, pointy horns
INJURIES: N/A

When Morganoth swarmed Pollen, nothing but pure instinct ran through her. That instinct wasn't fighting through tooth and claw- she wouldn't stand a chance against this beast anyways, would she?

And so, when the time came, Pollen's arm uselessly flinched up as she cried out. "STOP! I FORFEIT! Stop!" While she couldn't physically defend, she could force the fight to be over, if the magic even came. Falling over to her other side as the opposite arm shot up, Pollen lashed out with her whip at the closest mouth and shoved all of her will into the living plant, aiming to wrap around one of Morganoth's mouth as best she could.

She wheezed out as she fell backwards, eyes closing for a brief second before snapping open with her perfectly still body. The fight was over. She wasn't going to fight. Her legs were broken, and she could feel the white-hot sting of pain from the fractured bones, the sensation washing over her and freezing her entire body. Would she chrysalize? No- she couldn't she wasn't weak like that. Wheezing again, Pollen flipped over and struggled to perch herself on her front arms, collapsing into the dirt. Something in the back of her mind screamed at her to accept it, but she couldn't- she wouldn't. Not in front of Aethril. Not in front of everyone else.

She held herself up on trembling arms, before falling again.

ROUND 2/5

60%

ATTEMPT: tie off morganoth's closest mouth with a vine
DEFENSE: none
INJURIES: broken legs

@Morganoth

Morganoth's jaw was forced closed just before they reached Pollen, snapping shut so they simply awkwardly bumped into the smaller creature. But much like a crocodilian, Pollen's knotwork seemed to keep their mouth shut, all their muscles put into a downward bite rather than opening their mouth back up.

They tilted their heads at her cries to forfeit, blinking slowly before taking a few steps back and nodding gently, as if they'd made a decision.

"You can't fight any longer," Morganoth said, "And you said you forfeited. That means... that means I've won."

They sliced off the vines with a claw and raised their heads, wings spreading as they let out a series of shrieking roars, screaming out their victory.

"Do not fear, small thing. Your efforts were great, but it was an unfair fight to begin with. Do not feel shame, feel accomplished that you lasted as long as you did," Morganoth said sympathetically, head lowered nearly to the ground to say it to Pollen and no one else.

@Pollen (gonna gm tag)

DEATHMATCH

Well, THAT had been quick! Nemean's snort of amusement burst into laughter. For a moment, the spotlights shifted to her tiny form, and her amusement rang in peals of hysteria through the arena. Little hands slapped her own thighs; fireworks sparked off around her. "STRAIGHT to the MURDER! I love it! Good job, uhh-" (she paused to check her notes, then threw them away with a shrug when--after a moment--she couldn't find Morganoth's titles quickly enough) "-BEAST WITH A HUNDRED MAWS! MOOOORGANOTH!"

The spotlights shifted, sweeping with a point of Nemean's finger to illuminate the towering hydra, so that every scale glistened and glinted like glitter. The lights changed rapid colors, and a brief fanfare played, all loud trumpets and thudding drums. Nemean squinted down at Pollen, too, for a moment. "YOU DEAD DOWN THERE? -Ehhh."

Shrug. She tossed a hand, and confetti rained down. Who cared, really? Certainly not her. It was DEATHmatch for a reason!

_____________

DEATHMATCH WINNER: MORGANOTH

Character: Morganoth Age: +5 (5 Cycles) Magic Level: +1 (Fledgling) ROUND 1 Attempt: +20 Penalties: - Total: 20

Character: Pollen Age: +5 (6 Cycles - Capped) Magic Level: +5 (Transcendent Pupil) ROUND 1 Attempt: - Penalties: - Forfeit! Total: 10

NUMERICAL WINNER: Morganoth

@Morganoth @Pollen