Escape From Underworld Battle Arena [plot]

The two locked eyes and the information was shared between them instantly. Now Smiles new Jacob's every weakness.

At the same time, Jacob now knew all at once multiple attempts to escapes and how they all failed.

Spoiler:

Aurelia would have stepped in to stop the trade, but she had been busy processing what information they had and only caught the exchange right as it ended. Past methods of escape attempts for all your weaknesses? What are you, crazy? She said nothing aloud as it was his own information and she really had no right to tell him how he should use it, but Aurelia was still upset about the whole matter.

With a sigh, Aurelia simply said, "Remember that all the attempts that you now know of ended in failure." Though I suppose it would be worth it to see how close some got to freedom.

Jacob's ears twitched a few times as information based on his weaknesses passed into Smiles

Spoiler:

Jacob grinned as the information from Smiles flooded into his mind, they'd been in the right ball park with a few of their plans, draining the collar was possible, but the full battery seemed to kill the wearer. It also appeared Smiles had attempted to escape before, unsuccessfully.
"Seems like my plan wasn't so stupid after all." He smirked at Smiles. Draining the collar was possible, so long as you could survive the process, if he could get shocked in the arena, then his semblance would protect him from most of the shock, allowing him to take more damage.

Emerald watched the fight of the pairs on the screen thinking, Immortal? Useful. We could kill him. Apparently you don't understand the meaning of immortal. Let's just stay on his good side. Probably best to make friends with Hare, then. Wait! I said stop planning! Shut it. I've figured out a plan, and some helpful actions in case we get in a sticky situation. All I need is to know the way out, a few key elements, and a catalyst that causes the escape. Grr. Can we at least do a few fights until then? We'll most likely have to.

Emerald watched the exchange between Smile and Jacob with little to no reaction.

The thump of footsteps were heard the bullet proof glass slid open as another guard stepped in.

"You new kids enjoying yourselves here?" the faceless masked guard asked from the other side of the bars.

Behind the guard, Hatter and Hare were walking by, two guards towing them. Hare turned her head and looked at everyone in the cell with concern in her eyes.

"We've got another veteran lined up for this morning's matches," the guard stated through the bars at the group inside. "We're putting one of you new runts in there as a wild card. Bets will be a bit more even out this way. Now which one of you-"

"NO!"

Hare yelled and turned towards the guard speaking to everyone.

"Stay out of this you bloody witch," the guard growled.

"Please! They're only kids!" Hare begged the guard, pleading with him desperately.

"Learn your place you-" the guard growled, winding back his arm as if to slap her with the back of his hand, but stop in mid movement as Hatter stepped in front of Hare. The guard froze, staring at Hatter's smiling face. His head moved slightly downward as he glanced at Hatter's collar but soon looked right back at Hatter. "G-Get going now!"

"Please, send me in there instead!" Hare pleaded, trying to push pass Hatter. "They're only children, you can't-"

"Come on now!" the guard that was escorting them shouted.

Hare continued to fuss and plead but soon accepted defeat and walked with Hatter and the guard, giving everyone in the cell one last pitying look

"Bloody annoying woman," the guard huffed the moment they were all out of sight and turned back to the group. "Alright, decide among yourselves. Who will be the first to enter the pit?"

Alicia had lost herself in her preening, averting her attention only to the screen when the fight began. They were interesting competitors to be sure, a pair she hoped she'd never have to counter. Hatter's semblance was particularly interesting, and obviously devastating to competitors, just reinforcing her thought.

After the fight ended, she had returned to her wings with lower spirits, channeling the stress into the act as it cleared her mind. She had a feeling she'd be doing a lot of this during her time here.

She had just about finished most of her right wing when a guard came. She looked up at him with cutting eyes, staring him down in the best form of offence she could muster without being shocked again. She looked hopefully to Hare when she tried to intervene, but Alicia's face contorted to a scowl when the guard raised his hand to her. However, she couldn't stop herself from grinning wickedly when Hatter scared the guard off.

The guard called to them again, asking them to choose among themselves a competitor to fight a veteran. So this was it, their way of choosing? It must have been because they were so new, but she still found it strange. She'd only been awake for what, two hours? Three? She couldn't keep track. But even in so short a time, she thought that the stress of waiting to be chosen for a fight was going to make her pluck her own feathers out. The idea of choosing among themselves seemed worse than being chosen by guards in a way, since the group could effectively choose someone to throw under the bus. But even though she knew volunteering was stupid, the look of pity in Hare's eyes triggered something in her, and the words were out of her mouth before she even registered their movement.

"I'll go."

Jacob turned sharply to face Alicia
"You're in no condition to fight, you'll be killed" he snapped "Get your strength back... I'll fight" Jacob grabbed Jernulv and swung the weapon onto his back "besides, I've given pretty much all I have, if I don't come back, at least the rest of you can last a little longer."

Alicia rolled her eyes and stood. "You are so full of shit Jacob," she chided, securing Hiljainen on her belt and folding her wings, her left still uncomfortable, as she hadn't gotten to preening it. "I don't know what you're trying so hard to prove here, but Smiles is right, you're obviously not thinking anything through. You just gave away your weaknesses, remember?" She tilted her head slightly. "And what happened to you hating me so much, anyway?"

Admittedly, her muscles were still sore and aching from the electricity, but the numbing serum had almost countered the effect, as it had loosened all of those muscles where the shock had tightened them. And in any case, she wasn't even sure why she was debating risking her life instead of just letting Jacob risk his. She didn't like him, didn't even want to be in his general vicinity really, but she knew she couldn't stay in this room any longer.

"If I can get out there quick before the information spreads I might last longer" Jacob insisted "and due to the circumstances, we can't afford to make enemies in here" he bared his teeth "I'm not trying to prove anything, 'Pack before Pride' it's what I have to do." Jacob knew Alicia would most likely come back more injured than she was already, better to send one of the healthier inmates, someone who could take the hits, just like in the pack, protect the sick and injured. It no longer mattered that Alicia was White Fang, for the time being, they were part of the same pack. He needed her and whether she liked it or not, she needed him. "This isn't a discussion" he growled.

Alicia watched Jacob make his 'argument' with a growing glare. When he was finished, she walked straight up to Jacob and snarled, "You're right, it isn't."
She gave him a hard look for a second, and finished her statement with, "And I'm not a part of any pack, dumbass."

"Will you two lovebirds quit bickering, already?" Emerald called from his wall. "The way I see it, it should be a vote. All seven of us should decide who goes democratically. Since you two already want to send yourselves out, you've used your votes. But before anyone else votes, let's see if the rest of our little group want to fight first." Emerald turned to look at the four other cellmates who hadn't fought yet. "Well, any of you want to risk death?"

Tiru paused as Alicia spoke. ... What? Just a while ago she could barely breathe. She wants to try and cheat death again? Not gonna let that happen. Tiru shook his head, and was about to interject, when Jacob spoke up. The two started bickering, prompting Tiru to walk over to the bars, drawing and igniting the Dancing Lights. Though Emerald spoke up, he ignored him. He was confident in his ability, and his electrokinetic semblance gave him an edge, along with his guns' unlimited ammunition. "No need to vote. I'm ready. I'm going." he said, a harsh edge to his voice.

"Look, I don't CARE which one of you goes," the guard barks from the other side of the bars. throwing his arms up in the air. "The guy's just some old timer who'll die if you breath on him! Now pick already!"

Jacob folded his arms
"I'm going" he snarled, blocking the guard's view of Alicia and Tiru before they could protest. Alicia was in no condition to fight,a nd Tiru seemed to have some idea on how to get out and what was going on, losing him this early in the game would be stupid. Plus while Jacob was in the arena his semblance would be active, and he could gauge the strength of the collar's shocks, and if he could survive ten. He was smarter than he was letting on.

Tiru shook his head before pushing the other wolf out of the way. "Look, buddy. I get your whole 'Alpha' mentality. But I made myself clear that I have this one. Also, the dude says this should be easy. Nothing that an alpha should even bother with." he said, glancing at the guard before whispering. "Besides. My semblance gives me control of electricity. I might be able to drain the collar. I'd have to test it on someone first, and this 'veteran' would be an easy test subject." Tiru whispered, waiting for a response.

Aurelia thought that a plan had been put in place already, but it would seem that that was not the case. The group seemed to be arguing among themselves about who should go fight first. Sighing, she said, "If we are going with a democracy, I vote for either me or Tiru. Unless, of course, you really believe that you need to fight first, Mr. Wolf Faunus, then you can gladly go ahead, I suppose." She hoped that Jacob would be clear-headed enough to even catch what she was implying. Aurelia stretched as she began to stand up, her baton clenched in her right hand. Honestly, she was hoping she could fight just so she could see what was outside the cell, but anyone of the group could that. Her chances were slim, but she didn't mind that one bit.

Matthias had remained quiet, satisfied with his quips for the time being. He had watched the fight in silence, closely observing the mysterious couple. Immortality? Now that's just not fair. Shaking his head, he closed his eyes and attempted to drift off. However, it wasn't long before he was interrupted by the guard and Hare. Groaning as he attempted to shut them out, he cursed his sensitive ears. At the mention of combat, his attention was finally earned by the guard. Keeping his eyes shut, he listened in on the group as they decided on who should fight. The younger ones wasted no time before they started bickering among themselves.

"Will you idiots shut up for five minutes?" Matthias exploded. He let out a heavy sigh before continuing. "Guard, this is not gonna end any time soon," he said with a lazy wave of his hand. "You're better off just grabbing one yourself." With a cross of his legs, Matthias lay back against the wall using his hands as a sort of cushion as he closed his eyes once more.

I'm surprised that one finally said something sensible, Almandine said in Emerald's head in reference to Matthias. Why do they keep bickering? They seem to just want to die. They want to fight! As do I! Now get off your behind and choose to fight! No thanks. I'll fight if I'm chosen but otherwise, I'd rather just keep my strength for the escape. Today is a good day to fight and die! What was that last word? Fight. Sure it was.

Jacob growled, voicing his discontent
"Tiru goes then" he declared "he's in better shape than Alicia, and there are other reasons he should be first out" he nodded knowingly to Tiru, before retreating to the corner to brood, and contemplate whaat to do about the collars.

"Good for you then. Now get out here already!" the guard yelled, jabbing her thumb behind him, clearly losing his patience. The bars slid apart, leaving an opening the size of a doorway allowing Tiru to walk out before immediately sliding back into place.

The guard walked in front of Tiru to guide him, showing no concern knowing the collar would knock him out the moment he tries anything funny. No matter how you looked at it, it was set up like a prison. Cells were lined up side by side on multiple floors. By counting the floors of cells on the opposite wall until the floor parallel with the one they are in, the group's cell was on the third floor among what must have been about thirteen floors altogether. At the bottom floor was simply that, a floor. There were what looked like a vendor stand selling snacks. Scattered around were other prisoners, each one with a collar of their own. When ever one would go to get a snack, the vendor would hold what looked like a bar code scanner up to the monitor on their collar before giving them whatever.

It looked like the prisoners were mingling with one another, either talking, playing cards, or staring at each other.

"All gladiators are allowed one hour in the yard," the guard stated as they continued walking. "You can spend sponsor dollars for cheap snacks at the vendor or buy a meal ticket for something better than the slop they would give you otherwise. You know that grumpy guy in your cell, Smiles? All he ever spends his sponsor dollars on are good meals and booze. Over there ya see another vendor shop. You can buy luxury items there, but they're expensive as heck. Cost ya an arm and a leg. Hell, some of these guys really did lose an arm and a leg before buying anything. Still, things will be a lot more comfortable for you if you bought yourself a bed installment or a tv remote for the plasma screen in yer cell."

By the time the guard was finished talking, he had taken Tiru to the arena. It looked just like how it had on the television.

"And on THIS corner we have a brand new gladiator! Watch out for this wildcard. Who knows what he can pull. Will he earn his gladiator's name today or will he become the newest stain on the dirt?"

A camera man was walking up to Tiru, pointing his camera right at the hunter.

"And on this corner we have our oldest veteran. Give up for the Iron Knight!"

From the other side of the arena, someone stepped out into the open, each footstep making a heavy thump. The guard was not exaggerating. The so-called Iron Knight was a straggly old man walking with a hump. His gray hair was dry, dirty, and long, and his beard and mustache were so long, the tips touched the ground. He seemed true to his gladiator name, wearing what looks like an off-white armor plating all over his body from the neck down with the exception of his hands which were bare with bony, wrinkled fingers with sharp, dirty nails. He wore what looked like headphones but with a metal visor raised up. Over one eye he wore an eyepatch and over his armor he wore an raggedy old lab coat that looked like a white cloak.

His facial features were gruff and edgy, his skin dry and clinging to his bones. He looked so old and dry that it really did seem like you could blow on him and he would die.

Attached to one arm was what looked like a kite shield as large as the old man and the other held onto a big lance whose handle stuck to an overgrown chess piece of a white knight with a long lance ending at a sharp point sticking from it like a unicorn's horn. The lance part had a checkerboard pattern running up to the tip.

The crowd of monitors simply murmured among themselves, apparently disinterested.

"All bets have been made. Gladiators! Take your positions!"

The armored old man slowly hobbled over into the arena field, his shield and lance dragging through the ground as if he was plowing the fields.

Tiru glanced around, taking in as much information as he possibly could. Note to self: I might be here a while. Even if I get this thing off. This complex is huge. If only I had a map... And knew who ran this thing... Tiru thought as he and the guard made their way through the yard and into the arena.

The guard was right. This was going to be easy. Wow... I almost feel bad for the guy... thought the grey wolf before popping his knuckles and his neck, putting his right foot forward and shifting his weight to that leg. He then hung his bandaged right arm in front of him, his left hand behind his back and gripping the hilt of Aurora. "You get the first move. Try to make this interesting."

"Let the match... BEGIN!"

The horn rang and.... that was it.

The old man known as Knight simply stood there, merely ten meters away from Tiru, staring at him indifferently.

"You're a new one, eh?" the old man murmured. "What's your story? Nah, forget it. I don't care. What's the world like nowadays? Are them Hornets still losing? I wish they had newspapers down here. Do they still use newspapers? I knew a man who said newspapers were going to be a thing of the past once his invention hits the stocks. He called it a scroll or something. Why trade one piece of paper for another? It don't make a lick of sense. Say, is that babe Harlot Bombshell still shaking her stuff? Ah, I remember the gold old days of scat."

The old man started snapping his fingers using his shield arm, making weird sounds and phrases.

"Shoobey doo bop bop bow a wow wow, shoo bop a boppa," the old man yammered on. His dry, fingers looked like they could catch on fire at any moment. "You kids these days certainly look different. Seeing new runts like you make me just know you're all growing up spoiled. Why, you wouldn't last a minute back in my day. I remember this grande adventure I once had. Me and my fellow men were traveling the lands in search of the most sacred of treasures when we came across the cave of the beast. What a terrifying monster it was. Able to leap and bound and teeth straight from a nightmare. Yes, that little bunny was a force to be reckoned with. And we thought that old man was crazy. Then finally we were able to smite it with the hand grenade, but this be no ordinary hand grenade, no. Once we tossed it at the count of five... or maybe it was three... was it five?"

The old man looked deep in thought.

"GET ON WITH IT!!" the announcer yelled down at them.

Tiru was at a loss for words. He had been sent to fight a... A bumbling old man. How was that guy still alive? How did he even FUNCTION? His eye twitched as the man continued rambling about... Killer rabbits and a holy hand grenade. The wolf's index finger twitched over Aurora's trigger. I want to kill him. I need him alive to see if I can drain the collar. I will drain his collar. Then I will kill him. as soon as the man paused in thought, Tiru shot off like a rocket, unsheathing Aurora (but not igniting it) and dashing toward the old man. As soon as he was in melee range, the grey wolf dropped into a sweep kick, springing back up or a lunging knee strike. Nonlethal strikes... Keep him alive... Drain collar... Kill him to death... he thought over and over as he attacked.

The old man's kite shield suddenly dropped, digging its edge into the ground, blocking Tiru's leg at his attempt to sweep kick.

"Ah! Now I remember," the old man went on, not even looking at Tiru's direction. It was one... two... five! .... No wait, that's not right..."

Tiru growled as he pushed off of the man's shield, springing back to his feet. "Do you ever shut up?" he asked impatiently before igniting Aurora, leaving his right hand empty. Without another word, Tiru dashed forward and ran up the man's shield, flipping over the top with an arm outstretched, attempting to grab his collar. Grab collar. Drain collar. Expel energy through feet while draining collar. Kill old guy.

The old man nimbly spun on his heels, rotating away and evading Tiru's reach and simply steps to the right, adding slightly more distance between them. All the while, the old man was staring at the ceiling while talking.

"And boy was that a terrible pickle. That was the worst pickle I ever had. I didn't even like pickles to begin with. I always found it odd that restaurants always pickled their jalapenos. I like jalapenos but I don't like them pickled. They're better on a sandwich if they're dry you know. Pickling them takes away all the taste. You know what's good? Deep fried Jalapenos filled with cheese. Can't eat those anymore though."

Tiru shook his head, frustrated beyond words with the old man's rambling. "Aight. That's it. I really... Really did not want to have to do this." he said before activating his semblance. A dark smirk on his face, Tiru rushed toward the man, striking with an electrically charged punch once he was in range, following up with a similarly charged left axe kick to right roundhouse.