- Wolverfrog
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- Fabled Legendary Member
R'tas Vadum' appraised his opponent warily, who stood on the other end of the combat arena. Daedalus was, well and truly a Brute. The Elite reckoned him to be around ten feet tall, and muscles rippled through his chest's fur. There was no possible way he would be able to defeat him head on. Perhaps there was no way he could defeat him at all.
"Fleetmaster, please, rethink your decision. It's not too late to back out." F'edri muttered as removed R'tas' body armour, which wasn't permitted in duels such as the one he was in. R'tas was powerful enough, lean, graceful muscle, and he was stronger than he looked. Still, he had his doubts. But running wouldn't help.
"And I beg you, dear brother, to desist in your pleas. If I leave now, our world, our very survival as a species, is doomed. I must do this." R'tas replied back, stretching his arms and legs. He hoped he still had a knack for duelling, as he had when he had last faced against Sub Commander Kusovoi, over a year ago now at the Infinite Succour incident.
"I...understand honoured one. May the Forerunners be with you." the Honour Guard leader spoke sadly, withdrawing from R'tas, leaving but he and Daedalus alone in the combat ring. In the huge hall, thousands watched with eager eyes. R'tas knew that most wished him to fall. He would have the delight of disappointing them.
"Are you prepared, Sangheili?" the Chieftain of the Brutes called over, pounding his chest with two boulder sized hands. Savage.
"I am always prepared Brute." R'tas replied coolly, although the sweat gleaming upon his head betrayed his true feelings.
"Then steel yourself. For now we fight!" Daedalus cried, suddenly rushing the Elite. The Brute had gone berserk already, frothing at the mouth, hunched over, charging. The crowd drew in a breath as Daedalus neared his foe.
R'tas bent his knees, and at the last critical moment, dove to the side, smacking against the energy shielding of the arena, which burnt his bare skin. Still, it was better than having three tons of muscle smash into you.
Daedalus wasn't able to stop in time, and crashed full on into the barrier, with a yowl. He withdrew himself from the shield, and shook his head dazed. R'tas, meanwhile, had already recovered, and the next thing Daedalus saw was the Elite's powerful knee slamming into his face as R'tas jumped through the air. The Brute staggered back, and swiped out with a heavy paw. One of the claws caught R'tas' leg, and the Sangheili gasped, tumbling to the ground.
The Jiralhanae raised a large boot, and prepared to bring it then upon the Elite's chest. R'tas' eyes sprung open before it could do this however, and he rolled to the side, avoiding the stomp. He then tackled the Brutes legs with his body, and felt an earthquake tremor as Daedalus crashed to the floor with a grow. R'tas wasted no time, pouncing on top of the Brute and delivering a swift punch to it's face. He kept his knees pressed down upon the Chieftain's shoulders, pinning him in place.
R'tas then grasped Daedalus' thick throat with his hands, and began to squeeze down hard. The Brute gagged, flailing around. R'tas' goal wasn't to kill the Brute, but knocking him unconscious would do fine.
Just as Daedalus' eyes began to roll back, however, he summoned a tremendous amount of strength, and threw R'tas off over to the other side of the arena, where he somehow managed to land on his feet, albeit clumsily. The crowd cheered as the Brute staggered back to his feet, taking in some deep breaths. The Sangheili Fleetmaster's mouth tasted of blood.
Daedalus once again rushed R'tas, causing the ground to shake. The Elite bared his two mandibles, and side stepped the charge, then turning and sinking his sharp teeth into the matted, unclean fur of the Chieftain. The Brute howled in agony, and R'tas felt warm, red Jiralhanae blood flow into his mouth. He tried his best not to gag.
"Damn you, you bastard!" Daedalus cried in pain, bringing a fist around which hit R'tas in the jaw. He immediately relinquished his grip, and felt several things in his mouth crack in an explosion of pain. R'tas was sent sprawling to the floor, where he lay dazed.
Daedalus grabbed the Elite's neck with a vice like grip, and threw him back onto the ground, where his head smashed, blood leaking. The world was swimming. R'tas, to his credit, delivered a solid punch to the Brute's face, which snapped loudly, but then he was back down. The Brute put a foot upon R'tas' neck, keeping him in place.
Choruses of 'kill him!' were raging throughout the hall, and R'tas knew this was the end. He had lost, failed his Elites. Sangheilios was doomed.
Daedalus looked down at R'tas with...pity? Respect? Certainly a facial expression the Sangheili had not expected. What surprised him even more was when, instead of pushing down, the Brute removed his boot from R'tas' neck, and offered him a hand to right himself.
R'tas, in his pain drunk state, eyed the hand warily, and then reached up for it. Daedalus hoisted him up easily, and then supported him to stand up. The onlookers had fallen silent, and Daedalus then spoke.
"Never in all my years has an opponent come as close to besting me as R'tas Vadum'. Despite the obvious physical difference, and the fact that I have my natural claws as weapons, he fought valiantly, and for that, I praise him. All you who just then cried out for his death should be ashamed. For this Elite is a noble warrior, to be honoured and hailed. Hail R'tas Vadum', of the house Dum!" the Brute Chieftain cried, and after a moment of shocked silence, the crowd burst into cheer. Daedalus lifted R'tas' arm in victory, even though he had not been the victor.
"But...why?" R'tas asked of Daedalus, confused.
"There are some things in life more important than honour Sangheili. No doubt you have come to understand that yourself. You are the most worthy Elite I have ever had the fortune to meet, and I pray that we should never have to meet each other as enemies upon a real battlefield, for I know that I would not escape alive. I, and the rest of the Covenant, shall gladly fight alongside your Elites against the Flood, and whatever other troubles may dog your path." the Jirahanae told him, and R'tas smiled sorely.
"I am truly thankful Chieftain, for both your mercy, and support. What do you wish to do next?" the Elite replied, gasping. Daedalus laughed a hearty laugh.
"I don't know about you Sangheili, but I believe for me at least, a visit to the infirmary is in order. I am standing upon my last legs as it is. I take it you will be accompanying me? Your jaw looks like it is set at a wrong angle." the Brute spoke, and R'tas gingerly touched his mandibles. Definitely out of place, one was stuck within his mouth, another bent at an incredibly obtuse angle.
"Yes, yes I believe we should. And after we have been healed, we have grave matters to attend to."