You grab Olive's hand, and she pulls you to your feet.


"Ah, good job," Castus says. "Second rule: the first rule is bullshit. You know who doesn't trust anyone? Bastards like Kyros who ends up with no loyal friends, no allies, nothing, and then end up alone, with no one. If you want to survive in this world, you need allies."


Castus grabs his sword by the blade, offering it to you. You reach out to grab it, before he swings it and smacks you in the side of the heat, sending you to the ground. Castus offers his hand to you, which you accept. He pulls you up, before kneeing you in the stomach and tossing you to the ground.


"Come on, you're not learning. First rule: trust no one. Don't you listen?"


"I was going my the second rule," you say, groaning.


"Sometimes, the first rule is more important than the second rule," Castus shrugs.


"How the fuck am I supposed to tell the difference between which rule to us?" you ask, annoyed.


"Beats me. When you find out, you'll be the most powerful warlord in history. Until  then, you just go off gut feeling and intellect."


"Seems like a shitty system," you say, as Castus finally lets you stand up.


"Seems like a shitty world you're in. That system is the best I have to offer. Now, rule three: in hand to hand combat, go for the weak spots. The throat, eyes and balls are always good, but when it comes to half these fucks, I'd stick to the eyes, because past that, I don't know what you have left. Observe."


Castus flips his sword so he holds the blade again, wrapping his sleeve around the blade so it doesn't bite into his fingers as much. He steps forward, swinging his sword with insane speed. The pommel slams into your throat before jabbing you in the eyes, leaving you to stumble backwards. You quickly close your legs together before Castus jabs the pommel into your groin, and you collapse backwards with a pained yelp.


"See? Effective," Castus smiles. "Rule four: you can win through many ways. Pain submission, incapacitating them, or simply taking their lives. Judge which can be used to take down your enemies. For instance, in your case, pain is the way forward."


You're growing tired of being hit in the face. As Castus steps forward with his sword raised, you decide you're going to do something to dissuade him from continuing to hit you.

You send Castus into the arena wall

As Castus swings his sword, you send him straight into the metal gate with a thud. He lets out a pained yelp, collapsing onto his stomach.


"I don't need to learn how to wield a sword, Castus. You've trained all your life with a sword. I never have. Yet look how simply I defeat you? I need a sword as much as you need fangs. I've evolved past the need for it," you say, as Castus stands.


"Fuck me, kid, couldn't you have made that point without breaking my fucking spine?" Castus says. "Yeah, fine, point proven. End of training, piss off."


"Terrific," you say. "So, can I leave?"


"Yeah, I'll call your guards here to open the gates and take you off," Castus says, grabbing a walkie-talkie hanging from his belt and speaking into it.


"Yeah, we're finished here with the little cunt," he says, rubbing his back. "Oh shit, over."


"Affirmative, out," the voice comes back. 


Soon, the gate lifts up as your guards saunter out in their thick power armor. 


"Where to next, boys?" you ask.


"Shut it, psyker," one growls, looking at Castus and Olive. "Is it back to the cells for you two?"


"We're happy to practice some more here," Olive says, twirling her gun-axe to stop a surprise attack from Castus. "I mean, if this dumb bastard has done so little practice to think that would take me down, he's go to need a lot more practice."


"Pffh, I'd like to see you take me down," Castus says.


"So be it," your captor growls. "Move it, psyker."


You raise your hands defensively, and allow them to escort you back to your room.