The fighting pit was a circle of packed ash.
Sergeant Horg stepped in, swinging a massive greatsword. He was a brute, all muscle and anger. He grinned at Kael.
"I always wanted to kill an officer," Horg grunted.
Kael stood opposite. He was given a standard infantry sword—chipped, unbalanced, heavy.
He took a strip of cloth and tied his left arm—the Obsidian arm—behind his back.
The crowd murmured.
"Cocky," Valerius muttered from the viewing ledge.
"Honor," Kael corrected.
"Begin!"
Horg charged. He swung the greatsword like a club, aiming to cleave Kael in two.
Kael didn't block. He couldn't block a two-handed swing with one arm. He side-stepped. The greatsword slammed into the ash, sending up a cloud of dust.
Horg roared and spun, using the momentum for a horizontal slash.
Kael ducked. The blade whistled over his hair.
He was fast. Faster than he should be. The Void hadn't just given him an arm; it had changed his physiology. His heart beat slower. His eyes saw frames of movement before they happened.
Kill him, the Arm whispered. One touch.
Quiet, Kael thought.
He stepped into Horg's guard. He slammed the pommel of his sword into Horg's nose. Bone crunched.
Horg stumbled back, blinded by blood, swinging wildly.
Kael danced around the strikes. Use the anger. Use the momentum.
Horg overcommitted to a downward thrust. Kael caught the blade on his crossguard, twisted, and kicked Horg's knee.
The sergeant went down.
Before Horg could recover, Kael's blade was at his throat.
The pit went silent.
Horg froze, chest heaving. He looked up at Kael. He expected death.
Kael stepped back. He sheathed the sword.
"First blood," Kael said to Valerius. "Satisfied?"
Horg scrambled up, face red with shame. "I wasn't done!"
He lunged for a dagger in his boot.
"Horg!" Valerius shouted.
But Kael didn't flinch. He didn't even turn. He just stood there, staring at the Commander.
Horg stopped, the dagger inches from Kael's back. The shame washed over him. He dropped the knife.
"He beat me," Horg grunted, spitting blood. "Fair."
Valerius jumped down into the pit. He walked up to Kael. He looked at the tied-up Void arm, then at Kael's eyes.
"You fight like a wolf," Valerius said. "Not a monster."
"I'm a Knight," Kael repeated. "And I have orders from the First Sword."
Valerius stiffened. "The First Sword is Ascended. He is a god."
Kael untied his arm. He reached into his tunic and pulled out the Ring.
"He's dead, Valerius. And he left this for you."