Chapter 121 The new rule
Chapter 121: The new rules
Milo’s POV
I sat there, my heart heavier than the stone slabs beneath my feet.
He wasn’t here. Damon wasn’t here.
The emptiness inside me twisted, ugly and cold.
I almost didn’t notice the MC’s booming voice cutting through the chaos.
“And now!” he roared, his tone filled with urgency like a three year old announcing her favourite star crush.
“For the first time in the history of our pack, the honored keepers of silence and owners of the sharpest blades in the dark… the shadow unit!!”
The words felt like a heavy boulder falling through the square like thunder. Before it was drowned by a series of gasps and murmurs from the crowd. Even some of the commanders leaned forward in their seats.
From the far part of the entrance of the arena emerged five dark silhouettes, covered in black faces hidden beneath silver-lined masks. Their steps were deliberate, their silence louder than the entire crowd combined.
The air immediately shifted.
My heart lurched forward as they made their way to my section.
they were coming towards my stand, and without wasting, I recognized the obvious swaggering step from one of them.
Shadowflame!!
Even beneath the mask, even beneath their identical black cloaks, there was no mistaking the talkative shadow, and the others… shadowings, and shadowfire.
The crowd hushed as the five fanned out like loyal bodyguards, beside me, their formation precise, unnerving.
I swallowed hard, my earlier despair and disappointment vanishing like white smoke in an unwavering aura.
They were here. My brothers-in-shadows.
“Holla trouble maker. It's just a few hours since admitted and you are already forcing our legs out in the open.” shadowflame said, sliding in the seat beside me.
I gave a bitter smile, My face burning at his words.
“confusing right?” Shadowflame said casually, slinging his arms over my neck as if that was the most normal thing to do in the world. It took me a moment to realise what he was asking.
I forced my stiff head to nod.
“Dont worry then, You are lucky this big brother is kind enough to explain things to you.” shadowflame boosted, his voice traveling further than the m.cs
I suddenly wished the ground would open and swallow me.
The death match is not always a bad and dirty game like this. You should know… weren’t just blood sports. It was a tradition that our commander introduced to help people like us, those born without a silver spoon. A ranking system. The fastest way to climb.”
“Climb?” I asked, my voice a little more strained than I meant.
He tilted his head. “Kill a wolf, you take his place. Kill a commander’s son, you will inherit his seat. Even if you were nothing but a pauper… overnight you could dine with the kings.”
The words punched through me like a lightning bolt. So the death match has not always been a bloodthirsty avenue for people to commit murder. My eyes unconsciously looked towards the empty throne in the raised section, that was when I noticed something insignificant I hadn't noticed before when I came in.
Selene, his sister, wasn't on her seat either. It wasn't about justice, it was about st
“So… what changed?” I muttered.
“what… or who” Shadowflame replied, his eyes filled with shocking seriousness and depth.
“Who?...”
“the shadowking, commander's father. He changed the law and bent the game to his whim to soot his bloodlust and quest for revenge. And what more, it's a few days before the well known bloodmoon. A period of time, where we the unrighteous are affected by our wolves. The criminals and power hungry bastards saw it as an avenue to get more power. The greedy ones that didn't want to leg go, fanned the licking flames that brought about the deathmatch we have today.”
I tried to process everything I had just heard. So the deathmatch before was not like this? It was just the dirty and greetings of those at the top that made innocent people turn to ravenous wolves.
“Why can't the rules be changed?” I asked the burning question in my head.
“All the things worship the death match now as a holy tradition that breeds strength.” shadowflame said solemnly, his eyes darkening. “its the only tradition that gingers the people. Every drop of blood spilled keeps everyone on their toes, to never relax. “Change the rules, and it takes away that purpose in them… the purpose to fight.”
I looked back at the ring, where the sand still glistened from earlier fights, stained with patches of what looked like old blood.
A shiver climbed my spine. My hands curled into fists before I could stop them.
“Yoo shadowborn, dont listen to shadowflame, nobody will bully you, as long as we are here. Not even the old senile generals would dare, fart out” one of the chipped in from the back.
I stiffened at his words…
But then, bursts of laughter erupted at his words around me. Their energy was so intense and refreshing that despite everything, I saw myself finally smiling.
Something I didn't think I would ever do on the night I would probably fight to death.
"Milo."
James' voice snapped me back to reality. His hand gripped my shoulder.
"Focus, the match is about to start.”
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to pay attention to something the m.c was about saying.
“By decree of the king, the ruler and our current alpha,” the MC began, his voice booming unnaturally loud, “tonight’s matches will not follow the ancient code.”
For a second, there was absolute silence in the arena, before the arena erupted into chaos.
“What is this madness?!”
“No death match?!”
“Who dares break the old code?”
The uproar rattled the very stones of the arena. Wolves young and old, shouted from every tier, their voices mixing in fury and disbelief. Even the commanders had faxes of shock and shifted restlessly in their seats. My heart pounded against my ribs.
The MC raised his hands, apparently he had more to say, but the crowd was beyond control now.
“Enough!” His voice cracked like thunder, bringing slight order to the chaos that was happening. “The old code is hereby abolished. The matches shall be fought under the following rules: defeat, not death, shall mark the end. Victory shall come only when the opponent can no longer rise.”
More gasps and snarls, followed his announcement. Some Wolves were now on their feet, arguing.
But he wasn’t done.
“Second rule,” he continued, reading from the scroll. “The arena is bound. No wolf may leave the ring once entered. Flight equals forfeit.”
Murmurs spread like wildfire.
“Third rule: personalized weapons of choice are permitted
... Blood may be drawn, bones may break, but no kill strike is to be made without sanction.”
Shouts shook the air again. Some wolves cursed openly.
“This is a disgrace!”
“Our pack has weakened, we are doomed.”
“Tue righteous packs will finally wipe us out.”
“Who dares to bend tradition so carelessly?!” one angry elder finally lost his composure, screaming from his high platform.
General Elijah rose to his feet, his voice booming over the chaos.
“You dare spit on centuries of our law!” he thundered, his pressure landing on the m.c below. “Without death matches, what proof remains of strength?! And our purpose in life.”
The crowd roared ignorantly in agreement, slamming their fists on stone, baying for answers.
But Damon… who they were looking for was nowhere to be found.
The seat where he should have been was empty. The commanders only exchanged tense, furious looks, their mouths sealed.
My chest twisted. I could hear the crowd’s fury, the generals’ anger, the sudden change in law… it all pointed in one direction.
The rules were changed… because of me.
I could feel the shadows' faces shifting in surprise beneath their hoods. I had never seen them look startled before.
The murmurs in the crowd hadn’t reduced a bit, rather it only seemed to grow louder. Some demanded the old ways back, others spat curses at the leaders. Even the elders at the high platform whispered among themselves, their frowns carved deep.
For a moment, I pitied the poor m.c that was just doing his work.
“Silence!”
A sharp commander tore through the arena, except that it was coming just beside me. It was James.
The uproar toned down into a low hum of disapproval.
“The rules have been read. Now…” His voice rolled like thunder. “Let the arena blood run its course. Call forth the fighters.”
“Yes my beta” The MC lifted the scroll in his hand, his expression firm.
The crowd howled in response, stamping feet against the stone stands.
My chest tightened.
“First!” the MC shouted. “Rogan, son of Dre, from the shield unitl!”
A massive warrior leapt into the sandpit. His arrival was greeted by roars of approval. His arms raised, his body gleaming with battle oil. The chants of his name echoed like drumbeats.
“Second! Velric, of the sword units hounds!”
Another fighter emerged, snarling as he slammed his fists together, a long sword hanging at his back. The crowd responded with the same energy, their bloodlust visible in the air.
My heartbeat thudded in my ears. It was finally happening?
“Fight!!”