Glowering at the reptile who looked down on her, Raen clenched her fist. “I guess it’s inevitable,” she whispered.


    She could feel the skin beneath her navel smart. An old wound screaming from the brand imparted to flesh.


    Taking in a steadying breath, she spoke louder, cutting through the tension in the air. “So, we meet again, after all this time!” She carried herself towards the centre of the makeshift arena.


    “My, my, look who’sss back. I’ve heard ssssso much about you, my little Raen. You must be quite the delight to sssavour considering the marinade you’ve been ssoaked in.” The Lizardman ran his forked tongue over his lips, leaning forward. “What do you sssay? Are you willing to work under me, for real thiss time?”


    “Don’t mess around scaly scum.” Raen contorted her face in a wave of revulsion, raising her gun at the reptilian demon. “Who in their right mind wants to work under you!”


    “Though I call it work, you do know what I mean, right?” He smacked his lips, unreserved.


    A wall of stone materialised in front of Azrael, cutting off his advance to the front stage of the auction.


    “You’re both going to abide by my will.” Holding up his hand, the Lizardman halted his guards from rushing into the arena and dismissed the snipers on the rooftops.


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    “What’s the matter? Don’t you want to involve more cannon fodder on par with the Sins’ assassins?” She clucked her tongue, her gun poised and ready.


    “Clearly, I have been had. A mutual friend of ourssss decided to play gamess with me. Either way, I can’t afford to ussse the pawnss at my current disssposal, if they’re nothing more than defectss essspecially against an opponent of your calibre.”


    Raen curled her lips in a snarl, hurriedly loosening a shot at the Lizardman, aiming for the length of scaly flesh between his eyes.


    A dull clang resounded. She clucked her tongue.


    The bullet pierced the vacant throne, devoid of a reptilian touch. “Tsk, tsk, always aiming for the same spot. It’s a terrible habit of yours, little Raen.” A hole materialized in a stone cemented expanse of wall, depositing the Lizardman at the mouth of the newfound opening, ushering his grandiose entrance into the makeshift arena. “Now then, let’ssss have the two of you pitted against one of poor ‘ol me.” He cracked his knuckles, running his forked tongue over his lips. Weaving his hands in a circle, the ground gave birth to the maw of a beast, racing towards Raen, baring its fangs.


    She didn’t fight the urge to flee.


    Dropping her aim, she ran towards the stonewalled Azrael, who was eerily calm compared to the swirling pit of queasiness churning her innards. “If you have any witty ideas, now would be a great time.”


    “Running to your crossdressssing fledgling for help? You haven’t changed in your sssubmissive wayss, have you?” Chuckling, the reptilian demon eyed her with a voracious glint.


    Don’t give in to his taunts. She eased her boiling rage, reaching into her backpack. Exchanging a cursory glance with Azrael, she dipped her chin. In that instant, he brushed past her, pummelling into the maw of the stone beast.