Revenant's Slaughter: The Reaper System

The Raid (1)

The tension in the Bloodfist Arena had become almost palpable. The next day, Atticus awoke before dawn, his body sore but his mind sharp. The looming raid on the blood stone shipment occupied every corner of his thoughts, but so did Lilith’s unsettling attention. He couldn’t afford any distractions now.

He dressed quietly, slipping his journal into his shirt. The floorboards creaked under his weight as he moved towards the exit of his cramped quarters. Outside, the air was cool, a brief respite before the sun would rise and the heat of the arena would become unbearable.

As he approached the training hall, the distant clanging of metal and muffled grunts signaled that others had already started their day. Atticus steeled himself, adopting his practiced limp, and entered the hall.

Grimlock stood near the entrance, his hulking figure partially shrouded in shadow. He regarded Atticus with a mixture of suspicion and disdain. "Human," he grunted, "you're late."

Atticus bowed his head sligh