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woman. The crowd had reached a new level of frenzy,would not be quieted until blood was shed, and a lot of it.

Skeelis began to stalk his way towards Hadder, thatbowlegged walk more akin to primate than man. As Skeelis movedforward, he held both arms out wide to his sides, showing therazor-sharp blades that ran the lengths of both forearms. Althoughhe was wearing one of his skin masks, that unmistakably cruel smilecould still be seen through the mouth hole.

Hadder also began to move forward, bending low toscoop up a handful of sand on his way. Both men accelerated theirpaces as they approached the middle of the arena, Skeelis clearlyout of control with bloodlust. When they were still several feetapart, Hadder noticed Skeelis's right arm cocking back for asweeping blow aimed to neatly slice across Hadder's throat. Hadderimmediately slowed his run and stepped into a front kick, catchingSkeelis cleanly in the chest, his arm still out wide. The force ofthe kicked, increased by the fiend's forward momentum, blew airfrom Skeelis's lungs and forced him back. As he stumbled backward,Hadder threw his handful of sand into Skeelis's face. While theskin mask deflected some of the grains, many more found their wayinto the Riser's eyes.

Skeelis hissed a curse and threw his mask to theside before clawing at his eyes. Hadder moved in, delivering astraight right to the jaw followed by a leg kick that felt morelike kicking a banana tree than a human appendage. As Skeelisstumbled, Hadder continued to throw blows, connecting with a lefthook and right uppercut before finishing the combination with anoverhand right that smashed into Skeelis's temple.

To Hadder's disappointment and surprise, the cleanshots failed to drop Skeelis. Instead, they sent the twistedcreature forward in a fury, arms hunting for flesh. With no time tomove backward, Hadder pushed ahead instead, getting inside ofSkeelis's blows and grabbing the Riser behind the head with bothhands, securing a Muay Thai plum clinch. Pulling down with all hisstrength, Hadder forced Skeelis's head down while simultaneouslybringing his left knee up, crushing the man's already destroyednose.

As Hadder positioned himself for another strike,this time with the right knee, Skeelis brought his bladed forearmsup to slash at Hadder in unison, opening deep cuts into the tops ofhis arms and forcing him to relinquish his grip.

Now it was Hadder's turn to stumble back, bloodpouring from the long fissures that now adorned both arms. Skeeliscontinued forward, a hissing, manic laughter flowing from hiscrooked mouth. Hadder grew increasingly worried as his optionsbecame limited. The fiend's gnarly legs made leg kicks ineffectivewhile its destroyed brain left head attacks impotent. Even worse,those devilish implants made clinch work a dangerous tactic thatwould leave Hadder a scarred mess even if he managed to win.

As these thoughts spun through Hadder's mind, hisbody also whirled, ducking a bladed arm from the right and jumpingout of reach of an attack from the left. While Skeelis seemedinvulnerable to tiring, Hadder certainly was not. His breaths grewlabored, and his legs started to ache from the fast-twitch actionhe was demanding from his muscles. Hadder needed to make a move andfast.

After narrowly dodging another vicious combo thatleft a few more cuts on Hadder's arms and hands, the two combatantsseparated, circling each other warily. "Your woman cried when Iheld my blade to her throat," Skeelis shouted, his forked tonguedancing in the air. "A pity I couldn't enjoy her more. After Iplace your head next to hers, I'll find another to have more funwith. Any suggestions?"

Hadder had heard enough and reacted in seemingmadness. He stepped into a sloppy, looping overhand left thatrendered his entire side vulnerable, and Skeelis shrieked indelight. Quickly dropping under the telegraphed punch, Skeelis slidto the side and ran his bladed forearm against Hadder's openmidsection.

Skeelis howled in glee as his blade ran the lengthof Hadder's abdomen, but stopped suddenly when he felt Hadder'sleft hand tighten on his right wrist instead of the warm entrailsthat he had anticipated. As Hadder spun around, his right handjoined his left in holding the Riser's arm out wide. In one smoothmotion, Hadder leaped into the air, forcing Skeelis's controlledarm between his legs, and pulled back with all his strength.

Hadder's unanticipated weight pulled Skeelis to theground, where he found himself on his back, Hadder's legs drapedacross his chest, and his cherished combat arm stuck between theSetter's thighs. Hadder arched his back, bending the fiend's armacross his body and exerting tremendous force on the elbow. Panicbegan to descend on the Riser as he realized the predicament he wasin, stuck in a tight armbar with no referee to break the hold.

Desperate to extricate himself from the position,Skeelis began running his left arm along Hadder's legs in a sawingmotion, hoping to remove the man's legs. Inexplicably, however, hisrazor-sharp blades would not penetrate the gray pant material.Hadder laughed from Skeelis's right. "What's wrong, my friend,"Hadder said through gritted teeth. "Cannot cut through my Elevatedclothing? I had it specially made for you - cut resistant. Amazingwhat the manikins can whip up for you if you're clear with yourrequests."

Understanding sinking in, Skeelis began to thrash,forcing Hadder to hold on for dear life. Showing unbelievablestrength, Skeelis managed to roll to his left, sending Hadder upinto the air to crash down onto the other side of the creature. Nowboth on their stomachs, Hadder continued to apply pressure,slightly readjusted his grip and pulled back with a lifetime ofanger.

Skeelis screamed as his elbow bent in the wrongdirection, a loud pop echoing across the coliseum and partiallyquieting the gathered masses. Skeelis arm now jelly in his hands,Hadder continued to twist and pull, taking grim satisfaction in thetearing of tendons and ligaments. Keeping a viselike grip on theRiser's wrist, Hadder positioned his feet against Skeelis's sideand extended to his full length, taking a bladed arm along withhim.

A fountain of blood erupted from Skeelis's rightstump, covering Hadder in a crimson burqa. He stood up, toweringover the whimpering creature writhing around on the red-stainedsand. "Please! Please! Please!" cried the desperate Riser, "I'velearned my lesson, really I have!"

Hadder stared at the now-silent crowd throughblood-filled eyes, wanted them all to see him, wanted them to