//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4: First Match 
// Story: Comac the Barbarian 
// by ThatBronyWithTheClipOns 
//------------------------------//

The day of the match had begun. The crowd was already riled up and ready for a fight. The stadium was of a decent size, plenty of room for the challengers to run around and attack one another. Flimly and Flamdaul appeared in the middle of the arena in a puff of smoke to get the crowd even more excited.

"WELCOME FELLOW EQUINE! WE'VE GOT QUITE A TREAT FOR YOU TODAY! BRING OUT THE FIGHTERS!"

Comac emerged, wielding crudely made club made from a chunk of wood Stratos had purchased for him, merely some shoulder pads. as protection, and still wearing his yoke.

"FROM THE FAR AWAY LANDS OF CURRMERIA, COMAC!"

His opponent was a fellow Earth Equine, though of a slightly bigger build and more scarring. His fur was a dark brown, with a light tan mane. He'd clearly seen battle many times, and won. He was wielding a sword, and clad in a bit more armor, including a helmet.

"FROM OUR VERY OWN NECK OF THE WOODS, WE INTRODUCE ONCE MORE, THORGRIM!

The crowed cheered as loud as they could for Thorgrim. Comac knew this meant he was going to have a challenge; he couldn't wait to show them what he had. Once introductions were out of the way, the unicorn brothers vanished once again in a puff of smoke. This clearly meant the match was to begin, as Thorgrim began his strike on Comac. But the red Earth Equine was quick on his feet and managed to swerve out of the way. Despite his larger build though, Thorgrim was quick as well, and he kept on swinging. The swinging paid off some, as he was able to nick Comac's arm, letting out not a lot of blood but enough to cause trouble. During all this Flimly and Flamdaul gave commentary.

"BLOOD HAS BEEN DRAWN! OUR NEW FIGHTER BETTER GET HIS DEFENSES UP!"

"What a fool you are!" exclaimed Thorgrim, clearly playing to the crowd like the twin promoters, but still able to keep swinging. "Using a pathetic club in a fight to the death! Steel is the only true power!"

Comac did not respond to these remarks, not that he was known for his words. 

"WE ARE CLEARLY DEALING WITH A STRONG, SILENT TYPE FOLKS!"

At this point, he knew he'd have to find a weak point in his opponent's strategy. He'd been taught that no matter how skilled the warrior, there was always a way to defeat them. Given that this is an arena fight, he also knew that there were no formal rules to how they fight. Comac decided to go for a swing to the shins. In his experience, most were affected by a blow to the shins. 

"OOOH! RIGHT TO THE SHINS!"

Sure enough, this strategy worked, as Thorgrim lost his footing and loosened the grip on his sword. Comac used this opportunity to smack the opponent in the wrist, naturally causing him to lose his sword and even cry out a little in pain.

"Looks like a club isn't so pathetic after all," smirked Comac, his remark causing the crowd to rile up.

"MY MY! LOOKS LIKE THE CURRMERIAN CAN MAKE A QUIP!"

This remark sent Thorgrim into a rage, running towards Comac with no weapons. Comac swung again, and hit Thorgrim right in the face, knocking his helmet off and him to the ground. 

"OUR NEW FIGHTER HAS GAINED THE UPPER HAND! HE MAY VERY WELL WIN THIS FIGHT!"

Comac slowly walked towards his fallen opponent to finish him; only to see him begin to beg for his life.

"Please, have mercy," he exclaimed.

"IT WOULD APPEAR OUR CHAMPION IS BEGGING FOR HIS LIFE!"

Comac seemed to believe these words, when Throgrim sneered and took a swung with his bare hand right Conan's abdomen, knocking the wind out of him. The crowd cheered on. Comac fell to one knee and held his stomach. 

"OH! LOOKS LIKE THE CURREMERIAN HAS FALLEN FOR ONE OF THE OLDEST TRICKS IN THE SCROLL! AND IT LOOKS LIKE THORGRIM WILL REMAIN CHAMPION!"

Thorgrim picked up his sword and walked towards Comac, clearly ready to finish him off.

"You moronic lump of feces!" exclaimed Thorgrim. "This is a battle to the death! There is no room for mercy! Your precious Faustia will not save you!"

Those words struck a chord with Comac, remembering the words of Lord Sombra. 

"Remember that the world is cruel, and your dear Faustia will not be there to help you up when you fall. If you are going to survive, you must also be cruel."

This memory was enough to send Comac into a rage. He regained his footing just in time to take another swing at Thorgrim. First in the stomach to make up for his own injury.

"BUT WAIT! COMAC HAS REGAINED HIS STRENGTH!"

Then another swing to the face once more. Only this time, once Thorgrim fell, Comac made sure he didn't get back up. He proceeded to smash into his opponent savagely, without any breaks, till finally his face was reduced practically to a pile of goo.

"BY FAUST! HE IS SHOWING NO MORE MERCY TODAY!"

The audience at first remained silent, until the Currmerian let out a cry of victory; they soon followed. Flimly and Flamdaul reappeared in the arena to announce his victory.

"LOOKS AS THOUGH WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION! COMAC THE BARBARIAN!"