The sound of clanging of swords barely penetrated the cheering of the crowd. Two boys, teenagers, were fighting in a ring. Tod knew that he had little chance for survival. His opponent was just too strong for him. Why did they have to vote him to fight me?!copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTvkboaRim
Tod put his sword in the air to counter his enemy's sword. The announcer's voice blared through the arena. "Tod is barely keeping afloat against the all-out assault of the 'Double-Dandy Daddy'!"copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBXVN1U22r
Still a weird name…copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDDA8s2jES
Tod managed to parry another shot from the sword, only to be taken aback from the sheer power from the blow. I can't do this much longer…copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9MstXRDO9
Tod swung his sword, hoping that his sword would hit his target. The clattering of steel told him otherwise. Tod's blow was parried, and Tod was sent flying down to the ground. A foot was placed on his neck. The announcer's voice came back. "Now, decision time! Will the 'Double-Dandy Daddy' allow Tod to live, or will he kill him in cold blood. Looking at the stats, Tod has a fifty-fifty chance of survival!"copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdLX8yZ3B2
Tod looked up into the cold eyes of the man on top of him. He knew begging was worthless. It would just be a sign of weakenss.copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhF8ROBT7f
The man looked down at Tod, before a grin spread across his face. The man changed the position of his sword, and thrust down. Tod flinched, then lay still, his blood soaking the ground around him."copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4oyxSvpwk
"And that's the fight! The 'Double-Dandy Daddy' has increased his undefeated streak, while killing off a rival!"copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvxktGSsKt
A man was watching from the balcony of the building. "Another fighter dead…that's the third one this week."copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfKbnCZYv7
"Don't worry sir, we'll just kidnap another person to take his place."copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡeicCQKvm91
"I know…but we can't keep on kidnapping forever. Our moles in the police won't be able to keep us a secret forever."copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIxe20VUtF
"Where do you want us to go?"copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZU9ahL9gh
"Just go drive around the city and take the first person you think is suitable to fight…or be bait."copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuzt7peCMn
"Will do."copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡEs5bH7cC2G
Phillip Clueman was walking his dog, shivering in the chilly November air. "Why did you decide you had to go on a walk now?!"copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqFcAPulZK
His dog ignored him and kept walking forward. Phillip sighed and kept pace. Soon, his dog decided it needed to relieve itself and walked towards a pole.copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgfbKmBYZn
Phillip looked around while his dog was doing its business. He spotted a white van parked on the corner of the street. Thinking nothing of it, he continued to walk on. After several minutes, his dog started panting. "Alright, we'll head home now." Phillip turned around and started walking back when he spotted the van again. "Wasn't that the van that was parked on the corner? Why is it there now?" Phillip looked to the right and saw that there was a path he could take instead. Turning to the right, he walked through the path, relieved that he didn't have to worry about that van any longer. Several minutes passed, and Phillip made his way home. "I'm home!"copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEQsPyz2aC
Phillip's dog dashed inside the house. Phillip's mom was sitting on the couch in the living room, watching TV. "Before you take you shoes off, can you go get the mail for me?"copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡIs3nEDd8Yd
"Sure thing!"copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBt8Nevodu
Phillip took the mail key from the counter and went outside once more. He walked to the mailbox and put the key inside. While he was looking at the mail, he heard the humming of an engine to his left. Looking over, he saw the white van, lights on, staring directly at him. Phillip closed the mailbox and locked it, before sprinting toward his house. The van's wheels started squealing and closed in on him. Before Phillip could reach his yard, the van caught up and two men jumped out of the van. Grabbing Phillip, the men started dragging Phillip into the vehicle, before Phillip threw a punch.copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡMA8D2YbB1m
The man on the right staggered backwards. Phillip tried running to his house again when the man on the left tackled him. Phillip tried to get up, but both of the men landed on top of him. Phillip felt the needle of a syringe penetrate his skin, followed by a woozy feeling. The world started to spin, then went black.copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJOh7tVlCU
Phillip awoke on a bed in a dilapidated room. "W—where am I?"copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvv2Eih9Hu
Phillip's mind went back to the countless horror movies he watched the month before. Whenever the victim asked himself this, a voice would always answer. This wasn't the case. Sitting up, Phillip walked off the bed and went to the door. Turning the knob, Phillip realized that it was locked. Who wouldn't lock the door holding a kidnap victim…copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡEu4N76MjIN
Phillip remembered that he left his phone in his pocket when he was attacked and reached into his pocket, to grasp onto some lint.copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXxufFYa0A
"They must have swiped it…"copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5z6ABKTTUB
Phillip walked around the room, observing his surroundings. Maybe there's a way to escape…copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡny5smdz8wi
Looking up, he saw a vent in the corner of the room. That vent has got to lead somewhere!copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbftGu8EF9
Looking around, Phillip saw the only thing he could use to bolster himself was to use the bed. Phillip moved to the side of the bed and pushed, moving the bed under the vent. He was about to take off the vent cover when the door unlocked and opened. The two men who kidnapped him stepped inside, along with another man. "Trying to make an escape attempt I see."copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKJllk6fd0
Phillip took the vent cover off and tried to jump into it, but the two men grabbed his legs and yanked him backwards. Phillip hit his head on the ground hard. Ow!copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBzV4V9D4F
Phillip struggled to get up. "Now, I'm sure you're wondering where you are and why you're here."copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0RbtxGCbm
"That's quite obvious!"copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq7vMsPSH3
"Someone's got a temper…but we need people like that."copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxFttKpCnt
"Not joining."copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡikt9wXHczT
"You are mistaken. You aren't joining our organization. You're joining our…our…entertainment."copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlkGR68HZQ
"Do I look like some sort of court jester to you? I don't sing. I don't play any instruments, and I don't juggle!"copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSoqlRaKuy
"That form of entertainment died in the medieval era. We're now onto more…exciting forms of entertainment. I'm sure you've watched some boxing or wrestling on TV."copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMSHWoFDBf
"So you want me to be a boxer…"copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbBRRsX09X
"Not at all. We're blending the two time eras together. Think of it as a boxing match. Two people fight, while being officiated. The first person to fall loses, but there's a twist. Instead of the match being over, the victor has a choice to kill his opponent or spare him."copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUPekb6vWA
"What kind of boxing match is this?"copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bnXSklyXX
"It's not boxing, it's a swordfight."copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡNu8ol0Rj00
"A…a…swordfight!? Sorry dude, but I'm not a sword master!"copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRU65ficLf
"You'll have two weeks of training from an experienced master to practice with until your first match. You are allowed to choose one of three weapon forms. You can go with just a sword, a sword and a shield, or you can be dual bladed and take two swords with you into battle. Each one has its advantages. The one sword allows you to focus attacks and defense quickly. The sword and shield gives you a balance of defense and offense, at the lack of speed . The dual blades gives you tremendous offensive power and great speed, but lacks defense."copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPqaMju8Rs
"So now it's a chess game…"copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FXf4jfVCg
"Precisely. We'll take you to the room now to choose your weapon types."copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡVT7Q0d6ipS
The two men grabbed Phillip's arm. "Ow! You don't need to grab so tightly!"copyright protection82ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcIXnugSD8
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