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[kkang-zi]

freedom | self para

Kang hardly owned anything that was his own inside Krovs Castle. Even when he had his own suite as a master, it remained largely untouched because he found himself in Louie’s room more often than not. The strigoi had left the castle before Kang did to give him the space and time he needed to say his goodbyes, but the kirin did not want to stay in this place for too long after that either. 

The kirin made his way around to see his various friends and it only cemented in his mind that he would return one day to finish what he had started. Kang had learned over the years that fighting on his own inside the castle was not good enough. Now that he had changed, he would see to it that the slaves he had spent so much of his life with would be free by his hand. But to do that, he still needed more time away to put himself back together and come back stronger than before.

He was standing in Louie’s suite that evening and he looked around the only room in the castle he had ever considered a safe haven. There were many tumultuous years spent in this place with the man he loved and that same man had finally given him his freedom. Tugging on on a heavy coat, the kirin’s hand slipped into his pants pocket and his fingers closed around the Grimaldi family crest that Louie had gifted him months ago. The small token had not left Kang’s side since he returned to the castle as a vampire because the feel of the metal gave him a sense of security whenever he touched it. 

As much as he looked forward to leaving the castle for good, the idea still made the kirin nervous. He had been beaten down by Krovs for so many decades that simply stepping past those gates seemed far too easy, and yet no one stopped him as he navigated his way through the familiar halls on his own. 

When he finally reached the castle gates and saw the shimmering magical barrier that prevented any form of escape, he tilted his head at the guard who was stationed there. The man made the move to open a hole in the barrier just big enough for Kang to step through and, as if on cue, a portal opened up on the other side. That city in France was where he would be meeting Louie when he was done with this place and the kirin recognised the street that he would eventually come to call his new home. He promised himself that he would not turn around to look back at the looming figure of the castle behind him when it was time to leave and his brow furrowed as he stared out past the barrier. He was going to return to Krovs Castle one day to make good on his promise and when he did, things would be very different and he just had to get through this next step first. His fingers tightened around the item in his pocket once more as he drew in a breath. 

This was it. 

A few long moments passed in the chilling silence of the snow-laden land before Kang finally found it in himself to lift his foot and he took that step through the barrier, past the portal and onwards into the new life that awaited him...

[kkang-zi]

silver-humanxx​:

Looking up, confused for a moment, then his face softened as he looked at the male. Freedom. He could leave, he could be free and have a life. “Thank you. Really Kang, I want to go with you I do, but….” Silver had never seen the outside world. He didn’t know how it worked. And he didn’t want to weigh Kang down by tagging along. “I would have nowhere to go. I know no one, I don’t really think I could get a job, and…. I don’t want to burden you.” 

Silver clung to Kang even tighter hoping that maybe, just maybe that bit of clinging could change his mind. But deep down he knew it wouldn’t make a difference. “You’re happier out there. In the world where you’re free and not trapped in a place like this. I’ll see you again one day. Hopefully before anything serious happens to me.” Kang would outlive Silver for generations. He knew the male would have many people in the same situation. But Kang was his friend. Dearest friend. Silver sniffed some more as he took in the master’s scemt, his touch, his words. “Get into lots of trouble for me okay? Make sure to prank Louie, stay happy with each other. And take care of each other.” He wanted Kang happy. He wanted the other to live a life he would be happy about and never regret. He knew it meant leaving this place. “Meeting you was the best thing that happened to me. I couldn’t have asked for a better friend in life.”

“It wouldn’t be a burden,” Kang said, but he supposed he knew what Silver meant. The boy knew no other life apart from being a slave and that only made the kirin more determined to come back to free them all. His arms tightened around Silver’s body once more and he nodded. “I’ll come back,” he whispered a promise. “I’ll get better and I’ll come back for you. For all of you.”

He laughed softly at Silver’s suggestion and squeezed him a little tighter. “I am very glad to have met you too,” he said. “You have to make more friends in this place, alright? And keep yourself out of trouble...” Kang released his hold on Silver and leaned back to wipe the tears that had found their way into his eyes. “Just... Promise me that, will you?” He prided himself on being like an older brother figure to Silver and leaving the castle brought a whole world of worry for the slave’s well-being. 

[kkang-zi]

jadenthehybrid​:

Jaden really wished Kang would stop being so fucking sentimental, both in thought and spoken word. He wasn’t usually such an emotional person. It wasn’t something encouraged when he was growing up as a child. So expressing his pain over his friend leaving him made him feel ridiculous. He thought he was holding it pretty well together until the kirin got on with his speech and started tearing up himself. 

“God damn it, Kang,” he cursed, quickly covering his mouth as the last of his words were choked out. “Stop being a sap.” His eyes were definitely glistening with his own tears and a couple stray ones slipped out beyond his control. “I don’t think I would have survived being here without you either though. I’m not sure what I’m gonna do without you here either.” He didn’t have many friends in Krovs, mainly because he couldn’t tolerate a lot of the personality types of most slaves that were brought in. Jaden quickly wiped at his face again, taking a deep breath. “You better send some postcards from Paris. And souvenirs.”

It was not like Kang could help it because those were the things he needed to say to his friend. Reaching out, he closed a hand around Jaden’s. “Of course I will. I’ll even brave those fancy clothes shops you like to get you the exclusive items,” he offered with a small laugh having remembered how important looking good and being at the height of fashion was to his friend. “You could also come and visit?” Kang suggested with a hopeful smile. “Please do, then I won’t need to brave those shops too often,” he finished with a teasing smile.

[kkang-zi]

jadenthehybrid​:

Jaden let Kang lead the way towards the lounge. With a snap of his fingers, the papers in his hand vanished into thin air, though he knew they’d safely appear on his suite’s kitchen counter. He hated goodbyes, but at least this one came with a martini. 

His eyes softened as he met Kang’s gaze. Even though he knew the words were coming, somehow hearing them out loud dealt the emotional damage. “I figured,” he said with a soft sigh, pausing to graciously receive his drink from the bartender. He sipped at it, momentarily glancing away and blinking back the threatening tears in his eyes. Kang was one of his dearest and closest friends and the idea that he wouldn’t be able to see him every day had him crumbling. Who else would he lovingly torment now that the kirin wouldn’t be here? Or watch monster movies with and talk about love lives? As happy as he was that his beloved friend was getting out of this place, there was a selfish part of him that didn’t want him to go so that he had someone he could commiserate with here. 

The fae hybrid quickly wiped a tattooed hand under his eyes to make sure he wasn’t caught crying in public. Not yet, but surely it’d be happening soon judging by the tightness in his throat. “Where are you going?” he asked. 

Their friendship had started in a rather strange way all those years ago in New York, of all places. Kang had been trying to save a group of supernaturals from the reapers and met Jaden because of it. When they met again at Krovs, Jaden had been one of the very few people Kang became much closer to and he firmly believed that this friendship would never have blossomed because of it. They were such polar opposites and Jaden had taught him how to not take things so seriously, reminders that Kang sorely needed when he was often so set on his one-man mission to save the world. Leaving the castle and Jaden behind was probably the hardest, especially when Kang could see the way his friend was trying to hold back his emotions. 

“Paris. Louie bought a place and we’ll be staying there for awhile,” he replied and he looked down at his drink for a moment. “I wanted to thank you,” Kang continued as he looked up again. “For being my friend,” he added with a smile as he felt the tears prickling at his own eyes as well. “I don’t think I could’ve survived being here again otherwise.”

[kkang-zi]

silver-humanxx​:

Silver didn’t hesitate as Kang leaned in for a hug. The younger wrapper his arms tightly around Kang as he sobbed into the man’s chest. He could understand why Kang would want to leave and he could understand that the male was allowed to now. He was a master and he could do as he pleased and if Kang wanted to live his life outside of thaw castle, he could. “Where will you go?” A choked out sentence leaving the boy as he tried to not overwork himself too much. Though it was very hard in this moment. The human had worried about this since the first day Kang was no longer a slave. He knew it would come, but he hoped it never would. Silver had half a mind to try forcing the master to take him too. That he would be reckless and never behave again. Would threatening to jump work? But it was all stupid. There would be no truth to those words and Silver couldn’t bring himself to even attempt a threat.

“There’s nothing I can do to make you stay is there?” Silly asking, but he would do whatever it took if Kang would stay. However he had heard from asking around that Louie had left again. He could assume Kang was leaving to go with him. Which was one thing that made Silver happy. His friend had always been brightest around the male, which gave Silver some happiness knowing the male would be in good hands. His throat was becoming raw from all the crying. As he tried to calm down Silver’s arms moved from around the male, to grip the front of Kang’s shirt. 

“Will I ever see you again? You were my first friend Kang. The first person who I knew here. I didn’t expect life to change so much. I never thought I’d lose you. I love you Kang, you’ve been the only one who has always seen the good in me. And I know, if we had met in a different world we’d be very good friends. In some odd way, you became like family. I’ve never experienced any of this stuff in my life. Everything I know about life outside of that place I ran from, is from this castle. I’m glad I got to met someone who means so much to me.” The boy choked up again as he tried to keep this moment from being a disaster of sadness and tried to think positive. “I only have one request, will you write? Send post cards, keep me updated on your travels. Tell me about the world and the stories you collect.” Wiping his eyes Silver felt himself filling with an explosion of tears as he tried to smile a bit.

The thing is now that Kang could go anywhere he wanted. With his new status as a half-vampire, Kang had been given the freedom that was denied to him for so long. 

“I could take you with me,” he offered gently, not at all happy with how upset his friend was. “I can purchase you. I don’t have the money, but I’m sure Louie will...” Kang did not have any money to his own name, but would return every single cent to Louie for as long as it took if Silver wanted it.

“I’m so sorry...” Hugging Silver tighter, Kang sighed and pressed a kiss to the younger man’s forehead. He remembered the first time he had met the human and the bond that they had developed after that. They had really come a very long way and it felt terrible leaving Silver in here. “I cannot come back here for awhile. It’s not good for me to be here. But I promise to write. I’ll write for as long as you want me to.”  

[kkang-zi]

silver-humanxx​:

The touch was cold, but Silver expected it and didn’t react as one might if a friend had gone from warm blood to, well, none. “Oh ya you were in it right? I heard about it.” The human wondered what had made Kang decide to join. .Usually he wasn’t one for fighting, but he didn’t get to ask. The human felt weight come over his entire body. “L-Leaving?”

Silver didn’t know what to say, or think. His entire mind went blank as his chest tightened. He looked down for a moment. Leaving Krovs? Was he serious? The human suddenly felt his face heating slowly as his vision blurred. “Why?” Looking up to meet the man’s gaze it felt like everything was being ripped away. Kang was his first friend in the castle. Someone who he went to for everything. He could feel the build up of the tears before one fell. But Silver was trying not to lose composure. 

“Y-You can’t. If you leave… if you’re gone…” He didn’t know what he would do. How could Kang make this decision? How was it possible? The human had never felt this feeling before. Sure he had felt sadness before, but this…. It had to have been something else. He found it hard to breathe for a moment. He hadn’t even noticed the tears as he started to silently cry. “Kang, do you have to? Why can’t you stay?” The boy took hold of the male’s arm gently as if the master would vanish if he let go. Silver didn’t want to think about Kang leaving. One of his only real friends ever in his life, was now leaving and Silver may never see him again. The tears continued to run down his face. Staining the reddening cheeks as his eyes slowly puffed. “Please, stay here.”

Kang felt his heart ache when he saw the younger man break down in front of him. He had not expected such a visceral reaction, but he remembered how young Silver was. 

“I can’t stay here anymore,” he said when Silver took his hand in his own and Kang saw those tears start to fall. “This place isn’t good for me.” It felt almost hypocritical for him to be saying this when Silver was still a slave himself, but Kang had come to learn that it had come to the point when he needed to put his own well-being before others, especially given this new life he was still getting used to. “I’m so sorry, Silver,” he said as he felt tears prickling at his own eyes as a heavy sense of guilt fell over him. Those like Silver were exactly the reason Kang had come back and tried to stay in the castle. He could not abandon the ones he had sworn to protect. “I’m so sorry...” Kang said again and leaned in to wrap his friend up in a tight hug.

[kkang-zi]

goodbyes

With his newfound status as a purchased slave, Jaden had been working on regaining access to most of his life back in New York with Bjorn’s permission. It felt good to have his accounts back under his control, though the last thing that was left was his family’s company. He could definitely work remotely on the other side of the world. 

As he left the library with freshly printed papers in his hand, he was greeted by Kang. “Hi Kangaroo,” he greeted him with a warm smile, though it faded slightly when he overheard the other’s thoughts. “Sure. We can talk.” 

Kang smiled at the nickname Jaden used that had someone stuck and he suddenly realised how much he was going to miss the other man. He led them away from the library to one of the nearby lounges and found them a more private booth in the back. 

They took their seats and he ordered Jaden his favourite drink. He was sure his friend had picked up from his mind right now what he was here to talk about. “I wanted to tell you in person,” Kang started, a sadness in his eyes that he could not hide. “I’m leaving the castle. I’m leaving Krovs. For good.” It felt good to say those words out loud even if it meant not seeing Jaden again for the foreseeable future.

[kkang-zi]

silver-humanxx​:

Silver had been determined to master the skill of baking. Luckily he had convinced a few people to let him help in the kitchen when it wasn’t busy. He was in the middle of learning how to put chocolate into molds and how certain food dyes didn’t mix with chocolate due to it being water based. He smiled as he got the first tray of dark chocolates done and in the freezer. Hearing someone call him he moved to the entrance and smiled. Kang was there and oh boy was Silver excited. 

“Oh Kang! I’ve been learning to bake and make chocolates, you have to let me bake you a cake for your birthday! I know you may not celebrate but we ha-” He paused seeing the less excited features on the other. Even though he was smiling Silver felt his gut twist in a bad way. “Sure.” He set aside the towel after wiping his hands moved closer to Kang, away from prying eyes and listening ears. “What’s up? How have you been?”

Kang smiled even wider when Silver offered to bake him a cake and wanted to eagerly accept it, even when he could not eat normal food anymore. But this was not what he wanted to talk about. Silver was one of his very good friends at Krovs and one of the few people he needed to say goodbye to. Reaching out, he took Silver’s wrist in his hand and led them away from the kitchen to the private lounge area outside. 

“I’ve been good,” Kang answered with a smile. “A lot better since the tournament, really.” It had helped rid him of a lot of his pent up emotions, but it had also reinforced in his mind why he had to make this decision. “I just wanted to tell you that I’m leaving,” he finally blurted out. It was better to just rip the bandaid off as opposed to talking in circles. “I’m leaving Krovs.”

[kkang-zi]

hemitekoha​:

Hemi had always been a betting man. He knew enough about the different species and creatures that lived in the castle to know who was more powerful than him. He was vain that way. It was why he knew, going into this match, he was going to take a loss. It was better to throw the fight and come out looking like it was on purpose, than lose to a slave that shifted into a puppy dog of all things. While it wasn’t exactly fair, Hemi was never good at playing fair and the other vampire he was facing was young. He’d already beaten one council member, even if they were a no show. 

Stepping into the ring, he eyed the young vampire up and down. It was a good tactic, make Hemi attack first so he could see what he was up against. The ghoul knew it was a good choice because it was what he would do. “Because that gives you the advantage,” he replied. Instead, he moved to the center of the fighting pit. It was hard for him to remember that he was meant to lose so he was going to give the other access to attack him from all sides. “Come on, baby. If you show me yours, I’ll show you mine.”

All this time in Krovs and Kang still looked upon a lot of the vampires with disdain. While he was one himself now, that thought had not dislodged itself in any way. It was, in fact, what made him join the tournament in the first place. The opportunity to fight any number of them was more appealing than anything he had come across in a long time and he also needed to release all this pent up rage inside him. 

The other man’s taunts had Kang narrowing his eyes because that was to be expected. Any good fighter would know to let their opponent make the first move and this Councilman was no fool. The patronising tone was annoying though and Kang wondered which one of them would be the first to give in because this would just be a long staring match otherwise. 

Putting one foot in front of the other, Kang decided to simply start walking towards Hemi first, anything to get him closer to the other man. His body tensed, raring to fight with each step he took, and it was when he got within arm’s reach that Kang used his newly acquired vampire speed to duck down and disappear. He appeared again next to Hemi’s shoulder, a knee aiming straight for the Councilman’s face. 

[kkang-zi]

familiar-finn​:

Finn was buzzing with excitement as he made it into the semi finals. He’d made it this far last year before getting knocked out and he’d be thrilled to at least make it into the finals this year. Judging from the fighters, he’d expected to go up against one of the councilmen at this stage, but it turned out Kang would be his vampire opponent. He’d been appalled when the other suggested conceding. The familiar hadn’t made it this far just to earn a win into the finals because the other didn’t want to fight a slave. If he moved onto the next round, he wanted it to be because he earned it. 

With a compromise set that he’d get his fight and keep things friendly, Finn stepped into the ring to meet Kang. He didn’t remember seeing much of the kirin in action on the battlefield last year, but he’d witnessed his fights in previous rounds and gathered an assessment. He was fast and incredibly skilled, which would definitely make him a decent opponent. He held perfectly still, completely calm while watching Kang shoot off when the match started. His hand shot up to catch the kirin’s punch in the nick of time before his knuckles met his cheek. Opening moves could often be predictable. 

Without missing a beat, the familiar kept his hold on Kang’s fist while he swept his leg out against the kirin to knock him off his feet.

Kang would not have considered himself a martial artist had he not anticipated what Finn would do. He had left himself wide open for the other’s attack and with a push through his feet, managed to jump off the ground to avoid Finn’s sweeping attack as he wrenched his fist out of his opponent’s hand. 

Now that he was in the air, he worked some magic to allow his feet to land on the air in front of Finn. His own leg struck out then to aim straight for the demon’s face. Kang was a close combatant and he need to stay close because he had seen how destructive Finn’s magic could be. He just needed to subdue the other man quickly to minimise damage to either party.

[kkang-zi]

goodbyes

@silver-humanxx @jadenthehybrid

There was really no reason for Kang to stay at Krovs anymore now that he had his freedom. While it came with the price of turning into the very creature he hated, he had the last year to come to terms with it. It was the reason Louie had brought him back to Krovs when he had first turned. Kang needed the familiarity of the castle, as fucked up as the notions was. Now that he was feeling more himself most of the time, he told Louie that the time had come to leave Krovs behind for good.

Louie had left ahead of him, allowing Kang to say his last goodbyes to the friends he had made in the castle who still knew nothing of his plans. Making his way to look for those familiar faces, he found one of them and made a beeline for them. 

“Hi,” Kang said to the other man and he smiled at them. This was going to be harder than he thought it would be. “Can we talk?”

[kkang-zi]

Pallus, 8th House

Pallas - How does your character think? What’s their general skill when it comes to strategic intelligence?

Answered here.

8th House - What’s your characters most likely cause of death?

Kang will readily die for whatever causes he believes in. It is the reason he rebelled against the vampires for so long after the Second War and refused to yield even when he was a slave at Krovs. His new status as a vampire and his love for Louie has not changed these beliefs and it is what brings him a lot of internal turmoil.

[kkang-zi]

Virgo, Pallas, 2nd House

Virgo - How neat is your character?

Kang is neat and tidy to a tee. What few possessions he owns all have their spaces in his living area. He likes presenting himself in a clean and tidy manner because he spent a human lifetime in the Imperial Palace beside an Emperor that he still looks up to till this day.

Pallas - How does your character think? What’s their general skill when it comes to strategic intelligence?

Having grown up as Head of Guard and bodyguard to the Emperor of the biggest and most prosperous nation of its time, Kang has decent skill in strategic thinking. He will not hesitate to be forceful when he needs to get the job done, but he is honourable in his actions and the way he would treat his enemies, especially if he perceives them as deserving of mercy. The downside to his thinking is that he prefers not to rely on sneak attacks or underhanded tactics, which hinders him from becoming a truly skilled strategic thinker.

2nd House - How much does your character value money?

After leaving the Imperial Palace, Kang’s attachment to money and material things started to diminish. He saw first hand how wealth and power could corrupt after his Emperor passed away and his descendants fought amongst themselves for the throne. After he left China, he travelled with as little money as possible, relying on labour to earn his keep and living within his means. Having spent most of his life in this way makes him view material wealth and possessions as something others place too much importance on.

[kkang-zi]

round four | finn & kang

@familiar-finn

Kang had really not expected to get this far in the tournament. While he had told himself that he would do anything in his power to defeat the vampires, he still did not think it would be so easy. Out of the three that he fought, two of them put up a fight but both the Councilmen ended up conceding. There was something inside Kang that hated how the matches turned out because it meant that going on to the next round had not been by his own merits and it only seemed to generate more annoyance and anger inside him towards the vampires that he wanted to bring to his next match. When he saw that his next opponent was a slave, the thought of conceding immediately crossed his mind because Kang had told himself not to fight the slaves given his new status as a master in the castle. That was why he had approached Finn before their match to tell him, though it had not been received very well given that Finn wanted a fight. The kirin gave in after awhile when he realised that the other man really wanted this and he made it clear that it was going to be a friendly match only, and that if things went too far, Kang would not hesitate to admit defeat. 

 They stepped into the arena against each other some time after and even Kang had to admit that he was excited for their fight to start. He had been promised a good one and judging from Finn's previous matches, the demon was a very skilled fighter himself. Dressed in his usual sleeveless shirt and loose pants, Kang stayed in his corner as the bell rang to signal the start of their match. He needed to get close to Finn, seeing as he was more of a close combatant than anything and he immediately launched himself towards him, his new vampiric speed somehow making the already fast kirin even faster. Kang found himself managing to get close enough to Finn to land a first blow and he pulled his arm back to strike out, his fist aiming for his opponent's face.

[kkang-zi]

round three | kang & hemi

@hemitekoha

Kang had been lucky enough that he had been matched with vampires so far in this tournament. He had won his first round and taken it in his stride. When he was matched with Gotrik in the second one and his old master was a no-show, it seemed almost insulting, but perhaps Kang should have expected it. His third match was to another Councilman named Hemi, a vampire demon that he had not interacted with very much but knew enough about. His many years at Krovs as a slave had helped him get to know the masters well because it helped to know ones enemies.

There was an atmosphere of excitement in the arena for this next round. The audience was cheering as Kang stepped into the ring to face his opponent dressed in a loose sleeveless top and track pants. His feet were bare because it was easier for him to move that way. They moved to their respective sides of the ring to get ready before the bell sounded and signalled the start of the fight. Kang circled the pit, his eyes staying on Hemi. “Why don’t you make the first move?” he called out as he gave the other man the option. It helped to see what he was up against.

[kkang-zi]

fighting spirit | self para

Kang had always been a fighter. It was a role that had been instilled in him from a young age when he was brought into this world to serve as protector to a great emperor. His calling to find someone or a cause to protect was probably what made him so adept at it. He took to all forms of martial arts very easily and fell in love with the physicality of it from a young age. The kirin had even travelled the world after he left China, looking to find ways to learn different styles of fighting so that he could hone and push his body to its limits. After all those years of training and the number of battles and wars he had been through, there was little in the physical realm that Kang felt he could not overcome. 

It was the reason he managed to pull through being a slave at Krovs for so much of his life. It was also one of the reasons he believed allowed him to survive his eventual turning into a vampire and the control he managed to muster to regain control of himself in just a few months. Young vampires usually turned feral very easily and he was glad that he had managed to avoid most of that. 

When the castle announced that they were holding another Fight Club that allowed masters to participate, Kang did not hesitate to put his name down, much to Louie’s dismay. It was in his blood to fight, he told his lover and sire. He had also told himself that he would throw whatever matches he had against slaves and even some of the nicer members of staff, but if his opponent was a vampire, he would have the chance to go all out to defeat them in front of his peers. When the fight roster was put up and his first opponent was a master he knew who frequented the castle over the last few decades enough to know him, the kirin was glad. 

The crowd was cheering loudly when he finally stepped into the ring, but Kang paid the noise no mind. His attentions were solely focused on his opponent. It had been a long time since he stepped into a space like this and the nostalgia of the days of his past spent travelling the world came back to him. Kang had missed this. 

As Kang readied his body into its most comfortable fighting stance, he watched as his opponent smirked, recognising the kirin for who he was. This vampire knew Kang from his years of being a slave and had never let him forget his place back then and, it seemed, even now as a very clear and insulting taunt rang through the air. 

Kang merely blinked at the man as the words rolled off his back. He had not spent years being humiliated in so many different ways inside this very castle for something as trivial as words to affect him. But insulting him now also meant that he was insulting Louie and that would not do. His eyes flashed a red colour that Kang could not control. It seemed to do so whenever anger started rising inside him and his opponent noticed that. 

They both moved on the other at the same time, neither one of them wanting to give ground. Kang had the advantage of the magic his kirin half still possessed, but his opponent possessed speed and slightly greater strength.  They were quite evenly matched, Kang realised as they continued to exchange blows to the point where they both started to tire, but neither of them wanted to give up. His opponent refused to let an ex-slave beat him and Kang’s only wish was to tear the master down. 

In a swift move, the other man’s fist connected with the side of Kang’s face in a rare moment that he did not see it coming and it sent Kang flying. He just barely managed to right himself in mid-air, his body twisting so that he could land on all fours and his now-clawed hands dug into the ground as he raised crimson eyes up at his opponent. The kirin could feel himself getting angrier as the match became mroe drawn out, an emotion he usually tried to and could successfully suppress when he was fighting. It did not do well to lose his head in such situations because it meant making mistakes, but Kang had not realised how his new vampiric half would affect him in such a manner. 

His opponent was quick to follow through and Kang had a feeling that he man knew exactly what he was going to do when he launched himself at Kang. He was so fast and the kirin did not manage to avoid the hand that closed around the back of his neck to shove him face first into the ground with a loud crack that split the earth. It hurt -- a lot -- and Kang could feel blood on his face as he was held down by the other man in an attempt to get him to concede the fight. The vampire told the crowd that he wanted Kang to admit defeat as if he were ending this honourably, but when he leaned down to press his lips to Kang’s ear, he spoke of wanting to make sure that Kang knew his place and that he would be beneath him forever, no matter what he had done to trick Louie into turning him into one of them.

The kirin was not able to tell in the next moment what came over him. It was either the panic of being held down like that by one of his many old abusers or the anger. Or maybe it was a mix of both because all he could see was red -- the type of red that was loud and angry and it took over his senses completely. The sounds of the arena were muffled in Kang’s ears and he could barely feel himself pushing up from the ground as if he hand on the back of his neck and the weight holding him down meant nothing. 

Time seemed to shift in that ocean of red him because when it finally lifted and he could breathe again, Kang blinked open his eyes and the sight that greeted him was that of his arms stretched out before him and his hands holding what looked to be the vampire’s lifeless body. Where the man’s head had once been was now reduced to a misshapen mass of charred black and Kang could feel a tell-tale heat in his throat that told him he what happened. He had breathed enough fire to burn his opponent’s head to a crisp. 

The stunned silence of the arena began to return to Kang’s ears as all eyes were turned on the scene in front of them. He dropped the vampire’s body to the ground then, blinking a few times before he lifted his head up, his still-red eyes scanning the crowd in defiance as if he were daring them to react. The commentator stuttered out his win and the crowd went wild as they seemed to lap up the spectacle of it all. This was all entertainment after all and Kang had given them a very good show. Sparing a glance for the lifeless vampire at his feet, Kang felt the ringside medics rush in to carry the body out as he turned to walk out of the ring himself. 

Losing any sense of self during a fight would usually have alarmed Kang, and he would have panicked had he been of a clearer mind, but he had his next round to prepare for and if he was lucky, he would be facing off against the one man in the castle he most desperately wanted to defeat. 

He was going to be fighting Gotrik.