_The cloud of dust clung to the air like a curtain. The crowd gathered breathless over the banister above. Kaldov stood muscles wound tight, chest heaving, blood dripping, eyes boring into that cloud. Slowly the curtain pulled apart, revealing—_ _"It—It can't be! He's down! Vauruk the Formidable is down! He's... He's not getting up! It's over! The winner is Kaldov Golalud!"_ _Fanfare erupted in Kaldov's ears, a crescendo of percussion and cheer. Kaldov let none of it in: still he stood, fist clenched, watching the fallen warrior bat for the slightest twitch._ _Finally it reached him. The winner is Kaldov Golalud. The rasp of an incredulous chuckle—then, the end of borrowed time. He fell to his knees under the weight of his battered body, and a flood of triumph engulfed the pain. He'd done it. He'd fucking done it!_ _The dragonborn reared back his head and roared into the sunset._ _The cheer lapped upon Vauruk's ears like waves upon shoals. In the darkness Vauruk knew the cheers weren't for him. He cracked open a swollen eye, sand rough against his cheek. "K.G., K.G., K.G.," the crowd chanted, a swell of adulation shone upon the kneeling dragonborn in rays of sunset brilliance, glistening upon the scales of his outstreched arms._ _Tears welled in Vauruk's eyes. Fingers twitched, closing around the sand as if he could turn it back. This couldn't be happening. Not again. He'd been so close. He'd had him. He'd been right there, looking victory in the eye. If he'd just stood farther away. If he'd pursued Kaldov after the falling knee. If he'd dodged that final punch. Why was it never enough?_ _The announcer droned on beneath it all._ _"...Strike after strike the warrior landed upon the titan; outmaneuvering, outmatching, keeping control of the battle; but one mistake—one slip-up—and Golalud was relentless in his punishment. An increadible win for the dragonborn. A defiance of the odds, a daring escape from the jaws of defeat. And for Vauruk... you can see the devastation... so much strength and spirit. It may not have been enough today, but I have no doubt he has a bright future ahead of him..."_ _The bat clambered to his knees and crawled his way limbs trembling to the closed gates, his way out, leaving a trail of bloodied sand._ _"...but for today, let's give it up one more time for the commanding, the charismatic, the great, the Bronze Breaker, Kaldov Golalud!"_ ------ This is a page from a comic that [WolfMirage](https://inkblot.art/profile/wolfmirage) and I did for ArtFight 2023. It stars my bat boy Vauruk the Formidable and [WolfMirage](https://inkblot.art/profile/wolfmirage)'s Kaldov Golalud. We intend to upload the pages of this series cooperatively, alongside the accompanying writing, over the next few days. [|< FIRST](https://inkblot.art/post/nTqClAoFQNLQE8Ly55bb) | [<< PREV](https://inkblot.art/post/qgab2W3y69tKore6typA) | (Page 14) | [NEXT >>](https://inkblot.art/post/LcdbhJCYJguhb7tPwwtg)