From the moment he returned from the trip he took with Void, he had buckled down on his training with the adolescent snow leopards he had adopted. The sibling pair were coming along quite well and growing like weeds, soon enough getting to a point where he questioned if they would get any bigger. He had his sights set ever higher in the ranks of the pack and he wanted to make sure he had every advantage on his side. He wouldn't go so far as to fight dirty for what he wanted, but if his feline charges could lend one of their oversized paws to help him get to Daimyo then he saw no harm in that. With the brother and sister much more confident in their abilities to fight along side him and his armor altered to hold the dagger he had found during his explorations of a near by island, he felt like he was finally ready.

All he could think about as he approached the shrine with Viridis on his right and Procella on his left was how eager he was to prove to his family that he meant every word he said about his dedication to them and to this pack. He didn't think he would ever believe that he was the most skilled or the most knowledgeable in any area, but he had finally decided that he was tired of waiting to feel like he was. He was ready to carve out a spot for himself within the pack once and for all. He stood in the open space where they would usually meet and lifted his head to call out for Hela specifically as well as Venom and Hattori - though if anyone else wanted to come witness the challenge then he would welcome them as well. As he lowered his head he wore a soft grin, feeling eager for a fight as he waited for his opponent to arrive.

Plague | Viridis | Procella

Venom was unwilling to leave her puppies even now as they were on the cusp of being weaned. She enjoyed being with them, and hadn’t felt like she was being cooped up since she gave birth. In fact, Venom felt like the time was moving too swiftly as she watched them grow. What she was asked to witness was important though, and the Empress left her newborns in Lady Kiyo’s care and led herself and Hattori towards the shrine. She wore the signs of motherhood proudly, and soon enough the pack as a whole would be able to meet the next generation.

For now the attention was on Plague and Hela. Venom was eager to see her brother step up and show off his prowess, especially after the short vacation he was allowed. She didn’t doubt him, but was eager to see him show off his skills and worth to the pack. Venom was equally as eager to watch Hela defend her position. She was a hold over from the old Klein lineage. Her name could no longer hold her place, and Venom was eager for Hela to show that she still had that fight and drive for her pack that she had grown up seeing.

The Empress grinned at Plague as she took her place on the raised dias of the meeting stones. She made herself comfortable, sitting sphynx like while waiting for the show. She was already anxious about returning to the puppies.

Hattori had been expecting this for quite some time. The rank of Daimyo was challengeable for a reason, to ensure that no one got too comfortable and secure in their position. It was a heavy title with many strings and responsibilities attached and so if anyone thought they were deserving then it was their right to try and fight for it. He imagined that Hela was none too pleased by the shift in the rank's nature, having "earned" it before Hattori's arrival, but in all honesty he was not impressed by the Klein woman. Be it bad fortune or arrogance she simply hadn't been performing all that well as of late, perhaps too busy raising her children who were more than capable of mostly looking out for themselves now.

Regardless, Hattori was quick to heed Plague's call. He slowed to a walk as he entered the shelter of the pale trees and moved to position himself beside and a little behind the Empress. They had not spoken one on one yet but the Shogun had seen the man's work, knew he would put his all into this fight. If nothing they would provide Venom with some entertainment, after her long confinement with the children.

Hela was on her duties, duties that as time passed were becoming less visible in the empire's eyes even though she was doing her best. Of course as what was supposed to be a Klein-only place now was being taken over by strangers, those who were gofted their place. And now they dared to change what was established by her sister, where the power in name was all and now the rank she actually worked for to archive was now to be challenged for and she hated that. This was why she never liked Hattori nor his idea of changing the empire that he didn't create. She was there when Belle founded it and none of those here knew about it. As a call from her nephew arrived to her ears anger already starte to pour into her veins. Wearing her armor she arched toward the meeting place. Eyes narrowed as she arrived, seeing Venom and Hattori already there. She wore a blank expression ready to defend her place with all the power she had. And if she losed it she would make sure she will give plague the fight of his life. "Come on now," And with that, she ran forward with ears pinning into her bear head cape, with jaws agape ready to taste flesh. She was now the only true-blooded Klein that remained in a position of power and with all she had she will defend it. Quickly as she rushed head on she would make a sharp turn to her left and then attempting to cast a bite on the side of his neck between his head and shoulder. She was smaller but quicker and instead of overpowering she would use her agility and tactics. A fight between former teacher and apprentice had begun. Hela "Crow" Klein vs Plague for Damyo Round 1 of 3 Age: over 1 Size: Large Build: Heavy Defensive Battle Accessory: Polar bear armor Skills: Novice Intellectual & Expert Fighter Specialty: N/A "Talk"

When the call was let out, Viper wasn’t exactly sure the nature of it. It wasn’t a call from Hattori or Venom, and she instantly found herself interested. She was only doing her normal rounds for running when she heard, so she stopped what she was doing to attend. The call was challenging, but for what? She moved to the Shrine just to witness the start of the battle, taking a seat on the outskirts opposite where Venom observed. She was ready to learn what was happening, and the meaning of the challenge and what would outcome from it. She wouldn’t imagine herself taking the place of any high ranking wolf, but she was willing to see what the task entailed. Maybe one day she could or she would want to herself. Walk "Talk" Think

When his sister approached where he was waiting to watch the fight, he returned her grin as pride swelled in his chest. Regardless of the outcome of the fight, he was still happy that he was going to be able to show her that he had meant it when he said he was dedicated to her and the pack. This was his chance to put himself into a position to assist her more directly and bring back some of that closeness he missed with her. When Hattori joined her he dipped his head to them both like a knight preparing to joust for a king and queen. He felt no nervousness while he waited for Hela to arrive - only a confidence in himself and his abilities.

Plague had fully expected Hela to not be pleased by his challenge and wasn’t surprised at all by the forced, blank expression she met them with when she arrived. It only made him grin more. The only thing he could ask for is that she give him a good fight regardless of who won in the end. If he lost he wanted to lose knowing that they had both put their all into it. As soon as the dark pelted woman stalked into the clearing he turned to face her, squaring off with his opponent and slipping into the usual defenses. He bared his teeth with a snarling grin, his emerald gaze glittering with excitement for the fight. With a simple statement from the Kline woman, she kicked things off as she charged toward him.

He held his slightly widened, stabilized stance as she closed the distance between them, tracking her movements closely and watching as she darted to her left. As soon as she lunged toward him with open jaws toward the right side of his neck, he ducked back out of the way while jutting his shoulder up toward her jaws, attempting to slam the skull that was strapped to his shoulder into the lower part of her jaw in the same movement. He leaned into his left foreleg as he dipped down out of the reach of her jaws and then used the momentum as he pushed off of the ground toward her as he aimed to slam his right shoulder into her chest as well. If he managed to keep her within his reach he would reach out with his jaws toward her shoulder, aiming a hard bite right around the top part of her shoulder or scruff. Viridis darted out of the way to avoid being caught between the two wolves and stalked around the perimeter of the fight with Procella while the two felines kept a sharp eye out for an opportunity to jump into the fray.

Plague Klein-Abraxas vs Hela Kline for Daimyo
Round 1/3
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Steel dagger
Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather chest brace
Companion 1: Snow leopard, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Snow leopard, Female - Battle
Skills: Master Fighter & Advanced Intellectual
Specialty: Weaponsmaster

Plague | Viridis | Procella

Her eyes were still narrowed and her ears pinned into her bear armor head. The boy became quite good and she in a way felt happy for him. If he won well, she knew she was giving this rank in good paws but still she wasn't going to let him take it without a fight. She was angry but if the empire was to get better then only the best should be on top of it. As he dodged her attack she would do the same with his, trying to use her more agile size to fight off his larger size. Firstly as he went to slam his shoulder's skull on her jaw. She attempted to quickly get off the way by quickly walking backward hoping to miss the hit fully. He then went to slam her into her chest but quickly she turned to her right so instead of her chest he would only hit her in her own shoulder. Simultaneously she turned quickly to his left for then aiming to bite on his back leg and then pull it from under him. The taller one was the worst the fall would be right? Hela "Crow" Klein vs Plague for Daimyo Round 2/3 Age: Over 1 year Size: Large Build: Heavy Defensive Battle Accessory: Polar bear armor Skills: Novice Intellectual & Expert Fighter Specialty: N/A "Talk"

The first jab with his shoulder missed it's mark, but as he lunged back toward her he felt his shoulder connect hard with hers, slamming the skull into her. His teeth grazed the skin on her back as they snapped closed, missing his original target as she quickly moved around them to go for his back leg. He pulled his leg away as he pivoted to face her again, feeling a sting as her teeth scraped across the skin. Viridis helped to ensure she wouldn't be able to get a firm grip though as the snow leopard leapt in and swiped at her muzzle with his claws - giving the Klein the option of either giving up her advance on his leg or taking a hard swipe to the face. The feline quickly got back out of the way though, not wanting to be in Plague's way once his job was done. Plague turned toward Hela and reached out with open jaws toward her shoulder, attempting to bite into her neck right where it connected with her shoulder. At the same time, he also reared up onto his back legs to try and hook a foreleg over her back and press his weight into her to try and push her to the ground.

Plague Klein-Abraxas vs Hela Kline for Daimyo
Round 2/3
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Steel dagger
Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather chest brace
Companion 1: Snow leopard, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Snow leopard, Female - Battle
Skills: Master Fighter & Advanced Intellectual
Specialty: Weaponsmaster

Plague | Viridis | Procella

[quote="Hela" pid='212356' dateline='1616115812']

As both shoulders collided with each other she went after his back leg but there is when a leopard put itself ib the way. Oh great, another wolf who couldn't fight his own battles without help. That annoyed her. As the cat went after clawing her face she would quickly attempt to use her hindquarters to slam the cat with as much force as she could but in the way she got a deep claw wound in that region. Feeling a sharp pain and soon blood poured uncontrollably but the adrenaline crossing through her veins only gave her more fuel to keep going despite the pain. Plague bit her in her shoulder despite the move she did. Lastly, he attempted to push her down to which she would attempt to step hard on his paw but not enough to break anything just to let him get off her as she tried to hold on to his attempt to push her down. Hela "Crow" Klein vs Plague for Daimyo Round 3/3 Age: Over 1 year Size: Large Build: Heavy Defensive Battle Accessory: Polar bear armor Skills: Novice Intellectual & Expert Fighter Specialty: N/A "Talk"

Plague dug his teeth into the lower part of Hela's neck near her shoulder as his bite connected with its target, keeping his attention fully focused on his opponent even as Viridis was knocked aside by Hela's hip. The snow leopard retreated to lurk near by with his sister, the pair watching the fight closely as it continued. Even though he was able to get his leg around her back and begin pressing his weight into her, her paw connecting with his own disrupted his grip and made him wince as the sharp pain. Even if it wasn't hard enough to break the more delicate bones of his toes, it still a different kind of pain than taking an impact to another part of his body and it sent a jolt of pain up his leg in response.

With a rumbling growl, he let go of the bite he had gotten on her neck and released the hold across her back. However, in the same motion as he came back to standing firmly on the ground again, he turned his head to his left and grasped the grip of the dagger that was sheathed there and in one smooth twist pulled it free and swung the weapon toward the leg that was currently pinning his paw to the ground. He wouldn't put much force behind the swing, only wanting to leave a laceration across her skin if it connected at all. It was a challenge that meant more to him than he could describe and he certainly wasn't pulling any punches, but she was still a pack member and still family so he didn't want to do any lasting damage with the move. He aimed the cut along the upper portion of her foreleg, a little above her elbow.

Plague Klein-Abraxas vs Hela Kline for Daimyo
Round 3/3
Age: Over 1 year
Size: Extra large
Build: Medium
Offensive Battle Accessory: Steel dagger
Defensive Battle Accessory: Leather chest brace
Companion 1: Snow leopard, Male - Battle
Companion 2: Snow leopard, Female - Battle
Skills: Master Fighter & Advanced Intellectual
Specialty: Weaponsmaster

Plague | Viridis | Procella

And the winner is...

PLAGUE

HELA must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: HELA Rolls: 92, 6, 67, 38 Adjusted rolls: 92, 7.2, 67, 39.9 Total: 247.32 PLAGUE Rolls: 35, 87, 33, 38 Adjusted rolls: 54.25, 100.05, 33, 43.7 Total: 288.75

Hattori watched in silence as he lingered by his wife's side. In his opinion this challenge had been long overdue, but not necessarily even on Plague's part. For the role of Daimyo to mean something it needed to be worked for and from what he'd seen Hela had gotten awfully complacent. Cocky and overly comfortable with the comforts her status provided. Well no more. His gaze flickered from dark to light, noting the differences in stance and technique. Hela seemed to throw her weight around and relied on her bulk whilst Plague seemed to move with more intent, thoughtful and calculated as though he'd been preparing for this for quite some time. His weapons and armour were kept in good condition, battle ready and wielded with precision, and his green eyes gleamed with focus. He was fighting to better himself and the pack and Hela was simply out to maintain the status quo, it seemed.

And that state of mind clearly served him well.

The Klein was quickly bested and try as she might the victor was undeniable. Plague had well and truly earned his place and new title as Daimyo and thus Hela had fallen to Samurai. Offering Venom a knowing look, and perhaps looking to check her opinion on the turn of events, he stepped forward and offered Plague a nod of approval. The man had done well, fought with honour and pride, and would no doubt fill his new role well.

All was as it ought to be.