POV : CELESTIAL WAGER

  In the dimly lit corners of the Celestial Wager, the air buzzed with frustration. Aliens of all shapes and sizes, their eyes dull, lounged at the sleek, liquid silver tables, their restless bodies betraying their impatience. After the thrill of wagering on the recent war, the atmosphere felt stifling, the tension replaced by boredom.

  “What is this? Seriously, what kind of show is this?” a scrawny Xaltrixxhe alien grumbled, leaning back in his chair, three green eyes narrowing as he watched Atlas engage in yet another tedious discussion about finances. “If I wanted to watch boring financial stuff, I’d flip over to the financial news channels!”

  Nearby, Gorvax, the massive stone-like being, crossed his arms, his small red eyes flaring in annoyance. “Lontic is right. What the hell is this? Atlas and the Portal Crushers were supposed to be facing life-and-death struggles, not accountants in the wasteland. I came here for entertainment, not a lecture on budgeting!”

  Zeltrax, lounging comfortably with a glass of shimmering blue liquid, nodded in agreement. “They just wrapped up the war, and now we’re stuck watching them count coins? Give me a break! I want to see action, to place bets on something that matters. I didn’t travel light-years to witness the drudgery of financial discussions.”

  Lurox, the iridescent blue-skinned merchant, flapped his delicate wings impatiently. “Maybe we should just create our own action, huh? Who’s up for a little wager on how many war bonds Atlas can manage to juggle? I’ll take that bet! Winner gets a round of drinks!”

  Kroxar, ever the cynical observer, chuckled darkly. “If we’re lucky, maybe someone will drop a few coins and we can watch the frenzy unfold. Now that’s entertainment! But no, we’re stuck here watching these so-called leaders debate over numbers.”

  The murmurs of discontent began to ripple through the crowd, each alien echoing their growing dissatisfaction. The spectacle they had expected, filled with high-stakes gambles and daring exploits, had turned into a dull meeting of minds, lacking the thrills they craved.

  Blontik, his greasy lips pursed in irritation, sat at the edge of the group, pondering the frustration brewing among the spectators. This was not what he had in mind when he organized the Celestial Wager. ‘I need something to happen,‘ he thought. ‘If these creatures don’t have some excitement soon, I’ll lose all my customers! And then who will I fleece?‘

  Suddenly, something happened on the screens showing Fort Bone.

  ‘‘‘

  A loud crash echoed from the entrance of Fort Bone as a group of adventurers burst into the town, shouting and brandishing their weapons. “We just came from the outskirts! There’s a skirmish brewing with rogue bandits!” one shouted, breathless with excitement.

  ‘‘‘

  The atmosphere shifted instantly. The bored aliens sprang to life, their previous complaints forgotten. “Now, this is what I’m talking about!” Gorvax growled, cracking his knuckles, his small red eyes glinting with anticipation.

  Zeltrax leaped to his feet, clapping his hands. “Finally! Something worth watching! Place your bets, everyone! Who’s in?”

  As the adventurers recounted tales of the clash, the energy in the Celestial Wager transformed into a whirlwind of excitement. Aliens began exchanging bets, their voices rising in a chorus of wagers and predictions. Lurox rallied a group of merchants, each one eager to stake their claim on the battle that was about to unfold.

  Blontik grinned, rubbing his hands together. “Now this is the kind of entertainment I wanted! Let the games begin!”

  And just like that, the tension broke, the dullness dissipating into an electric atmosphere, filled with the promise of conflict and the thrill of uncertainty. The aliens were ready to witness something far more exhilarating than numbers on a ledger. The battle was coming, and with it, the opportunity to reclaim the excitement they had been yearning for.

  ‘‘‘

  POV : FORT BONE

  Alexander, hearing the shouts of the adventurer, shouted, “Where?” The adventurer said, “About an hour outside of town. There are a whole bunch of bandits. I think they used to be ex-army.” Alexander said, “Follow me.” And they mounted up with a whole bunch of troops. Alexander’s eyes narrowed at the mention of ex-army bandits. “Y’all, get ready,” he said, tightening the reins on his horse. The soldiers around him straightened, a wave of excitement and readiness sweeping through the ranks. “Time to remind these outlaws what happens when they mess with Fort Bone.”

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  The adventurer led the way, his hand trembling as he pointed in the direction of the bandit camp. The horses galloped fast, the wind whipping through their hair as they rode toward the horizon. Alexander couldn’t help but let a grin sneak onto his face.

  ‘A fight? Yeehaw, just what I needed!‘

  As they approached the camp, Alexander held up his hand, signaling the troops to stop. The bandits had no idea what was coming. They were sitting around a fire, laughing, drinking, weapons laid casually by their sides. Alexander’s heart pumped faster.

  “They look soft,” he muttered to himself. “Not like the army boys I remember.”

  With a quick gesture, the troops fanned out. His voice was low and steady as he spoke to them. “Flank ‘em. I don’t want a single one slippin’ away.”

  Then, without warning, he gave the order, “CHARGE!”

  The clatter of hooves and shouts of battle rang out. Crossbow bolts shot through the air, THWIP THWIP, piercing into the bandits’ ranks. The fight erupted as Alexander, sword raised high, charged straight for the heart of the camp.

  One of the bandits—a tall, broad-shouldered man with scars lining his face—stepped forward, swinging a crude axe. Alexander blocked the blow with ease, the sound of metal clashing loud in the air.

  “You call that a swing?” Alexander taunted, driving his great sword down in a sweeping arc that sent the axe clattering to the ground. “Wrigley Field goes nuts!”

  He spun, slashing through another bandit before the first could recover. One by one, his troops closed in, their swords, spears, and axes cutting down the outlaws as the fight intensified.

  The bandits scrambled to defend themselves, but it was too late. They were outmatched and outmanoeuvred , their numbers dwindling fast.

  As the last few bandits tried to flee, Alexander raised his voice, “You ain’t gettin’ away that easy! After ’em!” He spurred his horse forward, chasing down the stragglers with ruthless precision. When it was over, the ground was littered with bandit bodies, and the fire that once lit their camp was reduced to embers.

  He wiped the sweat from his brow and turned to his troops, a satisfied grin crossing his face. “Good work, boys. This’ll send a message to anyone thinkin’ they can take us on.”

  ‘‘‘

  POV : CELESTIAL WAGER

  Up in the Celestial Wager, the air buzzed with excitement. Zeltrax leaned back in his luxurious velvet seat, translucent fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest, his three green eyes locked on the holographic display of the battle below. “Ahh, finally,” he purred, his voice dripping with satisfaction. “Back to the action.”

  The sight of Alexander leading the charge against the bandits sent ripples of enthusiasm through the alien crowd. Around the massive casino, bets were being placed faster than the battle itself unfolded. The house lights of the casino flickered, responding to the surge of energy. Lurox, fluttering his delicate wings excitedly, darted through the rows of alien patrons, collecting wagers and fueling the frenzy.

  “I got 5000 coins on the human—Alexander!” shouted a particularly enthusiastic Glytharni, his iridescent skin glowing brighter with the thrill.

  “Make it 10,000!” someone else yelled, raising the stakes. The sound of coins and chips clattering echoed through the casino as more bets poured in.

  Gorvax, looming like a mountain of stone at the center of the VIP section, folded his massive arms across his chest. His small red eyes glowed with a mixture of interest and disdain. “Humans. Always so chaotic. But effective, I’ll give them that.” His four hands each held drinks, which he downed one by one as the holograms displayed Alexander’s sword clashing with the bandits.

  The casino floor in the Celestial Wager filled with the sounds of alien spectators, their voices blending into a strange cacophony of languages, all unified by the same sense of glee. Virelia glided between the VIP tables, her lavender skin shimmering under the soft light of the liquid silver floors. “Another round for the bettors?” she asked sweetly, carrying trays of exotic drinks. She was used to this atmosphere—the intoxicating blend of high stakes and reckless abandon.

  Blontik, sweating profusely as usual, licked his greasy lips from the far side of the betting table. His toad-like figure barely fit in his tailored suit as he calculated the odds on his datapad. “Heh, humans… always good for the bankroll. Let’s see how long they can last before the house takes its cut. The house always wins, after all,” he muttered to himself, adjusting the odds slightly to favor a bandit comeback.

  But as Alexander sliced through the bandits with precision, the hologram zooming in on his every move, the audience’s confidence in him skyrocketed.

  “Double my bet!” shouted an excited Xaltrixxhe from across the room.

  “Not a chance those bandits win now!” Lurox zipped between tables, collecting the increased wagers, his energy feeding off the crowd’s rising excitement.

  Kroxar, sitting at the edge of the action with a tentacled smirk, couldn’t help but chuckle darkly. “The battle is so delicious,” they murmured, their many limbs twitching with excitement. “But let’s see if this Alexander can keep the momentum. It only takes one misstep…”

  As the bandits began to flee, the room let out a collective groan of disappointment. The betting pool shrank as fewer gamblers dared to hedge against Alexander’s undeniable prowess.

  Zeltrax, sipping a neon blue drink from a floating glass, smiled slowly. He muttered to himself. “They think it’s all over… but there’s always more in the wastelands.” His fingers danced over the bet screen, placing a hefty sum on future encounters. “This war’s far from done, and the real fun hasn’t even started yet.”