Ragnar couldn't help but feel like he was being hounded by his old habits, back then he made a name for himself here by killing everyone he ever went up against in the Tournament along with the Mount he would ride through the city without a care in the world. Ever since Ragnar had Akuko in his life, he had softened significantly and became significantly less likely to just kill someone without a reason to do so like he was in the past. Apart of him was sickened by this, as he should be someone that everyone fears and respected for his strength and willingness to do what it takes to win in combat. He knew that this reputation would most likely haunt him for the rest of his days, but wasn't much to do about it now. Ragnar was still more then capable of becoming that guy again if he needed to but he preferred to be a lot more calm. During a meeting at Joya, Ragnar had become that guy again and stayed there for a little too long and made a fool of himself but apparently he was scary enough to still give off the aura of blood lust. So he still had that going for him at least.
Ragnar got into the building and looked for where he needed to sign up for the tournament, and not to much surprise when he showed up some people decided that it was time to bow out and leave the contest, which was most likely the best choice for them. Ragnar in the past would have just killed all of his opponents, but now a days he prefers to just win his fights and then go on with his day. Maybe they will come back and do something worthwhile in their life, maybe they will come to Joya and join in a squad. As Ragnar waiting, his back up against a nearby wall he couldn't help but think about the people that were watching him, and he knew that some of them would most likely try and kill him for the things he has done in the past, though none of that really mattered to Ragnar. None of the people here were powerful enough for him to worry about, and none of them appeared to be enough of a threat to Joya that he would kill them just to keep his new homeland safe from harm. Eventually Ragnar was called to the stage and he walked onto it, his power armor hissing as he moved, and the axe in his hand roaring to life as it got ready to bite and tear into flesh.
Ragnar eventually made his way into the center of the area, and some of the people booed at Ragnar while some cheered because they thought there would be a murder today. The person standing there today was a man with a pair of knuckle dusters, but otherwise looked totally normal fighter. He didn't seem to fully understand that he was fighting Ragnar, but he also seemed like he wouldn't be worried either way. As he put his fist up in a boxing stance, Ragnar walked up to him with his arms down as he attempted to end this fight quickly. Ragnar expected the hit that came for him, hitting him directly in his chest right where his heart would be. But clearly his opponent didn't expect for the punch to hit, and for the armor to take that hit. The Power Armor that Ragnar had was immune to armor peircing effects, something that the knuckle dusters this man was wearing clearly had. Ragnar leaned down to the man, and gave him an offer to surrender or that Ragnar would hurt him. The man wasn't quite smart enough to take Ragnar up on the offer, and with a quick sweep of his axe, teeth not going, the man was sent flying out of the arena. He was hurt, but alive. Ragnar wasn't really in the mood today for killing, he had already gotten chewed out by his Guild Master for being too murderous in the Ceremony, and he wasn't about to come back home with that same attitude. While he loved Mishiko like he would love a sister, he was afraid of her like he would be a God. Ragnar pondered on this fact as he walked down the stairs out of the arena, thinking about his relationship with Mishiko.
After having an interesting conversation with himself about the meaning of being a God, or a Demi-god in Mishiko's case, Ragnar was called up again to the ring to fight. The next person he fought might as well have been a person from Ragnar's past, a barbarian clearly from Icebergia using an axe and a shield. With a sigh, Ragnar knew exactly why the young man was here. He was here to make money, get trained and then go back home to win more battles for his tribe or something inside of that vein. It was the exact same goal that Ragnar had when he left his home, and he realized later how stupid that goal was to begin with. Icebergia was a place that wasn't able to be tamed, and even if it was, you would have to be on par with Mishiko to do it, and even after that you would be fighting these tribes men until the end of time.
Either way, Ragnar had to put this man into the stone floor and he wasn't going to be happy about it because he knew that in the back of his mind that it would feel good. Ragnar revved his Chainaxe up to full power, and while he would try very hard not to kill his guy, he might not have much of a choice. Once the match was called both Ragnar and this Viking came charging in, Ragnar making the first swing and the barbarian blocking. The issue was that the moment Gorechild's teeth touched the shield, it started to bite through it like it was paper and all of that damage went straight into the barbarian's forearm and the only reason why it wasn't on the floor was because Ragnar pulled back at the last moment. Either way, the shield arm and the shield were completely worthless now, as Ragnar watched the blood start to flow out of the Icebergian's arm. Ragnar just had to wait at this point because it was only a matter of time before the man bleed out enough to lose conciousness and then he could get medical attention.
Ragnar did nothing else the rest of the fight, other then block the strikes and make step backs. Every move the barbarian made to hit Ragnar only made his heart pump faster and blood to leak out more. Eventually the barbarian had lost enough blood that standing was impossible as he fell to a knee infront of Ragnar. Ragnar looked at the referee and told him that this match was done and over with, that the medics should come in to fix him before he dies. The referee agreed on this, and called the match as Ragnar gave the barbarian a sign of a good fight from his home, which the barbarian saw and achknowledged before blacking out.
Ragnar had a final fight, though this one was very uneventful as the opponent resigned as the fight was beginning to happen. Ragnar couldn't be sure if it was because of his reputation, and people figured that he was going to kill the last person or if he just didn't want to fight someone who clearly outclassed him. But once Ragnar left, he walked by another barbarian, someone that was much older and most likely far more skilled who pulled Ragnar to the side and began to talk in Icebergian to him.
Apparently the person that Ragnar last fought was his younger brother, one that had come with him on his adventure to get stronger, and someone that was just trying to emulate the person he looked up to. So Ragnar was wrong that the person he fought wanted to go back home, it was this guy who was a younger version of Ragnar. Apparently this win was a thank you from him to Ragnar for allowing his brother to live even when he didn't have to and that he can return him home with his life intact, and not have to tell their mother that he was killed on his watch. Ragnar completely understand where he was coming from, though Ragnar never had any siblings that he knew of, and he left very young as his clan was wiped out as far as he was aware of.
Either way, Ragnar was happy he got his money and continued to walk back to the hotel. He had another one of these to do as he felt that his ascension was close at hand, and that he would have to figure some shit out once it did. Ragnar sighed to himself as he knew that there was only more training to do after this was done and over, but that was the life he signed up for now. He had duties now in Joya and he had to complete them to the best of his ability, even if it was very much against what he wanted to do 99.99% of the time.
1766/1750