A beast of rage hammered away at his armor with weakened strikes. Orion's sorrow grew with every strike that skidded over his armor, his heart heavy and his eyes leaking the very truth of his soul behind his visor. The senate would have taken the head of Orthrus with a sycthe had he not taken them to the Arena, and even now they refused to fight.

Orion blocked attacks and swung viciously on purpose as Orthrus dodged deftly and hit gentle blows over his armor. In a moment of betrayal Orion swept the legs of Orthrus with his foot, knocking them off balance and drew knives from the side bags on his foe's armor. In a rapid movement twin points dug into the gaps on the black dog's armor. Irradiated adrenal fluid poured directly into the marauder's veins as a the dull end of Orion's maul slammed into her head. Orthrus's Helmet already cracked and slashed from multiple strikes broke free and came apart into the dirt of the Arena as twin scarlet orbs began to glow from a black fox's head. Orion knew how she struggled with the Marauder blood that coursed through her heart and veins. They feared becoming a raging beast incapable of stopping themselves from going insane with bloodlust. Orion himself had seen how Orthrus fought when their adrenal glands were unleashing their stored up power. If Orthrus refused to win this fight, Orion would make them.

So fast he could barely react Orthrus leapt forward and attempted to bisect his face down the middle. Tears silently streamed down Orion's face as he wept under his cracked mask as a second strike so fast he could barely react struck him. He had to betray his best friend and force them to fight, refusing to admit to admit he was also holding back in the fight. He had to unleash the monster inside of them so they would fight their best in the Arena and walk free when their blade finally made their decisive strike. Orion knew he would die this day, but did so with the knowledge that Orthrus would be able to live and walk away free. Though it was wrong, he believed Nero had died. Though he was wrong, he thought the Senate would lead their new empire as tyrants. Thought time would prove him wrong, he would lay in a pool of his own blood that day and Orthrus would be free. The red hot blade would leave the empire behind and when Nero returned the vipers would be hung by their shattered necks. Had their luck been better the message would have arrived in time to tell Orthrus and Orion that Nero lived. Regardless of the pain it would cause Orion and Orthrus for the rest of their lives, the senate would have to live with the consequences of their actions for the small amount of time they had left to enjoy.

Painted moment in history by  vespertellino