Chapter 44:

Chapter 44: Failure Meets the King

Howl


Leona and Ezekiel’s fight with Leonidas had finally come to an end with both of them being put to the floor, bloodied and exhausted: 
“Shit,” Leona cursed through heavy breaths, “I'm completely worn out. This sucks.” Ezekiel tried his hardest to get up, but his body refused. “Well this ain't good, He muttered, “Looks like we're both at the end of our ropes.” Leonidas simply stood in front of them, gazing down with disappointment. “You two fools were doomed from the start,” He ridiculed, “The only thing you've accomplished is annoying me. Now I'll finish you and go kill your other garbage friends.” The two struggled to pick themselves up, each groaning with each movement. “Death’s better than hearing your stupid ass monologue.” Leona spit at Leonidas’s feet. He scoffed, “Even in the face of the inevitable you still run your mouth. Heh, charming to the last.” He readied himself to deliver the final blow, Leona and Ezekiel could only tense up waiting for their lives to be taken. 
However, before Leonidas pounced, Belle came screaming toward him as she launched her left foot toward. He blocked the attack, then grabbed her leg and threw her to the side. Starting to turn back, Ferral’s right fist came smashing into Leonidas's left cheek without him being able to react. The force of punch was strong enough to send him sliding back and stumbling a little before securing himself. “With that small rest I took and a good snack, I feel refreshed and ready to fight!” Ferral declared with high energy. “You were only asleep for twenty minutes and ate a small bag of granola; talk about fast recovery.” Belle chuckled as she got and dusted herself off. Ferral looked at Leona and Ezekiel, then smiled at he walked over to them. “Hey guys, boy you two pretty banged up.” 
“Tch, took you idiots long enough.” Leona grumbled. “Wait did you say you took a nap and ate?” Ezekiel asked Ferral, who nodded. “WHAT?! So while we've been gettin’ beat into a bloody paste, you two dipshit’s have been takin’ your sweet time?!?!” Belle walked next to Ferral, “To be fair, Ferral’s the only one who fell asleep, but yeah, we had some granola i brought for all of us.” Ezekiel and Belle started arguing and Ferral tried to stop them while Leona looked at the three with a tired and annoyed stare. All the while the lionesses looked in confusion at the four being dysfunctional, but Leonidas was still in a state of shock at being hit by Ferral. He rubbed the side of hand against his lip and looked at it, noticing the smeared blood. His face turned into pure anger, a vein on his head popping out and the ones in his eyes darked.
“YOU!!!” He roared, making the group and lionesses all turn their attention toward him. “How DARE you place your hands on me?!” He snarled, “And worse, make me bleed! TRASH!!” He turned toward the lionesses, “Don't just stand there you good for nothing whores! I want that filthy mutt DEAD!” They yelped in fear, then placed their sights on Ferral who looked at them with a bit of confusion. The main lioness charged at him, throwing two punches but he dodged them effortlessly and elbowed her straight in the stomach, she groaned and fell to the ground. The other five jumped in and attacked him simultaneously, two throwing their fists at him. He grabbed them then pulled them toward each other, their heads slamming into one another. They fell, and another two came unleashing a volley but he dodged and blocked their attacks with ease. Ferral smacked one of them in the chin with the back of his fist, then elbowed the other with the face, they too fell. The last one tried to attack Ferral from behind, but he shot his left leg out, kicking her in the gut then spun around and kicked her again across the face with his right foot.
“Huh, well that wasn't so hard.” Ferral said as he walked back toward the others. “That's because we loosened them up for ya.” Ezekiel remarked. “So what're we going to do about him?” Belle asked, pointing at Leonidas who was still seething. “He's not important, you two are.” Ferral said to Ezekiel and Leona, “How bad are their injuries?” The four started talking again, meanwhile Leonidas stood there, his rage further bubbling up. 
“How DARE that worthless cur, place ME beneath garbage?!” He hissed through gritted teeth. “DON’T YOU IGNORE ME! I AM LEONIDAS, AND YOU ARE NOTHING BUT DIRT BENEATH MY FEET!!” He screamed, drawing the attention of Belle, Leona, and Ezekiel. But Ferral kept his back turned, wanting to ignore him. “I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS!” Leonidas continued his rant, “I'LL BEAT YOU WITHIN AN INCH OF YOUR LIFE AND THEN MURDER THE TRASH YOU CALL FRIENDS!!!” That made Ferral’s ears twitch, and still with his back turned, he clenched his fists. The other’s facial expressions looked at him with surprise as he turned around, revealing a look of anger and even took Leonidas aback. “Fine, I'll fight you now.” Ferral said, fully turned around and walking toward Leonidas. “Hey, idiot,” Leona called, “Be careful.” Ferral continued not answering her, as he walked past one of the lionesses who still had some strength left. She lunged at him, and without hesitation Ferral smacked her across the jaw, an audible crack sounded and she fell back to the ground. She held her lower jaw in pain, unable to close it properly and Ferral continued getting closer toward Leonidas. 
Soon he too started walking toward Ferral and the two stood face to face, Ferral’s face serious and determined while Leonidas’s was that of an angry smirk. The two stared each other down for a moment, then in a flash, exchanged a few blows, Leonidas kicking Ferral backward as he blocked it. Then Ferral ran off, promoting Leonidas to follow and the two raced away from the others until they were out of sight. The two eventually stopped, keeping their distance from one another. 
“I suppose this little change of areas was so that we may fight unabated?” Leonidas questioned as he hopped on top of a car. “Yeah, I don't want you to try and hurt my friends.” Leonidas chuckled as he looked around the area. It was what once used to be a small neighborhood, every building destroyed, rotting away. “Hmph, quite the place. Use this vehicle as a coffin, and a building as a headstone. Quite the perfect burial site for worthless trash, wouldn't you agree?” Ferral looked around just as Leonidas did, “I don't know, seems a little too good for you.” He remarked. Leonidas face morphed into disgusted rage, but he sighed, trying to regain his composure. “Well aren't you a fucking smartass.” Leonidas began getting into fighting position, “I am the strongest experiment, none surpass me. I'll show you why I am the king and you're the failure.” Ferral grunted, “I trained too hard to lose a jerk like you. I WILL win.” The two stood each other down again, then much faster than before both sprung into action, clashing their fists together. The battle for the title of the strongest had begun…