Oric waved his hands in victory toward the crowd, but the cheering turned to murmuring very quickly with fingers pointing into the arena. He turned to find Vock approaching him from behind-unarmed, but still daring to approach. The council members designated to judge the contest, and representing all of the five groups of Agonotti on the planet, stood as they recognized him. He had reputation and respect among many, but he had never acted so aggressive.
"What are you doing, Vock?" Oric shouted as he turned to point his weapon.
Vock did not speak to him. Instead he addressed the council above them. "I claim the right to challenge!"
Oric's faced burned with fury. "Do you think you can actually win? Turn around now and walk away. I may show leniency toward you when I am Leader."
"I claim the right!" Vock said again to the council.
They looked at one another, considering the request. Oric watched them half hoping they would consent to it. He still thirsted for a kill.
"It is your right!" the head of the council proclaimed at last.
Oric immediately rushed Vock before he could morph any weapons or armament from his form. But when his battle axe found its target, it split only the wind. Oric had charged right through him. Vock reintegrated so fast that he was able to smash his locked fists across Oric's back as he passed.
Oric stood stunned. None of them could do that; at least not that fast. Oric charged his opponent again, swinging as he approached, but Vock pulled away through the air, his feet hovering elegantly just above the ground with a confident grin on his face. He remained just out of reach as Oric ran at him swinging wildly.
"How? How are you doing that?!" Oric shouted as he halted in frustration.
"You aren't worthy to lead this great host, Oric," Vock said as he touched the ground again.
Oric shouted a cry of war as he thought to charge again, but it was cut short. Vock thrust his hands into the air at his Agonotti brother. A force unseen smashed into Oric and yet held it him in his place. With a thought, Vock caused the ground to erupt before his rival. The rock thrust upward and pounded Oric's stunned physical form. He reeled away landing in a heap twenty feet from where it hit him. His eyes remained open, but he didn't move again. Soon Oric-tal's physical form vaporized like those felled by his own hand.
No one spoke. Vock did not wait for the stunned audience to cheer him or the council to proclaim him the victor.
"Brothers, we have been changing in recent days, but we have been very unaware of it! What you have witnessed here today is part of this change. I believe it may be a return to some of our former power and glory!"
A pin could have been heard hitting the old stone comprising the arena floor as he paused. "We are not meant for this," he pleaded as he pulled at his garments. "We are nobler than these physical forms we have been confined to."
A positive reaction swept noticeably through the crowd. "We still have power. We still have some means to get back what we have lost," Vock continued.
His pleading turned almost to accusation. "Is this all you desire? Have you not longed for the power-the glory we once knew before the worlds were?" The reaction gained strength, turning toward resolution, and then to desire unrealized as an evil hope sprouted among the words he spoke.
"Follow me!" he commanded. "I will lead you back to the glory we once knew-glory and power that are already beginning to return to our kind. We just haven't realized it."
The crowd of Agonotti before him erupted into cheers. Now, he could put his plan into action.