Kotal reappeared in a shabby, run-down neighborhood in a swirl of smoke and fire, not a trace of electrical energy left. He made of vow to himself to find a way to do that again. Escaping that jail was almost fun.

However, while he escaped the prison, he was still stuck in Earthrealm without a place to go, and with only a slim crescent moon to guide him. He simply decided to keep walking forward and hope to think of something helpful.

Every house that the Kahn passed was worse than the last. Each as shambled and poorly made as a ghost town in Outworld would be. To his left, he saw a house with all of its windows smashed in. To his right, there two houses with what looked like bullet holes in the doors. He hoped to all gods that no one still took residence in this neighborhood.

His prayers were unfortunately not answered as he was grabbed tightly by the arm from behind. He saw a blade sliding towards his neck out of the corner of his eye and quickly twisted out of his attackers grip.

The man looked crazed. Even in the poor light that the moon provided, he could see the man's face covered in what looked like-- and what the Kahn hoped was-- white chalk. Losing his element of surprise, the cretin scurried off like a diseased rat.

If he had to guess, Kotal would say that he was in a "bad neighborhood." The man, drugged up as he was, likely wasn't going to kill him for entertainment. This entire area must be writhe with low lives; thieves, assassin's, cutthroats, and gang members. Kotal sighed to himself.

Gods! I hate this realm. He had half a mind to destroy all portals to this place when he returned to Outworld.

And there it was. The question that escaped his attention for a while, but was now somersaulting in his mind.

How was he going to get back?

By now, he knew that it was unlikely that he could rely on his own abilities, as much as he hated to admit it. It seemed that he could only have faith that D'Vorah or someone would randomly find him wandering in a ghetto in Earthrealm.

"Like shit that's gonna happen!" a voice from one of the houses clearly mirrored his thoughts.

"Yo, man just give me two seconds to--" a loud bang cut off the other voice. Kotal walked decisively faster.

It was like walking through a gauntlet. He felt enemies hiding in the shadows on both sides of him. He had faced his first challenge. Soon he shall meet his second.

Sooner than he expected, another man attempted to mug him, however, at least this one was sober.

"Hey!" the young man commanded, pulling a long knife from his tattered jeans, "Gimme everything you got! What the hell?" he said when he saw Kotal's attire.

"I'm afraid I have nothing to give you, vermin," the Kahn informed the robber, "but I will soon acquire a knife."

Before the mugger could even question what that meant, Kotal took a large step towards him and clutched his knife hand hard by the wrist. He heard the bones in his arm crunch like a dry leaf. "Agh!" the young man yelled and tried to pull away, but the Kahn twisted and held harder until the mugger was on his knees. The knife was dropped a while ago, but he had to make a point.

Kotal, finally satisfied, swung his foot into the man's chin, quickly knocking him out.

Without another word, the Kahn picked up the dropped blade and walked off, eager for someone else to challenge him.

He walked for another hour without hindrance. Evidently it wasn't just the neighborhood that was run-down and dangerous. It was the whole damned city it seemed.

And his third trial in this whole damned city came to him in the form of a mob.

Two men deliberately walked into the middle of the street, blocking his way. Kotal saw two other teams formulate to his right and left, armed with an array of makeshift weapons. Looking over his shoulder confirmed that he was surrounded, two more men with sledgehammers blocking his way. He quickly skimmed the mob and estimated about twenty or thirty men, armed and ready to team up on him.

Kotal Kahn scoffed at their dishonor and pulled out his knife. He wrapped his hand around the blade and slit his palm. No sun to activate his sun god prowess, so blood god it was. His red tattoos glowed in the night.

He heard varied swears and curses from the mob as he began to shine.

"The fuck?" a man with a bandana on his face muttered.

In complete honesty, that man would have been wise to remain silent. The curse caught the Kahn's attention, so he became his first target. Twisting toward the direction that he heard the man, Kotal reeled his arm back and launched the knife into the man's chest. He flew to the ground under the force of the throw, dead.

There was only a slight hesitation before the mob charged to close the space between them and the glowing Osh-Tekk. Kotal Kahn was, frankly, a little doubtful of his chances at getting out of this one, but he had survived many battles in Outworld, Osh-Tekk, and Earthrealm; he would not back down from this challenge.

When the first mobster was merely three feet from making contact, a blue portal opened right next to the Kahn, stopping all of the mobsters in their tracks. Kotal, full of hope, turned his gaze to the portal, not believing his eyes.

D'Vorah suddenly flew out of the portal, immediately moving to watch the Kahn's back. Kotal had never in his entire life been more happy to see her. He actually smiled with full teeth when he saw her.

"My lord," his rescuer buzzed, also smiling, "Outworld has missed you."

"And I shall return shortly," Kotal returned his gaze to the mobsters around him, whom were now more hesitant to attack. But it wasn't up them anymore. "But firstly, I have this matter to tend to."

"Then allow This One to clear your schedule," D'Vorah replied, releasing her ovipositors.

With a silent, knowing gaze, the two warriors began their attack. However, with the two of them fighting together, it was more of a massacre.

______________________________________

A few minutes later, all twenty-seven mobsters (It was easier to count them when they were dead) lie on the ground, either bloodied, impaled, or broken.

"Now," D'Vorah said, taking the Kahn's attention from licking blood off of his hands, "Now that that matter is over, are you ready to return to Outworld, my emperor?"

Without a word, Kotal took four large steps towards D'Vorah, practically charging at the Kytinn woman. Before she could react, he pulled her into a rib-crushing hug. He was restraining himself enough to avoid killing her, but just barely.

"Thank you, D'Vorah," he muttered sincerely to her. She was being pulled off of the ground from the Kahn's embrace. "You cannot conceive how happy I am to see you."

"Ngh..." D'Vorah strained under the tight embrace, giggling through the pain, "And I, you, my lord... hnn... could you please, retain your affections for a moment, though."

Kotal did release her, but not before placing a kiss upon her forehead that deeply surprised the Kytinn. "Thank you," he said one again.

D'Vorah was slightly flustered as she replied, "O-of course, my emperor. It is This One's duty."

"You have gone far above your duty, my lady," the Kahn insisted, "You have most certainly earned a promotion." He smiled wide once more. "Now, I believe it is time I returned to my realm."

"Indeed it is," D'Vorah agreed, "Let's go home, my lord."