CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Krampusslap

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MAXWELL KENNER STOOD NEXT TO JACK. While the crowd has gathered around the table that Krampus and Callum stood at. Max stood anxious, shifting in his spot.

"Smack the shit out of that goat," Jack tells Callum.

Callum sighs, looking over to Jack who nods at him before he walked over to the table. Krampus towered over Callum.

"The rules are as follows," an odd creature, with black wings, and a bald head spoke. "The contestants will exchange blows in turn. The first to be knocked out or die loses."

Callum turned to look at Jack and Max, disbelief. The two simply shrugged thier shoulders.

"First touch!" The creature says.

"That's you," Krampus tells Callum.

Callum lets out a sigh. Before he brought his hand up, placing it to hover above Krampus's cheek. He brought it back, once again, making sure it would land before he pulled back and- "You know, I really wish there was another way we could do this."

The crowd groaned, booing.

"I'm sure you do," Krampus replied.

"He's still your brother," Callum says. "And he never gave up on you."

"What would you know about it?"

"I know him."

It was silent for a second. Before Krampus once again turned. "Take your best 'schlap'."

Callum brought up his hand, once again sizing the aim before he brought back his hand and slapped the beast. His head snapped to the side. Before he kept his head to that side, and then turned to look at Callum. "Interesting. My turn!"

The crowds exclaimed in excitement.

"I could be merciful," Krampus began.

Max shifted, giving an awkward and apologetic smile to one of the creatures he had bummed into. The thing shifted, facing him with an odd look on its face. He was sure he was going to die.

"and kill him on the first touch," Krampus continued. "But, what fun would that be, huh?"

Krampus brought his hand go, his hand clanking around Callum's heads from just below his jaw, to reaching almost the top of his head. Callum lets out a sharp exhale. "Oh, my God."

Krampus pulls his hand back, bringing it forward, before placing it to the side of Callum's face. He brought his hand back again, before slapping Callum. Callum feel to the ground.

Max and Jack moved forward to help him up. "Hey, buddy. You okay?"

"He just slapped the shit one of me," Callum says.

"Yeah, that was so embarrassing." Jack says.

"At least you actually got a reaction out of him, unlike the other guy," Max gestured.

"I love this game!" Krampus exclaimed.

"I can't...I can't beat him. He's a winter demigod."

"Just trust me," Jack says, as he and Max heaved Callum to his feet.

"I can't-" Callum whimpered out, leaning against the table for support.

"Now?" Max asked Jack, mouthing the words.

"Second touch," the odd creature says.

Jack 'accidentally' stumbled into her creature, pretending to pay very close attention to the game. "Oh, sorry." He says when the beast snarled at him.

Callum was still leaning against the table.

"Let me make it easier for you," Krampus says, as he took Callum'sa wrist, and slapped it on his face. "Come on."

Callum pulls his hand back, sizing up the aim.

"Come on," Krampus spoke again.

Callum pulled his hand back, gently bringing up his hand. "Come on."

And as Callum pulled his hand back, Max jumped out, grabbing his hand to keep it still as Jack clamped the Northern Vambrace to his wrist. The machine lights up red, it dings as it actives and turns to green. Callum looked at Jack and Max.  Before he turned to Krampus, his palm open, he swung.

Krampus fell to the ground, a few steps away from where he had been standing. The creatures gasped. As Max immediately grabbed Jack's hand, his second hand moving to removing a weapon from one of the creatures near him.

Krampus glared at them. The followed of Krampus moved to grab Jack and Max, when Max pulled Jack back, slashing the sword he had picked off one the creatures. He sliced their wrist.
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