Inside the stone locker room, the air was thick with heat from torches lining the walls. The distant roar of the arena echoed through the stone like thunder rolling beneath their feet.
Steel rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck.
"Look at the bright side," he said, bouncing lightly on his toes. "For once we actually get a proper warm-up before a fight."
Stark tightened the straps on his gauntlets.
"I don't wanna hear it."
Steel smirked. "You nervous?"
Stark paused.
"…Yeah. My heart's actually pounding. That doesn't usually happen."
Steel exhaled slowly. "Same."
Two armored demons entered the chamber without speaking and gestured toward the exit tunnel.
The drums outside grew heavier.
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
As they approached the gate, the sound of the crowd intensified—thousands of voices chanting in a language neither of them understood.
The gate creaked open.
Blinding light and a wall of noise slammed into them.
They stepped into the arena.
It was massive, circular stone tiers rising high into the tower's hollow interior. Demons packed every seat, roaring, stomping, throwing bones and goblets in the air.
And in one section
Their own soldiers.
Cheering.
Eating roasted meat like they were at a festival.
Stark blinked.
"You've gotta be kidding me."
Steel laughed under his breath. "At least they're having fun."
They stepped into the center of the arena floor.
The opposite gate rumbled open.
The announcer's voice boomed through the tower.
"Introducing… VARKAS THE BONE-CRUSHER!"
A giant red demon stomped into view, towering, muscles bulging beneath thick plated armor around his shoulders and joints. In his hand, a spiked mace the size of a car engine.
Steel cracked his neck.
"At least it's one. We've got the advantage."
The announcer continued.
"And… SYLAS THE SHADOW-WING!"
Stark groaned. "You just had to say that."
A massive blue-winged demon burst into the arena, dragon-like face, talons scraping stone. It roared and unleashed a column of fire into the air.
The heat washed over the crowd.
Stark exhaled sharply. "I'll take the dragon. You take the red beast."
Steel blinked. "Wait, how does that benefit me"
Too late.
The dragon launched into the air as Stark sprinted forward.
Steel planted his feet.
The red demon charged like a freight train.
Impact.
Steel was sent skidding backward across the arena floor, boots carving trenches into stone.
The crowd roared.
The red demon swung its mace downward. Steel caught the incoming fist with both arms, redirected the momentum, and slammed the demon sideways into the ground.
Stone cracked.
Cheers exploded from the stands.
Above, Stark weaved between blasts of fire. The dragon's wings beat violently, lifting it higher. Stark leapt, grabbing for its tail
WHAM.
The tail whipped him across the arena, launching him into a wall near an armory alcove.
Stark groaned, shaking off debris.
"…This place is stacked."
Weapons lined the wall.
He grabbed a long sword, testing its weight.
"Alright."
He sprinted back into the arena.
Meanwhile
Steel leapt onto the red demon's back, driving his elbow into its neck.
The demon jumped high into the air
Then dropped.
It slammed onto its back, crushing Steel beneath it.
The crowd gasped.
Soldiers in the stands muttered.
"There's no way he's getting up from that…"
Dust settled.
The red demon stood
And Steel rose from the rubble behind it, wiping blood from his lip.
Stark ran past him.
"Steel! Catch!"
A massive battle hammer flew through the air.
Steel caught it one-handed.
The red demon roared and swung its mace downward. Steel charged.
The hammer met the mace mid-air.
CLANG.
A shockwave blasted outward, rattling the arena and sending a gust of air into the stands.
They traded blow for blow, hammer against mace, sparks flying, stone cracking beneath their feet.
Steel feinted left
Then drove the hammer into the demon's jaw.
CRACK.
The red demon lifted off the ground and smashed into the arena wall, unconscious.
Steel lowered the hammer.
One down.
Above
Stark had climbed onto the dragon's back as it soared through the tower's open center. He drove his sword deep into its spine.
The beast roared, twisting violently. A wave of fire exploded outward.
Stark nearly lost his grip.
He ripped the sword free and sprinted up the creature's back as it spiraled through the air.
He reached its head.
And drove the blade straight into its eye.
The dragon screamed.
Stark channeled Kia through his arm, energy surging down the blade.
The sword glowed white-hot.
He released a concentrated burst.
The dragon's skull ignited from within.
Its body began cracking, glowing from the inside out.
Stark sprinted down its back.
The beast detonated mid-air.
He leapt
And landed hard in the arena just before the dragon's charred corpse crashed behind him.
Silence.
Then
The crowd exploded.
Drums thundered.
Demons stomped in unison.
Steel and Stark stood side by side in the arena center.
From the shadows of the throne entrance, the fifteen-foot demon emerged once more.
It descended into the arena slowly, towering over them.
"You have won
The demon's grin widened.
"You shall receive a champion's parade."
The crowd roared again.
"Then… we will discuss the terms of our deal."