The Match Begins!!!!

The two walked around to the back of the arena, covered in the large shadow of its building where in the ground was a cellar entrance. Jennifer guided Sky down it and into a stone tunnel, lined with torches. The two kept walking in silence as Sky's stomach started feeling worse and worse until finally the tunnel ended, opening up into a large armory decorated with weapons and armors.

Standing in the middle of the room were four gentlemen, Atlas, Kronos, Prometheus and Leeds.

Prometheus quickly made his way over to Sky, creeping an arm around his shoulder. "What's the matter Sky, nervous?" He smiled.

Quickly he turned to Jennifer. "You look worse, that worried for your belo-"

Jennifer elbowed him in the stomach, sending him sprawling on the floor.

"Ha! Ha!" Atlas walked over and smacked Sky in the back. "Don't worry boy, if something goes wrong we're all right behind you!"

The pain distracted Sky from the butterflies as he angrily rubbed his back. "THAT HURT!!" He shouted.

"Bahrny's going to come at you harder you know!" Atlas continued to laugh.

"Do you have your sword?" Kronos asked as he walked over.

Sky reached into his pocket and grasped the grip, pulling out the sword Hephaestus had made for him.

"Dangerous thing that is." Atlas remarked, "Almost got me with it a few times."

"Everything is set," Leeds said to him, putting out his left arm, "Don't die out there."

Sky stared at it before letting a faint smile appear on his face as he shook it.

YEAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!! The crowd above roared as a faint rumbling started.

"Well, it's time, good luck out there boy!" Atlas said as he started walking off with Prometheus, Kronos and Leeds quick behind them.

Once again Sky felt a tug, he turned around to see Jennifer. "Don't die, Whatever you do don't die!" She said, her eyes full of uncertainty.

"Don't worry," A sudden confidence filled Sky, "I don't plan on it."

***

"LADIEEEEESSS AND GENTLMEEEEEN!!!!" Max's voice boomed throughout the arena.

"YEAAAAAAA!!!!!!!" The packed arena responded.

"It's now time for what you all have been waiting for!!!" He shouted into the mic in his hand.

"On the left, the newest addition to Hero's Stronghold, the son of Zeus, the one who challenged our great leader, SKY!!!!!" He shouted as a circular hole opened in the sand.

The sound of a mechanized platform moving could be heard and in a matter of moments, the platform along with Sky now replaced the hole.

Sky covered his eyes as the bright light stung them. Once he could see he turned around and looked at the arena. He was standing in a deep pit with the ground beneath him covered in sand. High walls made of a shiny material lined the inside of the pit, giving the audience a clear view of the action no matter where they were sitting. The arena was circular, he noticed, with the seats rising up by a step with each row going up. On the highest row towards the left side of the arena Sky could make out Max's red hair inside of a large booth yelling into a mic.

He was surprised as to how many people had shown up to the fight, never seeing this many individuals gathered in one location at Hero's Stronghold before.

"On the right, the man whose name stands strong alongside Capricorn's as the strongest warrior, the leader of the demigods, son of hades and one man army, BAHRNY!!!!!" Max hyped up.

As the hole opened in the arena Sky already felt bloodlust, taking a step back instinctively.

"YEAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!" The crowds roar deafened Sky as they started stomping their feet.

As the platform came higher and higher, Sky's senses were being washed away, unable to hear nor stand still with the rumbling.

CLANK! The platform stopped revealing Bahrny, wearing a black long sleeve t-shirt and pants with silver bracers, shin guards and a silver chestplate. He was wrapped in a wispy cloak of black smoke that danced around, making him seem larger than normal. In his hand was his pitch black blade, ominously flickering to match the cloak.

"Unlike normal fights this one has a special rule, a time limit where Bahrny has five minutes to defeat Sky!" Max explained as the giant clock to his left was unveiled, "As soon as I say so the clock starts!"

"Now then everyone this is just a friendly reminder to place your bets, trust me it makes every fight that much more exciting!" His silver tongue flicked out, "NOW THEN!!"

"BE-" Max started.

Sky's hair rose as he instinctively raised his blade.

WHAM!!!

"GIN!!" Max finished as a giant sandcloud erupted in the arena.

Sky just barely blocked Bahrny's swipe. "Looks like I can have a little fun!" He whispered as he put his might into the blade, sending Sky backwards, kicking up sand in the process.

Now that there was distance between the two Sky watched as he stabbed his blade into the ground. An eerie silence crept between them as suddenly the ground started cracking. Black, shadow-like hands, matching the wisps on his cloak started clawing their way out sending chills down Sky's back. In a matter of moments a small ten soldier militia had been summoned in front of Bahrny.

His soldiers looked nothing like the people they once were. Each of them was covered in black wisps and shadows, only allowing their faces to be seen through a dim blue glow. Each had its own distinguishing feature however. Sky noticed that some of these soldiers had red hair while some black and others brown. A few were larger and muscular while some skinny and each brought a spear or a sword..

"Rise!" Bahrny's voice faded until it sounded hollow, cold and emotionless. "Charge!"

The ten soldiers all moved in unison, charging as if they'd done so before.

Sky changed his stance, standing tall and holding his blade flat in front of him. "Thunder God!" He said.

"Level 1!" He shouted as a blue cloak wrapped around his body, covering every part.

ZZZZT!! Lightning flickered across his body before he disappeared. WHAM!!! Bahrny took a step backwards, as he felt a huge weight against his blade. Sky stared into his widened eyes, knowing he was wondering what had happened. He then saw Bahrny take a glance behind him and Sky smiled. The shadow soldiers all started crumbling as gashes appeared across their bodies.

Sky shouted, putting even more force behind the blade, swinging it as wide as he could. As if listening to him the blade transformed from a long sword to one where the blade was on one side, perfect for slicing.

WHAM!!! Bahrny flew into the sidewall.

"Yea… so can I." Sky responded.

Four minutes thirty seconds left on the clock.