Chapter 19

*Present*

With the bloodied sword in my right hand and holding the tower shield with my left hand, I paused for a minute to reflect on how this conflict started, why I'm now in this gladiator arena fighting to the death against my step brother. I looked at his face and saw the murderous gaze he was casting at me and I felt the cold chill of the killing intent he was emitting from his eyes. I knew this fight will only end when one of us fall to the awaiting hands of Hades. I tried to reason with him one more time.

"Commodus, think this through, you're now Caesar and yet you seek to spill my blood, what wrong have I done to you?"

He merely laughed and looked at me with contempt.

"You came from nowhere and stole father's love from me, you stole the military glory, you stole..."

"YOU KILLED FATHER COMMODUS" I screamed furiously

"You killed father, you killed him and now you blame me?, You also killed Habiba and her son Ashram, then you sought to add me to your murder list."

He still laughed and stared at me like the evil Kraken

"Father was weak and Rome was mine, but he sought to hand it to you, YOU! a stranger from nowhere. Today you shall tell Father of all the great things I have accomplished, Today you shall see your whore of a maid and her bastard son. Now gladly accept my blade."

I shook my head as he smiled. Today I shall kill Commodus, today I shall avenge father, Habiba and Ashram, today I shall complete the mission of which I was sent here to do. When Commodus said Father was weak, he was wrong, I was the one who exhibited weakness as I failed to eliminate Commodus before he got the chance to cause damage. I hesitated in my mission as I viewed Commodus ad my brother and hoped he will change.

Father was never weak, I'm the weakling as I could have saved Father and my close friends from a horrible death, if only I had ran my sword through Commodus's gut.

As I looked at my sword one more time, I knew this is the moment to take Commodus head, but I don't just plan to take his head, I will take his two eyes and his tongue so he will wander about the Underworld blind and dumb, only this will suffice as vengeance for those he has murdered, or sent on selfish battles to be killed.

I then looked at Commodus with resolve to end him.

"Commodus Augustus Aurelius! today, Heraklis prince of the Underworld has asked for your soul."

I dashed off to battle him.

*CLINK*

*CLANK*

Commodus has really improved his fighting skills but he is still weak to me.

I asked the demon wolf to sit this one out as I want to be the one to end his wretched life.

Our swords crossed and our legs danced as we kicked each other.

"You were just a child from nowhere, how could he announce you as the next Caesar, You!, one who is not even of Royal blood." Commodus said and charged forward again.

*BANG*

I punched the helmet off his head as my anger increased.

"WHAT ABOUT HABIBA AND ASHRAM THEN? WHAT WAS THEIR OWN CRIME?" I screamed as I hammered his head and body.

He flew off several feet from me as blood flowed from his ear, lips and nose as well as the wounds on his body.

"Commodus, I regret ever having you as a step brother."

He stood up and steadied himself, then he smiled.

"No matter what happens today and whoever amongst us falls into the hands of Hades, I want you to know that I won, I took everything you ever cared about." He said and laughed.

"YOU WASTED WASTREL!"

I roared and rushed to him, I swung a punch on his neck, shattering his Adams Apple and his spine.

He held his neck, struggled to speak, fell, convulsed for a second and he was still.

There was silence in the Colosseum. I looked towards the audience stand, Lady Lucilla had tears streaming down her lovely cheek. I turned to face Namor who stood amongst the ranks of the black dragon squad, I went to him, patted his shoulder and felt him tremble.

"Lead the soldiers well, serve Rome faithfully." I turned around but he held my hand.

"Surely as I live, I will keep this promise." he said tearily. I smiled, I still never understood why Namor has always been so emotional even when he's truly a man of war.

I felt my body tingle and I knew its time to return.

"HEAR ME ROME. I HAVE SERVED MY PURPOSE, I NOW IMPLORE YOU TO DO THE RIGHT THING, JUST AS CAESAR MARCUS AUGUSTUS AURELIUS WOULD DO."

I could feel bright light envelop me and once again there was gasps from the crowd.

"Farewell Lucilla, be safe, and rule well." I said softly but was surprised to see her nod in response.

* * * *

I opened my eyes and I found myself back in Lucius's basement.

"Well done Mackintosh, you won."

I looked up at him.

"I didn't win, I lost." I said as tears streamed down my eyes.

Lucius came to sit beside and gave me a pat on my shoulder.

"You've saved a lot of lives." He said.

"Now I know very well Sir Lucius, that without Sacrifice, there shall be no Victory."

He hugged me as I cried in his embrace.

"Do not worry, you have done things no one else could. Your story will be told in every language and films will be made in your honor. No one will ever forget *MAXIMUS, THE DEMONIC PRINCE OF ROME*" He patted me again.

Now, let's get you home.