Before the Gods left our world, they gave us gifts. Dulavelle, the God of Peace, left behind his child. Visara. The other gods left behind three magic spells that could be used by any race.

The first spell was the Blood Oath or a Blood Promise. A Blood Oath was mostly used as a way of swearing allegiance or loyalty to one particular person. It was a way of making sure that they stayed loyal, for should they have broken that loyalty then they would die. The Blood promise was similar. If someone made a promise to another using the blood promise, then they had to fulfil it or they would die.  However, the oath could not be made against anyone's will. The person making the Oath had to choose freely to make the oath and could not be forced.

The second spell was a Mating Oath. The Mating Oath was a way of marriage which held a deeper meaning than the regular vows. It ensured that the two people were forever tied together. The act of adultery would cause great pain. The bond would also punish for not being loyal in other ways. If one mate plotted against the other, then the bond would punish them. Like the Blood Oath, to enter such an oath, both participants must be free of any manipulations. They must both chose freely to enter the bond. For it creates a deep connection between the two.

The Third Spell was called The Gift. It allowed magical races to gift a part of their magic to another. This one was used the least as each race was far too greedy to want to share with another. Like the other two spells, the gift had to be given freely with no manipulation.

The Gods hoped that these spells would encourage more loyalty between the races and each other. For a while, they were used. However, they began to fade away. No one wanted to be loyal. Not to a ruler. Not to a husband or wife. No one wanted to share their magic. So the spells were mostly forgotten.

~The History of the Gods. Chapter Ten. Written by the Master Scholar during the reign of the First Queen.

We enter the small area before we get into the main arena. We'll be going one at a time, youngest to eldest. The five of us sit in silence as one of the Scholars goes over the rules for this test. Father is warming up the crowd, getting them ready for their next batch of entertainment. 

"This is your first combat round of three," the Scholar begins. "In this round, we will be testing your ability to think on your feet during stressful situations, resourcefulness as well as your skills with a blade. You will go up against twenty soldiers." We all gasp and the Scholar smiles. "The arena has been set up with obstacles. Some of which you can use to your advantage to help you. It is up to you how you use them, but the more you use the better your chance you have at succeeding this challenge. After all, we are testing your ability to think clearly in stressful situations and come up with strategies and plans from what is around you. To pass this challenge, you must use at least two obstacles and kill all attackers."

"You mean we actually have to kill them?" Cordelia asks. 

"Yes," he tells her and I feel my heart race in my chest. I'm going to have to kill. Not that it would be the first time.

"Will they be able to kill us?" I ask. He turns to me.

"That brings me on to how you can fail this test," he says with a patronising smile. "The Warriors all know that you've been instructed to kill, so they'll want you to fail. They themselves aren't allowed to kill you. However, their weapons are real. They are allowed to attack and fend you off however they want as long as they don't kill you instantly or wound you in ways our healers can't fix you up." I gulp. Our healers are very good. They can mend plenty of serious wounds with the right potions. I look at my sisters who all look worried. "To fail, the warriors have to put you in a position where you are physically unable to fight back."

"We aren't allowed to yield?" Shaelyn asks with wide eyes.

"No," he replies and I feel heat rising within me as anger fills me. There is no doubt that out of the five of us, at least one is going to end up beaten and in extreme pain. Heck, perhaps even all of us! My mind goes wild with images of what might happen. Of warriors surrounding Rayana as the beat her or cutting into Shaelyn with their weapons until she falls from blood loss.

"It is an easy way to get us killed," I tell him. He shrugs.

"That's part of the challenge. It is all good telling someone not to kill. But in the heat of battle when they are fighting for their lives, desperation will take over orders. Though their punishment for killing you would be much worse if they died by your hands. You just have to hope that the fear of that keeps their mind clear of such panic," he grins. I shake my head. I could lose one of my sisters today and he is smiling?

"It doesn't make sense," I growl. He raises an eyebrow almost like he's challenging me. "What if we all get killed?" I ask. "There would be no one to carry on the Dulavelle line," I snarl.

"Don't worry, your father has put something into place to make sure at least four of you make it out of this alive," he smiles.

"So it's rigged," I growl. He grins again.

"Trust your father. He's a clever man and your king. It isn't your right to question him." I roll my eyes. "There are many reasons for a test such as this. The people want to know that you can protect yourselves from attacks, seeing as you are their future. They also want to see if you can kill for them. It is also a way to show them your resourcefulness and intelligence," he says, answering a question none of us asked. "The next combat trials are focused on distance combat. Archery, spear throwing and blade throwing. A way to show the people that you can protect and kill without getting yourself in harm's way. The final one will be hand to hand combat against an armed warrior. Showing the people you are still strong even when all odds are against you. Your father may have told you not to show off too soon. He is correct. Though this trial may seem difficult, compared to the others it isn't. Save your energy and try to get the trial completed as quickly and efficiently as you can to avoid injury which could impact any of the other tests." He warns us. I wonder how long-distance combat could be harder than having to face twenty warriors who are trying not to die. I also wonder why the final and the supposedly hardest test is hand to hand against a single armed opponent. I mean, it shouldn't be too difficult. We have trained against armed opponents all our lives. As if reading my mind the Scholar smiles cruelly.

"Your final hand to hand combat battle is against a captured and tortured Lupine. A Lupine who's been promised their freedom if he kills you." I gulp, my throat going dry. He turns and walks away, leaving us in silence. I look at my sisters. Shaelyn, Rayana and Cordelia have gone white. I want to embrace them. To tell them it will be okay. But there is no doubt my father is watching and we are trying to convince him we are distant and focused only on ourselves. So we don't say a word but my mind is spinning. It is so important I leave and halt the trial before then. Or my sisters will be killed.

The Scholar returns with five servants. Each are holding a plain silver sword which they give to us. We sheath them and attach them to our belts. I sit back down on my bench. I am going last. Shaelyn is shaking as the Scholar calls her name. Her warhorse has been brought to her and she jumps up onto his back. Her breathing is heavy and a sheen of sweat coats her skin. She licks her lips as the Scholar begins to speak quietly to her. She nods her head then looks at all of us. She goes to say something, but all that comes out is a dry croak. When the Scholar turns to look at her, I give her a small, reassuring smile. The Scholar doesn't see it, but she does. Of course, she doesn't smile back or he would see. But I can see a determination set in her eyes. She rolls her shoulders, sits up straighter and takes a deep breath.

"Princess Shaelyn. You may not enter the arena and begin your test," the Scholar says. She doesn't look back at us as she urges her horse down the passage that leads to the arena. She holds herself higher and I can imagine the fierce look crossing her face as she races into the arena. The thuds of the horse's hooves fade as she gets further away and in the distance, we hear the roar of the crowd. My stomach flips. She's in the arena now. She's about to begin her trial.

The four of us sit in complete silence, listening to the occasional sound of the crowd we can hear in the distance. My throat has dried completely and I think I am going to vomit. My hands are shaking so badly I sit on them. I am scared. Terrified. Not about myself, but about Shaelyn. I desperately long to know how she is doing. Whether she's okay. The sounds the audience make are no help. It's all blended into one and it's hard to distinguish if they are cheering because she's killed someone or if she's been injured. Shaelyn has never been the most confident in combat or fighting. That doesn't mean she isn't good, however.

When the Scholar comes back into the room after about ten minutes, I have to restrain myself from jumping up and bombarding him with questions about Shaelyn. His face gives nothing away as he speaks.

"Princess Rayana," he begins and she stands slowly. I see that she is shaking too and her skin looks clammy. "You may now enter the arena and begin your test," he tells her. She makes her way slowly to her war horse and jumps on. I can tell it is taking everything for her not to look at us for a bit of reassurance. But one look could give everything away.  It is Rayana I am most worried about. She's never been a fighter. I can't help but stare after her as she disappears. It is the same as when Shaelyn fought. We have no indication of any sort of what is actually happening. It terrifies me. I keep seeing images of Rayana dead. Her lifeless body broken and bleeding. A horrid taste fills my mouth and I force my self not to be sick. The Scholar arrives again. It's only been about ten minutes. 

"Princess Cordelia, you can now enter the arena and begin your test," he instructs. Cordelia stands up and walks to her warhorse. She is nervous, though I can tell she is trying to hide it as much as possible. She hops into the back of the horse and rushes off without so much as a glance at us. I know Cordelia enough to know that she is completely focused right now.  Though I worry, I know she should be okay. Her horse vanishes and I hear the crowd cheers a few seconds after. She's in the arena.

Fallon looks at me once the room is empty. She is completely calm, her face expressionless. She has always been the best at combat. Even my father wouldn't cross her.

"I'll try not to put on too much of a show," she says. Which means she'll try not to outshine me. We need to make me look like the most competent ruler so when I leave, there are no doubts in the people's mind that I have a chance of being queen. So it is harder for my father to convince them I am mad. The Scholar walks in then and Fallon sneers darkly at me.

"I want to save myself for the final fights. But don't even think about trying to outshine me," she snarls, standing up and towering above me. "You may be the King's Choice, big sister, but beauty is useless on the battlefield," she grins and walks over to the warhorse that's just been brought in. She bumps into the Scholar as she walks past him, her strength sending him to the ground. She swings up onto the bare back of the black beast with ease and squares her shoulders. She sits with such confidence as she looks down on me.

"Goodluck," she snarls before racing off, not even letting the Scholar announce her turn. I glare at her, letting the Scholar see my anger. That was a good move on Fallon's part. When I go out, I'm going to put on the best show I can. Our father and the Scholar both told us not to, but she's given me a motive. In their eyes, I'll be fighting to outdo my little sister. They won't realise that I'm actually trying to do is win over and impress the audience. It also helps fuel their belief that we are all against each other so that when I escape, they will have very little reasoning to believe my sisters were in on it.

Her horse disappears and the Scholar turns to me and chuckles darkly.

"Nervous, princess?" he chuckles.

"Not anymore," I growl as I continue to stare angrily at the tunnel Fallon just disappeared down. He laughs again.

"Well, you should be..." He sighs. "Seeing as you are the king's choice, your tests are harder. Which means you'll be battling forty men instead of twenty." I turn to look at him as a new wave of terror fills me. He laughs and leaves the room, letting me think about what he's just told me. I take a seat slowly and close my eyes. I take a long, slow deep breath and try and calm myself. I think my plans through. The Scholar told me what the next challenges are. I just need to make sure I include them all in this one. Which means I have to use distance combat. I could do that by throwing a weapon, though I'll have to see what obstacles there are first. The third trial would be hand to hand combat with an armed attacker. So I'd have to fight one person with my bare hands whilst they held a weapon. Great. I hear a shuffling and look up. The Scholar is back.

"Fallon's done already?" I ask. His grin tells me everything. My Warhorse is brought in and I walk over to him, running my hands along his fur.

"Princess Illyana, you may now enter the arena and begin your test," he tells me. I swing up onto the back of the horse and take another deep breath. I look back at the Scholar and smile before urging my horse on. I race down the passage. There is silence around me and I can hear my heart thumping loudly in my ears. Boom Boom. Boom Boom. Almost in sync with the thuds of the horse's hooves against the floor. Light appears ahead of me and I urge the horse on faster. He is happy to oblige. I feel determination set in and a switch flicks in my brain. This is survival. The thought of killing doesn't scare me. In fact, it has my hands clenching tighter against Trouble's main. It is them or me and I am picking me. My stomach settles. My hands cease to shake and my heart rate lowers. For a few seconds, I am calm and everything seems to move slowly for the last few seconds I am in the passage. Sounds around me begin to dull all but the small breath I take which rings loudly in my ears.

We burst into the arena. The roar of the crowd is deafening. Momentarily, I am blinded. It takes a few minutes for my eyes to adjust. I keep my horse running around the outside of the arena as the crowd cheers and screams my name. I imagine myself through the eyes of the audience. Sitting proudly and confidently on a great beast, ready to battle. I run back to the passage entrance where a stable hand has appeared. I wouldn't be allowed to keep the horse. Before I dismount, I allow my horse to rear. The audience screams as I manage to stay on the body of the great creature. Once he's settled, I slide off and allow the stable hand to take him away. Finally, I look around the arena. There are lots of obstacles. Too many to focus on right now. There are two that catch my attention though. First is one close to the edge of the arena. Two sets of stone stairs rise high into the air sitting a fair distance opposite each other. Between the stairs, are large stepping stones built up from the ground. They are wonky looking and a far distance apart. I would have to jump a fair distance to reach each of the towering stepping stones and a fall from that height would be very unfortunate. It would definitely break a bone or two. Perhaps even my neck if I fell at an odd angle.

Then, there is an obstacle in the centre of the arena which catches my eye. Again, two stone staircases stand opposite each other. Further away than the stepping stone stairs, however. Between the stairs is a rickety-looking bridge. Held together by what looks like rotting planks of wood and thin rope. The bridge is very high up. Higher up than the stepping stones and a fall would definitely kill. If the fall didn't kill, then the ditch bellow full of spikes would. I gulp and look around again. The crowd has gone silent. Doors open around the arena an equal distance apart. At the same time, a single warrior steps out from each doorway and into the grounds. Forty opponents. All pretty much surrounding me. Some are closer than others. I gulp and square my shoulders before pulling out my weapon. I would have to focus on the nearest ones first. Those further away would take a lot of energy running toward me as they are at the opposite end of the arena. They will most likely walk and so they can attack when I'm tired. Making it easier for them. The obstacles will be hard, but they are also a blessing. Many of them will allow me to funnel the enemies so I am only taking on one or two at a time. If I get myself surrounded, then it is game over. If I am clever about the obstacles, then I may stand a chance...

 I tighten my grip on my sword and wait. I only have to wait a few seconds before a deep ringing sound fills the air.

I run. The people on the closest doors to mine are almost upon me already. They arrive next to me at the same time. I slam into the side of the first one with all my strength. He is launched to the ground. I duck underneath the swinging blade of my second attacker and slice mine along his stomach as I do so. He doubles over and I don't hesitate to bring my sword back down and ram it into his back. I pull the sword out as his body collapses and slam it through the chest of the warrior I knocked over earlier who was charging at me with his sword above his head. He crumples. That was too easy and it is my guess that they put the least experience warriors nearest to me so I'd be able to start the bloodbath early. So it would be more of a show as I battled with exhaustion and fought the warriors with more experience and skill. The next warriors had all managed to group up a little more instead of charging straight for me. They were the next closest few after the first attackers. I pick up one of my attackers weapons. It is a large sword and I launch it. The weight of the sword sends it swinging, however, the blade finds its way into the closest warrior charging at me. He crumples and the others don't even slow as they trample over his body to get to me. I pick up the other attackers blade and run to the nearest obstacle. I race up a large stone ramp which leads to a small platform. Off the platform are two planks of wood sat parallel to each other and linking to an identical ramped platform at the other end.

My attackers are hot on my trail as they surround the ramp, coming up on me from both sides. I rush onto the planks, one foot on each. This means they have to narrow to get to me. They'd have to come at me two at a time instead of all at once. One behind me and one in front. My foot slams into the warrior in front of me. I swing around with one of my swords in hand. Blocking him from striking me. I move quickly, dragging my other sword across his stomach whilst he is still out of the way. The first man has recovered and I am swinging around ducking under another sword slicing away at his exposed areas. The two fall to the ground below and I am onto the next two. I duck and twist out of their way as they come for me, slicing them down one at a time. They are piling onto the planks, trying to get at me as soon as one is dead. I hear a cracking sound through the chaos. I bring my feet together and disappear between the gaps just as a weapon swung over where my head just was. I land on the ground and roll out of the way just as the planks collapses. The soldiers on it fall in a heap, unprepared for the fall. I hear screams as ankles are broken and bones snapped. I rush over to them, finishing them off whilst they are still shocked and before they have time to recover.

My breathing is heavy from physical exertion, but I have no time to stop. Adrenaline burns through my body and my mind is completely focused. The next wave is already upon me. I run again, trying to find an obstacle which would allow me to be able to separate them slightly. I run up another stone ramp and jump across the gap. I land on a small platform and role over to break my landing slightly. I am on my feet quickly. An attacker jumps for me and I swing the sword around with all my strength. It slams into his body before he's even landing and the force sends him flying away from the platform. Before the others can jump and join me, I jump and climb up the stone wall which sits on this particular platform. I stand on the narrow top and watch as the warriors all begin to scrabble up to me. For a few moments, before the rest join me, they are easy pickings. They don't hold their weapons in their hands as they try and climb up to me so it's easy to kick them down and slice at their heads. Then, there are too many. I turn and run along a very narrow beam and when I look below me I see a floor of spikes. I get to the other side. Other warriors come from the direction I intend to go. However, it's a large section of various connecting obstacles so they won't reach me soon. I focus on those coming from the direction I've just come from. The first few run onto the plank with no thought. When there are three running on the plank,  I kick it. It slips off the stone and sends the three of them tumbling to the spiked ground below. The others come to a stop and begin to change directions. They can't jump over to me, it's too far. I spin around to face those now coming for me. The next obstacle is a small metal pole hung horizontally between two bits of vertical stone. There is another one of these a few metres away which stands taller than the first one. The one after is taller and the fourth taller still. Underneath them is nothing but air and then the ground beyond that. Once the poles are finished, there is a long stone pathway which leads downward as we've come up fairly high. I can't see much beyond that. Only the warriors getting closer. I sigh and sheath my weapon. I have nowhere to hold my spare so I look around. The warriors that have retreated now rush around the sides of my obstacle. I could at least find one use for it. I launch the blade again. Again, my aim is perfect as the weapons slams into the skull of one of the warriors. Blood explodes everywhere.

I jump up and latch my fingers onto the metal pole. In a swift movement, I swing myself up onto it and now crouch on the sliver beam. I launch myself at the next one. I let out a grunt as my fingers latch around the cold metal. I waste none of my momentum as I swing up onto it and launch myself at the next one. I repeat it until I am on the final pole. I jump down onto the ramp and let out a cry. My attackers were closer than I thought and one has slammed his fist into the side of my head. I am knocked to the floor as a loud ringing sounds in my ears and my vision blurs. I am able to see him bringing his sword down before me. I duck out of the way and swing my legs around, tripping him over. As he falls, I grab his sword arm and pull it in front of him, causing him to fall onto his own weapon. I shake off the pain in my head, forcing myself to focus as the next warrior attacks. I have no time to draw my weapon as he brings his sword toward me. I jump out of the way and slam my elbow into his face. I swing my body and bring my foot to connect where my elbow just had. He slams into the ground and I am able to draw my sword again. However, I am too slow and a kick into my stomach sends me flying off the platform. I land on my back with a hard thud and for a few seconds, I can't breathe. I push myself up as the warriors jump off the platform in front of me. I can only run out of their way as I struggle to see clearly for a few seconds. I run up the first set of steps I can, hoping the obstacle beyond could help me somehow.

Shit.

It's the stepping stones. I look back at me. The warriors are already running up the stairs for me. I take a deep breath and leap. My body instinctively knows what to do as I hop effortlessly from one stone to another. I turn around once I'm in the middle. They are racing after me. I jump forward to meet one of them on the same stone. The small stone means there isn't enough room for both of us so it is easy for me to swing under his blade and push him off. The next one to jump onto my stone is ready, however. We are getting onto the better warriors now. The force of his jump causes the stone to wobble, but he remains perfectly balanced in front of me. He is quick, bringing his sword against mine. He twists in a way I'm not expecting and my weapon goes flying into the air, landing on a stepping stone behind me. I snarl angrily and duck out of the way of his next attack, barely staying on the stone. He uses this to his advantage. He kicks out, hoping to throw me off. I grab onto his leg to pull myself back up. This causes him to stumble and I twist. There is a sickening crunch as his knee dislocates. I bring my leg up quickly and slam it into his chin. He begins to fall backwards. Still holding his dislocated leg, I pull it toward me. This brings his body closer and with a flick of my other hand, I slam my palm into his neck with all my force. He chokes and I throw him off the platform.

More keep coming. I zone out completely as instinct takes over. Any hesitation or remorse over killing leaves my mind as I fight for survival. I either kill or get killed. It's an easy choice to make. I jump over obstacles and climb rocks. Using them in the best way I can. I am knocked off another and land on my front. I feel something pull my hair and lift my torso up with it. I scream and hear a vicious laugh in my ear. Cool metal presses against my throat for a second but I move before it can do any damage. I twist my whole body and wrap my legs around the arm which holds the sword. Then I twist them further and there is a snap as his arm snaps out of place. Though it doesn't stop him and he slams his fist into my face which causes my head to slam into the ground. He climbs on top of me and wraps his good hand around my throat. My vision blurs and I let out a gurgle as my breath is cut off. Pain explodes in my lungs as I struggle beneath his weight and strength. He holds both my arms down with his legs and I can't move.

I should be feeling panic. An odd feeling crosses me. I look into his eyes and the world silences around me. I forget that I'm struggling to breathe. 

"Stop," I say in a whisper. He looks confused and his grip weakens enough for me to be able to wiggle my arm free from his leg. This snaps him back into action as he tries to grab at me again. I am too fast. My free hand slams into his windpipe. Not with enough strength to cause a huge amount of damage, but with enough strength to momentarily distract him. His grip on my throat and over the rest of my body loosens. I knock his hand away from my throat and roll us over until I am pinning him to the ground. My fist slams into his face over and over. My knuckles burn but I don't stop until his head is a bloody pulp in below me. I am grabbed from behind and lifted off him. I slam my head backwards. Pain explodes in the back of my skull as it collides with someone mouth. I slam on their toe, making their grip loosen further. I grab at one of their arms wrapped around me and pull it away. I spin out of his grip and slam my foot into his ribs. He crumples and I reach snap his neck. He falls to the ground and I look around me. There are more coming. I groan, exhausted. Everywhere hurts as I limp toward another obstacle. I stumble up the stairs and feel pain in my ankle. I scream and look around to see a sword stuck through it. The sword pulls back out of my skin and I let out another shout as pain explodes in my foot. The metal gleams again as it heads straight for me. I collapse onto my back, lying up the stairs. With my other foot, I manage to kick my attacker in his ankle. I hear a snap and he falls onto his face, his jaw colliding with one of the stone stairs. He drops his sword and I grab it, slamming it into his skull. I continue to make my way up the stairs as fast as I can. Limping, but ignoring the pain. Eventually, I step up onto the bridge. There are four of them. They wait for me at the other end. All standing on the bridge. I look back at the direction I just came from. One waits at the edge. Watching to see what the others will do first before attacking.

I stand still. My body aches and my vision is blurry. I struggle to breathe still and my ankle is fucked. I am not giving up. The people watching need to have faith in me. I step onto the bridge further and they do too. We stare at each other for a few tense movements. Then I smile.

I swing the sword above my head and bring it down with all my strength. I slash it against the two frail bits of rope between the two of the planks. They break with ease. My stomach drops as I do. However, I am already in a position where I can turn and grab hold of one of the wooden planks of the bridge as it snaps. The others in front of me weren't expecting it. Their side of the bridge collapses and they tumble down into the spiked pit below. I don't look away as three out of the four lands in bloody heaps with spikes protruding from their bodies. The fourth manages to hold onto one of the final planks before the drop. He looks back at me, but I've already thrown my sword. It slams into his chest and he lets go. But he doesn't move. Instead, the sword had buried into the stone behind him. That keeps his body just hanging there.

With an exhausted sigh, I bring my hand back round to the planks and begin to climb up slowly. Having to press lightly on one ankle. When I reach the top, I roll over exhausted.

"Not quite done yet, Princess," I hear a voice say. I turn around and see the last attacker. I groan and stand up slowly. I threw my weapon at the one on the bridge. I have nothing to defend myself with. He stands proud and uninjured with a serrated blade in his hands. I take a deep breath and feel a stinging sensation in my neck and a wave of dizziness. I limp forward and glare at him. He is the only one standing in my way. I look for anything around me to defend myself with, but there is nothing.

This isn't going to end well.

He charges and I barely have time to react. I jump out of the way but he still manages to slice at my arm. I let out a shout as I trip forward, my ankle not holding my weight. He is on me again, slicing his sword toward me, leaving me hardly a second to roll out of the way. He laughs and kicks me. I go tumbling down the stairs, feeling each bump against my body. I lie on the ground at the bottom of the steps.

Come on. I need to do this. If I fail, my sisters die.

I stand up again and square my shoulders. I will not be defeated. I growl as he walks down the steps arrogantly. He reaches the bottom and I attack. Adrenaline pumps through my veins as I think about my sisters. I need to protect them.

He is surprised. This allows me to get a small blow against him, but he is quick to recover. He swings his sword in front of me and I duck under it, jamming my foot into his legs. It seems to have no effect.

"Nice try," he smiles and buts my head with the end of his sword. I stumble back and growl, spitting out blood. He glares at me. I smile at him, allowing him to see the blood that coats my teeth. Then, I drag my tongue along them and swallow. The taste of copper fills my senses and the hot liquid slides down my throat. I snarl an animalistic snarl and run at him. My speed surprises me as I let all my anger fill me. I jump out of the way of his first attack and kick him in the side. It is stronger than before and I've obviously disturbed him with my performance. He is quick to try and attack me again but a dodge and kick his kneecap. He stumbles down, his knee giving way so he's kneeling in front of me. This doesn't stop him from jabbing his weapon toward my stomach. I arch my back and push my belly out of the way before grabbing the weapon with my hands. He looks surprised. I show no sign of pain as the weapon digs into my palms and blood pools around me. This surprise allows me to yank the weapon from his grasp and throw it away from me. With my hands covered in blood, I would hardly be able to use it properly anyway. I charge at him with no hesitation. I jump into the air and aim my fist for his face. He blocks me, bringing his arms up in front of his head. He springs forward, slamming me into the ground. I land on my back with a heavy thud. However, I use his strength and momentum from his dive against him. My feet connect with his stomach and I flip him over my head before he can land on my body. I twist over and slam my fist into his head. Before I can do it again, he's rolling away. I let out a frustrated growl and grab his hair before he can leave my reach. He lets out a grunt as I yank him back toward me. I slam my head into his and clamber on top of his body. He struggles but I jam my elbow into his collarbone. This seems to barely stop him and he reaches up for my throat, managing to get a slight hold. His hands tighten but dig my fingers into his eyes. He screams but doesn't loosen his grip. I remove one of my hands punch his collarbone again, causing him to loosen his grip with the arm on the same side. I knock it out of the way and bring my foot around, slamming it on his wrist and keeping it there. Then, with my other hand, I press deeper into his eyes. Blood covers his face and he screams. His other arm is still grabbing at my neck. I swat it out of the way with ease and slam my fist into his face. I do it again and again until his arm goes limp.

For a few seconds, I stay on top of him, panting heavily. There is silence around me. Slowly and shakily, I stand and look around me. The crowd don't make a sound as I walk up the stairs to the platform which once held the bridge. I take heavy breaths as my vision blurs and exhaustion fills me. I lift my hands up in victory and the crowd erupts. They scream with joy, their shock having worn off. I smile. I've passed this test and I've shown them what I'm capable of. I've shown them that I should be feared. That I am a force to be reckoned with.