Theseus stood at the ready, but his opponent just seemed uninterested in the battle itself, or so he thought.

Adrian Sylvanas was impossible for him to read. Normally he could tell when an opponent had an opening, and he could also usually tell how powerful they really were. But Adrian seemed impossible to figure out. Theseus couldn't understand what was going on.

After minutes of waiting, readying himself in his defensive stance. Theseus knew that Adrian wouldn't make the first move. So Theseus chose to take the initiative.

He lunged forward with all his speed and might. But as soon as he began, Theseus found himself face first on the ground.

All he remembered was a feeling of something slamming into his back at full force.

The audience was in a deep woe. As Theseus dragged himself to his feet, he turned behind him to see what hit him. Then he too joined the audience on woe.

Standing behind him was a creature, it was large and made of vines, branches, and bushes. It had a hollow chest, and silver glowing eyes.

It then picked Theseus up and slammed him to the ground over and over again.

This monster, Theseus could sense, was created out of magic, from the roots deep within the ground beneath their feet. It was large, but fast, and Theseus couldn't seem to escape its powerful grasp.

"Just surrender kid.." Adrian said, "you can't win.."

Adrian's calm demener, served to only make this battle harder for him to keep up.

The creature picked Theseus up again in on arm, and hurled him back into the ground. In response Theseus lifted himself up, and turned his attention to the beast attacking him.

He was now trying to figure out what this creature was. It's vines, bark, and leaves reminded him of something he read about.

The creature lunged at him again, it'd balled fist was a hard wood, Theseus was thinking Iron Wood. As Theseus saw the first flinging at him, he quickly sucked and rolled out of the way.

Again the creature attacked, spinning it'd body in full circles, it'd arms making a propeller, it's spun around with ease. Quickly Theseus slid between its large legs and thrusted his sword upward, cutting a vine.

The creature seamed unphased. And then stomped it's fat treestubbed feet down. Landing directly on Theseus's chest.

"Erg.." Theseus clutched hos chest, "I think it broke something..." He began heaving.

The audience was in a hollowed awe.

Keenio saw the impact and stood up form his seat.

"No Keenio, it'll be fine.." Elizabeth calmed him, "remember, we can fix any broken bone with healing magic."

Keenio frowned, he didn't enjoy the sight of his friends in pain. And Theseus was like a brother to him.

"...fine.." Keenio sat back down, "..let the match continue..."

Theseus struggled to get back to his feet after that. He was in agonizing pain, but he wasn't done fighting.

Adrian whistled, and the creature came to him immediately.

"Kid, can you keep going?"

Theseus reached into his pocket and undid a potion, as he drank it down, he felt his bones snap back into place immediately. He twitches at the sound of the snap, but was ready to continue the battle immediately.

"I'm not finished yet.." Theseus smirked, "so that's a Silvana, I've never fought one before, but a friend of mine has.."

He sheathed his sword.

"If blades don't work, I guess I'll have to think of something else then.."

He reached for his bow on his back.

"I wonder how flammable that creature is.."

"What?"

Theseus slowly drew the string back, and focused, as he did, blue flames erupted form the pivot point and up the handle.

Seeing this Adrian quickly summoned 3 more Silvanae, and all 4 of the monsters sprinted at Theseus like a raging bull.

Theseus wasn't afraid, he remained calm and steadied his breathing. He held his bow horizontally, and soon 4 burning bolts of brilliant blue flames formed, each one aimed at one of the Silvanae.

He simply let go of the drawstring, and the bolts blazed violently into their targets.

Lansing dead center in their hollowed out chests.

In that instant they Silvanae were reduced to ashes on the battlefield. Now it was just Adrian and Theseus again.

Adrian watched with a grin as his creatures burned away to nothing. He was impressed.

"Nice job kid..." He applauded, "you really are something..." He took another hit from a pipe, "I knew I'd like you.."

Theseus held his bow in his hand, and lightly gripped the drawstring, standing with the bow lowered at his waist.

"I think it's time to stop playing around don't you?" Theseus smirked, "that can't be you're only trick.."

As Adrian gave another puff off his pipe, he smiled and grinned at Theseus.

"You're right, I can't be a High druid if summoning Silvanae are my only trick.."

Adrian's pipe disappeared again, vanishing like before. And then he gripped his Iron Bark staff with both hands firmly.

"I guess I'll need to stop playing around then, but first.."

He turned his attention up to Elizabeth, Keenio, Veronica, and Selene, who remained watching form their seats.

"Hey, can we ignore the no killing rule for this round? I isn't think either of us can go all out if we have these restrictions.."

Keenio, Elizabeth, and Veronica looked at him, then looked at each other. Unsure what to say.

Then Keenio stood up and looked down at Theseus.

"Theseus, what do you think?" He addressed him, "this is you're match after all.."

Theseus looked up at Keenio, then he looked down at his bow. He was lost in his thought for a moment.

As he looked at the bow of Ra, he felt a strange pulse that eschoed in his ears. He hadn't felt that pulse since he first picked it up in the temple all those years ago. He then heard a small voice speaking to him.

"Do it.." it whispered, "I have been slumbering for too long... But you will be ready soon.."

The voice then silenced itself. And Theseus returned his attention to Keenio.

"Yes.. I accept Adrian's suggestion.."

Uncomfortably, Keenio nodded, and sat back down.

"For this round only, I agree to lift all rules and restrictions.." Keenio huffed, "I don't like it, but yes, I approve.."

"Keenio?!" Veronica scokded, "what about Theseus's safety?"

"Look at the determination in Theseus's eyes.." Keenio answered, "I refuse to deny him this.."

Keenio bit his thumbnail, and thought. It was like he heated the whisper Theseus heard, but that wasn't it at all. Keenio wanted Theseus to get more powerful, he was already so close to a breakthrough last time they trained together. So to Keenio, this was the perfect opportunity for Theseus to achieve it. He could sense allot of dorment power within his friend from the start.

"You're insane!!" Veronica howled, "you told me yourself that Adrian would be a challenge even for you!! If you'd struggle, then Theseus wouldn't stand a chance..."

"Silence!!" Elizabeth growled, "I trust Keenio's judgment! If he will approve of this, then so will I.."

Veronica felt like she misstepped, and gave an unapproving sigh.

"Fine.." she nodded, "I won't argue, you've both made up your mind.. I'm sorry.."

"It's fine.." Keenio answered, "trust me, Theseus needs this..."

Keenio then turned his attention back to Adrian, and nodded.

"Yes, we have agreed that the rules are lifted, but for this match only!! Now continue!!"

"Alright!!" Adrian smiled, ",well kid, I'm going to apologize in advance for this.."

"Bring it on!!" Theseus smiled back, "I can't disappoint my friends!"

The readied themselves. Theseus took a firm stance with his bow, having it trained on Adrian. And Adrian lifted his staff above his head.

"Rise forces of nature!!" He chanted, "let me create the most powerful creation in this world!!"

A lime green beam of light then struck his staff. It appeared to be being absorbed by the staff itself. Theseus could feel a power like no other inside the beam. Once it vanished, lime coloredl ightint began to be dancing and flickering around the entire staff, and around his hands too.

The twitches in Adrian's face, were filed with what seemed to be agonizing pain. And a forest green aura began to surrounded his whole body.

Adrian's eyes glowed, and his skin began cracking with green lights.

Adrian then leaped up into the air and slammed the top of his yard in the ground beneath him. And a spell circle formed around him.

As he landed, something seemed to be coming up from within the circle. Though Theseus couldn't make out what it was at first. Theseus then took a few taps back as something climbed out.

Growl!!
Grrrwwl!!

As a large creature clawed its way out of Adrian's magic circle, Adrian appeared to just be standing on top of it.

The ground tremured, and the late creature was now in full view.

It was as tall as a building. It's body was covered with Ironbark. The smell of maple gusted around the entire colosseum. It was wide and bulky, it's arms looked like a gorilla's. It wore a strange misshapen mask, with runes engraved on it, you couldnt see it mouth. It's eyes burned with silver flames.

Unlike the other sylvanae, this one didn't have a hollowed out chest. It seemed to have a kind of metal chest plate.

It's shoulders housed trees and bushes, and Adrian seemed to just be standing on of its head as if it were just a normal day.

It's legs were like barrels, and they seemed to be made of stone and roots. The audience was in shock, and so was Theseus. Everyone screamed in fear and excitement. The only people who didn't seem even slightly phased was Elizabeth and Keenio. They watched the creature as if they had encountered one before.

The same glowing cracks surrounding Adrian's body, were also burned inside the entire body of the creature. Theseus was stumped.

"What the hell is that thing?"

Adrian summoned his pipe and took a few hits off of it and sat down in lotas position, still ontop of the creatures head.

"This.. is why the Silvanas family is so well known..," he puffed his pipe again, "this is an Elder Silvana, very rare, very powerful... It has the ultimate defense as well as the intimate attacks.."

Theseus looked at the monster, as if it were a creature from a nightmare. Just as fear gripped him he heard the strong voice again.

"Theseus, you can't kill this thing alone.. not as you are... So please, call my name.."

Theseus looked at his bow, it kept vibrating in his hand none stop.

"There is a power that you possess, that no one else does.."

Theseus was so focused on the voice that he seemed to lose focus on the battle.

"Hey kid!! Are you thinking about surrendering already?"

Theseus looked up at the man sitting on the monster.

"No.. I was just thinking of how to defeat you..."

He drew the string of his bow and took aim, allowing a bolt of blue flames to form, and grow rapidly in power.

"Go ahead fire at me kid, seal your fate.." he smiled playfully, still puffing form his pipe, "attack kid.. don't just stand there.."

Theseus loses his flaming arrow, and it spun rapidly. But a strong vine grew form it's shoulder ensnaeing the bolt. As it turned into nothingness.

"Attack.." Adrian commanded, and the beast roared.

It lifted is large hands to the sky and slammed them down. In the nick of time Theseus rolled out of the way. And loosed another flaming bolt. But it didn't work either.

"Damn it.."

The creature slammed both fists to the earth next, and vines erupted form the ground slamming and slashing in every direction at Theseus. He dodged some, but one slapped him across his face and chest, tearing through his skin and armor like paper.

"Damn it!"

Theseus was on the ground again, and struggling to get back onto his feet.

Keenio watched, clutching his fists so hard that he drew blood.

Another vine whipped at Theseus's face, curing him again and again. Theseus didn't have the time to respond. The creature kept attacking. It slammed it's fists into Theseus again, and this time Theseus couldn't dodge, and he felt his whole body feel like shattering.

The creature them made a large vine appear again, and wrapped itself around Theseus's torso, squeezing him like a grape.

"Urg.." he grunted in pain, "so that's how it feels.." he gnashed his teeth in pain.

"Come on kid, surrender so you don't die..."

"I..I won't.. I won't give up at all!!"

He managed to move his arms, struggling. And then he reached into his case of throwing knives on his waist. And pulled a knife out, cutting himself lose form the vine as fast as possible. But he could land on his feet..

"..ouch.." he huffed, struggling to drag himself up.

"Having a strong spirit is good kid.." Adrian spoke, "but you need to learn when you're outmatched..."

"That's what everyone says..." Theseus smiled, "but I have a friend who would kill me if I gave up here.."

He reached out for his bow infornt of him. The voice called out again.

"Come, allow me to join your soul, champion.."

Theseus used all his strength to grab the handle of his bow. And used its bottom end to help him to his feet.

"I don't know who you are..." He struggled to speak to his bow, "But it's good to hear you again..."

"Call my name, and give me new life.."

"As you wish..."

He held his bow to the sun.

"Amun-Ra, the fallen god of the hidden sun!!" He chanted, "I invoke you, come back to life and lend me your strength!"

Just then, the sun went black for a moment. As it did, the bow seemed to alter its form, it grew markings and hyroglyphs, and an erie ray of light surroujded him. His body recovered instantly. His clothes regenerated. His armor crumbled into sand. As he stood their in the glow, Theseus felt a strange power surge within him. It was a warm, powerful feeling.

Then a magic circle surrounded him, creating edges of the ray of light.

He felt his lightning surge throughout his body, and it turned into blue and purple flames. The flames phased slowly into waves of magic energy, and his aura changed too, it was now a sapphire blue color, and it was powerful. It felt almost as powerful as Keenio's Bronze State.

A new armor began to form. It appeared as a crystal breastplate at first, but it quickly shattered, and showed it's true self.

His armor was a strange leather, well suited for his style of fighting. It looked exquisite, it seemed carefully formed around his body. And was a moonlight blue color. It was also decorated in hyroglyphs, and the markings of Amun-Ra. Even baring the Eagle's head as it's center piece.

Theseus's eyes were now a soahire blue color, and his blonde hair moved in sync with the radiation of his matching soahire blue aura.

His bow was covered with saphhire flames.

Once the transformation was complete, the black sun vanished, and Theseus stood there, looking at his new armor and aura.

Keenio finally looked relaxed upon seeing this new form.

"He finally did it .." be smiled, "I knew he was about to have a breakthrough.."

"What is that?" Elizabeth asked him, "I've never seen or felt anything like it before..."

"It's an awakening..." Selene finally broke her silence, "Keenio, you didn't tell me you have such a powerful friend.."

"I've known Theseus many years.." Keenio answered, "and he's always had a power locked inside of him.. though I wasn't expecting it to be like this.."

"What do you mean?" Veronica asked, "is it like your bronze state?"

"It appears that the bow of Ra was where his power was locked away.. he told me that when he picked up he now, he heard a voice, but he ignored it, thinking it was just fatigue..."

"That is the power of the bow?"

"I don't think that's it... But I've always felt something from with in the bow.." Keenio scratched his chin, "very interesting.."

Theseus looked at his armor, and his bow, he felt a surge of divine power within himself, but he don't know what to think.

"This feels different..."

Adrian looked at Theseus with a kind smile.

"So, Amun-Ra, the Egyptian god of the son, who merged with the hidden on Amun, I guess deities can return..."

"Huh? What's that old man?" Theseus looked up at him, "this is Amun-Ra's armor?"

"Well, not exactly..." He took another hit off his pipe, "you see, it appears that that bow you have, contained the soul of the merged god, similar how my staff itself contains the soul of Silvanas, the god of nature..."

"What does that mean?"

"It means this fight is now fair..."

He commanded his Silvana to attack again, but Theseus felt his instincts take over, and he dodged with a backflip.

"Nimble aren't you kiddo..." He smiled, "well, now for the real battle to begin.."

Adrian made his pipe vanish again, and stood up, then with his staff in hand he leaped down form the monster's, head to meet his opponent.

"If you're going to wear your celestial armor..." He smiled, "then so will I.."

He stood there calmly, and a strange power radiated from him, the cracks in his skin vanished, and his robes appeared to glow just as Theseus's did, only his was a pale green color.

"Silvanas, I call on your soul now," he chanted, "I seek your aid in defeating my adversary, lend me your strength!!"

Just then his whole body pulsed, and form the earth a vine grew, and surrounded him, crating grwaves, and leg armor, then creating the torso armor, and it kept moving up his body until he was completely encased in a strange green, earthy suit of armor.

"I am Adrian Sylvanas, the chosen soul of Silvanas, and you are my enemy!!"

The audience grew in uproar, all the magic, and lights they radiated, there was nothing like it. It was as if two mortals had become deities.

The sylvana then crumbled and broke itself down to the form of soil. And the real battle could finally begin.

Theseus in his shimmering sapphire glow, Adrian in his green radiance, it felt like something from an ancient dream.

Adrian pointed his stuff at Theseus, and Theseus aimed his bow. Keenio, Veronica, Selene, and Elizabeth, along with the rest of the audience watching, and all we're on the edge of their seats, eager for the battle to continue.

Within an instant. A green sphere of earthy energy hurled out from Adrian's staff, and to counter, a brikianf flaming orb launched to meet the energy blast.

They collided, and locked each other in mid air, pulses and ripples spread out from the blasts. Along with the grunts and groans of both Theseus and Adrian.

Keenio could feel with shockwave form his high up seat. And the battle continued.

Theseus and Adrian couldn't hold the spells in place.  And the spells become nothingness once more.

"Damn, you're really tough..." Theseus gasped, "..now I know how Keenio felt when he fought Lemos..."

"Focus on the battle before you kid.." Adrian gave a soft breath, "..Keenio isn't your opponent, and neither is Lemos.. I am..."

Adrian was right, Theseus wasn't fighting them, his opponent was before him, and it was Adrian Sylvanas. That meant that Adrian should have his complete focus.

"..I see now..." Theseus smirked, "..you're absolutely right..."

"Are you ready to fight with all your power now?"

"Yes."

Theseus's sapphire aura began to burn more brightly than ever before. He felt the very air shift around him. This warm flame enveloped him as he resigned his full focus.

"I am going to win.." he proclaimed, "..and then I'll win this entire tournament..."

The flame erupted in a whirlwind of sapphire colors, and burned even more brightly. His bow could no longer be called a bow now, it was absorbed by the sapphire light.

Theseus then used his free hand to generate an electrical current. It crackled and danced around his flames.

Keenio watched with a true smile, this was what he wanted Theseus to achieve. Theseus began to add his lighting and merge it with the flames, creating an electric cage around himself.

It was so much power that Theseus began to lift off of the ground. And Adrian joined him, showing Theseus his own equal power.

Stones swirled around Adrian, breaking apart creating rings around his aura. They were building up their magical power to their limit. The entire colosseum shook, almost as if caught in a massive earthquake, but there was no damage to anything around them.  Whatever attack these two souls were about to unleash on each other, it was certain that nobody wanted to be cought in between them.

The crowd was shaken to their core. To them, this was how they envisioned the gods of old to battle. Nobody knew who would win, but it was certain that only one person would be left standing.

Their aura radiated further, growing more and more powerful. And finally.

Booom!!

Adrian was locked into a stalemate with Theseus. Their weapons were pressing into each other. The force they generated sent strong gusts of wind outword form around them, and they continued pressing into each other.

Theseus then kicked off of Adrian's staff, and launched bolt after bolt of flaming arrows cloaked with lightning, and then quickly spun up in mid air to launch another barrage of lighting and fire. There were too many bolts to count. They looked like a meteor shower.

Adrian spun his staff in circles, blocking the barrage, and then hurled another earthy orb of magic at him, and Theseus blocked, and counter attacked.

His training with Keenio was paying off. And this truly was his moment to shine.

They countered and countered flames and rocks, lighting and wind, they counter each other with such precise speed and accuracy, that only those trained to keep up with that speed could witness it.  And Keenio was proud.

Finally, they both summoned large orbs of magic once more, and hurled them into each other. Their muscles steisned, their breath shortened, this was the final attack.

As the blasts collided, Theseus pushes more of his power into his orb, and it doubled in size instantly, and finally, Adrian's orb was giving away, being pushed back into Adrian. It was over.

The blasts erupted as they made contact with Adrian, and everything went white.

Theseus was certain he killed Adrian, even though he tried to hold back, while the blinding remnants of the blasts begin to desolve. All Theseus heard was movement, and once the lights vanished entirely, Theseus saw something in the distance, he made out a silhouette of what appeared to be a person.

As the smoke cleared, it was then he could see clearly. It was Keenio, holding an unconscious Adrian against his shoulder. With Starfang frimly in hand, he appeared to have cut through the clashing powers, and managed to save Adrian.

"I think the battle has concluded..." Keenio announced, "..the winner is Theseus, who will be moving on to the next round. After we clear out this debris from the area."

Keenio seemed proud of Theseus, and sheathed Starfang. Theseus then gave a long and deserving exhale, and his aura and armor vanished, leaving him with just his bow and clothes. He definitely was fatigued from that battle, but he couldn't just stand there, he could sense Adrian's life force leaving his body, and he couldn't let that happen.

He walked to Keenio and Adrian, and opened anoyher potion, then poured it down Adrian's throat. His wounds healed instantly, and Adrian staggered, but was standing on his own two feet once more.

"That was a fun match kiddo.." he summoned his pipe once more, "I think you have a good chance of winning now..."

He smoked his pipe, and then offered it to both Keenio and Theseus.

Keenio politely declined, and so did Theseus.

"I don't want to smoke when I have more matches to win.." Theseus said, "but thank you.."

"Don't mention it.." Adrian smiled, "well, I guess I'll go an enjoy those story tellers at the crest of the festival, thank you for giving me a good fight kiddo, I haven't had a battle like that since I fought Keenio here.." he laughed, and walked out of the Colosseum.

Standing in front of Theseus, Keenio laid his hand on his shoulder.

"You finally did it buddy.." Keenio gave a glowing smile, "you finally awakened.."

Theseus looked at his bow, and put it on his back.

"I've never felt power like this, it feels so foreign to me.."

"I understand.." Keenio nodded, "I felt the same way when I first picked up Starfang..."

The voice manifested itself before the two of them.

"Congratulations Theseus, you are now in possession of my soul..." It spoke, "you are my champion..."

"Hello Amun-Ra.." Keenio broke his silence, "nice of you to join us once more.."

"So you do know me.."

"I make a habit of knowing everything I can about deities, and their weapons, including their soul bonds..."

"Soul Bond?" Theseus was confused, "I've never heard of that in the archives..."

"In Deimos's time, to avoid complete annihilation form Ahriman, Deimos came up with a failsafe, and taught the gods how to bind their souls into their weapons, only a few listened, the ones that didn't do it, were killed by Ahriman, and their power absorbed, the ones who did listen, now spend their times locked in their weapons, waiting for a compatible champion..."

"I see.. so how long have you known about Amun-Ra?"

"Since we first met, and you showed me the bow.."

"Really?"

"Yes.." Amun-Ra interviened, "he was able to sense my presence, since you first arrived in Xenthos.."

"Incredible... But why didn't you tell me Keenio?"

"Because, Amun-Ra said that it was best for you to find out by yourself..."

"Oh.. I see.."

"Anyhow, let's get back to the lounge, we have more matches to attend to.."

Theseus nodded, and with Keenio, they returned to the lounge, and with that, the first rounds were over. The tournament was almost finished, and then, the ball would close out the opening day of the The Festival of Champions.