“Fire forms a blade, so let pain be your fire,” Alpheus said as he handed me a rusted iron sword. Every time I looked at him, I was reminded of the agony of broken bones, the harsh lesson of his training, and the reason I was prepared to fight in the arena. The blade sparked flames at my touch, sensing my past grudges.
“Best of luck, Titanicus,” Ares huffed through his tangled grey beard as he struggled to lift a massive leather shield for me to take.
The name resembled my monstrous build, since I was the tallest amongst the folk and perhaps the strongest. Only time could tell if it was true. I raised my shield with ease and moved towards the gate, knowing that I was about to face a warrior worthy of my time - Achilles.
The heat from the battlefield sent a river of sweat and blood trickling down my brow. I closed my eyes to steel myself before the final battle, feeling my
185