Chapter 2

After two days of traveling Zandor arrived at the capital. As he walked through the gates, he was awe struck by how many people were hear and by the festivities within these walls. He saw people piling into the streets, some vendors seeking flags, and other items, others were entertainers, most though were those who would simply view the tournament.

As Zandor made his way through the streets, he studied the detail on the construction and design of the roads and causeways, even to the very houses. Everything was made of stone and wood, but appeared to take there style from Dwarves with colored stone being mixed with the building materials. The wood though was refined and most likely was inspired by Elven carpentry, due to how the design looked as if it were flowing through the air.

All of this Zandor took in, and after traveling he saw where the tournament would take place. The building was enormous in size, and looked as if it could hold not just the hundreds of thousand of people in the capitol of thousands more from the kingdom. Zandor approaches this and saw a stand with a woman, writing down notes in front of the entrance.

Zandor approached and the woman looked up from here work.

Woman: Welcome sir, how may I be of assistance.

Zandor: I am here to participate in the tournament.

Woman: Awe, a new contender I see. To start, I would like to ask a couple of questions if you don't mind.

Zandor: Sure.

The woman nodded and grabbed some paper before asking. She mainly asked questions relating to who he was and he gladly answered.

Woman: Will you be bring any gear or weapons with you into the tournament?

Zandor: Yes, a sword my father gave me.

Woman: I see, may I see it?

Zandor nods and pulls out the sword and hands it to her. She studies it and returns it.

Woman: That weapon has great craftsmanship, did your father make it?

Zandor: He did. It was a gift for me before I left.

Woman: I bet he is proud of you. Now besides that that is it. Head inside and tell one of the guards you are a new contender and they will show you the way.

Zandor: Understood, thank you.

He then did what she said and one of the guards lead him to a large room where many other people were.

Zandor: *These must be all of the other contestants. It won't be easy but I might just make it.*

Then the sound of a trumpet is heard and all in the room look to a podium on the opposite side where Zandor is. A knight walks into the podium and everyone watches intently, waiting to hear what this knight has to say.

Knight: Contestants of the grand tournament, we welcome you and are delighted to have you here. Now, as you all know, the stakes are quite high. For the one who defeats all of the opponents that stand before him will become the champion of this years tournament. That champion will then receive a place here and will be provided with this.

The knights says this as he steps aside and other knights bring chests upon chests and open them to reveal hordes of jewels, gold, silver, and other precious materials. After which they close them and lock them.

The knight then faces the crowd again.

Knight: As pertaining to rules, you fight till your opponent surrenders or is unable to fight, that doesn't you can kill them. Killing is not allowed. Besides that that is all, may the luck of the champion be with you.

Once the knight finished the crowd went back to what they did, as we awaited the start of the tournament.

Time skip 2 hours

Dungeon

The dungeon was dank, moist, and dark as two guards stood guarding a door.

Knight1: So, who do you think will win this year?

Knight2: Don't know but I have seen a lot of good participants.

Knights1: Really, like who?

Knights2: There was one, a young man named Zandor. Apparently he is the son of Merrick.

Knight1: Like as in the great warrior Merrick?

Knight2: Yep that Merrick.

Knight1: Well this tournament just got a whole lot more interesting.

After saying this, the sound of cracking was heard, coming from inside the room they were guarding. They turned towards the door and then looked at each other. They both nodded and readied themselves as they entered the room. The room was small but had enough space for five men to live in. In the middle of the room was a black crystal statue of a man but with a closer looked on would see that it was actually a person encased in crystal.

As the guards approached it, they saw that cracks were forming and before they could react, the crystal shattered and a cloud of dust was formed. The knights wafted the way the dust, coughing. As the dust settled, a man kneeling on the ground could be seen. He wore a black and tattered robe, and when he stood up, his hands were wrinkled and a deformed wooden staff was in his hand. He wore a mask that covered the bottom half of his face and he wore a hood that partially covered his face. The guards took a step back when two red pupils appeared from within the hood.

One guard charged him, and before he could reach the man, a stone spike pierced through his chest. Then the guard let out a blood curdling scream, as the spikes began to pierce his body from inside him. After a moment, he went silent and limp. The other began to run away but was then lifted in the air. He was then levitated over to the man. As the guard moved he was restrained where his arms and legs where outstretched and held. The man studied hum and giggled menacingly.

Man: You will do.

He then stretched his hand and touched the guard forehead and dark tendrils entered the guards body. The guard screamed in pain as it began to morph him into an abomination. He grew three times larger and his armor and clothes buckled and ripped when he grew. When he was done, his head was wrapped with the same dark tendrils as scraps of cloth wrapped around its torso. The man waved his arm and darkness surrounded the creature. When the darkness dissipated, the creature was cover in black armor. It's helmet had no slits for eyes and the armor was jagged. The man smiled as the creature bowed to him.

Man: Let is to my champion, we have much work to do.

The creature then stood and broke through the wall as they both left the dungeon. The man then saw a poster for the tournament and smiled.

Coliseum

Zandor stood, tired and covered with sweat, his sword ready. His opponent stood almost a foot taller wearing a mix of light and heavy armor. He weirder a large great sword. Zandor has managed to defeat the opponents he was pitted against but this one was tough, especially since this was from one of the norg warrior clans. The warrior charged and brought his sword down. Zandor, with all his might, swing upwards to clash with the sword but instead of stopping the great sword, it instead cut right through it. Hen then punched him on the left side of his face, stunning him. Zandor then leaned forward then sprinting off the ground used his knee to knee the underside of the warriors head. While still in the air, and the warrior unbalanced, Zandor grabbed his head and used his momentum and the warriors weight and smashed it into the ground, knocking the warrior out cold. Zandor stood and the crowd cheered wildly. He raised his arm wielding his sword in the air and the crowd cheered even more.

The crowd then went silent as the announcer stood.

Announcer: Ladies and Gentlemen, we have ourselves a new champion!

The crowd then went wild as the announcer motioned for Zandor to approach. Then all the flames went out, the crowd went silent as whispers sounded, and an evil laugh echoed through the coliseum. Zandor stood looking for the source of the laughter, when the man in tattered robe appeared on the stand.

Man: People of Thaydar, it appears you have a great champion among you. I propose a challenge for him if he accepts. The announcer took a step back.

Announcer: who are you? and how did you get up here?

The man then giggles.

Man: I am Zargoth, the rightful ruler of Thaydar.

Upon saying this the crowd became very unsettled. Zargoth then turned to Zandor.

Zargoth: I see we have a champion among us, may I ask your name?

Zandor: My name is Zandor, what do you want?

Zargoth: Well before I take the throne, I have a proposal.

Zandor: Whatever it is I won't except.

Zargoth: Well then how about this then, if you can defeat my champion, you can leave here with your life and riches.

Zandor pondered on the situation and knew that to leave he must except.

Zandor: I accept, who is your champion?

Zargoth chuckles when a loud and deep guttural grunt was heard as a huge creature jumped from behind the stand and landed in the arena. Zandor took a step back, as he saw the creature stood around eleven feet tall and was ripped from head to toe. Armor covered him and he knew this wouldn't be easy.

The creature then dashed forward, and Zandor dodges to the left. Before he could get away, the creature grabbed his leg, lifted him up in the air, and slammed him down onto the ground. Pain shot through Zandor's body as the creature lifted his foot to stomp him into the ground. Zandor rolled away and got back up on his feet, despite the pain going through his entire torso. Zargoth watched in entertainment as Zandor went in to strike. The creature swung with one of his arms, which are about the size of a large tree trunk. Zandor slide underneath and slashed at the armor. He saw it cut straight through but did no damage to the creature itself.

The creature then punched Zandor on his left side and flew him towards one of the walls of the arena. He landed a couple feet away. Dazed and in immense pain, Zandor stood up, almost losing his balance. His chest felt it was completely crushed and it was almost impossible to breathe. He then saw the creature lunge across the arena at breathtaking speeds and drop kick Zandor into the wall. The sounds of bones breaking was sounded as practically every single bones broke while other turned to dust. The creature then grabbed Zandor and lifted him up. Before it could do anything Zargoth appeared next to it and motioned it to put Zandor down. The creature dropped Zandor and he landed on his back. With pain coursing through his body and trying to stay conscious, Zargoth looked over him.

Zargoth: Sad, I thought you would've done well. At least you get a warriors death.

Zargoth then snapped his fingers as flame surrounded Zandor. He could feel the flame burning him. He tried to cry out in pain but he couldn't, he had no energy. Zargoth and the creature then disappeared as Zandor later there burning. As Zandors flesh melted and before he lost consciousness, he saw the man he met as he traveled to the capital, kneel down next to him as he heard him say:

Man: Don't worry Zandor, you will be okay. I am here to help you.

Zandor then lost consciousness as his body died.