Maximus dropped into a low stance as he drew his sword defensively. Years of combat had honed his instincts to this point, he could not see, he could not hear but yet he stood ready, ready to face whatever came with sword drawn. Like a Roman soldier should.

He wheeled around in the void, slashing compactly at perceived sounds. His palms began to sweat with nervousness, he was at his wit's end. The battle before had drained him of energy, now this? He just wanted the nightmare to end. And so it did.

With a clap, the void cleared and he found himself in a truly foreign environment. For a second he thought he had died and gone to heaven for there was near nothing but white. It was when he noticed the other aspects of this space that the illusion was ruined.

Before him lay a cheap looking table made of weak looking wood, and at both ends stood chairs made of metal. He edged toward the table, nervous sweat beginning to sting his eyes. He took one slight shuffle at a time, he had forgone his shield after the battle had ended and now only held his sword. How foolish he was.

When he was within distance to touch it Maximus stabbed the mundane furniture accusingly with his sword point. Nothing.

He exhaled, sheathing his sword. It seemed the table wasn't a monster in disguise trying to trick him. He could see no dangers approaching, he walked to the wall and slumped down in the corner his armour making a racket as he did so. Why rest in the corner? He asked himself because for although he had made his peace with the table, the chairs were another matter entirely. Who would waste metal on chairs unless they were armoured for battle?

Maximus let out a depreciating laugh at his own expense. It seemed he got the change of scenery he was looking for. And as of yet, nothing had tried to devour his immortal soul so that was a plus.

"Ah, I see you've already arrived." Maximus sprang to his feet and began to fumble with the handle of his sword. It was disgraceful he knew but he had been fighting for nearly 7 hours straight at this point.

"No need to draw weapons, we are all friends here." Spoke the disembodied voice once more, it seemed to emanate from every corner of the room, as if the space room itself was the voice and vice versa. Whatever the case it had Maximus jumping at shadows.

"Hmm, that didn't work. Alright, I'm going to come into the room now, try not to stab me kay." At this point Maximus was just waiting for the next shoe to drop, a battle in the desert at night. Being summoned to a place he was tentatively classifying as purgatory and a disembodied voice of what may or may not be one of the Gods who spoke near flawless latin. What next, was his father going to come out and start an intervention?

A door appeared amidst the featureless, white void and through it walked a small child. She was female, with a shaved head and pallid skin. Yet the queerest of her feature was her eyes, or rather her lack of them. For in place of eyes she just had more milk white skin stretched over her face that revealed the odd flash of brightly coloured light from underneath its surface.

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The little girl, if Maximus could call her that clambered onto one of the chairs and began to swing her legs gleefully before gesturing for Maximus to take a seat. He declined.

"Suit yourself, spoilsport." She pouted, pursing her lips as she spoke before turning back to him with a sudden flourish that caused him to once more raise his sword. She didn't seem to notice and if she did she didn't let it hinder her announcement.

"Welcome contestant, to the game of a lifetime. As I'm sure you have a barrage of questions I would kindly ask you to leave them till the end kay." She said as is talking to a child, Maximus, too dumbstruck to take offence and just nodded mutely.

"Your planet is the latest of a variety of new discoveries in the Balancore sector. As such we have gifted your people with the chance of a lifetime, a game, of sorts."

"A game?" Maximus asked disbelievingly.

"What did I say about questions young man?!" She snapped reproachfully. Maximus quieted down, still too stupefied by this display to do anything in response.

"Your people have been given the chance to fight for their freedom. As the galactic law states any new race shall be given the right to the Kamar Taii. A trial by combat if I am to use a term from your world. A spectacle of arms broadcasted to the entire Sentient universe! In which 50 brave and noble savages of the new world attempt to survive for 50 days against 200 trained hunters from every inch of the universe. The catch, they can only use weapons and tech from the newly discovered world. If the valiant defenders survive, they are uplifted and added to the council of races that rule the known universe. If not their species is to join the slave caste that serves us" The small eyeless girl was becoming more and more animated as she went on, actually licking her lips in excitement as she said the last couple words. Maximus only looked more and more tired. It appeared the gods themselves were having a laugh.

"A blood sport in which people can pick a favourite fighter and bet on them, sending them donations in the form of gifts. This is the magic of the Kamar Taii, this is the glory of the universe!" She said finally, flinging her arms into the air and panting for breath. It wasn't until a minute later that Maximus realised she was looking at him expectantly. The whole no eyes thing was becoming a problem. He nodded grimly at her to continue, he was the type of man who wanted to hear bad news as quickly as possible.

"Well then, I suppose you have questions?" She said as she sat back languidly in her chair, waiting for him to bare all at her feet like she was some all-powerful goddess, which, for all Maximus knew could, in fact, be true.

"Questions! Of course, I have bloody questions! For starters were in the name of the god's are-!" Maximus vanished once more, off to the waiting area of the Kamar Taii, leaving the small girl alone in the room as a giggling fit took hold of her. As it finally ceased she wiped a tear from her no eyes.

"Never gets old."