The day of my first gladiatorial match finally came. The match had been set to take place in the mid-afternoon. When the time came, a covered wagon came to the estate to bring me to the arena, as Denzel didn't want to parade me around the city just before the match, but wanted to instead to introduce me to the larger public directly in the arena.

The arena was an amphitheater made of stone over two hundred yards long and a few dozen yards less wide than it was long. Denzel's men had me enter from a secondary entrance and guided me to an underground area where contestants could prepare for their match.

The staff of the arena then took over and brought in front of me a selection of weapons. There wasn't any weapon just like my axe, so I set for a four and a half feet tall battle axe, which was the closest thing available, adding a mental note to ask Denzel about a blacksmith.

Once I was ready, they guided me through a set of stairs that brought us to a large room separated from the grounds of the arena by an iron portcullis. Through the bars, I could see the thousands of spectators sitting on the bleachers of the arena and hear what was probably the announcer work up the crowd.

The announcer called my name, followed by an introduction I could not understand as the portcullis was raised. Soon I was out into the arena, axe raised high above my head in one hand while I waved at the cheering crowd with the other.

He continued talking as the portcullis on the other side of the arena was raised, revealing three scorpions that ranged between fourteen and sixteen feet long. From one side of the arena to the other there were almost a hundred yards, so there was no hurry in engaging the beasts.

I observed them as they walked into the arena, spurred by staff holding long poles, while chains kept their claws shut and their tails immobile. When they were about a dozen feet away from the entrance of the room on the other side, the portcullis was closed, and the chains that held their weapons magically fell off to let them fight at their best. They didn't rush at me immediately, looking around the arena and inspecting the new environment, clicking their claws nervously.

I started walking towards them, axe in hand. That soon got their attention, and they stopped letting their gaze wander around, focusing on me instead, their claws still clicking.

Their formation opened up, as one scorpion remained what it was, while the other two made their way towards me. One went into a straight line, its eight legs allowing it to run fast over the sand that covered the ground, while the other decided to circle around more slowly.

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I held my axe with both hands and rushed towards the one that was coming straight at me, meeting it in the middle of the arena. It tried to hit me with its claw, but I jumped up, intending to go over it.

As I was in the air, it lashed out with its tail too, and I parried it with the axe, directing it away from me, managing to land safely between the last two legs on his side. In one fell swoop I cut them both with the axe, the jumped back as it turned to address me again.

Despite losing two of its legs, it was still able to stand, and immediately tried to grasp me between its claws. I crouched down to avoid the hit and came back up burying the axe into the joint of its left claw, severing it.

As I addressed the first scorpion, the one that had decided to circle around a bit had reached us, so I disengaged from the fight and distanced myself from both, while also glancing at the one that kept its distance, clicking its claws nervously.

Now having to face them both, I decided it was a good time to start showing some of my real power. With a scream of rage, I planted the butt of the axe into the ground, summoning the power of the ice dragon to send a wave of cold around it, that soon crashed into the two scorpions while the axe itself was covered in frost.

It was not enough enough to actually damage the scorpions, but, just like with their smaller cousins, the cold made them slow and lethargic.

I then summoned the powers of the elk and the bear and moved.

My first target was the already injured scorpion. I entered its range and, before it could even act, I cut its other claw off, leaving layers of frost on its severed limb. I then followed by cutting the other two remaining legs on its side. It fell down and tried to lash out with its tail again, but I dodged it and brought my sxe up to sever it halfway through its length.

I then jumped to one side to avoid the claw of the other scorpion behind me, ending up rolling on the now freezing cold sand a few times before standing again.

As the still healthy scorpion turned to try to hit me again, I ran to meet its blow, but, at the last moment, slid down under its claw, using my axe to severe it.

I then rolled out from under it and found myself behind its back, so I used the opportunity to cut off its dangerous tail.

It jumped forward, away from me, while shrieking in pain. Not wanting to make the fight last much longer, I ran the few steps that separated us and jumped on it, then buried my axe into its head, again and again.

When I was sure it was dead, I went to finish off the other scorpion, which now only had four legs to try to wiggle its way away, cutting off its head.

With the two more aggressive scorpions, I turned to the one that was still standing in front of the portcullis.

It never stood a chance.