If quick, I survive. If not quick, I am lost. This is death
-Sun Tzu
The next journey for Mengus awaited him in the icy realm of The Sturgians, where he and his party ventured into the vast expanse of snow-covered landscapes surrounded by huge mountains as eyes could see. The biting cold cut through the air and the snowflakes fell slowly from the sky in the freezing wind. The northern winter was unforgiving, and Mengus prepared well for the journey.
The Sturgian arenas were unlike any he had encountered before. Each one had its own homegrown hero defending their titles against coming challengers. In the arena, Mengus could see the local Sturgians, covered in furs and thick clothing, calmly waiting for the spectacle.
The icy surface of the arena glistered under the pale winter sun. Wooden stands surrounded the battleground, filled to the brim.
Mengus, wrapped in layers of warm clothing, started walking slowly towards the arena, his breath forming visible clouds in the cold weather. The crunch of snow beneath his leather boots made a louder noise than he expected. Mengus could feel the eyes of the spectators on him, looking at the challenger fighting their home hero.
The arena leaderboard displayed Mengus as the second, he aimed at the first place, and winning every arena in the Sturgians would help him achieve that goal. The competition was fierce, and the local champions were known for their pride in fighting for their town in the face of the harsh winter conditions. Mengus knew it'd be tough, but he didn't let it affect him much, he knew he could do it, he wasn't second for no reason.
The first arena, in the town of Taly, as the arena floor had a frozen lake surrounded by snow-covered cliffs. The home hero, Zeed, known for his skills with a two-handed axe, awaited Mengus in the center of the frozen lake. When he stood there in the center, the crowd was reborn, from a silent observation to roaring cheers, supporting their hero.
Mengus, adapting to the slippery terrain, moved slowly with caution. His opponent, on the other hand, had no problems with moving on the frozen lake, he moved fast and swung his axe with great precision. Mengus didn't believe that the cold air could become any colder, but as the axe started swinging around his head it got even colder.
Mengus got used to the ice, executing a swift maneuver that caused his opponent to lose balance on the icy surface. Seizing the given chance he delivered the decisive blow, winning in his first Sturgian arena. The crowd, though visibly displeased, acknowledged Mengus's skill with applause.
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But that was just the start, the next city awaited. With each victorious battle, Mengus came closer to his goal, of becoming number one. Even the Sturgian crowd started to take a liking to Mengus and his crew, with each arena they showed their skill and class.
The journey was cold, difficult, and cold once again. In the second-to-last city, Varvapol, the biting cold seemed to intensify as they went deeper into the northern territory of the Sturgia. The arena in Varvapol was covered in snow, and tall pine trees covered in snow surrounded the arena and the wooden stands. The home hero, Weidar Hotblood, stood in the center of the arena waiting for Mengus to approach him so they could start the fight.
The fight began, and Weidar Hotblood didn't waste a second as he plunged to attack Mengus with full force. The cold wind, now more than just a gentle breeze, picked up its pace. The snowflakes followed the pacing of the wind, increasing in numbers and transforming into a veil around the fighters.
Mengus was not prepared against the unpredictable nature of the northern weather, he struggled to maintain balance. Weidar, using his experience inside the arena and the harsh conditions, continued attacking, waiting for Mengus to make a mistake. The snowy wind became a tougher opponent to Mengus than Weidar was.
Trying to deliver a finishing blow, Mengus was caught off guard by the gusty snowy wind. His foot escaped from the frozen ground, and he had no balance to keep on standing, finishing on the floor. Weidar Hotblood didn't waste this opportunity, delivering a power strike that echoed through the snowy forest, knocking off the snow off the thick branches.
The Sturgian crow, which was worried at first if their hero would lose, erupted into cheers as Weidar Hotblood secured victory. Mengus, lying on the cold ground in pain, didn't feel like standing up. The snow tried to cover him up, hiding him from his defeat.
Mengus and his party retreated from the arena. The snow-covered their tracks, and the wind pushed them away. The journey was not over, and the final town awaited, where Mengus would have a chance at redemption and to come closer to the top spot on the leaderboard.
* * *
The last town, the last arena, the last stand in the Sturgian cold. Mengus made it, dropping his opponent to the ground, the cold breath rushing through his lungs, sweet pain, and exhaustion from the fight made him remember this moment for a long time.
Lysa came running towards him, her face lit up with joy as she embraced Mengus in celebration.
Now, he shared the first place in the arena, but not for long. The next arena, his hometown, was the place where his journey had begun. If he could secure victory there, he would not only solidify his position at the top of the leaderboard but also bring his quest for arena glory to an end. And then, home.
image [https://i.imgur.com/CGsXkhn.jpeg]