The air reeked of fear and was filled with tension, as the empire's army made their way, through Rennaya's royal capital, Senae.
The boy was confused.
Gripping his mother's hand, tightly.
He was worried.
She noticed and looked down.
Giving him the most reassuring smile she could.
"Don't worry my little Osei, stay quiet, they will be gone soon."
He wondered why the guards were trembling and how his parents, who ruled Rennaya, could still have something to be afraid of.
The usually bustling city, was quiet today.
The army was not there to invade, but rather to escort a prince and his entourage.
The 103rd prince of the Cerian Empire, Ataron.
Their vehicles finally stopped once they reached the large outdoor arena.
There awaiting them on the opposite side, were the King and Queen of Rennaya, with their only son and guards behind them.
The people of Rennaya were a majority dark skin tone.
With rare cases that looked similar to people from south-east asia.
They were known for their height (men averaging 6'5, and women, 5'9) and their strength.
Majority of them had blue eyes, with rare cases having hazel.
Their strength did not only lie in their physical prowess, but also in their supernatural abilities, for they had been blessed by the planet itself.
With the ability to summon fire, earth, lightning and ice for combat or everyday use.
No one could stand in their way.
Ataron and his entourage hopped out of their vehicles.
Him and two of his entourage were perfectly evolved AI sentient beings.
Their goal, as they do with every habitable world, was to absorb all life on that planet and keep a few million alive, as toys to pass the time.
The third candidate was a Valmerian giant, who had to ride in a customized unit since he was about 10 feet tall.
He was short compared to those within his race.
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The other two were slaves of the Cerian Empire, from conquered worlds, that once we're home to intellectual species.
Each of his entourage had different weapons and black gladiator armour, laced with purple stripes.
Ataron himself was sporting a black and purple armour body suit with a cape, trailing behind him.
"I'm hoping this year's candidates, are more promising King Zenu!"
He was unable to contain his excitement.
Zenu a proud but patient man, knew to never to give in to the children of Atlas's taunts and had exerted tremendous amounts of patience to hold himself in line.
With his wife standing beautifully beside him, he responded back.
"Of course, they have trained day and night for the honour to fight for us today... Do not underestimate the Rennayan race!"
As he finished his sentence, five hooded figures seemingly emerged from behind him
Landing softly by the middle of the arena.
They took off their hoods.
Three men and two women at the prime of lives, exhibiting traits of fire, ground, lightning and ice abilities.
The five gladiators on the princes side, hopped into the arena, focused, driven by one purpose only, to kill.
Zenu should have been used to this.
Having watched the Annual Trial for the last 10 years of his life, he wanted his son, to watch, and remember how heart-less and barbaric the enemy was.
The Legendary Rennayan was fabled to have been a person of humility, trust and a power to be reckoned with.
They were rumoured to have been capable of using all four of the elements and with that power, brought peace to the galaxy over 1400 years ago, by ending the First Galactic War.
Since then, there has not been a single Rennayan, that has been capable of using more than one of the elements at a time.
The conductor raised his hand and slammed his hammer into the bell, sounding off the start of the battle.
Both the candidates and gladiators engaged.
Swords swung, knives were thrown and spears impaled flesh.
The five Rennayan candidates in under 10 minutes, were all killed.
Their butchered and dismembered corpses littered the arena floor.
The gladiators roared war cries of victory.
Unsettled by the quick battle, they looked longingly at the royal family and guards.
One of them still hacking away at a body.
"Stop it!"
Osei didn't know what came over him, but he felt like he couldn't stand it anymore, watching the psychotic gladiator.
Ataron spoke up.
"Now settle down... Messy as always, aren't you guys."
He raised his hand and lowered it.
The gladiators calmed down and went back into their vehicles except for the one hacking away at the body.
Ataron walked up to him and place one palm over his head.
In seconds, from head to toe, the gladiator was completely absorbed,
The sounds of bones crunching disturbed the silence, followed by blood splattering all over the place.
Ataron grabbed a cloth from his pocket and proceeded to wipe the specks of blood that landed on his body.
He then glared over to Osei, with eyes cold enough to pierce every fibre of his body.
"Boy, the weak don't deserve to speak."
Ataron turned his attention to the royal couple, expressing dissapointment.
"I guess we couldn't find one again this year, couldn't we?"
He shook his head.
"Our ship will be passing by the loading bay to collect the tributes."
He proceeded to walk towards his vehicle.
Before entering he looked back, and gave the royal family one last message.
"Atlas's patience is running out, you know".
Zenu was speechless.
He knew the results were always the same, but he always found himself hoping, that something would be different.
Half of the guards remained behind to help, the cleaning androids.
The rest escorted the royal family back to the royal palace, called the Hallantium.
The Hallantium was a palace standing at almost 300 ft tall.
It had been the symbol of Rennaya, for over 1400 years.
Built by the people of Messa as a peace offering to commemorate the end of the First Galactic War.
The Rennayans filled the Hallantium with statues, artifacts, books, art and important achievements of their people.
It had never been been attacked.
Until today...