Christopher froze in place, staring blankly at the demigod a few feet away. He recognized the seething rage in her eyes, glowing a dull red, much like her hair.
"Let the battle begin!" The announcer's voice boomed, echoing through the arena.
The girl didn't hesitate. She charged at him with fierce precision, like a predator stalking its prey. As she closed the distance, she swung her blade, narrowly missing Christopher and cutting through a few strands of his shaggy hair.
With a quick reflex, Christopher fell to the ground, scrambling to evade her next move. The girl seized the opportunity, driving the tip of her sword toward his chest. He rolled away just in time, the blade embedding itself deep into the dirt.
Grunting, he sprang back to his feet. Before he could regain his balance, she struck again, her sword clashing against his dagger. The force sent Christopher flying backward, his feet slipping on the blood-stained sand.
He knew only a handful of fighting techniques, but throughout his years at the academy, he had focused more on defense than offense. Survival held more value to him than taking another life.
In contrast, this girl seemed undeterred by the risks. She attacked with unrelenting aggression, and despite her size, she was powerful, showcasing immense potential in her swordsmanship.
Was this the girl his quest party was meant to rescue? Judging by the fierce look in her eyes, she didn't appear to need saving. If she played her cards right, she could easily take control of the arena.
She had every chance to escape. So why was she allowing herself to be used like a pawn by these monsters? Questions flooded Christopher's mind as he faced imminent danger.
"Hey, can I talk to you?!" he shouted, hoping to break through to her. "I'm not here to hurt you!"
The girl advanced quickly, ignoring his plea. She swung her sword recklessly towards his head, making it clear she wasn't interested in conversation.
Christopher dove to the side, doing his best to avoid her relentless attacks. Her fury worked to his advantage, causing her to make increasingly reckless moves.
But why was she so enraged? He noticed the reddish hue in her eyes, glowing more fiercely with each missed strike. Moments later, she lost her composure completely, demanding his soul at any cost.
"You're in danger!" Christopher shouted, trying to state the obvious. "I'm here to rescue you!"
"Yeah? But who's gonna rescue you?" the girl shot back as she leaped, landing a powerful strike against him.
Christopher felt a sharp nudge in his left wrist as he attempted to block the blow. Then came a crack. The dagger slipped from his grasp, landing tip-first in the sand. He clutched his wrist, whimpering in searing pain as he felt his bones shift unnaturally.
The girl stood a few feet away, watching him intently. She seemed to revel in the moment before delivering the final, fatal strike, fidgeting with her sword as if savoring the anticipation.
"Finish him! Finish him!" the crowd roared, their voices a chorus of eager bloodlust, as if his death would bring them some twisted joy.
Straining against the blinding sun, Christopher looked up at the throngs of faces. Was this really the end? He never imagined he'd be killed by a girl. In this moment, he realized how little control he had over fate's cruel machinations.
"Alright, Hermes," he murmured, closing his eyes as if resorting to his last option, "If there was ever a time you wanted to claim me, it's now. I could really use your blessing right about now."
He heard his opponent move a step closer...
"Come on, Hermes! The time is now!"
Suddenly, a distant scream of panic erupted from above. "Fire! Run!"
When Christopher opened his eyes, bewilderment swept over him. Flames engulfed the high fences of the arena, creeping ominously toward the audience lobby. Chaos erupted as the crowd scattered, screams filling the air, bodies tumbling and crashing into the arena as they fought to reach the exits.
"How in the—"
"Thank me later," a familiar voice interrupted from behind him.
"Luca!" Christopher exclaimed, relief flooding through him. The boy stood there, about five foot seven, with smoky brown hair and a face smeared with dirt.
Luca, son of Hephaestus and a demigod like Christopher, had come to rescue him. At just sixteen, he had set this whole place ablaze to save his friend.
"How did you find me?" Christopher asked, still reeling from the unexpected arrival.
"Albert guessed you'd be in captivity after your last attempt at an undercover mission went sideways," Luca replied with a sarcastic grin.
"Where is he?" Christopher pressed, ignoring Luca's teasing.
"Outside. He's preparing our escape." Just as Luca spoke, a wall crumbled, the flames licking at his heels. "Come on, let's go!"
Christopher flinched for a moment, then hesitated. They had come to rescue a demigod girl trapped in the arena. "Wait."
He turned to look for her, but she was gone. Where did she disappear to? Just a moment ago, she had been right there. Another wall crashed down with a resounding thud, sending a wave of heat towards him. Determination set on his face, he pushed forward.
"You go ahead," he signaled to Luca. "I'll be outside in a minute."
Before Luca could argue, Christopher dashed toward the inner passages of the coliseum. If the girl had any chance at survival, she would've headed that way to find an escape route. But judging by the fallen debris, it might have already been blocked.
His heart raced as he ran, the heat making each breath difficult. Navigating through the burning ruins while leaping over smoldering poles and bricks, fatigue settled in, but he pressed on.
As he entered the passageway, he called out for her, but he didn't even know her name. All he could do was follow the sounds.
Then, he heard a weak cough and rushed toward the end of the tunnel, where the girl lay half-conscious amidst the flames. Her sword lay beside her, battered and dented from her efforts to escape the debris.
Panicking, he rushed to her side and placed his good hand on her shoulder. "Hey! You! Wake up!" he shouted, shaking her vigorously. "Come on, you can't die here!"
No response. Frantically, he held her hand, searching for a pulse. She was still alive. Relief washed over him, but confusion settled in.
He made his decision: he had to save her. If he failed on this quest, he knew Apollo would never give him another chance.
"Ugh, let's get this over with," he muttered, turning his back to her. With all the strength he could muster in his right arm, he hoisted her onto his back.
[The God of Darkness has found you. . .]
Christopher jolted, a chilling voice echoing in his mind. Before him, an ominous dark figure loomed in the flames, watching him intently.
He blinked to clear his vision, but the figure vanished in an instant.
"What was that?"